Eastern European Update
Thank you all for your patience in following us. Know that we think of you all OFTEN and how we can better serve you all and invite you into what we are experiencing and what the Lord is doing in and through us.
I think at times I feel the pressure to convey all that we are experiencing perfectly because I want to honor you all so well, but I believe there will be things that we will experience that the Lord is intending just for us and we may not be able to fully explain it clearly. Along with that there just seems to be SO MUCH at times. As much as I wish I could invite you all perfectly into what we are doing and paint you all such a clear picture of the day to day, I also realize I am still working on how to balance all of this! Regardless, again thank you for hanging in there with us, now to the good stuff!
MONTENEGRO MINISTRY! We found ourselves located in a tiny mountain town nestled between the mountains. This town was called Bjelo Pulje (forgive the spelling). When I describe it this way trust me I had the same thoughts of what a quaint little town, but you realize really quickly that there was a lot of life in this little town. There was a “hip” nature of this town that kept it very relevant and relatable in a sense. The city was essentially a very large square/downtown area which was called “walk street” because all day everyday people just seemed to walk back and forth on the street.
The town was very much alive as people were always out and busy. Our ministry was to partner up with a couple from South Africa who were called to reach the people of Montenegro a few years back. Their hearts for the Lord made our ministry. Every morning we would meet at 10 am and have a time of devotion, then the rest of the day they made it very clear to simply go and build relationships as you are motivated by the love of Jesus. They had Bibles that were translated in the local language that we would hand out as the Lord lead.
It was freeing.
No added pressure of agenda or scheduling, simply going and loving people as you go. Coffee dates, lunch, dinner and all sorts of different avenues were used, but it was incredible. People were seeing the love of Jesus through simply stopping and spending time with them. These people were not used to this as the local religion is very much based on regulations, not love.
As I mentioned before we were blessed to be under the guidance of this amazing couple named Phil and Tanya. They loved Faith and myself especially well. For me the FREEDOM they lived in was contagious. They lived in such a way that was rooted in simplicity that came from no where else but their relationships with Jesus. It was a true blessing how they invested in us and poured into us.
We realized that over the past few years we were doing a lot of pouring out and how important it is to be poured back into. I had prayed that we would experience that or receive that and the Lord answered!
The word of the month for me in Montenegro was, FREEDOM! We as children of God, heirs to a throne, forgiven and free very often to not live that out. I know that it has been difficult at times as the “busyness” of life can rob us and blind us to these truths.
We are told in Scripture THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE! Do we live that way? THANK YOU LORD FOR REVEALING THIS TRUTH TO ME IN SUCH A CLEAR WAY!
Montenegro was a blessing in SO many ways. The landscape, food, ministry, and through our hosts. As we have moved on to Romania I know there are some things that I had to leave behind, but I am for sure bringing with me the FREEDOM- I am glad I have enough room in my pack for it.
So, this brings us to ROMANIA! After hours of train travel we decided to take a few days with the two other squad leaders to regroup and get on the same page. OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN LOVES TO BLESS US!! We were blessed to stay with a family who we had no connections with other than our squad mentors’ mother knew this family. So they invited us to stay with them for 4 days after not ever meeting any of us, and we were blessed. It was such a refreshing time and they were EXTREMELY hospitable! The Spirit had a blast making connections in all of our lives.
They made our welcoming to Romania one we will not forget. A tidbit I will share that was one of my favorite memories is when our host said that there was a lake that wanted to take us to one of the days. I thought “cool, a lake DAY.” Well the day of we had to get some stuff done as we waited for the husband to get home and take us. He got home around 6 and it was an hours drive there roughly. We got there, got the rafts out, and made our way into the water around 9 PM- as the sun was setting…..so no lake day, but it was a lake night trip.
We stayed out there s the sun went down just floating and talking. As the stars began to show themselves we began to worship our Creator. We were floating in the middle of this lake and I remember myself floating off on my back, looking at the stars and singing “it is well with my soul”. Powerful and something I will not forget, connecting with the Creator in such a humbling way.
We left this family blessed and recharged. We finally made it to our destination in “Dragoneste-Oit” (again spelling….) after long hours on a train, missing our stop, lost cab driver, getting back to the station 8 minutes before a train is going right where we need to be, got on the train, arrived where we needed to be at 3 AM, stranded in the middle of the street, random guy picks us up and takes us where we need to go down the street….it was a long day….
We are now working with a local church doing all sorts of different types of outreach and evangelism. Yesterday we went to encourage a local missionary about an hour way through construction and organizing there new church. It is so beautiful how you go to encourage and you leave just as encouraged as those you went to encourage! That is the God we serve who is so good at encompassing it all!
To wrap this up as I know this was a lot, but I wanted to catch you all up- please be praying as not this coming week, but the next, parents will have the opportunity to come out and visit us!
My saint of a mother (shout out! Love yam 🙂 will be coming and I am beyond excited and proud of her!! She will be accompanied by my blessing of a mother-in-law and Faiths one and only Leeann, we are incredibly excited to see them!
Please pray for safe travels and just as important that the time spent together will be rewarding and uplifting. We are eager to see what all the Lord is going to do!!!!
From the start of this update I had it on my heart to simply extend the invite for you all to please reach out and let us know if there is any way we can serve you all or honor you all better?!
We really do think of you all very often and feel so blessed to be doing what we are doing!
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS ON OUR END COMING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS WELL…. 🙂
We love you all and are humbled by the support!
All Glory to our Lord,
Austin
