The Plot Thickens...

Hey Y'all,

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on things. Quite a bit has happened in the past several months, and I'd like to keep everyone in the loop!

First thing, I'm pleased to announce that I (along with a team from Bethany) will be going to Niger, West Africa for a week in October/November. I'm very excited to be going back to the place where I spent a month and a half, three years ago. That internship was one of the hardest most amazing things I've ever done... and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with some of the people I met on that first trip. Support letters will be making their way out soon.

Secondly -- I've graduated Boyce... Sort of. This is my last semester, although I have already walked! I will be 100% done with my undergrad in November. This semester I will be, Lord willing, an intern at Refuge Louisville. I will be connecting with Refugee families and building relationships -- and within that sharing the Gospel. I've already jumped in a little bit -- I had some good Gospel conversations with two Muslim men. Pray for open hearts -- and pray that God would give the Words to say and the boldness to do so when the timing is right.

Thirdly... and this is the big one -- I was turned down by the International Mission Board (IMB) to serve. I shared with some -- but not with all -- that I was applying for a Journeyman position. The Journeyman position is a two to three year assignment overseas. I barely got into the process before I was blatantly told that they felt I was 'called to stay in the States'. To put this in perspective -- as someone who grew up in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), I grew up learning and looking towards the IMB in amazement. When I was 14 and my passion for the nations grew and began to long to be overseas full time - I always assumed that it would be with the IMB. While I have a few health issues -- I was told time and time again that this would not affect a thing, by IMB personnel and other couples and missionaries. To be told 'no' came as a shock, especially in the way it was done. Now, I still respect the IMB -- but I was - and am - upset. From the way the IMB worded the email, it seems that I will not be approved to go with the IMB at all. It's been pinned on my medical status -- although others have thought that it may not just be that. Funding? Too much experience? Only God knows.

I feel part of it may be God telling me that I've made an idol out of missions... that I've made an idol out of the IMB, and I cannot do what I'd like to do on my own -- without His divine intervention. Now this is very evident... as I must look - and wait for God to open a door. I am personally not convinced that I am to stay in the States.... personally I feel the opposite... maybe even more so convinced that I should go because I was turned down. Although just applying for journeyman position has made me a bit more ready to go. God has really pushed a truth into my heart -- that He is all I have. Everything else, while it will be hard to give up.... is not that much in comparison.

I am encouraged by just how many people have been shocked by the IMB turning me down... and how many of you have told me that you still see God calling me to the Nations. This gives me hope, that I am by no way done with this journey. Although I am reminded that this is all God, and not me. I'm amazed by what people have said they see in me, because most of the time (if not all of the time) I don't see these qualities... I just see my sin, and my struggle.

I am praying... and hoping that this is just the beginning of a long journey. My desire "go" to the nations and share Christ is still strong, and I pray God has put that desire there... and if so, I pray God will finish what was started. I have some mixed emotions about leaving... but I'd much rather go to the nations than live a stagnant life.

Currently I'm looking at other organizations... and I'm thinking of getting my TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and working as a teacher overseas. I'm not completely sure what this will look like, or where exactly I'd like to go. There's a very good chance (at this point in time)... that I will actually pick the country that I will serve in.... and I don't even know where to start. Just when I think I've got it all figured out..... I feel like I'm back in square one! This seems to be a pattern!!! Pray that God would grant wisdom and open doors. I'm very thankful for the peace and increased desire for the nations that God has given me. I'm thankful that God continues to draw me to Himself, even in my darkest moments. God remains in control. As the Psalmist says:

 

God is our refuge and strength

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

 

Pray for me, and I ask that y'all let me know how I can pray for you. I'll try to keep y'all updated -- if the internship at Refuge pans out -- then I hope to be giving y'all updates on that as I would on any other mission.

Love y'all.

- E

Montreal 2016

This was a bit of a whirlwind trip - as in a lot was accomplished in a short period of time. This trip was quite a bit different than last years trip - just because we got the opportunities to talk to a ton of people. Last year we got to talk to very few. I'm going to try to give a recap of each day - and then a reflection at the end. :)

Monday, June 6 We left for the airport around 4am from Bethany Baptist -- and we arrived in Montreal around noon. This was really just a "get-there-and-settle-in" day.

Tuesday, June 7 - Thursday, June 9 This was our first day of ministry. We served the majority of our time at a local community service center. It reminds me of something like a homeless shelter - although housing was not provided here. Low cost meals (and coffee) and second hand clothes were available - as well as a food bank. The center was in a former church building. The sanctuary was turned into a main hall for music concerts (like a small orchestra) and other activities. This center is ran by the government - and we are asked not to make grand efforts to evangelize. We can answer any questions asked - but - the door to door evangelism type of practice could get our group and future groups working with Renaissance Church banned. The center is called "Share the Warmth".   This did not mean we couldn't share. We were often asked why we were in Montreal --- and we would simply say that we were visiting a friend in the area who is staring a church in Little Burgundy - if they seemed interested we would invite them to a meal or to coffee later for further discussion. There were various points of service. Our team was scattered between the food bank, clothes sorting, gardening (mainly pulling weeds), and cooking. I was in the kitchen 95% of the time. There were lots of volunteers and paid workers coming in and out & working on different things.  The first day I started out by pouring lemonade into cups -- and then making simple syrup for iced coffee. Eventually I moved on to making cookies and doing the dishes.  These are all things that leave room for conversation. One guy - I'll call him NW - was very open to spiritual conversations. His parents were Hindu, but he (now college age) had gone to Catholic, Islamic, and Christian schools growing up. He expressed that it didn't matter which one you choose (though he did not believe in any of the above) but the main idea was to do good things. I carefully told him that I was doing good things because  of what Jesus had done for me - and not the other way around. The topic didn't reach any deeper - as the topic was changed. I invited him to dinner along with the group - and even for coffee - as we did with several other people - who didn't show. So often I would speak to someone about why I was there - and the other person would become quickly uncomfortable.  It's important to know that many other church teams are coming (all summer) to the same place - to do the same thing - hopefully touching base with some of the same people. While it's important to use WORDS when sharing the Gospel -- sometimes the right timing doesn't quite come for that full on presentation. It seemed odd to people that we would come all the way from Louisville just to serve - and rightly so. Hopefully other groups & Renaissance Church members will get the opportunity to present the Gospel to these people - and we should pray that they do. Evangelism & Missions largely consists of living life with people -- and this was one of those times. I just sort of wish I could see it through - but God's got it - as He always does.

Friday, June 10 Today we just got up and headed to the airport. I'm on the plane now - and should be in Louisville in about an hour. No plane conversations. Sort of heavy hearted returning home - knowing I have to dive back into the "nitty-gritty" of things. Although I'm looking forward to visiting Niger in September. Further Reflections - I'm so very thankful for the community we had in our team - and at Bethany. It really is like family. I love that we can reflect on things back at home and on Scripture together.  I was very surprised at how a team - to the same place - can be so very different from the same trip the year before.  - I'm also always amazed at the things my teammates reflect on - that I don't often think about - or things that I wouldn't be surprised by but others are. - Sometimes ministry can be comfortable. I'm used to doing the more extreme end of things -- but a bed (or cot - in my case this time) with a room with A/C - doesn't kill the ministry. Ministry in Montreal - or even where we live - is just as important as it is in Niger or Brazil - or anywhere else. People are going to hell - to a Christ-less eternity every day. We're all in need of just as much grace - no matter where we are geographically located. (However - this is not to say that we shouldn't go to the extreme places - which I honestly tend to prefer. We should be willing to sacrifice everything for God's call on our lives.) - Even the most comfortable ministries come with sacrifices. We sacrificed our time, possibly part or all of a paycheck (for me at least) and some comfort. As with every mission trip I got a bit banged up physically as well - although it's all worth it in the end anyway. ;) And finally - again in reminded of how we - as Christians - should be doing some of the same things we do on mission trips in our own contexts. Montreal is really not that different than Louisville. It has a French flare - but it is very much a modern city. We should seek to speak the Gospel to & love on people in our own cities on a consistent basis. Remember the Great Commission isn't an elective... It's a command. ;) Please continue praying for Montreal - and more specifically Renaissance Church and the long term team there.  Nothing happens in Montreal without prayer -- large walls exist between most people & the church due to the history there. Pray for boldness for those who are to witness - and for God to speak to hearts who do not believe. Until next time, Emily

To sum up the Montreal trip...

So... right now, I'm sitting down in the B&B in Montreal - it's 10:30 pm , and we leave for the airport heading back to Louisville around.... 4:30 am. We'll be back in Louisville by noon tomorrow, Lord willing. All EST, by the way. Montreal isn't in a different time zone.

This trip was a really good trip - not at ALL what I was expecting, but when is a mission trip ever what you expect? (Unless you've been there multiple times... but even then!!)

We did many things throughout the week... we would do community projects - like picking up trash in the park or pulling weeds at an old established church. We all had matching t-shirts -- for 2 days of this - so older people would point this out and ask what we were doing - this presented a good opportunity for whomever the person asked. We would hang out in a park right across from the Bed & Breakfast we were staying -- seeing if we couldn't strike up a conversation with somebody. We also did a whooooole lot of praying & prayer walking. I believe this was a MAJOR part of what we were doing... without it, I doubt anything would have happened at all.... this sort of thing is something that God has to do, alone.... we are just along for the ride. (Which, is true of missions in general, but in this context it's felt a bit more. People aren't as open to just talking to anyone here - like at home -... you have to have a reason to speak.)

By Saturday - things were moving along well. We talked to quite a few people - probably at least 15 or so as a group. I was getting a bit discouraged at this time, because I hadn't spoken to ANYONE yet, and our trip was coming to a close. This whole time I had been praying that God would send someone for me to talk to - to share the Gospel with. For the first half of the day, everyone I said hello to -- only spoke French... and I can't really do more than greet people and ask if they speak English, in French - much less have a full on Gospel presentation.

After spending the morning sort of discouraged, the ladies (5 of us including 1 under 18) split off from the park and went down a little bit to see if we could meet some people in the shops & surrounding areas. We met one lady from Venezuela - named Gabrielle (pronounced with a heavy French accent) - We weren't able to share the Gospel with her, but we were able to talk for a bit & invite her to a church plant (Renaissance Church) here in Little Burgundy (which is a neighborhood in  the larger city Montreal -- Sort of like the Highlands or St. Matthews in Louisville - same idea). She asked that we prayed for her family & her business. She doesn't really go to church... she used to be Catholic when she lived in Venezuela... she didn't really seem to claim it anymore.

Then we split off into pairs... divide & conquer sort of thing. So Bethany & I went off... and we passed a few shops, went into one or two.... no luck starting up a conversation... THEN we passed by a park. There was an older lady sitting in a chair (that was just sort of provided by this park area).. For those of you who knew Sue Newcomer -- she honestly reminded me of her right off. haha. She had a book but as we approached she put it down and watched us... I greeted her in French, she started talking... I promptly asked if she spoke English... and Oh. My. Word... yes, she did. I was so happy. haha. We talked about several things.... Her former job & now retirement, cats (which was great... because I got to show off my kitty cat), and sort of segued into the Gospel & visiting the church plant. Just being able to share with her was a breath of fresh air -- but she told us she didn't believe in God -- that she grew up catholic and was catholic for awhile because her parents were... but once they passed on she dropped it. She said she respected people who do believe & thought we were doing a good thing -- and was curious about what we were doing. We gave her a card & explained where the gathering met, she thanked us and we went on our way. Her name is Carol (Also pronounced with a very thick French accent... and yes, she laughed when we tried. Indiana/Kentucky accents & French don't really mix that well. ha).

Carol didn't show this morning... nor did Gabrielle.... there was one visitor they had besides our team, but he was a believer & goes back and forth from here to St. Louis, MO for work... African, but has family here in Montreal.

Each of us on this trip (9 of us) had many conversations like the ones I described. Arron & Samantha (the church planters) have many teams lined up to do the sort of thing we did this week all summer. Please keep them in your prayers - their church planting team, Renaissance Church, and everyone we talked to - and those that future teams will talk to. Pray that God will open doors in this mostly lost community (I believe it was around 95% or higher?).

I also want to take this time to remind y'all about our own communities -- and think how many lost people there are in our own cities & towns. Montreal is not very different than say... Louisville, KY or Bloomington, IN.... just a slightly different context. Be praying that God would give you opportunities to speak & ask that He would give you boldness to share the Gospel.... because it is REALLY IMPORTANT!!

If you would still like to give towards this trip and didn't get a chance - just email me or contact me in some way & let me know. Arrangements can be made! ;)

THANK YOU for the prayers for this trip, and for sending me.

Love y'all.

Hello from Montreal!

Hey Y'all,

Wanted to let y'all know that we all made it SAFE & sound to Montreal last night. We're staying in a bed & breakfast in Little Burgundy. Today was just sort of our introductory day, so not much happened - although there were a few conversations that we were able to have. Arron (missionary on the ground here) gave us an overall tour & showed us were Renaissance church meets (the church plant). After lunch we hung out in the park & a few of us did some prayer walking around the area.
The context Montreal is in is very secular -- more so than our context in the States in general. It's a lot harder to start Gospel conversations here. There seems to be more of a European type culture. People are less open even to just saying "Hi" as you pass down the street. There are so many nations represented here as well. So many, that I lost track of just how many. There seems to be a large Muslim presence here alongside the general secularism.

We still met some people & had conversation, and we are thankful for all we met so we can pray for them.

Arron mentioned that while we don't really see it as well back in the states -- no spiritual door opens here (in Montreal) without prayer. PLEASE pray for opportunities for us to speak about spiritual things with people. Pray that God will open many doors & call HIS sheep from Montreal... because we know they're here! Also, remember to keep the Boswell's (missionaries that are here) in your prayers as well - as well as the coming teams & interns who will be here after we leave here.
More later!! Be sure to check back!

(The same blog post is being posted on Bethany Baptist's page, minus pictures because I'm not sure how to do that just yet. haha. I wanted to be sure to post in both places just in case some one were to look here!)

Renaissance church will be meeting here in a few months. There are community groups that work in the city -- the missionaries work alongside these groups... and this is sort of their way in to the inner workings of the community.

Part of the Market

In Little Burgundy

Montreal Reminder!

Hey Y'all!

Just wanted to post a reminder that tomorrow I'll be leaving for Montreal on a 5 day trip! This will be my FIRST mission trip in North America in a city... my first time in a real big city. haha. My plane leaves at 12:45 tomorrow.

But anyway, if you'd like to keep up on the trip, please go here. This is my church's (Bethany Baptist's) blog, and I'll personally be posting this week to keep everybody updated! If the link doesn't work for whatever reason, go to bethanylouisville.com and then click blog on the upper right hand side.

If you need or would like to contact me, a comment on here or on the Bethany Blog will get to me -- or you can facebook/email/skype me.

Please keep the team in your prayers! I'll be sure to at least post a recap and a bit more personal posts on here. On the blog for the church I'll be posting from more of a team perspective.

Love y'all

Em

Quick Update!

Hello all!

Just a quick update...

Montreal 2015

A group of members from Bethany Baptist Church (including myself) will be going to Montreal (Canada) to share Gospel in June-- this is a very diverse city, with less than 2% being Christian. Please pray with me that this trip will go well - and that we will be able to connect people to the NAMB (North American Mission Board) missionaries there and their church plant. As always, I never know what the mission trip will hold in store for us - but God is in control, and I will keep y'all updated! Please pray for the preparations and keep the missionaries who are already there in your prayers. If you would like to support financially - I have sent out letters that you should be getting within the next week. If you do not get one of these and would like one, please let me know.

Here in Louisville

So a small update on where I am -- I am about 10 classes away from graduation (about a year) - but I will be remaining in Louisville for a few more years to complete a Master of Divinity at the Billy Graham of School of Missions at Southern Seminary. The IMB (International Mission Board) has changed their requirements for those seeking to be sent out as career missionaries - to include graduate hours. I will be completing most of this in Louisville - but (Lord willing) should be moving overseas in about 4 years. I will be overseas for about 2, will come back for about 6 months, and then - (Lord willing) - will be appointed as an official missionary and go out long term. My parents have helped me out financially in the past - but this will stop once I graduate. Please be in prayer that God will provide the funds and the patience necessary to achieve one more degree.

Ministry wise - I have been volunteering my time at a homeless shelter in downtown Louisville (Louisville Rescue mission (formally known as Jeff Street Baptist Center). I've been working at a day shelter for women at least one a day week - providing food, showers, laundry, and love. Please pray for these women - they live very hard lives... and seem quite confused as to who God is. I've also met two people at a local coffee shop - who I was able to witness too. Pray for them - and for me or whoever finds themselves in a conversation with them next - that focuses on the Gospel. Pray they may come to faith.

I've finally got an email subscription list up and going - if you would like to be added to that list please email me at emilyonmission@gmail.com. I've got a bit more on it than I do with this blog post -- sort of a recap of the last few trips. Usually it will be a little different, but not much. So if you'd like to get an email instead of checking this blog -- that would be the way to do it if you haven't already subscribed to this blog via email.

Thank you! :)

Mementos & Struggles

So it's been about four months since I last posted, meaning about five? months post Brazil trip numero three. I still miss Brazil, and long to be there. I've been a little... well, depressed, because I'm stuck in Indiana. Well... okay, I love Indiana. It is where I grew up and was born... and now live right now (in another town) while going to school across the river in Kentucky. However.... I'd rather be smelling that all too familiar smell of Brazil.. that spice... No clue what it is, but it's in the air, the Portuguese... How a glass of ice cold Guarana tastes in that HOT equatorial sun, and most importantly, building relationships with Brazilians there as we share the Gospel with them.

And yet... here I sit on my bed, with my cat... in a small town in Indiana -- at about two am. I hate the mundane... although, mission work does get pretty mundane (something I learned in Niger). It's freeing to be able to jump in a car, boat, train, plane and just... go somewhere. I love traveling, and I never pass up an opportunity to do so. I'm going though boxes of things in attempt to get rid of some piles of random junk before my grandparents visit me (and see my apartment for the first time) on Saturday.... and there's a lot of junk I'm not sure why I kept, but then there's a small assortment of stuff that brings some memories. For example, I found all my missions journals. Every time I go on a trip, I keep... or try to keep a journal of exactly what happened on the trip. Usually I don't finish writing everything down.... and it lasts about 3 or 4 days, if that. My journal from Niger was about 4 pages of actual journaling, and about 6 or 7 of learning-Zarma notes.

However, the stuff I do actually write, it's fun to look back on. I found my Journal from that first trip, back in August of '06. So crazy to think that this all started eight years ago. The first day I was there, I wrote, "If this is what God has planned for me in the future, then it sure is hot. Thank goodness for a/c in the bedrooms. I don't really have a clue what I'm doing here, but I'm sure God has sent me here for a reason. So tired, so nervous, so excited. My heart is burning with the Holy Spirit."

... lol, "it sure is hot". Yeah, it is. I love that statement. Which, by the way, not all bedrooms have a/c... and I didn't know that. The river was quite an experience that year. I actually adjusted to the heat, and then froze to death in the a/c. I remember hating going to the forth of July parade because it was just too hot... and I was in Brazil close to the equator. Only God can bring a fourteen year old and put her on the Amazon.

And then I found my second Brazil journal, as well as my Niger journal. 10 years ago I never would've guessed that God would've put me here... in school, on my way to be overseas full time. I sit here knowing that this may be my first and only apartment here in the states... at least until I retire.... although I wouldn't put retiring out of country out of the picture.

I also found a little thing from a year ago that my ex-fiance made me. It reminded me that a missional lifestyle has a cost... and it's not a little one. I'll be frank with y'all, I'm struggling with it. Last week, we had some Wycliffe reps come in and talk to the class. A student asked what the biggest struggle of being overseas would be... and I've already experienced all of the struggles commonly faced -- and I'm sure there will be a lot more. When I got on the plane to Africa last year, I said goodbye to a man I loved... for the last time... because when I came back, he was not the same man. People telling me to stay home? Happens... a lot. I can give a long list of people not understanding things that are constantly on my mind... which means I have to constantly explain myself, or I get very odd looks. When around missionary friends? It's a big comfort.... someone FINALLY gets it.

Being a missionary, even when your surrounded by people, is honestly a bit lonely. I hate it... and I think on Africa and this last Brazil trip... and the struggles I'll have daily. How I'll want to come home, but I know there's no going back. How I know if I go home, I'll just want to come back to where ever it is I am. I have to learn to be content in where I am, but at the same time, here I have to keep an international eye open. Some normal things people get into... I might not for that reason. Items that I'm going though? I'll probably throw out a lot more because I'll be thinking of what I'll have to pack up and store when I leave... I want it manageable. Which, by the way, it blows my mind how many pots and pans I have.... people gave them to me, so I won't give them away -- but one large pot and one large pan was quite enough. lol. I'm just one person.

So, I guess what I'm trying so say is that I've kinda hit one of those hard spots. I want to be overseas. Yet, I want to be home.... It's kind of a clash, and hard to explain. My brain knows the hardships coming up, and wants to run. My heart knows where it belongs, and wants to go. My heart aches for all those who don't know about Christ... here, overseas.. everywhere. It's a hard burden... but one I cannot simply 'look away' from. Doesn't work that way.

Living off campus also poses new challenges... I'm not as focused... there's no community -- and those that I meet close to home are usually lost. I'm usually only on campus for classes... and then I run to work or the next appointment. I'm so busy I feel like I never slow down to have relationships with anyone.... and while that needs to change, I'm not really sure how to change it. I've got to pay the bills, and do the homework.

At home (as in btown)? Always crazy... and my car (the yellow one was in a wreck and was totaled) is kinda sketchy. It looks nice... but has issues. This makes me a little hesitant to actually drive anywhere - except locally.

Christ is worth everything... and I surrendered a long time ago. I'll do whatever it takes, but goodness, it's hard. While I know it's hard, I know seeing every Tribe, Tongue, and Nation worshiping God -- will be worth it -- and in the same thought, I know that it's all God - and none of me. People can be deaf to Gospel and not hear a word of it when we speak.... but God opens ears. God is sovereign over all things. His sheep hear his voice.

But these middle times? While I know I'll look back on them one day and reminisce on my college days - and might think that they were way easier than whatever I'm going though at the time -- this is hard. Hopefully I'll look back and think, well, I made it. I'm here. Although, right now I have to be careful to think just getting there is my only goal... because it's not. There's much more than just getting there.... and it's more than just going... it's all about Christ - and worshiping Him, giving Him all the glory.

I'm looking at some new ministry opportunities here... possibly tutoring refugees once I get my work situation figured out. (I have an interview today... although I'm not really feeling I want the job I applied for now... I got some counter offers.) Also, I'm hoping to go to Niger in April... and hopefully back to Brazil sometime this next summer... however, I've got to see about doing the arranging -- and hopefully organizing some sort of trip. I want to go back to Santarem....

I wrote an ethnography on Brazil (a whole 53 pages!).... it was something. Tugged at my heartstrings, ready to go back.

Prayers & Love,

Emily