Back to Ukraine for Summer 2012!

Friends and Family,

I just want to start by thanking all of you for your prayers and support for my Ukraine Missions trip last summer. It has radically changed me and grown my passion for God's children. I am so much more independent and yet incredible dependent on God. Tears well up in my eyes as I think that there is even one person in this world who thinks they don't deserve God's love.

I am so excited to tell you all that after a lot of prayer God has laid it on my heart to go back to Ukraine this summer! July 31st - August 14th. God has really expanded my world view and my heart is just bursting. I have started studying Ukrainian in hopes that I can connect better with the students at our English camp.

I know times are financially very tough for everyone. All I ask is for everyone to be the prayer warriors that I know you are! The things you can pray for are:
1. Our Team as it is still being developed. That God will call those perfect for the team and that those people will follow His call.
2. Overall finances for our team.
3. Leadership for the team is still being developed
4. My heart and head. That my heart will continue to grow and my head will relax :)

I will still be sending support letters out in the coming months for those feeling called to give. God can do amazing things beyond our imagination all He asks is a little step of faith

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19

"Notice the above verse says “ALL.” It doesn’t say “some” or “most,” but it says that He will meet all of our needs. It doesn’t say how He will meet our needs and I have found from experience the way He does it is often not what I expected. But the bottom line is that God is faithful and He does what He promises."

In Christ's Love,
Katherine

Top 10 Memories and Lessons Learned from Ukraine Missions Trip 2011

Top 10 Memories

1. The Waterfall! We hiked up to a beautiful waterfall and had the opportunity to swim in it. It was amazing. Cold. But Amazing.
2. Walking around L'viv and experiencing the Culture. The first time we had the chance to walk around the Center in L'viv, I was so excited. Just taking in their culture and way of life totally excited me. I loved looking around and absorbing as much as possible.
3. Small Group. Although I had no idea what was going on because everything was spoken in Ukrainian, I definitely did not miss when one 15 year old had her "ah-ha" moment about God's love for her. I may not of understood what was coming out of her mouth but I did understand her heart.
4. Our second to last day in L'viv some of our Ukrainian friends took us around L'viv. It was so nice to hang out with every one. We may not of understood each other the whole time but we all had a blast.
5. My Team. The three beautiful women who went on the trip with me were amazing. We shared laughter, tears and unforgettable moments.
6. The Hidden Restaurant. There was a themed restaurant where you needed a password to get in. It was underground and incredible!
7. The Labyrinth. This was a spiritual maze we went through around camp. It gave you the opportunity to evaluate your walk with God.
8. Learning some Ukrainian. I loved learning this language and was surprised how fast I picked up on it.
9. Alla. Alla was one of the girls in my small group. Her intelligence, heart, and exuberant personality really touched me. It also helped that she was my own personal translator.
10. Realizing how big and amazing God is!

Lessons Learned
1. Our God is HUGE. I was absolutely in awe of how amazing our Father is. He separated us linguistically at the Tower of Babel and yet we can still come together and He becomes our universal language. He is our constant among nations and foreign tongues. It literally gave me goose bumps to sit in a circle and each taking a turn to pray, switching from Ukrainian to English. Here we are all from different places in the world coming together to pray to One God and He hears us despite the different languages. Another thing that got me was coming together for worship singing the SAME songs in different languages. You can’t even do that in the U.S.
2. It’s okay to be me. God created me to be organized, informed, and structured. It’s okay if I have trouble going with the flow and not knowing all the information. However, I need to trust Him when I start to struggle with it.
3. Sometimes I am the only one thinking a certain way and I have to learn that others may not be thinking that same way as me and that is okay. :) This also causes my brain to go off on a tangent and I tend to perceive something that may not be.
4. Trusting God with my emotions is the best laid plan.
5. Things aren’t “weird” they are just “different.” So eating a whole fish (scales included) for breakfast is not “weird” it is just “different.”

 

God Grant Me The Serenity

Goodness gracious it has been a long time since I have been on here. I must say that when life get's crazy you better be prepared to learn some lessons. A whirl wind of lessons and transitions is the only way to describe the last few months. Through all the craziness I have learned that God is on my side. There is something incredibly intimate about having God pick you up off your feet when you have no idea how to move forward and walk with you into the battle field granting you peace the entire way.

Being Parented by Your Boss

It has to be one of the most awkward things in life to be parented by your boss. When you work for your parents there needs to be a seperation when it comes to the work space. They can't just walk up to you and start speaking to you like a child. At this point in time you are their employee, not their child.

I was sitting at my desk working on entering data into the customer database. There was music in the background just like every other day, I went to turn it up a little and accidently turned it up too high. I immediately turned it back down to a reasonable level and turned around to find my boss/father ready to pounce. He started raising his voice about the inappropriateness of turning up the music while he was on the phone. (Bonus: everyone on his conferance call heard him reprimand his daughter/employee.)
It would be one thing if he spoked to me nicely but he got the Father voice and stance that makes you feel like your 5 again.

Only 1.5 more weeks til I am free! haha. October 18th can't come soon enough. I am so grateful for my new job.

"Plans For Us"

I have recently been asked to be apart of the Young Adult Ministry Leadership Team at my church. I am so blessed to be apart of this team. On Graduation day when I had to leave Eastern I was heart broken. As soon as I got in my car the first song that played was Jenny & Tyler's Plans for Us:

"tears in eyes because she wonders where her gift has gone

fears in sight because it seems that they will not return

we’re far from home and we can’t seem to find a decent reason

why the One we call our love would put us in this season

we can make believe like we are satisfied

we want to taste and see the plans You have for our little lives

plans for us to prosper, far away from harm

You will come and answer, when we pray to You our God

plans to give us hope a future in Your arms.

You’ll be found by us when we seek You with all our hearts

You gave this song

You give so much and we do not know why

trust in You is all we can do, trust that You’ll provide direction

these songs we sing seem vain because the waiting takes more time

patience give to us o Lord to wait until You guide

we can make believe like we are satisfied

we want to taste and see the plans You have for our little lives

chorus

we were angry with You; we were tired of you feeling so far away

shaking our fists at your face wondering where is the grace You promised, You said you’d pull us through

and i’m told it’s not your fault; You haven’t moved

but still i can’t find even a glimpse of you

we can make believe like we are satisfied

we want to taste and see the plans You have for our little lives"

I felt like I was leaving my gifts and passions at Eastern and it was devestating to feel that God's plan for you was left behind. When I was invited to be on this team it brought light back into my life. It made me feel apart of something and that I can make a difference. It is incrediablly rewarding do know you are living within God's plan for your life. When things like this happen you wonder why we didn't have a little more faith.

Jenny & Tyler
Fuel at Fellowship Alliance Chapel

Missing EU

This past week has been really difficult, as again, the realization that I will not be returning to Eastern as a student becomes aparent once more. This week Eastern students moved in and started their first few days of classes and I am not. I get to work everyday, which would be a lot easier if I enjoyed my job.

In the last two weeks the bible studies ended, Fuel (young adult group) is on it's summer break, and many friends moved or returned to school, leaving me home to twiddle by thumbs. HELLO, can we say "oversight." I am proposing that there should have been something going on during this time to keep all us new graduates occupied while the rest of the world returned to school. (Okay that was dramatic, but thats how it feels.)

In the last week I have read three books! Could I be a bigger nerd. I have even resorted to turning the TV off and choosing to read instead. Not to mention I got the pleasure to work 50+ hours this week. Good Times.

If anyone has any new suggestions on how to occupy my time for the next month while I wait for things to start up again and hear news on a new job, that would be lovely.

Some say that a book is just a book....

I say it is a place you run to when nothing else seems to be going right, A place that you can get lost in and forget about everything. A place where you can get completely consumed in some other world that otherwise you would never get to experience. You get to be right in the moment when two people realize they are perfect for each other or wrapped up in the emotions when tragedy strikes. You get to laugh along with the characters and get front row seats to their lives.

I absolutely love when a book has caught my full attention and I know I can't put it down until it's finished. This past weekend I completed 3 books in 3 days. I know crazy but I couldn't stop until I knew that all were safe and living happily ever after...as books usually end. :)

Indiana Cousins Series by Wanda Brunstetter follows the live of 4 Amish cousins who face tragedy in the form of a car accident while traveling to Hersey Park. 3 lives lost and the rest changed forever.

A Cousin's Promise introduces the tragedy through the eyes of Lorraine. Her struggles only begins with the accident and death of her cousin and friends and continues through her fiance's lost of his left leg and his insecurities and depression to provide for her. Through many ups and downs and unbearable moments Wayne comes to trust the LORD again and sees that he can do all things through Christ.

A Cousin's Prayer follows Katie who has been struggling with paralyzing panic attacks since the accident. As life continues to speed past her, Katie is crippled by her fears and doubts. Only through the kindness and gentle spirit of her new friend Freeman can she learn to trust God and overcome her panic attacks. As she gains control of her life again, she comes through and finds herself getting the happy ending she always hoped for; a fiance and best friend....Freeman.

A Cousin's Challenge follows the final two cousins Jolene and Ella. Both cousins suffered lost the day of the accident; Jolene in the form of her hearing and Ella lost her brother Raymond. Both women struggle how to make life work again and stay strong for their families.

Jolene is faced with learning to communicate all over again and the truth she may never teach again. She is determined to not wallow in self pity and when she is asked to teach 2 deaf children that moved into the community she is thrilled. Little does she know the whole community is interested in learning to sign, especially Lonnie who just recently lost his hearing in an explosion. Not only does Jolene get to teach again but she gets the chance to love. Lonnie and Jolene face many struggles ahead as they will now have to raise a family while both being deaf.

Ella has the weight of the world on her shoulders and has yet to really feel the pain of losing  someone close. She is determined to make ends meet and support her family without the help from the community, especially Jake Beechy who knows exactly what to say to get under Ella's skin. As the book progresses you watch Ella struggle through each day refusing help and Jake insisting she allow him to give her a hand. To both their surprise love begins to well up in both and a change of heart is on the horizon.

I hope I didn't ruin the books for anyone interested in reading them. I have come to realize with the help of my very intelligent sister that the relationships established through these books and Amish tradition is what draws me in and gives me hope. The men are gentle and kind and considerate. They rely on God and lead their families in a Christ-like manner. Now I am not looking for an Amish man but I am waiting for a man of God. All good things come to those who wait. :)

Just another day in the life of a reader....