Bahasa Englinesian

My teacher says many languages are like a pyramid. You start at the bottom level. At first it is hard to learn the new vocab, the conjugations, or tenses, or genders etc. But after that it gets easier and easier.

She says Bahasa Indonesia is like a pyramid...in reverse. You start at the point and it seems easy. But as you learn more and get deeper it gets harder and harder!

So here's something I put together to give a glimpse of grammar and the formidable prefixes and suffixes. What if we used them in English? Our conversation might sound something like this....

Person 1: Hi, my name is Mary. No one has memper-met-kan us, but I know brother you.

Person 2: Oh, hello! Yes, I have men-heard about you when I ber-met with brother-my.

Person 1: He was supposed to ber-meet me at hour 9:00, but it is already hour 10:10. Could you me-telephone him?

Person 2: Of course. Maybe he has not yet risen. Lately, he has not returned home until night-night and so sometimes I have to mem-rise-kan him. Per-business-an-he is me-rise a new building. So he is very busy.

Person 1: Oh, are they memper-big business their?

Person 1: Are you a pe-study?

Person 2: Yes. I be-study at the University down the street.

Person 1: What pe-study-an are you pe-study?

Person 2: Business.

Person 1: Do you want to become a peng-business?

Person 2: No. I just want to memper-deep my penge-know-an of business.

Person 1: I want to me-cook soup. Do you know how to cook?

Person 2: No. But my mother often me-cook-kan me soup.

Person 1: You should meng-send a letter to her and ber-ask how to me-cook soup.

Person 2: A letter was just di-sent-kan me by my sister to my mom. She said it was expensive.

Person 1: Me-see that! That computer is so thin it ke-see-annya like a piece of paper!

Person 2: Have you never me-see one before? I have one. I will memper-see-kan it to you. After one was diper-see-kan me by my friend, I me-buy one.

Person 1: Why did you move here? I thought you liked stay in that village.

Person 2: After my parents me-stay, I didn’t want to stay there more.

Person 1: Oh yes, ke-die-an is very sad.

Person 2: I me-stay-kan all my furniture there too. I me-die-kan the lights, meng-key the door and left.

Person 1: Have you bought a house here?

Person 2: Yes, but I want to memper-big it, because it is not big enough. It also needs to be di-clean-kan.

Person 1: You should hire a pem-help to mem-help you.

A Few Things You Should Know

A little more about my life here…

1.      1.  We had our first blackout last night. Actually, the electricity was off when I got back from class, but I didn’t notice much because it was afternoon. But last night, as I was waiting for my rice to cook, suddenly the power was gone. Luckily, the rice had just finished—the only part of my meal that needed electricity seeing that Ibu Leana has a gas stove top. So Ibut Leana busted out a few candles and I proceeded with my preparations by candle light. I cut up the carrots and beans, started stir frying the “bumbu” (seasonings) and successfully cooked Nasi Goreng. It was delicious, and the power came back on just in time for me to eat it.

2.      

2. Note about crossing the street: here in Yogya it isn’t “all or nothing.” If you can get halfway across the street, that’s a good start. Then you often have to wait in the middle for the other side to clear. Dangerous? A little. But one thing I’ve noticed is that everyone is VERY good at missing you here. It is a normal occurrence for pedestrians to randomly cross the street and all drivers are always on the alert for unexpected people or cars to dodge. Also, they do not drive as fast here as in the States. I have had my near death experiences…but so far so good. J

3.     3.   We do not have a washing machine or dryer. I am not sure how common it is to have them—probably only if you are rich. So I wash all my clothes by hand and hang them out to dry. (Ibu Leana sort of has a clothesline, but actually hangs up against a wall and so your clothes get a little dirty again as they dry!) On Saturday, a mouse had died down the drain pipe right where I needed to wash clothes. It smelled foul. I think it was worse than dead potcake, if possible. Ibu Leana insisted that I wash my clothes with a handkerchief around my face. So I spent a good hour or two squatting over my buckets, wringing out wet laundry while looking like a bandit.

4.   4.     Most days I walk to and from class. It is about a half hour walk one way—at least a couple kilometers. I can catch a public bus if I want to, but I am trying to save my budgeted “transportation money” for weekend trips like the one I took to Solo. Usually it is a pleasant walk and it’s a good time for me to pray.

-Once a becak driver rode away indignant because I offered him too low a price.

-I finally had salak! (snake fruit)

-The Sultan’s (or someone important) daughter is getting married next week and apparently she’ll be parading around the streets.

-I have an umbrella all ready for all the torrents of rain supposedly coming, but every day keeps dawning bright and hot. L

A Glimpse of Yogya

Super Indo!

Well, the first two days or so were pretty strange...but now Yogya is starting to fit like an old shoe. :) Once I was sure that I could find my way home, I felt much more comfortable. I've been able to walk around a bit, went to Malioboro Street to exchange money and saw that for the first time. It is the "big tourist area." They have the best sidewalks in town there, and of course it is packed with stores and markets and motorcycles.

I have two teachers: Dwi and Asih. Dwi has me for four hours in the morning, then we break for lunch, and Asih takes me ;) They are both wonderful and patient. Dwi makes me speak in only Indo, and loves to have me form sentences over and over, which is great, but it makes my head a bit dizzy by the time we break for lunch. Asih, on the other hand, talks more in English but we have a lot of fun! She loves to laugh at herself, and me. I think they balance each other out well. Sometimes I feel like I am progressing very slowly, and other times I feel like I am learning a lot! It just isn't processing as quickly as I want! I think I keep double guessing all my word order now, because I used to be rather sloppy! Once I feel more confident in that, it should speed up.

Enough about that. I went grocery shopping yesterday. My teacher recommended Super Indo to me, so I thought I'd check it out. I was soon quite taken with the store as I ran across old snacks, foods, and brands that I used to eat in Papua: Selamat Biscuits, Chitato Chips, Kopiko, Super Mie, Nutri Sari, Milo...it made me smile. Not only that, but I got to shop serenaded by what sounded like Avril Lavigne, Phil Collins from Tarzan, and Bryan Adams and music from Spirit. Yes. Wonderful selection. But what really had me sold was when the Super Indo theme song came on. Yes. They had a theme song, about Super Indo. Wait. There's more. I knew I had to return when I was in the check out line and I saw, on the adjacent wall, not an employee of the month picture....but an "I do Care Champion." I don't think I need to say any more.

I keep telling myself to take pictures, but I haven't yet. I decided Yogya is a city of depth...there are many little alleys and paths that lead back into quaint little houses or shops. I get the feeling everything is in 3-D, much more than America. :)

Indo!

Dear World,

Let me begin to share with you what is going on in my life!!! So, I left Fort Lauderdale at 10:10am. It was a bit of a bumpy start, including getting rebuked by the check in lady :( but I was on my way and all was well. Around 2:30pm I landed in LA and got picked up by two of my best friends: David and Andrea. We proceeded, through traffic on the 405, to the Getty (love that place!), then off to Westwood for dinner. Walked through a bit of the UCLA campus, and found a small restaurant called Mr. Noodle, which had surprisingly decent Thai food for cheap. Then we made a stop at the famous cookie place that I already forgot the name of, but apparently is super cheap. Diddy Riese or something. We saw what looked like a premier showing of "Dolphin Tale" being set up. Then we drove to Santa Monica, walked around, saw the beach, and unfortunately it was already time to go!

The flight to Taiwan was long, but I was able to sleep off and on. In Taiwan I managed to find a computer terminal and email a few people about my progress. Then it was off to Jakarta!!!! It was very interesting for me to sit there and watch the plane's progress on my little screen as it slowly got closer and closer to those beloved islands. But when I stepped off the plane into that familiar terminal, I felt as though I was walking into a dream.

I was literally trembling as I stood in line to go through immigration--not from fear, but from anticipation, and from all these emotions welling up inside of me and no one to share them with! The trip as a whole left me so much time to think--about the future, about the present--about everything. Sharing this intimate moment with my Savior alone was a new experience. I couldn't believe I was back and yet it felt so natural, and yet I wished someone were with me :(

The Visa on Arrival process went quick and smooth. No questions, no hassle. Then I moved on to collect my baggage. I didn't feel secure enough to do any sight seeing yet, although I wanted to take my time and look outside, I booked it to figure out where I was going next. I had to go outside, find an elevator upstairs, pass by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, even though I was tempted to stop, and look for where to check in to Garuda. I felt very confused. There were no ticket counters like here in the U.S. Finally, I stopped at the "e-ticket" booth for Garuda to ask. They gave me my itinerary and told me to pass through security. Once I did, I had to get my luggage tied up, and then proceed to the counter: pay an airport tax, plus an overage for my luggage (I was beginning to feel like I overpacked) and then I proceeded to my gate. There was a little wait, and then we boarded the plane, and were off to Yogya!

Funny thing though, I sat next to an Aussie named Dave, who lives in Yogya and does Disaster Relief work. We found out he had met my dad in Aceh after the Tsunami of 04! Go figure, small world.

After I landed, got my bags, and headed outside, a man and boy were waiting with a paper sign that said 'BETH.'  They were very nice, helped me with my bags, pulled the car around, and we were off. The man-Pak Unang (?), found out I knew a little Bahasa and so he let me practice. Then we got to my homestay and I met Ibu Leana. She is a sweet elderly lady who proceeded to tell me all about her seven children, fifteen grandsons, the two operations she had had, the former tenants she had had who were from Japan, and probably a lot more that I missed. I could pick up on most of it, and I guess she thought my answers and comments were satisfactory. Luckily, I was tired enough to go to bed early and sleep through the night. The next afternoon, however, i got quite tired and took a nap. I rested most of the day, just settling in and reading, and then slept off and on through the second night.

And today was my first day of class!!! I was picked up from the school, but I think in future I will have to walk. It will probably be a fifteen-to twenty minute walk. I took a placement test, and did poorly :( And then had lessons until noon. I felt like my mind was a stream and there was a huge boulder in the middle of the stream, cutting off the flow of water!!! It was a tough morning, trying to recall what I hadn't used in so long. My teacher was very patient, but of course never spoke in English if she could help it!

And then I grabbed lunch-- Nasi Bungkus. And I am waiting to start my next class: from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Then I am assuming I will be driven home...or maybe I'll walk? Don't quite know yet!!!

Keep me in prayer! I am hoping this will get easier after the first week or two!
So far I've felt like my emotions are a bit all over the place as I try to readjust and I feel quite timid back in the culture.

I met an Australian woman today named Nicola, who will be here for another month or so, and I hope we can become friends.

I rather wish now that I had internet at home--it would make communication so much easier. But we'll see how it goes.

Here's to new adventures and persevering....

Rio to Florida

So I think another blog is long overdue, especially since I never got to blog about Rio! I did, however, put some pictures up on Facebook....but I saved the best for my faithful followers :D

Drum roll please....I found the most amazing bookstore in a mall in Rio. It was love at first sight....

I was smitten. :) The pictures don't do it justice...Allison had to drag me out of there.

But unfortunately...we had to move on. But first I will show a few more pictures from this mall. I was thoroughly impressed. The top floor had an art gallery that I was not allowed to take pictures of. But it was lovely: including the lighting and the carpet. I was also dragged out of there prematurely. Then we found a store named after me. And then a storefront with this lovely display of books (you'll see in the picture below). And finally we found a lovely and very unique store that I'm not sure how to describe. It had crafty things and stationery paper, but also quirky little office supplies. I loved it!!

So there's a little bit of Rio! Goodbye Rio.

Back to Florida!!! Since I've been here, we almost went through a hurricane! But didn't. We have got quite a bit of rain though. And I must say.....it is pretty hot here :)

So what's going on in my life? I am learning lessons about integrity, obedience, and courage. I got the opportunity to teach the women students in Brazil and I decided to teach on integrity. It was a subject the Lord placed on my heart at the beginning of the term. We studied three people's lives: Abraham, Micaiah, and Ehud. It was refreshing to study, it was a blessing to teach, and now it is a challenge to live out. :) I find myself continually convicted and reminded of my own teaching. Am I living a life of integrity? One definition I found of integrity was to be whole, and complete. When I choose not have integrity, even in the small things, I am incomplete and not living to my full capacity. But I always fall so short.

Then I was studying the life of Joshua, and I was blown away by his obedience and courage:

"And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel." Joshua 10:14
"He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses." Joshua 11:15

How I wish Joshua was still alive, so I could watch his life. It was a life of obedience, of years and years of war-tirelessly fighting the battles the Lord told him to fight!

So there's a glimpse into what I am learning about! I hope it blesses you.

A Glimpse of Brazil

Scroonk

We went out to ice cream. Most flavors had a name in English and Portuguese and they were typed up nicely. It made us question when we came to this one...

It's Warmer Inside the Refrigerator

You think I'm joking. I thought Delinda was joking when she told me at dinner. Then I ran down to get something out of our walk-in fridge...and it was warmer!

It's been raining all week, and the wet cold seems to never end. On Tuesday a heavy frost covered everything and it almost looked like snow!

I find it easy to want to complain and get frustrated at shivering every day, and being afraid to sit down on the metal chairs at meal time...but this morning Junior (our Camp Director) lovingly reminded me that there are many poor people who are living out in this weather all winter. We have a roof over our heads, warm beds, warm showers (most of the time), food, and sometimes a heated room.

But I am so grateful to God that He doesn't leave me where I am. Every week as the students learn lessons, I learn right alongside them.

This week some of the most vulnerable parts of me were poked and I got to see what was inside. I had to depend on God and trust in His faithfulness more than I trust in my fellow staff members. Once again, I learned that His plan for me is so much greater than I realize. He works all things for good...literally. I have watched Him take our frailties as staff members and turn them into a beautiful picture of discipleship.

This semester I have been entrusted with a lot of confidentiality and with a lot of responsibility. I am in a position where I speak into students lives and disciple them in their Biblical knowledge, and I feel so humbled. There is no room for pride right now as deadlines keep me at a fast pace. I constantly pray in faith as I make decisions and do my job, and so far He has counted me faithful and kept me protected in His grace and knowledge.

Some verses He has been speaking to me:

Jeremiah 45:5 "'And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,' says the Lord, 'But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.'"

Deuteronomy 12:5 " 'But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.' "

--I am in a season where I am learning I cannot choose when and where to make myself a living sacrifice to the Lord. I must seek the place where He wants me to serve...right now that means here at Patmos. It's so easy to think that a sacrifice is a sacrifice and it will please the Lord wherever it is (and sometimes this is true)...but God made it very clear that He wanted them to go to a specific place to worship--He wanted obedience and effort.

So although this was a very "cold" week (physically and spiritually), I am beginning to see maybe why God brought me through it. I am beginning to see that my whole life makes sense in light of what He has planned for me. I will welcome the cold if it transforms me to be more like Him.

I love you all. May God help you to realize that it is sometimes warmer in the refrigerator--and that's a good thing. Because when the refrigerator feels warm, you won't complain about a breeze on a sunny day.

Patmos: Brazil 2

Week 2 is over; week 3 is about to begin.

Time flies by and goes so slow at the same time. The first week the students were here felt like the longest week of my life! But now we only have 8 weeks left with these students, and there is still so much to teach them.

Pastor Chet has named them the class of Soldiers. With that comes attack from the enemy. I feel like, more than any other class, these students are comfortable in their flesh and willing to give into temptation-which is exactly what the enemy wants to do to soldiers. But they are hear, and they want to change. This last Friday was a powerful day for them as they learned that we are helpless to live up to the law; that Christ has given us victory over the law; that because of what He did for us on the cross, we ought to live with a passion that glorifies Him.

One strength of this class is that we have 4 students who speak Portuguese, and 3 who speak Spanish. This is huge for evangelism, or even interacting with Patmos: Desperta, which is here this weekend. My prayer is that they will impact Campo Mourao in huge ways.

The staff is doing well. We have three interns, and they have been a huge blessing. They seek out where they are needed and they fill in the gaps. It is huge to have confidence that the kitchen is always taken care of. :) Our staff is keeping pretty busy, but we are all grateful, I think, to be so close geographically. I think this is a time of rest and restoration as we pour into the students. We have a staff small group that meets Sunday afternoons. As a team, I feel we are very mature and responsible.

There has been a nasty cough going around though, so please be in prayer. This last week, the women's staff hall was practically a sick ward. There were four ladies down at once, and the rest of us would come visit them at meal times. Praise the Lord, most of them are recovering now! But some of the students are a little sick, some staff still trying to recover, and some people are getting fresh cases.

Last week we had a few guest pastors come and visit and teach. It was very refreshing. Tomorrow Darcie Gill, from the Voice of the Martyrs is coming in and I am very exciting! She is an amazing woman, and I love to hear her speak. She will be here for a few days.

Other than that-we are persevering. The weather has been gorgeous...but supposedly a cold front is coming in with a storm tomorrow :( We'll see how cold it gets.

Last thing: also please pray about our future. These weeks will fly by, and then we will be moving back to Florida and looking at what's next. I haven't heard that we officially have our property yet, but I think we are pretty confident about it.

I love you all! Keep in prayer, and I will try to keep you updated!!!!

An Odyssey of Love

Life never turns out the way I expect it to. Neither do the people in my life. Neither do I.

Every day is a new beast, no two are ever alike and they hardly ever turn out the way I thought they would. But I don't like living day to day so much. They say every organism has its own niche in the ecosystem...ever wonder if humans do? I guess, technically, we should be able to live anywhere with the power of the Holy Spirit. But I know He takes pleasure in forming us like puzzle pieces, and when we find our perfect fit, He is glorified.

Today is June 2nd, 2011. Ten years ago I was eleven years old. Ten years ago I was landing in LAX, and my heart was shattered. Six months earlier my parents had told us we would be going to the States for an extended period of time. Six months wasn't long enough to say goodbye. I remember crying over my lost dreams. I would not go to middle school or high school at HIS. I would miss the 8th Grade Sneak, and OE. I would not be able to play on the basketball team. I would not graduate from HIS. I remember crying over the friends I might never see again. But I knew, even then, that my grieving process had just begun.

Goodbye Home. Goodbye green rainforest and white, puffy clouds hanging over Mt. Cyclops. Goodbye pasar. Goodbye Wamena, Bokindini, Boma, and Sentani. Goodbye Jayapura and Ikan Bakar. Goodbye to quiet Saturday mornings on base. Goodbye Super Mie. Goodbye rain showers, and pembantus, Kali Biru, the Green Door Store, and the Dani people.

Ten years have passed. Tonight I am departing for Brazil. Sometimes I wonder if my eleven year old self were to look at me now....what would she think? Would she approve? Would she be excited that I was who she would grow up to be? Would she be comforted to see how much I have healed, and grown, and thrived?

I never in a thousand years, thought I would end up here. I never could have dreamed up Patmos, but God dreamed it for me. Now I live a nomadic lifestyle, without comforts, ministering to others. Every day is an adventure and a battle. I have a close-knit community around me. I see God's fingerprints. I see twenty-one years of preparation. I see that I lived a missionary lifestyle for 19 years before I even came to Patmos. And all I can think is that I am so grateful that life doesn't turn out the way we expect. I expected to go to college and get a degree, maybe three. I expected to be self-sufficient. I expected to never fit in. I expected to be cynical and hard my whole life. I expected to never live a life that compared to my childhood.

God dashed my expectations. I love Him for it.

So even though I am not returning to Indonesia on my ten year anniversary (and that has been my dream for so long), I praise God and I am excited about where I will go next. I had a chance. I had a chance to go back to Indonesia this year, but through the process of following that dream, I discovered I'd rather do God's will, and let Him form my future, then pursue my desires. I am glad that God dashed my expectations and that I am going to Brazil and not Indonesia, because I am with Him. I am following Him, and He is forming me into the woman that will most glorify Him.

Dear Jesus,

I do have expectations out of life. I am human and that is how my mind works. But I don't mind if you change them. My greatest expectation is to go to heaven, and I KNOW that that is a sure thing. So form my future out of clay, and I will be pleased with whatever you give me.

I am so grateful He has never abandoned me. I am so grateful that He took me from that eleven year old, to who I am now. I still miss my home. But I love my Savior more.

A Life On the Ocean

Dear friends,

I am sitting upstairs in a small, windowless office that we fondly call a pack rat's haven (otherwise known as the Patmos office). Right now I see an orange wheel barrow, a step ladder, a marble table, pots and pans, coolers, a printer, tents, floodlights, and I know that behind me stand a washer and dryer. Not your average office. But we are not your average ministry either.

Tonight at 5:00pm, 17 staff and interns will check into Miami International Airport with 51 bags. We will fly for about eight or nine hours and upon landing, will take a city bus to the bus stop, then catch a public bus for a twelve hour trip to Campo Maurao. Thus begins our second term in Brazil. We have twenty students who will be coming a week later. They have already been on a journey of faith in just applying and raising support. They have no idea what is ahead of them. Please be in prayer for their hearts.

But really, I was reminded of what an unusual ministry this was when I landed back in Florida on the 23rd. Nothing is ever still or stable here. The stakes are higher and so the battles are bigger. Only sometimes we don't see it. We live like leaves on the surface of the ocean, following our leader. When something hits and unsettles the water, or when our leader moves, the water ripples, and we have to ripple with it to survive. We have to be loose, holding on to nothing, letting go of control, and willing to submit and love. Otherwise we will be washed up on shore. I have seen it happen. I have seen staff members get washed up on shore because they burnt out. And I am sure that God is leading them on their own journeys now, outside of Patmos, but they are dearly missed.

I just want to ask for prayer. The enemy attacks us as much as he can, even in little ways. Pray for the staff as we prepare to battle over twenty new students who Christ wants to make into soldiers. Pray for our hearts, that we would follow God's voice with courage and without compromise. Pray that we would have spiritual sight to discern when the arrows of the enemy are attacking. Pray for unity and humility.

I will try my best to keep updating my blog from Brazil. Thank you for all your prayers and love and support. I am so very excited about the work that God is going to do this term, the people He is going to set free, and the hearts that He is going to transform.

I love you all. Let me know how I can be praying for you in return.

Patmos: Nomad Edition :)

I am sitting on a comfy chair in the Patmos Office at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. It smells a little rank because of some spillage from the Seder dinner we did a few weeks back. All of our Patmos necessities, furniture, oddities, and office supplies are neatly stacked against the wall. We just finished unloading it from the very large Budget truck situated downstairs. We caused quite a scene as we carted it all upstairs through a myriad of hallways. Did I mention we brought a washer and dryer up too? :)

We moved out of Okeechobee yesterday!!!! We packed it all up, said goodbye to the plague of lovebugs and drove on down. We haven't quite escaped though, seeing as the lovebugs are still plastered to the front of our vehicles. What next? Brazil!! We plan to leave at the end of May. Next weekend we'll buckle down for some intensive planning, but until then we get a little bit of a break. Lord willing, we will be purchasing some property soon, and maybe we'll be able to move there after Brazil!! You can definitely be praying about that.

It's been quite the journey. Our twenty three students graduated last Friday. Parents came from all over: Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, and New Jersey. I was privileged to get to know these students over the last few weeks...and now we've sent them back into the world to be living testimonies of how Christ can change a life. The day after graduation, two of the students got baptized at the beach along with five hundred other believers. It was a great day, hosted by Calvary.

So there's a glimpse of what's been going on. It's wonderful to be back in Fort Lauderdale, but it also comes with its difficulties. There are several staff members, including myself, who are from out of state. It can be difficult to find somewhere to stay.

Pray:

-For God's provision (for me and all staff members without permanent homes). For me specifically, it is difficult to do any sort of fundraising while in the middle of Patmos. I will be provided for in Brazil, but I have to survive on my own until then. Let me know if the Lord lays it on your heart to help support me.

-For Brazil. That God would bring more students. That He would go ahead of us in all the arrangements (visas, tickets, travel etc). That He would do a work in us as a staff while we are there.

-For Patmos' future: that we would be able to purchase the property we are looking at.

Cowboys in Florida?

Welcome to Okeechobee! Here I am in the land of Florida. I spent about two days in Fort Lauderdale before heading up to Okee-land!

I have:

-been to my first Florida, Day Workers Rodeo

-seen an alligator

-chased a sea gull for one of its feathers

-eaten fried catfish

-passed Dark Hammock Ranch a dozen times

I haven't:

-slept more than six hours per night

-been able to get reception from my house

-bought a one-of-a-kind Okeechobee alligator shirt (but Erin says I'll get one before I leave)

-tried the alligator tail or frog legs...yet

-ridden a horse yet, but I want to!

Things are definitely different than the Bahamas, or Brazil, and I have to admit that it is taking a little getting used to. I am officially named on staff, and right now my job is mainly curriculum.

Pray: -for health for everyone. (there's been some nasty stuff going around including strep throat)

-that the students and staff would finish out strong; we have a little over two weeks left.

-that the staff would be unified even though they are spread out.

-that the Holy Spirit would do a mighty work in all of us.

-for the future of Patmos. A lot of changes may be taking place. Pray for peace and joy and wisdom.

New Directions

Hello faithful readers,

I know I haven't been as faithful in posting, but I am soon to embark and so I will resume my posting. First things first. My path has been redirected. After a whirlwind of storms, red flags, tears, advice, and prayers it became clear that it is not God's will for me to go to Indonesia with OneHope, as was my plan.

Instead, I will be returning to Patmos to serve, once again, in the ministry of discipleship. I am excited about this although some of the process is hard. It is definitely a step of faith and I would appreciate your prayers for provision for me and my family.

Let me know if you'd like to contribute in any way: prayerfully, financially, or helping fill a small need for me. I will try to keep this updated!!