Still in His Hands

One of the vital aspects of mission work, ministry - and life in general - is planning. We consider the vision God has given and how to work with Him toward it. Somewhere along the way, however, we learn that, despite our best planning, we are not the ones who decide the future.

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps" Proverbs 16:9, NLT

project planning, presentations, and other lectures 

Last Friday (still at the Children at Risk School at the YWAM base in the Netherlands), we concluded a week of lectures on methods of effective project planning and began making plans for our outreach in South Africa. The following Monday, the YWAM base had to make the difficult decision to cancel the rest of the school, including the outreach, and send the students home as the ripple effects of the Coronavirus became increasingly unstable and widespread. In a whirlwind, I found myself packing my bags, hugging my fellow students goodbye, and flying back to the country I hadn't expected to return to before the end of the year at the earliest. 

many send offs; packed bags lining the hallway ; and a classroom empty too early

We all have our stories, and increasingly more and more of them, of how our daily lives and the world around us feels like it's been lifted off its axis, suspending us and our lives in the mid-air of uncertainty.

But my friends, let's remind ourselves that our stability is not in our certainty! When we had lectures on the very difficult topic of human trafficking, our lecturer, despite the huge amount of information to cover, refused to even begin to enter into it before she had thoroughly convinced us of the importance of the believing that no matter what hard realities we face, what horrific circumstances we encounter, what injustices we are forced to look at, God is still good and we can still trust Him!

many wonderful memories together, both in and out of the classroom

Listen to the words of Psalm 4:6-8 in the light of our current situation:

Many are saying,

"Who can show us anything good?" (what good can come out of Corona?)

Look on us with favor, Lord.

You have put more joy in my heart

Than they have when their grain and new wine abound.

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

For You, alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

Just like the rest of the world, I don't know what the coming weeks and months will hold, but I so firmly believe that God has extended an invitation to know Him in a whole new way. To watch Him show up in a new way in our lives, to show how He is the richest certainty and stability, that He is still good, that we can still trust Him, that He can bring beauty from ashes and give us a song to sing even in the darkness.

the picture to the far right is a traditional Indonesian meal we ate together on the floor with our hands. It was awesome!

Since arriving back in the States, I'm at home in quarantine for two weeks. During this, I want to really seek God for what He might want to do with my time here, however long or short that will be. I also want to spend time praying for you, and would be very happy if you want to send me specific prayer needs (I'm serious, I want to pray for you! 🙂).

Be blessed, my friends! Our God stands so much stronger than the effects of Corona ever could!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:5

Hello from Holland!🇳🇱

The Catch Up

2019 was a full year, and I have no doubt many of you are echoing that back for yourselves! When I look back over those 365 days, 3 things personally stand out to me the most: during the first six months, Bulgaria truly became home to me. It went from being a place that I was pretty sure I really liked to the country that completely held my heart. July held the challenge of surrendering life there for the time to return to the States to study and become more equipped to do what God has put on my heart. After 6 months of quality catch-up time with family, lots of studying, and an internship at a crisis pregnancy center, I was given the wonderful, unexpected opportunity of returning to Bulgaria for several weeks and closing the year there  (🙌🏻🇧🇬✈️).

2019 summarized in three pictures

Отново у дома в България {Home again in Bulgaria}

As the plane neared the airport and the mountains in all their misty beauty came into view, followed by the red-roofed houses and all the other sights that had become so familiar neared, I was left in humbled thankfulness as I was reminded all over again that God really can be trusted to write our stories. When I had flown out of Bulgaria six months before (quite honestly feeling like it was the end of the world), I never could have dreamed that only half a year later I would be celebrating Christmas with family in the States and New Year and the first half of January with those who have become family in Bulgaria.

	The days spent there were full of many wonderful reunions, quality time with dear friends, traveling through the country to visit ‘Bulgarian family’, an even a teens (plus a few grandmothers who didn't want to miss out of the fun!) New Year’s party. They were truly sweet days!

A New Adventure - YWAM Heidebeek

Then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, it was once again time to leave Bulgaria, and this time to begin an entirely new adventure - a YWAM school in the Netherlands.

YWAM, standing for Youth with a Mission,(https://ywamheidebeek.org/ https://www.ywam.org/))  is an international organization that trains, empowers, connects, and sends out missionaries. I am taking their Children at Risk school which equips missionaries to work with babies, children, and teenagers from/in hard places. A few of the school's topics includes

o   child development and attachment

o   working with kids who have experienced abuse and trauma

o   kids with special needs

o   teenage identity/character / social programs

o   understanding and working with children based on their personalities/ learning styles

o   family structures and working with kids from broken families

o   community development

o   abortion

o   trafficking

….and the list goes on!

	Only 4 weeks into the school and I have already gained so much through the lectures and training and already feel so much more empowered and equipped. Beyond lectures, God is truly stepping into this time in my life personally, making Himself and His presence so very real and teaching, growing and stretching me in so many ways. I am really thrilled about all He has in store through these months!

Looking Ahead

We have one more month of lectures here in the Netherlands and then will be traveling to South Africa on outreach for another 3 months.

Please pray that God will continue growing and teaching us in both our Children at Risk focus and more about Himself, and praise Him for how He's so greatly already answering this prayer! 

Please pray that God will clearly point the way that He has for me following the outreach in South Africa, and praise Him that He does go ahead and before us and make our way straight.

Thank you! for your prayers and for joining me on this incredible journey of "stepping out upon the waters" in following God.  What is God doing in your lives and circles so far this year? I always love hearing updates from you and being told how I can pray!

Blessings and hugs from Holland to you all!