Thank You!

I just wanted to say thank you to all those who had a part in giving and making it possible for me to be at BBTI this year. I was really amazed and humbled by the generosity of so many. God has shown Himself strong in providing for my needs. I am in the process of getting Thank you notes out, but it has taken me awhile with so many to write. Thank you for being a blessing and encouragement to me!

Greetings from Texas!

Greetings from Texas! Today we are finally enjoying some cooler weather. 85 degrees is actually starting to feel cold now. Texas is very different from Maryland. I can’t say I will ever get used to scorpions and BOUS’s (Bugs of Unusual Size). Just so long as I don’t find a snake in my house, I’ll be good.

I have a nice sized two-bedroom apartment all to myself. It is much nicer than I was expecting. The other two single girls share the apartment connecting to mine. Our class at BBTI is very small this year, just three single girls and three married couples plus lots of kiddos.

Yesterday concluded our second week of classes. Everything is going very well. The classes are not as hard as I had expected but still definitely somewhat of a challenge. First thing in the morning, we have World Survey. In this class, we learn about two different missionaries, a country and an unreached people group. We each take turns researching and giving the reports.

Following World Survey is our Phonetics class. This is the most challenging (and humiliating) part. It is actually rather interesting learning how to analyze everything we say. We are learning how to make all sorts of crazy sounds. At least we get lots of laughs in this class.

Bro. Cobb is teaching our culture class. For this class we are learning about many aspects of different cultures. Sometimes learning about the different cultures can be overwhelming. It is no wonder so many people experience culture shock. This class is definitely showing me mine own weaknesses and inability to adjust to another culture on mine own. Thankfully, I know that wherever the Lord puts me, He will give me the grace to learn how to adapt. 

Here are some pictures of my house:

BBTI

The end of next week I will be heading to Texas for nine months of training at Baptist Bible Translators Institute. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated during this time.

Camp BIMI

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend Camp BIMI with a couple of friends from my church. Camp BIMI is for those who are seeking God's will concerning missions. We had a wonderful week and it is really hard to put into words what we experienced. It was just what I needed.

In the mornings we had sessions similar to college classes. Every session was taught by a different missionary so we were able to learn from many different experiences and life in different cultures. In the afternoons, we had an activity and choir practice.

Following dinner, we had the evening service. In the evening services, each one shared his or her testimony and where they were at concerning missions. We also heard a presentation each evening from the different BIMI directors and the fields they represent.

It was such an encouraging week. We were around some amazing missionaries that have been greatly used by God. One thing that I appreciated was their openness and humility. We were allowed to ask them any questions that we wanted. They were very down to earth and sought to be an encouragement to each one of us in whatever way they could.

Seth & Lauren - May 19, 2012

Happy Mother's Day!

~Author Unknown

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.

“Is this the long way?” she asked.

And the guide said:  “Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it, but the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shown on them and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.  But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.”  So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we could not have done it without you.”

And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said,  “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness.  Yesterday I gave them courage.  Today I have given them strength.”

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.”  And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness.  And that night the Mother said,  “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent.  But her children were tall and strong and walked with courage.  And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and the golden gates flung wide.  And the mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey.  And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”

And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”  And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her.  And they said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still.  A mother like ours is more than a memory.  She is a living presence.”

Your Mother is always with you.  She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks, she’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not well.  Your Mother lives inside your laughter and she’s crystallized in every teardrop.

She’s the place you came from, your first home; and she’s the map you follow with every step you take.  She’s your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you… Not time… Not space… Not even death.  Thank the Lord for the gift of her in your life.

Josiah & Jena Engagement Pictures

New Seasons of Life

It is hard to believe we are half way through March already! I am looking forward to spring. It looks like much more than just the season is about to change. In August, I will be heading to TX to attend the Baptist Bible Translators Institute. This has been on my heart for awhile now, but the Lord had not opened the door. Finally, things have fallen into place and I believe that it is His timing. Everyone keeps asking what I will be doing after that. As of yet, I don't really know. I am just praying that the Lord will direct me to where He would have me.

The biggest news is my "little" brother is soon to be engaged - and yes I can say this publicly because the whole world knows pretty much, including his soon-to-be fiancee. He is not one for keeping secrets. He is just waiting for the ring to be resized. We have officially launched full speed into wedding plans. Both Joanna and I will be in the wedding along with my brother John, niece and nephew. I am supposed to be doing their engagement pictures so I will be sure to post a few once they are done.  

Loving the Unlovely

We all have people in our lives who are easy to love. It is easy to give and show love to these people because it is a give and take relationship. We know that when we show love to them, they will in turn show love to us. Perhaps you can think of a person in your life right now like this - maybe your best friend, a parent, sibling or someone in your church.

It is natural for us to love those who love us. Even those of the world will love those who love in return. Jesus spoke of this in Mt 5:46, "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" There is no reward for this kind of love. True love is giving without expecting anything in return.

Jesus talked of loving the poor, loving those who could not return the favor. When He says poor, I do not think this necessarily means in a physical sense. Who is there in your life that is difficult to love? Someone that may not necessarily love you back? What about the awkward person who always seems to say the wrong thing at the wrong time?

Being a teacher, sometimes I am often faced with students that are difficult to love. A student once asked his teacher, "do you love all your students?" Honestly, there are some of my students I don't "feel" like loving. But, wait a minute! Love is not just some fuzzy feeling we get from being around a certain person. Love is a decision. I must make the decision to love that student who tries every possible way to wear out my patience. I must make the decision to love that awkward person others may see as a misfit.

True love is putting others needs ahead of my own. This may not be as difficult to do for some people, but what about the people I really don't like or care for? When we reach this point, we are beginning to show Christlike character. For it was Him who first loved us - just the way we were - poor miserable sinners with nothing to offer.

Pictures from Florida Family Vacation

Just after Christmas we were able to take a family vacation to Florida. We spent the first several days in St. Augustine and then headed further south to Orlando to meet up with my brother's family at Disney World. It was a rather crazy trip, but it was fun being on vacation with our entire family especially my niece and nephews. Here are some pictures from the trip: