Category: lessons
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Intentionality
This word is my inspiration for the coming year. The first half of 2021 was crazy difficult, one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever had to face. Between financial challenges, dreams put on hold, ever-changing schedules and unknowns, my mental flexibility was seriously put to the test. As a result, a lot of my updates…
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Around the Bend
I’ve got some tough news. My biggest financial supporters had an emergency happen last month and are no longer able to give financially to my mission. That’s $500 less a month to live on. The time was coming (July) when their two-year commitment was up anyway, but it still hit hard. And it came with…
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Changes
It’s hard to describe how I’m doing lately. If I had to sum it up, it would be something like treading water with a wave about to take me under. The end of the year is one of the busiest times and while I don’t have quite the same amount of drama as I did…
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2019: Relationship
Something I regret not doing more of last year was bonding closer with the people in my ministry. There were several reasons I was distracted from it (a dating relationship, reconnecting with other friends outside of Proem, and my only-child, pseudo-loner spirit), but I want to do better in 2019. The theme for Proem this…
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Fall(ing)
“Rejoice always! Pray constantly.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 The first month was so busy, frustrating, and required a lot of adjusting to the new school year. Now that it’s mid-October, everything is settling into routine and I feel a lot less out of control. There is still something I’m worried about, though. Burnout. Like, big time…
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Worthy is the Lamb
“The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” Exodus 14:14 “For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 The past few weeks have been extremely trying. My mind and body are tired, and there’s still a whole summer of challenges…
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Grace in Hardships
” ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ ” 2 Corinthians 12:9a This verse rings so true for me lately. The next few months are going to be very trying time for me. Summer camps in Zako, family affairs in the States, mental exhaustion, and preparing for the CELTA course…
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Expectations and Onward
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 It’s been about 8 months since my arrival here in Poland. I anticipated some of my challenges with moving to a new country and embarking on a year…
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z Miłości (with Love)
Tomy church hosted a women’s conference a few weekends ago with the theme of love; how it’s able to transform and heal in relationships through God’s example to us. We had a special guest performer, Agnieszka Dębowska, who was a contestant on The Voice Poland, and amazing speakers from our community that shared their stories.…
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Zimmufka
This past week, I went on a retreat with the youth group to Wisła, a mountain town bordering Czech Republic and Austria. It was gorgeous! And so much fun getting to know the teens and fellow interns better on this trip. Plus, I conquered a fear I’d had for a long time: learning to ski.…
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It’s the little things…
I caught some sickness again at the end of this week. It was pretty mild compared to the strep throat incident at the end of September, but not fun all the same. I’m recovered now for the most part, but I realized I haven’t really kept up to date with my blog and what’s been…
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Lighting the Way
It wasn’t too cold. There was a bit of mist falling from the sky, but nothing like the torrents of rain we’d had lately. The sun had stayed behind clouds all day, and it was pretty much night by 5:00 PM. K and I had stayed inside, cleaning the apartment, attempting to plan lessons for…
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Pains and Passage
This week has been tough. The extent of the culture shock I’m experiencing really hit me hard. I cried over not being able to explain an order error at McDonald’s. Like, legit felt humiliated and stupid. I ended up leaving the restaurant because I didn’t want to get stared at with tears streaming down my…
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Patient Endurance
So, while I’m definitely having fun and enjoying good times in Poland, there’s often a lot of challenges. We had a meeting a few weekends back about the things that are really hard right now and some things that are going good. Last Thursday, a small group of us American women missionaries got together to…
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Wrzesień – First month
Has it really only been a month?! It honestly feels like I’ve been here for a few months. There’s a lot that’s happened, and it’s been hard to adjust to change. I’m still praising God that he’s brought me here, though because I can tell I’m growing a lot. I’m writing this in recovery from…
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Thorns
“…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I…
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Book: Beautiful Outlaw
To take a little aside from my usual posts, I wanted to highlight this book I’ve been reading called “Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge (also well known for “Wild At Heart”). I haven’t quite finished the whole thing (3 chapters left!), but it’s opened up a whole perspective of Jesus that I’ve missed: Jesus’ personality.…
Renewed by Light 