As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, I had the honor of being in some Bible Studies a few weeks ago with a woman named Julia. She made the decision to make Jesus her Lord, and we had the honor of baptizing her into Christ last week!
I've watched her heart open up and blossom as she has come to know God's love for her more and more. I am constantly amazed and awed at the power of God's love working and transforming a person's life.
Here is some video footage of the amazing event! I feel so happy to share this with you, to have experienced this, because this is why I came to Kiev. This is why I'm here. To help people come to Christ, and have a real relationship with their creator and true father: God.
Please pray for me to give my whole heart here, for God to use my efforts to make a real difference. To Him be the glory!
Kiev's Underground Streets
The underground streets of Kiev.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Plugging into Purpose
Isn't it amazing when you feel plugged in to real purpose? When you feel like, "Yes, this is what I was made for! This is making a difference! This is why I was born!"
I have been feeling that more and more here in Kiev, a place I never would have dreamed that God would make so many unspoken dreams of mine a reality.
Last week I did some voice acting! Can you believe it? I've always wanted to do that, even though I never pursued the career.
Chris' employer asked us to record narrative and character voices for an educational project they are getting a loan for, which could be a 2-year gig. Wow. I never expected this, but I'll be thrilled if it works out!
Also, I am working on starting another media project here for the church. We plan to go out into the city and survey random people about what they think about religion, God, and their own relationship to each. It will be interesting to see how the people here feel.
I'm starting to find my voice here, so to speak. It feels good to be able to start helping in a way that I am passionate about and good at, and to feel the support of others in those endeavors makes me even more confident that God is doing this, not me.
As long as God is blessing it, I know it will make a difference. And I'm just praying to stay plugged in to what God wants for my life, because I am realizing more and more that there is nothing more worth living for than His will for us!
"His good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12:2c - NLT - emphasis mine)
How about you? Is there something in your life you feel God calling you to, but are afraid of? Try telling God why you're scared, then decide if you really believe the above scripture for that area of your life.
I have been feeling that more and more here in Kiev, a place I never would have dreamed that God would make so many unspoken dreams of mine a reality.
Chris' employer asked us to record narrative and character voices for an educational project they are getting a loan for, which could be a 2-year gig. Wow. I never expected this, but I'll be thrilled if it works out!
Also, I am working on starting another media project here for the church. We plan to go out into the city and survey random people about what they think about religion, God, and their own relationship to each. It will be interesting to see how the people here feel.
I'm starting to find my voice here, so to speak. It feels good to be able to start helping in a way that I am passionate about and good at, and to feel the support of others in those endeavors makes me even more confident that God is doing this, not me.
As long as God is blessing it, I know it will make a difference. And I'm just praying to stay plugged in to what God wants for my life, because I am realizing more and more that there is nothing more worth living for than His will for us!
"His good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12:2c - NLT - emphasis mine)
How about you? Is there something in your life you feel God calling you to, but are afraid of? Try telling God why you're scared, then decide if you really believe the above scripture for that area of your life.
Adjusting and Trusting
So, it's been over 3 months now since I arrived here in Kiev. That is the longest I have ever lived outside of my country, away from home. Wow...kind of unreal. I can feel my old life slowly fading into a memory, as my new life in Kiev is born. It's been both painful and rewarding, and it's still going.
I am about to decide if I should move permanently to a new apartment in Kiev or stay in my current living situation. There are pros and cons to both options. I need to pray a lot today, because I have to decide by tonight, either way.
I am still working to sell my car back home. Please pray that it gets taken care of within the next few weeks. That's my last obligation in America to take care of.
Otherwise, I feel more and more excited about the opportunities God is presenting here in Kiev to work and have purpose.
Where will God take me next, I wonder? Always an adventure doing it His way!
I am about to decide if I should move permanently to a new apartment in Kiev or stay in my current living situation. There are pros and cons to both options. I need to pray a lot today, because I have to decide by tonight, either way.
I am still working to sell my car back home. Please pray that it gets taken care of within the next few weeks. That's my last obligation in America to take care of.
Otherwise, I feel more and more excited about the opportunities God is presenting here in Kiev to work and have purpose.
Where will God take me next, I wonder? Always an adventure doing it His way!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Visiting Poland: Day 2
We've got some catching up to do!
Okay, so I have to leave the Ukraine every 90 days to renew my registration there. The cheapest trip I could find recently was a WizzAir flight to Poland, so here I am! I booked a 2-night stay at this cute little hostel called "Mosquito Hostel," and am now typing my blog from the common-room's computer. :)
Yesterday was great. I woke up feeling a little better (had a nasty fever the night before), and somehow packed in time to hop into my ride's car. Denis, one of the brothers from my Bible Talk, was nice enough to pick me up at 7:30 in the morning to drive me to the airport.
On the bus transfer from the airport in Katowice to the city of Krakow, I met a nice lady named Julian, who is also a missionary in Kiev with her husband and 3 children. She let me know of a way to get a longer religious Visa from Krakow the next time I get one for the Ukraine, so I don't have to leave every 3 months. Hmm...promising.
Anyway, I met some nice people touring the Salt Mines of Kiev: a cute old coulpe from England, and a man my age from Ireland named Seamus. Yes, an Irishman named Seamus (pronounced Shamus). I just can't get enough of the accents in this town!
Had dinner at a cute little Polish restaurant, where I was treated like a queen by the host, and ushered into a candle-lit dinner-table for four (all for me, muah ha ha). I had a scrumptious hot meal, and soaked in the romantic, warm, atmosphere. There was a pianist playing cheery Polish folk melodies from the other room, the waitress was helpful and friendly, and some other customers dining came by to chat about how unique my food was (fried perogi on a hard, flat, pizza-looking bread plate).
How good it is to joke with strangers, as if we all hadn't a care in the world! The trust...the openness...the acceptance. Ahhh...I had no idea how much I've missed this.
In contrast, Kiev looks...well...starkly opposite. I have already noticed myself smiling less to strangers in Kiev, afraid to attract the wrong attention in the city. Maybe it's smarter not to stand out, but I miss being myself, expressing myself without worrying about what others will do or what the consequences will be.
Is this how my ancestors felt after Hitler came to power and their home began to change from cheerful freedom to frightening opression?
In a few hours, I will visit Auschwitz with another American I met at the restaurant I ate at last night. I have a feeling this will be a very sobering tour...
I will post my thoughts in the next blog, along with some pictures of my recent adventures. :) Check back in a few days!
Okay, so I have to leave the Ukraine every 90 days to renew my registration there. The cheapest trip I could find recently was a WizzAir flight to Poland, so here I am! I booked a 2-night stay at this cute little hostel called "Mosquito Hostel," and am now typing my blog from the common-room's computer. :)
Yesterday was great. I woke up feeling a little better (had a nasty fever the night before), and somehow packed in time to hop into my ride's car. Denis, one of the brothers from my Bible Talk, was nice enough to pick me up at 7:30 in the morning to drive me to the airport.
On the bus transfer from the airport in Katowice to the city of Krakow, I met a nice lady named Julian, who is also a missionary in Kiev with her husband and 3 children. She let me know of a way to get a longer religious Visa from Krakow the next time I get one for the Ukraine, so I don't have to leave every 3 months. Hmm...promising.
Anyway, I met some nice people touring the Salt Mines of Kiev: a cute old coulpe from England, and a man my age from Ireland named Seamus. Yes, an Irishman named Seamus (pronounced Shamus). I just can't get enough of the accents in this town!
Had dinner at a cute little Polish restaurant, where I was treated like a queen by the host, and ushered into a candle-lit dinner-table for four (all for me, muah ha ha). I had a scrumptious hot meal, and soaked in the romantic, warm, atmosphere. There was a pianist playing cheery Polish folk melodies from the other room, the waitress was helpful and friendly, and some other customers dining came by to chat about how unique my food was (fried perogi on a hard, flat, pizza-looking bread plate).
How good it is to joke with strangers, as if we all hadn't a care in the world! The trust...the openness...the acceptance. Ahhh...I had no idea how much I've missed this.
In contrast, Kiev looks...well...starkly opposite.
Is this how my ancestors felt after Hitler came to power and their home began to change from cheerful freedom to frightening opression?
In a few hours, I will visit Auschwitz with another American I met at the restaurant I ate at last night. I have a feeling this will be a very sobering tour...
I will post my thoughts in the next blog, along with some pictures of my recent adventures. :) Check back in a few days!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
God is Near
Well, he's been a bit quiet over the past month or so. I've been really missing that feeling that God is close, that he's almost physically present in my life. So, yesterday, as I was crying out my grief in a prayer, I told God that I missed feeling him, and asked him to come close to me again--to give me a theme, so I'd remember that he is with me.
Today, He confirmed the theme that was already surfacing over the past few days:
God is near.
How did he confirm it? I receive daily scriptures from BibleGateway.com, and they're usually random, encouraging passages from the Bible. This was today's:
The day before that, my incredibly-thoughtful boyfriend gave me a little cell-phone charm of a sheep holding a flower above the Russian words for "God is near." (Have I never shared on my blog that I got a boyfriend 10 days after I landed in Kiev? Sorry to keep you waiting on that bit of juicy gossip. More on that amazing story another blog.)Isaiah 55:6
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
The day before THAT, I had expressed to friends that God didn't feel as near, and I was wondering if I had gotten off track from His purpose for my life, somehow. Maybe I had sinned, and strayed like wayward sheep I am.... I had been feeling distracted by life and not really consistent or wholehearted in my times with Him for the past few days.
So, I definitely am grateful that God answers prayers, and that in order to feel him near, all I have to do is to seek him with ALL my heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) It wasn't that God wasn't near, but that He was waiting for ME to draw near to HIM! (James 4:8)
Thank you, my God, that you want a relationship with me--a real, mutual, give-and-take relationship. You don't force yourself upon me, but let me desire you as much as you desire me. Thank you for wanting that kind of relationship with EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
How can you draw near to God this week? Try giving him everything you've got, and see if God doesn't respond.
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