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It is a tremendous freedom to get rid of all self-consideration and learn to care about only one thing - the relationship between Christ and ourselves.

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ISSUE SEVEN

APRIL 2009

ISSUE SEVEN

APRIL 2009

ISSUE SEVEN

APRIL 2009

ISSUE SEVEN

APRIL 2009

ISSUE SEVEN

APRIL 2009

From childlike dreams of mission work to being a teacher & servant of the gospel in Thailand.... 

When/how did you come to know Christ and choose to live a set-apart life?

My life in Christ began when, with childlike faith, I accepted Him as my Savior at age five. Thus began a Journey that still humbles and amazes me. During middle school I was blessed by several specific people who spoke into my life and pointed me toward Jesus. As God took hold of my heart in those middle school years, my life was transformed and redirected in many ways. I began a love relationship with my Savior and knew without a doubt that I wanted what He wanted for my life.

The process of choosing a set apart life involved many steps resulting from small choices as well as more major Lordship decisions along the way. Even now, this basic process remains largely the same. Looking back, I see that God in His grace and mercy beckoned me to Himself in countless ways. As I responded to His call and took steps of faith toward Him, spiritual transformation resulted in obvious signs of the new and different Life He promised. An example from those formative middle school years comes to mind. The night before school started for my 8th grade year, a friend and I decided that no matter what the coming year held, no matter what the cost, we were going to live for Christ, speak boldly, and be unashamed of the gospel. No matter what teachers and classmates thought, no matter the opposition and criticism we might face. Around that same time, I read Eric and Leslie’s book When God Writes Your Love Story. The Lord powerfully used the message of that book to set apart the relational area of my life as His script, His story, to be written. 

What have been some struggles you’ve faced in seeking to live set-apart for Christ amidst this culture?

The primary struggles I deal with in living a set-apart life begin with me, with my thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Apart from the grace of God and His power, I would fail to make the big and small choices required for life as He intends. But I have found the Lord Jesus Christ to be the “strength of my heart and my portion forever.” When I make it my first choice to live for Him and seek His applause alone in whatever circumstance I face, the opposing pressure from the culture around me is almost unnoticed. However, when I waver or begin listening to the world’s voice, when I give the enemy a seat and a voice in my audience, the struggle becomes an unnecessarily intense fight. Life as Jesus intends it is an awesome mystery. Some people don’t get it, some don’t buy it, and most certainly don’t applaud it. Many who claim to accept and affirm this life don’t really grasp the Creator King who makes it possible. Over the years, many questions and comments have come my way in regard to how I choose to live. “Why?” is the most common question. Comments include things like, “You have your head in the clouds!”…“It’s not possible! …or, “Oh, OK, we’ll just have to see how it works out for you.

What most helps you maintain an intimate relationship with Christ?

Spending time at His feet and seeking His face. Not just including Him in my day but relying on Him for the each step of my day. Looking for Him, listening for Him and then giving Him thanks and praise for the way He reveals Himself. I got in the habit a long time ago of pouring out my heart to Him throughout my day both in prayer and writing in a journal. It’s amazing how even heart ache prayers end in praise so often because already I see how God is at work and in control of each situation. One of the coolest things about a relationship with Christ is that it’s always an adventure and there is no end, no limit to the mysteries of Christ and the steps toward knowing Him. “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8

perspective once again. I made my way down to breakfast and soon found out about the voices in the night. Our hosts explained that what I heard was a parade to “wake up the gods.” I was immediately grateful that I talk to and walk with the God of the Universe who never sleeps. I also felt an overwhelming compassion and burden for the people behind the haunting voices, the people that don’t know the One True God, who probably have never had a chance to hear about their Living Creator and Savior. What unfolded that first night in India is one of the many ways in which the Lord confirmed in my heart the way He had been leading me for many years.

Tell us about your work in Thailand.

By God’s Grace and Sovereignty, He directed me to a teaching degree and the present opportunity to teach at Grace International School. Here I teach the children of Christian workers and others in Asia. This season for me has been a blessed and incredible opportunity to hear about and be a part of the work God is doing literally all over the other side of the world. I have been able to learn from so many people, to serve and the get experience teaching, visit orphanages weekly and take part in a variety of different ministries. I’ve seen a lot of growth in my students and have been challenged and blessed by them often. I love getting to see them daily. Most of the children at the orphanages I get to visit each week are HIV positive; they are often sick and always so precious. They range from just days old to entering adulthood, each with a different story. I get to hold them, play with them, talk with them and pray with and/or for them. My work in Thailand has been multi faceted, going from my classroom to the street, to serving those who have dedicated their lives to Christ and His work, to those who have never heard the name of Jesus. I praise God so much for His lasting faithfulness and plan for me. He has put me here for this time and there is no where else I’d rather be.

Have you always wanted to work in missions?  When did God first give you that desire?

My God-given desire for mission work goes way back with many steps and circumstances along the way as He directed my heart. I suppose it all began in middle school, when, with all the fervor a middle school girl could muster, I felt sure the Lord was calling me to Africa. I was going to marry Tarzan and spend my life in the jungle, swinging from vine to vine proclaiming Jesus to all who would hear. : - ) My best friend (who also thought mission work would be her calling) and I slept on the floor, took cold showers, and did everything we think of to prepare ourselves for life overseas. We were serious about this path, but, alas, we “only in middle school.” I remember longing to be in high school so that I could participate in mission trips to far off places with our church youth group.

After middle school, I ceased some of my earlier “preparations” as God blessed me with many opportunities to “go” during my high school years. Each time, each trip, He put more of His desire for the nations and for unreached peoples in my heart, shaping me in different ways for what was ahead. I even made it to Africa during my junior year!

With the Lord as my guide I began college, not with the “mission” major I wanted or in the way or place that I had planned it, but nevertheless clinging to His sovereign purposes. My mind had planned my way, but He directed my steps. Following His way was not easy. I wanted to GO. He was saying STAY. In my struggle with accepting His plan for me, as my desire to “go” and I had the feeling of being “stuck” in college, I began praying that God would break my heart with the things that break His heart. Only then did I realize that He was shaping me and preparing me for future steps. Even though I didn’t know exactly what those steps would be, I knew that He did. And I knew that His preparation of me would be far more effective than anything I could have thought up (like cold showers). Content that the college campus was my present assignment, I knew His preparation for the future would best take place if and as I chose to live for Him now no matter where I lived.

Tell us about the overseas work you’ve done over the past few years.

God had been both growing my heart and breaking it for the lost and for missions. During my first trip to India, while I was still in college, my heart melted for that incredible place and its people. During both my trips to India I served on a team that cared for and loved on the children of Kingdom workers there. In addition, I loved the exposure to the various ministries that were going on. My heart was gripped not only by the huge needs that were revealed during prayer walks, but also by story after story about what God is doing to reach the unreached. My very first night in India is still vivid in my memory. I woke up in total darkness, confused and disoriented. The air was heavy and there were what sounded like a hundred rhyming voices surrounding me, all chanting to the beat of a drum. Was I dreaming? I didn’t know. Were these voices really surrounding me, or were they coming from outside my room? I struggled to orient myself. Then I remembered that I was in Mumbai, India. Never had I heard anything so unnerving, so haunting. Lying there on my bed, listening to these voices for what seemed like hours, I clung tightly to the security I found within as I talked with my Heavenly Father and prayed for daylight. I wanted so much for light to shine through the window to pierce the darkness I felt all around me. As daylight began to flood through the window the voices soon faded and life came into

What are your greatest joys working overseas?  Your biggest challenges?

Joys:

-My students… their child like faith… their prayers… their “a ha” moments relating to the scripture and their understanding of “mature” spiritual concepts. It’s amazing!

-Each smile, hug, and laugh of the sweet orphans I’m blessed to know. Getting to see them regularly and develop relationships with them.

-Interacting with the Thai people and sharing life with them.

-Seeing God do the impossible and hearing about all the ways He continues to draw people to Himself.

-Meeting people from all over the world with so many stories from their journey with Christ so far! I love that every story is different and, as they follow the Lord, each one incredibly ordained and beautiful!

Challenges:

-Being so far away from my family and those that knew me well!

-Not being able to speak Thai or communicate as I would like to in this culture…all this playing into being pretty socially awkward at times.

How has this experience deepened your relationship with Christ?

He’s teaching me so much! As I learn to and have to trust Him and walk with Him, I learn more and more about Him… and my need for Him and how He is un-like any other. He is so unlike me, His incredible love, unconditional, vast. His compassion, it’s limitless where I become so burdened. His mercy is new every morning and I need it every day. His strength is never ending, as mine runs out so fast! His holiness is complete. I have felt my need for Him stronger than ever before and my trust in Him has been challenged like never before. He’s used my experiences here and the fuller glimpses into His heart and mind draw me fuller into my relationship with Him.

Also, I’ve been learning so much about prayer. Not being able to communicate well and felling an ocean of need all around really has taught me more about how to “pray without ceasing”. Whew! To pray on behalf of the people, pray for the people, pray with the people. The need is overwhelming to me and my reliance on God is crucial. Spending time with in prayer has deepened my relationship with Christ. 

Can you give any advice or encouragement to single young women who feel a call to missions?  Where would you tell them to begin?

God is preparing you even now. It’s hard not to be discouraged when you have a dream and feel a calling but you’re not “there” yet. God has amazing plans for where He has you now, as He has begun His work and call in you, He will lead you in ways far beyond your imagination. Pour out your heart to Him. If God has given you a desire to go, ask Him where He might have you go. Start with “here I am send me” and let Him fill in the details. Ask that He would break your heart for the things that break His heart. Trust Him, seek 

Him and seek opportunities to pursue this call on your life. God used a combination of seven or eight short term trips to shape and direct my heart…see how He will shape and direct yours. Step out in faith and with hands wide open and wait in expectation for how the Lord will work out all the details. Spend your life with and in pursuit of Christ… it is the greatest adventure!  *

Here is her story...

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