1st Blog EVER! I know... forgive me for being lame util now.
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
The Journey put into words
So this blog is going to be used as a tool for me to tell others about the Journey I’m trying to embark on… well I guess you could technically say that I’m already on my journey. It began the day I was conceived and became interesting on the day of my conversion. Later on my journey became tragic when I turned from God and epic the day I chose to own it.
Ok, so more specifically I want to tell people about my journey to Slovakia. A new season in my life that I couldn’t feel more terrified, besieged, undeserving and ECSTATIC about.
As you should know I have spent the last nine years spending my summers serving in Slovakia. I also had an opportunity to live there for about 8 months a little over three years ago. Even though in the past I have spent 50% of my year preparing to serve in Slovakia, 2% actually serving in Slovakia and 48% talking about Slovakia I never really saw myself living in Slovakia. In fact we have a little family joke where I refer to SK as my summer home. And even though I had a somewhat clear picture of what my life should look like I NEVR in a million years imagined it would be living in SK.
Normally while I’m in SK I sped my time being super outgoing, energetic and fun loving all the time. None of those are natural attributes that I carry. Really I’m task driven, shy and chill. As you can imagine being something that takes a lot of work for sake of ministry 24/7 is exhausting. Usually when I get home from the summer trip I want to sit in my house and not talk to anyone for at least a day. Not because I don’t like people. I love people! Alone time and times of quiet are how I rejuvenate.
A prayer turned into a reality
Noah (my brother the missionary living in Velky Krtis) used to live in Lucenec (about a 25 min drive from VK) and it made VK ministry difficult. During the winter I was out there we had an English club once a month in VK, English classes every Monday and church on Sundays. Not optimal outreach to only have 9 days a month of contact. Plus we were asked to serve (more like take charge) of a youth group in LC. The problem there was I didn’t know those kids we hadn’t established a relationship and frankly they didn’t really care that I was there. This made for an exhausting lonely time. All the while a handful of people were praying that God would move someone to VK to live and do fulltime ministry there.
About two years ago Noah moved out of LC and over to VK with dreams of opening a teahouse. The soul purpose of the teahouse was to provide students with a safe place (free from judgment, alcohol, drugs and violence all are problems in VK) until now there was literarily no place in the evenings for students to hang out other then bars and clubs. Noah did open the Agape House Teahouse about a year ago and it has been an amazing ministry this far. Now the students have a place to go and drink tea, have bible studies and different parties all without societal pressures.
Coffee? Tea? Calling?
So you may be thinking to yourself “why move now?” A question I am more then happy to answer. This year was the first time I have ever spent the night in Velky Krtis I have always spent the day in VK and gone home to LC. During the week I was staying in VK I worked at the teahouse every night. While I was there I was able to use the gifts God has given me. I was organizing, cleaning and serving. I know some of you may think it would have been more fun to be out and about hanging out with the students, but for a person with my personality it was breath of fresh air. I felt like being behind the counter I was able to see everyone… also some students would stay at the counter to hang out and talk with me. I didn’t feel like I had to put on a show or making the place more exciting then it already was. I just had to serve and be available. What my ideal ministry had always looked like in my head.
But still it was not until I saw, felt and heard the needs that I really felt called.
Right now there is no strong/mature female leaders in VK. The guys have discipleship and leaders, the girls do not. There are four girls from ages 15 to 22 that are believers and need guidance. They need a big sister to listen to their problems, tell them they are being ridiculous and LOVE them unconditionally. Also the teahouse is staffed right now with AMAZING visionaries but no task driven people with administrative skills. And the nail in the coffin was when I was approached by 3 separate people (who didn’t plot this in advance) to tell me that they have been praying for someone like me to come.
The reality call and emotion check
I have always seen “Callings” differently then most. Some people get an emotional pull to pick up and move and say it was God calling them. I have always been under the belief that if there is a need and I’m able to fill it I’m called. End of story.
I’m not one to make a conclusion after an emotional experience. I’m a girl and if I made choices based of emotion I would be the most unbalanced and messed up human on the planet. Instead I believe that God is calling me to Slovakia because they are multiple needs and he has equipped me in advance to handle them all. I make decisions base on the notion that I have been paid for and my life is not my own so God can use me where ever he wants. He has shown the needs and I’m answering the call.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
The Journey put into words
So this blog is going to be used as a tool for me to tell others about the Journey I’m trying to embark on… well I guess you could technically say that I’m already on my journey. It began the day I was conceived and became interesting on the day of my conversion. Later on my journey became tragic when I turned from God and epic the day I chose to own it.
Ok, so more specifically I want to tell people about my journey to Slovakia. A new season in my life that I couldn’t feel more terrified, besieged, undeserving and ECSTATIC about.
As you should know I have spent the last nine years spending my summers serving in Slovakia. I also had an opportunity to live there for about 8 months a little over three years ago. Even though in the past I have spent 50% of my year preparing to serve in Slovakia, 2% actually serving in Slovakia and 48% talking about Slovakia I never really saw myself living in Slovakia. In fact we have a little family joke where I refer to SK as my summer home. And even though I had a somewhat clear picture of what my life should look like I NEVR in a million years imagined it would be living in SK.
Normally while I’m in SK I sped my time being super outgoing, energetic and fun loving all the time. None of those are natural attributes that I carry. Really I’m task driven, shy and chill. As you can imagine being something that takes a lot of work for sake of ministry 24/7 is exhausting. Usually when I get home from the summer trip I want to sit in my house and not talk to anyone for at least a day. Not because I don’t like people. I love people! Alone time and times of quiet are how I rejuvenate.
A prayer turned into a reality
Noah (my brother the missionary living in Velky Krtis) used to live in Lucenec (about a 25 min drive from VK) and it made VK ministry difficult. During the winter I was out there we had an English club once a month in VK, English classes every Monday and church on Sundays. Not optimal outreach to only have 9 days a month of contact. Plus we were asked to serve (more like take charge) of a youth group in LC. The problem there was I didn’t know those kids we hadn’t established a relationship and frankly they didn’t really care that I was there. This made for an exhausting lonely time. All the while a handful of people were praying that God would move someone to VK to live and do fulltime ministry there.
About two years ago Noah moved out of LC and over to VK with dreams of opening a teahouse. The soul purpose of the teahouse was to provide students with a safe place (free from judgment, alcohol, drugs and violence all are problems in VK) until now there was literarily no place in the evenings for students to hang out other then bars and clubs. Noah did open the Agape House Teahouse about a year ago and it has been an amazing ministry this far. Now the students have a place to go and drink tea, have bible studies and different parties all without societal pressures.
Coffee? Tea? Calling?
So you may be thinking to yourself “why move now?” A question I am more then happy to answer. This year was the first time I have ever spent the night in Velky Krtis I have always spent the day in VK and gone home to LC. During the week I was staying in VK I worked at the teahouse every night. While I was there I was able to use the gifts God has given me. I was organizing, cleaning and serving. I know some of you may think it would have been more fun to be out and about hanging out with the students, but for a person with my personality it was breath of fresh air. I felt like being behind the counter I was able to see everyone… also some students would stay at the counter to hang out and talk with me. I didn’t feel like I had to put on a show or making the place more exciting then it already was. I just had to serve and be available. What my ideal ministry had always looked like in my head.
But still it was not until I saw, felt and heard the needs that I really felt called.
Right now there is no strong/mature female leaders in VK. The guys have discipleship and leaders, the girls do not. There are four girls from ages 15 to 22 that are believers and need guidance. They need a big sister to listen to their problems, tell them they are being ridiculous and LOVE them unconditionally. Also the teahouse is staffed right now with AMAZING visionaries but no task driven people with administrative skills. And the nail in the coffin was when I was approached by 3 separate people (who didn’t plot this in advance) to tell me that they have been praying for someone like me to come.
The reality call and emotion check
I have always seen “Callings” differently then most. Some people get an emotional pull to pick up and move and say it was God calling them. I have always been under the belief that if there is a need and I’m able to fill it I’m called. End of story.
I’m not one to make a conclusion after an emotional experience. I’m a girl and if I made choices based of emotion I would be the most unbalanced and messed up human on the planet. Instead I believe that God is calling me to Slovakia because they are multiple needs and he has equipped me in advance to handle them all. I make decisions base on the notion that I have been paid for and my life is not my own so God can use me where ever he wants. He has shown the needs and I’m answering the call.
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