Settling In

Last night I killed two cockroaches in my apartment. They were so.... crunchy..... :/
Things are really picking up workwise. I'm helping enter grades and immunization records, and any other office work I can find and help out with. Schoolwork is keeping me on my toes, but that's what college is all about right? Something that doesn't have a whole lot of spiritual value but that was kindof a blessing on the side was getting invited to a "Tuesday Night" football game (Monday Night Football is on our Tuesday mornings, so some of the other faculty taped the Packer game and we all waited til Tuesday night to watch it). It was so fun (until the Packers lost) but it was a little piece of home :) There are quite a few on staff here who love the Packers, it's funny :) Sunday night I went with Heather and 2 teenage girls out to eat at a Mexican place, and it was good to get to know the girls some. One girl was from India and the other was Korean, and I was grilled on my nationality :) (Was I American or something else?) When they found out I was mostly German, I was asked constantly, "Is that the way they do it in Germany?" I had to clarify that being an American is living in a "melting pot" of nationalities, and that if I visited Germany I would definitely stick out as an American. They were such fun girls :) Earlier on Sunday, I taught the verse in Jr. Church. There are about 80-100 kids who come on Sunday mornings, mostly bus kids, and it was good to be able to share the truth of God's Word with them. There is a really big burden among the staff I was working with for these bus kids, as most of these kids only hear about God and the Gospel on Sundays when they come. Instead of having a Sunday School, they start Jr. Church right away in the morning, and have coloring, then game time, then the different age groups rotate through the various rooms (Bible Verse, Missionary Story, Craft Time...) So I taught the verse 3 times to different age groups. It's really a great set-up, and I'm so glad I got to be involved. Thanks for your prayers, keep them coming!! :)

Hafa Adai!

That means hello :) I've been helping in the nurses' office by entering immunization records and helping Pastor Joe enter grades for his classes in the afternoons.  I get to do my classwork in the mornings, and am going to be helping in extended care (after school) soon. I'll teach the verse in Jr. Church this coming Sunday morning! Tuesday night was a ladies' fellowship where Mrs. Herron spoke, and it was a really great night. God has been teaching me so much while I'm away from home; and I have loved meeting all these new people. The school at Harvest is more of a mission school as opposed to a Christian school; it's a really neat opportunity to minister to the kids (from all walks of life and religions), but at the same time it is a very great burden, for especially the teachers. Please pray for the 1,000 kids that go to school here, that the Lord will do a work and save many of them and their families. It's great that they get to hear the Truth; please pray for their hearts that they will receive it! There is a church workday on Saturday, and it will be fun to help with that. I'm so thankful for the great friends I already know and have, and that God did not just place me in a random place where I didn't know anyone. There are a lot of great people here who love God and are serving Him with their lives. I appreciate any prayers on my behalf, as I'm just a student trying to pass my classes and help in this ministry; but please also pray for the staff here at Harvest, that God will empower them with His love to reach all of these students who need Him.

One Week In :)

Today I went to the beach! It rained half the day, but it was beautiful the whole time :) Me and the 2 girls I was with were walking back to our car when an extended Chamorro family invited us to eat their food; it was a birthday party of one of the nephews! My first fiesta :) After eating and introductions, they invited us to 2 more fiestas in the neighborhood in the next couple weeks. We're praying for an opportunity to get to know them better and to witness! They were so generous, and it was great to meet them like that. The weekend was welcome; it's been such an interesting week (good though!) Thursday afternoon I helped enter grades for Pastor Joe in the grading program; Friday afternoon I helped in the nurses' office, where I'll also help with filing and such. That will be a good place to meet some of the kids who go to the school :) I'm also excited to help out in Jr. Church (they'll put me in the rotation) and I'm going to help out Sparks on Wednesday nights. Grocery shopping on Thursday night was an experience! Most things are double in price what they are in the States; when I come back I'm going to be the most frugal shopper who ever lived!! :) oh boy. This whole experience is teaching me so much; relying on God for even the simplest thing like getting my schoolwork done. Online classes are so challenging, but I know this is where God has me for the semester. Last night some of the girls in nearby apartments decided to have a themed party and decided on a Jewish theme; it was hilarious. It's fun to... have fun :) Thanks so much everyone for your prayers! I honestly can't thank you enough. It's hard getting adjusted to not only life on my own, but online classes and new ministry opportunities. So much to take in! I have to keep my eyes on God, who never changes <3 ~Heb. 13:8

I really am here!

I haven't been able to write another post because it's been blocked by the internet until now! Technical difficulties :) I'm here! I really did make it! Sometimes I feel a little foggy; I don't think I've quite conquered jet lag... It's Thursday morning for me, and Wednesday afternoon it seems for the rest of the world. The last few days I've been settling in, and have met Dr. Watson, who's been showing me around. We've almost developed a schedule, and I'll be helping Pastor Joe doing secretarial work on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons; while helping out in the nurses' station Monday and Friday afternoons. Last night, I helped Des Bendo (my roommate last year) with the K5 in Sparks! :) After helping, I ran to my amazing apartment (pictures of which I couldn't help plastering all over facebook) and wrote my 2 page paper that was due yesterday! (Possibly today for you) :) There is so much schoolwork involved in 12 credits, and its so difficult not having everything I need right at my fingertips. I'm learning so much about communication; emailing millions of people overseas, trying to cover my bases. (I might have exaggerated... a little but not much) :) God is teaching me so much though! About actually trusting Him; truly believing that He is in control and I am not. Even what I had to write my paper on was a challenge to me; it was about Anger. I had to read a packet of articles about it, and then wrote a response. Anger is seeing things that are really lies as truth, and reacting in a way that makes me the "God" in control instead of letting the Lord really be Master. I need to step back and let God reign! I am to love others more than myself, and help people in all of the ways God has provided. Right now, He has placed me in Guam to help out an amazing ministry that I can't wait to learn more about. I am to work as hard as I can on my schoolwork, and pray that God's will be done in passing my classes. I do not want to miss the lessons He has for me! I miss family and my friends and my boyfriend SO MUCH, but am so thankful for this opportunity to serve <3

Preparations!

Hello to all :)

In two days I will be embarking on the longest mission trip I've ever gone on: one full semester long :) I can't believe the Lord really is leading me to Guam for the semester! I knew I wanted to study abroad with my school, Northland International University, a year ago; I just didn't know where to go. I actually thought about going to Egypt, and then to somewhere in Europe; everywhere I looked things weren't exactly falling into place. From the very beginning, my dad thought I should go to Guam.. he knows some of the great people there and was familiar with Harvest (the amazing ministry on the island that I can't wait to get to know more about). God led, and here I go! Flying out September 11 will be an adventure, along with the rest of the trip. I'll be taking 12 credits online while I am overseas, hopefully finding a balance of serving in various venues with the teachers/missionaries there while still completing my schoolwork :) I would appreciate your prayers! Pray that I will be focused on what God has in mind, and that He will give me the opportunity to be a help to the ministry there. I will be truly dependent on Him; I know that my own power will get me nowhere. Alone, I could never make a trip like this happen or be able to even complete the few courses I will be taking. With God, I hope to serve others and continue to see His power evident in everyday life. God is so amazing, and I am so happy to be able to call Him my Master. God bless, and I don't think I could ask for a more exciting semester! <3