Mi lukluk, tasol

Mi lukluk, tasol
Get it?

Howdy from Colorado!! I've been here for about a week and a half now. For those of you who do not know where "here" is, I am at Mission Training International. Here they focus on developing and equipping cross-cultural messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for effectiveness, endurance, and personal vitality. These first two weeks have focused a lot on language learning techniques and I can honestly say I have learned so much! From doing phonetics drills where we make all kinds of funny sounds while watching our mouth in a little mirror to using techniques to practice learning some basic phrases or commands in a couple of different languages. I have learned a little Jeh and Vietnamese. It was definitely a unique and very effective way of learning that I will put into action as I continue to learn Thai. It has actually got me MORE excited about learning Thai! We've learned a lot about communication, differences in cultures and meanings, and perspectives, too. I've also had individual coaching sessions and singles lunches which are super awesome. I can't say that I get the option to talk to other singles going through this transition much at all so to have this opportunity is great! I'm looking forward to the last two weeks of training. I was told that we'd shift from being more in our minds to moving more into our hearts. Yay! I'm excited to see where we go from here!
Colorado is beautiful, of course. Plus, the temperatures are so much cooler than being back home in Texas. I've enjoyed taking lots of walks on trails, hiking at the Garden of the Gods, and the big firework display on the 4th where I actually felt chilled! I look forward to spending even more time outdoors during the next few weeks. It's definitely been a blessing to have the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. I've also enjoyed getting to know new folks and listening to their stories. I'm looking forward to continuing to deepen those relationships as we all continue to train and grow together! My table mates for main sessions are usually fellow Texans and future Thailand peeps. It's fun to be surrounded by those connections! Things just continue to get better and better as I find a rhythm and a place here at training. I'm spending more time with others and talking more. We're doing things outside of learning which only helps enhance and deepen those relationships.
In other news, my church's communion rail offering last Sunday was designated to me. Some church friends worked with me to create a little video sharing about my journey to Thailand which was emailed out to the whole church congregation on Saturday. I haven't heard the final offering amount, but whatever it is, I am just blessed to be so loved and supported by my church congregation. Just to have that opportunity in the first place is a huge blessing. I am also blessed that I will be the mission focus of a VBS at the church I grew up in! They have committed to donating their VBS offering to me! I was also blessed that my dad's church voted to donate their VBS offering to me, too. I can't even find words to express how much it means to me to be supported and encouraged by past and current connections, as well as by those I don't know all that well!
For those who really haven't heard much about how I got to where I am now, here's a little bit about that journey: Missions has always held a special place in my heart. I can remember being at GA camps and being so drawn to the missionaries that would come and speak. In high school, I wanted to pursue missions by going to a summer program but was not allowed to. From there, I continued serving locally within the church and LOVED the few trips I got to go on to serve in Mexico. Along the way, all of that kind of got lost in living day to day life as an adult. About four years ago, I got the opportunity to go with some youth to Peru to serve on a short term trip. That trip ignited a flame and the calling re emerged. The next summer I went to Vietnam for one month and Kenya for two weeks. After returning, I knew for sure I was supposed to be serving overseas long term. I partnered with TMS and through working with them found a placement in Thailand. Through partnering with them and attending various required trainings, I've had the opportunity to visit lots of countries. Beyond the ones already mentioned, I've been to Israel, India, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Thailand. The thing I love most about visiting all of these countries is the people. I love meeting new people, learning about them and their culture, and getting to share the love of Christ with them! Love is love in any language so where I can't fully communicate in words, love bridges the gap. I've experience it time and time again in every country I've visited! If you have questions, feel free to ask me. I love sharing my heart with others!

Garden of the Gods

First 4th in the US in 4 years!

Using new learning techniques to learn some Vietnamese

I was reading a book the other day and I came across this paragraph: "But beneath every secondary motive was a primary motive: He (Jesus) loved God, and he Loved to please him. Nothing he ever wanted or felt or did compromised the passion that ruled in his soul. He loved God with all his being. His idea of deep pleasure, of "soul joy," had nothing whatsoever to do with prestige or recognition or accomplishments or success or approval from others or even intimacy with friends. He found his deepest satisfaction in God. His identity was centered in his Father." My thoughts are, What would life look like if we lived like that?! What differences would that make in your priorities, your relationships, or your standing within the community? What passions rule in your soul? How many times do you feel like something's missing, that you're just not fully satisfied? Is it because you're looking to the wrong things to satisfy you? I know I experience that. How easy it is to fall into one of those other satisfaction boats. But none of those things every fully satisfy. Let's take an honest look at our life and how we live it and see where we can look to God to fully satisfy our souls. Let's see what things need to change in order to have our identities centered in God.