the one about ministry.

In one of Donald Miller’s books he says: “Get to know God right now. So that you can have a foundation for your future as you develop. so at the end of your life people have A STORY to tell of you.”

Ministry looks different each month. It is not always easy to explain. In DR, it was working with children in the slums. In Haiti, it was construction and teaching English. In Romania, it was community groups and sharing our testimonies. In Moldova, it has been door-to-door evangelism house visits, chopping down a corn field, building a beaver shelter (yupp I said beaver) and a whole lot of prayer. In Africa, I hear its a lota preaching!

Our life is one big story. Sometimes in my life I feel I am the character in a story and when I am sleeping- that is when the person reading the book has set the book down for the time being. or some days my life is in a video game or on others, like in the corn field- I thought of you dmoney and my life as if I was running from zombees. in a corn field. in Moldova. with one tiny hook tool in my hand. and no snowball trucks to hide in…

With that said, the best way to describe ministry this month is through the stories. Through the daily encounters I have had with God. Here is a small glimpse into the stories I’ve had in Moldova. They are only small chapters of God’s greater story for me. The many lessons of grace and His love for me He is walking me through right now.

This month I’ve:
-seen God shine through two young women: Ana and Veronica.

-received much needed encouragement from a team member.

-prayed. prayed and prayed for the town of Cornesti.

-chopped down a corn field, by hand.

-seen the joy in an elderly lady for helping her with such a task.

-cleared out a garden and cleaned carrots.

-done house visits.

-helped construct a beaver shelter.

-been able to encourage the children in the shelter.

-adopted and took care of an adorable kitten!

annnd I’ve :
-learned about how much I can whine at times.

-been angry and frustrated with God. A LOT.

-didn’t understand why God couldn’t “give me a break” when I missed Dan by 3 minutes on skype, yet again and again…

-hurt loved ones. but in excitement overcame the mess.

-been a mess most days.

-taken my frustration with God up to “my spot” in the hills, looked at His vast beauty and through His grace He turned my anger into POWER over the enemy.

-but still in that power, learning to try to find contentment in ALL circumstances. ugh. i suck at this.

-struggled/still struggling to find a balance in supporting, encouraging and receiving the same with someone who I absolutely love dearly, but being OKAY with God’s plan of growing us, apart- separately for a whole year. ugh. here is confusion and lies.

-attempted to sit at Jesus feet… even when I had no idea what to say to Him.

-learned and I’m still learning to fear in Him ALONE.

-truly begun to understand that I am God’s temple. His strength is IN me. not just given to me wen needed. but ALWAYS there for me.

-lost my patience.

-realized I need to open my eyes and let go of “my plans” and my focus on the things I’m still holding on too that are not God’s desires- not God’s reality for me right now.

-finally realized what living uncomfortably means- its not living out of a back pack for a year or pooping in a hole- its letting God change you, giving Him all, even when you don’t want to and letting Him mold and shape you to be His disciple. even when you can’t see the outcome. TRUSTING in His Word. (how do I do this? I haven’t figured that one out yet)

-learned what all my faith is lacking. and that theres lots of room to grow.

-AND learning God still has a plan for me despite all this ^^ He still wants me to be His disciple. even when I am nothing.

My hope is that my story will continue to be full of change, no matter how hard that change is. I pray I’m changed in a way that I can never be comfortable in my old ways again. I pray I’m changed in a way that I can learn to be still in Him alone. I pray I’m changed into His desires and beauty. not my own.