God is able.

what's next

2011-03-22T12:00:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-12-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

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.

2010-10-21T12:25:00.001-07:00

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.

2010-09-28T16:01:00.001-07:00

... 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

2010-08-26T04:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-08-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

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

:)

2010-07-30T19:07:00.001-07:00

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Romans 11:33

well, jungle camp is over.

2010-07-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

Jungle Camp was tons of fun, but just the same i am glad to be done now. We had four days during jungle camp that were set aside to study the Bible. We did at least six hours of study each day. Here are some of the things that really stood out to me during these times:

Job 26

But Job answered and said:

“How have you helped him who is without power?
How have you saved the arm that has no strength?

How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?
And how have you declared sound advice to many?

To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit came from you?

“The dead tremble,
Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.

Sheol is naked before Him,
And Destruction has no covering.

He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.

He binds up the water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds are not broken under it.

He covers the face of His throne,
And spreads His cloud over it.

He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.

The pillars of heaven tremble,
And are astonished at His rebuke.

He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.

By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

Also, Isaiah 40

“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
for all her sins.”

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”

A voice said, “Shout!”
I asked, “What should I shout?”

“Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the Lord.
And so it is with people.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.”

O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?

No, for all the nations of the world
are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
as though it were a grain of sand.
All the wood in Lebanon’s forests
and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough
to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.
The nations of the world are worth nothing to him.
In his eyes they count for less than nothing—
mere emptiness and froth.

To whom can you compare God?
What image can you find to resemble him?
Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,
overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?
Or if people are too poor for that,
they might at least choose wood that won’t decay
and a skilled craftsman
to carve an image that won’t fall down!

Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand?
Are you deaf to the words of God—
the words he gave before the world began?
Are you so ignorant?
God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
and makes his tent from them.
He judges the great people of the world
and brings them all to nothing.
They hardly get started, barely taking root,
when he blows on them and they wither.
The wind carries them off like chaff.

“To whom will you compare me?
Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

These chapters just reminded me how powerful God is and how much He really cares for each person. So many things happen in life that I don't understand. Maybe we don't understand why He gives us what He does or why He puts us where He does, but these are great reminders that God truly does care about us, He is powerful and we can trust Him in all things. His grace just overwhelms me!

Ephesians 3.20

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think

Philippians 1.6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

1 Thessalonians 5.24

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Philippians 4.19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

"You may say, 'show me a pattern man.' We all like to copy; but there is no gain in copying. You have to learn Christ the Lord for yourself. All you learn for yourself will remain and nothing else. Everyone has his own history." JBS

See you soon!

Just about ready for Jungle Camp

2010-06-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

This past week and a half, my roommate and i have been working on building our Jungle Camp house. We are ready to move in now and are finishing some last minute organizing and cleaning before we move up on Saturday. We will be living in Jungle Camp for four weeks and will not be allowed to leave at anytime during those four weeks apart from two days for a ladies' hike.

Our house has gravity fed water and a hot water tank attached to our stove. We will have light in our house that runs off of a battery that has been charged by solar panels.

Jungle Camp is just supposed to give us a slight taste of what it would be like to live in the bush. We will have to plan our food for one month and live without electricity apart from our battery powered light.

Maybe the hardest part about living in Jungle Camp is going to be the seclusion from the rest of the world and getting along with the few people that we will be in seclusion with. There will not be much privacy in Jungle Camp and I am sure that will be a struggle at times.

I would much appreciate your prayers for this next month of living in the bush. I am really looking forward to this experience, but I am also unsure of how I will respond to living in the bush for a month.

"Since He is both my God and my Father, and since all of the hardships He takes me through are specifically designed to conform me to the image of the Lord Jesus, how can I help but trust Him and rejoice in His faithfulness." - M. J. S.

2010-04-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

- Elvina M. Hall

Give thanks always in everything...

2010-04-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Recently we had a lady speak about the 'always' and 'everything's in the Bible. She reminded us that no one has any power that God has not allowed them to have. Everything that God allows in our lives, He is using to make us more like Christ. Therefore, in every situation that comes our way, we should give thanks to God for that situation and what He wants to teach us through it. Also, we can have peace in all circumstances, knowing that God has all power and is over all. No one can have more power than God allows and they can go no further than God allows them. It was good to be reminded to give thanks to God always, I often find myself feeling sorry for myself and whatever circumstance I find myself in. But rather, I should be thanking God for that situation and thanking Him for using that to make me more like His Son.

Here in Durham we are just about done with our Biblical Foundation classes and we will move on to a few practical training classes for the rest of this semester. We will have a tech tips class and learn a couple of things that will be helpful in jungle camp. Jungle camp building begins the 31st of May and we have two weeks to get our place livable. My roommate and I have just finished getting a month worth of meals planned out for our time in jungle camp. We have to stay up in jungle camp for the whole month, so we need to plan carefully. The majority of our class of sixteen are interested in planting a few things in the greenhouse and garden in order to have a few fresh vegetables while we are up there. The other day some friends of mine helped clean out the greenhouse, but the garden still needs cleared out and tilled before it will be ready. I guess we have a little while before it will be warm enough to plant! Although, this past weekend was gorgeous, warm and sunny! As you can tell, jungle camp is what is on the brain these days, it is coming up pretty fast!

Thank you for praying for me, I cannot thank you enough!

"What a privilege we have to go for a walk with God today so that His Son's life will be seen in us." - B. Challinor

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 thessalonians 5.18

change of mind...

2010-02-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I got to go to Michigan with some friends. We stayed with my friend Katie's sister. The pictures here are from that trip and we are working on making california rolls. It was a really fun time as we just visited a lot and relaxed!

As the title of this blog post suggests, I have been thinking a little bit about the mind and changing the mind. So many thoughts run through my head and I think to myself, 'I want to think about something else.' How do we do that, can we just stop thinking about one thing and start thinking about something else? What does God say about the mind? What does God say that we should think about?

In Psalm 94.11 it says, "The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that the are futile." Proverbs 23.33 says, " Your eyes will see strange things and your mind will utter perverse things." And also in Ecclesiastes 2.23 it says, "For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity." From these verse I see that the thoughts and mind of man is corrupt and should not be relied upon. Whose mind can I trust then? In 1 Corinthians 2.16 Paul says, "For, 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." Colossians 3.2 states, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." As believers we have the very mind of Christ and can choose to think according to our new nature. Ephesians 4.21-23 says, "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

One verse that is really good to keep in mind is Romans 12.2. It reminds me to keep my focus on Christ and to change my mind as much as I need to. It is so easy to think negatively of others, whether believers or not, but those negative thoughts are not how I should be thinking of others. My brothers and sisters in Christ are to be seen as just that, IN CHRIST! For those who are not saved, Christ died for them and desires that they would come to believe as well. If I start to have negative thoughts about people or circumstances, I need to change my mind and think according to Christ's mind, put my focus on Christ.

ROMANS 12.2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

THANKS FOR PRAYING FOR ME! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!!! (I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH, BUT I AM TRYING.) KIDS CLUB WENT PRETTY WELL THIS LAST WEEK. WE HAD LESS KIDS IN OUR GROUP, BUT I NOTICED THAT THE KIDS WERE SHOWING MORE RESPECT FOR THE LESSON AND WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THESE KIDS AND THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES. PLEASE PRAY THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM!

check this out.

2010-02-04T05:25:00.001-08:00

http://www.last.fm/music/Sufjan+Stevens/_/Come+Thou+Fount+of+Every+Blessing

January 2010!

2010-01-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Last week in class we had scratch cooking demonstrations. We learned to make bread, tortillas, crepes, waffles, pies, salad dressings, yogurt, and much more. This week we had to put into practice the 'art' of scratch cooking. We were asked to do our shopping in advance for the week and plan out our menus in advance as well. We were not allowed to used electric appliances apart from the fridge as they are trying to make our experience similar to what we might experience on the field. The hardest part for me was not being able to grind my coffee beans, but luckily it is only for five days. Tonight we will be having a potluck and everyone will bring to dishes that are made from scratch. That is an exciting end to a busy week and everyone is talking about what they will be bringing.

This last week we finished our pre-evangelism module and our teacher was emphasizing the importance of having a learner's attitude. I really appreciated what he taught and I have had a chance to put it into practice this week with scratch cooking. Our teacher mentioned that even as leaders we need to have a learner's attitude because we can learn things from those around us. As missionaries going into a new country, we need to be willing to learn from the people. If we come in with an attitude of pride or superiority, we will turn the people away from listening to us and that will greatly hinder our chances of sharing the gospel with them.

Thanks for praying.

it's over already?

2009-12-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe that Christmas break is over in less than a week! Where did the time go?

I went into this break knowing that it would not be easy to be with family and friends and not let my self get in the way of what Christ wanted to do in and through me. A friend told me that your living room is hardest place to allow the life of Christ to be lived out and I think she is right. We are so comfortable at home and I find that I expect more from my family than from others. It is not easy for me to be loving to my family always because of the expectations that I place on them. It seems nearly impossible to learn to respond in love to my family, but I know it is what Christ is asking me to do. I was thinking that it would take a lifetime to really show love to my family and friends, but that is what I have. Now I need to make the most of the time I have with each one of them and sometimes step out of my own comfort zone and just be with them in whatever they are wanting to do.

Please be praying for me to show love to everyone around me... the love of Christ. I realize that I need to be God-focused, not self-focused, please pray that I will put myself aside and look to God only to do it.

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of this training and I am really looking forward to getting back to it. I know that it is a common theme among missionaries and those training to be missionaries to have a tight budget. My roommate and I are both in fairly tight spots financially and will probably be extra stingy this next semester. We don't really have a summer in between years to save up money, so we really need to be conscious of our spending. Please pray that we will be wise about our spending and trust God to provide, we know that He does.

Thank you and have a wonderful new year!!

First Semester.

2009-12-04T06:47:00.001-08:00

In one week, the first semester of training will be over. It is hard to believe it is over already. There are so many things that I have learned and hope that I will be able to look back and be reminded of these things for the rest of my life.

In class we have been talking about spiritual warfare. One day we discussed things that we associate with war or that are necessary for war. Not spiritual warfare specifically, just war in general. One of the things that was mention as being necessary for a war, was a general. Someone said a general can make or break the war. What a privilege to serve our heavenly Father, GOD! I was thinking about what it is like living life when you are under God's command. There is no need for fear or timidity, but I am still fearful and timid often. When we were discussing this in class, I could not help but think that as believers we are unstoppable if we allow Christ to work through us. It sort of blows me away.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

- Colossians 3.1-4

winter is coming... maybe.

2009-11-22T12:48:00.001-08:00

The weather has been really great here in Durham, surprisingly. Last year at this time, there was lots of snow on the ground, but it is taking its sweet time this year. The necessary preparations have been coming right along with the snow blowers ready and snowmobiling trails clearly marked. The school will be putting on a play here in Durham and many people have been busy getting organized for that. It will be on December 1st, so please be praying that many people will come in from Durham and surrounding communities.

We had a pastor appreciation potluck at the church I attend here, Clifford Community Church. There was a great turnout for the potluck and it was great to see everyone so appreciative of the pastor there. The pastor and his wife have a heart for rural towns in Ontario and have been ministering in Clifford for about ten years now. There is a wonderful body of believers there and it has been a blessing to get to know them all.

Also, kids club has been going well and we are just about to teach on the fall of man. Please pray that the kids will continue to come and be open to learning about God. Pray that God will teach these children about Himself and thank Him for using each of the helpers there to carry out His work in the community.

Thank you for praying!

Awayo

2009-10-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to Awayo's story: http://vimeo.com/6854049

Climbing on the rocks.

2009-10-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

The other evening, a group of students from the training here went to a place called Old Baldy. Since it is fall here in Ontario, the trees are getting quite colorful. Old Baldy is a crag that looks over a valley and hillside covered with these beautiful trees.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork."

Psalm 19.1

//.God's grace is sufficient.//

2009-10-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

This week in church planting class, we have been discussing our identity in Christ as a church and as individuals. As believers, it is important for us to understand what Christ has done for us and who we are in light of that. We have also been discussing God's grace, His unmerited favor, which He has freely given us. The Hebrew word for grace means to stoop or bend. Here is a quote that was shared in class that conveyed this well:

"Love that reaches up is adoration,

Love that reaches out is affection

Love that stoops down is GRACE!"

Grace is free, it is not at all deserved by us. If it was deserved at all, it would not be grace. There is nothing we can do to earn grace even though we often try to do something to make things right. Grace is not on a works basis, it is freely given us by God on the basis of what Christ Jesus accomplished on Calvary's Cross.

2 Peter 1.3 says, "...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,". We are lacking in nothing. What an awesome God we serve and He is worthy of all our praise. Understanding and accepting what Christ has done for us and all that He has given us, sets us free from all of this garbage and these expectations that we have set on ourselves.

Today in class we have been discussing 2 Corinthians 12.9. - και ειρηκεν μοι αρκει σοι η χαρις μου η γαρ δυναμις μου εν ασθενεια τελειουται ηδιστα ουν μαλλον καυχησομαι εν ταις ασθενειαις μου ινα επισκηνωση επ εμε η δυναμις του χριστου -

- And He said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -

Our teacher said, 'We can trust God in the most difficult of times.'

WHY? Because HE IS ABLE.

2 Corinthians 9.8

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

grateful

2009-10-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. People start to talk a lot of about being thankful right around this time of year and it has me thinking. At Church our pastor has been talking a lot about prayer and being in prayer always. I notice that I tend to pray more when times get tough, but in the good times I forget to thank God for all He does. Even when times are not so good, He deserves thanks because He has given us life and provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him... and so much more. So many time when I pray, I am asking God to do things, but I forget about the things He has done for me already. Jesus accomplished many things on the cross at Calvary that we often do not realize or forget about. It is so good just to thank God for what He has provided for us. Just think of the first chapter of Ephesians...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places 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

That just blows me away when I read those verses and see all that God has given me. Now I just need to remember to thank God continually for all that He has done.

To all of you who have been praying for me here in the training, Thank You. I really appreciate the prayers, they are always needed.

//Canoeing//

2009-10-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

This past week I was able to go on a canoe trip on the Saugeen River here in Ontario. I had heard stories of people flipping their canoes last year and was a little nervous about going on this trip. The girl that canoed with me, Deanna, had not been in a canoe before and neither had I. The trip took a couple of hours not including the break in the middle. Every year the school goes on these canoe trips to help the students learn to work together as a team. As you are canoeing down the river, the person in front is telling the person in the rear which direction to steer and the person in the rear has to trust that the person in front is paying attention to the river. In spite of my concerns, Deanna and I survived the canoe trip and had a great time along the way. Some of the other canoers got a little wet or came close to tipping, but Deanna and I stayed dry and navigated our way neatly down the river. As I observed the other teams in their canoes, I could see how easy it would be to get frustrated at the other person in your canoe if anything went wrong. There were a few instances where I could tell that people were getting a little uptight and frustrated with their partner, but we all managed to work with our partners and make it to the end.

So often I find myself leaning to God only when times get a little scary or tough. Once I am out of my comfort zone, I realize that I need God to help me make it through the given situation. God is patient with His people and knows that we fail over and over again. But let us not forget that He is there and worthy of all praise. All glory belongs to our God. Since I attended a Chris Tomlin concert last night, the lyrics to his song 'How Great Is Our God' are brought to mind. "Name above all names, worthy of all praise, my heart will sing how great is our God." Let us give to praise and glory to Him when times are going well and when times are looking bleak. In Ecclesiastes it says,

"When times are good, be happy;

but when times are bad, consider:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
Therefore, a man cannot discover
anything about his future."

Also in Job it says,

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

God reminds us in Romans, 'that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' Let's remember that God sees the big picture and provided everything we need for life and Godliness and He is able!

...He hangs the earth on nothing.

2009-09-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

In class we have been learning about God's attributes as well as looking at creation and God as Creator. As we look around us or even at our own bodies we can see the awesomeness of God's handiwork. One example of God's awesome creation is the sense of smell. Humans can recognize around 10,000 different smells. Not only do we recognize smells, but smells can trigger memories linked with those smells that are stored away in our brains. Or how about the difference in size of creatures. The Blue Whale has a heart the size of a Volkswagen Bug, man has a heart the size of his fist and a hummingbird has a heart the size of a grain of rice. Man was created in man's image with the capacity to think. Just think of Adam in the garden when he was coming up with names for all the animals, what a huge task that would be. God created man with a great capacity to think and use our brains. We do not take advantage of what God has given us and we sell ourselves short. We serve an amazing God. He created the universe, the earth and all that is in it. Wow. What a privilege to serve Him.

Here at the training we have what is called the Christian Life Experience. This is just another name for ministry and it can take on many different forms. Please pray for me as I am looking for opportunities to serve God by building relationships with people in the surrounding communities. Please pray, too, for all of the staff and students here on campus and our relationships with one another. So far we are still getting to know one another and it can be exciting, but there will be hard things to go through in the future as is true of relationships.

Thank you all for praying for me, we serve an awesome God!

Job 26.7,14