Courage to Continue

In less than a month I'll be done with this semester at school. I'm coming home to the west coast for my Christmas break. As I have less than a year left here I've been thinking a lot about upcoming plans. I hope to be going to New Tribes Missions Training Center (MTC) in Missouri next. MTC is a 2½ year training program for missionaries headed to be a part of a church planting team. The training focuses on church planting, Christian living, along with culture and language acquisition. From there I will then decide on the place to go and start raising support to go.

Thinking of all the things that could stop me from going to the missions field or even just everything that will need to come together to finally get there can be overwhelming. This then leads my mind to the difficulties of missions on the field in a different culture. I know people way more qualified. What would make me have the courage to go? It's not my abilities that give me courage, it's the one who is with me. Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came up and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”

I can walk forward in faith not because of who I am but because of who is with me. This week as I've had the future on my mind one of the most encouraging verses for me has been 2Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.” 

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.

Josephine

We got our first snow of the season today.

One of my new friends :)

Summer is Here

A year of school has just flown by and now here I am back in summertime again. I have chosen to stay here in Michigan for the summer at my current job, at which I am now working full time. I have been considering not working during this upcoming fall semester at school because I have heard it is one of the more difficult semesters and I also want to take full advantage of the classes offered, I am signed up for 18.6 credits for the Fall. Also I have been considering taking on a middle school age Sunday school class for this next year with some other New Tribes students. Please pray for me in making these choices concerning this next semester. I have plans to take a trip back to the west coast in August before school starts. I look forward to seeing all of you out there.

 

As I look back on this year of school I have observed that God has deeply impacted my heart and mind. I am pleased to say that those of my home church are responsible for many of the seeds planted that I now see growing in my life. The theme of New Tribes Bible Institute is “where Bible education and missions are one” knowing this I expected my heart for missions to grow, and don't get me wrong it has grown, but in a way I did not expect. I have seen great value and opportunity in ministry in our own country and in our own churches. Both the ministry here and the ministry to those in places that have much less or no opportunity to hear the Gospel are important and a part of what God is doing in the world. Both are needed and we should be working together as the body of Christ to see results.

As we studied the book of first Corinthians to finish out our school year here, I appreciated the picture of the body of Christ, and the importance and need for each person, it helped to complete this view I have of the importance of every christian to be involved. I have met several people with a strong passion that Christians should either be on the mission field to the unreached or supporting it. I agree with this and I would highly encourage you to be involved in supporting missions to the unreached in some way, but don't let it end there. I remember my first summer working with Child Evangelism Fellowship, the reason I did it was because I knew God wanted me to share the Gospel and CEF was doing that and they could train me to do the same. The reason I am so passionate for missions to the unreached is because I believe it is what God is doing in the world and I want to join Him in that.

So, why am I sharing this with you, because I want to encourage you to continue to or begin to seek God in Scripture. I want you to view this world through what He has said, discover what God is doing and join Him. As I start out this Summer, I want to begin by challenging you my friends, how are you involved in what God is doing? He has a place for you in the work He is doing, but it is your choice whether or not you will join Him. 

“Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more” -John Piper Let the Nations Be Glad

Wrapping Up Fall Semester

 

     It's unfortunate that I haven't been able to write more updates this last semester. It has been a busy semester, and I'm hoping this upcoming semester will be less crazy.

     The GNC here went well, two girls came who don't attend church and have strong Catholic influence. One had previously accepted Jesus as her savior and the other did so during club. They were both eager to learn more, they struggled with understanding that they don't need their own works to be saved. By the last day of club they could tell me the wordless book story and quote three key gospel verses. Please pray for these dear girls as there probably won't be a GNC in that school this Spring. Unfortunately I won't be doing GNC this Spring because of the time consuming aspect of it.

      I stayed in Jackson for most of Christmas break. I have been working for most of my time over break, it has been good to spend a lot more time with the residences of the nursing home I work at. In this line of work I see and feel grief that is much easier to avoid in life elsewhere. Death, even when expected, is not the way this world was meant to be. This life is short and we will fade away faster than we think. My job has been good for my perspective of life – I look at people and what is important in a more eternal mindset than I ever have before.

      School has been challenging in some ways and familiar in other ways. Going through the Old Testament I have come to a deeper understanding of God's wrath and His hatred of sin. It was difficult for me to see this part of God's character, it made me feel deceived and made me wonder what I really do understand about God. Seeing this made God's mercy and compassion so much greater in beauty and strength. It still boggles my mind to think of how God is so complete in his character and beyond my understanding.

      My initial payment for Spring semester has been covered, praise God for His faithfulness to provide. Thank you to all of you supporting me financially and in prayer – I appreciate seeing the body of Christ being fully involved in my missions training. Please continue to pray for me as God prepares me for the work He has prepared for me to do.

      Some of you have asked about helping with my school payments. A scholarship is 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