Thank you for the prayers everybody!
And though Im not out of the clear yet...there are definetly a few praises worth mentioning:
-My luggage came in! (I love birthdays!- Thanks Daddy and Nancy !!)
-My visa/ passport was delivered on Monday! (Thank you Mary at the Thai Embassy- You are a goddess!)
-Shots/ vaccines have been taken care of (Hep. A, Typhoid, and Polio...sore arm and 3 holes later, Im pretty much guaranteed to be fit as a fiddle!)
- New tires and car fixed!!! (Thanks again Daddy!)
Tomorrow I leave for Jax to visit/ say goodbye to my lil sisters and Mommy for Memorial weekend. Tuesday morning, me and Steve will take the great 13 hour journey of a drive to TX to visit Dad. And then Sunday morning, Ill be flying out of Houston and then LAX! Yikes!
Everything's coming together afterall!
Please continue to pray for courage, excitement, encouragement...Im anticipating my various goodbyes to be difficult (Mom, Tricia, Katie, Dad, Nancy, Steve). 2 months is a long time to be away from everything you've ever known. But Im ready...
Im going to Thailand!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Pre-Intro
This post is for everyone that did not receive the privilege of a preface to my introductory post.
So let's back up a few steps.
This year God has done great things in my life. He has become more alive and more real to me than ever before. Though my theology has changed a bit and my worldview has been significantly altered, my faith in His precious blood, in His plan for my life, and His love for the world around me has only been strengthened.
Perhaps the biggest shift that took place in my walk this year however, came with my first international mission trip to the country ofPanama
June 3rd through July 26th, I will be placed in the tsunami-stricken fishingvillage of Baan Nam Kem
So basically… my dream job! All in the amazing name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
With all that said, YES I am INCREDIBLY EXCITED to be going abroad, to get this AWESOME opportunity....
And with THAT said, YES I am INCREDIBLY SCARED and WEARY of going...moreso as my time for departure rapidly approaches and reality seems to be setting in on a whole new level.
So, Ill be needing prayer, as the previous post pleaded for. Keep em coming! I need some courage and a couple things to come together quickly and correctly (vaccines, visa, etc).
I love you all- our Lord is Great!
So let's back up a few steps.
This year God has done great things in my life. He has become more alive and more real to me than ever before. Though my theology has changed a bit and my worldview has been significantly altered, my faith in His precious blood, in His plan for my life, and His love for the world around me has only been strengthened.
Perhaps the biggest shift that took place in my walk this year however, came with my first international mission trip to the country of
June 3rd through July 26th, I will be placed in the tsunami-stricken fishing
So basically… my dream job! All in the amazing name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
With all that said, YES I am INCREDIBLY EXCITED to be going abroad, to get this AWESOME opportunity....
And with THAT said, YES I am INCREDIBLY SCARED and WEARY of going...moreso as my time for departure rapidly approaches and reality seems to be setting in on a whole new level.
So, Ill be needing prayer, as the previous post pleaded for. Keep em coming! I need some courage and a couple things to come together quickly and correctly (vaccines, visa, etc).
I love you all- our Lord is Great!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Introductions
Hi Everybody!
Welcome to my blog!
You're probably visiting for the first time, in response to a letter or my personal request.
So I want to again say thank you. If you're here, than that means you care about me, about what Im doing and where Im going, and you might even be willing to keep me in your thoughts and prayers these next couple months.
I'm going to try to keep these updates quick, but I warn you now about my tendency towards longer pieces.
I love to write- it's perhaps my most efficient and honest voice. I plan to use this place to post pictures and prayer requests alike, keep you all up to date on what Im doing, what the CDC is doing, how you can pray for us, and what to praise God for. :)
First order of buisiness: me getting there!
I sent off my visa Wednesday, with promises to have it sent back by next Monday! So that should be taken care of!
Letters, despite my premeditated procrastination, have also been finished and apparently passed out.
Lately, my days have been comprised of waking up, running errands (tying up all my loose ends), going to work (Olive Garden) at 11am for about 6 to 12 hours (pulling 40 hrs a week), then spending as much time with my friends and boyfriend as my body will allow...and waking up and doing it all over again. Insert a couple meals, and church services...you've got my life :)
Things you can pray for:
I need to trust God.
I like to be totally prepared for everything that I encounter in life.
And for the first time...I need to come to grips with the fact that I CANT be prepared for this, for Thailand.
I can try....I can work up to the minute the number of hours my managers will allow me to work in a week, I can read books and study up on the culture, I can pray and send letters and request support for the next year...and I still wont be prepared.
There's no way that Im going to have all the money I need before I leave.
There's no way that Im going to be immediatly adapt to a completely different and new Asian culture, language, and mindset just by buying a plane ticket.
And there's no way that I will be ready to leave all that I know and love, all my family and friends, my church, my boyfriend, my Mom for 2 months.
No way, except one way. His way.
God doesn't equip the prepared, He equips the weak and the humble and the seeking.
Hallelujah!
So just pray that I keep all that in mind, that I can stop worrying about the financial and physical aspects of it (because I know He will work those things out in His own time and way), and start focusing on spiritual preparation.
Thailand prayer requests (via Colleen, my partner in crime):
"Please pray for the CDC as we head into the rainy season and the new Thai school year.There will be new classes and new opportunities to witness to people who have never before heard of Christ. Also pray for the children and teens who have accepted Christ over the last few months. We are prayerfully considering new ways to help draw them into the work at the CDC and to help them grow and increase in faith."
Welcome to my blog!
You're probably visiting for the first time, in response to a letter or my personal request.
So I want to again say thank you. If you're here, than that means you care about me, about what Im doing and where Im going, and you might even be willing to keep me in your thoughts and prayers these next couple months.
I'm going to try to keep these updates quick, but I warn you now about my tendency towards longer pieces.
I love to write- it's perhaps my most efficient and honest voice. I plan to use this place to post pictures and prayer requests alike, keep you all up to date on what Im doing, what the CDC is doing, how you can pray for us, and what to praise God for. :)
First order of buisiness: me getting there!
I sent off my visa Wednesday, with promises to have it sent back by next Monday! So that should be taken care of!
Letters, despite my premeditated procrastination, have also been finished and apparently passed out.
Lately, my days have been comprised of waking up, running errands (tying up all my loose ends), going to work (Olive Garden) at 11am for about 6 to 12 hours (pulling 40 hrs a week), then spending as much time with my friends and boyfriend as my body will allow...and waking up and doing it all over again. Insert a couple meals, and church services...you've got my life :)
Things you can pray for:
I need to trust God.
I like to be totally prepared for everything that I encounter in life.
And for the first time...I need to come to grips with the fact that I CANT be prepared for this, for Thailand.
I can try....I can work up to the minute the number of hours my managers will allow me to work in a week, I can read books and study up on the culture, I can pray and send letters and request support for the next year...and I still wont be prepared.
There's no way that Im going to have all the money I need before I leave.
There's no way that Im going to be immediatly adapt to a completely different and new Asian culture, language, and mindset just by buying a plane ticket.
And there's no way that I will be ready to leave all that I know and love, all my family and friends, my church, my boyfriend, my Mom for 2 months.
No way, except one way. His way.
God doesn't equip the prepared, He equips the weak and the humble and the seeking.
Hallelujah!
So just pray that I keep all that in mind, that I can stop worrying about the financial and physical aspects of it (because I know He will work those things out in His own time and way), and start focusing on spiritual preparation.
Thailand prayer requests (via Colleen, my partner in crime):
"Please pray for the CDC as we head into the rainy season and the new Thai school year.There will be new classes and new opportunities to witness to people who have never before heard of Christ. Also pray for the children and teens who have accepted Christ over the last few months. We are prayerfully considering new ways to help draw them into the work at the CDC and to help them grow and increase in faith."
Thank you for your support everyone!
PS- PLEASE comment with as much regularity as you can stand...it warms my heart and
encourages me greatly when I know somebody is actually reading and praying :)
I love you and miss you already!
Let the countdown begin:
6 days till I leave Talley
11 days till I leave FL
15 days till I leave USA
Mother's Day Brunch
I got the blessing of a break last weekend to go visit my lil sisters (Tricia and Katie) and Mommy for Mother's Day. These are some people that you can be praying for as well. Though they're used to my being away for college- being a couple hours, and a couple oceans away is a BIG difference. Pray for peace and comfort as I trek across the world! I love them very very much and will miss them to pieces!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Why my blog is the way it is:
I have always been greatly impacted by the music I listen to. This is just one example of such!
The title of my blog is "Worlds Apart". I will be just about a world apart from you, as you read this, and by the same token, we are all worlds apart from our heavenly father, we are all worlds apart from what we wish we could be for Him. The song, written by Jars of Clay, is about that irony and search and passion...and love and forgiveness. It is my favorite Christian song, and I would highly recommend any and all to download/ listen to it the first chance you get, to realize its full impact and truth.
Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay
I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die
To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice?
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow?
To want you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees
All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
*Picture by: Andrew Thomasson
The title of my blog is "Worlds Apart". I will be just about a world apart from you, as you read this, and by the same token, we are all worlds apart from our heavenly father, we are all worlds apart from what we wish we could be for Him. The song, written by Jars of Clay, is about that irony and search and passion...and love and forgiveness. It is my favorite Christian song, and I would highly recommend any and all to download/ listen to it the first chance you get, to realize its full impact and truth.
Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay
I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die
To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice?
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow?
To want you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees
All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
*Picture by: Andrew Thomasson
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