Rest Part II

Praise our good God for showing me truth and teaching me. Through prayer I came to see that by not resting in the Lord I am routinely rejecting a good gift from my Father, ignoring my need for restoration and pridefully carrying on on my own.

No wonder Sabbath is such an important concept in Scripture! God knows that we need it and it is a reminder of our need for God!

I have a confession to make, I am not a good rester.

I desire to become a person who knows how to rest well. Not just for my own health and sanity (though God surely had these in mind when he set up the Sabbath mandate) but in order to practice humility. I desire to practice rest (giving my worries to God and accepting renewal, strength, peace and rest from Him) in order to more fully trust God and in order to live a life that communicates "I really need you God" rather than "I don't need rest, I can do this!" In order to communicate to God "I desire to give my struggles to you recognizing that you can give me wisdom and grace to face the, not ignore them."

I want to trust God and show Him with my life that my hope and stability are found in my knowledge of who he is and what he has done not in who I am and what I can do.

God teach me to rest well. Help me to humbly express my need for you in the way I rest. Help me recieve the renewal you desire to offer to those who come to you. Forgive me for my pride, I need you and can't make an impact in this world without your strength and direction. Help me resolve to work on this and give me the humility to remember this lesson often especially in a world that gives value to self sufficent people who pride themselves on how much they can do without stopping.

Praise God for His work in our lives. I pray that I will continually ask God to transform the weaknesses in my life into opportunities to show His grace and strength.

Rest Part I

It's been a month exactly since I wrote about rest and how I desparately need to learn how to build it into my life. I was in the middle of the craiest week of the semester as far as assignments go and as I sat in our chapel (which was open for prayer and set aside for students to stop and rest before God)

I prayed "God if there is anything that is keeping me from knowing you more or living my life as you want me to please show me and change me."

It is amazing to me how faithful God is when I honestly and humbly pray for him to show me my weaknesses. I am amazed at how specific he is and how loved and not condemned I feel when he puts his finger on something I need to change. When God speaks to me this way and when I experience his love and holiness in the light of my own weaknesses and failures how else can I respond except by humbly wrestling before God with my problem and seeking restoration through him. I have a deep desire to change that I might serve and know him better.

The area that God specifically put on my heart that day was that I often try to live my life in my own strength and then I come to my end (which doesn't take long) and am exhausted (which happened often last semester). I love my work and my life as a student but don't love feeling tired all the time (emotionally and spiritually as well as physically).

God brought to mind a few conversations in the last few months in which I basically told people "I don't rest." I was just resigned to the fact that I have a crazy busy life and that I don't need to slow down.

CONVICTION!! What did I just say that I don't need rest?

I certainly live my life that way sometimes. It is obvious that I need a whole lot of things in my life. It is obvious that I do not have everything under control. But somehow in my pride I was able to convice myself that I'd ask God for strength when I ran out of my own. Ugh! I hate that that was part of my thinking for so long with out me acknowledging it. How arrogant and how dead wrong. I gladly repent of that and chose to accept my utter inability to serve God and live a godly life outside of His strength.

Anticipation...

I just spent over an hour browsing houses online with 4 other girls who I hope to live with next year. We found some really exciting prospects current favorite is a house in the country 15 minutes from campus 1400 sq feet 3 bedrooms 2 bath for $925 a month (divided by 5) bonuses= owner will take care of the yard, includes washer and dryer.



We talked about how I would decorate the house and Heather would cook for us. We talked about doing a Bible study together and getting to know our neighbors...

Are we dreaming? Possibly, but it is fun to dream. :)

New York Pictures

So I know some of you have been waiting for a while. I hope these pictures help you get a feel for the ministry I saw and a bit of the big city. I'll do my best to explain.


The Classic New York City Street


Near Fifth Avenue


Central Park


The New York City Skyline from the Rockefeller Building


Sidewalk Sunday School




Michelle with some of her girls


The Truck


Some Cute Girls on the Bus

Metro Ministries International

Question: "What are you doing in New York?"

Answer: I have a good friend from College Michelle who has been in Brooklyn New York doing a Side Walk Sunday School ministry with Metro Ministries for 3 months now. I decided to add a few days on to the end of my Thanksgiving break and go and visit her.

It has been an eye opener to understand the conditions so many kids live in, in the projects of New York. It's heart breaking.

It has also been very exciting to be a part of a vibrant ministry that reaches 20,000 kids a week by pulling up trucks with a fold down side in their projects (apt buildings) and bringing Sunday school to them. The hope this ministry is able to communicate to these children is so important, it is life transformational. The gospel of Christ's love always transforms lives.

I guess what I mean is that some how the light shines brightest when the darkness is deep.

And is the darkness deep. Many of these kids have experienced verbal, physical or sexual abuse. An untold number grew up with young, young mothers in their teens. Most of them don't have fathers. Many have siblings who have been involved in or killed by neighborhood gangs. They have many fears and hurts that a child shouldn't be plagued with. They live fearful and bear the weight of feeling unsafe. Not all have experienced these horrors first hand, but each has grown up in a culture where they are aware of it. Yet that is the reality in a broken and fallen world. The good news is that there are people that care for them.

And greater still the truth that there is a God who knows each of their stories, each of their wounds and worries and grieves with them.

Isn't that an amazing thought!!

As hard as it has been to see the pain and fear in some of these kids eyes and walk the often dirty and dark halls of their buildings it has been amazing to see this ministry live out the vision they have for these kids so effectively. It is a joy to see the passion in the interns hearts as I watch them serve these children day after day taking little time to rest or even sit down for a meal (it is a very busy schedule).

I love hearing them talk about the children as "my kids." I love that God has used their words to heal hearts and speak the truth with authority in an environment where many other influences are speaking much louder. I love that each intern (there are 52 from 10 or more different countries) have caught a vision for these children, have taken ownership of the neighborhoods assign to them and are pushing into the darkness with light and hope.

It is not safe here and yet these people are willing to even lay aside their "need" or "right" for safety and in courage walk the path Christ has called them to.

It's hard not get caught up in a ministry when so many around you are living out a vision.

And the vision is powerful. I will never think of New York the same, I know. And I think that I will forever remember the faces of the kids in the ghetto.

What a blessing it has been for me to come and develop a heart to pray for this ministry and these kids. What a blessing to see what my dear friend has been describing these months. It is such a blessing to see another piece of what our God is doing in the world.

Praise the Lord for His power to change lives and pray that he continues to rescue children from the dominion of darkness to bring them into the kingdom of the son he loves. (Col 1:13)

Mary


Here's a Picture of Michelle and I last year:




I hope to put up pictures soon.
For more info on this ministry visit http://www.metroministries.org

Brooklyn, New York

I am in New York. I am learning a lot and enjoying my time with my good friend Michelle. I have loved being involved in this ministry so far and am excited to have a day off in Manhattan today. Hopefully I'll have time to post more later and there will definetly be pictures to share soon. Until then.

Mary

Are we wasting our lives?

I just finished a monolith of a book (550 pgs) on the disease of Pluralism and how it is clandestantly corroding our society. Ok, enough with the honors English vocab, let me get to the point. The book is called The Gagging of God and challenges us to look at how we have "gagged God" by our accepting the misconstrued philosophies of Pluralism that our socity is replete with. There is much as stake with this, something must be done.

We cannot live the default life and "go with the flow" as believers, because no matter how Christian we like to view our nation as, the "flow", popular culture, is not seeking God.

And worse yet, many are masking Christian metaphors with anti-Biblical agendas (because we are after all a 'Christian nation') and many "casual Christians" are being pulled along.

I think that for a long time Christians in America have thought that it was enough to just "go to church" and live a quiet life, not causing a stir.

"Live and Let live" I heard a Christian woman I respect say a few years ago.

WHAT! What kind of life is that? Will we really be coaxed into a life of no impact so quickly? Are we so easily swindled into believing the world's logic? Sometimes we don't even notice.

I guess I have realized lately how "non- default" an authentic Christian life is. While the cultural patterns of our society and especially the way we glorify personal comfort and happiness as the highest goal, and thus re-enforce an isolationist morality lifestyle, I would venture to say that no committed, fully submitted follower of Christ has ever been satisfied with this kind of life. And far be it from me to be either.

In our culture, which is becoming so permissive of sin, and so hesitant to call it what it is, a culture that seeks to serve itself and rationalize away what little guilt our numbed consciences are still able to percieve; living an authentic, life altering Christian life is every bit counter cultural. Those who pattern their morality after the absolute values of Scripture, those who choose to serve others even at their own expense, those who choose to stand up for the truth stand in such utter contrast to our society's values. These values are incomprehensible to our culture.

Why would you sacrifice your comfort for another person? Why deny yourself something you desire? Why would you serve someone without expecting something in return?

These values when lived out and not just spoken of, are shocking to the world. It is radical. It flies in the face of all that makes sense to the human/carnal mind and will. It has always been this way. This is the example we are given in Scripture.Paul preached to a pluralistic society too (see discourse on Marshill Acts 17). He eventually died for refusing to assimilate in this culture. He could have just said that our God was one of the many gods, but rather he held that Christ was the only true God. He was counter cultural.

If we are not serving the Lord in a radical way now, I'll tell you we won't all of the sudden become faithful when trials come. Do we want to follow in the footsteps of the so many faithful before us, those who lived a life of radical faith and dependence on the Lord? Or live safe lives that amount to little of eternal value?

My heart is sad to see how easy it is for us, myself included, to settle into this default Christian lifestyle. It's burdensome to think how many Christians have been seduced into living lives of little eternal significance and little danger to the forces of darkness who are warring for souls. The consequences of not living out our Christian faith are devastating.

Have we forgotted that we have light! THE Light! and Hope that won't fail! We have what every heart yearns for, the answer.

We must live our lives on purpose and with purpose. We must carry our light into the world. And I remind you this does not happen on its own. It takes work, it takes sacrifice and intentionality. Are we up for the challenge? What will the future of our nation look like? Will we be conquered by Pluralism? Christ's gospel can never be overcome, but will we as His messangers give in? Will we be silent as the truth is so craftily destorted?

I PRAY that we, followers of God in our nation, would take the risk to make a difference.

I PRAY that my generation will walk in their call as followers of Christ and choose to live countercultural lives. That we would be a generation that seeks the Lord (Ps. 24:6)

I PRAY that we see and accept the great responsibility we have to faithfully and relevantly communicate the gospel of truth in our culture.

I PRAY that Christ's love would compel us to live not for ourselves but for the one who gave his life for us. (1 Cor 5:14-15).

I PRAY that I would accept this challenge in my own life.

The Call of Every Christian

I got the following message in my campus mail box this morning and was absolutely blown away by the clarity with which it described my heart. Be encouraged and Challenged by it. (I also included my response).

There was once a gathering of Christians who took a stand. They heard the call of Christ and refused to settle for anything less.

They decided to live out Christian life along side one another in a way that was challenging and encouraging.

They chose to speak with courage, think with purpose and act with passion.

They resolved to share without hesitation, hope without apology and love without fear.

They willed to worship with everything and in
everything.

They dared to dream big and to challenge the impossible.

They were complelled to love God until everything in them changed; and to love their neighbors into loving God.

They decided to no longer grovel in sin already forgiven.
They decided to no longer hide behind "Christian" masks and empty smiles.
They decided to no longer cover up their sin in an attempt to appear good, but to cast aside their sin in an attempt to do good.

They refused to settle for "runtdom" and instead, strove to be heroes.

They lived life with greatness- not a greatness that has anything to do with self, but a greatness that has everything to do with Christ.

They determined to train hard- to run, to fight, to strive with all that was in them until their bruised and well-worn hands held the prize and their tear-stained eyes saw their King.

Until that day, they yearned for every step taken to glorify their Maker; every bead of sweat to fall working for the Kingdom; and every heartbeat to beat in time with their Saviors's.

They decided to no longer give God part, or even most, but all, and that nothing short of all will do.


Who is this gathering? It is us. Or, more accurately, what we could be. This is the call of every Christian- your call, my call. And some of us have heard this call and answered it. We are going for it. We are giving God our all.

This is an invitation to come with us.

We are not afraid of who sees us. Please don't misunderstand this. It is not a prideful exaltation of ourselves, but rather, unashamed love.

This is not a club, or a clique or an activity- it is a lifestyle. Will you answer the call?

If so, please contact us.
Jesse Hayes
Collin Box

________________________________________________________

Jesse!!

Wow, I got that statement in my box today and thought, "Wow, this is what I have been praying for all semester" for myself and for the girls in my hall, well our whole campus. As an R/A team we have sensed a lot of opposition as girls step forward to confess sins and work through the healing process. My room mate and I have also talked a lot about how the values that our campus is standing for (just think of pk's message on God's glory in chapel today) and the honest lifestyle where authenticity and growth happen, that the R/As have been promoting are so contrary to what Satan wants us to believe and do. This whole idea of what it means for us to live radical lives commited to God has been brought vividly to mind even this week as I started a study of Daniel, a man who "resolved not to be defiled" by indulging in a culture very much as "me-focused" and materialistic and spiritually misdirected as ours (Daniel 1:8).

It is a battle.

I am so grateful to you and Collin for putting into words our call as Christians to stand up, refuse to settle, refuse to stay in sin, refuse mediocrity and embrace a life that is lived to bring God honor even to the point of personal sacrifice. I just can't explain how many things in that statement echoed the cry of my heart.

I have heard this call and am eager to support others and be supported by others who likemindedly desire to live this lifestyle in our world. Even while our world and our "christian" circles, call us to blend in, dream manageable dreams, live "normal" lives, not cause a stir, not make a difference and live for ourselves.

Amen! I am all for this.

___________________________________________________

If you would like to contact my friend Jesse, you can e-mail him at jessehayes@corban.edu

Please be praying for our campus as it is at great cost that people recieve this call and there will be opposition. Pray that we would stand firm and rely on God wholly. Please pray about living this vision and call to all believers.

-Mary

A Challenging Quote

This is from today's devotional in My Utmost for His Highest By Oswald Chambers:

If through a broken heart God can bring His
purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your
heart.

How many of us have the courage to pray that? And yet it seems that all those men and women through whom God chose to do great things, were willing to pay the price of their comfort and happiness. They traded that for the joy of being used of God.

Wow, what a challenging thought! What would it take for us to pray that way? A lot of self denial, that's for sure, and faith that God can and desires to use brokenness to accomplish His will in our lives that we may come to know Him!

-Mary

A Day in the life...

of an R/A in a girl's dorm...


Life is just funny sometimes and I am humored to look back on all that happened in the last five hours:



In the last five hours I have:

-Practiced guitar

-Had a coffee date with a girl from my hall last year, and caught up on life

-Comforted crying freshman in the hallway who are failing their classes and don't know what to do

-Talked about awkward things our teachers have said (I did NOT start this)They are teaching about Song of Soloman in the Freshman Bible Survey classes right now... that is all I am going to say

-Listened to a girl in my hall share things about her life she's never told anyone before and talk about how the Lord has sustained her in it all (really an amazing story, this girl has been through so much in the last 4 years...more than I could imagine)

-Tried on an authentic Civil War period sun dress and ball gown, hoop skirt and all, one of my girls is involved in war re-enactments...RANDOM! (Pictures will have to tell that story)

-Led some worship songs

-Consented to record myself making farm animal noises for a whole minute to help one of my girls with her creative way to ask someone to the Barn Party.

-Talked about relationships with my roommate, though that is almost an everyday occurance.

-Comforted a friend who's 3-year-long boyfriend just broke up with her

-Evaded, yet again, getting more pages read in my 554 page book due in a week and a half...500 more pages to go...



Who wouldn't want to live this life? Don't answer that :) Really I am grateful for the opportunities in each day that I have to encourage, comfort, and mentor the amazing women in my hall. I learn so much from them and am reminded how deep and complicated and detailed and beautiful each life is. My prayer is that I can be a good steward of the ministry God has given me and still manage to get my homework done...no easy task.

Well, it has been a long day...am I have an 8 am class tomorrow...so I am going to bed.

Mary

An unexpected Blessing

This past Friday we had something very hard happen on our campus. A girl was hospitalized for self-injury. As RAs we all were affected, one of us because she had seen it, one of us because she was her RA and felt the weight of responsibility and the rest of us as we felt the burden of supporting our RA team and being there to "pick up the pieces" of girls in our halls who were close to the situation.

I was given the role of making sure a few girls in my hall were safe from themselves, were being listened to and were stable.

Big job for such little shoulders.

Later that night in talking with a friend and a fellow RA I asked "When did I become qualified for this?" She reminded me that as far as being capable to "fix" the situation, I was not. We each needed to rely on the power of God in these people's lives to bring healing.

She assured me that God had placed me here for a purpose and that he would give me what I needed. It wasn't untill a couple days later now that I realize the truth in their words.

God did prepare me for this, he did equip me for this job and enabled me to be the support these people needed. As I draw on Him for strength He gives me what I need to support others.

The greatest realization came however when I thought about the how. In a conversation on the way to church this morning I realized that through uncommonly difficult circumstances (at least in my opinion) I was brought to a point of knowing my personal need to depend on God and develop a personal realtionship with Him at a young age (12-13ish). What if God's purpose in bringing me to that place so young was to build in me the character needed for such times as these?

My minded reeled for a moment as I considered this thought.

Really? Could God have had purpose in the ways he used all the trials and hard lessons in my life?

Could it be that even in the darkest times of my life, like when my mom died, God could already see a way to work in me that I might be able now- 14 years later- to better comfort someone who's grieving? Could God really have such all-encompassing and specific purposes for the trials of my life?

I think the answer in line with who I know God to be in His word is yes! (1 Peter 1:6-7; 2 Cor. 1:1-4) What a great and profound thought to understand and accept. In the presence of struggle, hardship and pain I can have joy knowing that God is preparing me for greater purposes. (Isn't that the truth of James 1:1-12?)

I feel so blessed (in a way I am only beginning to understand) to have had the trials and struggles that I have had because I know that they have grown me into who I am today and equipped me to better serve my God. It is an unexpected and sometimes hard to accept sort of blessing, but I am grateful for it.

I would encourage all of you who are in Christ to have faith to see how God is using the hard, defining times in your life to shape you and prepare you for great service to Him. God doesn't waste any part of our lives but redeems even the hardest times for His greater purpose. There is great joy in that.

Mary

The long awaited update almost fully a month later...

Really is it October already?! So sorry to everyone who feels like they have no idea what is going on in our lives, (Sorry to the three of you who have been checking :)

Wow, the last time we updated, for real, we were leaving our "family" in Slovenia.

In the last month I have hit the ground running for sure and taken the fall semester of my junior year at Corban College head on. And those who have been able to keep up with me know that there is no exaggeration there.

I have already had my first tests of the semester (Greek and Contemporary Theology today) and I will be giving my first message/sermon tomorrow.


This is a Picture of my R/A Team outside Papa Heyden's in Portland

As an R/A I have started up hall bible study with a discussion about what defines us and am really excieted to lead the girls in a personal growth study on who we are (in Christ, in conflict, in our personalities, in the way we show and recieve love etc.) I am working on writing/putting together the 10 week study based on books I have read and lessons I have learned/am learning.


This is a Picture of my R/A team and our Brother Dorm R/A team

This last month has been an excieting time of new beginnings, a new ministry in my hall, new relationships on campus, and a new roommate. It has also been a time of deep growth in my relationship with Christ as I learn to trust Him to lead me and sustain me when I walk in trials and don't know what is next.


This is a Picture of My Roommate Holly and I at the all school Beach Party

God has been so faithful to have me learn lessons before I get the opportunity to teach them and this has lead to some sweet times of vulnerability and bonding with my hall, friends and classmates.

For example my hall theme this year is "Deeply rooted and growing..." as I prepared for our first event, which was going to be a time of "planting" new goals in our lives as we planted little plants as reminders, I began to pray that God would show me where I need to grow. Faithfully, God gently and specifically put His finger on my personal Bible study times and challenged me to seek to grow in the depth of my study of His word and in building into my life consistant times for prayer, study, reflection and worship. Before I asked my girls to identify their goal I was able to testify to how God had given me a goal and could tell them some of the action steps I had taken to work on it. Cool huh?!



Also I prepared to preach to my Women's Message Prep class on James 1:1-12 about persevering through trials, finding joy in them, seeking wisdom in them and asking God to teach you in them, God spoke those very lessons to my heart.

I can't explain how precious the lessons I've learned about the depth of growth and sweet dependance on God that trials/challenges/tests have brought in the last month. I have actually been able to find joy, and a deep sense on purpose in knowing that God not only knows that I am in a hard time, but it is His will for me to be here right now that I may grow in Him. And I have seen growth in myself already as God is purifying my love for Him, strengthening my trust and teaching me to have faith when the future seems unsure at times.



It is only now being in the midst of learning this that I have the opportunity to share this perspective with my peers. Here is an excerpt from my sermon:

"God desires completeness in us. He brings trials to grow us and make us stronger, not break us. His love and plans for us motivate the trials he places in our way. If you ask for completeness in Christ, trials will come. In the past few weeks I have been challenged to find joy in this place that God has clearly led me to. At first it didn’t seem possible. My joy in this time of trial has been in being able to offer my burden to the Lord. My joy has been in seeing God’s amazing provision of peace amidst a turbulent time for me. My joy has been in realizing that even in time I have been waiting and enduring so far, he has already taught me so much. And He has brought me to a place where I can honestly pray, “Lord, please do not take me from this place of trial until you have accomplished everything you desire in my life.” Our hope is knowing that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. God has purpose for the trials he allows us to face."

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to teach us and grow us. He is so good.

There you have it, long overdue and LONG... I will try to update more than once a month, but I can't promise.

Mary

oops

so it was brought to my attention (thanks Carole) that Mary and I have neglected our blog.

I'm sad to say that I don't really have time for a good update BUT Mary and I WILL keep this updated as best we can.

-Lindy

We're home!

After a little over 26 hours of traveling Mary and I arrived safely.

both of us are adjusting well and are VERY thankful for that.

Mary is back to school and I am back to work. We will still update our blog but we will be updating about our experiences separately... seems like a such a foreign concept, I know.

Bookends

We took a picture in this same place the first day we were in Ljubljana so many weeks ago... (see one of our first posts in June). I thought it was cool how these pictures of us eating ice cream next to the Ljublanica, mark the beginning and end of our adventure here, our first and last day in the city we've called home. It's amazing to begin to think of how different we are now than when we took that first picture, now that we have reached the end. I am convinced that we will be discovering all that God accomplished in us this summer for years to come.

Just a little contemplative thought,

Mary for the team :)

Parting is such sweet sorrow

so this is probably going to be my last and final blog from Slovenia... wow...








it truly is amazing how quick the time has gone. Here's a little window into what we've been up to this last week.

We visited a missionary family in Croatia for 3 days. It was nice to be with the family as well as spend some quiet time at the coast. The Croatian coast is gorgeous. The family is pretty cool too :-)

I thought I'd start out with a picture that would fully encompass our entire trip...



... but then I thought ehhhh this one is too funny to pass up..

These are some pictures of Sarah and Stevo's kids


This is them playing with each other (L -> R) Daci, Marko, Nina






*notice the matching shirts.. I'm a loner :-P)

One morning Mary and I got to spend a few hours at the beach... alone... it was so nice to have time to reflect and journal.. and take pictures :-P Here's a few.







They also took us to a castle. On our way there I got to travel in the back of the car. As you can tell from the picture... it's a pretty happenin' way to travel...



this is the view




A special thanks to both Stevo and Sarah for having us in their home. It was an amazing time of encouragement and dreaming. Thanks for letting us be a part of it.

Then we hopped on a train and headed back to Slovenia. We were just in time for girls night at the Jacksons. Lori whipped up a scrumptious dinner. We played games and then settled down to watch a movie... the second one for the summer!!

What a grand and wonderful day.

Today was spent packing. Both Mary and I are 90% packed... our apartment seems so empty. All our pictures are down and our cupboards are bare... it's weird.

Around 2 we met up with some of our favorite girls. Meta (May-ta) and Alex (Al ex :-P). We all went out to lunch (everyone but Meta got dessert for lunch)


YUM!!! Nutella and pineapple



Mary and Meta



Alex and I



After lunch we all got ice cream and ate it along the river



Those girls are so precious to us. Our afternoon was wonderful.

We are greatly anticipating seeing our friends at theology school. We'll be seeing them to say good bye but you know what, God has given both Mary and I a super natural peace about leaving. We understand that it's time to leave but have hope in our return to Slovenia.

We are finishing strong.

-Lindy for the Marylindy team

Ti time and girls night

today was a busy busy day.

First off we connected with Tiana and Lisa (missionaries and fellow Good Shepherd peeps). We went on a hiking adventure :-)

Us stopping to take a picture on the hike:



We MADE IT!! While the hike wasn't too long it got pretty intense at times... we were happy to make it all the way to the top.



We were also pretty hungry so we grabbed a bite to eat... the food was plate lickin' good.



These pictures were taken of/from the church on top of the hill.




Girls night was awesome. We enjoyed some good food (thanks Mary) and played some good games. Here's a pic of our pina coladas (again, thanks Mary).



Group shot



We're already missing these girls! I wish we didn't have to leave them in Slovenia!

-Lindy for the Marylindy team

this is a shout out to someone special

I just wanted to let Matt know how much I appreciate him.

There are so many great things about you, Matt :-) Thanks for being patient with me and for putting so much effort into our relationship. Thank you for trusting God and for seeking Him. You inspire me and challenge me. Thanks for being so supportive of my trip to Slovenia... especially since I can't be with you on our one year anniversary. You are sacrificial... I miss you.

It's been a wonderful year dating you. I look forward to celebrating when I get home.

-Lindy

missionary life is so hard

... and these pictures are proof :-P


Mary and I were looking at our wardrobes and admiring all the new things we've acquired since living in Slovenia... we were shocked to find that over 98% of all our new clothes were from the famous H&M... We decided we wanted to put on a fashion show for you so you can see all our purchases.. at the same time...

we really enjoy the layered look....



As you can see we also really enjoy the natural wind-blown look





Man, we're good looking :-)






hope you enjoyed the our fashion show.. we sure did :-)



Looking back we probably should have fought the urge but oh well... hind sight is 20/20

PS. Sadly, What you see isn't even everything we bought at H&M.
PSS. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THESE PICTURES USED AGAINST US ON 'WHAT NOT TO WEAR'

-Lindy for the team

first phase of saying goodbye

We had the time of our lives serving along side some of the greatest people here in Slovenia. Spending time with them outside of camp is such a treat. Here are some more pictures from fun outings.



Sasa, Meta, Mary and I had some fun together before Neja's birthday party. We got ice cream and chatted... I'm gonna miss these girls. For those of you who don't know Sasa (sasha) is in the yellow and Meta (may-ta) is in the floral shirt.

this is our very own Neja (Nay ya) celebrating her 21st birthday :-)



I wish we had some better group photos but we'll have to settle for some individual ones.

Gasper (Gah sh per)



Sasa and Mateja (Mah teh ya)




This group is just so much fun!! Last week we all got together and went out to drinks (non alcoholic- don't worry mom). We enjoyed just being with each other... again no great group photos...

Naja (Nai ya) and us



Miso (Mee sho) and us



These guys are our peers and our family. In their everyday lives they face rejection and have to fight for their faith. They are our heroes.


Don't forget to pray for them! Many of them are attending Theological school this week and will be learning lots of great things about our Lord. Pray for the spiritual warfare that they may face.

-Lindy for the team


Like Lindy was saying we love these people so much. We love them for many specific reasons because of who they are. We love them because we've seen how they serve God and because we have served with them. We love them because we see the love of Christ in them. And we love them because they are our family here.

As I think we've said before, for most of our brothers and sisters in Christ over here, the church is the only supportive family they have when it comes to the most important thing in their lives which is Christ. Because of this there is a deep bond between believers. We were privileged to be invited into this family too and we are so blessed to be considered as that.

We have so many dreams for Slovenija and our futures here, most of which are still too elusive and scattered to write about. But as our heart for the needs here grows, the most exciting dream by far is the one where we get to serve with our amazing peers in Slovenija. Can't really explain how awesome that could be. Anybody want to join us in dreaming that way?

Mary for the LindyMary team