Do you believe it? I think I am numb…

I fly to Ohio to be with my family and friends tomorrow! (Dec. 10).  I am really excited!! Not only do I get to be with Jennie and co… but I get home in time to go to the Vista Christmas program. It will be absolutely wonderful!!! There is no doubt in my mind. Some really incredible people are speaking this year; giving their testimonies and the music will be over the top! Last year I had the privilege of giving my testimony. You can view it HERE.

As I continue my final class that is required by Pioneer Bible Translators, I reflect on this past year. Wow, I can hardly wrap my mind around all that has occurred. I can’t even begin to comprehend all that has happened since July 4, 2010. I started to read the required reading for my class and I needed to stop and begin this journal. There is something in it that I want to mention. First is Job 42:5 “once my ears had heard of you, now my eyes have seen you.” I came to Christ late in life. I remember Sandy, my great friend and former boss telling me about Christ when my daughter Jennie was just little. I didn’t get it; as hard as Sandy tried to get me to understand… I didn’t get it. I spent the majority of my life in darkness, separated from Christ. I wasn’t living right. I didn’t seek anything “better” because I didn’t understand that there was any other option. I never had much self-confidence which, as I look back now, really seemed to work against me. I wish that I could say that I am filled with the utmost self-confidence now … but that wouldn’t be true. Open your heart to what the Lord is saying to you. Lean into what He has to say to you. You won’t be disappointed. Thank You for taking away my shame Lord. I am being refined, and I would rather be refined than rot and fall apart!  God deserves a thorough investigation. Check Him out.

I’ve received more communication with Pacific Orientation Course (POC). Please celebrate with me… they are fully staffed and I am scheduled for jungle training beginning January 2014!! In their most recent communications, they are starting to use some Tok Pisin (the language that I highlighted last month) so it is really getting fun. When I get there I will be chosen by a family who will be my “Wasfemili” [was = watch or guard; femili = family; generally meaning the family responsible for me]. Early in the training, they will come to a dinner that the POC staff prepares. After that I will walk to my family’s home and share a meal with them, bringing along some food to share that the POC staff made. And then I will walk to my family’s home with uncooked food to contribute to the meal and spend the night there. I will walk to their home and share another meal, and then I will host them for a meal in my own (handmade) outdoor kitchen (haus kuk). Then one final meal with my wasfemili before I spend 5 weeks in the “Village Living Phase” of my training with one of the families. During the first 10 weeks, I can make as many visits to villages as I would like so that I can practice my growing Tok Pisin skills and learn about their culture. I sure hope that I can visit a lot. Please join me in praying that my “over 50 year old body” can withstand the terrain and ruggedness that I expect to endure.

A few weeks ago, I got to attend the International Conference on Missions (ICOM) in KCM. It was great! My favorite workshops were on encouragement. It was pretty amazing.  Just after that I was blessed by a ride with Jim and Joni (J&J) to Florida to spend time with my mom, Suzy and her girls one more time before I leave for Papua New Guinea. If you remember, they have family in Florida too. My visit was really nice. But it went way too fast!! J&J met us at Chick-fil-a and we drove to Savannah GA. Jim’s family was getting together for Thanksgiving. After this J&J and I traveled to North Carolina. There is an organization that ships to Papua New Guinea a couple of times a year. They have a boat leaving in February. It will arrive PNG May. So it will be there when I get out of jungle training. I have two very packed trunks ready to ship. I wish that we had more room in the rental car… I would like to ship a lot more so that I don’t have to take it to the airport… and pay for excess baggage. One really cool thing is that I was able to purchase a water filtration system to have in my home in PNG. It is neatly packed in a trunk. I bought extra filters. I made sure that I kept one out of the trunks to have with me in jungle training. The guy showed us how to put it in a 5 gallon bucket with a hole dripping into another bucket for the clean water (or something like that), I am very excited about that (I sure wish I had paid better attention!)! I plan to buy these “filtered straws” that I can stick one end in an icky river and drink clean water through the other side of it… any volunteers?

In our travels we stopped in St Augustine Florida and went to Castillo de San Marcos. Joni and I got our picture taken by a guy that we thought looked like a pirate. What do you think?

In the same way, when we are exposed to various trials we develop a stronger faith. Isaiah 48:10 says, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” In Romans 5:3-5, we find that “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Here is the Vista Christmas program information:

Join Vista at Dublin Jerome High School: Fri., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. ~ Sat., Dec. 14, 4 & 7:30 p.m. ~ Sun., Dec. 15, 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. > doors open 15 minutes prior    > child care provided infant – age 5   > dessert reception following services – Learn more HERE.

I HIGHLY recommend it… you will NOT be disappointed!

Praises:

~ For my being able to see mom and Suzy (and her girls) one more time before leaving

~ I booked my one way ticket to Papua New Guinea today!!

~ I made arrangements to purchase my one way ticket to Papua New Guinea!!

~ I am so close to finishing my last required class ~ one more week!!!

Prayers:

~ Since I am so close to finishing my last required class, please pray that I finish well
I have had some (minor but irritating) health issues, please pray for relief

~ Safe flight to Columbus tomorrow

~ If you would like to support me I would greatly appreciate it. God is doing amazing things, so I trust that He is setting up people who want to partner monthly with He and I on this journey. Learn more HERE.

I can’t wait to see what He has planned for my next few months! I will have my itinerary soon … how exciting!!!! I can’t wait to take you with me 🙂 this is going to be great!

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God