Getting Settled In...

After my first night of trying to sleep, but thinking a lot, I woke up to a sunny room. The sun shone through and lit up the yellow room- making it more alive and cheerful than before.

When I finally decided to get out of the warm covers and get started unpacking, things got underway with getting settled.

I unpacked and organized what I could of my belongings into a desk and under the bed Then I organized two suitcases as a make shift dresser (more like two trunks) for the time being. I may get a dresser, or I may end up using some closets in the bathroom...whatever works. =)

After everything had a place, it was nearing noon, and I headed up to look after my soon to be students for the day.

Teaching begins this coming Thursday. I am told that this weekend I’m being thrust into the culture. A quincinata tomorrow- the 15th birthday is a very big deal. Then there’s church, in Spanish, on Sunday. Then of course the teachers meeting, in Spanish, on Wednesday....now that should be interesting. =)

So, I’m being submersed in the culture and language- which I hear is the best was to learn it but is also quite difficult.

Well, it’s almost time to play in the park. It is a warm day here- a t-shirt is a great choice in the intense sun. Here I go...

Launch...

Flying into Miami was beautiful. We flew along the coast. As we went inland, there were small lakes, river, tributaries, and so on surrounded by houses. There were narrow golf courses surrounded by houses. It all looked like a luxury place.

Now I have a fairly short layover before the next flight- on to Guatemala!

*****

Well....a bit longer layover- delayed an hour right now.

*****

We finally took off- in a sparsely filled, large plane.

Flying into Guatemala City, two hours late, I could see the city lights. They were in clusters that seemed to go around mountains or something- I couldn’t tell from the air.
After landing and going through customs, I collected my luggage and connected them into a “ducks in a row” configuration. It worked pretty well. On my own, there’s no other way I could manage six bags on wheels and one on my arm- yes I know, LOTS of luggage! (I’m still working on is the traveling light concept.) =D

The whole Dvorak family, living in Guatemala, was there to pick me up. After getting all my bags loaded, we headed off up the mountain. When we turned onto the dirt road leading to the property I felt more like I was in familiar territory. It was a more comfortable and peaceful feeling. The road itself was smoother than when I was here in the rainy season- I was told they recently smoothed it out.

After moving my belongings into what is now my room, I fished out what I needed and got to bed. However, I didn’t really sleep as much as I could have. My brain was running with hundreds of thoughts. It seemed like I was awake and asleep much of the night- which was actually morning because I got to bed at midnight. But it wasn’t stressful- just possessing everything I think.

So, I’ve been launched onto the mission field! =)

Letting Go...

As I am in transition to the mission field, my blog is also in transition. I guess it is becoming a lot more personal, as far as what I share. I think this post shows that...




God started talking to me this summer about letting go. He asked me to let go of specific thing in my life. He also asked me to release the grip I had on some relationships and dreams for the future. More recently, He has been asking me to let go of myself.

A dream God asked me to let go of was ever getting married and having children of my own. After crying out to God for help and battling myself, I let go. I betrothed myself to Jesus Christ and contented myself in Him. He is all I need. [Over a month after that event *(I went back and looked and it was 2 months and 11 days afterward), God told me I would get married some day. Having let go of the whole thing already, I am content to wait for His timing.]

There are many "things" God asked me to let go of. One of the first requests to "let go" was that I simplify my stuff- preparing to be able to pick up and leave for the mission field at some unknown time. I began, but didn't finish. I am still in process of simplifying and letting go, though I now know I am moving to the mission field in less than a month. This has been a hard process because of the materialistic atmosphere which surrounds us in the western world. It also has to do with thinking in lack. I'll explain this. It's not that I have any lack. I have everything I need- I've never missed a meal because we had no food; I never had to sleep on the street because we had no house; I never had to go around naked because I had no clothes. I have been, and am, well provided for. This thinking in lack, for me, has looked like saving so many things that I'm not using "in case" I need them later in life. As if God is unable to provide for me when the need arises. Really, God is more than able to provide, and He will take care of me. So, I can freely give away what I don't currently need and ask my Father for the things I need. My Father is good.

Now, as for letting go of myself, well that is more current. I'm just coming to the realization that God wants me to not only let go of my "stuff", but also myself. The tendency when God asks me to do something is to try to do it in my own strength. The attitude is like, "Okay, that is what God wants me to do, so I'm going to do it. Now how can I get this done?" What I'm realizing is what Jesus said, "without Me, you can do nothing." I really cannot accomplish what He has called me to do on my own. Of course I "knew that." However, the way I actually live shows that I still try to do everything in my own strength. This of course leads to stress, fatigue, frustration, worry, fear, thinking in lack, and so on. Yet, to really let go of myself and trying to "get it all done" would be much more effective, provided of course I allow God to work through me. It's not striving and struggling. It's letting go. It's not giving into the pressure to use my mind to figure out how it all fits in my schedule and pushing until it's "done". There is some satisfaction in a job accomplished, yes, but does that bear any fruit? Certainly not the quality or quantity that would have been reached by relying on God. It seems a foreign concept to let go and abandon self in this self-focused culture, so I'm not sure what it all looks like in practicality. This I know, I cannot do what I am supposed to do on this planet in my own ability. I need God working through me every day of my life- every moment. Those times when I have surrendered to God and let Him work through me have been sweet and fruitful. Sadly, I have many memories of relying on my own strength and being stressed out and then not even reaching my goal. I don't want that anymore. I want to walk with my Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and fulfill what He has called me to do in this time on earth.

So, here's my conclusion: I give up! God, whatever You want to do through me, You may do. It's not my own strength or ability. It's You in me. I am Yours, so have Your way in me.

*SIGH* =)
There's a freedom in saying "I give up" and completely surrendering to God. =)

Let's see what comes of it. All the glory to God! =)

Maasai?

Have you ever heard the word Massai? Do you know what it is about?

How would it feel if you or I could put a Bible into the hands of a pastor, who has never had a Bible, in another country?

Back to the first question...
The Maasai are a people group who live in Tanzania and Kenya, in east Africa. They live in the Maasailand and speak Maasai.




Now, back to the Bible question...
What would it be like to place a Bible into the hands of a Maasai pastor, in his own language? Or what would it be like to be part of that process of getting it there? That's what I want to find out. A complete Bible cost $4.50* (US). So, for about what it costs to get a Starbucks coffee drink, you or I could provide a complete Bible in Maasai to place into the hands of a Maasai pastor. What a great thought! =)

Children are very important to me, so this sounds amazing to me as well...think about this...
Imagine placing a Maasai New Testament Bible into the hands of a child. The child could then learn at a young age about Jesus Christ and live a full life with a relationship with Him- not caught up in things in this life that don't satisfy. Well, a New Testament in Maasai only cost $2.85* (US). How about that!

That sounds like something I want to be part of...how about you?

(*Prices are from 2006.)

Full Time Missions

Hey there!

Okay, so here's some start up details about my life on the mission field full-time...those of you who received a letter from me via snail mail have already read most of this information. For the rest of you, here it is:

I recently spent a month at a children's home in Guatemala with David and Becky Dvorak & Life Unlimited Ministries associated with Keith Hershey & Mutual Faith Ministries. While there for that month I was invited to become a missionary on the field with the Dvoraks. God spoke to my heart that it's time for me to move forward with this life desire, so I am moving to Guatemala! My vacation time will now be coming to the States!!! I am very excited to have this opportunity to minister alongside missionaries who have been on the mission field for over thirteen years! =)

Some of what I will be doing in Guatemala includes teaching two of the boys the Dvoraks are adopting, starting up an International Children's Club, and starting up a consistent Sunday School class.

In addition to this ministry in Guatemala, in the future I will be making trips with the Dvoraks to the Maasailand in Tanzania. After the boys I am teaching are adopted, they will accompany their parents on the trips, and I will continue teaching them to Tanzania.

I will have many unforeseen opportunities to learn and grow in the years ahead. I am very much looking forward to all God has in store for me...I know it's good! =)

Since I am moving to a new location, where mail takes longer to travel, I will be posting updates of what I'm doing here, on my blog. My departure date is December 27th, 2007...so I'm off and running soon. =)

Your prayers are greatly desired- and are highly effective! If you'd like to receive prayer updates, email me and let me know. lovendancn@yahoo(dot)com

If you want to give financially, look to the right side of this page under "Want to be involved?" for information. I'm only asking you to do what is in your heart. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Abundant blessings overtake you!
Reaching a Generation Among the Nations

No doubt about it!

I was reading in James yesterday and then other scriptures started coming to mind...it was so good, and it brought together some things in my heart I've been hearing in sermons. So, I thought I would share it with you:

"If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
~ James 1:5-8

God gives without reproach! We are to ask in faith, not doubt, and we'll be stable and receive from God.

So this is what I've decided, based on what God says: I do not doubt. I am stable standing on the Word. I ask and receive all God has for me. Nothing is withheld from me. I lack nothing. When I ask in faith, I know I will receive from God. No doubt about it. It's on its way!

"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea." and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." ~ Mark 11:22-24

My Father is so good. I don't have to work under great stress to get what I need. I can simply ask and believe Him. Wow! What a loving, all powerful Father I have!

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." ~ John 14:13-14

God is so good! This is beyond this world's system and requirements. Having resources is not difficult. I can simply ask God and believe Him. Wow! I am thankful! Then I don't have to concern myself with "making money", I can simply do the work God has called me to do! That takes stress off. My Father is soooo good!

Life- to the extreme

I was thinking this morning about some things and just started writing things down, and it developed into this:

"...And by His [Jesus] stripes we are healed." ~Isaiah 53:5

"who Himself [Jesus] bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed." ~1 Peter 2:24

"...healing all kinds of sickness and all kids of disease among the people...they brought to Him [Jesus] all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics and paralytics, and He healed them." ~ Matthew 5:23-24

"When evening had come, they brought to Him [Jesus] many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 'He Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.'" ~ Matthew 8:16-17

So, when Jesus was beaten, before He was nailed to the cross, He purchased our healing. He carried all our sickness and disease. He took it all. He bore it all. Because He was beaten, we are healed. By His injury we were healed. So, since He already bore our sickness, disease, and pain, why should we bear it again? He already made a way for us to walk in health- nothing missing, nothing broken...nothing out of place, nothing weak- full of strength and vigor for life. Abundant life.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they more have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Jesus came so we can have abundant life, not dragging through the mud, barely making it life. ABUNDANT LIFE! =D That sounds good to me!

Abundant life...what does that look like?

Hmmm...well, abundance- having more than enough, not just a little more than needed, but this great big overflow! Overflow of what? Life.

So, life is just overflowing out of us. Abundant life. That brings to mind things like:
-Joy, certainly not depression. No matter what the situation, just a joy that bubbles over. A happiness and excitement about life that isn't limited by the circumstances. Even in the very worst circumstances there is something to smile about. If nothing else: God loves us! Yet, there's even so much more than that most of us can be thankful for.
So, joy, what else?

-Well, certainly walking in complete health. Abundant life, unhindered by pain or sickness. So, if we're completely healthy is that abundance, or just enough for our own self. I think abundance would look like being so full of this life of God that it overflows to other people. It could look like it did with Peter:

"So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed." ~Acts 5:15-16

Or what happened with Peter and John:

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk.' And he took him by the hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them- walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God." ~Acts 3:2-9

Then why should we be able to do this? Jesus is the Healer, not us, right? Yes, Jesus Christ is the Healer. However, this is what He said before He returned to heaven:

"'And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.'" ~Mark 16:17-18

Wow! Just think about that! Then, after you've gotten a hold of what it says, start living it! Enjoy the extreme life God has for you- abundant life! =D