When I left San Diego on June 17, it was the last time that GMW would be together for 2008. At the airport, as Grace & Wury were dropped me off, Grace got out of the car and demanded, "Wo yao baobao." (I want a hug.) Usually, I'd high five or do something of the like but remembering that I didn't give her a hug to send her off to Argentina last year and also knowing that I wouldn't see her until January 2009, I muttered, "Gei ni baobao," (I will give you a hug.) and hugged her.
It was weird.
The day before, Wury and I rushed back from Resolved, missing out on what sounded like an epic CJ Mahaney sermon and another sermon from John Piper, so that we could spend our last moments with Grace. I made jjajangmyung which we ended up eating with one of our subletters and one of Cesar's coworkers ('cause she needed a place to stay). Not exactly the cozy GMW meal that I had in mind but it didn't bother me too much.
Then we to take those sticky pictures at WOW! pictures. Wury kept on saying that it would be like an exam, to see if I understood what the machine was saying. I couldn't read any of the characters on the screen and it was too noisy to hear what the machine was saying to us. ;o; All I could read was, "Be careful for the curtain!" We didn't know what it meant until a curtain came flying out of the machine a few times. Then it took pictures kind of by random so we didn't have time to pose for them. Still, it was a lot of spontaneous fun. :) Then we decorated the pictures for what seemed like 20 minutes.
It was Berries & Beans next. We sat there, talking and eating. We didn't talk about anything deep or super important. I think that if anything, we were relishing the normalcy of the time that we were spending together. There didn't seem to be a rush to talk about last minute "What are you scared about?" kind of things. It was really relaxed and slow paced.
Then we headed to Wury's and sat in the jacuzzi for a little bit. Then we really started talking. Then we got kicked out by security. D:
Wury came to our place and slept over. I was busy packing so Grace & Wury fell asleep. I was crazy tired from Resolved and from driving. The day had worn me down a bit too. I wish I could say that I looked at Grace & Wury asleep in the living room and prayed or treasured that moment but to be honest, I knocked out. Hahahaha.
It really is weird. I'm so used to seeing these two girls all the time. And to be honest, when I see them, it gives me a lot of relief. Kind of like when you see a familiar face in the crowd, you know? These two ladies have provided so much friendship, love, and care for me and to know that I won't have that during the summer and my time in Japan, Lord willing, is really weird. It helps to think, though, that I have all eternity to spend in perfect fellowship with these ladies. ;)
I don't want this post to sound like a farewell post but at the same time, the reality of the situation's finally starting to sink its teeth into me. Grace is leaving in less than twelve hours. Wury's leaving in a month. Then I'll peace out three weeks after her.
It's going to be difficult. I know that it will be difficult. There's no one that I really know who's going to Japan but for Grace and Wury, they REALLY don't know anyone going with them to their respective countries. They'll be in their countries longer than I will be. Loneliness is a big struggle abroad, I hear, and I know that I'll probably be hit with it-- and I'm praying that Grace and Wury won't.
Now I am at that awkward place where I don't know how to end this entry so I will end it right here. But please pray for us. I think that the reality of studying abroad, of it actually happening now, is making me consider things that I didn't really hit me before. We need prayer desperately!
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Adios.
There are only 15 more hours before I leave. I can't help but think to myself at times, "What are you getting yourself into?" I have longings to just stay. Half a year is a long bit of time. I can just stay at home for the summer, eat mom's food, enjoy the summer, take some time off from school, not worry about money, and just take it easy until school starts in September.
But then I tell myself that life isn't about what's comfortable, even if comfort is what I long for now.
Here are my prayer requests:
1. That I will get involved right away at the church in Chile, Luz al Mundo. That I will submit to the leadership there and be willing to be shepherded by them for the time I'm there without comparing it to Lighthouse.
2. That I will not make excuses to not seek first the kingdom of God, such as I'm too busy, too tired, or using this "special time in my life" to take a break from God.
3. I will get homesick. I will cry-- but that I will find solace in my fellowship with God and that my relationship with God would deepen from this.
4. That I will be a good steward and manager of my money, especially since financial aid is not here yet.
5. I will see this more than a study abroad trip, but rather an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission. That I would be in missions mode to share the Gospel all the time, even if Pastor Patrick isn't here leading the team ; )
6. Good steward of my time and how I spend it, such as being diligent in my studies because I'm there on a STUDENT visa, not a LAZY visa. (Am I funny? : ] )
7. And of course-- travel safety, especially in traveling around Latin America.
But then I tell myself that life isn't about what's comfortable, even if comfort is what I long for now.
Here are my prayer requests:
1. That I will get involved right away at the church in Chile, Luz al Mundo. That I will submit to the leadership there and be willing to be shepherded by them for the time I'm there without comparing it to Lighthouse.
2. That I will not make excuses to not seek first the kingdom of God, such as I'm too busy, too tired, or using this "special time in my life" to take a break from God.
3. I will get homesick. I will cry-- but that I will find solace in my fellowship with God and that my relationship with God would deepen from this.
4. That I will be a good steward and manager of my money, especially since financial aid is not here yet.
5. I will see this more than a study abroad trip, but rather an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission. That I would be in missions mode to share the Gospel all the time, even if Pastor Patrick isn't here leading the team ; )
6. Good steward of my time and how I spend it, such as being diligent in my studies because I'm there on a STUDENT visa, not a LAZY visa. (Am I funny? : ] )
7. And of course-- travel safety, especially in traveling around Latin America.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Look what I found!
A website that is called:Pray for Denmark!
Cool huh!? This man named Bill recently made a post about the church that I will be attending in Copenhagen!
I should be writing my paper right now before I go over to Grace's and Moon's for one of our last get-togethers! :(
Romans 1:16-17 in Danish
Cool huh!? This man named Bill recently made a post about the church that I will be attending in Copenhagen!
"Wednesday, April 23, 2008First International Baptist Church, Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s First International Baptist Church is led by Pastor N. Erik Nielsen, a Dane born in Indonesia who received his training for the ministry primarily in the United States. The church was a relatively young church plant that has now been firmly established as a self-governing congregation. Previously, the host church (historic Kristuskirken, Denmark’s first Baptist congregation) had held English services but had not organized a separate congregation. The two churches continue to share the same facilities. Members and regular attenders of FIBC come from all over Metropolitan Copenhagen and outlying areas. Since last year, there are even families from Sweden in regular attendance at the Sunday services.- posted by Bill @ 4:25 PM (0) comments
On any given Sunday, the FIBC congregation averages around 130, including children. When I attended services two years ago, I found the congregation to be truly international and the fellowship between people from many different countries warm and inviting. The pastor and his family (wife Kim and five handsome boys) are obviously greatly appreciated and Pastor Nielsen’s ministry of the Word is having a salutary effect on many lives. There is an evangelistic emphasis to the ministry and there have been several (nine in recent times) who have taken the first step of obedience in the Christian life through believers' baptism. Capable laypersons assist in various aspects of the ministry. Great emphasis is placed on small mid-week group meetings held in various parts of Copenhagen
Besides his preaching and teaching ministry, Pastor Nielsen is a well-trained musician and pianist. On the occasion of attendance at the services, I noted that he had a large responsibility for the music, making it difficult to care efficiently for other aspects of the service. He told me then that he really needed someone to assist with the music and I have prayed regularly that the Lord would fulfill that need. In the summer that same year, the Lord answered our prayers when a college student intern assisted with the worship and music. More recently a person employed by the United Nations has become the church’s worship coordinator, often leading the worship services. That freed the pastor to start a choir ministry for Christmas and Easter cantatas that ever since has become an outreach event drawing a number of people to attend the church regularly. This year again there the Christmas and Easter services were very well-attended.
As in any international church, there are challenges. Many members and regular attenders are only temporarily employed in Denmark. It is not always easy to find replacements for key leaders when they complete their employment in Denmark and must move on to other countries and assignments.
The host church, the Danish-language Kristuskirken, continues its ministry under the leadership of Pastor Ove Vang Jensen who was called out of retirement to serve while the church is without a pastor. There is a shortage of possible pastoral candidates among the Free churches in general and the Baptist churches in particular so the interim has extended beyond the church’s expectations. In addition to the Danish and English-speaking congregations, Kristuskirken is also host to Spanish-speaking services conducted by Digna Fernandez, and Roumanian services conducted by Julia Bajna.
Webpages: www.kristuskirken.dk/ and www.fibc.dk/. Kristuskirken is located at Baggesensgade, 2200 Copenhagan N.
PRAY for the spiritual health and growth of Kristuskirken and for encouragement through interim Pastor Ove Vang Jensen’s faithful ministry. Pastor Jensen is a former pastor of the church.
PRAY that the Lord will speedily raise up a Danish-speaking pastoral candidate for Kristuskirken to succeed interim Pastor Jensen who was called out of retirement to take up leadership of this important church of the Danish Baptist Union. The interim has now extended to 18 months and the need is most urgent for the calling of a new pastor. Our prayer support is crucial and much appreciated.
PRAISE God for the fruitful outreach events that have come about under Pastor N. Erik Nielsen’s ministry with Copenhagen’s First International Baptist Church and especially for the believers baptisms in recent months.
PRAY, as key leaders and volunteers at FIBC must leave Denmark for other places and assignments, that God will raise up replacements who possess needed spiritual gifting for the health and growth of the church body..
PRAY that FIBC and Kristuskirken’s Danish, Spanish and Roumanian ministries will flourish with renewed emphasis on evangelism and revival.
PRAY for a number of Free churches and Baptist churches in Denmark that are currently without pastors. The available pool of candidates is extremely limited and the need is critical. "
Cool...
"This website is the product of the vision of two American evangelical Christians of Danish ancestry. Bill Hunter is a retired pastor, missionary, and an emeritus professor from Biola University in La Mirada, California, and Brad Haugaard is a writer employed in the computer industry."WHOA, I found more churches! One connected to the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa!
Calvary Chapel in Denmark here I come! I'm so bookmarking this to my Favorites.
In recent years, several Calvary Chapel Bible studies have been started in Denmark. Although there is no official Calvary Chapel church in Denmark yet, we now see the Bible taught chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Please email us (see ”Contact) to hear more about these Bible study ministries.
I should be writing my paper right now before I go over to Grace's and Moon's for one of our last get-togethers! :(
Romans 1:16-17 in Danish
16 Jeg skammer mig nemlig ikke ved evangeliet, som åbenbarer Guds kraft til frelse; det er først forkyndt for jøderne, men nu indbydes alle til at komme med. 17 Evangeliet, de gode nyheder, gør det klart for os, hvordan Gud har gjort alt, for at vi som mennesker kan leve i et ret forhold til ham. Denne »retfærdighed« fra Gud får vi alene del i gennem tro på Kristus. Skriften siger det sådan: »Den retfærdige skal leve af tro.
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