Finally!!

I know, you are saying "finally, an update"! I agree, it has been WAY too long, and WAY OVERDUE! So here I am, for a quick update on life.

In April I was in the middle of my second 3-month term as a MAPS worker in the Netherlands. I was thinking about my future, and whether I should make it a more permanent commitment or not. I decided to do the old "walk through the door until God closes it" and see where that would take me. I would apply to come back for a 1-year commitment, and see if I was accepted and approved.

I talked to my missionary couple that I work with, and they were excited and on board with the idea. So I emailed some people and started applying... Long story short, I was accepted and approved after about 5-6 weeks of paperwork, et cetera. Woohoo!

June 1st I came back to the States and was in Minnesota for a little less than 2 weeks. I left June 13th and drove down to Missouri with a fellow MA (Missionary Associate, my new, official title) for 2 weeks of training, and one extra week of visiting. The next 3 weeks were incredible: I met and made many new friends, and had a great experience connecting with people that were experiencing many of the same things I am at this time in my life. I was also priviledged to visit several family, as well as several people that had been over to NL for missions' trips (2 different trips, 2 different groups of people from Missouri!). All in all, it was a wonderful trip. My parents and I drove back to MN together- making a stop in KC to visit my cousins, and then in ND for a town celebration and 2 church services. We got back to MN pooped out, but full of a wonderful trip!

So.. here I am, working on raising funds to go back to NL. God has continually opened doors for me, and I know He is preparing me to go back. I can't do it alone! I need your prayers and financial help to do this! With God leading us, we can all achieve what we were put on this earth for.. :)

Hugs to all my friends and family.

~A

Gemeente Weekend Tomorrow

Tomorrow I am leaving for a couple of days to go with my church on a weekend-retreat. I think I mentioned that in my last post, but it's worth mentioning again :) I am pretty sure that I messed up the spelling of the church too, so we'll just go with "Agape", which is one of the names it goes by. I'm not sure why, but some churches here have more than one name. Mine, for example, goes by Agape (which is God's unconditional Love)- it also goes by "Regenboogkerk" which means Rainbow church. Not sure why that is either. But it fits. :) It is also known as "Pinkstergemeente" which means Pentecostal church.. but that is a more general term, rather than an actual name. Like calling a church a "Baptist church" doesn't mean that's the name.

It'd be great if I got like a million responses to this blog/note stating the correct terms and why they are that way, and so on.. yeah! =) 3 people in particular that I would expect that from! Liefs ;)

Anyway, 4 of the girls from church and I are singing a song Sunday morning- called "None but Jesus" by Hillsong United. Mellow + powerful song- I'm excited- I love putting music together, working out vocal and instrumental parts, adding our own "thoughts" and spin on it, and then giving it to God in worship, and hopefully blessing a few people along the way. Not much more thrills me in the world than doing that. What a gift to be able to partake in that.. I am in awe.

OK.. it's past 1am, and my ride arrives at 10 (AM) to leave for the retreat. Then I'll be back sometime Sunday, have Monday to do about 117 errands- hang out with "mah girls" that night, and then our TEAM from CBC, MO comes in bright and EARLY Tuesday morning! (And by early, I mean 7:20 am, landing at the airport.. remind me to thank you for that, guys!!!) :)

God is good. He makes life worth it. He gave you to me. Just to prove it.

Peace, Liefs, Groetjes to your Loved one

~A

Famous One..

For some reason, a certain set of lyrics is going through my head- and not the whole song either, just a couple lines over and over again.. so I am listening to them right now, and about to type them out for you now :) Yay!

Here they are:

"And for all You've done, and yet to do.. with every breath, Lord I'm praising You. Desire of nations and every heart.. You alone are God.. You alone are God". From the song, "Famous One" by Chris Tomlin.

Isn't God good? Yes, I think so.

Someone once brought up the idea that they didn't like to think of God as "famous". I think it was in line with the thinking that being famous means that you are ultimately unapproachable, yet everyone longs to be who you are and have what you have.. in a selfish respect. Yet, no one really seems to know WHO you really are, or what you think about, because being famous often comes with a price- one that requires you to be "who" the public thinks you should be, and not necessarily showing your true colours.

I can understand this point of view.

Yet, as I think about it, if "GOD" was the "famous one".. I think He'd handle Himself quite well.. no one would need to wonder if He was really being "Himself", because He is true to Who He is.. it's impossible for God to lie, so no one would ever have to wonder if He was really saying what He meant.. or doing what He really should be doing, with the right motives and so on.. :) He's God. He could handle it. And be true to His character, His glory, His Love..

This weekend my church (Rustenboog Agape Pinkstergementee) is having a church retreat (yay!). I'm excited. 4 of my friends and I are singing a song on Sunday morning called "None but Jesus" by Hillsong United.. it's such a gentle, powerful song, and so please pray that we are anointed as we sing and play it- that God's power will fall on the people of the church!!

It's time for bed.. today I talked to my girl April March (yep, seriously, that's her name!!) and we had a great talk.. it was afternoon for her and she was yawning.. around 9pm (21:00) and I thought that was appropriate for her to yawn, forgetting that she is 7 hours behind us! So, if I ever call in the afternoon, maybe yawn a couple of times, and I'll be able to get to bed a little earlier... haha :)

Tot ziens allemaal..

~A

1,700

Life is good.. :) And really busy! Today's the first day that I've had in awhile where I purposefully didn't have anything going on after church! SO, I've been enjoying doing some 'nothing' stuff before the next wave of insanity hits.

9 days from now, a team of 39 people from a University in Missouri will descend upon the lovely city of Amsterdam for 13 days. One of them happens to be one of my Uncle's- Roger, if you care to know- he and some others are bringing 2 groups of singers/musicians to help our choir out and do several other events that we have scheduled. It's a TON of work to have a mission's team come over, but it is more rewarding and fulfilling than I could ever express. Yay- I can't wait!!!

People ask me how things are all the time.. this trip has been one of the best times in my life- it's amazing what being in the right place will do for ya :)

I checked out my finances, and found out that I am about $1,700 (€1,285) short to stay here until June 1st- and I need that by May 9th! I'll be honest- I had a couple moments of "what am I going to do??".. but they were very quick moments, and I recovered. I truly believe that God hasn't forgotten that I'm here (indeed!), and that He will provide for me somehow. That's not meant to be a show of "amazing faith" or a desperate cry for help either. It's reality, and it's how I think God wants me to live- knowing the actuality or veracity of a situation, but believing in His faithfulness and Love to overcome any obstacle that presents itself. Some obstacles are smaller, some are bigger. Regardless of the 'mountain' or 'valley', God doesn't change, and neither does His ability to take care of those He loves.. namely, all of us. :)

So, that's the short version of what's what. Feel free to email or comment with anything at all, I really do appreciate it and enjoy sharing what I am doing here!

~A

Long Overdue...

This one will be quick...

Tomorrow marks 4 weeks that I've been back in NL.. hard to believe that time can travel so quickly.. I moved in with J 2 weeks ago tomorrow as well, and we are getting along famously :) On Friday we welcomed a group of 8 women that came from the States for a 10-day mission's trip. I have been helping "lead" them around to various places and events, which has been a blast- and they are here until Monday. Then I will be helping out with another group of people that are coming next week to help another missionary with some things at the church. GOD has also blessed me incredibly with a church that feels like FAMILY and HOME to me in A'dam Noord (North Amsterdam) called Agape. The people have welcomed me with open hearts and arms, and this is more incredible than I can describe. Today and tomorrow we have our KIDZARK children's meeting, so please keep those kids in your prayers!! They may be the only missionaries their families ever encounter.. :)

Today I and a friend of mine took the ladies to the Corrie Ten Boom Huis in Haarlem.. it always amazes me when I am there.. And yes, if anyone ever visits me here, we WILL go there!!

OK, that's all for now. Love to everyone.. :)

~A

1st week back

Summary~

Traveling: My day of traveling was wonderful. We left the house around 13:00 (1 pm) and I had a great sense of Peace settle into me. Up until that moment, it had been quite hectic trying to pack and sort and see people and prepare to leave my family and babies (my cats!!) that I'd been feeling all kinds of emotions and some pressures. So leaving the house and being on the road to the airport was a good feeling. The flight was uneventful- yes, I was blessed with a direct flight! Ahhh, quality time with ME!

I met this guy on the flight who was co-leading a mission's trip to Zambia or Uganda... Praying for you Adam! He was taking some of them to an orphanage for a few days- what a blessing- softened my heart.

Then I got the the airport, and met a lady who was going to Ghana and told her I'd been there (and all the while she is filming me with her little video camera) and she was really excited to meet someone who'd been in Ghana- go figure?! Made me laugh. Awkwaaaaaaarrrrrd being on someone's camera after being UP ALL NIGHT ugh! haha

My luggage all came through just fine- nothing damaged or lost- and that is a miracle sometimes, ha! I loaded my stuff up onto a cart---- which the airport does NOT charge you for, thank you very much! Love that about NL---- anyway, and chugged on out to where MY missionaries were waiting for me, as well as another missionary- and both had 2 bouquets of tulips for me! Awwwww! I KNOW! I love this place, haha!

OK.. moving on :)

JetLag: Well, I've been back in Netherlands for almost a week- left the States a week ago today. And amazingly, I'm almost over jetlag- and maybe I am completely! The first 2 nights I had 4 or fewer hours of sleep, so by Friday I was really tired, and slept through the night until sunlight woke me around 7:45 am! I was thrilled. It's been pretty even since then, so that is such a blessing.

Choir: I had choir rehearsal the second day after I'd arrived, so I felt pretty out of it. In fact, the night before I had told Jackee to wake me if I wasn't up by 15:00 (3pm)- never thinking I'd actually need her to wake me. We had planned to go over the music during the day, so I was planning to be up. I woke up really early that morning- around 3 or 4, and was awake until past 9. I decided to rest just "an hour or so" more, and ended up drifting in and out of sleep- resetting my alarm over and over- until finally I heard J saying "it's after 3..."! haha. She wasn't sure if she should wake me! But I am glad she did. I got up, showered, we ate supper, and were off to choir! I felt like I was on a heavy dose of Dramamine or something! But made it through the night. Everyone that was there from last season was as excited to see me as I was to see them, and that thoroughly warmed my heart. It is never easy leaving my friends and family in the States... but having people welcome me so warmly... well it eases the pain :) I love them so much!

General: I am staying with DJ&N until Monday, when I'll be moving in with JM! Yay! All of them have been a blessing! I am so thankful for places to stay with people that I know. God has continually provided for me along this journey, and will continue to do so. I've been seeing people here and there that I know, and making plans to see others. Excited to see my friends!

OK, that's all. Is it ever all? :) But for now, it is. Love you all!

A conversation I was having earlier with a friend made me think of these verses:

Galatians 5:1, 22-23

"(1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery... (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

We were talking about patience- and really, my lack of it that he pointed out- and I was reminded of how, even if something does not come as something "natural" or as a personal strength... it can come through help. Having God in my life has helped me to be more patient. I was once told to NOT pray for patience, because then God will test me in it! But this passage talks about living by the Spirit- which I can't do on my own- and which I CAN do with God's help. And since praying is the way we communicate... well, I pray for God's strength to live according to His Spirit- and to bear fruit- even though it might not be so 'natural' for me to do so. And if you look at that list- well all of those qualities or "fruit" are beneficial both to me and others. So I can't really argue them away. :)

Ok that's really all. Love'Hugs

21??

Wow.. in just 3 weeks I will be leaving for NL once again! It's hard to believe that it is so soon. It really hit me a couple of days ago how short 3 weeks really is.. I'll be flying over New York and Canada and the Atlantic.. all in no time! There is so much to do!

This time that I've been back in the States has been mainly full of seeing friends and family, sorting through my house (one day at a tiiiiiiime... ), and doing some projects for the 'rents. Plus, a lot of resting and tv'ing. Maybe too much of that, sometimes I get carried away! Then I go months without hardly turning on the Tube, so I guess it all equals out!

The next three weeks are going to be more of the same: spending time with friends and fam, sorting, packing (oh JoY!) and so on. These things never change in life- at least in mine!

I am very excited to get back to NL and get involved again with the FireChoir and KIDZARK ministries. It is not unfamiliar ground to me this time, so that alleviates some of the pressure of going away from "home". I am going to live in a totally new place with someone that I haven't before- but I am SO excited to have a roommate again! I'm sure you'll hear more about that in the future ;)

Well.. It's sleep-time! Well, actually Bible time, then sleep time!

Prayer Warriors: Please pray for: 1) That I will get everything done that I need to before I leave; 2) For my Finances to come in; 3) For me emotionally as I transition again, and my parents as well, as we say goodbye once again.

Thanks all- Much Love

God bless~ A

Raising Funds...

Here I am, back to the grind per se :)

One of the joys and greatest challenges missionaries of the denomination I am working with face is raising their support. As a short-term missionary, I am not at all exempt from this. I have much less to raise, but in a shorter amount of time. Some of my budget is fixed regardless of what the dollar is doing at that moment, but some of it is influenced by how well the dollar is doing. For example, if my rent is 600 Euros, it will be €600 whether the dollar is strong or not. So sometimes my rent might be only $800 but them some months it might be up to $900 or more.

This can make it easy to start worrying or to be afraid. But then I turn to my Father who says 'not to worry.. rather, in everything, with thanksgiving, (to) make my requests known to Him, and He will keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus'... this is loosly translated of course- taken in a personal way. The same way you can too. God has never failed me. Truly. In fact, the moment He stops taking care of me here on earth will be the moment I am in heaven with Him-- probably wondering why I ever worried here on earth in the first place! :)

So back to my original subject: Raising....Funds... :) I really have very little to raise, in the grand scheme of things- less than $10,000 at this point. I believe that God will provide for all my needs- He says so in His word, and I take Him at it. I've seen countless times where He's provided when it seemed that it couldn't be done. He uses seeds that we plant, and that other people plant- for His glory and honour.

The point being.. NO amount is too little. I've had people come up to me and apologize for the amount they are giving to support me....! It doesn't matter how little or how much we give- God WILL use it for His glory! He will multiply it to meet all our needs. He has blessed me over and over for the small, little seeds that I have planted- and some of them weren't even watered with that much faith either- and I've seen Him do it in others too, over and over and over and over again... It's neverending.

So.. even if you think "How can I help impact someone 4,221 miles (give-or-take) away from me.. How could this amount help them".... BELIEVE ME.. it will! Give in Faith to GOD--- not to me- "put your faith in God and NOT in man".. miracles will happen. :)

If God is leading to help me out financially- please obey Him- I can't be more direct than that. He WILL take care of you- no matter what!

Email me and I'll get you the info: aicilalicia@gmail.com

If not, then that's ok. But PLEASE pray for me in every way. There can never be too much prayer!

Blessings

And... thanks :)

~Alicia

Quick Update

Hello all :)

Quick update here- I have been invited back to work with the FireChoir again in Amsterdam, and hoping to get involved in a couple other ministries as well. I am working out how to get a visa and what that all entails (it's a lot of details and work and so on).

The two biggest things that I really need right now are:

1) Prayer. Can I ever get too much of that? No. Enough said :)
2) Money! With my parents back here in the US now to raise funds for a year, I don't have a *free* place to stay- so I need to raise more money than I had before for rent, utilities, and et cetera. And, as I mentioned, I'll most likely be needing a visa, which is expensive. The most important thing that I ask is not for specific amounts- but rather that people tap into what God wants them to give to this ministry! He has never failed me yet, so I am trusting in Him to bring it in. Yay!

Ok, I need to go, life awaits. Please feel free to email or call with any questions! My email is: aicilalicia@gmail.com

Blessings and Thanks!

~A

Not Done Yet!

Well.. we made it :) And our 7 suitcases too! In fact, we were not charged for our 7th piece (only allowed 2-per-person on international flights), so it was a total God-thing :) *"God-thing"= something only God can orchestrate... which is basically everything, but you get the picture*. Anyway, neither of our flights were full either, SO we all had extra seats next to us, meaning a more relaxing trip altogether. Nothing crummy happened- the flights were both great, and my friend picked us up in MSP and whisked us home! Well, actually my Dad drove because my friend and I do a lot of talking, and her husband didn't think she'd be able to concentrate and drive at the same time (HAHAHAAAA)... he was right, I think! All is good :D

The Journey Is NOT Over Yet...

I have been invited back to the Netherlands to help with the upcoming season of FireChoir! Very exciting, and I accepted. This means that I need a couple of visas, more money, and more PRAYER! But, I always need the Prayer, so don't ever stop that!

I'm not sure what my budget will be, but I want to get back asap... so if God leads you to support me in any way, please get ahold of me, and I will tell you how it can be done (IT Can Be Done!). :)

Tot Ziens for now- gotta head back out into the cold (YUCK!). Blessings and Love

~A