Home for the holidays has been a great way to return from a whirlwind of a year. I mean, who goes around the world to 11 countries in 11 months living in community at 30? I know, it seemed crazy to me a year ago but now that I have returned, I find myself missing the crazy unknown and excitement that each day brought our way. Dave and I had the year of a lifetime, filled with faces engraved on our hearts and experiences we will always remember with great fondness, but I also realize this is not the end, only the beginning to a life of adventure, trust and faith in the God who called us out and will continue to call us forward to advance His kingdom on this earth.
Since being home, I am often asked the same 3 questions so allow me to answer them the best I can:
1) How was your trip? 2) What is your favorite country? 3)What’s next?
My trip was actually not a trip at all but a way of life. A life of daily surrending my needs and rights and putting others first, communication, patience, faith in the unknown, hard/tiring work, and above all else, love!
My favorite country cannot be limited to one or two countries, but four.
Thailand--I am in love with the women in the red light district and met one of my dearest friends there, Da. I can’t wait to go back to Thailand to see her again and help her realize her dream of starting her own business. No women should feel that working in a bar is their only option!
Malawi-The Africa I pictured in my mind! Our contacts, Jose & Naara were 2 of the most amazing Christians I have ever met—and Jose needs to write a book about his life! The beach we stayed on was probably the most beautiful I have ever seen and let’s not forget the amazing children I was able to play with every afternoon ON this beach! What an amazing month to feel like a “missionary”! Highly recommend a mission trip to Malawi for all of you!! So, if you ever need a leader–you got the right girl!
Ukraine-Working with university students and orphans–awesome, but what really made this month one of my faves with Tanya, the English teacher at New Tones. She became an instant soul friend and I miss her dearly. I wish I could be there to disciple her and live life but now, I hold onto the hope of seeing her again, maybe even flying her out to Spain somehow. I love that saying “Where there is a will, there is a way”.
Switzerland-Beauty, chocolate, fondue, YWAM, but all in all, it was God’s provision once again and the people we met. Dave and I had the most amazing room overlooking Lake Geneva and daily felt the privelege of serving other Christians. I plan on going back to see the flowers that we planted bloom, sip on a coffee on the patio we built and hear stories of the Crossroads YWAM students recent trip to South Africa.
Next, Dave and I will attend a leadership Bible school called G42. Check it out! I think you will be as impressed as I am by the depth of their concept!
The Goal of The Leadership Academy
Our goal at the G42 Leadership Academy is to equip you in three
major areas-fulfilling your purpose & destiny, expanding your
leadership abilities, and learning how to live out each of those in the
real world-and then empower you to establish the Kingdom where God has
called you. That’s it. We work for the Glory of God and His Kingdom.
major areas-fulfilling your purpose & destiny, expanding your
leadership abilities, and learning how to live out each of those in the
real world-and then empower you to establish the Kingdom where God has
called you. That’s it. We work for the Glory of God and His Kingdom.
Our goal for Spain is to spend 6 months seeking God’s face and hearing the next step of how we can use our skills incorporating business and missions to impact this world for His glory. Right now, God is just calling us to trust! And we do!!
Trusting in God to provide the funds we need to raise for G42
~Support Dave&Lindsay: http://www.g42leadershipacademy.org/donate (We need to raise $12,000 in all)~
Trusting in God with our future plans.
Trusting God with our families.
Trusting God with every aspect of our lives because He is trustworthy!
I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, “The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the #ff0000,
into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan
for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a
discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The
reality of naked trust is the life of the pilgrim who leaves what is
nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without
any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the
future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his
presence and his promise.”
into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan
for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a
discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The
reality of naked trust is the life of the pilgrim who leaves what is
nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without
any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the
future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his
presence and his promise.”
Thank you again for all of your encouraging words this year as we learn what it means to live in naked trust. We could not do this without the support of so many of you at home! We thank God for trusting in the vision and heart that God has put in us to do the work around the world and be your hands and feet. We will keep you up to date with what God continues to show us while living in Spain. Our journey is not over, but just beginning so stay tuned!!
Happy Holidays!!!
Lins
