Truth in the Storm

When we choose to become followers of Jesus Christ we enter into a life long battlefield until we have reached eternity with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Sometimes those battles are easy to face and others incredibly challenging. The past couple of weeks my community in Vienna and myself have been experiencing some heavy battles.  The weight of stress, pressure and Satan's attacks become incredibly tiresome.  God seems distant and it feels like the rains just do not stop.  

Yesterday, I was greatly encouraged via email from my mentor back in the States.  She sent me this little devotional that changed my perspective on problems and battles.  I know that at some time in each one of our lives we will face horrible and challenging battles.  The Lord is near and through much prayer we can experience the weight of Christ's glory instead of Satan's battles.  

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

"Do not long for the absence of problems in your life.  That is an unrealistic goal, since 'in this world you will have trouble.'  You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven.  Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth.

Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter.  The best equipping is My living Presence, 'My hand that never lets go of you.' Discuss everything with Me.  Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle.  Remember that I am on your side, and 'I have overcome the world.'

John 16:23  

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  

Isaiah 41:13 

For I, the Lord your God; hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you".

Barcelona

A plus about living in Europe is how extremely close the countries are together.  Coming from America, traveling to other countries and getting a stamp in the passport is quite a big deal.  I am learning that in Europe, traveling from country to country is just like going from state to state.  

My Spanish 1 class had been asking for months if we could take a trip to Spain sometime this year.  After a five minute thought, I easily agreed to take a class field trip to Barcelona, Spain.  It was such a great trip to share with students and get to know them more.  We were able to see some pretty cool sights, eat delicious Spanish food and even have a worship time on the beach that over looked the Mediterranean Sea.  The Lord was quite near and answered many prayers (more on that later).  Check out some pictures below!

The whole gang

Las chicas

Becca and I with my T.A.

La Sagrada Familia

Photo time

The Gaudí tile

The Gaudí park

All the girls

A delicious market off Las Ramblas

Freshman enjoying the shopping (a little too much) 

Arc de Triunf Barcelona

Zimbabwe

Last week our school hosted the Ambassador of Zimbabwe!  Working at an international school so close to the United Nations allows for neat experiences such as this one.  Various times through out the year different Ambassadors and world leaders will come to speak at our school.  They usually speak about their life, difficult job, where they travel to and how they get to work with their "amazing" President from their prospective countries.  It is interesting hearing about what these leaders do and realizing how much different my life is from theirs.  Very rarely will these leaders ever mention the name "Jesus."  They generally use terms such as "highly religious", "universal calling" or "peaceful environment."  What really impressed me about the Ambassador of Zimbabwe was her undying love for Jesus Christ.  From the moment she stepped foot onto the stage until the end of her speech, she preached the Gospel.  She rarely mentioned herself, accomplishments or successes but rather what the Lord has done for her and how He has saved her.  It's extremely powerful for students when they see powerful people have such a deep love for their God.

Her words reminded me of this quote from C.S. Lewis.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” 

― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

Ambassador of speaking to the High School students

Ambassador with our Director, James Devenish

Beauty and the Beast

Our wonderful high school has been working on their Spring Musical for the past few months and we were able to finally see it.  It was such an amazing performance.  I laughed.  I sighed.  I almost cried.  Check out some of the photos below.  The costumes were so well done!  

Becca and I with some students

The wonderful directors 

Scene 1:  Belle

Luminere and Clogsworth 

Gaston and his maidens 

The beast!  

'Oh what a guy, Gaston!   

Giving Belle a tour of the castle 

Check out those costumes!

Tale old as Time

The lovely cast

Some of my sweet students

Becca and Belle

Back from Romania!

We have returned from Romania and it was such a great trip.  After loading 32 people into 4 vans, traveling through 3 countries and safely making it through the border, we arrived in Cornesti, Romania.  We were greeted by many smiling women and some shy kids that stole our hearts right away.  I was extremely impressed by how our team loved those kids how hard they worked.  They laid the foundation for a cement driveway plus an addition to a house.  In addition, they leveled a large bumpy, weedy and rocky field and hosted an event for the kids in the town of Cornesti.  I was amazed by the work ethic of these students and their dedication to servanthood.  Our team bonded quite well and worked as such a unified team.  The Lord was at work in the hearts and minds of these kids and it was extremely obvious.  Many students were softened to the name of Jesus and took an interest in God.  During the evening times we had people share what God had been doing in their lives and it was such a testament to the power of God and his love for his people.  I was greatly encouraged and learned a lot.  By the end of the trip I was sad to leave and could have stayed longer.

The interesting thing about mission's trips is that you go to serve and love others when in fact you are the one that feels loved and served by the people.  While thinking about this, I realized this completely coincides with our relationship with the Lord.  The more we choose to love and serve Him, the more love and service He blesses us with.  The Lord longs for us to be obedient to Him everyday.  When our days are filled with obedience and service to Jesus, how can we not but feel loved and desire to worship Him even more.  The Lord is good and He answers prayer and seriously loves his children.

Ephesians 3:18-19

"...may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the LOVE of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  

Some students and myself

Sweet little girl enjoying the Easter Egg hunt we had for the kids

VBS:  Crafts station with this cute little boy

Decorating a sign that says "Jesus loves me"

Duck, Duck, Goose is popular in any country :)

VBS:  A fun game of trying to remove the candy from the string with just your teeth

My favorite picture!

Students working hard on the work projects

The cement foundation that is an addition to the house laid by our students

Boys working hard to mix cement

Becca and one of our students

Trying to uproot about 1,000 roots

Awesome driveway that our students laid!  So proud of them!

Some of the care home moms and myself

The only group shot I was able to get but here is our team!  :)

Sweet Freshman and our Korean/Romanian translator :)

All the leaders with Doug and Roberta Moore (Founders of the ministry)  

Romania 2012

In a few days, my roommate and I will be leading a team of 23 students to a small city in Romania.  Cornesti, Romania is a city filled with widows, orphans, abused children and women.  In Cornesti there is a ministry called River of Life run by Doug and Roberta Moore that predominately meets the needs of these women and children.  Our school will be going to this ministry in order to minister to the women and children, build a concrete driveway and floor, put on a VBS, and spend an afternoon with the elderly women.  We are very excited and somewhat nervous to take this trip. 

While we will be ministering to these Romanian people, I am looking forward to seeing the students changed.  Many of our students have never participated in a mission’s trip, VBS or service project.  Some of the students going are non-Christians or unsure of what they believe.  I believe God is really going to awaken many of the hearts of our students.  Generally when we go to serve, we ourselves end up learning more than the people being served.  As a team, we will be studying the book of James and with a focus in unity and obedience.   

I ask for your prayers for this trip and that Jesus Christ will transform the hearts of these students and they will find a new love in Christ.  In addition, many students are in need of financial support for this trip.  We also need to raise money in order to purchase supplies for making the concrete.  If you feel at all led to donate money to some of the students or towards the supplies it would be greatly appreciated by our students and the people of Romania.  It is very easy to give online and please let me know!  I personally, am in no need of money for this trip. 

God continues to bless, encourage, challenge and stretch me beyond what I have ever experienced.  I am constantly learning it is never what I do that secures my salvation, but by my faith and obedience to Jesus Christ!

To learn more about the ministry we will be aiding click here:  River or Life

Here are a few pics of our team!  

Took the students on a photo scavenger hunt

Boys team 

Part of the scavenger hunt was to all be on a statue

Becca leading the team

James 3:13-17

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

These verses are a theme for our team this week.  

Choose wisdom from the Lord.  

Be obedient.  Love.