Summer 2009

Blessings to you all.

Since I've put this link on my missions support letters, I think it's about time I gave a MISSIONS UPDATE (or perhaps just any sort of update). :)

Last summer, I attempted to piece together a trip to fulfill the requirements for my school internship. I tried to go with Every Child Ministries to Ghana to do slave liberation, however, God made it (and continues to make it) abundantly clear to me that it was not His will for that trip to take place.

I'm now a senior at Moody (graduating December 2009) and this is my last summer to do an internship. In truth, I was dreading the process of looking, applying, training, support-raising, and doing an internship again. I felt so embarrassed and upset with the Lord for not doings things MY WAY that I did not begin with an attitude of openness and gratefulness. Both qualities are tremendously important for missions and the Christian life in general.

Let me tell you how God gave constant mercy and grace to me, a sinner with a horridly selfish attitude...

**Without me realizing it, God had used last year's process to train me and show me the responsibilities that needed to be met. I have been more knowledgeable and prepared to step into this experienced because of having tried and failed once already.

**When I had hardly began to look for a new possibility, the doors of ONE agency flew open. The Lord knows how much I love options, but hate decisions. He gave me few options, but only one that obviously fit.

**God is expanding my interests. Though I've always been passionate about ending injustice in terms of slavery and abuse, the last few years of study have intrigued me regarding Muslim culture, religion, and their need for Christ. This opportunity was completely geered toward this aspect in such a way that I can learn by observing and participating in a safe and supervised context.

**One of my greatest fears was that the agency I went with would expect me to do all the inter-cultural work (i.e. visas, plane tickets, contextualizing, understanding the culture and the ministry, etc). SEND International REQUIRES each missionary (short or long term) to go through very detailed training and debriefing for their trips. They desire to provide their members with proper care as their people are experiencing completely different situations that weigh heavily on faith and heart. My time at SEND's training in March was one of the best experiences of my life--studying the Scriptures with other missionaries, receiving help in the media aspects and planning, learning how to support raise and keep donors well-aware of what was going on, and building tremendous friendships.

**I have a very difficult time raising support. I dislike asking others for money. It requires vulnerability and admittance that there is no possible way I can go without the involvement of the church. During training, God impressed on me that I couldn't ask for help because of pride (wanting to do this on my own), and fear (that no one would actually support). After much prayer and convincing by close advisers, I chose to ask for help in my two needs: prayer and finances.

THUS FAR, GOD HAS PROVIDED THROUGH DEAR PEOPLE 5 OF 15 REGULAR PRAYER PARTNERS AND OVER $1,000 OUT OF $4,600!!! WOW. (Keep in mind, letters only went out 2 weeks ago!)

I can't deny His goodness.

For those that have not heard, here are the details of what God has provided for my internship this summer:

Where: Maharlika Village, Metro Manila, Philippines
When: June 8-July 20, 2009
With Whom: SEND International (www.send.org)

More to come later. Thank you for your prayers and your influence on my life.

Peace, blessings, and God's truth be always with you.
Emily

There's a HUGE butterfly above our front door...

I'm glad life keeps moving along. It's not always what I think I want, but it always ends up being good. A lot changes with perspective and a good attitude. I'm hopeful for the semester. It's the beginning of the end for school. I'm excited for the end. But the process will be challenging and stretching.

I hate leaving my family and my church in Texas. I think I'm addicted to them. Despite our flaws, drama, and even mundane-ness at times, I love living life with these people. I will miss them all. I'm convinced that "real life" outside of college should revolve around our families. God put us in them for a reason...immediate ministry from the day we're born.

Pray for me as I return to Moody tonight. I'm looking at a heavy course load and a lot of hours, but the preparation and study of God's word is so valuable. These are my classes...

Classic and Contemporary Ethics
World Religious Systems
Strategic Planning and Research
Systematic Theology I
Early Childrens' Music Ministry
Tropical Diseases
Directed Study--Muslim studies

My PCM (Practical Christian Ministry) is at the SouthAsian Friendship Center. Not sure what I'll be doing yet, but I get to interact weekly with Muslim and Hindu people. I'm hopeful for some "hands on" ministry training for when I'm doing my internship in the Philippines this summer. (more to come on that)

That's all for now, folks. Time to be with the parents in the last couple hours I've got at home.

Blessings!

Faithfulness

This post is a mix 'n match of stories from this week...

Post office faith...
Yesterday was my last opportunity to get Christmas packages mailed out to my siblings! Oh what a day... After my 8am final, I grabbed my 4 big packages and my wallet from my room and scuttled to the campus post office. When I got to CPO, I opened my wallet as they weighed the packages, only to find $27 in cash and some change. Now, the cost of mailing A package at Christmas time is about $15 from Chicago. You do the math...4 packages...$27...not enough (mind you, it's a cash only post office). I stood at the counter, wishing/hoping/praying that somehow I wouldn't have to take some of the packages home, trudge out in the snow, find an ATM, withdraw money, and go back to CPO before work at 11am. God likes to laugh with me sometimes. They rang up the bill...$27.21. :D Dingdingding! Packages sent!

Conversations...
A few nights ago, Jesse and I were meeting two of our homeless friends to celebrate Christmas with them. They weren't able to show up, so Jesse and I had dinner together. As we were getting ready to leave, a woman sitting at the table in front of us gets our attention and smiles so calmly :) She asked if we had a few minutes to sit and talk with her, so we did. It was providential that our friends did not show up--we spent the next hour or so talking with this lady, Ava was her name. Her Bible had been open to Genesis. It was one of those texts that had be scribbled over with years of wear, highlighting, special dates, prayers, and sermon notes in the margins. Back and forth, we shared Scriptures of God's faithfulness to the people in the Bible as well as His goodness to us. She is walking through a "dark valley" as the Christianese would term it, but her hope is so strong. Ava is homeless by way of identity theft. It's a very hard situation for her ethically--she's not sure if she should sue those that did this or if God would have her forgive and make due. Please pray for her wisdom and that she would not seek her own revenge.

Real life, real world...
I work for Moody's Customer Service Center and answer phones. These are some true story examples.

Speaking slowly...."Hello...I had called once before to ask for prayer...I need it again. My name's Bernice...I just became a Christian...I have no Christian friends. The man I'm living with is not a good person...a very controlling man. Please pray for me...I have no where else to go." This was from one of my calls yesterday at work. Please pray for her. She was in tears over the phone by the end of our conversation.

A Pakistani gentleman named Habeeb called today. He told me he is a Muslim but he listens to WMBI all the time when he can. "I wish we (Muslims) had people like Moody Bible people in our religion...we need them!" There was a program on the radio a few days ago that was talking about the organization Jihad Watch and some books about Islam from a Christian perspective. He was so excited and wanting to learn what the Bible would have to say about faith. Truth is so appealing, yet so hard for the lost to find. Pray that God would reveal the truth to Habeeb and bring him to salvation.

Thoughts from a silly college student...
I just put Christmas lights up in my cubicle...they twinkle :) I'm happy.

BE BLESSED.
Em

A sacred song for the purpose of worship...

Blessed to be so.

Blessed to be in a loving family.
Blessed to have a legacy of Christian parents and grandparents.
Blessed to be able to worship God openly without fear of persecution.
Blessed to have work--to exercise diligence and stewardship.
Blessed to have freedoms that other cultures' women lack.
Blessed to be in school--to learn and to live as Christ reveals in scripture.
Blessed to live in Christian community with others that seek after God.
Blessed to approach God's throne, despite my depravity and lame tongue.
Blessed to have health and rest and energy.
Blessed to have speech.
Blessed to hear and make music.
Blessed to know, receive, and give love.
Blessed to have hurts, and from them grow stronger.
Blessed to know doubt, so faith might be strengthened.
Blessed to be so.

Random thoughts...

Last night I learned that there is such a thing as "dirty chai." Chai tea+a shot of expresso. I've not tried it yet, but it must be something amazing.

I got my curfew exemption sticker today :) Much to my parent's dismay, I can stay out all night and party if I decided to turn my life that way. But thank goodness for everyone's sake, I like to be in bed before 11. :)

My favorite author is CS Lewis (like a billion other people's favorite). I found a quote of his in the preface of a textbook...

"There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious."

That's all for now, folks!

Proverbs 23:17
"Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day."

Proverbs 23:23
"Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding."

Proverbs 23:24-25
"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice."

Psalm 28:7c
"Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."

Psalm 38:17-20
"For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continuously before me.
For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin.
But my enemies are vigorous and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
They are my adversaries--those also who render evil for good--because I follow what is good."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

It began in the garden, it has yet to end...our doubt of God's goodness.

Genesis 3:1-5
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh Adonai had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has Adonai indeed said, 'You shall not of every tree of the garden'?' And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'' Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For Adonai knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Him, knowing good and evil.''"

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

Psalm 81:13-16
"Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD Yahweh would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

Psalm 23
"The LORD Yahweh is my shepherd; because of this, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Yahweh forever."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it through Him."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?