Continuation of 07/2012.

Thank you, again, for those of you who check in to my blog and see if there's anything new!

My sweet friend and I in front of His grand creation!

A traditional BG ceremony for the bride, before her wedding the next day.

This is my ride! :)

At a waterfall after getting to explore an intense bat cave.

Ice-skating in a nearby city...a bit more popular than our city! ;)

Some of my friends and I after a fun hike! Well, I know these aren't much but I wanted to get a few more photos in my blog to give you a look at my life! Thanks for thinking of and remembering me! To Him be the glory. Steph

Way Overdue. 07/2012.

Maaf It's been a long time since I have created another blog entry. My blog is looking quite bare, huh?
Thank you for those of you who still try to keep up through reading my emails, international news,etc.! Sorry for my unfaithfulness of updating!

I started to write one sometime last year, then I just gave up on doing it on a regular basis because my schedule was never set and it became too difficult. I'm going to do my best on doing a speedy year-update with pictures in this blog and the next. This comes nowhere close to giving my experience justice, but I'm going to make an attempt. I'm especially very sorry to those who do not receive my emails! The Father's hand has constantly been protecting me, guiding me, refining me, healing me, and doing so many other things with me while I've been here. Hopefully some of these highlights will give you a glimpse into my SE Asian life this past year and a half!

Making some treats with our friends from 'Chit-Chat' (Eng. program)

Part of our 'team' as of Oct. 2011

At the end of fasting month they have a big gathering for a ceremony, pray, then go and visit houses to eat food.

Thanksgiving on another part of the island! (Kids making edible turkeys)

Some of my lady friends who came to visit around Christmas '11 last year.

An awesome view that I got on the side of the road as we were traveling out of the area!

In Limbo, Lagi

So I'm waiting to get some more things done before I can actually travel to my final destination of another island. I am in the right country, just the 'wrong' island.. but it's totally in His plans & hands and He has it altogether. It's a little difficult since I came on a holiday weekend and government offices have days off, but it's been a blessing being here, also. Staying in a guest house with some other friends for the last 6 or so days has been great. [[I've even gone to a couple malls!....I know!!!]] I've been able to spend a lot of time with Him and His special word, so I am definitely grateful for that!
Since arriving here, I've picked up on some of the language that I didn't learn before by listening to other 'buleh' who have been here longer & a few nationals; I'm not in language school yet, though, so it's hard... I have taken some pictures, but my journey hasn't really "officially" begun yet, in my mind, at least. ;) Therefore, the photos are kind of limited! You can see how we celebrated the significant day of our King's victory, and a couple outings we went on! :)

This photo is comical because we went to the Dunkin Donuts in the mall and ordered some coffee drinks and a donut; they gave my friends a fork and a knife. They almost always only use forks and spoons for anything else. Donuts may be a little harder, ya?

(This is Spanish...just wanted to point that out)

...The result of a photo party on my computer with some of my friends

Easter egg-dying! That was an exciting little activity for the kiddos!

The big Easter egg hunt!

look at these precious little lambs! =)

Alli, look out; competition! ;) Another mom had skillfully decorated a bunny cake.

Preparing the feast! Each family brought some kind of special American dish and dessert! It was delicious..and abundant!

The dessert table!










Thanks for reading! :)

Fight the good fight of the faith
Endure hardship with me like a good soldier of JC
Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints

Training has been preparing me for each one of these quotes. Everything that has come inside of my brain (from teachers/leaders) & entered my thoughts has been so helpful. It has been so sweet to see how Dad uses these new people in my life! I am grateful that you are lifting me up, asking Him to go before me & smooth out the crooked paths!

I'm guarding my heart, soul, & mind to be focused on the only One I should be focused on. Things can easily be distracting and overwhelming, but His grace is certainly enough-more than enough-to keep me on track. And He's allowed me to zone in when I need it most. Just because Dad's good like that. (:

JC has led me to really love His bride...even just a minuscule drop in comparison to how much He loves her. I'm getting help from Him to learn how to speak to her with truth & love. How to portray the idea of unity that we get from the word. How to treasure her even though it can be tough and hard, but so rewarding in the end! How to show her that I am genuinely thankful for her. JC, in His wisdom, has showed me a lot of different times that He's talked about her in the word and reminded me of what will happen when He comes back again. How beautiful.

I'll update y'all on some things from the past few months :)

precious wedding with precious people

great coffee with great women I admire

cool statue I got to see while exploring with special friends!

my favorite second cousins

graduated! ;)

20/20

Oh, the joys of traveling! From Pensacola to Orlando; quick visit from Orlando to Pensacola then back to O-town; from Orlando to Richmond; from Richmond to Orlando; from Orlando to SE Asia... the journeys will be memorable, for sure.

I am in the process of preparing for living in another country for a couple years, and even though I may be understanding more & more of the Goal- I still feel like I need signs, instructions, and specific directions. Why? Well, because of the pride in my life and desire to hold a title of being "independent", it seems I want something in which I have quite a clear vision of. This gets me thinking. [[When I think, most times I like to listen to songs..my close friends can attest to that- especially you, Ali :)]] There is a specific song called "Vision of You" by Shane & Shane. Some lyrics to this are: "Awaken what's inside of me, tune my heart to all You are, even though You're here, God come. May the vision of You be the death of me, even though You've given everything, Jesus come." This really describes things so well! All I want is the vision of Him and for it to be clear...all that looks like is being in His will. Simple. No need to make it complicated, to put it in my hands or attempt to envision what is hidden and known by the Father alone.

As thoughts are coming through my brain and making their way onto the screen, I'm reminded of how I need new windshield wipers. (Wait for it) Can you imagine driving through a harsh storm and not having decent wipers that help you better prepare for what's ahead? It's pretty rough. Not too fun being unequipped for long trips, either. Well, so is the vision we partake of 'life'. If you happen to have a strong grip on what direction you're going and have a specific way that you want the Father to do something, you may want to take a step back & turn those wipers on; get a clearer view at whose Hands your future is in.

How clear is our vision of Dad's will? How much do we let Him do His thing- in control?

Is. 45:19 "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right."

What Brings You Low?

So, I sit in front of my computer again, pondering on how to put thoughts//feelings//concepts//lessons learned all into a 'blog'. I have not updated in quite awhile, and honestly, there has been much that's changed in my life since the last time.

Late July of this past summer I dislocated my kneecap playing basketball with friends. I was rushed to the ER and given an immobilizing brace & crutches, and didn't pretty much left to recover. After: 1) having my knee drained out twice (because of the effusion), 2) going to about three different orthopedic doctors, 3) attempting the 'recovery process' too soon, 4) struggling with sleeping & simply walking around like a normal person, and 5) finally beginning physical therapy after all kinds of insurance issues since turning 22, I have learned a lot.

Humility is a precious and important thing...which was very difficult for me to attain in such circumstances; I like to do things on my own. I already knew this about myself before this injury occurred but man, I can be stubborn.
*Humans need assistance* The Lord is perfect at giving them what they need; it may be through other humans, the abundance of blessings He puts in their lives, or trials and tribulation. In my case, it's been all. I struggled so long to let God open my eyes to the necessity of allowing my friends to do things for me.
In a previous blog, I already wrote about the humility of Jesus... I can't even accurately describe Him because His meekness is unfathomable in my imperfect sinful mind! And now here I am attempting to be like Him, in His perfect character, and fail countless times. Praise God for Jesus' blood and sanctification.

As I am still healing four months after the injury, patience has become so much more than an important virtue in my life. [Kinda funny because I don't remember specifically asking the Lord to give me patience before I hurt my knee...but goodness did He hear lots of requests for it since then!] Things started to frustrate me so quickly and I tried to depend on myself many times, but that's when it got to be more frustrating. Needless to say, I was desperate for the Lord's grace in my impatience and selfishness. Praise God for Jesus' blood and sanctification.

"The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You." Psalm 145:8-10

After humorous memories with the roommates and friends, random things said from Lortab, difficulty walking up and down stairs or down a hallway, I have come to appreciate my knee going out of place.
---Job 5:18---

-->Neat fact: "humus" means the organic component of soil/decomposed organic matter/ basically EARTH.<-- Humility comes from Humus. My knee was broken. God brought me down to the earth. :)

Praise the glorious name of Jesus Christ.

Offering our lives to you, a holy sacrifice...

I realize I have not blogged in quite a long time, and a lot has been going through my mind lately, so I'm gonna see what comes of it through this post.
I have been listening to a song over & over again that I really cannot get enough of; it's called 'All I have is Christ'. I talked to a few friends about this song a few months ago when I first heard it, and they made the point that the author/singer is not just saying "Oh ya! I got Christ! It's a great life! Woop woop!" No. This song is clearly the portrait of who we were before dying & being raised up into Christ, what He did to us [redeemed & saved], and who He is constantly sanctifying us to be [living, humble sacrifices offering ourselves to Him]. These are the lyrics:

I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy & life had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own a rebel to Your will,
And if You had not loved me first, I would refuse You still..

But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cost,
You looked upon my helpless state, and led me to the cross.
And I beheld God's love displayed, You suffered in my place.
You bore the wrath reserved for me, now all I know is grace!

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life!

Now Lord I would be Yours alone, and live so all might see.
The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me.
Oh Father use my ransomed life in any way You choose.
And let my song forever be, my only boast is You!

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life!

How am I even worthy for Him to consider reaching down and saving me? Why would He want to cover me in His grace & mercy? Why do anything with my life, when He is God in heaven whether I'm here or not? BUT--good news--He chose to demonstrate His love for me (& you) while we were yet sinners... Praise be to God, to say the least!

Lately I've been thinking about what "living and holy sacrifices" really look like (Rom. 12:1). While I was in Bali, one of the men I met while I was there showed a lot of interest in what my national partner was telling him about following Christ. Through our rough, broken translations, he made it seem like he was telling us he wanted to be like Jesus, referred to Rom. 12:1, and said he wanted to die. With our confusion and inability to successfully translate, we were telling him, "No, there's no need to! Jesus already did that once, and for all!"
A few days passed by, and our national partner finally made it clear to us that he was saying he wanted to BE a living sacrifice for the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jesus was the sacrifice for us sinners. Praise our Father! The problem with this, though, was that Pak was not willing to lay down his life, yet. He was still interested in the things of H* that he could not quite surrender his old life and put on a new self in Christ Jesus. He is still in our prayers.

All this to say, while being living sacrifices to the Lord, and allowing Him to work in & through us with the gifts and talents He's blessed each one of us with, we clearly are all different members. "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Rom 12:4,5 Thank the Father that not all of us have desires to serve to homelessness & the hungry, or that we all are called to fill the schools and teach education, or that we all are meant to heal diseases and provide the best kind of medicine to the sick... praise God. If so, what would this world look like if a 'group' of them got neglected? Who would we be if we believed that one struggle was more significant than another? I am thankful for the body of Christ. May we be challenged daily to be living sacrifices for Him.

Here's a video of the song I mentioned above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-idvZYF0U