Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Seeking God...(Pre-Honduras)

2009-03-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

...to renew our hearts to obey Him.

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

"So with unfeigned humility we seek their restoration. Fulfuill Your ancient promise to change hearts of stone. We see the steady work of Your Spirit, who puts the very heartbeat of God in our beings so that we love to obey You."

There are many times when things in my life get overwhelming. Super-stressful and brings to the point of tears....or screaming, depending on the stress that I currently feel. During those times, it's all I can do to get on my knees and ask God for restoration. To ask Him for a sense of peace and a change of heart towards whatever is causing the stress in my life. Too often than not, my worldly desires and human characteristics push me to stay in that stressed out or frustrated state of mind but I have began to see a change towards that.

After the prayer retreat last week, I have had some time to reflect on what it means to have an attitude of prayer. I think with that attitude of prayer comes a spirit of humility with the hope of what God promises in this passage from Ezekiel (sidenote: the above quote comes from the 40 day of prayer booklet my bible study is doing at school...such a God-thing considering the past retreat I went on and in preparation to the one I will be leading in March). It's an overwhelming thought, to me anyways, to think that God loves us so much that He cleanses us every day. He makes us pure, washing away our impurities, turning those hearts of stone to soft, pliable clay for Him to mold according to His wonderful plan. He loves us so much that He places His Spirit in us so that we can fulfill the sole purpose we have here on this earth....to further His kingdom. To me, that's overwhelming....and I considered myself so blessed that God has chosen someone like me to do such a magnificant thing.

I love the phrase that comes from my bible study booklet "who puts the very heartbeat of God in our beings so that we love to obey You." It seems like such a huge honor. The very heartbeat of God...a heart of His that is big enough to love everyone, including those who have passed and those yet to be born. He loved us so much with that very heart that He sacrificed something that not many fathers or mothers can even DREAM of sacrificing. A price paid for even those who don't know it or who don't even want to accept it. That thought in itself is almost infathomable...to think that a heart that loves that much is beating inside of me...all because God wants to mold me into His likeness, and so that I can learn to love to obey Him. I sigh with just thoughts of being blessed but smile because my heart is full.

It's amazing what God does in preparation for the things He has called us to do. Thinking and reflecting on all of this, I see now, is a large portion of His preparation for me before I leave on my next adventure. Sunday morning EARLY :( I leave for Honduras. I will be spending a week there conducting medical clinics in rural villages and providing medicine and care to the people of Honduras. Thirty other medical students, pre-med students, and physicians will be with me on this trip. This trip, however, is not a mission trip in the sense that we are going with a trip. For all I know, there may not be many other Christians going with me at all. It's a thought that has been on my mind all week. I realize that because I could be the only Christian from this group, that I have a responsibility not just to the people I will serve but to the people I will be serving beside. I pray that this preparation God is has been doing on my heart this week through this passage in Ezekiel will remain on my mind throughout this trip. That I may have a heart that beats to obey God, a spirit that yearns to follow Him, and an attitude of prayer for everyperson that I am with and meet while in Honduras.

I promise to write down blogs throughout the week and catch you all up when I get back. Thanks for the prayers and I promise pictures and words when I get back :)

You bring Restoration

2009-01-27T10:54:00.001-08:00

New song: Restoration
Artist: David Brymer
see video - long but absolutely amazing
just listen, it needs to no explanation
Lyrics:

You bring restoration
You bring restoration
You bring restoration
to my soul

You've taken my pain
called me by a new name
You've taken my shame
and in it's place, You give me joy

You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take weeping and turn it into laughing
You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take my sadness and turn it into joy

hallelujah, hallelujah
You make all things new, all things new

Unmoveable

2009-01-22T19:47:00.001-08:00

Jeremiah 17
5 This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Matthew 13 says:
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:....22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. (faith) He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Ephesians 3 says
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I want to be unmovable, unshakable,
Let my roots go down deep
Unmovable, unshakable in You

I want to be like a tree planted by the streams
Of Living Water

-Justin Rizzo

I need Africa more than Africa needs me

2008-11-25T15:41:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! I was reminded by one of my bestest friends (Shannon) about a project that I have been a part of for a little over a year. Last fall break, my roommate Baird and I went to a Dave Barnes/Matt Wertz concert and we were both taken back to those teeny-bopper years where we swooned over the singing artists on stage. silly us! :) During the concert, Matt and Dave talked about a project they were sponsoring, called the Mocha Club. To further explain, for what it costs you 1-2 coffee's from Starbucks, you could donate to children in Africa.

I've always had a heart for missions and yet tithing seems to be a constant struggle...it was as if God was just opening the doors for me to be able to tithe in a way to missions without me having to just go on a trip. The $7.00 gets taken out of my checking account every month and that way I know that it's going to a great cause.

Shannon's blog just reminded me to reflect on the reason I do this. hence the title I realize now as I get older and have seen more things in this world that I need Africa more than Africa needs me. I need to be reminded of God's love in the simplest form. I need to be reminded to worship Him for His grace and blessings even when I selfishly want "things." I need to be reminded that there are many who have less than me but who unselfishly wear a smile on their face daily regardless if there is food in their tummies. It warms my heart to know that my $7 is going to help such grateful families in Africa.

So, here's the question: Are there 1-2 coffee drinks/fast food dinners/shirts you could give up each month? If so, check out the Mocha Club website (click any time that phrase is in this blog) and comment, share what you think! Join and help us with this cause!

And December 1st, there will be a new update :)

India (again) .....or Africa?

2008-10-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so here's the deal....I may have the opportunity to do BOTH this summer! (WOAH - BIG GOD MOMENT) Go to Ghana, Africa with Collide. Go to Delhi and Manali, India again with my church team. I still can't get over the doors that seem to be opening. To think, that I would have a chance to serve the "family" I gained in India last summer again this summer and then to go to Africa and serve a group of people that always have tugged at my heart strings...I still can't believe it.

Ghana, Africa...............................

or Delhi, India....................................

The details of both trips are really up in the air (and I mean that literally and figuratively because a) I don't really know all details for both AND b) God is the ONLY one who knows if both trips for me are in His plans)

All I know is I've got the mission bug, the travel bug, whatever bug you want to call it (except for the sick bug)...and I know I feel like I'm being called to serve both groups of people. It's going to take a lot of prayer, time, patience, understanding, and then of course the dreaded money... and all of that is where ya'll come in...yes all of you!

Right now all I know to do is to ask for prayers...Prayer that God will give me insight on what trips will be right. Prayer that I won't let my drive to do missions overcome my sense of reality. Prayer that IF it is in God's plan to do both, that my parents, family, friends, and others affected will support my decision both prayerfully and financially. Prayer that the details will work out and the financial issue isn't an issue....and MOST OF ALL, Prayer that I remember God is in control, that He knows all things, and that my faith will be strong enought to Believe that all of the above is true! Love you all and thank you!

Little reminders..

2008-09-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

I know it's been awhile and many of you have probably given up hope that I would ever come back to visit this site...well I have - made obvious by the changes in the layout.

I thought they seemed appropriate since I have spent a lot of time praying post-India. Things are so different here and I'm reminded often of the people I met, the sites I saw, and the things I experienced and felt.

I was actually looking through pictures the other day, trying to make the big decision of which ones were going to go on my wall in a huge picture frame. After decorating my new apt bedroom, I realized I had no pictures up of the trip that changed a large part of my life. Looking through them with Chris, they just brought tears to my eyes and my desire to return was strongly felt. I know that I've been called to serve, to God and to serve His people. Not just those in other countries that seem to be the focus of many news anchors and non-profit organizations, but those individuals that are already in my life and the people I walk past on the sidewalk at school that are often overlooked. That person who sits beside me in class who isn't smiling because they feel lonely. That girl who tripped and spilt her books all over the ground while everyone snickers as they walk by.

I'm reading Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" and studying it deeper with Chris - we realized last night during our talk that we are called to love others in the same "crazy" sense that our God loves us. When He doesn't have to...

I made me question my love for others...am I doing the same that has been done for me?

Let My Words Be Few

2008-06-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you who periodically still check this blog out...I'll start posting pictures of our trip! The first ones I'll post are of the children who absoltely stole my heart!! Also, if you're still interested - I've got another blog site that is just my day-to-day happenings. The website is http://cheerkdh12.blogspot.com

Roadblocks

2008-05-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to send our last update before we leave to come back home to the States. The next email you'll get will be one sent from my home computer in NC! While my time here has been quite amazing and simply indescribable, I am ready to get home to see friends and family! I am not sure what I sent out in the last email but we've had to make a few change in plans due to some of the happenings here in India.

If some of you haven't heard, here is a Muslim extremist group, the Gujjar, that has been protesting the government since last week. This same group was the group most likly responsible for the bombings in Jaipur. Since then, they have blocked all railroads (even destroyed a few) and a lot of the roads leading into and out of the many cities, including Delhi. We were scheduled to leave for Jaipur this past Monday but due to the violence and danger, we were advised to stay here. So that's exactly what we did! While I was excited to get to travel to Jaipur, I was also very relieved that we were avoiding the danger (as much as possible)!

The extremist group has also gotten very active here in Delhi over the past few days and the news is saying that they are going to block all main roads in Delhi tomorrow. Not good news for us because we are supposed to leave tomorrow (thursday) night around 7 pm to drive to the airport! I really hope that the protests don't affect our travel schedule!

Anyways, this trip has really been a blessing to me and I can't wait to get back and show pictures and talk about the many experiences that I have had in India! Please remember us as we travel back to the States! Our flight leaves from the Delhi airport at 10:50 pm on Thursday night; we'll land in Newark, NJ at 4:30 am and then our last flight leaves NJ around 8:30, arriving in Charlotte, NC aroudn 10:30 am Friday morning! Thank you again for all of the prayers and support over the past three weeks!

Tears to my eyes

2008-05-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey to you all!!

I just wanted to say that our team arrived back in Delhi yesterday evening safe and sound! I didn't get to enjoy the first part of the trip because something I ate the night before didn't agree with my stomach! Thankfully, I felt better as the day went on and as I slept more during the ride back!

Today, we spent the day with some of our acquaintances who have started this organization called the Cooperation Outreach of India. Through this organization, tons of educational centers have been started in the slums of Delhi. Because Delhi is hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the government has moved all the poor off the streets of the city and into these slum areas about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away in efforts to "clean up" the city. What we saw today completely tore my heart and brought tears to my eyes as I watched children, half-naked, play in trash piles, sifting for food along side the pigs, and only doing so because this is all they've ever known. I was amazed to see smiles on their faces as they greeted us, strangers with wonderful inventions called cameras. It brought joy to their lives in just those few hours we were with them to have people actually care for them and want to take their pictures. I couldn't believe the conditions they were surviving in - those images will forever be etched in my brain! The biggest slum in the city has 50,000 people living there! COI has started these education centers that teach comptuer training to all who can come and tailoring to the women so that they can be self-sufficient. It's amazing to see what kinds of conditions these people don't think twice about living and working in!

Yet, when we went to worship with them this afternoon, they weren't giving prayer requests like expected - they were praising for the many blessings they have! I was just completely floored and in awe as we spent time with these people. One of our other acquaintances that is trying to start a church and another education center for the children becasue their parents leave them during the day to walk to the city to make just enough money for them to survive on!

I don't think I would have ever experienced the things I did today if I hadn't had the opportunity to come this summer to India! So thank you all for the support and prayers! Monday, we leave for Jaipur - pray for our safety as we travel again!

They are precious in His sight

2008-05-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

God is doing quite a few amazing things (aside from the amazing things He's already done and will do) while I've spent time here in India. Last night, we visited an orphanage up in the rural mountain villages and these children, starting at age 4 and going up to age 17 already sing praise songs and talk about Jesus. The orphanage houses students for various different reasons and on the grounds, they have a school where most of the students attend - a few of the older ones travel to the next village for school. I really enjoyed getting to play with such a vibrant group of kids - it was completely refreshing from the images I had of the children in Delhi - who have very little or not much at all.

I was completely moved by this little girl named Tashi who latched onto me almost immediately. She looked up at me and said, "Miss Kristen, do you believe in Jesus?" I said, "Why yes, I do. Do you?" and she said "yes ma'am." I showed her my cross necklace that I wear all the time and asked her if she knew the story of the cross. She said "yes, that's where Jesus died." I asked if she knew why He died on the cross for us and she looked at me with the cutest eyes and said "cause we're sinnnners!" I said "yep, but He saved us so that we could go to heaven and be with Him." It was the most precious thing in the world and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to share in their devotion. They sang so loud and proud to our God and I smiled the whole time! It pretty much guarantees me that I will be working with children one day!

I can't wait to go back Thursday and spend our final day here in Manali with those children!

Thanks again for all of the support and prayers!
Be in prayer for our team as we help to lead bible studies in the some of the homes tomorrow night! Pray that we will be able to shine His light brightly to those we see!

Safe in Manali

2008-05-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry to all of you who have checked on here to see if I've posted much. I arrived safe in Delhi, India on Saturday, May 10th and have been so very busy ever since. It's been a complete culture shock and there is no amount of space or words that could describe all that I've seen, felt, heard, smelled, and experienced the past 8 days!

It's been amazing so far and the whole team is well and safe. I'm not sure if any of you heard but there were some terrorist bombings in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India on Tuesday. Thankfully, we were 300 or so miles away from there in Dehli and Wednesday, we traveled to Manali which put us 600 miles further away. I actually didn't hear about the bombings until today!

The isolation here in this little mountain village set deep in the Himalayas has been wonderful. THe clean crisp mountain air has been very refreshing compared to the pollution in Manali. I have been able to do some shadowing and seeing what rural health care is like here at the mission hospital, Lady Willington Hospital, run by two of my pastor's friends, Dr. Phillip and Dr. Anna Alexander. These people have such a high tolerance for pain as they don't use as much anesthetic or painkillers as we do in the states!

We are also getting a chance to paint a Noah's Ark mural on the wall of the children's ward. Bringing smiles to the sick children's faces has brought so much joy! The children here have such a contagious spirit about them - it's so much fun to laugh and play with them!

We leave Manali on May 23rd to head back to Delhi for the last part of our trip here! Pray for safety as it is a very rough 16 hour ride and I'm not sure my back has fully recovered from the first trip up here!

Thank you again for all of the love, support and prayers!

This time tomorrow I'll be in flight to India

2008-05-08T19:13:00.001-07:00

I leave tomorrow.

I'm not sure that I believe yet.
I don't think I'll believe it until the plane takes off tomorrow night from NJ on the way to New Delhi, India.
And actually, I'm not sure that I'll really believe it until I set foot on the ground in India late Saturday night (early saturday morning here).

But I'm packed and ready as I can be.
I just wanted to post one last time before I leave in the morning (4:45 bluh!)

I'm not sure I know much to say but there is one thing that has been laying on my heart for awhile....just one quote:

~ Booker T. Washington once said that he prayed, "God, help me to understand Your mind."
And God answered, "Booker, that's a little too much for you to handle. Let's try a peanut." ~

The day before the day before I leave...

2008-05-07T20:53:00.001-07:00

So today (Wednesday) is the night before the night before I leave on Friday (haha - I know confusing - but it's kinda catchy once you get it)! We were extremely productive in getting things ready to start packing tomorrow. It's going to be so busy tomorrow making the last few Wal-mart trips and getting everything ready to go in a suitcase. My mom and I are having lunch with the India Missions team to discuss last minute questions (my mom and I have a ton!). My grandparents are also coming into town tomorrow night for a "going-away" dinner.

I've started to become a little anxious about the things that are going to happen within the next three weeks.

Like...did you know that wearing the color white is a sign of mourning in India, particularly in the more rural towns and villages just like black is our color of mourning here in the States?

So my plan for staying cooler by wearing white kind of got shot down BUT it should be okay for a few days.

Another question that came up...if I need last minute toiltery items - will I be able to just run to the nearest convenient/grocery store (or market - not sure what they are called in India) to get those things?

Guess I'll find out when I get there - I still can't help but be excited. I mean it's still a little all too surreal.

Plus I know God is here and I know that He's there. I know that He's going to be with us throughout this trip - I just know it. He's continuously provided each time the devil has placed a worry in my head and on my heart - which is exactly what I expect to happen. I just can't wait to be able to share the glory of how wonderful and majestic and powerful and amazing and everlasting my God is!

5 days

2008-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

Mom called tonight- I am so lucky to have such wonderful parents! They have been doing so much to get me ready for this trip while I've been stuck here in Greenville having to finish out my schoolwork and exams!

The list of things to be done before my trip keeps getting shorter which is weird because I feel like I still have so much left to do! But I am so thankful and grateful for all of the work my mom and dad have put into getting me ready! They are amazing!

Pray that as the team gets ready individually and collectively that we are focusing on being God's hands and feet in every aspect!

One week

2008-05-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

Ahh the realization hits hard...I have one week left before 3 amazing life-changing weeks in India. Thinking about the things to be done, the things to check off my "t0-d0" list, I realize that my dream of doing mission work (even if it is only for a short while) will soon become a reality. It's unimaginable how much God has blessed me and allowed me to do the things that I do - this trip being a very vibrant example of that!

I'm praying so much that He allows me to go into this trip with no expectations EXCEPT to bring glory to His name and for Him to show me how powerful and mighty He is!

I'm praying for the team also - this next week is going to be busy for us all - I hope that we take the time to slow down and be still and listen to what God is doing to prepare not just our physical needs for this trip but our hearts as well.

Countdown to departure...

2008-04-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

16 days and counting! :)

Such an emotion-filled realization! Pray with me as I prepare to finish things up here in school, to stay motivated and focus on the task at hand (aka my school work and exams) so I can be rested enough to go home and spend a few days packing before I leave. Pray with me for my parents and family as they help me get ready to leave for India while trying to balance everything else they have going one. Pray with me for our team, asking God to help us prepare physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for our trip. Pray with me in thanksgiving for all of the support that has come in and still to come as God continues to provide for me!

God is good. He is good all the time!

Perseverance

2008-04-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

" I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first."
- Revelations 2:19 -

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
And hope does not put us to shame,
because God's love has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
- Romans 5:1-5 -

Special Prayer Request

2008-04-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hey! I know it's been awhile since I've posted but I've got a lot going on to finish these last few weeks of school and tying up loose ends before my summer starts! Anyways, I spent this last weekend at Caswell leading a bible study for high school girls during a youth weekend - things went unexpectedly well! I was extremely nervous because I've never actually lead a bible study and in this particular group of girls were some that had never heard the gospel before. Talk about starting from square one! I really felt like God was using this though to prepare me for forming my testimony that I will more than likely have to share while I'm in India. I can't believe it's less than a month away and God is being ever-so faithful in preparing me for this trip!

But that isn't what this post is about...I had the pleasure of meeting a new friend this weekend and we got to talk about the mission trip she will soon be taking. Her name is Jeni and she lives in Wilmington and May 5th, a group from her church will be leaving to travel to Sudan, Africa for a few weeks. She was describing what she will be doing down there and it's just amazing to hear the work that God is doing in countries that are so ravaged by war. Jeni will be going with her team into a village to teach bible stories to the people; and she's not just teaching them the normal bible studies straight from our every-day bible - they are having to memorize the stories like "children's book" stories so that the people in the Sudan village will be able to understand. For example, Jeni said that the disciples are called "Jesus' close friends and followers" - so for the past months, her team has been having classes where they are taught how to memorize tons of stories like this! She expressed how excited she is about the trip but she's nervous as well because she wants to be able to describe the stories to the best of her ability so the village people will be able to understand! I could just see her passion for these people and it made me even more excited about my trip!

So just be in prayer for Jeni and the team from her church (Port City in Wilmington) as they leave May 5th for the Sudan! God's calling His servants to go unto the world and it's amazing to hear the different ways that He is doing so!

** Thanks to all for your prayers and support! I know I'm not at home to personally thank you but you have no idea how much I truly appreciate everything that ya'll have done! It means so much to me to see the support that I have from my family and friends and it just goes to show that God's will and His way are always present! Thank you again for everything!***

He Prays for All Believers

2008-04-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

John 17:20-26

It's encouraging to know that He prayed for believers minutes before He made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the price that we would never have to pay. Why wouldn't I want to go out and share this amazing news with others, especially to those who may have never heard the Truth before?

--Kristen

Words from C.S. Lewis

2008-03-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

Within my bible study through Collide here at ECU, we've been studying C.S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity and it has just challenged me in my faith in so many ways that I would never have thought to come from a man made famous through his children's novels. His views of Christianity go so deep and they really have pushed me to know what I believe in. Anyways, tonight we talked about his chapter, "Social Morality" and something jumped off the pages into my heart because it reminded me of my trip to India. Apologies of this is a little deep, I often find myself re-reading Lewis' words several times after our study!

Lewis writes:
"Charity - giving to the poor - is an essential part of Christian morality: in the frightening parable of the sheep and the goats it seems to be the point on which everything turns. Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a society in which there were no poor to give to. They may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce this kind of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare."

In no way am I thinking about money when this selection was brought to my attention. For me, it was reminding me of the work I'll be doing in India. Doing more myself, with my hands and feet as God's servant while I'm there...not necessarily the means by which I do get there. I KNOW God is taking care of that part. I have to do my part in preparation of my heart....I am reminded again of the verse from Jeremiah (chapter 26, verse 14)

"As for me, I am in Your hands; do with me whatever You think is good and right."

He's already at work

2008-03-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Many of you may not know, but I love receiving emails - especially ones of encouragement. A friend of mine, Holly, is studying abroad in Barcelona but she has done an amazing job at keeping up with me and encouraging me this semester through email and blogging. She sent me this email about a month ago and I just remembered that I should post it. It brought tears to my eyes to read that people who don't even know me have already began to pray for the work that will be done in India in just a few months! So here's the email:

From: austhm6
To: Heffelfinger, Kristen D'Anne
Cc:
Sent: Sun 2/24/2008 10:12 am

Subject: Cool things..

So if this doesn't encourage you, I don't know what will...

I went to this Spanish church this morning (it was all in Spanish. or Catalan...Catalan is everywhere). Anyway, it was cool. I'd never been there before and went with a Spanish friend from bible study.

That is not what I wanted to tell you though.

This is.

In their bulletin was an announcement about a missionary and things they are doing to pray for missions, specifically in India. Like there's a night coming up where they're going to meet and talk and pray about it.

They're praying about missionaries in India...and mission work...that God is calling people like you to do.

How awesome is God that people halfway across the world are praying for the work that you and others are doing! God is so in control! I hope as you plan and think about your trip you realize that people around the world are behind you and that this is God working through you.

There's nothing I can say to adequately express how big that is.

Love, Holly

Thank you all for your prayers. It is very obvious that God works through that communication and I greatly appreciate it as I prepare in so many different ways to be the hands, fight, and light for Christ!! Thank you again!!

Preparation straight from the Word

2008-03-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in yoru days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Habakkuk 1:5

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John 12: 26

As for me, I am in Your hands; do with me whatever You think is good and right.
Jeremiah 26:14

four of the few...

2008-03-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

There will be four of us going on this trip - that number seems so small when I think about the work God is calling us to do. Four, seemingly inconspicuous Americans, who have to write on their Visas that our purpose for our trip is for "tourism;" yet, we go to proclaim the most wonderful news anyone could ever hear to two cities, one consisting of over 14 million people and the other the size of Boiling Springs, about 4,000!

Please keep the four of us in your prayers as we start the preparations for our trip in the next 2 months. As we gather the information, supplies, and strength, it's going to be all for the glory of God. I pray that for all of us, the realization that all of this is only made possible through Him, not through any of us and that His name be glorified! This call to serve is a call from the greatest Servant - how amazing it is to know that's the example that has been set before us!

John 12:26 - Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

The first of many...

2008-03-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

So here it is...finally, what I've been praying about, thinking about, seeking God's advice about since November (I think) of 2007. I'll start by saying missions (particular international missions) has always been a passion of mine - I've been on numerous trips with my church and youth group to several different states and places (New York, Florida, Mississippi, and even Puerto Rico) but none this monumental. Not that those trips weren't life-changing (especially Puerto Rico) but I'd say the one that I will be going on in 3 short/long months (depends on how I look at it) will probably be such an eye-opening culture shock slash spiritual collision that I have to pinch myself to remind me that I'm actually doing this....

So to explain, my pastor from my home church has a partnership with some friends in India. He has been traveling there for about the last 6 years doing work at a school/orphanage and hospital in New Delhi and Manhali. I have always felt that I was being called to go but every summer that he has taken the trip, I've had things get in the way. In high school, it was youth and cheerleading camp; last summer, it was working at Caswell....so I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to go. This year, my pastor will be setting up plans for our church to build and sponsor a school in January of 2009 which is really exciting because I feel that it will be important for our church to start pouring into others and making sacrifices because we have felt the gift of the Ultimate Sacrifice...

So as of right now, here are the logistics:
I will leave May 9th, fly to NJ and have time to sight see in NYC (which is totally unexpected but cool because I've never seen the city), leave NJ and fly for 14 hours and land in New Delhi, spend the first few nights there in an YWCA (like our YMCA's), and then ride in a 15 hour car ride (little nervous about this one - the driving there is NOT like driving here - and that's kinda bad), and then spend time working in a hospital in Manhali for about a week. We will then get a little sight-seeing in (Taj Mahal, elephant/camel rides, YAY!) before heading back to New Delhi to work on the plans for the school. I'll fly back into the states on May 30th!

This is something that I know will require large amounts of prayer because not only will I be in India (already a dangerous country, especially for a female) but I will possibly have the opportunity to lead bible studies while I'm there. I'm extremely excited and not really nervous (yet...) but I would appreciate prayers as I not only prepare physically and mentally for this trip but spiritually as well. I anticipate God really doing some big things in my heart and hopefully in the hearts of those in India..but I feel Him already stirring those coals for those of us preparing for this trip.