Great Week

First off, Josh arrived safely on Tuesday afternoon. He came over to my house and hung out for the rest of the afternoon. We had a great time.



Wednesday was our three year anniversary (of dating). Can you believe it has been three years? My, how time flies. Anyhoo, He came in with a grin on his face and something behind his back. He brought three pink roses in a vase; one for each year we've been together. He had also put a gift in my room, unknown by myself, and surprised me with it later. It was a video game I have been wanting, Guitar Hero II, complete with guitar controller. I gave him a nunchuck controller for his Wii and a game/controller set called Wii Play. He was ecstatic! We played Guitar Hero with John for the rest of the day.



Thursday we went oer to J.P.'s house and hung out with him and Matt. We played Family Guy Monopoly while watching Family Guy. Josh won the game. We also played J.P.'s PS3 for about an hour. Friday evening we went to see Shrek 3 with Sarah and Chase.



Saturday I wnt with the Gunter's to Aunt Kim's house to celebrate Josh's borthday with the family. We went to an Italian restaurant for lunch, then watched Josh open presents and then we went swimming for the rest of the day. When we got back to Josh's, we played his Wii with Austin.

Sunday was an interesting day. In the morning, I picked up Josh and we went to church; I to my meeting and he to service. I went out to eat with the Gunter's at Life's A Beach (great little place, by the way) and then went back to Josh's. We played more Wii and then I helped him pack for Austin. He's staying with Nana and Paw while he continues to work at the ARL (Applied Research Labs).

The interesting thing about Sunday was that I became convicted at the meeting Sunday morning. Brent was talking to us about the two topics assigned for the meeting. I don't remember what the first one was - I walked in halfway through it. The second, though, was about Bible study and how if you haven't formed the habit before you leave for the trip, you will tend not to turn to the Bible on the trip, or be confused about where to go or what to do when you get there. There was a complicated way to study the Bible, complete with concordances and very academic and scholarly looking. Brent told us though, that it doesn't have to be that complicated. All you hve to do is go to any passage in the Bible, whatever you choose and ask two questions: what does it say about God and what does it say about me? He used Luke 15, the "Lost" chapter of the Bible and Psalm 23 as an example. The way he explained it made a lightbulb go off in my head. When he asked those two questions, then said the answers, and then said that there was a sermon in those answers and questions alone, it clicked. I saw it.

Then I started to feel bad that I hadn't sudied the Bible daily when it was so easy to do. I always knew that I don't have to get anything out of it every time, but I found it difficult to force myself to read when I didn't feel like it and most of the time I wouldn't remember what I had read. Then Merrikay got up there and added a comment to Brent's lesson. She said that a lot of the tiem when she studied the ible she wouldn't remember wht she read, but when she was talking to someone about the Lord a lot of times things that she read would come into her mind and be exactly what she needed.

This is what I need to do. Just read a passage, ask the two questions, take it at face value, and think about it throughout the day or whenever it comes to mind. Maybe will help me deal with Jason at work. Maybe I can tune him out when I need to or maybe I won't get so frustrated when he acts like himself. I'm trying to set a good example for him and maybe reading more will help. I know it will help my relationship with God. I've felt so distant recently. Maybe this is the wakeup call that I need.

Seeing Robyn on Sunday encouraged me as well. She was here telling about her experiences in Germany. She has sucha herat for the Lord and even her Buddhist neighbor recognizes that "when she prays, God listens." She even pointed me out to the group and spoke German to me. I responded in German, of course. I felt so special that she knew my name and remembered me. With so many people that she knows and so many faces that she had seen that day, I figured I'd be on the bottom of the list of people to see. I saw her Sunday morning and she squealed and gave me a huge hug. That is the best feeling in the world. I hope I can live in Germany, even if for a short time, and get to go to language school. I don't even mind washing my trash and separating the metal from the plastic on the ink pens I throw away. It keeps the country beautiful and healthier; I can certainly do my part. I really hope that I can be a light that shines like Robyn, whether in Germany or Russia or stateside. I'm even more pumped about learning German now!

Thank you, Robyn, and thank you, Brent, for making the lightbulb go off and fueling the fire of my passion for Germany. Let's just hope that God reveals the means for me to go to a four-year University and that I am blessed with proficient teachers of the erman language or even bless me with native speakers. Honestly, the prospect of learning German is the only thing keeping me in school motivation wise.

Speaking of missions (which was about two paragraphs ago) please pray for the Russia team. Our leader has had to step down because of family issues and the whole thing feels as if it is going to fall part. We had two other members decide not to go, bringing us to nine people without a leader. We need someone who not only can lead, but whom has been to Russia before. We're not even sure what we're going to do while we're there. We have ideas, but nothing is set in stone (theoretically). Just pray that the team will trust God with the trip and fundraising and not worry about what will happen next. If He wants us to go, He will provide the way. I just keep telling myself that.

Eine schoene Tag haben!