No Longer Looking

(Well, it has been quite a while since I last posted. Shame on me! Sorry, friends!)

A lot has happened since I last posted, of course. I joined a new church (the one I was attending last year this time), Northwoods Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Florida; I headed north in December to be a bridesmaid in my close friends' wedding (Ben & Sarah from Moody Bible Institute); I visited my brother, Raul, and his family in Wyoming, MI; I visited friends in Grand Rapids, MI & Chicago; I was in a local production, "Calamity Jane"; I directed the Easter musical (drama portion) at my church; I applied with FIM (Fellowship International Mission); I started working at Chick-Fil-A again; I visited friends in Chicago again; I backpacked across Europe (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia!) this May; I had my interview with FIM in Allentown, PA; I visited my "adopted dad" Chet and his family in Bloomfield, New Jersey; I visited friends in St Louis area; I visited my 93-year-old Grandma in Lake Placid, Florida...yeah, those are the main highlights, I think...

Anyhow...since this is primarly my ministry blog, I will briefly share about my missions trip to Europe, and talk a little about FIM.

My best friend, Elizabeth, from Moody Bible Institute, and I backpacked across Europe, its true, but the main focus was on Russia because she wants to be a missionary to Russia. All along the way, however, we shared the Gospel with whomever we could! We had the great privilege of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with close to two dozen folks on trains, planes, buses, etc. all along the way! And in Russia, Elizabeth was able to learn much about the ministries in Russia and where she can hopefully best use her gifts and talents to share the word of God with the nationals.

As for FIM...after much prayer and consideration, I applied with them back in April. They have been such an encouragement to me from my initial contact with them, and I look forward to (hopefully) working with them in the future! I had a very enjoyable visit with the home office in Allentown, PA on June 4th (a few days after getting back to the States). I really enjoyed meeting everyone there (I'll confess, especially Rachel)!

Lord willing, I will attend Candidate training at the end of July and then begin raising support and recruiting for my Core Group for the ministry. I am SO excited to begin deputation (or support discovery, I think is what FIM calls it...?) and look forward to sharing the ministry with churches and people, as well as the opportunity for them to become involved in their own ways (prayer, finances, commitment to the team)!!!

It's hard to believe that I'm FINALLY starting to move towards Australia...it's quite intimidating, BUT the Lord is with me, and I know that He will never fail me!!! HOW AWESOME IT IS TO TRUST HIM WITH EVERYTHING!!!

May each of you be blessed and growing in your relationships with Christ! There is NOTHING like loving Him, serving Him, seeking Him and living for Him with all that you have and are!!! God bless you!