what's next

Whoa! It has been way too long since I have written.

As you probably know, I am planning on getting married in June. My fiance, Greg, is a teacher here in Durham. He teaches culture and language classes for the missionary candidates.

So, yeah, in June we are getting married and we are both really excited and thankful that God has brought us together.

I am currently in some language and culture technique classes. The current class will be for the rest of the semester and is actually a tribal simulation of what we will most likely experience overseas. It is just a very small taste of what we will in reality spend many years doing. We just finished a class about various kinship systems that are used around the world as well as a class on literacy. Literacy is hugely important obviously, because we want to eventually translate the word of God in order for the people to be able to read it. I have been enjoying classes, but I am also looking forward to graduation and getting married this summer. Please be praying that I will be able to get a lot out of the last couple of months here and not mentally 'check out'. I am feeling a bit exhausted with everything right now, but I keep reminding myself that this is something I will not have the opportunity to study again and I need to get as much out of it as I can, while I can.

After I graduate and Greg and I are married, we will spend a short time in Washington. For most of June and July, we will be driving back to Canada with a stop in Iowa. We are going to spend a little bit of time with Greg's church there as well as visiting his grandparents. Then we will get our place set up and settled in Durham.

In July we will drive down to North Carolina where Greg's sending church is. We will spend some time there with his church family and friends and hopefully get some time to share what we are doing in the future.

We hope to be back in Canada by August so we can begin to get prepared for the next school year to start. Greg plans on teaching for one more year in the training and I will be helping on staff as well. Most likely I will be helping with childcare to help give the student mothers more time in class.

By the time the 2011-2012 school year comes to an end, Greg and I plan on leaving Durham and begin finding lots of partners to help us to get the Gospel where it has not yet been. We both have the desire to share God's Word with people who have never heard or had the chance to hear and we want to find people who want to see the same goal accomplished. This will be a huge task and can be very intimidating, but God is faithful to provide all of our needs.

Thank you all for praying for me and continuing to support me. I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

Well it has been way too long since i have written. We just finished up the third semester here and everyone is heading home for the holidays. We finally got some snow when december rolled around and it does not seem to be stopping anytime soon. The class that we just finished was a language techniques practicum where we learned many techniques for learning language and had a few weeks to practice those techniques.

My roommate and i did Spanish with a lady that is on staff here. It was challenging but also a lot of fun. We made a meal together and made Cafe con Leche (coffee with milk). Also, one day we went to toronto to a market with several different ethnic shops.

We have been studying the Bible chronological in our morning study and I am also teaching chronologically to the kids at kids' club. One thing that has really been impressing me lately is the fact that God always keeps His promises. He is faithful always. He has never failed to follow through on any of His promises throughout history and we can trust that He will continue to do as He says. It is such an awesome privilege to serve the Creator! Someone commented the other night about God and love. They said, 'who better to teach us about love than the Creator Himself?!' Wow. And He showed us that loving by dying for us and taking the punishment for our sins.

1 John 4

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Set your mind on things above.

Colossians 1. 1-4

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

I read this quote recently and I really liked it. "There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God's school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust our Father than to enjoy life." MJS

In Colossians we are reminded that as believers our 'lives are hidden with Christ in God.' Our focus tends to be on the physical realm and what we can benefit from now. But God tells us that our focus should be on things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. One day we will also appear with Him there. I find that it is easy to focus on myself and what I want, but nothing good comes from thinking of myself. God is faithful to teach us and grow us when we look to Him in everything.

"If the Lord calls you to go through fire or water, He has a special reserve of grace for you in that. And that grace will be from the throne of grace. It is the throne above, mediating grace for need and suffering as it is required." - T.A-S.

Lately we have been studying CLAware and grammar. CLAware is a computer program designed to help organize culture and language files. Grammar is mostly studying the way languages can be set up grammatically and can be fairly confusing at times. One thing that is a little encouraging about grammar is that most languages apart from English actually follow their rules.

Thanks for praying for me when you think of it, it is very much appreciated!

Accepted in the beloved.

... to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1.6

This verse is one that i have to remind myself of often. It is comforting to know that my acceptance is not dependent on who i am or what i do, but simply on the work Christ accomplished by his death. Just to sit back and think about what God has done for me and give him thanks can really be overwhelming. He has blessed me so much and i often think of how undeserving i am and yet he still desires that i am a part of his plan. Does that not just blow your mind? It definitely does mine.

In class the other day, the speaker was talking about God being eternal and what that means. God did not have a beginning and God does not have an end. My simple mind cannot even begin to understand what that is really like. We have been looking at the book of Genesis and seeing in creation that God is not limited by light and dark as we are, he is not limited by space as we are, he is not limited to a body as we are, he is not limited to time as we are, and... i could go on and on. This morning we were looking at God's character and discussing what difference his character should have on our lives. How different i would be if i lived out all that God has said is true of me!!!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlyplaces in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1.3-14

This fall we have started into a class called sounds & symbols. This is just another name for phonetics. Our teachers explained that we will be learning some sounds that are common in languages and the symbols that correspond with them. The official name of what we are learning is the International Phonetic Alphabet. It has been a lot of fun to learn new sounds and force my mouth to do things it is familiar or comfortable with. It is also a challenging class that reminds me often that many things do not come naturally to me but that God is able to use me in spite of my lack and that He can more than supply for any need.

And My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus... He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (Philippians 4.19, 1 Thessalonians 5.24)

Sometimes i feel that God is teaching me the same lessons over and over. He probably is because i do not always practice those things that he has taught me. As humbling as that sometimes is, i love knowing that God is patient with me and he desires to make me more and more like his son. Even though i do not know what all will happen in my life here on earth, i know that one day i will be with God and will be like him. [Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3.2]

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Colossians 1.27-29

Philippians 2.1-18

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

'I WANT MORE MISSIONARIES' by David Bell

Patpatar believers in Papua New Guinea said good-bye to one of their members last week who died from a suspected cancerous growth on his neck.

A few weeks ago, while Blais still had a strong enough voice to be heard, missionary Aaron Luse recorded his testimony. Aaron asked Blais what he wished to accomplish by telling his story.

"I want the Christians in America to know how I came to understand the Gospel so more of them will be missionaries," Blais said. "And I want my family to know my testimony so that they will also believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins so that they can be in His family like I am."

After he gave his testimony, the growth on his neck began to grow at a rapid rate and started affecting his speech, his breathing and his ability to get around.

At his last outing three weeks ago he made his way to the believers' meeting.

"You wouldn't have known that day that he was a man dying with little energy," Aaron wrote. "He couldn't stand still as he lifted his hands and sang praises to God for what Jesus had done for him.

"From that time on eating became difficult and his voice disappeared. His body became frail, but every time I went to see him, despite the pain, the joy in his life seeped through his smile.

"We are praising God for his testimony and that he is in Heaven now. We are able to reflect on the many things he helped us with at our house, his salvation, the Bible lessons he helped us write, his baptism, the land he gave for the literacy building and many other things.

"Thank you to many of you who have been praying for him. Continue to pray for his family who are mostly unsaved."

moving forward...

It seems hard to believe that I will be going back to Durham, Ontario in less than three weeks! Time really does fly by. As I go into my second and last year of tribal missions training, I am currently considering joining the field of Indonesia after I complete the training. I will be contacting the field hopefully this fall and starting to see what they have going on, where they are in need of help, and if I will fit into their team there. As I begin the process of pursuing this field, I would very much appreciate your prayers. Whether I end up in Indonesia or somewhere else, I know that God will put me where He wants to use me.

In the body of Christ there are many parts or members and we all play a variety of roles, but we are all part of the body. God desires to use His people to reach the lost who have never heard His Word. It is such a privilege to be a part of what God is doing no matter where we are or what we are doing. I like to look at the body of Christ as a team working together toward the same goal, the lost coming to know Christ, churches planted, people discipled and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ!

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10. 13-15

If you are interested in corresponding with me as we share our lives and ministry, pray for one

another and encourage one another, please let me know!

You can reach me...

By phone (509) 991 -6540

By email: ferstikle@gmail.com

By mail USA: 10792 SR 211

Usk, WA 99180

By mail Canada: Box 707

Durham, ON N0G 1R0

On facebook - Kadie Morgan Johnson: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=548790726

On twitter: https://twitter.com/ferstikle