What do you do when all your dreame come true...but they are not what you expected or dreamt?
I am not even sure that question make sense, but it is the place I have found myself over the last few months. Everything I dreamt and prayed about was happening. I was here in London where so many people's dreams come true but there were times I did not feel so happy to be here.
Now don't get me wrong I am super excited to be here. I feel this is where we are supposed to be but there have been some hard and lonely days.
There have been some days where I have wondered if we made the right decision. Days when it seemed like what I wished for was not the reality of what we got. Days when I wondered if we had anything to offer, anything to give. Days when I worry for my girls and wonder if we put our dreams before their needs.
Moving to the mission field ( wherever that may be for you) is never an easy thing. Even if it is all you dreamed and prayed for. When the excitement of being in a new place wears off, your left with a broken heart for people you left behind, for a ministry you left behind. You long for days where things were easy.( where you know your way around, you know the bank system, you know how to pay your bills, etc). You long for recognition of who you are and what you done (no matter how superficial that might seem), you long for a minstry of your own..something to sink your teeth into.
There are some really hard days where you want to pack it up and go home to all that is familiar and where you actually felt like you were at HOME. To a place you felt needed and appreciated and loved ( oh how it looks different after the fact haha)
So what do you do when all your dreams come true, but it is not turning out the way you dreamt it would?
Well I cried a little (or maybe a lot), I sat at home and ate far too much chocolate. I watched numerous episodes of Come Dine with Me, I sat in a room upstairs with my daughter and cried some more.... but I also dug into the word and into God.
As I began to let his word sink in, I decided that nothing was about to change anytime soon, and I just spent time talking to the Lord. Me and the Lord has some pretty full on honest conversations in those early days.
But as I clung to him, he became my home and refuge. I asked him to show me the blessings around me, I asked him to give me new vision, fresh eyes. I asked him to remind me why we chose as a family to do missionary service.
He reminded me. We chose this, becasue we wanted to be uncomfortable, we wanted to be challened, we chose it so our children would experience the world and many different cultures, we chose it because we felt God could use us and we chose this because we wanted to be a part of building Gods kingdom. None of those things had changed... and it seemed we forgot that is what we prayed for. Yet he had not forgotten and he reminded me.
He challenged me about about my desire to be comfortable even here, he challenged and rebuked me for my judgements about people who had served overseas before us, he challenged me about my desire to be known and for my past accomplishments to be known. He challenged me about my selfishness and small world thinking. He made me depend on him and not my surroundings.
Even on days when I felt lost and alone he was with me and together we got through those days. We still get through those days together.
And now 4 months into this journey I see the plans he had for us all along coming into view. We cant see the whole picture yet but we see glimpses of the future. We see that God has not sent us here and then just forgotten about us. I am seeing HIS dreams coming together and starting to form into something beautiful.
So what do you do when all your dreams come true....you give them to God and ask for HIS dreams to come true instead. They are much better than anything you could dream up.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Shopping in London
So shopping in London has been an interesting experience. It has everythng you could possibly want, but not where you might expect or want it to be.
There is no Target or Walmart here and you could say some Supermarkets like Sainsbury or Waitrose are miniture ones of those, but truly they are not the same. There is no one stop shop for it all. Which is fine I guess, except when you want it all in one place.
Case in point...we do public transport and so the least amount of traveling you have to do when shopping with two little ones is best, but that is kind of impossible here. When planning for Alina's bday party I had to go to one shop for the food, another shop for her present, another shop for the plates etc, and a few different shops for the decorations and table items and another place for pictures. It was a bit of pain to say the least.
Now shopping online is a big deal here, but I am a visual person and I need to see it in front of me. There is a store here called Argos which is kind of like Target, execpt there is no store...you go into the "store" read through a huge giant catalog, write down what you want, pay for it and then stand in line while they get it or send it to you.Ahhh I hate it. I want to walk through aisles and see things for myself, touch and feel things. It does save you money though as you don't generally do any impulse shopping.
Also stores here close EARLY. There is only one late night of shopping and that is Thursday nights. Otherwise stores shut at 6pm and supermarkets around 10pm. Supermarkets shut at 4pm on Sundays.
I don't really have a problem with this, as it is nice that people don't have to work all crazy hours and that life is not centered around shopping, but it is a pain on Sunday evenings and you have not planned ahead...which is usually my case.
There are a whole lot of mom and pop type shops here and I do like that. I like that big corporations like walmart have not taken over and families get to have their own business's. It's just a pain for a lazy person like me who doesnt want to have to go to a million places to get what I want.
I can say though that I do not shop like I use to. No heading to target to buy things I don't need. I really have to need something in order for me to make the effort. Also I don't have anywhere to store it and so unless I am going to use it, I am probably not going to get it.
There is no Target or Walmart here and you could say some Supermarkets like Sainsbury or Waitrose are miniture ones of those, but truly they are not the same. There is no one stop shop for it all. Which is fine I guess, except when you want it all in one place.
Case in point...we do public transport and so the least amount of traveling you have to do when shopping with two little ones is best, but that is kind of impossible here. When planning for Alina's bday party I had to go to one shop for the food, another shop for her present, another shop for the plates etc, and a few different shops for the decorations and table items and another place for pictures. It was a bit of pain to say the least.
Now shopping online is a big deal here, but I am a visual person and I need to see it in front of me. There is a store here called Argos which is kind of like Target, execpt there is no store...you go into the "store" read through a huge giant catalog, write down what you want, pay for it and then stand in line while they get it or send it to you.Ahhh I hate it. I want to walk through aisles and see things for myself, touch and feel things. It does save you money though as you don't generally do any impulse shopping.
Also stores here close EARLY. There is only one late night of shopping and that is Thursday nights. Otherwise stores shut at 6pm and supermarkets around 10pm. Supermarkets shut at 4pm on Sundays.
I don't really have a problem with this, as it is nice that people don't have to work all crazy hours and that life is not centered around shopping, but it is a pain on Sunday evenings and you have not planned ahead...which is usually my case.
There are a whole lot of mom and pop type shops here and I do like that. I like that big corporations like walmart have not taken over and families get to have their own business's. It's just a pain for a lazy person like me who doesnt want to have to go to a million places to get what I want.
I can say though that I do not shop like I use to. No heading to target to buy things I don't need. I really have to need something in order for me to make the effort. Also I don't have anywhere to store it and so unless I am going to use it, I am probably not going to get it.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Transportation in London
Transportation in london is both amazing and easily accessible and maddening and frustrating.
One the one hand there are buses and trains to everywhere you need to go and where I live there are bus stops literally right around the corner and just super easy to get to.
Trains and buses are also pretty regular so there is usually not a lot of waiting for them.
I really don't mind catching public transportation and especially like it when I have been able to get in interesting conversations with people.
I like that someone else has to worry about traffic and for the most part I can enjoy a journey hanging out with my family.
I like getting on random buses as they allow me to see the sites around me and I get to explore this great place called London.
On the other hand it seems that every other day the schedule for these buses and trains change and the train that use to take you to your destination does not go there anymore and the next train is 30 mins away....now thats a pain.
And on the weekends you never know what train line will be down and how many buses and trains you will need to catch to get to your destination...another pain..
I am learning the best times to catch public transport with a 3 year old and a stroller...
Mon-Fri....do not get on anything before 9am if you have children...you and your children will be smothered in human flesh and may not make it out alive.
Do not get on a train between 4:00pm-7:00pm...once again your life and the life of your children will be at serious risk.
I do not get on a bus between 3-4pm as school children with attitudes and no sense of manners will crowd the bus and will cuss and yell and scare your children as they have done to Priya many times.
I also know where to sit on a train in order to be closest to the lift when I get out and when to catch a bus because there is no lift at a certain station.
I know to get on a bus one stop after the hospital and not before as the crowds will have left the bus at the hospital stop.
I know that on weekends I should go into the city on a train super early or go on a bus after 10am as the crowds are CRAZY.
I know that when it is dark I catch a train to one station further down the line as there is more light and more people to keep me safe.
I feel exposed to more of the world when taking public transportation because you see and experience a whole lot more of people...both the good and the bad and that can be interesting when you have small children.
I find public transportation both challenging and a blessing. What I love is that it does FORCE me to interact with people...to not just go from my house to the car, to the office, to the car, to my house.
Instead I feel the heat or the cold, I hear the arguments or laughter, I sit with my child and explain why they said such and such and I get to have teaching moments. I get to play a game with priya as we walk to the train and we see a plane and we wonder what country it is going to and she wants them all to be going to some random country. My children make others interact with them instead of staring straight ahead. with a frown...cause really no matter how hard you try you cannot resist Alina saying "ello" over and over until you smile at her.
Its not always pleasant or easy but I believe it's party of the ministry my family has here and I feel we need to keep at it and instead of complaining we need to ask the Lord to bless this small offering of ours.
One the one hand there are buses and trains to everywhere you need to go and where I live there are bus stops literally right around the corner and just super easy to get to.
Trains and buses are also pretty regular so there is usually not a lot of waiting for them.
I really don't mind catching public transportation and especially like it when I have been able to get in interesting conversations with people.
I like that someone else has to worry about traffic and for the most part I can enjoy a journey hanging out with my family.
I like getting on random buses as they allow me to see the sites around me and I get to explore this great place called London.
On the other hand it seems that every other day the schedule for these buses and trains change and the train that use to take you to your destination does not go there anymore and the next train is 30 mins away....now thats a pain.
And on the weekends you never know what train line will be down and how many buses and trains you will need to catch to get to your destination...another pain..
I am learning the best times to catch public transport with a 3 year old and a stroller...
Mon-Fri....do not get on anything before 9am if you have children...you and your children will be smothered in human flesh and may not make it out alive.
Do not get on a train between 4:00pm-7:00pm...once again your life and the life of your children will be at serious risk.
I do not get on a bus between 3-4pm as school children with attitudes and no sense of manners will crowd the bus and will cuss and yell and scare your children as they have done to Priya many times.
I also know where to sit on a train in order to be closest to the lift when I get out and when to catch a bus because there is no lift at a certain station.
I know to get on a bus one stop after the hospital and not before as the crowds will have left the bus at the hospital stop.
I know that on weekends I should go into the city on a train super early or go on a bus after 10am as the crowds are CRAZY.
I know that when it is dark I catch a train to one station further down the line as there is more light and more people to keep me safe.
I feel exposed to more of the world when taking public transportation because you see and experience a whole lot more of people...both the good and the bad and that can be interesting when you have small children.
I find public transportation both challenging and a blessing. What I love is that it does FORCE me to interact with people...to not just go from my house to the car, to the office, to the car, to my house.
Instead I feel the heat or the cold, I hear the arguments or laughter, I sit with my child and explain why they said such and such and I get to have teaching moments. I get to play a game with priya as we walk to the train and we see a plane and we wonder what country it is going to and she wants them all to be going to some random country. My children make others interact with them instead of staring straight ahead. with a frown...cause really no matter how hard you try you cannot resist Alina saying "ello" over and over until you smile at her.
Its not always pleasant or easy but I believe it's party of the ministry my family has here and I feel we need to keep at it and instead of complaining we need to ask the Lord to bless this small offering of ours.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Expectations
Something that I am also learning on a daily basis is to let go of my expectations and to hold things loosely in my hands and heart.
When you move you can naturally have expectations of how things will be when you get there. These expectations can come from past experiences, things you have read or things that have even been discussed with you.
My advice is let go of them all and just come into the situation zero expectations.
Don't expect that things will work the same way as they did where you came from, don't expect the experience will be the same as last time you were there, don't expect for things to just go smoothly.
Have zero expectations and just enjoy what God places in front of you.
Our family has been incredibly blessed here and we are having a wonderful time. But things have not gone as we expected they would. Our first few weeks were a little different, our ministry was a little different, living in London is different when living there with kids instead of being single. Banks are different and The Salvation Army is different (good but different) child care is different. Everything is different.
We as our family have adjusted well and I think that is because we had very few expectations.
Even now as we truly are beginning to settle and figure out our role I have zero expectations and I am holding my dreams and prayers very loosely.
I want to be ready for whatever The Lord has for us and when we have expectations we can miss the blessings.
When you move you can naturally have expectations of how things will be when you get there. These expectations can come from past experiences, things you have read or things that have even been discussed with you.
My advice is let go of them all and just come into the situation zero expectations.
Don't expect that things will work the same way as they did where you came from, don't expect the experience will be the same as last time you were there, don't expect for things to just go smoothly.
Have zero expectations and just enjoy what God places in front of you.
Our family has been incredibly blessed here and we are having a wonderful time. But things have not gone as we expected they would. Our first few weeks were a little different, our ministry was a little different, living in London is different when living there with kids instead of being single. Banks are different and The Salvation Army is different (good but different) child care is different. Everything is different.
We as our family have adjusted well and I think that is because we had very few expectations.
Even now as we truly are beginning to settle and figure out our role I have zero expectations and I am holding my dreams and prayers very loosely.
I want to be ready for whatever The Lord has for us and when we have expectations we can miss the blessings.
Packing
So here is my advice for packing to move overseas (for all it's worth), especially if you are packing to serve overseas with The Salvation Army
When you begin packing have three piles
1) to take
2) to store
3) to give away/ sell etc
Begin sorting it all out and when you feel like you have got your head around it.... Half all the things you are taking with you and all the things you are storing .... Then half the stuff you are taking with you again!! Seriously
We thought we had done really well, we have a lot of things away and we were under the weight we were allowed for storage and shipping. So we felt good.
We get here and begin unpacking and think what the heck were we thinking!!! Why did we bring this, why did we bring that...we still have boxes and boxes of items just sitting in a our garage.
I was actually incredibly ashamed of how many things we had.
So there you have it... If you are planning to move overseas seriously limit what you take...bring only the essentials and a few items that will make your house look like a home...you don't need the rest of that junk...
Great opportunity to simplify your life
When you begin packing have three piles
1) to take
2) to store
3) to give away/ sell etc
Begin sorting it all out and when you feel like you have got your head around it.... Half all the things you are taking with you and all the things you are storing .... Then half the stuff you are taking with you again!! Seriously
We thought we had done really well, we have a lot of things away and we were under the weight we were allowed for storage and shipping. So we felt good.
We get here and begin unpacking and think what the heck were we thinking!!! Why did we bring this, why did we bring that...we still have boxes and boxes of items just sitting in a our garage.
I was actually incredibly ashamed of how many things we had.
So there you have it... If you are planning to move overseas seriously limit what you take...bring only the essentials and a few items that will make your house look like a home...you don't need the rest of that junk...
Great opportunity to simplify your life
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
and so it begins
Part of my prayer in coming to London was that i would be challenged and uprooted from my confort zone. When you think of London you dont really think that it would be a challenge like that... But it is and I am so glad.
Its not like moving to a third world country of course but it has already challenged my materialism and my sense of what I am entitled to.
When we arrived in London we arrived at our house and through no fault of anyone our lights did not work and neither did the hot water and our house was small. I knew it was going to be but i was still shocked.
Due to being over tired and overwhelmed I cried over these things. And i was a little irritated.
Then the Lord gently chastised me for my hypocrisy. Did you not sign up for this? Why are you caught up in trivial things? You have a beautiful house and its your problem that you bought to many things to fill it.
God said to me on Day one...this journey will be a blessing but I will strip you of things in your life that hold you back from truly serving me.
So it begins and I praise God for that.
PS Here is the thing, it is the most beautiful house...i love it so much. We have been so blessed and so well taken care of. I am so deeply ashamed of how "things and where I was going to put them" took center stage that first day.
We also got to spend two weeks with Ashishs parents which was amazing. In my irritation I could have missed that blessing.
We have nothing at all to complain about.
So it begins....the stripping away...Lord have your way.
Its not like moving to a third world country of course but it has already challenged my materialism and my sense of what I am entitled to.
When we arrived in London we arrived at our house and through no fault of anyone our lights did not work and neither did the hot water and our house was small. I knew it was going to be but i was still shocked.
Due to being over tired and overwhelmed I cried over these things. And i was a little irritated.
Then the Lord gently chastised me for my hypocrisy. Did you not sign up for this? Why are you caught up in trivial things? You have a beautiful house and its your problem that you bought to many things to fill it.
God said to me on Day one...this journey will be a blessing but I will strip you of things in your life that hold you back from truly serving me.
So it begins and I praise God for that.
PS Here is the thing, it is the most beautiful house...i love it so much. We have been so blessed and so well taken care of. I am so deeply ashamed of how "things and where I was going to put them" took center stage that first day.
We also got to spend two weeks with Ashishs parents which was amazing. In my irritation I could have missed that blessing.
We have nothing at all to complain about.
So it begins....the stripping away...Lord have your way.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
taking flight
Our flight over to London was one big blessing and answer to prayer.
First up the international airport in Atlanta is wonderful. It is big and spacious and not at all crowded.
Our amazing,friends Matt and Daynes and their girls dropped us off and that was just a true gift to our family. Brittaney, Priya's teacher came and also said goodbye and that meant so much to us. Check was so easy and they did not,charge us for our extra bags and were very kind to us.
Security check in also went smoothly. I was amazed at how smooth. Big relief for me as luggage check in and security give me anxiety.
The actual flight was great and went rather quickly even with Alina on my lap the whole time.
Alina and Priya did so well on the flight and Priya was so excited to finally be going to London.
When we arrived in London going through customs was quick and they were so friendly to us (total shock) and it was a very painless process.
I was pretty numb the whole flight really. I was amazed at this dream coming true but also overwhelmed. I had not really allowed myself to get emotional saying goodbye to people because i knew if I started I would not stop. So on the plane I was trying to process that and also just shocked we were actually on our way.
I was in awe God but also allowing myself to grieve for the amazing friends we were leaving behind. It had also been such a long wait and so on the plane I felt like I could breathe as we had finally made it.
I felt the favor of the Lord was truly on us for our departure and arrival and I know that is because people were praying for us. Thank you friends!!
Next up is our arrival day and well it was a doozy.....so stay tuned.
First up the international airport in Atlanta is wonderful. It is big and spacious and not at all crowded.
Our amazing,friends Matt and Daynes and their girls dropped us off and that was just a true gift to our family. Brittaney, Priya's teacher came and also said goodbye and that meant so much to us. Check was so easy and they did not,charge us for our extra bags and were very kind to us.
Security check in also went smoothly. I was amazed at how smooth. Big relief for me as luggage check in and security give me anxiety.
The actual flight was great and went rather quickly even with Alina on my lap the whole time.
Alina and Priya did so well on the flight and Priya was so excited to finally be going to London.
When we arrived in London going through customs was quick and they were so friendly to us (total shock) and it was a very painless process.
I was pretty numb the whole flight really. I was amazed at this dream coming true but also overwhelmed. I had not really allowed myself to get emotional saying goodbye to people because i knew if I started I would not stop. So on the plane I was trying to process that and also just shocked we were actually on our way.
I was in awe God but also allowing myself to grieve for the amazing friends we were leaving behind. It had also been such a long wait and so on the plane I felt like I could breathe as we had finally made it.
I felt the favor of the Lord was truly on us for our departure and arrival and I know that is because people were praying for us. Thank you friends!!
Next up is our arrival day and well it was a doozy.....so stay tuned.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Fond Farewells
So its been while...but we are finally in London. Wow dream come true, but before we talk about London I need to backtrack for a few blog entries and talk about getting here.
We ended up staying in Atlanta for about 9 weeks so we were ready to finally leave when we did but it was still not easy to say goodbye to wonderful friends.
We have truly been blessed with wonderful friends in our life and the last two weeks there provided precious opportunities to spend quality time with friends.
First a week at bible conference and then a week in Atlanta. Dinners, brunch dates, day trips, birthday celebrations and just special times.
So hard to say goodbye to people that have truly blessed and enriched my life and that of family but i am so thankful to God for each person and know that distance wont change the impact or blessing they are.
Just incredibly grateful to God for those extra days with friends, gave me strength to leave.
We ended up staying in Atlanta for about 9 weeks so we were ready to finally leave when we did but it was still not easy to say goodbye to wonderful friends.
We have truly been blessed with wonderful friends in our life and the last two weeks there provided precious opportunities to spend quality time with friends.
First a week at bible conference and then a week in Atlanta. Dinners, brunch dates, day trips, birthday celebrations and just special times.
So hard to say goodbye to people that have truly blessed and enriched my life and that of family but i am so thankful to God for each person and know that distance wont change the impact or blessing they are.
Just incredibly grateful to God for those extra days with friends, gave me strength to leave.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
It's really happening
We got news this week that our VISA's were approved! Wow! Praise God indeed.
I was so excited I jumped up and down in the elevator and did a little dance.
There has never been a time that God hasn't eventually answered all my prayers. Seriously The Lord has always answered and given me my deepest desires and every time he does I am challenged by the fact that I always let doubt creep in when there is a delay in the answer.
I have testimony after testimony of his answers... So I need to stop doubting that he hears me. I really need to just learn to fully trust...to trust even in the delay.
So here we are...visa in hand, ready to go!
Thank you Lord for answered prayers, thank you for your grace even in the doubt and fear that creeps in. Thank you for your favor!!!
I was so excited I jumped up and down in the elevator and did a little dance.
There has never been a time that God hasn't eventually answered all my prayers. Seriously The Lord has always answered and given me my deepest desires and every time he does I am challenged by the fact that I always let doubt creep in when there is a delay in the answer.
I have testimony after testimony of his answers... So I need to stop doubting that he hears me. I really need to just learn to fully trust...to trust even in the delay.
So here we are...visa in hand, ready to go!
Thank you Lord for answered prayers, thank you for your grace even in the doubt and fear that creeps in. Thank you for your favor!!!
Friday, August 1, 2014
Fear and Anxiety
So I have been very anxious the last few days and today was the worst of it.
I am a bit of a control freak. I like to be in control and I like to know the outcome of things. I like order and feeling settled.
Right now I have no control over anything and it freaks me out completely.
I need something to control and to be able to know the outcome.
There are two things that really really freak me out and I panic.
One is filling out ViSA and other immigration paperwork and the other is going through customs at the airport.
Immigration stuff freaks me out . It is so serious and going to immigration offices makes me feel like a criminal. My anxiety level is always a 10.
Today I had to go to immigration and I needed a certain paper before we could get in. I did not have it and had to leave and get it and then come back. It was an easy fix but as soon I got in the car I cried. I had been on edge about this visit for days and I just felt like I messed up.
We came back and got our bio metrics done and we were told to send our papers in within 2
Weeks.
This created even more anxiety because I would have to send them by myself and what if I made a mistake etc etc .
I just wanted it all out of my hands.
This fear and anxiety I have is not of God. It is the enemy and he is trying to destroy what should be joyful and exciting times . He comes and steals my joy, causes me to try and control things (which never works out) and causes my anxiety level to sky rocket.
I am working hard to find peace in The Lord. To release control of this whole situation. Trying to memorize scripture that will sink deep into my heart.
I think it is about surrender too. By holding onto tightly we don't let The Lord take over and it kind of becomes an idol to us.
I try to think ... So that's the worst that can happen if this does not work out... And usually the worst is not as bad as I think.
I also think that these situations are teaching me to trust in The Lord more...complete trust. When I think I can control any of these things that is pride. When I begin to think any of it is about me , then that is when I begin to feel fear and anxiety .
This opportunity, this appointment comes from The Lord. He will have HIS way. I do not need to fear the outcome.
What are the things you are fearful and anxious about? Maybe it's time to release them to The Lord.
I am a bit of a control freak. I like to be in control and I like to know the outcome of things. I like order and feeling settled.
Right now I have no control over anything and it freaks me out completely.
I need something to control and to be able to know the outcome.
There are two things that really really freak me out and I panic.
One is filling out ViSA and other immigration paperwork and the other is going through customs at the airport.
Immigration stuff freaks me out . It is so serious and going to immigration offices makes me feel like a criminal. My anxiety level is always a 10.
Today I had to go to immigration and I needed a certain paper before we could get in. I did not have it and had to leave and get it and then come back. It was an easy fix but as soon I got in the car I cried. I had been on edge about this visit for days and I just felt like I messed up.
We came back and got our bio metrics done and we were told to send our papers in within 2
Weeks.
This created even more anxiety because I would have to send them by myself and what if I made a mistake etc etc .
I just wanted it all out of my hands.
This fear and anxiety I have is not of God. It is the enemy and he is trying to destroy what should be joyful and exciting times . He comes and steals my joy, causes me to try and control things (which never works out) and causes my anxiety level to sky rocket.
I am working hard to find peace in The Lord. To release control of this whole situation. Trying to memorize scripture that will sink deep into my heart.
I think it is about surrender too. By holding onto tightly we don't let The Lord take over and it kind of becomes an idol to us.
I try to think ... So that's the worst that can happen if this does not work out... And usually the worst is not as bad as I think.
I also think that these situations are teaching me to trust in The Lord more...complete trust. When I think I can control any of these things that is pride. When I begin to think any of it is about me , then that is when I begin to feel fear and anxiety .
This opportunity, this appointment comes from The Lord. He will have HIS way. I do not need to fear the outcome.
What are the things you are fearful and anxious about? Maybe it's time to release them to The Lord.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
So Pray....
As we are sitting here in our temporary apartment at the EBC, another week has gone by and I wonder what the next week will hold.
Hopefully there will be some forward movement in regards to our visa and departure date. I am getting a little restless here.
The Lord though has been speaking to me and challenging me to use this time wisely. At first I did not know what that looks like, and how to make it happen when I have two little girls ( one of them stuck to me like glue) but I hear him say ... SO PrAY.
I know he is calling me to pray about many things...
1) my grief over leaving my corps and things happening there... SO Pray
2) my future appointment and my anxiety over that... SO pray
3) my concern over our visa application .. SO pray
4) tensions and war in Israel and Gazza .... SO pray
5) horrific situation against Christians in Iraq ... SO pray
So many things to pray for...and I have time... SO I will pray...
I hope you will join me ... Maybe the only bring we can do is PRAY
Hopefully there will be some forward movement in regards to our visa and departure date. I am getting a little restless here.
The Lord though has been speaking to me and challenging me to use this time wisely. At first I did not know what that looks like, and how to make it happen when I have two little girls ( one of them stuck to me like glue) but I hear him say ... SO PrAY.
I know he is calling me to pray about many things...
1) my grief over leaving my corps and things happening there... SO Pray
2) my future appointment and my anxiety over that... SO pray
3) my concern over our visa application .. SO pray
4) tensions and war in Israel and Gazza .... SO pray
5) horrific situation against Christians in Iraq ... SO pray
So many things to pray for...and I have time... SO I will pray...
I hope you will join me ... Maybe the only bring we can do is PRAY
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The wait
I read on a blog recently that "if moving overseas was easy, everyone would be doing it"... So true.
Moving overseas is not super easy and not for the faint of heart. There is a lot sitting around and waiting, coupled with spurts of super busy running around and then more sitting around and waiting.
We had hoped to be in London by now, alas it is not to be. In fact we probably have another month to go. It is at times frustrating, funny and a blessing.
It's frustrating because we really could have been in London by now if people just communicated with each other and if instructions were clear. The reasons we are not in London right now is because some times the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing or what they should be doing or who should be doing it.
It is funny because sometimes the left hand does not know what the left hand is doing or what the left hand has done. Kind of like a comedy of errors. When the last thing happened I was able to laugh because the night before The Lord had spoke some scripture into my life.. That prepared my heart for the craziness of the next day. :)
It's a blessing because we get to spend time with friends and we get to spend time with each other. We get to read and rest.
I am ready though... I am ready to be settled in my home. I am ready for my kids to be able to have a routine and meet new friends and have their toys back.
I am ready for a ministry and something to do.
But here we are .... Waiting... But I have no doubt in a few days we will be rushing around trying to get paperwork done and then we will wait some more!
That's just the way it is. If it was easy... Everyone would do it
Moving overseas is not super easy and not for the faint of heart. There is a lot sitting around and waiting, coupled with spurts of super busy running around and then more sitting around and waiting.
We had hoped to be in London by now, alas it is not to be. In fact we probably have another month to go. It is at times frustrating, funny and a blessing.
It's frustrating because we really could have been in London by now if people just communicated with each other and if instructions were clear. The reasons we are not in London right now is because some times the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing or what they should be doing or who should be doing it.
It is funny because sometimes the left hand does not know what the left hand is doing or what the left hand has done. Kind of like a comedy of errors. When the last thing happened I was able to laugh because the night before The Lord had spoke some scripture into my life.. That prepared my heart for the craziness of the next day. :)
It's a blessing because we get to spend time with friends and we get to spend time with each other. We get to read and rest.
I am ready though... I am ready to be settled in my home. I am ready for my kids to be able to have a routine and meet new friends and have their toys back.
I am ready for a ministry and something to do.
But here we are .... Waiting... But I have no doubt in a few days we will be rushing around trying to get paperwork done and then we will wait some more!
That's just the way it is. If it was easy... Everyone would do it
Saturday, July 19, 2014
It's not a vacation
Our move to London is not about being on one giant vacation. Sure we want to be tourists every now and then, enjoying all that London, the UK and the Continent has to offer.
Our overall desire is not to take a long vacation. Our desire is to be involved in ministry and to build relationships with our neighbors and our fellow Officers and soldiers in the Central London Division. Our desire is to join God on what he is already doing in that place and to to learn from those that are already in the trenches.
I have been on vacation now for 4 weeks and I am bored. I am enjoying myself and being with my family, but I ready to dream and create and build and learn. I am ready to get stuck into whatever God has for us.
I am a little anxious about what ministry will look like for us there. We won't be Corps Officers and truthfully we don't know what we will be doing, so I am interested to see what it looks like and how it works for our family. But I am excited. I know The Lord knows our hearts and our desires.
So although you will see plenty of pics of red buses and Big Ben and London Tower and hear stories of our tourist adventures ... Hopefully you will also see many pics and read many stories of ministry taking place and relationships being built.
One thing I surely know is that we are not bringing God with us, he is already there and he is just awesome enough to let us join him.
Our overall desire is not to take a long vacation. Our desire is to be involved in ministry and to build relationships with our neighbors and our fellow Officers and soldiers in the Central London Division. Our desire is to join God on what he is already doing in that place and to to learn from those that are already in the trenches.
I have been on vacation now for 4 weeks and I am bored. I am enjoying myself and being with my family, but I ready to dream and create and build and learn. I am ready to get stuck into whatever God has for us.
I am a little anxious about what ministry will look like for us there. We won't be Corps Officers and truthfully we don't know what we will be doing, so I am interested to see what it looks like and how it works for our family. But I am excited. I know The Lord knows our hearts and our desires.
So although you will see plenty of pics of red buses and Big Ben and London Tower and hear stories of our tourist adventures ... Hopefully you will also see many pics and read many stories of ministry taking place and relationships being built.
One thing I surely know is that we are not bringing God with us, he is already there and he is just awesome enough to let us join him.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
UK Bucket List
Miscellaneous & Tacky Musts
- Take a picture in an old London phone booth
- Purchase something in Harrods’s
- Visit Sea life Center
- Chow down in Chinatown
- Ride a London Taxi
- Visit Westminster Abbey and photo-bomb someone
- Go to a concert at the O2 Arena
- Go for afternoon tea and scones
- Watch the changing of the guard
- Have a real English breakfast
- See a trial at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England
- Tower of London nightly lock up
- Ice skate at Natural History Museum
- Go to a theme party, dressed in a 20′s or 60′s style
- Watch Guy Fawkes fireworks
Outside
- Finish at least 20 Walks of the London City Walks Cards
- Visit the London Wetlands
- Spot all 50 things on the “50 things to spot in London” cards
- Do Windsor Castle Tour
- Do London Marathon
- Go to the top of the Tower Bridge and enjoy the view of the Thames and the cit
- See the city from Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath)
- Go to Winter Wonderland and experiment some of the attractions
- Enjoy an open air concert in the summer at Regent’s Park or Hyde Park
- Go to Richmond Park and attempt to take a picture with an imperial deer
- Go on the Jack the Ripper Walk
- Do Salvation Army History Tour
- Tour three Castles
- Longleat House
- Go to a cricket match at Lords
- Attend a Wimbledon game
- Go a rugby World Cup game
- Go to Bath
- Go to Brighton
Culture
- Visit the British Museum
- Visit the British Library
- Visit Tate Modern
- See an Opera at the Royal Opera House
- Visit the Crypt Gallery
- See a Shakespeare Piece at the Shakespeare Globe
- Read a Sherlock Holmes book and then Visit Sherlock Holmes Museum
- Read a Dickens’ Novel and visit the Charles Dickens Museum
- Watch a West End Show
- Visit the Tower of London
- Go to the Museum of London and learn more about the history of London
- Visit Natural History Museum and see the dinosaurs exhibition
- Experiment and interact with some objects at Science Museum
- Visit the Camden Catacombs
- Harry Potter studios
- Albert and Victoria museum
Overseas or Outside of London
1. Ireland
2. Scotland
3. Amsterdam and Anne Frank House
4. Germany
5. Poland
5. Spain
6. Turkey
7. Paris
8. Italy
9. Singapore
10. Dubai
Monday, July 14, 2014
Home
There is no doubt about it, the USA and especially the Southern Territory are home to me.
From the moment I arrived in the USA from NZ, this place and these amazing people have embraced me.
I have not always felt like I fit in here, but I have never doubted that this was home.
This place has my heart for so many reasons and has been the only place I felt I needed to come back to time and time again. I have always felt safe here, I have felt loved here, I have felt accepted and I have felt like this was my solid base especially when my family was all over the world.
There are so many things I will miss;
1) family... I don't have blood family here, but I have family. People who have taken us in, loved us, prayed for us, encouraged us, looked after us when we were sick. People who have fed us, disciplined us and challenged us. People who have married us, been there for the birth of our children, walked me down the aisle. People who are my daughter's God parents and babysitters and teachers. We have family here for sure and we will miss them all so so so much.
2) friends... We have made some amazing and life changing and life impacting friends here. Friends who I know will be our friends for years and years to come. Friends we laugh with, cry with, pray with, play with! Friends who embrace and support us without judgement. Friends who have truly changed our lives. They will be soooo missed.
3) I will miss the Southern Territory Salvation Army. This Territory has accepted me, shown me grace, given me opportunities, supported me, taught me, loved me and given me outstanding role models. I will miss Territorial events and the way they celebrate and worship. I will miss the way they lavish love on people. This territory has taught me well and I am more than proud to be a southern territory officer.
4) I will miss being known... This is not a pride thing...but I mean I will miss people truly knowing me and my heart and my passions. People who get me and who have journeyed with me.
5) I will miss Target... I love Target so much... For real.. It such a beautiful place, full of color and so many things I don't need haha
6) I will miss my washer and dryer... True fact!! It's not the same!!
So many things I will miss as this place, this country, these people are in my heart!!
So grateful for everything I have experienced here and will experience here in the future.
From the moment I arrived in the USA from NZ, this place and these amazing people have embraced me.
I have not always felt like I fit in here, but I have never doubted that this was home.
This place has my heart for so many reasons and has been the only place I felt I needed to come back to time and time again. I have always felt safe here, I have felt loved here, I have felt accepted and I have felt like this was my solid base especially when my family was all over the world.
There are so many things I will miss;
1) family... I don't have blood family here, but I have family. People who have taken us in, loved us, prayed for us, encouraged us, looked after us when we were sick. People who have fed us, disciplined us and challenged us. People who have married us, been there for the birth of our children, walked me down the aisle. People who are my daughter's God parents and babysitters and teachers. We have family here for sure and we will miss them all so so so much.
2) friends... We have made some amazing and life changing and life impacting friends here. Friends who I know will be our friends for years and years to come. Friends we laugh with, cry with, pray with, play with! Friends who embrace and support us without judgement. Friends who have truly changed our lives. They will be soooo missed.
3) I will miss the Southern Territory Salvation Army. This Territory has accepted me, shown me grace, given me opportunities, supported me, taught me, loved me and given me outstanding role models. I will miss Territorial events and the way they celebrate and worship. I will miss the way they lavish love on people. This territory has taught me well and I am more than proud to be a southern territory officer.
4) I will miss being known... This is not a pride thing...but I mean I will miss people truly knowing me and my heart and my passions. People who get me and who have journeyed with me.
5) I will miss Target... I love Target so much... For real.. It such a beautiful place, full of color and so many things I don't need haha
6) I will miss my washer and dryer... True fact!! It's not the same!!
So many things I will miss as this place, this country, these people are in my heart!!
So grateful for everything I have experienced here and will experience here in the future.
London Here We Come
Hopefully soon we will be on our way to London.
I really cannot wait to begin this journey with my family. It's all incredibly exciting and one rather huge blessing.
This journey to London really began for me 7 plus years ago. I was enjoying life as an Officer in the USA when I was told my religious visa was about to expire and that I would need to leave the country within 6months.
I was told I could basically choose three different countries to go to for a year and at that time I chose Australia Eastern Territory, India and Australian Southern Territory. Then my parents were moved to IHQ in the UK and I asked if I could be sent there instead so I could spend time with them.
The Lord was incredibly amazing and that is where I was sent.
I was in LoVE the moment I left the airport. I loved the countryside, I loved the houses, I loved the food, I loved the people. I loved it all.
I felt like I was home in many ways. Having grown up in Australia, so many things were familiar to me. The language and the words used, the food, the sports, the tv programs, the music.
I loved the multicultural feel about it and I really felt very connected to this country, very quickly I might add.
I got engaged in London and spent time with Ashish's family in London. I know Ashish fell in love with the place too. I knew that one day we would come back as a married couple. I did not know how or when, but it was my desire for sure.
Fast forward to three years ago and we began to pray about serving overseas and we talked and prayed about a lot of countries and the one we kept coming back to was the UK.
We both felt connected to the multicultural feel of this country and just felt it was a place where God could use us. He could use, not because we had anything to offer that was super special, but maybe just because we were willing.
So we requested a few times and were told not now. It was pretty heartbreaking at the time, but God always knows.
Finally though they said yes and here we are... Just a few weeks away from living in London.
I am excited about so many things,
1) being near Ashish's mom and dad for a few months and having family near us. This has not happened in 13 plus years.
2) the food... Oh my goodness Roast dinners and all the yummy food I grew up on.
3) the sports... Rugby, cricket, netball just to name a few.
4) feeling like I am home... Everything is familiar to me... Similar to growing up in Australia. There is a sense of belonging I feel when I am there.
5) the ministry... I don't know what I will be doing at all, but I feel like it's going to be something awesome and something I will love
6) the people, all from different walks of life and countries... It's going to be amazing .
7) the birth place of the Salvation Army. Something awesome about that.
8) my girls being exposed to new and different experiences.
So yep, I am excited!!! Bring it on Lord, bring it on!!
Tomorrow I will share what I am going to miss about my HOME here.
I really cannot wait to begin this journey with my family. It's all incredibly exciting and one rather huge blessing.
This journey to London really began for me 7 plus years ago. I was enjoying life as an Officer in the USA when I was told my religious visa was about to expire and that I would need to leave the country within 6months.
I was told I could basically choose three different countries to go to for a year and at that time I chose Australia Eastern Territory, India and Australian Southern Territory. Then my parents were moved to IHQ in the UK and I asked if I could be sent there instead so I could spend time with them.
The Lord was incredibly amazing and that is where I was sent.
I was in LoVE the moment I left the airport. I loved the countryside, I loved the houses, I loved the food, I loved the people. I loved it all.
I felt like I was home in many ways. Having grown up in Australia, so many things were familiar to me. The language and the words used, the food, the sports, the tv programs, the music.
I loved the multicultural feel about it and I really felt very connected to this country, very quickly I might add.
I got engaged in London and spent time with Ashish's family in London. I know Ashish fell in love with the place too. I knew that one day we would come back as a married couple. I did not know how or when, but it was my desire for sure.
Fast forward to three years ago and we began to pray about serving overseas and we talked and prayed about a lot of countries and the one we kept coming back to was the UK.
We both felt connected to the multicultural feel of this country and just felt it was a place where God could use us. He could use, not because we had anything to offer that was super special, but maybe just because we were willing.
So we requested a few times and were told not now. It was pretty heartbreaking at the time, but God always knows.
Finally though they said yes and here we are... Just a few weeks away from living in London.
I am excited about so many things,
1) being near Ashish's mom and dad for a few months and having family near us. This has not happened in 13 plus years.
2) the food... Oh my goodness Roast dinners and all the yummy food I grew up on.
3) the sports... Rugby, cricket, netball just to name a few.
4) feeling like I am home... Everything is familiar to me... Similar to growing up in Australia. There is a sense of belonging I feel when I am there.
5) the ministry... I don't know what I will be doing at all, but I feel like it's going to be something awesome and something I will love
6) the people, all from different walks of life and countries... It's going to be amazing .
7) the birth place of the Salvation Army. Something awesome about that.
8) my girls being exposed to new and different experiences.
So yep, I am excited!!! Bring it on Lord, bring it on!!
Tomorrow I will share what I am going to miss about my HOME here.
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