Everett

I know many of you have been praying for my dear friend, Everett.  Thank you.  His suffering from Ewing's Sarcoma is now over.  He passed away early this morning.  Please continue to pray for his family and friends as they grieve this loss.  Everett was a very dear friend of mine, but I hold tight to this:  "He gives and takes away.  Blessed be the name of the LORD!"

Going Single

"Be assured, there is nothing spiritual whatsoever about trying to ignore one's emotional needs and 'just live by faith' instead.  To deny one's needs in a vain attempt to live above them is a sure way to become enslaved to one's needs, to become controlled by them, to be need-driven rather than faith-driven.  Having emotional needs is not the antithesis of faith nor is the absence of needs the hallmark of a godly saint."  -Graybill

I have been working my way through a paper called the Emotional Needs of Women on the Mission Field.  Honestly, this is kind of a big deal for me because I teld to plow through life and ignore my "emotional needs."  Since I'm about a month away from departure, Lord willing, it's very important that I acknowledge and address these needs.  Studies have said that single women have a very difficult time "thriving" on the field, more so than single men or married individuals.  I have no idea what struggles I will face, but I have been warned of being lonely, perfectionism, being a workaholic, burning out, etc.  This paper addresses many of these potential issues.  It is long, but can be helpful for many types of people.  

*Single women missionaries like me

*Married women missionaries

*Friends and spouses working with women

*Pray-ers and supporters who want to know how to relate/pray

"Perhaps the greatest need--and callenge--for singles is that of learning to function as a "solo" on the mission field...a single woman does not carry her support system with her to the mission field.  She has left family behind and goes totally alone to establish a new life."

Just being an auntie

I spoke at a church in Illinois last Sunday.  Since I had a meeting on Thursday (today) in Illinois as well, I decided to spend a few days at my sis' and bro's.  It was so much fun to play with the kids and meet Hannah for the first time.  Mary and I had some adventures in the snow, but we're still alive.  Here's little Hannah Leigh.

Is this a sign of a rough week?

beep beep behind me

what can't open a house door?

car dis-alarm-er

Yes, this happened today.  I stood at my front door, went to open it, and heard a beep beep beep beep behind me.  Yes, you guessed it.  My spirits are high enough though that I did let out a little giggle.  Please pray for my sanity level.  It's been neglected for insanity.  I'm staying awake at night with thoughts like "How much contact solution do I need to take to last 3 years?!"  This may be serious.

Impressions

unbearable beast

yet beloved child i am

unfathomable

A dear friend reminded me of this incredible truth.  When I am tempted to put my trust in others' impressions of me, this will continue to be a reminder.  Before God, I am both, and His love matters infinitely more than others' incomplete impressions.

These words are credited to my unnamed friend.

Invitation

I received a letter yesterday with the above letterhead.  It was an invitation from the President of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria to be a Language Development Adviser.  The office, Nigeria LBT missionaries, and I have been working through the details of my assignment.  It is definitely becoming more "real" as I prepare and begin communicating with the nationals in Nigeria.

I've been checking things off my "to do" list, but I end up putting a few more things to do on the list for each one I take off.  Aargh.

This weekend I'll be sharing at a church in Fargo.  I've been looking forward to this for quite a while.  I pray that the awareness of the need for Bible translation would spread.  Please pray that God will be honored at this and other upcoming meetings. 

 Within this next week I will be staying in 4 (possibly 5) different states! 

I have gotten to know my car VERY well.

Violence in Nigeria

If you've been paying attention to the news, you've probably heard about the riots in Jos, Nigeria due to local election results. 

"Soldiers recently wrested control of the streets from armed Christian and Muslim gangs that had roamed the city, in the worst religious violence Nigeria has seen in four years." -NY TIMES

I have co-workers living in this city, and it is a city I will be visiting often while in Nigeria.  Please pray for peace there and for the entire country.  The country is divided religiously between Muslims and Christians (and animists).  Several hundred have been slaughtered by both Muslims and Christians.  Homes, churches, and mosques have been burned.  Thousands are seeking refuge. 

Some have asked me how this affects my upcoming assignment.

I don't know yet.

Please pray that I will be able to leave in January for my first term.  Please pray for the nationals and expats working to make the Scriptures available in the languages of the people.  There are over 5-600 languages there.  Also pray for the Nigerian people who have suffered greatly from these riots and from the unrest in the south due to oil.

 

Haiku?

I'm multitasking and going nuts.  I have two months left before my world is drastically changed.  My friend Rachel introduced me one of her stress-relieving tactics.  These are my first attempts at writing haiku.

sitting with daddy

wondering what to do next

i am going nuts

I have to pack, get rid of most of my things, and think about what to do with clothes, papers, letters, pictures, and junk.  Trash? Scrapbook?  Good will?  Who has time for that?

season changing so

please come with me, oh few things

worldly possessions

 

malaria pills

coming my way ev'ry month

do i have enough?

 

call-ed? what am i

obedient and or insane?

oh father, help me

 

what am i thinking?

living a life worthy is

quite impossible (Ephesians 4:1)

 

grace, it is enough

for me to live always on

thank you, King, you know

Prefield Counseling

I have been depending too much on myself. I'm trying to be as prepared as possible to live in a remote village and to work with the Yala people so they will have and internalize the WORD of GOD. Recently, I was struck. I've been preparing academically, physically, financially, medically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, etc. This week I feel the Lord told me, "My turn." I don't quite know what this means, but I'm praying. Last night, as I was thinking about it, something bizarre popped into my head. Premarital counseling. No, I'm not anywhere close to getting such a thing.

Okay, so this is still pretty confusing in my mind, so I can't imagine what you readers are thinking. Think about what I'm saying, and feel free to respond. I feel like I am entering a season of refining. I pray that I will be like the clay in the Potter's hands as described in Jeremiah 18 and by my friend here. Is it a coincidence that the idea behind premarital counseling popped into my mind right after I felt like God was say that it was His turn to prepare me?

What is the purpose of the counseling?

It is to help insure that your love and the commitment you are making are protected in ways that help them flourish and grow. What is the purpose for the commitment? What are the good things, the bad things, the hopes, the dreams, the expectations, the potential disappointments, the personal goals? Counseling offers the opportunity to explore and evaluate prayerfully the commitment and situation in a relatively safe and constructive environment. It is primarily done to help prepare for a new season of life.

After analyzing this with my overly logical and practical mind, I have come to the conclusion that I need this. I don't admit to needing a lot, but why on earth would "premarital counseling" pop into my head after I sensed that Lord saying that it was His turn to train me?!?! I am going to a new season of my life by committing to the ministry of Bible translation in Africa, and I'm going to keep praying about the idea of getting counseling for many of the same reasons for premarital counseling. I need to remember my calling, and be intentional with striving to live a life worthy of this calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Thoughts?

Teach Me to Pray

Teach Me to Pray (Albert S. Reitz)

1.  Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray; This is my heart-cry, day unto day.  I long to know Thy will and Thy way; Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.   

Refrain--Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me, constant abiding, this is my plea; Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,  Power with men and power with Thee.  

2.  Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!  Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,  Men lost and dying, souls in despair, O give me power, power in prayer!  

Refrain 

3. My weakened will, Lord, thou canst renew; My sinful nature Thou canst subdue.  Fill me just now with power anew, Power to pray and power to do!  

Refrain 

4. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray; Thou art my pattern day unto day.  Thou art my surety, now and for aye; Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.  

Refrain