praise praise PRAISE

All praise be to His name!

our trip officially ended last night

praise God for the transformation He has done in each one of our lives! He has made me new. He has blessed me with friendships that will last a lifetime, lessons and areas of growth that will be used the rest of my life, and He has set a fire to my passions.

praise the Lord.

tomorrow I'm going camping for two days and then I'll make my way through Italy with Darrell and Annette...and then I'll be home! can't wait to see you guys and hear about all your summers!

there was weeping.

our team just arrived back in Riga after 9 days of camp, and 11 days, in Rezekne, Latvia, for a total of 2 weeks in Latvia...

my life is forever changed.

i will try and share a brief overview of what this past week has looked like, but i am exhausted, so i am looking forward to the day when i can rejoice with you all in what God has done this week in full detail.

zosna camp...picture this...
run down school house infested with mosquitos, in the middle of a tiny village of alcoholics, with an orphanage specifically for children coming from traumatic experiences...if this camp were to run in America it would be shut down before it even was open, which is why its so awesome!! haha...we washed our dishes in the same bucket of "soapy" water all week; camp was only supposed to be 8 days but they extended it to 9 just for the fun of it; the skit to introduce the kids to camp included the use of a real gun, the stopping of and breaking into the campers' bus, and a whole load of other events; our shower was a lake; there was no real schedule, the only regular activity was the two hours of Bible class; we had a nature fashion show; every night we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning around the campfire talking deeply about God and life with all the kids...the list just goes on and on and on...and on...Zosna camp is AWESOME!!!!...
70 campers...14 of us leaders...about 90 in all, including staff...plus a very really, very active, very loving God
in this week i watched in awe as God brought 10 campers to know and accept Him as Lord and Savior, 15 others recommit their lives to Him with a strong desire to live a life passionately pursuing the King...2 of the kids who committed their lives to Christ for the first time were in my Bible study...every orphan from last time remembered me by name, instantly, and then God proceeded to show me how He has answered my prayers for them over the last two years...One example, Vladik. This boy was in my Bible group two years ago and was the most closed off and depressed of all the kids, by the end of the week he was bawling because he had experienced love for the first time and didn't want to let it go; this year, Vladik was in my group again, and this year Vladik talked about God in our group times, asked questions about following Him, and thanked me for helping him to believe in God. He has become my brother. Our God is good.
there are so many amazing things that have happened in this last week that i have been left speechless with awe...i cannot wait to share with you all that our God has done this week, His presence was so real, He lit a fire in Rezekne.
and now...now my heart has been broken and is with those kids...but one thing i know, there is no doubting what God did in those 70 kids, and there is no doubting what He did in me. He changed my life.
Praise the LORD.

prayers for these next two weeks:
-One of the girls on our team is wanting to leave early because of some difficulties...pray for wisdom for us as leaders in what to allow her to do.
-energy and strength to make it through to the end
-Open hearts, eyes, and ears for me and every member of our team as we begin to process what God has done in our lives this summer
-A focused mind and heart, the summer is not over yet and so i want to remain focused on where God has me and what He still has in store, rather than focusing on what will happen when its over.

praises:
-I have never before experienced God's goodness to such intensity as this week
-God's love can never be comprehended by the human mind
-God has answered prayers in my life this last week that i have been praying, not only for this summer, but for the past two years

there was weeping this week, but our hearts were, and are, rejoicing forevermore in our God.

latvia tomorrow!

we leave tomorrow...i can hardly believe it...i feel like i just arrived in Skjolden yesterday, and now we are heading out...craziness :)

please pray.

and praise God that our entire team will be with us, noone is going home anymore! praise God!

halfway down...

So...I can hardly believe 3 weeks have passed by and only 4 or 5 remain (I've lost count)

This morning marked the end of our discipleship training program...a week of incredible transformation...the prayer for a transformational summer in my life and the lives of all the students is being answered.

What happened this week?
- I was in charge of the hostel for the week...Preparing and cooking all the meals for 40+ people, delegating chores and meal prep help, laundry, cleaning, and of course, my favorite, dessert every night :)
- Investing in our girls...This week was full of intense, deep communication with 40 college students from all around the world, in addition to life-changing times alone with God...Each one of the girls on our team has struggled, and yet, God is moving and blessing them abundantly...praise be to His name! I loved loved! this week, last year I had a difficult and overwhelming experience when all the international students came, but this year has been incredible, I have learned SO much, been challenged in SO many ways, and left SO deeply encouraged...again, praise His name! God is doing great things.
- Discussion groups... One of the things I most love is having intense, deep conversations about God and the Word. Every morning this week, after our quiet times, we broke up into our discussion groups and did just that, talked for hours, asking questions, searching scripture, praising God, praying through difficult thoughts...oh, what sweet times!
- Lydia (Inna's sister) and I talked all throughout the week in Russian! sweet music to my ears! :)

What is ahead of us this next week?
- LATVIA!!!!

What will this look like for me and our team?
- Being united as one body witht the UK team (who I really enjoy)
- Spending and being Spent for Him
- little sleep
- lots of conversations, lots of games, lots of craziness!, lots of Russian, lots of smiles coming from me :)
- being surrounded by orphans who are longing for love

Prayer requests?
- One of our girls is really struggling and will probably be leaving back to the States soon/before Latvia (noone has ever been allowed to go home early...a picture of how severe the situation is). Please pray for her, for God's healing hand. Please pray for the rest of us girls and my heart...I find myself feeling like I could have done more to help her, but I need to realize that only God can heal her and pull her out of the pit of darkness that has engulfed this dear sister...all of us girls have truly grown to love her as a sister and it breaks my heart to see her go.
- I'm already thinking about the day that I will have to say goodbye to the Latvians...pray that the Lord would keep me focused on today, His daily bread which will get me through today and today alone, that I would be able to pour out all of my heart each day, without reservation, knowing that, yes, my heart may break, but His will is good, pleasing, and perfect.
- unity amongst the UK and US team as we prepare to leave together...strength, energy, love and compassion, for each other and for everyone at the camp
- open ears, eyes, and hearts...for all God has to teach us and teach others through us

Know that I'm praying for you all and send my love :) praise God for all He is doing.

The last few days I have had Psalm 66 stuck on my mind...may this be true for all of our summers and lives...
"Shout with joy to God all the earth! Sing the glory of his name, make his praise glorious!...all the earth bows down to you, they sing praise to your name. selah. Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot- come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations...Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us, you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs, you let men ride over our heads, we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance...Come and listen, all you who fear God, let me tell you what he has done for me...." Praise be to His name!

Monday morning, July 6, we leave for Riga, Latvia...July 9 camp begins in Rezekne, Latvia... This will be my last posting, most likely, until we return from Latvia because the hostel we will be staying at is different than last time (praise God no more Friendly Fun Franks :) )

these next weeks will be very difficult, but still, very sweet...please be praying and praising God for all He is doing! our God is very real, very living, and very active.

I love you all.

laughter

This last week at the hostel in Skjolden has been nothing short of amazing... We have hiked, done work projects, studied the Word, lasted through hours of discussion and philosophical conversations with Patrick and Darrell, we have camped, we have laughed, we have cried, we have bonded, and well, basically we've done it all :) haha

praises:
the girls. God has blessed me with an amazing group of girls, each of us struggling through life situations, and yet, each of us holding onto this opportunity for bonding and learning from one another

the leaders. Patrick has done an incredible job leading our team, I praise God for how He is working through Patrick, not only to lead us, but also to challenge us and spur us on toward growth.

my growth. God has taken hold of my life, challenged me, convicted me, blessed me, rejoiced over me, and shown me His love in ways I have never before experienced.

laughter and freedom. These last two weeks, I have laughed longer, and more frequently, than I have in a very very long time. Also, and along that same line, as God has opened my eyes to who He has made me to be (personality and character traits, passions, etc.) I have felt more freedom and confidence to be the person God has designed me to be than I ever have before.

I love my team. Bonding and relating takes great effort, but oh how its worth it!

prayers:
tomorrow begins our major construction projects on the hostel and throughout the town, pray for energy, strength, consistent and blessed time in the Word.

Wednesday through Friday our international teams will be arriving...pray for us during that time too, being surrounded by 25 other students from starkly different cultures can be overwhelming and tiring...please pray for our girls, that we would continue to grow closer even as more students come and more of our energy is sapped.

Discipleship week begins on Monday...pray that God would prepare our hearts for that time and for all He has for us to learn, for growth, and greater awe of His person, and for even greater unity amongst all our teams as one big team for the week.

that God would continue preparing us for Latvia, its about two weeks away, might He do in, and through, us more than we could ever ask or imagine.

All praise be to the Lord of lords and the King of kings!
I love you guys! thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement!

are you all in?

I'm alive! and I'm in Skjolden, Norway! sorry its taken so long to update my blog (which I promised to be regular about), but this is the first opportunity i've had to get onto a computer...so, here we go...

Norway has been amazing...why?...it is exactly where I am supposed to be. From day one, God has been challenging me, renewing me, reviving my joy, chipping away at my cold heart...God is good. Our team has been such a blessing, and what an experience it has been with the women...leading these amazing girls has already been a great journey and left me praising at answered prayers...God has given me more than enough energy to hike the mountains, all while being able to listen and engage in deep conversation with the girls...and oh how our God works, every single member of our team is the perfect addition, we are all desiring to grow in the same areas and I cannot wait to watch as God begins to stretch and mold us all...how sweet!

are you all in? two hours ago, our team finished our 24 hours of alone time with the Lord...a time purposed to begin preparing us for all that God has ahead of us this summer...the result...for the team it was a realization that our relationships with God are all or nothing, a full surrender of everything, thus, are you all in? this is the challenge, and if so, what does that mean for each one of us?...what did this 24 include for me? a realization of God's presence with me at every moment this past year, He will never leave me nor forsake me, He is here; an understanding that God has a transforming work to do in each of our lives this summer, which begins with a renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2); and a processing of the question that has been running through my mind ever since arriving in Norway...who am I? yes, I am God's, and yes, I desire for my identity to be found solely in Him. but, deeper than that, who am I as a daughter of the King? outside of all the expectations I, wrongly, set for myself and the masks I hide behind, who has He created me to be? what passions, what characteristics shine forth, what does He have for me...who am I?

this summer will be difficult, already has been difficult, this summer will be amazing, already has been amazing, this summer will be fun, already has been fun...this summer I am exactly, exactly, where God wants me.

I am all in.

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

I love you guys! :)

P.S. I'm loving the Isaiah commentary, Dad! Absolutely mind boggling, leaves me speechless each time I read through it :) love you!

and...I'm off!

5am tomorrow morning I leave to Phoenix and then depart for Bergen, Norway! Pray for safe travels and a sweet time of bonding as we meet up for the first time as a team :)

can't wait to share this experience with you all!

packing...how in the world?!

and...the countdown has begun! 5 days left of American life and then I will be boarding a jet plane straight for Norway...seriously! I say seriously, not only to remind you of how soon all this is approaching, but also for my own sake...the reality of me going again this summer has yet to sink in. I am ecstatic, terrified, curious, full of thoughts and questions, and still, it all seems like one big dream...

Well, at least until I continue in my pathetic attempts to pack, then everything begins to feel a bit more real. I really am going back to Norway and Latvia this summer, I really will be able to see the same kids from my study last time, the same kids I fell in love with, and I really do have to fit clothing and necessities for 8 weeks into my hiking backpack...oh yay! and oye vey! :)

and before I head out, here are a few things that have been on my mind lately:
-- memorizing 1 Peter...an incredible book. My study Bible introduces 1 Peter with having a key word of suffering and a central theme of victory over suffering. I am confident and eager for God to use this book of Scripture to grow my teammates and I into men and women who place their full hope and joy in the One who is to come- the One who is Just, who never forsakes, who loves beyond comprehension, the One whose ways cannot be understood, and the One who will be praised and glorified for all of eternity. And I pray for all those we encounter, that we may always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have, but with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

-- I was blessed by a sermon on fellowship the other day, and, in all seriousness, it was one of the best sermons I have heard on this subject. If you're interested, you can listen to it here: http://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/sermonaudioplayer.php?CMSCODE=EKK&siteid=2060&sermonid=63468&useSkin=skin_plain.xml&CMS_LINK=http://my.ekklesia360.com
I pray for this fellowship of the saints amongst my team, and the girls on the team. I pray for the challenge and the sweet result- provoking one another on toward love, sincere, deep love, flowing from a pure heart... I would share my notes with you, but I'm pretty sure I just rewrote the entire sermon :) If you listen to it, I assure you it won't be a waste of your time, and if by chance it is...well, then I don't know what to tell you :)

-- the reality of the situation...what will this summer look like?

• 4 1/2 weeks in Norway: major construction projects, discipleship camp, engaging with the youth in town, camping and hiking excursions...I will be difficult to reach during this period as I will have very limited access to a computer. I am hoping, though, to update my blog about once a week and work through emails about every other week (this is the ideal, which may not be possible, but i will try!)
  
• 2 1/2 weeks, or so, in Latvia: Bible, English, and sports camp with an orphanage and about 70 youth from town. 3 days prior to the camp, and 3 days following, we will be in the capitol city of Riga preparing and then debriefing. I will be able to write a few times while in Riga, but I will have no computer access at camp... which I love! (being without technology can be great fun)
• 1 week in Italy: this week is not a part of the Norway/Latvia trip, but is sure to be a blast...I am going with the team directors and their two little boys as a nanny and a friend :)
  
• Please pray for: Open eyes and open hearts, amongst both our team and all those we meet; unity, fellowship of the saints; a team that prays without ceasing; a desire for growth; servant hearts; that we would spend and be spent; and that God would reign victorious in our hearts, our team, and every kid at camp in Latvia.
  
• all in all: God has excited me beyond words for this summer and I cannot wait to experience all that He has planned. I am excited and eager for growth, challenge, hardships, laughter, unity, friendships, a broken heart, greater depth and intimacy with our Maker, and a greater awe of Him and His beautiful creation! I will take lots of pictures!!

I'll end with a quote from the sermon I mentioned above:
"Jesus is the Son of God, the Heir of all things, the Father's agent in creation, the Radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of His being, the Sustainer of all things, the One who made purification for sins, the Exalted One."
All praise be to His name!

a phone call for confidence and a devo...

I know I just wrote a post a few days ago, but I read a sweet, and very applicable, devotion in "My Utmost for His Highest" this morning and I couldn't help but share it :)

Out of the wreck I rise
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Rom. 8:35
God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says- "I will be with him in trouble." It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man's life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. We are "more than conquerors in all these things." Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that no one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Rightly or wrongly, we are where we are, exactly in the condition we are in. I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there. "Shall tribulation...?" Tribulation is never a noble thing; but let tribulation be what it may - exhausting, galling, fatiguing, it is not able to separate us from the love of God. Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you. "Shall anguish...?" -can God's love hold when everything says that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice? "Shall famine...?" -can we not only believe in the love of God but be more than conquerors, even while we are being starved? Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God's character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things. Only one thing can account for it- the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Out of the wreck I rise" every time. --Oswald Chambers

...the other day I received a phone call from Darrell and Annette, our team directors, who I love dearly! I was able to talk with Annette, who is always refreshing and freeing to share life with, and she filled me in on a few more things that they would like me to head up, and that I would now ask you to pray for...1. Think of something to do in the room with all the girls every night before we go to sleep, for bonding, encouraging, and consistency- maybe prayer, reading from a book...2. Lead the girl times- have a few topics already prepared for discussion- please pray that God would speak through me and fill me with questions, I pray that I would become a good question asker (seriously :) )...3. Memorize the book of 1 Peter - I read the first chapter this morning and was amazed by God- I can't wait to start memorizing it!...And there were a few other things, but if you all could be praying for God's hand in these 3 things, I would be so grateful and encouraged! :) Love to you all!

though your footprints were not seen...

Wednesday marked the finish of yet another semester of college, six down and one to go! Though the blessings of this year were great and in full abundance, the prime characteristic of this year was my constant state of weakness and God's very real presence.  I experienced the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9 to a depth that I never knew, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."...For more reasons than one, I feel like this year may have been one of the most difficult I have experienced thus far.  And yet, as I spent today reflecting on all that happened this year, God kept reminding me, over and over, that though I could not always make out His footprints, and what exactly He was working through the difficulty, He was there, He was by my side every step of the way.  God did not once abandon me, not even for a second. He was always there, always drawing me to lean upon Him, always assuring me that I could trust Him who never wavers, always reminding me that He knew of the struggle deep within. He was there.

Psalm 77...I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me...Then I thought...I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph...Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

...though His footprints were not seen, He led His people like a flock, He redeemed His people from years of exile into a land of beautiful liberation, though His footprints were not seen. Though I may not always see or understand God's purpose, He is orchestrating a plan for His great glory.  Thinking on this passage quickly brought to mind two other stories, Matt. 14:22-36 and Luke 8:22-25...

Luke 8:22-25...One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."...The disciples went and woke Jesus saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"..."Where is your faith?"

Here, Jesus told his disciples to go to the other side of the lake.  One task- get to the other side. Period. There were no disclaimers about the weather...if it gets rough, if the waves begin to break and crash over you, if you fear you might be engulfed...no. none of that.  Jesus gave them one command and he expected it to be seen through- go to the other side.  Countless times throughout this year, the Lord has presented me with circumstances, decisions, and conclusions that I did not always understand, and yet, there was but one command- get to the other side.  And what was on the other side, a greater understanding and awe of His person, a realization that great weakness, however painful and uncomfortable it may be, is exactly where I want to be- for it is only in great weakness that He is enormously strong- and that, though His footprints may not be seen, He will never abandon me, if only I have faith in what I cannot see- an incomprehensible God of the Universe and Father of my heart.

So, as my summer trip grows all the more closer, I pray for challenge, I pray that I would be broken and that God would be all powerful in, and through, my weaknesses.  And, as I enter into my final semester of college and prepare for what God has next, I pray that I would keep my eyes so steadfastly fixed upon Him that I would not see the storm of circumstances raging around me.  Circumstances and emotions are temporary and always changing, God is never changing.  Would I be fixed upon that which never changes, though His footprints may not be seen.

Isaiah 43:19... "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

"Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says- 'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching til His purpose is in sight. Then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands...Faith is not pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him." --Oswald Chambers

my feelings about this summer...another quote from Chambers, "life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy." I have NO idea what Norway and Latvia will hold, but I do know that everyday will be filled with spontaneity and leave me with cause for rejoicing! Love you all and wish you could only know how your support has encouraged me!

a taste of where I'm headed...

Base jumping in Norway...a common recreational activity...these are the people I will be spending half of my summer with...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttz5oPpF1Js&feature=related

looks fun, eh?! :)

note- Norwegians are starkly different than Latvians...like night and day.

also...here are, yet again, the new and final dates of my trip...June 9- August 3

steam-roller run me down

this last week and a half, the middle of the busiest part of my semester, I feel as if God has been growing, and convicting, me non-stop.  While this has been incredible, it has also heightened my emotions (when I, like Winston Churchill, am already "naturally weepy" :) haha) and has required time for processing, time which I have told myself I do not have.  And yet, to tell the God of the Universe, the One who created time itself, that I do not have time for Him...who do I think I am?...And so, I have spent time processing. And the result...

Some sweet lessons, thoughts to ponder, and areas for growth:

on unity:  some notes from a sermon on Galations 2:6-10...What prevents us from being united, and what often divides us, are the kind of things that Peter and Paul were fighting against, that is, personality clashes, personal matters, who is the "pillar" and who is not.  What was threatening their unity? Ego. Ego is what was threatening their unity. How do we get around this? By focusing on the gospel, the Truth.  Unity not focused on the Truth will prove ephemeral, not lasting, superficial, the creation of man, not the unity of the Spirit and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For, if you focus on the gospel, you actually become increasingly one as we are one in Christ.  

It's so easy to allow personal differences to destroy spiritual relationships. Sometimes God puts us in a surrounding with people we completely clash with, but, we must never forget, we will always have one thing in common, One gospel, One Lord, One Savior. We must learn to see beyond appearances "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Sam. 16:7"  God does not judge by human appearance, He has no partiality to the flesh, personalities, or to the human face, he looks beyond that, He sees the heart, He sees us as we are.  And still, He loves us.  Might we allow Him to teach us what it truly means to love as He loves.

We must fight for Fellowship.  Fellowship is the communion connection we have with God the Father through faith in Christ and therefore with each other also. Fellowship is something won for us by Christ's work on the Cross, nonetheless, the Bible consistently teaches that we still need to work at it ourselves in order to maintain and develop it.  Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" Make every effort.  Humility is always the key to fellowship, for, it gets beyond appearances and fights for Truth. Make every effort.  Admit you're in the wrong, do whatever it takes, we are to make every effort to keep the bond of fellowship.

Our unity will not be based upon powerful leaders or personalities or secondary issues.  Our unity will be in God, in Christ Jesus.

on strength: I have none, and yet, I pretend that I am invincible.  Psalm 16:2 "I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord, apart from you I have no good thing.'" 2 Cor 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"  If I believe the character of Jesus, am I living up to my belief?  Am I attempting to live for Christ on my own power and attain growth and intimacy with Him by my own works? I have no strength, my energy is fleeting and temporal, but Christ! His strength is made perfect in my weakness, He is the One who will sustain, renew, and restore, He  is the One who will grow me and draw me ever closer, He alone is the One who will set my feet upon the Rock.

"Our one concern should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshipping child, not a wayward child.  In a worker without this solemn dominant note of concentration on God there is no margin of mind, body or spirit free, consequently he becomes spent out and crushed. There is no freedom, no delight in life; nerves, mind and heart are so crushingly burdened that God's blessing cannot rest..."-Oswald Chambers

To be free with the freedom of a worshipping child...Oh, how I desire that. Picture a young child who has been playing and running about joyfully all day and is now spent and exhausted.  Would she not run into the arms of her father, to be held up and refreshed by the rest found in his arms? Even now, after emotionally, mentally, and physically draining weeks, I have the deep longing to be embraced by my own father.  And so it is the same with our Heavenly Father, I want to learn the child-like trust and dependence upon His power, Strength, and Steadfastness.

"But the other side is just as true- when once the concentration is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God alone. There is no responsibility on you for work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your co-operation with Him...be careful to remember that you are freed for one thing only- to be absolutely devoted to Him. We have no right to judge where we should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for. God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.""-O. Chambers

Lord, I am Yours, take me. break me. make me.

Lord, soften our hearts that we would be maleable in Your hands.  

be still. be present. be in awe.

Two weeks ago, Darrell asked our team to share a prayer request we have for this summer, so we can all join in prayer for one another, as we prepare.  I have been thinking and praying over this for quite a while... What is one specific prayer I have? And is it a prayer that can be all-encompassing, something we could all relate to? 

Living in the present.  This is where the Lord is drawing me, to be still, to be present, observant, aware, and utterly in awe of the person and presence of God in every facet of my life and the world that surrounds me.  

A C.S. Lewis quote that has brought much conviction, and yet, a sweeter understanding of this idea:

"For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.  Of the present moment, and of it only humans have an experience analagous to the experience which God has of reality as a whole; in it alone freedom and actuality are offered them...He does not want man to give the Future their hearts, to place their treasures in it...His ideal is a man who, having worked all day for the good of posterity (if that is his vocation) washes his mind of the whole subject, commits the issue to Heaven, and returns at once to the patience or gratitude demanded by the moment that is passing over him..."

what will this look like this summer?

Living in the moment, learning to be observant.  Something I learned the last time I was in Norway: I am very unobservant, which is not a strength.  I miss out on experiences, I miss the chance to go deeper with friends, I miss out on critical pieces of other cultures.  Why am I so unobservant?  My heart and mind are focused elsewhere...I am a step ahead, I am a step behind, I am not present.  If I am living in the present, not only will I experience the freedom and beauty of God, as CS Lewis describes, but I will also experience His rest while being open for God to work in me, and through me, to touch the lives of others. Living in the present, praying in the present, praising in the present. How can I remain in the present while maintaining a sweet hope in the promises of God for what is to come?  By being still before Him...

being still...

inner stillness is an absolute necessity to truly knowing God. "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46.10

"Not in the turmoil of the raging storm, not in the earthquake or devouring flame; but in the hush that could all fear transform, the still, small whisper to the prophet came...O rest, in utter quietude of soul. Abandon words, let your whole being, hushed in His control, learn the full meaning of His voice and smile..."

being still before our Holy God cultivates a reverent awe before Him and His person.

be still. be present. be in awe.

that is my prayer.

as is typical, i'll end with a few quotes :)

"Certainly I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:20).  This is a very comforting promise, particularly when we consider what happens just prior to the end of the age...the plagues, famine, disease, and disasters that are documented in Revelation.  Yet, God is always with us.  When things are going well- He is with us.  When we are troubled- He is with us. When we are going through trials- He is with us. When it seems as if God is a million miles away- He is with us. When our emotion is drained and we don't feel like singing God's praises- He is with us. In trouble and in comfort, in peril and in calm, in despair and in joy- God is ALWAYS with us." - Papa G.

"...But those who wait on the Lord will replace their strength; they will stretch out their wings as eagles. They will run and not become exhausted; they will walk and not be weary (Is. 40:30-31). 'Waiting on the Lord' This impression implies 2 things: complete dependence on God and a willingness to allow him to decide the terms. To wait on him is to admit that we have no other help, either in ourselves or in another. Therefore we are helpless until he acts...thus, 'waiting' in Hebrew is not merely killing time but a life of confident expectation. Those who give up their frantic efforts to save themselves and turn expectantly to God will be able to replace their worn out strength for new strength. How like God: He takes the useless and gives back the good." - Papa G.

"Pray like heaven and hell depend on it- for they DO!"-  Pastor Moody

радуйтесь всегда в Господе и ещё говорю- радуйтесь.

радуйтесь всегда в Господе и ещё говорю- радуйтесь.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

For the last several weeks, this verse has been running through my mind non-stop...literally, non-stop.  When I stop hearing it in English, it begins again in Russian.  And oh, how relevant it is to my life, to each of our lives, at each moment, in every circumstance, in the tears, the laughter, the pain, the joy, the weaknesses, and the strengths...we are to rejoice, always.  In the russian "rejoice" or "радуйтесь" is an imperfective imperative, a repetitive, unending command.  We are to always rejoice, regardless of the outer circumstances of our lives, we are to rejoice.  And this command follows with the charge, "Do not be anxious about anything. (v. 6)" But, how can we possibly do this when the life that is ours seems to overwhelm and nearly suffocate? We can do this because of the object of our rejoicing...We are to rejoice in the Lord, not in the circumstances, not in the emotions, not in the people, not in the moments, but in the Lord...the One who never changes, never forsakes, the One who is always redeeming, always loving, the One who has already won the Victory, the One upon whom we will never be shaken...this is the object of our rejoicing! I want to know my God so intimately that all I can do is stand in reverent awe and rejoice.

A book I was reading this week put two common emotions in my life into perspective:

Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

I think of David and Paul, men who were pursued, nearly killed, hated, men who fell prey to sin, and yet, men who understood the magnitude of who God is and were left praising Him.  I read through Psalm 34 this week and was struck by the zealous heart of David, he was a man of One thing, a man of God...He wrote this Psalm in reflection on the time he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, allowing David to escape the hands of death.  Rather than pleading with God for the chase to end, rather than pleading with God to bring him pleasure and comfort in his daily life, David chose to rejoice.  He chose to rejoice because he knew God. And because he knew God, he knew that the only thing he could do was rejoice. This is what David writes after being nearly killed:

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame...Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him...the LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crused in spirit...

Though I may be brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, I will rejoice! For, the Lord is good, the Lord delivers, the Lord is our refuge, we have nothing to fear! We cannot, and will not, be shaken if we are built on God! Let us rejoice!  I pray that this summer, when the circumstances are painful, difficult, frustrating, heartbreaking, or annoying, I pray that my eyes will be fixed above and that I may be able to rejoice, for the sole reason that God is ever faithful and never changing.

A quote from my devotional:

Jesus Christ is not my securty against the storms of life, but He is my perfect security in the storms. He has never promised me an easy passage, only a safe landing.

This week I was sent a series of texts from a very wise man (my father, who also shares my name, Harry the Duck) and they go a little something like this: (I pray you are as encouraged by them as I am)

I pray that through this time of testing you will know that God's plan is perfect, God's will is sovereign, that God and God alone is the giver and sustainer of life, and that peace comes only from God and from God alone.

The Lord is my shepherd so I shall want nothing more. His goodness and mercy pursues me all the days of my life as a lion does her prey. So even when (not if) I walk through the valley of deepest despair, I shall fear nothing for He is with me.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it. This is not a conditional statement. We are to rejoice in what the Lord has made whether we feel like it or not.

The flesh says with Frederick the Great, "God is on teh side of the strongest battalions," but the Spirit says, "Stand still and see your salvation (1 Cor. 2:14)"  "In quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15

Just as Edom in Isaiah 34 represents the nations in general, the desert in Is. 35 represents the total world...trusting in the nations results in a desert, trusting in God results in a garden. "Joy and gladness will overtake them; sorrow and sighing will flee away." Is. 35:10

Another passage I read this week that has been a daily encouragement:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you..." Is. 43:1-5

Key points that have stuck with me from this passage...The Lord does not say If you pass through waters, rivers, and fire, He says when. So when we pass through waters, rivers, and fire, because we will, we can rest secure because He will be with us, the weight of this world will not sweep over us, and we will not be consumed, for we are His. This is the God we serve, the God who redeems out of His great love for us, the God who will be with us even as we walk through the valley of deepest darkness, He will walk with us and not let us be consumed...This is our God...Let us rejoice!

on leading...

--I forgot to mention in my last post that the trip dates have changed a bit...they are now June 9-July 26--

One thing Darrell asked Patrick and I to do was to begin praying over the characteristics God desires in a leader, to write them out, continue dwelling on them, and then bring them with us to Norway to discuss.  So, this week being spring break, I have been going on day-long hikes all week and, as a result, have been blessed with some sweet time alone with God, some of which I spent praying through characteristics of a leader.  A bit of what resulted from this was a great praise to the Lord for the experiences He has brought me through, both good and bad, reminding me of what can result when all eyes are focused on Him (beautiful unity), and then what results when we are focused on desires of the flesh (conflict and destruction).

Some thoughts on leading...feel free to share your thoughts too :) ...

Many times throughout the week, this one passage has rung through my ears, and has become the basis for my current thoughts on leading, so I'll share it here :

--Philippians 2:1-11--If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

thoughts...a leader is...

-  devoted to God 

-  quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry; patient

-  constantly in prayer

-  observant (a characteristic God has been teaching me much about the last few years, I'll share more on this later)

-  discerning and interested

-  an example to believers in speech, conduct, faith, love, and purity (1 Tim. 4:12)

-  humble...consider others better than yourself...taking the very nature of a servant...becoming obedient, even to the point of death

-  encouraging and compassionate

-  not passive...decisive and determined

-  disciplined and self-controlled

-  selfless

-  full of rejoicing...able to see Christ in all things

Looking over these points is quite overwhelming, especially since I know I fall so short...and yet, I also know that His power is made perfect in my weakness.  So, I pray that He would be all powerful in my life and shine through in each of these areas.

I'll keep coming back to these thoughts, and expanding upon them, as I pray through them some more.

To end for the night, here are two quotes I have really enjoyed from my devotionals this week:

"'For the last thirty years, I have looked for the face of Christ in the people with whom I have disagreed.'  When this spirit drives us, we will be immediately protected from a feeble tolerance of others, narrow-mindedness, harsh vindictiveness, and everything else that would damage our testimony for Him who came not to destroy lives but to save them."

"The final stage in the life of faith is attainment of character. There are many passing transfigurations of character; when we pray we feel the blessing of God enwrapping us and for the time being we are changed, then we get back to the ordinary days and ways and the glory vanishes. The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting. It is not a question of sanctification; but of something infinitely further on than sanctification, of faith that has been tried and proved and has stood the test. Abraham is not a type of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith, a tried faith built on a real God. 'Abraham believed God.'" -Oswald Chambers

a picture!

here are two pictures from our orientation in CO:


from the left: Dave (one of the guys who will be joining us--a teacher in Ohio), Alexis, Liz, and me :)again, from the left: Patrick (team leader), Dave, Alexis, and me

meeting the team! a whirlwind of a weekend...

two weekends ago I travelled to Colorado Springs to attend an orientation for this summer's trip...while there, I not only  met my team, but God also brought me sweet rest, ministered to me, and renewed in me deep joy!

the team!

--meet Alexis: Junior at Indiana Bal State studying Psychology...on fire, determined, and eager to learn...this girl is a pistol, she has so much excitement about life and is genuinely interested in people...we have quite a bit in common and I am SO eager to see where God takes our friendship this summer!...Pray that God would be preparing her, that He would teach her the beauty of being still Ps. 46:10, and that her parents would be supportive of her decision to join us this summer.

--meet Liz: A 25ish year old nurse from Michigan...Liz strikes me as a woman of gentleness, peace, and satisfaction in Christ...a woman of humility...we are excited to learn from one another! Please pray for God's preparation in her heart as well

--meet Darrell and Annette, and their two boys Dylan and Jared (now two days old!): Patrick and I will be leading the team with their coaching...I am increasingly more and more excited to spend the summer with them, under their wisdom, encouragement, grace, and love...they are a couple who have always spurred me in my faith and encouraged me to walk boldly in hope and obedience toward Christ...Oh, I am so excited!

--So, there you go! Those are the girls on the team, women who I am confident will become like sisters :)

Some additional observations from orientation weekend:

1.  Life is short-- On the way to the orientation, while driving to the Phoenix airport, I nearly crashed into a concrete guard wall.  I was so sure that we (my mom and I) were going to die, but by a miracle from God, we did not. I would have killed my mom.  But, praise God, He saved us.  What did I learn from this experience?  My life is short, so I desire to live in a way that proclaims God's glory, this is our only chance, am I living in obedience to His leading? or am I living in reluctance and fear? So often, I convince myself that I am still young and have many more years to do this or that, but no! If God is leading me in some direction, if He is filling my heart with an overwhelming passion and pull in some direction, I must walk straight and overcome my fears.  I must run and let nothing stop me, for, this life is short, and living for His glory and His will must be my only focus... "Then Peter began to say unto Him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee..." Mark 10:28

2.  I am broken, and yet, I have a great hope-- A verse that God has been whispering in my ear all semester, a verse God has been asking me to embrace, and yet, a verse I have, until now, refused to acknowledge is: Psalm 51.17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..." God so desires me to come before Him, vulnerable and broken...but, as is my prideful tendency, I refuse to acknowledge my brokenness and I make every attempt to remain composed and "strong"...but oh, how that reaks of pride and confidence in the flesh...I have been daily reminded of Paul's confession in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10...He pleaded with God three times that the thorn be removed, three times! A man who had faced shipwreck, had been nearly stoned to death, and daily faced ridicule and persection, this man who never wished these things away, pleaded before God for this thorn to be removed- that must have been an excruciatingly painful thorn! and yet! Paul remained confident...He became joyous in the midst of pain and hardship, why? "To keep me from becoming conceited..." was Paul's response...Paul chose rejoicing in Christ for his hardships, so that he might grow and mature in his relationship with Christ...what faith! what hope! what undying confidence!...and all this while remaining broken...this, this is what I desire--to spill and be spilt for Christ, to be broken so that His power might reign! this is my prayer.

3.  Some thoughts on leading...One of the afternoons while in CO, Darrell and Annette took Patrick and I to coffee and talked with us about what this summer will look like, what their desires are for us as leaders, and then prayed with us over all our fears and insecurities in being leaders...Darrell's thoughts on leading: there are many forms, with two being the most common- leading from the front ('this is what we're doing, you do this and you do that, and so on') and leading from the back (leading through encouragement, probing them with questions, giving them the opportunity to decide and move)...while leading from the front will be neccessary at some points during our trip, our focus will be primarily on leading from the back, which excites me!  As of late, I have noticed the great pride and independence I have in myself rather than in God, so leading from the back will be an answer to prayer in breaking me, humbling me, and working in me a heart that listens, has compassion, and sincerely desires to see growth in others and in myself...

I feel like this is unneccessarily long, and may contain a large number of tangents (I tend to do that) buuuut, I hope it was at least a tad bit enjoyable :) ...again thanks for all of your support! I have been so encouraged through it the last couple weeks! 

To end, here are a few quotes I read today and really felt applied to my life (this post is already ridiculously long so you don't have to read these :):

"He who loves with divine compassion drinks the wine of heaven and enters actually by experience into the ecstasy which constitutes the felicity of God."--Lewis Chafer

"Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out all hatred and bitterness." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ's life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God's. But what seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's, because God's purpose is never man's purpose...The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God.  God is working out His purposes." --Oswald Chambers

the end...for now :)

headed to Colorado Springs!

I leave Thursday for a weekend orientation in Colorado Springs for this summer...there I will meet the team! and also meet with the leaders and learn more details about what exactly I will be doing this summer...So exciting! Please pray for safe travels, a sweet time of bonding as a new team, and a resounding praise to our God for His good and perfect plan!...Also, my mom is coming with me to visit her friends in the Springs...pray that this would be a blessed time with her, growing our friendship with one another...

I've started reading a few new books recently and have, thus, spent a great deal of time mulling over new thoughts and ideas...fun stuff :)

One of the books began with a straight forward sentence of conviction that has left me with a new prayer for this summer and my life currently: 

"We are a culture that relies on technology over community, a society in which spoken and written words are cheap, easy to come by, and excessive...We are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry. The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him."

When in Latvia the first time, I was convicted of this exact thing. My speech is flowery and excessive, I do not take care to the words I use, and as a result, what I say loses its value. My friend Inna, who is like a sister to me, called me out on this, and after this I began to see just how careful the Russian culture is with their words...For instance, the superlatives are reserved, for the most part, for the Divine, for God. Only God is all Holy, all Powerful, all Loving. And yet, I am so quick to say I love this or that, I hate this or that, the words 'sweet, awesome, beautiful, great, amazing, wonderful, aweful, terrible, horrible, etc.' are so quick to leave my mouth that I'm afraid I have exhausted these words, and I truly have devalued these words. 

So, with this in mind, and knowing that, to some, words mean nothing if they are not joined with action, how am I living my life?...Am I living a life that is so captivated by our God that others are left in awe of Him?

This is my prayer for this summer, that I would learn to be cautious, concise, and sincere with my words, and deliberate in my actions...that I would truly be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry and that my life would be marked by humility, gentleness, and love

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Colossians 4:2-6

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

on learning to love...

while praying for this summer, God has been teaching me quite a bit about loving Him and loving others...loving freely and unreservedly...loving as He does.  In this time, a few things have really struck me and I'd like to share a couple of them...

...and excerpt from "My Utmost for His Highest"...'If human love does not carry a man beyond himself, it is not love. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it. Have I ever been carried away to do something for God not because it was my duty, nor because it was useful, nor because there was anything in it at all beyond the fact that I love Him? Have I ever realized that I can bring to God things which are of value to Him, or am I mooning round the magnitude of His Redemption whilst there are any number of things I might be doing? Not Divine, colossal things which could be recorded as marvellous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that I am abandoned to Him? Have I ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced? There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him the abandoned tokens of how genuinely we do love Him. Abandon to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses the eyes on our own whiteness; we are greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, fearful lest we offend Him. Perfect love casts out all that when once we are abandoned to God. We have to get rid of this notion- "Am I of any use?" and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time. '

C.S. Lewis quote: "Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to noone... To love is to be vulnerable."

translation of 1 Cor. 13:4-8 from the Russian to English: "Love is long bearing, enduring, and patient, it is full of mercy and grace. Love does not envy, love does not extol itself, it is not proud, it does not err, it is not self-seeking, it is not irritated or annoyed, it does not think of evil, it does not rejoice in untruths and lies, but rejoices with the truth; it is always shielding, always trusting, believing, and having faith in, always hoping, always enduring, bearing, and standing. Love is never ceasing."

...the Lord is preparing me for great heartache this summer, but it will be the result of a deep love, the overwhelming, incomprehensible love of our God...so rather than putting up walls in protection of my heart, I give it up and pray for rejoicing in the heartbreak, for His work is good!

the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places...

"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."--Psalm 16:5-11

The boundary lines have truly fallen for me in pleasant places...Regardless of my resistance to these boundaries and my countless attempts to weave myself around them, God's will is good, pleasing and perfect, and the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. I dare not wish to be elsewhere because God knows me far better than I know myself and He knows what fills my heart with joy, so I can rest assured because He will not abandon me to the grave...

Here's an excerpt from my journal that will allow you a glimpse into the boundary lines that God has been laying out for me...in pleasant places!...

"Lord, how perfect is your timing! Right in the midst of all the uncertainty and the unknown, right as my summer was opened- Darrell and Annette asked me to help lead the girls this summer! Lord, how you know my heart! The same day I prayed for a reigniting of the passion You have given me for the nations, Lord, the same day...you answered that prayer! This same day, You brought rest in being able to drop courses, You made sense of my reluctance to graduate early, You answered prayer, You laid before me an opportunity for challenge and growth, and You filled my soul with unspeakable joy! God, You are good, how intimately You know me- far better than I know myself! And now, I pray for continued clarity, confidence in Your will, and preparation for a summer of leading and learning- Lord, there are many fears in leading, so I pray that You would daily break me of myself, that I would lose my pride and stand firm in Your strength, and Lord, that I would know Rest in You..."

the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places...let us rejoice!

Norway and Latvia...Take Two!

hi all!

So...I'm going back to Norway and Latvia this summer!! and the excitement is barely containable! Over the next three months I'll be updating this blog fairly regularly with new prayer requests as the Lord lays them on my heart; thoughts, fears, and excitements about the summer; and ways the Lord is preparing me, not only for this summer, but also for tomorrow, next semester, and the rest of my life.

Thank you so much for being willing to rejoice with me, and pray with me, for this summer and all that God has in store!