My amazing family

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go and visit family down south (North Carolina and Virginia).  It was such a blessing to go see my family members and spend quality time with them.  It is so unreal to see my little cousins all taller then me (grades 9, 10, and 11).  Where did the time go and how did they get so tall???? It was also a great opportunity to really catch up on what is going on with their lives and share what is happening with me.  It was AMAZING to show them my past missions video I made and talk about my past trips.  In years previous, the boys have been too young to really understand all that I did and why I was going there.  This time they were so involved and drawn in.  It was amazing to hear their thoughts.  At one point, they all expressed desires to go and help out over seas.  In fact, Vincent (the oldest of the three) said he wants to look for a college where he will get to travel.  Max, who is in 10th grade, shared his passions about volunteer work and I heard about him helping out with Habitat for Humanity, which he had not shared previously.  Two or all three of them (including Eric the youngest) called me their hero and said they would love to do these things when they get older.  That night is something that I will cherish, especially when I am feeling worn down and want to quit, which I am sure I will.  It was great to visit with my Aunt Julie; she has done more world traveling then I have and it is always so great to talk about countries and cultures with her.  She has such a tender heart for people and helps out in so many different ways (through work, volunteering, and her personal relationships).  It is truly inspiring.  I also got to catch up with my Uncle Rick and Aunt Beth.  My Uncle started an organization a while back that I truly respect.  You can read more about it at http://www.mrricksballerz.net/ which is the organizations website.  I also had great quality time with my Aunt Beth and Mom late on Friday night and in the morning on Saturday.  They might have gotten a little carried away with the nursing speak, but their love of education and the field could be contagious if I understood what they were saying.  I got to spend the majority of the time with my Grandma and her husband John.  It was nice and relaxing to read and take naps at their awesome lakeside house.  We also had fun in the truly unique experience of a poker run...nothing else like it.  Finally, we ended the weekend with a trip to Red Robin...yummm!  I got to see my cousin Anthony.  Wow it is crazy to see how much we both have changed.  He and I both use to pick on each other and wrestle...he might have, at one point, given me a bloody nose, which I am sure I deserved for pulling on his rat tail.  I also got to meet his friend, who was super nice.  As a whole the weekend went by in a flash and now I am beyond exhausted.  Please be praying for them when I am gone and that I miss them the appropriate amount when I am gone.

Here are a couple pics from outside Red Robin (more to come)

A Long, Hard Week

This week was a difficult one.  I got bad news about a student on Monday, forgot about meeting someone on Tuesday, Wednesday a few students (who I have had for years) were disrespectful (beyond what was normal), and Thursday I was just exhausted (I have been doing extra study sessions at work because my co-tutor is on maturity leave and I have been going for 2 weeks with 9 hour days) and I let issues from the past dwell in my mind.  This may come across as complaining, but these are just situations.
I am so grateful for how God has carried me through.  He has places key people to pray for me when I needed the reminder that He was listening.  There were little acts of kindness that I could brush off as nothing, that I chose to focus on them.  God also put scriptures in my path: Philippians 4: 4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  Any the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." and James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  Both of these verses came up during Bible studies I am a part of and originally thought I would not do because of being busy or so close to leaving.  God used this to confirm that I should be going.
Thank you so much for those who prayed for me, hugged me, cried with me, and simply loved me.  This is what I will miss the most: my friends and family.  I know God will carry me through times like this when I am gone and it is helpful to know that none of you will be further then a Skype call away ;)  I also know that god will put people in my life while I am there who He will use for me and who I will be used to do the same for.
This coming weekend please be praying that I am used by Him as I speak at North Suburban Mennonite Church (Saturday the 19th at 7pm) and that I find rest in God that is both physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Bangladesh Journal 7/13/06

Thursday:
I get to spend 12 hours of less on a bus today.  We are going to Cox's Bazar.  I'm excited to spend time with people on the bus and for the whole weekend.  I'm also really looking forward to swimming in the Indian Ocean.  I got to sit next to Phil on the bus.  I sat close to the back.  This was by far the nicest bus I have ever been on.  They said First Class and they meant it.  2 seats on one side, 1 on the other.  They are fat leather ones with recliner feet rests with massagers in them.  It was also A/C, which is the only thing I had hoped for.  It was really good to talk to Phil and Sarah.  We talked about God, faith, the gifts of the Spirit, and whether something in life are suppose to be 'gray'.  I don't need to understand everything about god in order to believe, so at times I have faith 'like a child' and am very much ok with the 'gray' area.
We stopped at one rest stop.  There were urinals or rather squaties for men out for everyone to see.  I found that in Asia, it is not impolite to pee in public, but rather impolite to look (or at least in Bangladesh).  Also I learned that there is no such thing as lines, but it is very much a first come, first serve type thing.  When we re-boarded I got to talk with Sean.  I really enjoy talking with him.  He shared about what he has been thinking about.  Also he asked about me and my thoughts.  Every once in a while Kyle would jump in.  A few things times he said a harsh comment that kind of cut me a bit, but now that I think about it, God might be using him to make me examine myself in a very real way.  Sean and I also talked about his site.  I'm excited about what God is going at their site.
When I look out the window, I really saw a difference between Dhaka and the villages.  There were so many more women with head and face coverings.  I have never seen this many rice fields before.  At one point we saw a woman who had gotten hut by a car on the side of the road; we prayed for her.  There were water ways and little dirt paths to islands.  It was really beautiful.  We crossed the 'bridge of hell', it wasn't very scary, just narrow.
When we finally got to Motel Upal, Cox's Bazar, we got to pick out roomie.  Sarah and I picked one another.  When we were moving in, we really got to talk. We were talking about how each of the people in our community is very unique, like a different body part, so for fun we decided who each person would be.  so much fun.  As we were finishing and heading down to the lobby for dinner, Zach and Kyle overheard us and asked questions; from there the whole thing spread like wild fire. It was a topic of conversation at dinner...fun times.  When we got back to the room Sarah and I both journaled for a while.
A guy who works for the hotel stopped by to spray the room for smell and bugs...this totally freaked Sarah and I out.  She ran into the bathroom and I got dressed (I already had my PJs on) and answered the door.  I really enjoy staying with Sarah...never a dull moment.

Bangladesh Journal 7/12/06

By request I will be posting my old Bangladesh Journals (from where I left off):

Today no one went to their site, from the people who stayed at Grace House.  We went to hear a speaker at Dhaka University.  The speaker is from America and spoke on the different denominations in the US.  This was  very hard for me because I disagreed with many of his views and things he said.  I didn't feel as though he was lead by the Spirit, partly because he does not believe in the Trinity.  I tried to pray for him and what he was saying, but it was hard.  After the talk, we were taken to the head of the World Religion department's office.  This was the first and one of the only world religion departments in a Muslim nation.
From there we went to the British Council, which was air conditioned and so awesome.  They had a great children's learning center.  I had been feeling sick before but the cool air helped me to feel better.  From there we went back ti the Grace House for lunch.  A few team makes were being negative about the Trek in general. I agreed that certain things sucked, but they started to complain about people and worship meetings.  I was left feeling discouraged for them.  They came all this way and had this type of attitude.
We had debriefing about the speaker.  A few people felt similar to m, but it was encouraging to hear and be reminded of some good things that happened and were said.  After we had prayer and worship, I felt like this was good but I wasn't 100% focused on God and what I was saying and doing.  Before debriefing, the groups that has been at their sites all week came back.  I was so happy to see all their faces at worship.  We had dinner and I got to really catch up with people.  We also had debriefing as one large group.  I loved hearing every one's thoughts, emotions, and how their week went.  When we were done we had an hour to pack before going to bed.  We are going on a retreat tomorrow.  I'm excited.  We are also 1/2 done with the trip: 23 days done, 23 to go.  I can't believe we have been here this long.  I can't believe that I'm half way to being able to tell my story with everyone.

A Special Lunch

This Sunday, NorthBridge had some special guests: the Gouzoules family.  It was amazing to hear Chris speak, even when the power went out because of the storm.  It was so reassuring to hear from another person (in person) that has a passion for helping oppressed people groups.  He also spoke about how due to the oppression there is abuse that has gone down from generation to generation to generation.  He told a story of a man who broke this cycle, what a courageous man of God!  He also told a story about a young man from the town where his family lives, that has gone to an oppressed and impoverished people group and is making a difference.  He and many others have helped build homes, have a road, better themselves, and know Christ.  There is so much to the story, but basically they would feel like progress is being made and then they would run into an obstacle (this over and over again), but each time God overcame them.
After the service, the missions team took them out to lunch.  It was awesome to sit with them and hear more stories and really get to know them.  It was so uplifting to hear stories and what life has been like for them in the States, I believe this if their first time back in 10 years (I might be mistaken).  They also asked me about going to Australia.  Chris was so supportive and said great things about YWAM.  They also live really close to where I work, so I hope to get together with them before I leave.
I sometimes forget what it is like to spend time with someone who also has a heart for international missions and oppressed people groups.  This is mostly due to the fact that most of those people are serving overseas already.  There is just a spirit of shared passion that feeds off of one another.  I left feeling so encouraged and fired up.  It was also a time the God used to reinforce me going, which I try to always welcome.

I was also encouraged on Sunday, to go back and post the rest of my Bangladesh journal and my Zambia one...please comment and let me know if that is something that you would be interested in.