The past few weeks have certainly kept me on my toes, that's for sure. The first bit of news is that our team has gotten bigger! The Melbourne team and the Geelong team are now one big team. So I want to introduce you to Matt, Adam, and Jenny. Matt is coming from Maryland, Adam from Wisconsin, and Jenny from D.C. We are now quite the eclectic mix of Aussies and Americans, singles and families, East Coasters and West Coasters. It's gonna be fun to watch this team really come together and to see how all of our different backgrounds and influences will be used to ultimately bring the Gospel to Geelong.
The next bit of news is that I will not be leaving on Monday like originally planned. There are two reasons for this, the first is that I don't have all of my support raised, and the second is that I don't have my visa yet. The rest of my team has theirs, and the Australian embassy was working tirelessly to get us our visas on time (they are seriously the nicest people that work at the embassy), and they were able to finish everyone's but mine because they are still waiting on my FBI clearance. It could be another two weeks before I get my clearance, but once I get that I'm good to go. Be praying that it comes soon so I can be on a plane ASAP!
All things considered, I'm doing really well. It's been a crazy couple of weeks, and the past few days have been nothing short of intense, but the Lord, as always, has been more than faithful. Even in the midst of all this craziness and having so much up in the air, He's kept me so grounded and level-headed. No matter what happens, at the end of the day I'm still saved by grace, He still loves me, I still have the most amazing family and friends that anyone could ask for (seriously you guys have been nothing short of amazing throughout this entire process), and I still get to be used as a part of His kingdom work. Pretty incredible if you ask me. I've been praying for quite some time that the Lord would show me just how blessed I am, and boy, has He delivered. Our God is pretty cool like that I guess :)
Nothing but love,
Michelle
"You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety." ~ Psalm 4:7-8
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Welcome!
So this is where I'll be posting updates and thoughts as I go through my STINT year in Geelong, Australia. If you get my prayer letter, this will be a bit of a supplement to those updates, going into more detail and getting a little more personal. I'm excited to share my thoughts with you as I experience what it's like to do ministry overseas!
To start off, I thought you'd like to meet my team. There is only me and one other STINTer, and we will be joining an already existing team. Our team leaders are Jimmy and Meagan Williams (joined by their newborn daughter Rita). They joined staff in the U.S., but are going on their 3rd year on ICS (International Campus Staff) in Geelong. Juno and Elisha Broadbent (and their two children), are the Australian staff natives who just finished raising support and were able to join Jimmy and Meagan a few months ago. And rounding out the team are the STINTers, Erin Todd and I. Erin just graduated from the University of Arizona, so we will both be the new kids on the block! Erin and I have only known each other for a few months, but it becomes more and more clear to me why the two of us were put together, and I already feel blessed to be going through this experience with her. This team is quite a mix, and definitely different from my team last year, but I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to bring us together and use all the unique backgrounds that are being brought to this team.
I'm hoping and praying to be able to leave with my team on January 11, 2010. There are only two things standing in my way: getting my visa and finishing support. The visa application is... well, lets just say I've used the phrase "drowning in paper work" way more times than I ever wanted to. My part is pretty much done, I'm just waiting to get my FBI clearance, so I can send off my entire visa application. I leave in 10 weeks, and they say that it can take up to 12 weeks to get your visa, so I'm praying for the Lord's sovereignty over this process! And then there's raising support... I still have a ways to go and, as usual, time seems to be slipping away from me. I know that the Lord is abundantly rich, and raising this money is nothing for such a big God, but my human side gets in the way and doubt has a tendency to creep in. It could not be more clear that it's the Lord's plan for me to go to Australia (I'm so grateful for this confidence in His will!), and I'm excited to see how He's going to get me there.
If you could be praying for these two things I would greatly appreciate it!! God is so good and I can't wait to see what kind of wonderful works He has planned for us. Thanks guys!
Nothing but love,
Michelle
Erin and I at STINT Briefing - I love this girl!
To start off, I thought you'd like to meet my team. There is only me and one other STINTer, and we will be joining an already existing team. Our team leaders are Jimmy and Meagan Williams (joined by their newborn daughter Rita). They joined staff in the U.S., but are going on their 3rd year on ICS (International Campus Staff) in Geelong. Juno and Elisha Broadbent (and their two children), are the Australian staff natives who just finished raising support and were able to join Jimmy and Meagan a few months ago. And rounding out the team are the STINTers, Erin Todd and I. Erin just graduated from the University of Arizona, so we will both be the new kids on the block! Erin and I have only known each other for a few months, but it becomes more and more clear to me why the two of us were put together, and I already feel blessed to be going through this experience with her. This team is quite a mix, and definitely different from my team last year, but I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to bring us together and use all the unique backgrounds that are being brought to this team.
I'm hoping and praying to be able to leave with my team on January 11, 2010. There are only two things standing in my way: getting my visa and finishing support. The visa application is... well, lets just say I've used the phrase "drowning in paper work" way more times than I ever wanted to. My part is pretty much done, I'm just waiting to get my FBI clearance, so I can send off my entire visa application. I leave in 10 weeks, and they say that it can take up to 12 weeks to get your visa, so I'm praying for the Lord's sovereignty over this process! And then there's raising support... I still have a ways to go and, as usual, time seems to be slipping away from me. I know that the Lord is abundantly rich, and raising this money is nothing for such a big God, but my human side gets in the way and doubt has a tendency to creep in. It could not be more clear that it's the Lord's plan for me to go to Australia (I'm so grateful for this confidence in His will!), and I'm excited to see how He's going to get me there.
If you could be praying for these two things I would greatly appreciate it!! God is so good and I can't wait to see what kind of wonderful works He has planned for us. Thanks guys!
Nothing but love,
Michelle
Erin and I at STINT Briefing - I love this girl!
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