and I am so excited!!!!
Early in November I'll be headed to the Philippines to meet with folks who help to coordinate prayer and communications efforts for Bible translation organizations around the world.
I am really looking forward to hearing about the things God's doing around the world through these organizations, learning how to more effectively communicate about these exciting things to the Church and seeing where God leads us as a group.
I'm also excited because I'll get to see Manila again.
To be honest, there have been times over the last several months when I have felt less than excited at the thought of moving overseas. It's a hard thing to think about when a loved one at home is dealing with cancer.
But at the same time, God has been dealing with me.
He has been challenging my faith and trust in Him.
And, He is renewing my vision and excitement about being engaged in this work from Manila.
So, I'm looking forward to being there for that week. I'm praying that God would use this time to continue to build excitement and confirm again this direction I'm heading in.
And what are my long-term plans for moving to Manila??
As long as my mom's recovery continues to go well (which we are hopeful and prayerful for), I hope to move to Manila at the beginning of 2009. After my November trip I'll head home, pack up what's left to bring to Manila (hope to bring a lot with me on the first trip!), spend the holidays with my family and finish final preparations and make the move!!
I've been realizing that as much as I thought that the last couple of years and this whole process has been about getting me to Manila... it's not really. I'm realizing that in each stage in life it's not so much about getting closer to a specific place, as much as it is about getting closer to Him.
So, as I look forward to being in Manila... yes, I am excited about the place itself. But, I am even more excited about how my living there, the work that I'll be doing there, the challenges I'll face during that time, the lessons I'll learn... will be used by Him to show me more of Himself, show me more of myself and experience greater intimacy with my Lord.
Taking a look back and remembering God's faithfulness ... awed by His goodness.
One year ago...September 16-21, 2007
Learning that Lasts Training - Dallas, Texas
After about a month of training in North Carolina, I travelled to Dallas, Texas. I began my two months in Dallas with one week of "Learning that Lasts" training (Training for Trainers). The course has changed the way that I approach developing training sessions and how I hope to develop myself when I am in a "trainer" role. My entire time in Dallas was a huge blessing. I got to spend really good quality time with my cousin and her husband as I stayed with them during my time there. And, I got to spend special times with other family members in the area as well.Two years ago...September 17, 2006
Wycliffe USA Training Camp - Orlando, Florida
Along with 32 other new Wycliffe workers, I began two weeks of training and orientation. By the time I attended Training Camp it had been over four months since I had received the phone call letting me know that I had been accepted to serve with Wycliffe.Training Camp was a great time for me to step away from my regular daily life in Orlando and focus on this HUGE thing that was happening in my life. It was a great time for me to be with others who were along a similar journey and to begin taking very concrete steps forward. It was a wonderful time for me to just be renewed and recharged -- re-energized about what was ahead.
It's amazing to think back on that group... some have been overseas in their assignments for almost two years now. Some have recently completed their preparations and are settling in and adjusting to their new homes. Some are still preparing and developing their ministry teams with great hopes and expectations to move into the roles that are waiting for them. And I know that some have gone in new directions outside of the organization.
What a journey. Two years ago I'm sure none of us were sure of where we'd be today, but one thing we focused on during the two weeks we had together was GOD... HIS GLORY... AND WORSHIP OF HIM. Praying right now that each of our hearts continue to be refreshed by knowledge of Him and our hearts and minds turned to Him in worship.
I loved those two weeks and the people that God gathered together for that time. TC 29!!
Fun, random memory: A few of us went to Downtown Disney. While visiting Virgin Megastore we dedicated a song to fellow training camper, Tracy. Here's Tracy in the purple shirt realizing the song was for her. Tracy is now in the Chicago area coordinating one of Wycliffe's programs for youth, Jungle Jump Off.
Three years ago...September 16, 2005
Process began with Wycliffe
It took a looonnnngggg time for me to finally begin the process of applying to serve with Wycliffe. It was something that I began seriously considering in 2003. It seemed that applying to join Wycliffe was something that I was endlessly thinking, journaling, and wondering about. I had lists of questions. I had journals of all my ponderings. I just wasn't making a decision.
Eating lunch with a friend of mine one afternoon she asked the waitress for a piece of her ordering slip. Pulling out a pen my friend wrote out what things I needed to do to finally move ahead. There in the restaurant on a dining order slip was my deadline... by my birthday (August 20th) ... I would decide if I was going to apply. 
Before my birthday even rolled around it was clear. (The photo is of me and my home group celebrating my birthday that year.) Actually, everything had been leading and pointing me in this direction all along... but I was finally ready to put faith and trust into action and say, "Yes." Okay, so maybe I wasn't that BOLD in my decision making. My actual words in my journal were: "Whoa. This is scary Lord -- and yet at the same time, so peace-giving. I think this is it, Lord. I am yielding to you and trusting you Lord as I take this next step. Father, there hasn't been one question I've asked that you haven't totally answered directing me to make a move....God this is scary because I'm not exactly sure where this step is going to take me. But, I have to remember - I may not know where I am going, but I do know who I am following. And Lord, you are so trustworthy..."
"Come to Jesus"
It was my second year at the University of Florida. It was right before my Writing for Mass Communications class. I sat outside on the Reitz Union Colonade with sweet Beth from Alabama. Everything about her oozes Jesus' sweet love. That afternoon she told me about His love in a way I hadn't ever understood it before. We talked for a while and before I knew it I was late to class. So I ran across the lawn and into Weimer Hall late... but filled with joy and a new relationship with God. 
December 1995 - Celebrating Christmas with new meaning with Beth and the other precious chickadees of her Bible study. One day during my mom's first round of consolidation therapy we were in her hospital room watching one of the few TV channels on the hospital TV -- CNN. One of the news items that day in May was about a 5-year-old girl who was accidentally hit by a car and died. The little girl ... a daughter of one of Contemporary Christian Music's popular, Steven Curtis Chapman.
The accident was tragic... their youngest daughter was accidentally hit by the car driven by her older brother.
At the time of Maria's death, I was still very much dealing with the questions and hurt in understanding why my Mom/we were having to go through cancer. I remember that as I watched the news story I subconsciously thought... "I wonder how they will go through this?" I remember feeling like... "keep your eyes and ears open and learn from them."
I've been reading the blog of Jim Houser who works with Steven Curtis Chapman. Over the last couple of months I've read about this family's moments of sadness, moments of joy, moments of hope, moments of moving forward. I've read about their faith being lived out.
Last month Steven Curtis Chapman, his wife and their older children were on Good Morning America and Larry King Live. Now I know that what this family has been going through is completely different from my own family's experience, but as I watched clips of the Larry King interview online, the words I heard expressed by the members of this family often echoed my own over the past few months. It was an encouragement hearing their testimony of faith.
God glorified in the hard times is often recognizing just that HE IS GOD and turning to Him with our questions, turning to Him seeking hope, and leaning hard on the one who gives strength and comfort.
I also think God glorified in the hard times is others seeing faith walked out during that time...maybe even when you're just hunched over and barely limping. My heart and mind have turned to God as I've listened to and watched this family. God glorified.
Over the last few months I've been encouraged in watching, reading, hearing about the faith journey of others. Not just this family, but my own friends and family as well. As others have permitted me to watch and listen along their journeys, I have seen God. What a gift of grace.
Steven Curtis Chapman had written a song, "Yours," and following the death of his daughter wrote an additional verse. These words provide such a powerful testimony of faith.
"And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything
It's all Yours"
"I've walked the valley of death's shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I've had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even herein this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you."
GOD, we belong to you.
Wycliffe's vision is to see God's Word accessible to all people in a language that speaks to their heart.
This is a vision that God has also given me. But, as I've worked alongside others towards this vision I have at times admittedly lost sight of "WHY?" It becomes too easy to get so focused on the tiny piece that I can do and I can forget the big picture.
I don't believe the heart of this vision is so that we can go down a checklist and say the languages have all been done. I don't believe the vision is just to package up the Bible in another language in a new bound book.
The heart of the vision, is the heart of God. It is to see lives changed. It is to see lives hear His Words speak to them. It is to know and experience forgiveness in a world of bitterness and hatred. It is to declare the true victory in moments of despair. It is to bring peace despite conflict. It is to offer Words of hope in the midst of pain and suffering.
This past year friends of mine who work in Orlando were able to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo. While there, they met men and women whose lives are a testimony of God moving in and through lives and the power of His everlasting Word in the heart language... in the midst of great suffering.
The following is a video produced from that trip.
Sometimes we need reminders of "WHY?" ... reminders like this.
(NOTE: This video may not be suitable for all ages.)
Learn more about the Trauma Healing Workshops.
I recently read the book "The Shack," by William P. Young. As I read it I appreciated the way that through the story I was being challenged in my understanding of God, my view of my relationship with Him and my perspective of life's situations.
