It's an interesting season, being home, working at a coffee shop and raising support. It's preparation in many ways! It's hard to believe December is almost here, and after that comes January, which means, time to travel to VIENNA! I'm about at 70% of my total budget so it's becoming more and more of a reality!
Currently, I'm still working a lot at Mugz and loving it! It's awesome how God is using that as a place to meet people. Today I started painting a lady's house whom I meet at Mugz. It's cool to be able to have an art outlet! I'm also getting ready to have a table at a big craft show at the local country club. I'll be personalizing Christmas plates and other gift items for the holidays.
Yesterday I got a german poetry book from my dad- it's so cool! It's love poems to God, and one side is in German and the other is in English. It will be a cool avenue to connect with people in Austria. I'm so excited to learn the language and to meet new people!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Denver
I sure love Colorado. It's been good being back here with family and friends, reminiscing about old times and hand-crafting new memories. A special someone came and surprised me this week: Jeffrey Beiler! He was driving a van up from CA to IN and CO happened to be on the way. :) I'm thankful for the time I've been able to have with him.
Tonight I got to hang out with four of my Austrian Teammates. It was really awesome to connect with them and share our hearts from these past few months raising support at our homes. It's been challenging for all of us, so it was strengthening to meet together to support one another and pray. God really has some amazing things in store for Austria! I found out tonight that there's a woman who lives in the apartment we'll be housed out of who has an art ministry, so I'm excited to see what opportunities God might have for me in that avenue. I've become more and more passionate about art and so I'm looking forward to how God will use that.
I'm not at a little over 60% of my support-raising goal! Austria is on the way! I'm so thankful for all of you! November 30th is my 100% deadline. I am confident in God's ability to care for me and provide for the ministry He's called me to. He continues to show Himself faithful in so many ways.
Tonight I got to hang out with four of my Austrian Teammates. It was really awesome to connect with them and share our hearts from these past few months raising support at our homes. It's been challenging for all of us, so it was strengthening to meet together to support one another and pray. God really has some amazing things in store for Austria! I found out tonight that there's a woman who lives in the apartment we'll be housed out of who has an art ministry, so I'm excited to see what opportunities God might have for me in that avenue. I've become more and more passionate about art and so I'm looking forward to how God will use that.
I'm not at a little over 60% of my support-raising goal! Austria is on the way! I'm so thankful for all of you! November 30th is my 100% deadline. I am confident in God's ability to care for me and provide for the ministry He's called me to. He continues to show Himself faithful in so many ways.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Hurricane Ike
We went through our first hurricane! Took lots of preparation! Kiellor was at work and Colin's at school, so I got the pleasure of helping my dad board up the windows. :) I actually enjoyed it!
I miss the good ole' woodshop days, so it was fun to have a saw in my hand again!
Haha, exposed by Andy...due to time constraints I didn't get a chance at the saw after all, only got to pose with it for a picture. :)
The big ole' neighborhood dog.
Awesome thing about hurricanes: they bring people together! Our whole neighborhood was out and about preparing, and since school and work got called off, we got to spend a lot of time together.
The sky was incredible!
Then it got a little ominous....
Then a little scary!
I went inside and made an "ike cake" to share with the neighbors. What else is there to do?!
Thankfully we all made it through unscathed, though many others were far less fortunate. We lost power for two days, didn't get much sleep the night of the storm (boy it was loud!), and the roads were obstructed for awhile with branches, but life got back to normal pretty quick and we're thankful that we didn't have any permanent damage (except for a broken window that got hit with a rock while I was mowing...before the hurricane hit. Isn't life ironic?) :)
Our church offices, however, lost their roof!
My dad's office was in pretty bad shape.
Thankfully not much was ruined and insurance is sure a good thing!Garage Sale!
If you live in Houston and would like to donate anything to my garage sale or come help out, let me know!
Home away from Home
In less than four months, this will be my new residence!!! This is the house that my teammates, mentors and I will be living in for our time in AUSTRIA. It's divided into four apartments and our missionary supervisor's, Robert and Ulla Suhonnen, live just down the street.
But this is my home now,
and I'm enjoying the time I've been having with these lovely people!
My brother Kiellor (who works at Quiznos which is next door to Mugz! We have a trade route for sandwiches and coffee :)
My parents :)And tonight, I get to see these two!!! Colin is at the Honor Academy in Tyler, TX and Chelsey is finishing up her last year at Texas Women's University in Denton, TX so their both coming home for the weekend!
And some time soon this fine gentleman from Indiana is coming to see me! Can't wait! :)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Filling my Cup
I went for a run this morning. I love the peace that engulfs the atmosphere, as if all of creation is eager with quiet anticipation for a new day. With the rising sun comes a living promise that God's mercies are new for this day; hope permeates my being as light penetrates the newly awakened world.
I'm learning how to rest in God.
I'm learning how to live in the present and live one day at a time.
As I daily fill my soul with truth and experience the fellowship that comes from conversing with the Living God, I'm coming to truly believe and live that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He'll do! Such rest and peace comes from trusting God. I'm daily blessed and thankful for the ways that His character is displayed in my life-- from divine encounters with people to a $25 Walmart card that some kind unknown person left in my wallet to toothless baby smiles from a little girl accross the counter at Mugz. God sure does know how to care for me. :) What a relief to know that not only do I not have to clutter my mind with obsessive thoughts about what I'm going to do during the day and how I'm going to do it, etc., etc. but I'm COMMANDED not to! I tell Jesus my worries instead and let thanksgiving well up in my heart.
"trust and obey...there is no other way."
That about sums up the current aspiring life of McKenzie Conn.
May you all enjoy the rest, peace and joy that comes from our Father who knows what we need!
I'm learning how to rest in God.
I'm learning how to live in the present and live one day at a time.
As I daily fill my soul with truth and experience the fellowship that comes from conversing with the Living God, I'm coming to truly believe and live that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He'll do! Such rest and peace comes from trusting God. I'm daily blessed and thankful for the ways that His character is displayed in my life-- from divine encounters with people to a $25 Walmart card that some kind unknown person left in my wallet to toothless baby smiles from a little girl accross the counter at Mugz. God sure does know how to care for me. :) What a relief to know that not only do I not have to clutter my mind with obsessive thoughts about what I'm going to do during the day and how I'm going to do it, etc., etc. but I'm COMMANDED not to! I tell Jesus my worries instead and let thanksgiving well up in my heart.
"trust and obey...there is no other way."
That about sums up the current aspiring life of McKenzie Conn.
May you all enjoy the rest, peace and joy that comes from our Father who knows what we need!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Faith
It seems like everyday I'm hit more with the realization that life is hard. But with every revelation of difficulty, the Holy Spirit is right there to present hope, to offer grace, to paint a picture for me of what matters, of what is true.
I was talking the other day with my boyfriend, Jeff about how as I go about the day, doing the different things required, my soul will get hit with a disatisfaction... there's something more. I realized that these times of discontent happen when I lost my focus from Jesus and am not remaining in him. Jeff and I were talking about our ways of trying to remind ourselves to abide in God and stay in constant communion with Him throughout the day...and we both felt frustrated with the results! Things become commonplace so easily; routines and plans lose their true meaning as I just go through the motions.
Why is it so hard, we wondered?
Then I realized that it's about f a i t h.
And the grain of our culture is so totally opposite of faith. We live in a realm saturated with instant gratification, materialism and all sorts of ways to meet our every whim, desire and need right NOW. On top of that, we are so full of visual messages- we can see, touch, feel everythign. But faith means wait... faith means believing in what we cannot see. Faith REQUIRES patience, waiting, persevering, trusting, standing firm, delayed gratification.
It was cool because after I hung up with Jeff, I just so happened to be in Hebrews 11 for my Bible reading plan. :) I'm not exactly sure what it's going to look like, living by faith, but I'm chewing on Hebrews and I'm thankful for the constant presence of my good friend, the Holy Spirit. I love learning, so I'm so glad He likes to teach me all throughout the day!
So there's some throughts for the day. :)
On another note, I did indeed get a job at a coffee shop, called Mugz. I love it! It's fast-paced, efficient, and customer oriented. I'm still learning the ropes, but I love my co-workers and manager and am so blessed by how God set it all up for me!
Other than working, I've been renovating my room (which will be the guest room when I leave), keeping in touch with friends and my boyfriend (we're two weeks into four months apart! God's been teaching us a whole lot, so though I miss him, I'm thankful for this time), and spending time with family and being involved at Christ Chapel. I sent out an update letter this week, so I hope you enjoy it! I'll keep you posted on further developments. :)
Much love, and may God empower you to walk by faith and not by sight today!
I was talking the other day with my boyfriend, Jeff about how as I go about the day, doing the different things required, my soul will get hit with a disatisfaction... there's something more. I realized that these times of discontent happen when I lost my focus from Jesus and am not remaining in him. Jeff and I were talking about our ways of trying to remind ourselves to abide in God and stay in constant communion with Him throughout the day...and we both felt frustrated with the results! Things become commonplace so easily; routines and plans lose their true meaning as I just go through the motions.
Why is it so hard, we wondered?
Then I realized that it's about f a i t h.
And the grain of our culture is so totally opposite of faith. We live in a realm saturated with instant gratification, materialism and all sorts of ways to meet our every whim, desire and need right NOW. On top of that, we are so full of visual messages- we can see, touch, feel everythign. But faith means wait... faith means believing in what we cannot see. Faith REQUIRES patience, waiting, persevering, trusting, standing firm, delayed gratification.
It was cool because after I hung up with Jeff, I just so happened to be in Hebrews 11 for my Bible reading plan. :) I'm not exactly sure what it's going to look like, living by faith, but I'm chewing on Hebrews and I'm thankful for the constant presence of my good friend, the Holy Spirit. I love learning, so I'm so glad He likes to teach me all throughout the day!
So there's some throughts for the day. :)
On another note, I did indeed get a job at a coffee shop, called Mugz. I love it! It's fast-paced, efficient, and customer oriented. I'm still learning the ropes, but I love my co-workers and manager and am so blessed by how God set it all up for me!
Other than working, I've been renovating my room (which will be the guest room when I leave), keeping in touch with friends and my boyfriend (we're two weeks into four months apart! God's been teaching us a whole lot, so though I miss him, I'm thankful for this time), and spending time with family and being involved at Christ Chapel. I sent out an update letter this week, so I hope you enjoy it! I'll keep you posted on further developments. :)
Much love, and may God empower you to walk by faith and not by sight today!
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