Fall Time, Job, Church, and Good News Club!

The weather has turned to fall time. It's getting colder and the trees are so colorful. It's nice to go for walks when it's not raining. In the last 6 weeks a lot has happened, I have been so busy, but so many exciting things are happening.

I found a job here in Jackson, a little more than a mile away. I work at an adult care home, as a caretaker. I am currently working about 13 hours a week. So far I am really enjoying my job, it gives me the opportunity to serve people. It has been a good way to make connections outside of the school and it is a good non classroom learning experience. Please pray for this opportunity to witness to and disciple fellow coworkers and residences.

I chose the church I'll be a part of while I'm here, it is the first one that I went to that I mentioned in my last blog. A few of us from the school often carpool with a family in the area, then they usually have us over to their house after church. I also go to a mid week prayer time at this families house. The church and this family are already very dear to me and they have been a blessing in my life as they are so loving and hospitable.

Also I'll be the main teacher at a Good News Club here in Jackson. I have a few girls from school helping me, they are all new to GNC. We start club on the 28^th, please be praying for our team and the kids.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support.

Josephine

Hello from Michigan

I made it to Michigan and started classes last week. I live on the third floor of this old school building that I hope to call home for the next two years. I share my dorm room with two other girls. I'm on the top bunk, I had a feeling I would be. I'm writing to you from my very own desk in our room. The weather is hot and humid, I'm enjoying it now while I can before the winter comes. The hardest rule for me to follow is wearing shoes in the hallways.

My classes this semester are The Love of God, Bibliology, Biblical Foundations, Pentateuch, Old Testament History, Proverbs, Hermeneutics, Evangelism in a Postmodern World, and History of Doctrine & Practice. I am in the freshman class this semester, there are around 65 students in my class. In addition to classes I also have student work program, which means for about three hours a week I take care of a job here at the school. My job is cleaning the Freshman classroom. I'll also be assigned weeks that I will be on kitchen crew, cleaning up after meals.

On Sunday I went to a church up in Lansing about 45min drive away. There are many things I enjoyed about the church, but I plan to look at some closer churches before I decide. Please pray for this decision as I visit some different churches in the next couple weeks.

I have been looking for a job here as I only have money for the first semester right now. I very much dislike looking for a job. It stresses me out, but I know God will provide for what He wants me to do. As I continue to pray and search for a job I am so thankful for those of you who have supported me financially for school and continue to do so. I am so blessed to be here and I choose to be faithful to what God has given me for right now because my future is in His hands and not mine to worry over. Please pray I will be faithful with this time I have and for Gods provision for future expenses.

I am thankful for all your prayers as I make this transition to school.

Josephine

My feet are dirty but my spirit is happy

The summer is coming to a close. Thank you for all your prayers and finance support. It's been a busy and difficult summer, but my spirit was overjoyed to see the work being done. God has been good and faithful through these Summer months to work through me and in me. I am amazed at His loving kindness for His people and His deep longing for the lost to know Him. I have written a few highlights so you may praise God for the work He has done.

5-day clubs and fair outreach made up a good part of my Summer. I loved getting to know the children, and was blessed with seeing a glimpse of Gods unfailing love for each one. At a fair outreach there was a little girl who made a decision to believe in Jesus as her savior. I could see the Holy Spirit working in her life immediately as she was eager to read her new Bible. Another little girl at a 5-day club who was only 5 years old, would came back to counseling every day. She knew she needed what we were sharing but didn't understand yet. Each day of club she understood a little bit more, by the last day she understood the whole gospel and her faith was in Jesus to save her. 

While I was doing a club at Good News Across America in Portland, I had the opportunity to talk with a mother of some children at our club. It was our last day of club and they had just happened to come to the park we were at. I talked with the mother through the whole club time. As I shared the gospel with her, it was like she was seeing for the first time. I could see the Holy Spirit working in her heart, right then she believed on Jesus as her savior. Then as my new sister in Christ we began to share our lives with each other. I told her my testimony and she shared with me much of her past, even things she had never told anyone before. She told me about her grandmothers bible that she had sitting at the head of her bed at home, she had never read it but now she was excited to open it and learn more about her savior. I was so blessed to be a part of this woman's journey to Christ, I was overjoyed to see the Holy Spirit at work.

I was honored to know each person I met this Summer, many that were very difficult to leave. This summer God made me feel and look right into the depths of my loneliness. It has been a difficult summer not having anything that stayed constant except God alone. With this came great joy in leaning into Christ for my comfort, and guidance. I belong to Jesus, He paid for me with His blood on the cross. I have made a choice to follow Him, especially when times are hard. When I choose to look at circumstances or feelings, and say God is good and I choose to follow His will for my life. There in the center of God's will for my life I find desires fulfilled that I didn't even know about. If I truly believe in eternity, and that I serve a good God, why would I not give every part of me for His kingdoms cause.

On the 23^rd of August I will be flying to Michigan to start school at New Tribes Bible institute. $3100 was given to my school tuition, thank you to those who gave and have been praying, God has been faithful to provide. Please continue to pray for me as I start this new journey. Pray that I will be able to find a job at school. Please pray for me to use my time wisely as I learn to juggle school, ministry, and work. I have noticed some distractions that may come as I start school, please pray for me to be focused and able to learn.

-Josephine

“By your loyal love you will lead the people whom you have redeemed” - Exodus 15:13a (NET)

God is Faithful

Currently my missions training fund for school is at $1,690. Praise God for His faithfulness to provide. My first tuition payment of $2,480 is due August 1^st. It's exciting to see Fall semester getting closer and finances beginning to line up. Please continue to pray for upcoming school financial needs, and the details as I start school in less than two months.

Many times God has told me to not worry about the financial side of what He tells me to do. Take the step in obedience and trust in God's faithfulness. While I was preparing for camp a few weeks back I was informed of financial needs for summer ministry that didn't seem to be met yet. At first I took it personally, and was upset with the emotions being forced upon me. But then I looked to God calling out to Him, knowing in my own strength these emotions would get the better of me. As I read through the verses I was memorizing for camp I asked God to use His simple truth to speak into my life. The last verse I had heard many times, it was Hebrews 13:5b “I will never leave you nor forsake you” curious of the context I read starting at the beginning of verse 5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.” As I read this verse it soaked deep to the heart of the matter. I can be content with what God has given now and confident that He will provide for tomorrow. Don't get me wrong I will ask God for what I need and be faithful to the work He leads me in, but at the end of the day I can be content knowing that what I have is what God planned. I will not love the stability that money brings, I will choose to love my God and trust in His never ending faithfulness.

On another note Christian Youth in Action camp went well, God continued to challenge my faith. I have a few gems from camp, I'm just not ready to share yet.

Upcoming, I will be going to Good News Across America in Portland July 14-26. I would appreciate your prayers in this adventure. We already know of one group in Portland who met to organize opposition to Good News Across America.

Josephine

Summer Teaching Materials

A brief description of GNAA

http://www.cefonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=779:gnaa-home-page&catid=155:gnaa-articles&Itemid=100307

A prayer guide for GNAA

http://publ.com/BLOwOZe#1

How Could I Not Go

August 23^rd I'll be catching a flight to Michigan. I'll be attending New Tribes Bible Institute, I can hardly believe it's happening because three years ago I told myself I couldn't. I ignored the Holy Spirits nudges to look into the school, I looked into many other missions possibilities but refused to even look at New Tribes. Tribal Missions, the most unreached, the conviction and joy sprung up in my heart at the thought, but I blamed those thoughts and feelings on a passionate missions teacher. I told myself it's not possible for me, no way could I, just look at me overweight, unfit, no discipline, way too shy, and I love some good old American creature comforts. Some things have changed in three years, but some days, okay most, I just want to be comfortable or I forget how big and great God is. Recently I've been feeling doubtful about my choices to go to NTBI so I asked God to remind me why I'm going, and to show me that it really is His Will for my life. Right then two verses in my bible study that day convicted me, with Gods love and desire for all to know Him. But it didn't end there, one thing after another God spoke to every part of me, complete with tears at a coffee shop. At a bible study the teacher said “Why don't we want to go further for the Lord?”. Those words opened the floodgates of memory in me.

Tears at a coffee shop

Just a year ago I was working with youth at a family camp for the summer, God used that summer to once again push me toward New Tribes as the next step. Starting out that summer I didn't know what was next, I wasn't sure where I would go or what I would do when that summer ended. It came to my mind often, but I had clearly been led to work there for the summer so I knew in Gods timing I would know where to go next. I often thought about the trip to Haiti I look earlier that year, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with an ordinary life and I didn't want to be.

What would the perfect life look like in 20 years? What car would you drive? What kind of house? How many kids? What will matter when you look back at that life in 20 years? Will the free time and the house really be what was worth it? Perhaps the money you made? What do you really want your next 20 years to look like? Those where the questions I pondered every week last summer as a fellow worker presented a lesson to the kids about what a life for Christ might look like. I couldn’t ignore it every week he would ask the kids what their perfect life would look like in 20 years? It made me think about the future in a new light. I was at a cross roads and planned on working somewhere for a while, it looked a lot like wasting time because I didn't expect much out of life and I wanted to stay comfortable. But would I really care about how comfortable I was looking back on that time? The unreached, lost people that don't know what Jesus did for them, what about them? Do you really expect someone else to go? Why not you? It's not about you. But how cliche to commit your life to missions at a summer camp.

I began to dream of a people, my brothers, my sisters, lost. Would I not seek out to find my own flesh and blood brother or sister on this earth. What if it was my spiritual brother or sister and they are lost from my eternal family. How could I not give up every comfort here to have them for eternity. If I really believe in God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, everything spoken of in this book the Bible. Why wouldn't I give up everything on this earth for the things that matter in my eternal home? Why would I let creature comforts ever have a say in my choices, when Jesus told us this isn't our home, we will face persecution, it won't be easy, drop your nets, come follow me, I will make you fishers of men. Really, go make disciples of all nations, and for goodness sake stop being afraid, the great I Am is with you.

That is the really short version, there is so much more I could say, but those are the parts of the story I'll leave you with for now. Please continue to pray for me and the work God already has planned. Please pray for upcoming school expenses to be provided for, as of April 20^th $880 has come into my scholarship account, approximately $4,480 is what I will need for my first semester. Also pray for finances for CEF here in Lewis County, for the funds to come in for fair, camp and other summer expenses.

A scholarship has been set up with my church for those of you who would like to help financially with my missions training. Gifts can be sent to Faith Community Bible Church / 3648 F Street / Bremerton WA 98312. Gifts will be tax deductible. Please make checks out to Faith Community Bible Church and add a note designating the gift is for “Mission Training: Josephine”.

Josephine

Pre-camp Spirit

Once a week we have dinner with an older lady, it is a highlight to my week. She has been dear to my heart since the moment I met her. We joke like old friends and the realness and love about her touch my heart. She has a little dog named Spirit and he adores me, probably because I give him attention the minute I walk in the door.

Spirit

The last couple weeks I've been sick, but I am slowly getting better. I've been doing quite a lot of inventory of the teaching materials in the office, my attention to detail and relentless spirit is perfect for the job, plus I get to see all the old stuff that's been hidden away for years.

Some of the teaching materials

This weekend we have pre-camp, I'm excited about this because I'll get to meet some of the teens who will be at camp and start to form those friendships. I remember when I went to camp as a teen back in 2007 & 2008, my first time at camp I jumped right in. I wanted to teach the story, I was horrid at it and I knew it but that was why I was there. I'd never felt the Holy Spirit so strongly guide me to a place and He gave me the courage to follow through every step of the way, doing the hardest things for such a shy home school kid to do. I had the coolest team coaching me along, and our team leader was full of hope and excitement for how God would use us. I remember her talking to me one day at camp about my hopes and dreams for the future, she encouraged me to go into full time missions with the plans I had, it was the first time I remember thinking of my future and full time missions in the same thought. The teens at camp are there for many different reasons, some just because their parents sent them. But whatever the motivation to come, God's Word is opened and taught from, and camp is full of Christians passionate about God, many who have been in full time ministry their whole lives. Teens are learning how to share the Gospel, and to teach God's word. This atmosphere not only teaches skills but produces growth and inspires passion.

Pre-camp will be May 30^th and 31^st , it will mainly be a lot of classroom time. Please pray for the teens to have focus and understanding, that they would be encouraged and know better how to prepare for camp. Pray for the leaders that will be teaching that they would be well prepared and speak clearly with confidence. 

Josephine

Jo. Read Your Bible.

A good friend, who I spent much of my free time with last summer, would commonly tell me to read my Bible. It was the best advice I received the whole summer. Not some disciplined this is my quiet time everyday, but special time with God just because I can, because I have that freedom. This week those words “Jo, read your Bible” echoed in my mind several times, I took the hint and read more when I had the time, but God was preparing my heart for a time later in the week that I didn't know about yet. I had the opportunity to go to a teacher training in another county and afterword go to lunch with the group. It was so good to hear how God has been using each one to share the Gospel with the children and in some cases the parents. I visited a church on Sunday that I hadn't been to before, there was a breakfast for mothers day which gave me a chance to talk with some different people. A highlight was talking with an older couple who had served with New Tribes Mission for 10 years in Thailand. Wednesday I went to bible study in the morning then got lost trying to find the gospel mission for lunch, I found out later I had the wrong address. Once I gave up on finding the place I went to where I would have club that afternoon, just to make sure I could find it. After finding the school I kept driving down the road hoping to find a spot I could stop and spend my time before club began. Then I remember “read your Bible”, “yes” I thought “I'll stop at a park, and I can read my bible.” I prayed I would find a quiet place to stop. Just down the road I found a church, yes that was the place, I stopped and found some shade under a tree. This was the time God had been preparing my heart to find this week to spend some special time with just Him. The silence was a blessing, God used the time to refresh me, leaving behind all the dramas of life, and input from those around me. This time was for just us, His word and the Holy Spirit to speak into my life without distraction, without fears, resting in His presence.

Thank you for your prayers this week. Every time drama builds, God has been reminding me of His truths.

Please pray for the last few weeks of the good news club, for the kids that the truths they have been learning would affect their lives.

Josephine

Summer Sea

This Summer I am working in Lewis county with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). The season will be full of 5-day clubs, fair outreach, Christian Youth In Action (CYIA), Good News Across America (GNAA) and some odd jobs here and there. Just in the first week here I've met so many new people at church activities and around town. Soon after arriving, I was asked to teach at a club the next day - complete with the warning this club has a rowdy bunch. I got to co-lead the club with a very sweet lady who so nicely stepped in to help out, as the normal club leader couldn't make it. The club went well and was a good reminder to be ready, willing and flexible in ministry. It looks like I'll get to help out at this club for two or three more weeks until school ends. Organizing some office stuff was the next job. I got the room with all the boxes and stuff to organize and put on shelves. It all got put away and ready just in time for the state board to meet in that room.

Before

After

As this Summer ministry takes place, I want to have a heart willing to be used by God - to have my focus on Christ as everything happens. My most common prayer request at this point in my life has been for me to focus on Christ. It sounds very "Christianese," but let me show you what I see behind that simple phrase. Matthew 14:22-33 is the story where Jesus walks on the water. When I read this passage I thought I wouldn’t have been as fast to step out on the water as Peter was. I probably would have been holding on to the boat, stepping with one foot to see if it's safe. But looking into Jesus eyes, He captivates the soul, and I am inclined to walk in the path He has for me. As soon as my eyes stray and I see my inabilities or am overwhelmed by life, I begin to sink like Peter. When my confidence is in God I can face anything, but when I start to look at myself I get insecure and overwhelmed. The words "you're useless" echo in my head and I wonder why God would choose me when so many others would not. Just like in Peter's case, Jesus will reach out and pull me up. My God does not abandon me, but He gives me His grace to handle everything that comes my way.

Please pray for me this summer to keep my focus on Christ.

-Josephine

First Blog

The time has come to write a blog. I'm nervous about the idea of speaking out to the internet world - I'm not really sure who will read, who might be offended, or simply not like me. I feel cliche having a blog, and I have no confidence in my writing abilities.

I do like to ramble on though. I hope it will be a good way to keep you up to date. Come read as much or as little as you like. I plan to share some of my life with you. I hope to make you laugh, make you think, and perhaps, at times, make you cry. I want to be real with you. My desire is that my life would point you back to Jesus - He is my savior and source of hope. Even in my worst failures His love for me endures.

Please keep me in your prayers,

Josephine