Back in the groove...

The past four days i have been looking for the time to update this blog, i've even had the tab open for that long! Last night i finally gave up, closed the tab and thought i would get to it maybe this weekend. But lone behold..i only had one email in my inbox this morning - so i am taking advantage of the few extra minutes!



After three weeks in Ohio raising this next years budget, visiting with family and enjoying some time off i am now ready to get back to the work that needs to be done. My three weeks in Ohio was a precious time. I was able to spend much needed time with family and friends. I was also able to go visit and share at One Hope Community Church and Miamisburg Assembly of God, two of my like family, partnering churches. It was an amazing time to celebrate all God has done in the past two years and gear up for what's coming up next.

In the next year as a missionary with OneHope i am working with the new Hope for Kids project that has been developed with Kids Evangelism Explosion. As i shared about this amazing ministry that is being developed we talked about the importance kids have in God's eyes. What an asset they can be to sharing the Gospel if we would just equip them to do so! When Jesus fed the 5,000 it was a small boy that gave of his bread and fish. Think of the faith, willingness and obedience it took for that boy to give of his family's livelihood! The disciples didn't see the potential in what the boy had to offer for they even said "what is this among so many?" But we are able to see the amazing way God used what that child had to offer.

It's time we start believing in our children. Equip them to share the Gospel, when a child knows something is true they are always eager to share it. We are told to have child like faith...so why don't we equip our children to share theirs. They are capable, willing and such a powerful tool in God's tool belt. They can change the world...its time for us to let them.

In the next five years this OneHope/Evangelism Explosion partnership is going to teaching 20 million kids how to share their faith. Each child will be challenged to share with 10 of their friends. In the next 5 years at least 200 million people will be effected by kids...think about that...its powerful!

Until next time...believe in a child...

Sari Day...

I went into town on Friday. It was the day before the Dewali festival (Festival of Lights) that the Hindus were celebrating and town was buzzing. Purchasing fireworks, buying food and there was a beautiful display of colors. The day before Dawali Day is Sari day when all the women wear their saris. They were beautiful, flowing with color.. yet something lacked in their eyes. Hope...

The hustle and bustle of a festival is only an excitement temporarily, once it is over there is an emptiness that remains. Not knowing the One who can give them an everlasting light for them to carry in their lives. After the lights are turned off, fireworks have finished and the family has returned to their homes -- they remain in darkness...

How many people have celebrated Dawali in our own communities? How many exchange students in the universities a few miles down the road, don't know the true Light? What have we done to reach them?

Until next time...share your light with someone who doesn't know...

Kana, Kana!

Kana...Kana..Eat...Eat! Besides "Naka" which means "thank you" these are the first Fijian words that i learned. After breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and evening tea...the words Kana...KANA was the last thing i could think about doing. The food is great, but this American girl couldn't eat anything else!!

So my first few days of adjustment have been going well. Meeting new people, learning more about Fiji, learning some of the Fijian words, and realizing that the Fiji we see in the brochures is really on the coast - with the big resorts, hotels, and all the fancy houses isn't reality. Don't get me wrong Fiji is a beautiful place is this is how we see most of Fiji in this first picture. But behind the glitz and the glam there are regular people, with regular problems. There are people who struggle to feed their family, have a safe place to live and those who have never heard of Jesus before.

Much to my surprise there is a very large Indian population in Fiji. Its like 45% Indian and 55% Fijian. You can see the major influence the Indians have on the culture here. All the beautiful colors, businesses, Hinduism and all of Fiji even celebrates an Indian holiday called Dawali. Whether they are Fijian or Hindu or a tourist from another far away country...they all need to hear about Jesus.

Fiji is a beautiful country made up of many different dynamics, cultures and people. But these different things are what make up this beautiful country. Whether it is the glam you see in the photo above or the real Fiji you see in this picture i took outside my back door i am excited about the next few weeks. Equipping people to share Christ with others in their own countries, learning more about Evangelism Explosion and working on the OneHope/Evangelism Explosion partnership...it will be a few weeks of unknown adventure.

So until next time...Kana...KANA...

Packing List...

The time is nearing and i have to keep reminding myself that i need to start packing and getting ready for Fiji. Besides the dreadful 12 layover i have in LA on Sunday afternoon i am very excited about my trip. As i have been thinking about packing, what to take, what the weather will be like, what kind of meetings i will be a part of, the amount of shampoo and conditioner i need to take...i realized that i haven't packed for a trip longer than 10 days since i was in Madagascar last year! YIKES! After being gone for a week here and there for the past 9 months, to pack for a month is taking a lot of energy. I haven't thought about what i am going to pack like this since i fist started this crazy adventure with OneHope!


Desperate times call for desperate measures...and dare i say it but i have thought about writing a....PACKING LIST! Now that i have written it and said it out loud i know the rest of my fellow missionaries will probably shudder and tell me i need to grow up and become a "real" missionary!

May the rat race of packing, moving, tying all the loose strings, completing projects, starting new ones and preparing for the next month begin. This time next week packing will be the least of my worries, but unpacking, starting projects, meeting new people, getting ready for the conference and trying to answer the questions that i have no idea how to answer. God give me grace and wisdom, for it is only through You that i can do all things!

I look forward to coming back and sharing all the great stories and pictures of my time in Fiji. Pray for me as i travel and work in Fiji for the next month. I will return on November 6th.

Until next time...what's on your packing list...

Good Bye Summer...

Oh how time flies! It seems like summer just began and now we have seen the last of sweet corn, watermelon and outdoor swimming pools. This summer was full of amazing 10 day teams and precious time with my family and friends. I watched three friends get married, one graduate, had a crazy pool and party day with the family, went to the Dixie Stampede and my niece Faith turn 1 year old.



As the summer came to a close with the GREAT DARKE CO FAIR, me and Dad drove down the van, known as "Ruby" to Florida. It was fun getting to spend almost a whole week just me and my Dad. It was time that i know i will treasure forever and now maybe i can get him to come visit again sometime!



Now that Fall is here and the leaves are changing colors, kids are going back to school (Dalton started Kindergarten), Ian and Grant have birthdays and we have started to look forward to Thanksgiving. I am back in FL, getting back to life as "normal"...well normal as it can get. I've been working in the OneHope office and getting ready to head to Fiji in October.

If you are reading this and you haven't received my most recent Summer newsletter please contact me and let me know, i would love to email it to you!

Until next time...enjoy some corn on the cob and a good 'ol BBQ...

Taking a Picture...

I have been working on my newsletter these past few days, and as i filter through the many pictures i have taken these past 2 1/2 years i am reminded how blessed i am to have this opportunity to meet all these amazing men, women and children all around the world. I also wonder how i would feel if a bunch of crazy people came to visit my village, school and even sometimes homes and took pictures of me. Well when i was in Nicaragua just a month ago we were at a school and for the first time i saw a little girl pulled out her own camera and take pictures of these crazy Americans.

My prayer, that as she snapped those pictures and remembers the day that we were there, even more she remembers the message we shared and the love of Christ she experienced!

Until next time...think about who you are taking a picture of...

Word from Pastor Nate Carter

In the bulletin at my church here in Florida, we were greeted with a word from our Pastor. It definitely spoke words into my own life and i wanted to pass it along to you. I hope you enjoy this little tidbit from Pastor Nate Carter.

"Aren't you glad he didn't redeem you and leave you on your own? If He had saved you and said, "Here's a road map, see you in heaven some day," you would never make it. Listen to this PROMISE, "He leadeth me beside the still waters." Why? To restore you when life is too much. Sometimes we get so busy that we don't take time to read His Word, or talk to Him in prayer, or wait quietly in His presence for the strength we need. As a result, we finish up "running on empty." At times like that He'll make you lie down while He does a work of restoration in you. Remember, He's much more interested in what you ARE to Him, than what you DO for Him.

Listen again, "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness"...right direction for my life. As i look back at the problems and painful situations I've been in, i confess that it was my best thinking that got me there. So i need His guiding, protecting hand in my life every day. How about you? Child of God, your Shepherd knows where the wolves are lurking, where the poison pasture is waiting, or how close you are to the ditch. You don't! So trust Him, follow Him, commit everything to Him, and He will take care of you."

Pastor Nate Carter
Frontline Christian Center
Boca Raton, FL