And I'm purposefully avoiding packing this last duffel bag.
Travel plans have come together after some surprises last week. I purchased a flight into Fargo, ND as Grand Forks is quite a bit smaller and thus, much pricier. I had then planned to catch a Greyhound up to the Grand Forks airport for SIL-UND pickup. However, the travel coordinater for SIL-UND asked me to double-check on the Greyhound info I'd received. Sure enough, it was inaccurate, and I was shaving my arrival and departure times down to minutes in which to get my bags and get on the bus. Despite my optimism, nobody I spoke with sounded convinced I could make it. So I asked when the next northbound bus left to find it only travels north every other day. But! I could "always take the 3:30am Amtrak the next morning." Ahahahahahah... No.
More amused than anything else, I looked into some other options. Through an online travel forum set up by SIL-UND, I've connected with another young woman who's also flying into the Fargo airport. We're going to split the cost of a rental car (which ends up being cheaper than a Greyhound ticket!) and carpool up to the campus. Not only did the Lord work it out, but I now have a traveling companion on the last leg of my trip! :) I just love how the Lord takes care of all the little details. It makes me smile.
Departure: T-minus 3 days.
First Stop: Northern California.
26 May 2009
22 May 2009
thoughts from Jim Elliot
"Of the flesh and its false emotions I have quite had my fill. Of Jesus I cannot seem to get enough. Thank God... He does not thwart the soul's desire for Himself, but only whets the desire, intensifying, subliminating."
"Much impressed lately with the blessing of being called to battle on the Winner's side."
"The Word of God is not bound! It's free to say what it will to the individual and no one can outline it into dispensations which cannot be broken. Don't get it down 'cold,' but let it live--fresh, warm, and vibrant--so that the world is not binding ponderous books about it, but rather is shackling you for having it allowed it to have free course in your life."
(all excerpts from Shadow of the Almighty)
20 May 2009
RVDCF
Our little Deaf church here in Southern Oregon has some exciting news! Pastor Ken, who is a Deaf pastor and missionary from Oklahoma, is due to arrive around June 12th! He and his family are moving here to pastor RVDCF and evangelize our local Deaf community. :) What began as a little home Deaf Bible study, the Lord has blessed and grown into a young Deaf church! AND we now have a Pastor!!!! Praise God!
My friends, Southern Oregon now has it's first Deaf Church! God answers the prayers of His people!!!
My friends, Southern Oregon now has it's first Deaf Church! God answers the prayers of His people!!!
15 May 2009
May 2009 Update
Hello Friends & Family!
Whew! April has flown by and I am thrilled to announce that my application form is behind me! Thank you for all your prayers!!! I definitely felt them in the crazy days of editing my application, writing my testimony, composing a detailed doctrinal statement, tracking down transcripts, and much, much more. While challenging, this process has been tremendously beneficial! I submitted the whole “kit ‘n’ caboodle” on April 17th, just in time to clean house for a week-long visit from my college roomies. :)
Erin & Jess had their first Southern Oregon experience complete with a tour of the Oregon Caves National Monument, a trip to the coast in Brookings, and hiking around our lake in Selma. They also tagged along to work with me one day to watch me “in action;” such an enjoyable time!
Having submitted my application, the membership process has begun. I had my first interview this week, which went really well! I am quickly discovering, as I meet more folks, just how small the network of signed language specialists truly is! It is rather exciting. I’ll soon be joining a ground-breaking, foundation-laying team of fellow pioneers in this field, and I can hardly wait to get started!
Speaking of getting started, I’m off to North Dakota in just over a month. Work has been picking up, and the Lord has been providing more freelance work—on top of my weekly hours interpreting at the community college—than I know what to do with! I think He’s preparing me for the crazy schedule and hours of a college student once again. It should make my transition a bit easier; at least, that’s my hope!
Whew! April has flown by and I am thrilled to announce that my application form is behind me! Thank you for all your prayers!!! I definitely felt them in the crazy days of editing my application, writing my testimony, composing a detailed doctrinal statement, tracking down transcripts, and much, much more. While challenging, this process has been tremendously beneficial! I submitted the whole “kit ‘n’ caboodle” on April 17th, just in time to clean house for a week-long visit from my college roomies. :)
Erin & Jess had their first Southern Oregon experience complete with a tour of the Oregon Caves National Monument, a trip to the coast in Brookings, and hiking around our lake in Selma. They also tagged along to work with me one day to watch me “in action;” such an enjoyable time!
Having submitted my application, the membership process has begun. I had my first interview this week, which went really well! I am quickly discovering, as I meet more folks, just how small the network of signed language specialists truly is! It is rather exciting. I’ll soon be joining a ground-breaking, foundation-laying team of fellow pioneers in this field, and I can hardly wait to get started!
Speaking of getting started, I’m off to North Dakota in just over a month. Work has been picking up, and the Lord has been providing more freelance work—on top of my weekly hours interpreting at the community college—than I know what to do with! I think He’s preparing me for the crazy schedule and hours of a college student once again. It should make my transition a bit easier; at least, that’s my hope!
March/April 2009 Update
Greetings in the steadfast love of Jesus!
March has come and gone, and I am late in getting out an update! I just arrived home this past weekend after having spent my Spring Break (March 21-27) in Canby, Oregon at another TOTAL It Up! Workshop; only this time, I attended as an assistant to the staff and teachers. It was such a wonderful week!! We had students fly in from all over the States as well as two international students. I enjoyed meeting each one, watching them soak in the possibilities before them, and praying with them for clarity and guidance. I look forward to rubbing shoulders with some of them in the future. From there, I flew down to interpret some friends’ wedding in Sacramento, which was simply beautiful.
March also brought a delightful visit from my dear, dear friend and sister, Megan, whom I hadn’t seen in almost two years! Last time I was out visiting her family (my second family in Michigan), Meg had just left for a six month missions stint in South Africa with OM. It was a joy to spend a brief weekend with her, savoring every moment and hearing all about her adventures.
Likewise, I look forward to the end of April and a visit from my college roommates, Erin & Jessica!!! And no, I don’t normally get to visit with friends this often, so this year has been a real treat! It just seems 2009 is God’s timing for the catching up with loved ones! I certainly have no complaints. Erin & Jess will be here for a week, and I can’t wait to show them around beautiful Southern Oregon.
Praise Report: The Lord has already provided my tuition, room, and board for North Dakota in FULL! I’m amazed and beyond grateful! He provides over and beyond what we can ask or think. He has also provided the funds for a much-needed, long-awaited, new laptop computer (my old one crashed a little over a year ago). He knows our every need and delights to meet them out of His abundance! Amazing! I wait on Him now simply for travel funds for North Dakota.
In the meantime, April is application month. I’m still working on my membership application, and this is the month to buckle down and finish it. This is my top priority and greatest prayer need. I look forward to typing my next update without it hanging over my head!
March has come and gone, and I am late in getting out an update! I just arrived home this past weekend after having spent my Spring Break (March 21-27) in Canby, Oregon at another TOTAL It Up! Workshop; only this time, I attended as an assistant to the staff and teachers. It was such a wonderful week!! We had students fly in from all over the States as well as two international students. I enjoyed meeting each one, watching them soak in the possibilities before them, and praying with them for clarity and guidance. I look forward to rubbing shoulders with some of them in the future. From there, I flew down to interpret some friends’ wedding in Sacramento, which was simply beautiful.
March also brought a delightful visit from my dear, dear friend and sister, Megan, whom I hadn’t seen in almost two years! Last time I was out visiting her family (my second family in Michigan), Meg had just left for a six month missions stint in South Africa with OM. It was a joy to spend a brief weekend with her, savoring every moment and hearing all about her adventures.
Likewise, I look forward to the end of April and a visit from my college roommates, Erin & Jessica!!! And no, I don’t normally get to visit with friends this often, so this year has been a real treat! It just seems 2009 is God’s timing for the catching up with loved ones! I certainly have no complaints. Erin & Jess will be here for a week, and I can’t wait to show them around beautiful Southern Oregon.
Praise Report: The Lord has already provided my tuition, room, and board for North Dakota in FULL! I’m amazed and beyond grateful! He provides over and beyond what we can ask or think. He has also provided the funds for a much-needed, long-awaited, new laptop computer (my old one crashed a little over a year ago). He knows our every need and delights to meet them out of His abundance! Amazing! I wait on Him now simply for travel funds for North Dakota.
In the meantime, April is application month. I’m still working on my membership application, and this is the month to buckle down and finish it. This is my top priority and greatest prayer need. I look forward to typing my next update without it hanging over my head!
February 2009 Update
Hello!
February is more than half over and time continues to fly by! Just yesterday, I arrived home from a long weekend in Southern California with my deaf “sister” Emily. We had a wonderful time together spending a day at Disneyland, cooking and eating international food (Indian, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian – so good!), dinner with the Ludy family who just happened to be in SoCal as well, and talking for countless hours over endless mugs of tea. It was definitely a God-orchestrated trip and covered with His blessings.
The LORD continues to piece things together. I’ve completed and been accepted through all (three) stages of the Summer Institute of Linguistics application process. All that remains is working out which classes I need and registering for those. I begin June 8th!
I’m still leading a young women’s Bible Study group on Monday nights. It’s been such a delight to watch them not only “grow up” (as they get their driver’s licenses or graduate high school) but also grow deeper in their love for the Lord!! We’re wrapping up our final season together (for now), and are digging into an inductive Bible study on 1 John together. It’s been wonderful! As I’ve been praying about our final season together, God’s been laying it on my heart to see them equipped to go out and lead studies of their own and disciple the younger gals in their own lives. The past two years with this group of gals has been such a work of the Lord, I’m still completely in awe when I stop and take it all in. I’m so thankful for the precious fellowship and time spent in worship, the Word, and prayer with these beautiful, set-apart sisters-in-Christ!
Just one example of how these girls have so blessed and encouraged me is in their response to the needs the Lord brings across their paths. A couple months ago, the Lord brought to our attention a major need for Bibles in South Asia among believers who don’t have access to Bibles and/or cannot afford them. In just over a month, after hearing the need and praying for the Lord’s guidance and provision, we were able to send enough funds to provide 88 brothers and sisters with God’s Word! It brought tears to my eyes watching them sitting on the floor counting change and calculating the amount of Bibles it would purchase for those who had none. They are such a precious group of young women He will use mightily to advance His kingdom!
As I wrap this up, I wish I could express my gratitude and how blessed I’ve been by all of you who have been so quick to jump in and cover me with support, prayers, and encouragement! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Knowing I have all of you behind me makes each step a bit easier as I set out down this path.
February is more than half over and time continues to fly by! Just yesterday, I arrived home from a long weekend in Southern California with my deaf “sister” Emily. We had a wonderful time together spending a day at Disneyland, cooking and eating international food (Indian, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian – so good!), dinner with the Ludy family who just happened to be in SoCal as well, and talking for countless hours over endless mugs of tea. It was definitely a God-orchestrated trip and covered with His blessings.
The LORD continues to piece things together. I’ve completed and been accepted through all (three) stages of the Summer Institute of Linguistics application process. All that remains is working out which classes I need and registering for those. I begin June 8th!
I’m still leading a young women’s Bible Study group on Monday nights. It’s been such a delight to watch them not only “grow up” (as they get their driver’s licenses or graduate high school) but also grow deeper in their love for the Lord!! We’re wrapping up our final season together (for now), and are digging into an inductive Bible study on 1 John together. It’s been wonderful! As I’ve been praying about our final season together, God’s been laying it on my heart to see them equipped to go out and lead studies of their own and disciple the younger gals in their own lives. The past two years with this group of gals has been such a work of the Lord, I’m still completely in awe when I stop and take it all in. I’m so thankful for the precious fellowship and time spent in worship, the Word, and prayer with these beautiful, set-apart sisters-in-Christ!
Just one example of how these girls have so blessed and encouraged me is in their response to the needs the Lord brings across their paths. A couple months ago, the Lord brought to our attention a major need for Bibles in South Asia among believers who don’t have access to Bibles and/or cannot afford them. In just over a month, after hearing the need and praying for the Lord’s guidance and provision, we were able to send enough funds to provide 88 brothers and sisters with God’s Word! It brought tears to my eyes watching them sitting on the floor counting change and calculating the amount of Bibles it would purchase for those who had none. They are such a precious group of young women He will use mightily to advance His kingdom!
As I wrap this up, I wish I could express my gratitude and how blessed I’ve been by all of you who have been so quick to jump in and cover me with support, prayers, and encouragement! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Knowing I have all of you behind me makes each step a bit easier as I set out down this path.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
