Thoughts from an Easter Sunday...

Last night I had a dream. I had a dream that there was so much snow all over the place...so much that you would be digging for hours to actually get to the bottom (or the ground). There was a group of men near the forest that were up to no good. Even with the snow-covered hills and plants they were trying to add/take away from the forest in their own special way. Many were upset with them, confused why it was so important to complete this task. They worked in a valley that was easy, due to the snow, to slide into, but very difficult to climb out of. While they attended to their task something started to change. Moods changed from stubbornness to panic. Right in the midst of us there was an avalanche beginning to erupt.

Our Belarus missions trip team

As people scattered trying to climb out of the piles and piles of snow, many began to face the fact that they would not make it out. As I began to climb and tear away at the snow, I started to face that same reality. Then, out of nowhere, came two men. Two men with hands willing to help me up these valley walls filled of snow. Before I knew it I was on top of this massive hill looking down at all of those that were in mass panic due to their situation. As I turned around, I saw my house. Very random, I thought. Why would my house be here? It was at that moment that a man with two small children appeared in front of me. As the man quickly handed his two children to me it was evident what he was to do next. As he said farewell to his children, I knew they were not going to see him ever again -- not in this life. The two small children clung to me as their father faded away, going to help those in need. The children and I walked towards my house, tears streaming down my face. As we entered the door of my house there were my parents, feeding the masses with the food they had to spare. Overwhelmed by what this father had just done for his children that I was now entrusted with, the tears started to pour out of me as I cried uncontrollably. How could one man love his children SO much as to leave them, going to save other people...those people that were so undeserving.

We were given the opportunity to visit a Gypsy family, recent Christians

As I woke up from my sleep I could feel the warm heat from the tears rolling down my cheeks in reality. Wanting to know what time it was, I headed out to the living room. To my surprise and much delight, God had presented me with a gift...a kiss that was meant just for me...SNOW! Can we just take a moment and think about our Creator and how He has wonderfully created each and every one of us individually.

In Belarus we had the chance to perform at church Sunday morning

What a pleasant gift that God gave me that Easter day, letting me personally know how much He truly does love me -- how He gave His ONLY son to save MY life.....MY measly little life. God was reaching out to me. What an overwhelming feeling of joy to know that we ARE those small little children that Jesus died for - the children that He handed over to God, going off to protect us, our lives, and our future. God is constantly talking to us, reaching out to us. But, are we choosing to listen to Him?

Having recently gotten back from a missions trip to Belarus I tend to think now, more than ever, about God's role in my life. How He loves me, how He wishes me to spread His love and word to His other children, and how He will - no matter what - ALWAYS be there for me. Who else can say that?? Who! We have tons of friends that consider us "top priority," but who of them can say that they will be with us...always. ALWAYS! None. None of them. Sorry, but it's the truth. I have good news though! God will ALWAYS be with us, as long as we can just do one simple thing:  trust in Him.

Community outreach event; we performed a skit of how Jesus died for our sins

Small group bible study at my host family's house

Believe me whole-heartedly when I say that I myself am consistently and constantly working on this myself. Like I said, I just got back from Belarus (for those of you who do not know -- that is close to Russia). While there I was able to be poured into by the Holy Spirit. Learning more and more about my God, my Jesus, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. While there I was able to meet siblings in Christ of mine that are honestly and truly on FIRE for God and the 66 love letters that He has left us with in what we like to call "The Bible." A week ago today I had just traveled about 20 hours to get home back to Germany from my blessed time getting to know God's people in Belarus, but while there I was able to reflect a little bit:

Connecting with USee, a community outreach team at a church in Belarus

April 4th, 2012.


Wow. Wow. Wow. 
What a day.
Can I package these people up and take them with me everywhere? Their fire and passion is so evidently for Jesus, for God, for other people. They burn brighter than ever and find such joy in how they get to live in Brest, Belarus and spread the love of Jesus to the people here. My one prayer is that I am able to not lose the fire that I've gained while being here. In my head I have such big plans for trying to get involved in the community and trying to do more outreach, but how -- where -- when? I need to honestly start praying about where God will use me from here...especially as new opportunities present themselves in these next couple of years for me. 


As I sat in the kitchen with my host mother tonight the conversation evolved. Very quickly I found myself asking about their house that they are renovating, wondering when it would be done. Through google translation I found out that it is less expensive if they pay out of pocket to build the second floor of their house (right now they have only 2 bedrooms for them and their two children). I learned that if they were in the United States it would be a lot less expensive. After learning yesterday that you get about $100 when you work for one month there in Belarus - a 2 bedroom, 1 floored house for $170,000 is not exactly chump change. 


The conversation evolved so that I was able to learn that some people from Belarus leave to go live elsewhere for a better living, a better life...but my host mother was confused by this:  "Why would you leave? For a more materialistic life? We get the honor of being here and telling people about God, sharing His love."


WOW. Really? I could not have been hit MORE by our conversation. How would I ever be the same? I pray that I never will be the same after such a deep connection with someone I just met a couple days prior -- but we are one body, we have but one God. 


After getting quite emotional and crying, I had the unique opportunity of thanking our host mother for being such a great example of what it means to be a Christian. "More people should be like you," I said. At that moment our puzzle pieces fit together -- we were able to form an even tighter bond then we had before. I could tell just by looking at her face that we understood each other and that, due to God's guidance, our hearts are breaking for the same reason. 


Glory be to God who stirs emotions inside of us at the very moment that we need them.

Getting a tour of Belarus' Fortress

My question to you is this:  What is stirring your heart? And, is that stirring drawing you closer to Him? What are YOU going to do about it?

God, lead the way. Let YOUR will be done.

I had some questions, of course. :-)

"As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.'"

~ Matthew 20:17 ~

The women of our Belarus missions trip

Girl time:  visiting a Catholic orthodox church in Brest, Belarus

Overall it was a GREAT experience that I will NEVER be the same from!