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

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