When my parents and I were first starting out as missionaries, I was 5 years old. We left our church where I had all my first memories, and traveled around the mid-and-eastern United States. One of favourite things to do was listen to music and sing.
One day, we were staying at someone's house, and I had the song "In His Time" playing. I started crying, because I understood that our lives were changing and I was sad. But mostly I cried because the Holy Spirit touched my heart through that song. It's the first time I remember Him doing that..
So, through the years God has used that song in many ways: to remind me that His timing is indeed right and with my best interest (that's not always how I've seen it, but with trust...);
The past year has been a prime example of that 'timing'.
When I came back to the States in June 2009 after an incredible 3 months in the Netherlands, I couldn't wait to get back, and planned to leave in August or September at the latest. I pushed to go to my mission's training in June so that it would be possible to return so quickly. This was God's first step: I met amazing and wonderful people while I was there, and know that it was exactly in HIS plan for me to go there at that time.
I was still determined to leave in Aug/Sept. But God had different plans. And for many reasons. Here are some of them... :)
June
I attended a 2-week training for Missionaries and MA's. I met tons of people, and reconnected with many as well. Some lifelong friendships were begun that month.
I was also able to visit some friends that I had met over here- there were 2 different missions' teams that came to NL that I helped out with in April and May '09- and I was able to visit several of them!!
July
My beloved Grandmother went to be with Him. I was with her when she died. That's all I want to share about that at this point- but being there was something I would never change for anything.
September
I helped one of my very wonderful friends get ready to move to Florida, and had the privilege of bringing her to the airport. It was a sad time, but I am glad I could be there during that transition.
November
I had the honour and joy of singing in my very wonderful friend's wedding. It was such a beautiful wedding, a wonderful day. I met many wonderful people! The crazy thing about this day was that I woke up sick. I thought maybe I just had a bit of the flu or a bad cold or something. I had started the week with a new job, and my body was taking quite a toll from it. So I stayed in bed all day. I didn't take any medicine because I wanted to make sure I'd be coherent enough to sing at the wedding!
So I made it through the wedding just fine. I left right after the ceremony, took some medicine, and went straight to bed. I knew this wasn't your normal, average cold. Or even flu.
Turns out- I had the H1N1 virus!! It was horrible!! For those of you that can relate, it was akin to having 'le paludisme' or MALARIA!!! I hadn't been that sick for years. It took me 2 weeks to recover. I wouldn't have minded missing that experience, but hey- it was an experience!
December
God renewed a friendship that I hadn't had in nearly 9 years. This is a big WOW and Miracle, to say the least. He renewed other friendships that night as well, between others :)
February
Some friends of mine helped me put on a concert to raise funds for returning to the NL. The true beauty of this was that several of us hadn't had any contact with one another because of a brokenness and other things, which aren't important to note. However, the reason beauty shined that night was because of God's healing grace that covered us all. He reconciled us all to Himself and with each other. This is something that I was waiting to see in Heaven. What a true blessing to have here on earth. And can you imagine? If I had left when I planned.. none of that would have happened. God truly has it all worked out.
April
I was finally "cleared" to leave. We were going to leave in a week (my Mom and I were there, traveling together). As we were looking online for tickets, everything was at least $800+, and that was a little steep. But we'd were going to take it. At the very LAST second, I got an email from a lady that said she'd found a flight for under $600!! And it was only ONE layover!! WOW! We were thrilled!
........the day we were leaving was the day the volcano erupted in Iceland. Wow. We didn't make our flights. I was going to be able to sing in the FireChoir concert that was happening a week after I landed in NL.. but it wasn't to be. We ended up leaving 12 days later.
During that time, we found out that my Grandmother has terminal cancer. This news was, and is, devastating. However, it would have been crushing if we hadn't been there to be with her during that time. My Mom was able to go with her Mom to the biopsy and other appointments that she would have missed, had the volcano not delayed us from going. Again, another "God-thing".
These are just a few of the things that I was able to experience this past year. So the lesson learned? Trust God. In all my ways. Because He sees ahead. He knows all my days. And knows best.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
"In His Time..."
When my parents and I were first starting out as missionaries, I was 5 years old. We left our church where I had all my first memories, and traveled around the mid-and-eastern United States. One of favourite things to do was listen to music and sing.
One day, we were staying at someone's house, and I had the song "In His Time" playing. I started crying, because I understood that our lives were changing and I was sad. But mostly I cried because the Holy Spirit touched my heart through that song. It's the first time I remember Him doing that..
So, through the years God has used that song in many ways: to remind me that His timing is indeed right and with my best interest (that's not always how I've seen it, but with trust...);
The past year has been a prime example of that 'timing'.
When I came back to the States in June 2009 after an incredible 3 months in the Netherlands, I couldn't wait to get back, and planned to leave in August or September at the latest. I pushed to go to my mission's training in June so that it would be possible to return so quickly. This was God's first step: I met amazing and wonderful people while I was there, and know that it was exactly in HIS plan for me to go there at that time.
I was still determined to leave in Aug/Sept. But God had different plans. And for many reasons. Here are some of them... :)
June
I attended a 2-week training for Missionaries and MA's. I met tons of people, and reconnected with many as well. Some lifelong friendships were begun that month.
I was also able to visit some friends that I had met over here- there were 2 different missions' teams that came to NL that I helped out with in April and May '09- and I was able to visit several of them!!
July
My beloved Grandmother went to be with Him. I was with her when she died. That's all I want to share about that at this point- but being there was something I would never change for anything.
September
I helped one of my very wonderful friends get ready to move to Florida, and had the privilege of bringing her to the airport. It was a sad time, but I am glad I could be there during that transition.
November
I had the honour and joy of singing in my very wonderful friend's wedding. It was such a beautiful wedding, a wonderful day. I met many wonderful people! The crazy thing about this day was that I woke up sick. I thought maybe I just had a bit of the flu or a bad cold or something. I had started the week with a new job, and my body was taking quite a toll from it. So I stayed in bed all day. I didn't take any medicine because I wanted to make sure I'd be coherent enough to sing at the wedding!
So I made it through the wedding just fine. I left right after the ceremony, took some medicine, and went straight to bed. I knew this wasn't your normal, average cold. Or even flu.
Turns out- I had the H1N1 virus!! It was horrible!! For those of you that can relate, it was akin to having 'le paludisme' or MALARIA!!! I hadn't been that sick for years. It took me 2 weeks to recover. I wouldn't have minded missing that experience, but hey- it was an experience!
December
God renewed a friendship that I hadn't had in nearly 9 years. This is a big WOW and Miracle, to say the least. He renewed other friendships that night as well, between others :)
February
Some friends of mine helped me put on a concert to raise funds for returning to the NL. The true beauty of this was that several of us hadn't had any contact with one another because of a brokenness and other things, which aren't important to note. However, the reason beauty shined that night was because of God's healing grace that covered us all. He reconciled us all to Himself and with each other. This is something that I was waiting to see in Heaven. What a true blessing to have here on earth. And can you imagine? If I had left when I planned.. none of that would have happened. God truly has it all worked out.
April
I was finally "cleared" to leave. We were going to leave in a week (my Mom and I were there, traveling together). As we were looking online for tickets, everything was at least $800+, and that was a little steep. But we'd were going to take it. At the very LAST second, I got an email from a lady that said she'd found a flight for under $600!! And it was only ONE layover!! WOW! We were thrilled!
........the day we were leaving was the day the volcano erupted in Iceland. Wow. We didn't make our flights. I was going to be able to sing in the FireChoir concert that was happening a week after I landed in NL.. but it wasn't to be. We ended up leaving 12 days later.
During that time, we found out that my Grandmother has terminal cancer. This news was, and is, devastating. However, it would have been crushing if we hadn't been there to be with her during that time. My Mom was able to go with her Mom to the biopsy and other appointments that she would have missed, had the volcano not delayed us from going. Again, another "God-thing".
These are just a few of the things that I was able to experience this past year. So the lesson learned? Trust God. In all my ways. Because He sees ahead. He knows all my days. And knows best.
One day, we were staying at someone's house, and I had the song "In His Time" playing. I started crying, because I understood that our lives were changing and I was sad. But mostly I cried because the Holy Spirit touched my heart through that song. It's the first time I remember Him doing that..
So, through the years God has used that song in many ways: to remind me that His timing is indeed right and with my best interest (that's not always how I've seen it, but with trust...);
The past year has been a prime example of that 'timing'.
When I came back to the States in June 2009 after an incredible 3 months in the Netherlands, I couldn't wait to get back, and planned to leave in August or September at the latest. I pushed to go to my mission's training in June so that it would be possible to return so quickly. This was God's first step: I met amazing and wonderful people while I was there, and know that it was exactly in HIS plan for me to go there at that time.
I was still determined to leave in Aug/Sept. But God had different plans. And for many reasons. Here are some of them... :)
June
I attended a 2-week training for Missionaries and MA's. I met tons of people, and reconnected with many as well. Some lifelong friendships were begun that month.
I was also able to visit some friends that I had met over here- there were 2 different missions' teams that came to NL that I helped out with in April and May '09- and I was able to visit several of them!!
July
My beloved Grandmother went to be with Him. I was with her when she died. That's all I want to share about that at this point- but being there was something I would never change for anything.
September
I helped one of my very wonderful friends get ready to move to Florida, and had the privilege of bringing her to the airport. It was a sad time, but I am glad I could be there during that transition.
November
I had the honour and joy of singing in my very wonderful friend's wedding. It was such a beautiful wedding, a wonderful day. I met many wonderful people! The crazy thing about this day was that I woke up sick. I thought maybe I just had a bit of the flu or a bad cold or something. I had started the week with a new job, and my body was taking quite a toll from it. So I stayed in bed all day. I didn't take any medicine because I wanted to make sure I'd be coherent enough to sing at the wedding!
So I made it through the wedding just fine. I left right after the ceremony, took some medicine, and went straight to bed. I knew this wasn't your normal, average cold. Or even flu.
Turns out- I had the H1N1 virus!! It was horrible!! For those of you that can relate, it was akin to having 'le paludisme' or MALARIA!!! I hadn't been that sick for years. It took me 2 weeks to recover. I wouldn't have minded missing that experience, but hey- it was an experience!
December
God renewed a friendship that I hadn't had in nearly 9 years. This is a big WOW and Miracle, to say the least. He renewed other friendships that night as well, between others :)
February
Some friends of mine helped me put on a concert to raise funds for returning to the NL. The true beauty of this was that several of us hadn't had any contact with one another because of a brokenness and other things, which aren't important to note. However, the reason beauty shined that night was because of God's healing grace that covered us all. He reconciled us all to Himself and with each other. This is something that I was waiting to see in Heaven. What a true blessing to have here on earth. And can you imagine? If I had left when I planned.. none of that would have happened. God truly has it all worked out.
April
I was finally "cleared" to leave. We were going to leave in a week (my Mom and I were there, traveling together). As we were looking online for tickets, everything was at least $800+, and that was a little steep. But we'd were going to take it. At the very LAST second, I got an email from a lady that said she'd found a flight for under $600!! And it was only ONE layover!! WOW! We were thrilled!
........the day we were leaving was the day the volcano erupted in Iceland. Wow. We didn't make our flights. I was going to be able to sing in the FireChoir concert that was happening a week after I landed in NL.. but it wasn't to be. We ended up leaving 12 days later.
During that time, we found out that my Grandmother has terminal cancer. This news was, and is, devastating. However, it would have been crushing if we hadn't been there to be with her during that time. My Mom was able to go with her Mom to the biopsy and other appointments that she would have missed, had the volcano not delayed us from going. Again, another "God-thing".
These are just a few of the things that I was able to experience this past year. So the lesson learned? Trust God. In all my ways. Because He sees ahead. He knows all my days. And knows best.
Friday, June 18, 2010
CRAZY WONDERFUL LIFE
Wow, life is crazy! And Wonderful! And incredibly busy. Today I get to attend my very FIRST real, Dutch wedding! I am so excited. They are 2 very good friends of mine, and I am so happy to see them coming together in marriage and celebrating with them. The fun thing is, not only do I get to attend: I get to SING in the wedding! WOW! What an honour :) At the church service, they have a time of worship, so some other people and I are leading that. I'll post pictures.
The interesting thing about here is that the government requires a civil ceremony for marriage. The church ceremony is only optional if you want to have it-- but it's not considered legal. So they often have their civil ceremonies sometime during the week, and then the church one on a Friday or Saturday. It costs anywhere from €300+ up to €1200 for the civil ceremony-- however, there is usually a day of the week that it is free, depending on where the couple is from. So many Christians opt to have their civil ceremony on that "free" day, and have their church ceremony on another day. I say hoorah for saving the money! Plus, that means you can have a whole week to celebrate your nuptials every year!
Well, I'm off for an errand. Things are great, and busy. I am so thankful to be here. I was just remarking to my friend the other day that I feel so at home here--- as if it were "meant to be". Imagine that? :)
Love to you all!!
~A
The interesting thing about here is that the government requires a civil ceremony for marriage. The church ceremony is only optional if you want to have it-- but it's not considered legal. So they often have their civil ceremonies sometime during the week, and then the church one on a Friday or Saturday. It costs anywhere from €300+ up to €1200 for the civil ceremony-- however, there is usually a day of the week that it is free, depending on where the couple is from. So many Christians opt to have their civil ceremony on that "free" day, and have their church ceremony on another day. I say hoorah for saving the money! Plus, that means you can have a whole week to celebrate your nuptials every year!
Well, I'm off for an errand. Things are great, and busy. I am so thankful to be here. I was just remarking to my friend the other day that I feel so at home here--- as if it were "meant to be". Imagine that? :)
Love to you all!!
~A
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