building in Kosova

We just found out that while all but one of the team members are out of country (Kosova), the landlord of the building we rent for our ministry center put the building up for sale. He didn't speak to anyone about it. It was quite a shock for all of us, I'm sure, to hear of this. We had been in the process of looking at properties for purchase because we had outgrown that building but this really puts a fire on our heals to do more. There is a property just down the road that one of our brothers has looked at. It would be an ideal location. And behind it there is a house for sale which would be ideal for the rehab clinic. The only thing is that we would need at least $500,000 to purchase the first property and last I knew we only had about $4,000 or so in the building fund (I totally don't know the recent figures on that though). So a great opportunity for God to bring glory to Himself once again! The Lord has never let us down yet in Kosova even when things looked absolutely impossible financially, I know that He won't allow us to be out on the street this time either. Dear praying friends, please pray for wisdom, God's timing and resources for the team and church. And pray that this won't put a strain on our relationship with the landlord either. Thank you!

Independence day freedom

I had accidently put this on the glory blog so am putting it hear. So this was originally written on July 5. "Yesterday I hosted a BBQ at my place and invited some friends from church and class over. It was a full day of making the good ole' traditionals: potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, fruit salad, homemade burgers and found some great hotdogs, they were so plump and juicy! We topped it off with watermelon and rootbeer floats (rootbeer is not common here and is difficult to find). It's interesting celebrating American Independence Day with British friends if you think about the history of it all, I guess it could be a bit of a "touchy" subject and some comments were made. But what did Independence bring? It brought freedom; freedom to embrace people of other nations, freedom to agree to disagree, freedom to set our differences aside. But it's not that freedom that tied most of my friends and I together yesterday. It is the freedom in Christ that was fought for by Jesus himself when He shed his blood for us. That freedom is what gives us the ability to love one another, to be blind to differences that can divide and separate us, because we are no longer separate as a body of Christ. It is that freedom in Christ that allows us to pray together freely for those who are fighting to maintain independence of our nations. Even as an Irish friend surprised me by bringing me an American flag, we can be amazed by the blessings Christ gives us as He unites His children of all nations to just have fun together."

another break

This is the first day of our second three week break. Yesterday was my 6 month anniversary being here in the UK. Even though it's been a whole 6 months it feels like we are still only just beginning the OT program. I still haven't gotten the results of my first re-write essay and we just now got the assignment for the second essay. The rest of this year will fly by however because of the way it is laid out three weeks break/2 month clinical placement/2 months classes then Christmas break for which Lord willing (depending on the means) I'll be in Kosova. I'm hoping to set up interviews for my dissertation while, there, so there will be much preparation for that prior to going which also will contribute to time flying fast. But for now, I'm taking one day at a time and trying to seize the day for His glory! Going to Huddersfield to visit my UK friend and a Kosovar friend (surprising her) who is visiting. Should be a fun weekend! Then back to essay writing, yay!

the healing God

Thought I would write in the midst of "flying high" in awe once again of God's "realness" here on earth as He displays His power through healing. Just came back from the Healing on the Streets ministry time. One man had a back problem and had asked for prayer. He was asked to extend his legs and it appeared to him and the others praying for him that one leg was shorter than the other, the man said that the doctor told him that that might be his case. During prayer, his leg grew even with the other and the man didn't have the pain in his back any more. I, along with a couple other ladies prayed for this sweet little ole' lady who had arthritis in her back and problems with sciatica in both legs. She said that she was healed immediately from the sciatica a few weeks ago, but then the pain came back the other day. So she came for prayer again. We prayed and she said she felt a warmth in her back (the weather was cool and rainyish, it definitely wasn't hot out) and she said that there wasn't pain in her back and her legs felt better but not completely pain free, so we prayed again. As she stood up, she shook her left leg and with a big smile on her little face she said, "There's no pain!" It was so fun! Then toward the end of the time, I started getting this pain in my back, kind of like a kidney stone type of pain/discomfort. I asked my friend who was there if she would just say a prayer as we were standing, she had me take the seat anyway and called another gal to pray with us, at the end of the prayer I stood up and there was absolutely no pain left in the back. PTL! It's just so incredible (not surprising) but just so incredible to see His ........ I don't even have the words but........... awesomeness I guess! If you are reading this and are one that has even a hint of doubt in your mind that God is the same God today that He was when He walked on this earth, then rest assure, those doubts can be totally wiped away. I can testify personally that YES, He IS the same God and He can take away your pain, sorrows, illness, and anything else that distracts you from focusing on Him. Yep..... He can!

New thoughts

An Irish friend, Claire had given me a cd to borrow which is the book, "Strengthen Yourself in the Lord" by Bill Johnson. This book is exactly what I need right now. I listened to the whole book in three days while walking to and from where ever I was heading and have begun to really meditate on what Mr. Johnson has to say, through scripture, of what my aims and goals should be in attaining those tools needed to "strengthen" myself in the Lord. I want to share with you a couple of thoughts that I've been mulling around in my head the past few days. One is: "Sustaining our initiative to seek God by strengthening self in destiny will experience personal breakthroughs that release a corporate blessing to those around us." What an amazing thought to think that our "personal" victories or breakthrough could lead to public victories. Whenever people have asked me "Who is your greatest enemy?" or "What is your greatest road block to ministry?" my answer has always been, "myself". Too many times have I let myself get in the way of what God wants to do through me. Ok, it would take a book to expound on that thought but it's fun thinking of the potentials for God's working in many ways through this. The second thought is: "Our potential requires our participation", so often I've taken the back seat waiting for God to steer me the direction He wants me to go. This thought is; in order for God to reach the potential in me, I need to take action and be the Christ follower that I was intended and given authority to be. Again, another book to expound, but some great thoughts!

A short update from Kosove. Transitions in missy staff are in full gear taking place, our team is dwindling on the field due to a variety of reasons, some temporary, others permanent. The nationals are "stepping up to the plate" and are doing great, taking initiative, leaders are growing very quickly and it's evident that the Lord's hand is upon them. PTL!

essay in

It's been awhile since I've written. The essay is in, PTL! Now waiting for results. It was an exhausting time getting that thing written. I'm thankful for Kelly, a classmate who read through it thoroughly making many comments for correction, so after getting her "suggestions" it took another at least 14 hours of work on it to refine it. But, it's in and totally in God's hands. Since then I've just been recovering from essay writing and the class in general has been pressuring the instructor for our current module to give details of this next essay.

Haven't heard a whole lot from Kosova to give an update. For those who are praying friends, please pray for the team transition as some have left already for their home assignment, others are leaving soon. Pray for strength for the believers and that they will be challenged during this time to see Jesus as being "their" personal Saviour and not a "borrowed Jesus" and their attendance in church as their own desire for growth in the Lord not a desire to be around the "missys". Pray that Jesus will be totally "real" to each believer there. Thank you!

Essay again

We had a week of absolutely beautiful sunny warm weather. It's now gotten cold and cloudy again, but that is ok because I had such a difficult time concentrating on my re-write essay with the nice weather. The outline and sample paragraphs were approved yesterday by the program director so everything is on target so far. So now if I can only keep up my motivation to get this thing done, I'll be ok. Just over a week left to get it in....... a bit nerve wracking to say the least! I'm trying to keep reminding myself to not think about the fact that if I fail the essay again I'm out of the program. I need a mind blocker so that I'll be convinced that failing isn't an option! Ugh!!!!