Commissioning Service

My commissioning service will be at First Presbyterian Church, in San Antonio, Texas, on the 9 August 2009, at all four services--8:30AM, 9:30AM, 10:45AM, and 11:05AM.

First Presbyterian Church
404 North Alamo
San Antonio, Texas
78205

Visa

Answered prayer! I officially have my visa to enter the country of Ukraine! This has come just in time, as I leave for C-eh-N-eh-D-eh in 9 more days to visit the family.

Books and other thoughts

Blessing. All but two of the books that I need to have read, have been donated by a very gracious couple, and another generous person! Thank you, guys (technically, guy and two girls)!

One of the books was about becoming incarnate in the culture you are living in. Living incarnationally was always a big Jesus word, or church word, until I read this book. I did not really understand what it meant to live incarnationally. I am going to share what it means.

"The challenges will shape us; the changes will trouble us. Our bodies will get sick, our minds will suffer fatigue, our emotions will sweep us from ecstasy to depression. Yet the love of Christ will sustain us so that we can identify with Paul, who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)."

• Meeting people and loving them through interaction, is the heart of the Great Commission. "We cannot hold office hours for the people to whom Christ has called us to minister."
  
• "We must adapt to the time and event properties of the people with whom we work."
• "The Christian who rejects and maligns a fellow worker because of personal flaws or sins, is taking the matter of judgment into his or her own hands. Such a critical judgmental attitude is a divisive and destructive force in any community."
• "If Jesus were to go to Ukraine, he would learn to think as the Ukraine think. He would listen to their conversations, observe their society and culture at work, and internalize their world-and-life view. Then he would communicate and teach as the Ukrainians teach, using parables and case studies to illustrate particular truths, sitting with them in discussion, asking them questions, debating the answers, and drawing from their experience, traditions, and beliefs the illustrations and analogies that would open their eyes to God's truth and would challenge their unbelief and resistance to him."

What does all of this mean for me personally?

By serving in Ukraine, I will develop new strategies for living, so that I build up the unity and fellowship of the body of Christ. I will do this through faith in Jesus Christ and living in the Spirit.

Things to do...

Yesterday I was able to go down to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health Clinic Foreign Travel Division, and get my two booster shots that I needed—Tdap and Typhoid. My arm is sore this morning—the nurse was right! Yay for Vitamin I (IB Profen)!

As I have told people about going to Ukraine to teach, I have been extremely encouraged by their testimonies, and words of encouragement. One lady told me that she had heard a missionary speak at the church, shortly after getting married, and she and her husband wanted to give something, but they had little money, so they gave their wedding bands! Low and behold, a woman in Ukraine had been praying for wedding bands—God is so good!

All but two of the books on my list have been donated from different people! Thank you for your generosity! I will have lots of fun reading… :) On a serious note, I am looking forward to reading most of the books.

Leaving for Canada, Brazil, and then Ukraine has become a reality. I feel like I’ve been hit in the head with a 2 x 4! The prep work blows me away! My coach at The Mission Society, Steve Wilson, sent me a missionary checklist and it made me go…whoa! It also made me say, oh good, I’m right on track!

Upcoming things to do…

• Attend Red Cross First Aid Training
• Renew teacher certificate through SBEC—expires this year!
• Renew my TXDL—expires this year on my birthday!
• Continue to consult with Dai about housing plans
• Plan commissioning service at home church

Righteous Laughter?

This morning on my way to work, I was tired of listening to NPR and hearing about the Swine Flu, so I started station flipping. I stopped on the Christian BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) station, because the preacher speaking started saying, "and when you go on a mission trip..." And then he goes on and says a few more things, ending with "When you go to Ukraine, you will feel an immediate connection, and an immediate fellowship with other Christians, even though you do not speak their language." I busted laughing--I guess God wanted me to hear that message, because I am going to Ukraine!

Jesus Idoler?

The ever so popular Susan Boyle, performing on Britain's Got Talent has been idolized in every medium possible, although, here we have a Saviour, Jesus Christ, but do we idolize him? At FPC, during the Maundy Thursday service, we prayed a prayer of confession that said, "Though you have bound yourself to us, we will not bind ourselves to you." Ouch! Are you a Jesus Idoler?

Exciting News!

The past few days have brought forth many exciting updates!

• I received a book in the mail today!--"The Faith that Compels Us" by HT Maclin
• My plane ticket to Kiev, Ukraine has been purchased--I will leave the 17 August 2009, at 6:50AM! =)
• My passport is in the process of receiving one of two visas it needs for me to travel to Brazil for training, and then to Kiev to teach
• I am enjoying a fantastic job and a wonderful employer, teaching Algebra 1 at MacArthur HS is a blessing!

Fundraising anyone?

Fundraising/asking for money never ceases to be awkward. It is easy to call people and tell them about what you'll be doing and your call to missions, but much more difficult is asking for money, help, support, prayers, etc. The call to action. It should not be hard. I tell my students everyday, what to do, and how to do it, but for some reason, I feel somewhat uncomfortable when it comes to asking others for not only their support, but for their money--their hard earned dollar.

As I have been going through this process, God has blessed me with multiple individuals who have received my prayer letter, and then taken it to their Sunday School class or bible study, thus allowing more people to lift me up in prayer, and learn of what great things God is doing in, through, and around me.

As awkward as fundraising can be, it always proves to be a fabulous opportunity to involve more people in Gods work! I am thankful that you have chosen to join me, as I serve God in a new and exciting way, in partnership, with you.

gods blessings!

Recent Blessings

The past few months of brought so many blessings, and quite a busy time period in my life. Just to name a few...

• New job
  
• Help grading papers
• Friendship
• Ukranian/English Dictionary
• Handmade scarf
• Paid for working
  
• Reinstated airline miles
  

God continues to do great things in my life. His generosity never ceases to surprise me.

SA Half Marathon

I ran the SA Half Marathon today. I was happy overall, not with my time, but rather with my energy levels. God gave me strength and endurance, throughout the course. It was cool to see different shirts--one of them said, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30-31. Another one had the classic, "I can do all things through Christ the Lord who strengthens me." Phillipains 4:13. On a sign posted, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

As encouraging as reading the shirts/signs, my favourite part were the little kids that would stand in line, with their hand out to high five you! There were a group of three kids that caught my attention. A little girl (probably about 3 1/2 years old), a little boy (about 5), and an older girl (maybe 6 1/2) all cheering you on! The children will probably never know how encouraging they were, and they themselves looked like they were having so much fun! :)

God provided me with a fantastic morning of strength, endurance, and encouragement! I must say, it was awkward not going to church! We even go on vacation!

Mac HS

After a long two weeks, God has enabled me to be teaching in the classroom again! I will be teaching HS Algebra 1 at Mac HS for the 2008-2009 academia year! Yay! :) Jumping in mid-year is a challenge, but I am up for it. This position was given to me, denied to me, fought for, and then re-offered! As Churchill says, "When you're going through hell, keep going!" I look forward to sharing how God uses me for his glory throughout this school year!

I love students

I love students, and they love me back! One of our speakers at church this past Sunday made that statement, and it hit me hard--I realized why I love teaching so much! My love for teaching is not because I'm good at it, or because I know the subject matter; my love for teaching is based on the love that I have for the students! When you love the students, they will love you back.

And they were glorifying God!

Galatians 1:24 (New American Standard Bible)

And they were glorifying God because of me.

Wow, that's a powerful statement! I want to be able to say that! Looking back at my post a few weeks ago, Andy can say that about Red! It's because of me, he came to true freedom!