Future Plans

It is crazy to think that I am now back in Abbotsford for my final 2 weeks of debriefing. My last week in Germany was filled with so much love and so many goodbyes that it was hard to leave, but throughout the whole time I felt the peace of God knowing that I was heading back to where He wanted me. I am so grateful for this experience that God guided me through. What a good good Father.  I have learned so much and have so much still to process with God still, but one thing I do know is that this experience has changed me and funny enough it wasn't me who saw it but the people  who saw me when I returned to Abbotsford. As they were looking at me and talking with me, one of the things that some people said is "Stephanie you are not the same person I met 10 months ago" and it is true I am not the same person I was 10 months ago. Praise God for that. He always wants to take us to a deeper, healthier relationship with Him.

For those of you who don't know what I'm doing this summer here is an update.At the beginning of April I was on a walk talking with Jesus not knowing what my future held in front of me. Knowing that I wanted to be a nurse but also knowing that at foremost I wanted to do the will of God. In a moment of "weakness" I told God that if camp (Stillwood) offered me a job in the next few days I would take it. And sure enough camp offered me a job in the one position that I always said I would never do: camp Nurse.

   This decision now stood before me not whether I would listen and obey God, but if I would follow God with a joyful heart, with no bitterness (as I did when I entered Trek [as some of you might remember I didn't want to do Trek and I was begrudgingly following Jesus]). It was interesting to see the change in my attitude: "I'm going to camp and what a privilege it is to serve God with my gifts and talents in one of my favourite places in the world. Again I will say praise God for He is the one who guides our footsteps and knows exactly what we need.

While at camp I will be looking for a nursing job and I know that God will again direct me to where I need to go.

May I just take this time to say: Thank you all so much for praying and supporting me for these last 10 months. I am so grateful and overwhelmed by the support of so many people. Thank you for making it possible for me to go on this adventure with God. May God bless you and keep you.
Gott segne!!   (God Bless)  -  I'm trying my best to keep up my "German."

Prayer Request:

1) For job opportunities! I will be looking after my debrief time. Also that my heart and my confidence in the Lord's provision will not falter.

2) For Dori, a woman back in Germany, that God will send someone her way to continue to water the seed that I planted.
3) For my time at camp, that I will be able to mentor some younger staff and encourage and empower people with their walk with God.
4) That the transition home will be smooth, and that I can be daily attached to the vine!

Gott segne

P.S. Just a reminder that the celebration night for TREK is June 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Northview Community Church. Would love to be able to share with all of you the things that God has done through me and in me. 

The Lost Sheep

       Wow another month come and gone! It is really hard to believe that I have been here for over 6 months. It is even harder to believe that I will be leaving in a month to return to Abbostford, British Columbia for debrief. I thought I would share with you are story, that has been taking place long before I got here. 

I had the privilege to work at camp as Head Females 2015 with an amazing girl from Germany Dori. We spent many hours together and actually formed a strong friendship. I admired her for her love for Jesus and her desire to tell everyone about him. She had a great way of connecting with the other girls that we were leading. So when I heard that I was coming to Germany, I got really excited about the idea of seeing her and visiting with her. Little did I know when I contacted her that she would live in the exact same city as I would be working in. This news was great!

Though when we finally got together I was devastated to hear that Dori was no longer a Christian, but now considered herself an atheist.  I didn't really know what to think, here is this girl who was so on fire for God, who now professed herself to no longer believing in God. I ended up asking God what He wanted me to do. And he told me that I would be praying everyday for Dori to come back to know who Jesus is. Now I have to admit I have missed some days, but for the most part Dori has been apart of my daily prayers. 

Throughout the time being here in Germany, I have met with Dori at least once a month, sometimes every week. God has done amazing things during this time. In January Dori decided that she believed in God again but didn't want to follow him. The next month she brought up in the conversation that she wasn't sure if she wanted to follow God.  The month after that she told me that for the first time in years she had prayed (now the prayer was whether or not she should date a guy, but at least she went to God first)! The following month she had told me that she was looking into churches near her new university that she will be starting at in September. And this last week she asked me if she could go to church with me!! (This is a woman who, even before when she believed in God, didn't like going to church). 

God has been so good! Most of the time that we have met she has been the one who to bring up the conversation about God. And I for the most part would just ask her questions in return, which is normally not like me, I normally want to give my answers. I can not stress this enough besides prayer I being present in her life and asking some thought-provoking questions I didn't do anything to bring her to a place where she is now wanting God back in her life. The credit goes fully to God! 

I was talking to one of my cousins a while ago, and he compared my journey with Dori to Jesus' parable THE LOST SHEEP. In this story a sheaperd is looking after 100 sheep, and one of them goes missing. The shepherd decided to leave his 99 other sheep to go looking for the one that he lost. In the story it doesn't say how long the shepard is gone, or how far he has to travel, but just that sheep is so important to him that he must leave to find it. The shepard ends up finding the sheep and calls all of his neighbours and tells them to celebrate with him today for his sheep was lost, but now it is found.  (Luke 15)

I always thought about this parable being about God going after us after we wander away from him. About how we are so important and loved by him that he would chase after to us to bring us home, and then rejoice with heaven about his lost child returning home. I never thought about the possibility that God would send me away to chase after his lost sheep. Does God consider me a shepard? The idea still boggles my mind. The God of the universe would tell me to leave my home and the ministry that I am working in and go to Bielefeld, Germany to help bring back his lost sheep. But I take so much comfort in this: God says Dori is worth it! And she so is.

Prayer request:

1) That Dori would have an encounter with God.

2) I will be returning home soon, and I am looking for a nursing job.  I'm not sure where God wants me, or what He has in store next, but I want to follow where He is leading. 

3) That I would stay present here for the last few weeks and fully invest in the relationships that I have made.

Month of February

Well it has been another month and so many things have happened during this last month.

Renovations a Pastors House

This month we spend a few days living at a missionaries house who lives a few hours away from us in Bielefeld. His family has been planting churches throughout Germany and had just moved to a new city to start another church in the Aramaic community. We spend our days their renovating their house (painting, putting up wall paper, plumbing, cleaning up, etc) and the evening we spend talking with this family and how him and his wife had become Christians. I feel so blessed to be able to meet so many different faithful brother and sister in Christ during my time here. I loved hearing this mans story and his heart for planting churches in the Aramaic community in Germany. 

Planning a 24 Hour Prayer Day

As a team we had come up with the idea to do a 24 hour prayer time. Which meant for 24 hours there was always somebody at the church praying. We ended up setting up 12 different stations throughout the church. The prayer time started from 5:00pm Friday to 5:00pm Saturday. Even all of the children and youth of the church participated in it. It was so encouraging to see how respectful and engaged they were with the different stations. Afterwards we had so many people come up to us and tell us bow encouraging the stations were and that they got to experience God in a different way. One man came at 1:00 am and said that during the time with God refreshed his dying spirit. When people quieted their minds and set aside time with God they were able to hear his voice, and because of this experience the church has asked us if we could put on one more 24 hour prayer day before we leave. 

Church Retreat

Last weekend over 80% of the church ended up going on a church retreat. The theme of the weekend was connecting to God, connecting to each other, and connecting to our community. This weekend was a great time to hear people's stories of how they met Christ, build stronger relationships with people I normally don't talk to, and take time as a church to listen to God's voice for further direction. 

Visiting Refugee Families

As a team we have had the privilege to visit a few different refugee family in the area, and some further away. We will sit and talk with them for hour, and luckily most of them know English. It is challenging to hear their story, but also honouring that they are willing to share their story with us. There is always so much joy on their face when we visit them, and it's sad to know that besides us they don't have any other contact with people. 

MB Mission Prayer Evening

Our team also originated a prayer and worship evening at MB Mission, focusing on the country of Lithuania. It was a great time of worship and prayer for fellow missionaries and a country that isn't that far from Germany, but that is really struggling. One of the best things about this night is that is brought many young people from 4 different churches together to pray and worship and then later fellowship with one another. 

As a team we are still teaching English lessons two times a week, have our prayer meetings weekly, of to MB Missions European Office, and are still building relationship with the people in the church we are attending. 

STORY TIME

Thought I would leave you with an encouraging story that has been keeping our team going these last few days. 

Since our time being here we have been asked to prayer for a family, (I am going to call them Shiena family) this a muslim family with a father who is highly respected by the muslim community. A few years ago one of their oldest son (Jamel) gave his life to Jesus, nut never told his parents for fear of what they would do. This fear is legitimate, a few years ago he has told his father that he was dating a Caucasian girl, and his father and older brother ending up beating him up. He has spent the last fews years having his prayer and bible reading time in the bathroom to hide from his father the fact that he believes is Jesus. 

So since the first day that we have been here we have been praying for this family and asking God to make himself known in the lives of the Shiena family (there is the father, mother and 8 children ranging from 20s-5 years old). Through English lessons we had been given the opportunity to reach the youngest children and to get to know them. We were so thankful to God for giving us a way into this family's life. 

Then two weeks ago the Jamel had a dream. In this dream Jesus can and sat down with him and started talking. Jamel talks about how he never wanted to wake up from this dream, but before he did Jesus made him a promise, saying "Jamel I will save your whole family, for they will all come to know me." Our team then heard about the dream the next day and was so excited to hear what God was doing but not sure how he would do it. 

Less than a week later the father of the family invited Adrian, (the leader of our team) and a few other fellow Christians for breakfast, and during that meal, the father heard the Good News for the first time! IT is crazy how God works. The father is still really cynical about the Good News, but he has now heard it.

That same day in the evening 5 of his younger children decided to stay for youth after English lessons. And what did a guest speaker end up talking about? THE GOOD NEWS. God is so good. Seed are being planted and God will make them grow. God's ways are so beyond what we could think of. 

On Tuesday this week one of the younger sons came to English class saying he dreamed about Jesus and had talked with it to is parents. His parents then told him everyone only has one dream about God and that he won't dream about Jesus again. 

Our prayer as a team is that this family would not be able to stop dreaming about Jesus! 

Prayer Request:

1)For the Shiena family, that they would all come to know Jesus. But also so much praise and thanks to God for working in their lives.

2) I am starting up playing softball with kids in the community, pray that this will be a way to reach kids with the Good News. 

3) The church that we are attending is going through some leadership changes, for a smooth transition and unity.

4) That I daily rely on the word of God and leading of the Holy Spirit in my life. 

Freedom In Christ

Hey friends and family,

Hope you all had a great January. This month has been full for our team as we have started teaching English lessons to many students of a variety of ages. We are also starting a book club with older teens and adults, and we will be reading Narnia. Along with English lessons Annika and I have been visiting seniors in the church and in the community, making meals for some families that are going through rough times, and joining in on youth and young adults. 

I thought I would give you an overview of my time here in the church that I am placed in. The church is a Mennonite church that was a church plant 15 years ago. Almost all of the members of the church came from Russia in the last 20-30 years. So the older generation speaks both Russian and German. Before coming to this church our team was warned that this church would probably be more conservative (skirts always worn by females, men on one side women on the other, more strict and more rules) than we are use to. But we were also told that this church was the least conservative Mennonite church in the area (that is why they started the church plant, as they felt that was a calling from God).

So it was interesting the first day before going to church I asked the host family if I would have to wear a skirt to church.  When the husband said right away "yes," I felt obligated to put on one of the two skirts I brought. My first experience of the church was that it was more conservative than I was ever use to, but it was also not as bad as I thought it would be. Though the women and men converse together you can defiantly tell that there are some separation between the two genders; there was definatly more sexism than I was use to. I knew that this was the church that God was calling our team to work in, but I didn't know why.

The third week of being at church I felt very oppressed and was having a hard time trying to adjust to the culture.  Then Saturday night I had a dream. "I was sitting in my room and suddenly my father came in and took all of my CDs and started breaking them, saying to each one that these are ungodly. He then walk over to all of my DVDs and also started breaking them saying that these would lead to hell. I woke up that morning not knowing what I thought but knowing right away that I didn't want to go to church.  I couldn't understand at that moment why I didn't want to go to church, because I really did enjoy all the people there. Then all of a sudden I noticed what I was looking at, and i could tell that I was glaring at it. My skirt. 

I knew right then that I didn't want to wear the skirt to church. So I decided to put on the best pants I had with a nice shirt and walked out of my bedroom. I guess I must have been nervous but my host dad just came out of his room looked at me and the clothes I was wearing and said "nice shirt". It was at that moment that I connected the dream to what was going on in my situation. I was so scared to be myself in this church thinking that everyone would condemn me for my thoughts or the way I wanted to dream or the music I wanted to listen to, that I was no longer living in the freedom that God had given me. It was almost as if God was giving me a confirmation that he wanted me to do all the things that I normally did at home (trying to stay in his will of course) and being myself at church in Bielefeld.

Few examples

1) I started wearing pants to church. I have even had a few conversations with some of the younger girls as they are starting to ask if it is alright to go to church wearing pants. Then one Sunday a girl was also wearing pants and one of her friends asked her where her skirt was and she just said "it didn't feel comfortable today." 

2) Here the women do all the cleaning and cooking. At times I get the privilege to sometimes have dinner at a families house, who have 3 girls and 1 boy. Every time after we are done eating the boy gets up to leave the table and I would ask him to come and help us clean up the dishes. The first few times I could tell he thought it was really weird and so did the other girls, but then I was at their house for dinner again and without me even asking before he left the table he took all of his dishes and the girls  put them in the dishwasher. That was so cool!

3) Their is a sport evening every Saturday where the girls play volleyball every other week and the boys play soccer on the opposite days. Two of the girls from the church told me that they wished that they could also play soccer and when I asked them why they didn't they said only the boys play. Well being me I decided to go to the guys and ask if we could also play soccer with them. Seeing their faces I could tell right away that they didn't really want us to play soccer with them,.But I wasn't going to let it go. Finally they agreed to let us play soccer with them once a month. But after the first time that me and another girl played with them, they told us we could play with them when ever we wanted. I guessed we proved that we could actually play.  Sadly the other girl is too shy to continue playing with the boys, but it hasn't stopped me, and though I might be the only girl playing with them right now the church is talking, and I think it is giving them something to think about.

4) One of my team mates, Jolene, was having dinner with a couple in their 50's when the woman asked Jolene if it was a sin to listen to rap music, because she enjoyed listening to it. I would like to say that this was a joke, but it wasn't.  The woman was serious in asking her question. 

Now though all these interactions have been interesting there are some people who are not always happy that I wear pants or that I am playing soccer. But the pastors of the church are supporting me so I guess that means I have the go ahead to continue. 

It is interesting how God works... This would not have been  the first church that I would choose to go to, but I know that God wants me here for a reason. I was talking to a friend of mine from Canada who lives here in Bielefeld. I was telling her that I'm not always sure what God is wanting  me to do here. She said that it was through  the witnessing of Canadian missionaries in her church that the thinking of the church people slowly started to change and they started questioning why they were continuing with some of their traditional ways.

I am praying for this church and that they can fully experience freedom in Christ, and that the body of believers isn't suppose to be a group that keeps rules, but a group that is living in the freedom that God has given them to expand his kingdom in their city! " It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). 

Praise and Pray Requests:

1) That I continue to stay connected to the Vine (God) for everything that I do.

2) That the church can experience total freedom in Christ.

3) Thank God that my German is getting better and that we are able to talk with young people about their walk with Jesus.

New Years

Hey friends and family it has been a long time. just thought I would quickly update you on the last few weeks. Here is Germany the students all just went back to school from Christmas break, so I have been spending time with different students at the church and getting to build relationships with them. 

The first week, of the new year, here is Germany in know as pray week. Everyday the whole church meets together and we pray about a different topic each day. This is something that people all over Germany do!!The topics this year were: thanks for the past year,  being in the word, families, the church, missionaries, Germany (and the specific town you live in) and the second coming of Christ. I missed one day, and therefore I can't remember what the topic was. But I found this a really encouraging and centring way to start the new year. I was also really encouraging to see the whole church gather together everyday to pray for a hour. 

Our team ended up co-leading one of the pray sessions, Living in the Word. We focused on Psalm 119, a Psalm that is constantly referencing the importance and the beauty of God's word. As we were talking about Psalm 119 as a team verse 105 jumped out to us: "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."The Psalmist doesn't say that the lamp lights up the whole path right away, the lamp guides the readers feet and where they are going at that time. A lamp is too small to light up the entire path of a person's life. That is why we need to be in the Word daily, if we want to know God's direction for our lives we need to constantly be feed by him to see where he is leading our feet for that day. Even in my own life God doesn't tell me the end destination of where I will be going, or the entire picture of what is going to happen, he tells me to be obedient for the day, and the rest will follow. 

When I signed up for TREK I had no idea what I would be doing, but all I knew is that I wanted to be obedient to his calling for that day. 

The prayer week was a new refreshing way to start the New Year, and to come together as a community of believers praising, thanking, and bringing our requests before God. 

Our team now is moving towards a more ministry role rather than a German learning role for the rest of our time here is Germany. Something that a few people have asked us to do is English Lessons for both people from the church and the surrounding community. So that is going to be something that we are starting new week. We are also coming along side the church and working with their youth program of reaching kids in the community. The church is also starting a major renovation this week, renovating a house on their property, and our team will be doing that about 2-3 days a weeks. The young adults have decided to do the whole renovation by themselves! So this will be a great time to get to know other people around my age. 

The pastors and the elders of the church have told us that the main thing they want us to do is build relationships with people in the church and a few people outside of the church. They want us to help feed some of God's sheep here so that when we leave they will be for equipped to reach their community. I feel really blessed to be apart of this mission. They are wanting us to go out for coffee, play games and hang out with people one-on-one and ask them about their relationship with Jesus. They want us to encourage people with their walk with Christ. I am excited to do that and to just sit down and talk to people about what Christ means to them and hear their stories and encourage them where they are at. 

Wishing you all a great new year!!

Pray Request:

1) For the relationships that my team will be forming with people at the church and the community. And for the talks with different people about their walk with Christ. 

2) The renovations at the church: that they can go smoothly and that this time could be used to build stronger relationship with different young adults. 

3) That as stuff gets busier that I will be able to daily stay in the word so that God can direct my steps for the day. 

4) Praise God: Adrian and Jolene (the married couple on our team) found an apartment 5 mins from the church, and all the stuff to furnish their apartment was donated by different people at the church. It was really encouraging to see the generosity of people. 

German Lessons

Wow it is hard to think that I have already been here for a month. People keep asking me what I am doing right now during my time here in Germany. There is one easy answer. 

I am doing German lessons!!

And lots of German lessons!

It is fun, exhausting, challenging, and entertaining all at the same time. There are days that I wake up not wanting to do more German lessons, as I feel that I am falling behind everyday (we get an average of 50-110 words a day to memorize, plus new grammar concepts). Some of my thoughts: 

" I am never going to understand this language"

" I am not doing anything practical here"

" I hate Der, Die, Das, (if you know German, you understand what I am talking about)."

" Jesus how can I be useful to you today, as I spend the whole day learning German"

I knew right away that I needed to give all my negative thoughts to Jesus. Many mornings I would let go of the things that were hindering my time here in Germany, and I would place them in His hands. God is calling me right now to learn German. That is what he wants me to do for his glory. I was reminded by a friend about 1 Cor 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." This has been such an encouragement to me when my thoughts become negative. Whether you are a student at school, someone going to work, eating with a friend, or doing German lessons, God wants us to make Him known to others by our attitude, our love for other people, and our dependancy on him . He also wants us to be thankful for the present situation that we are in, and to give Him praise in that situation. Do you thank him and praise for putting you in school, or work? I know that I had a hard time with that one concerning school. 

Give it a try!! As you are driving to school, or work, or taking your kids to their next soccer practice. Thank and praise God for the moment that you are in, cause he put you there for a reason, sometimes it may seem purposeless, but He wants you to make him known in the everyday life situations. 

A little about my last week. 

1) Young Adult's Week

The young adults at the church that I am attending every year have a week long sleepover at the church. Everyone goes about with their daily activities (work, school, german lessons) but after those are done instead of going home, they go to the church. We all make meals together, socialize with one another, pray and worship every evening and sleep together. 

This was an amazing way to connect with different people at the church! I was able to have conversations with people in German and English. The community that was made during this time was so uplifting. 

2) Making Cookies

This week we spent hours making cookies and packaging them to sell at the German Christmas markets. All the money raised is going to a church in Kyrgyzstan (beside Russia), that my church supports. 

The churches children's choir also performed at the Christmas Market.

3) Christmas Markets

Now there are German Christmas Markets in Canada, and then there are the real German Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas Markets). They are everywhere! There are big ones and small ones. The food is amazing, the crafts are beautiful, and the people are joyous. It is a great time of hanging out with new friends and having some festive fun. 

4) Bible Study

I started a 24 week Bible Study with different people from the church and my team. It is intense and challenging. It is called the Disciple's Cross. We are meeting once a week, and have daily reflection and prayer times. So far I have enjoyed it and I am enjoying my time with God and learning different ways of being present with him during the day. 

Pray Request/Praise

1) The Disciple's Cross Bible Study: That I will be able to faithful to God through the learning and the daily exercises, even when I am tired.

2) I will be moving next week into the house that the family I am living with is renovating. Pray that all of that goes smoothly and that the house can be done on time.

3) Sofia (the baby of the team) has been so happy and much easier these last few weeks than she was at the beginning. She is almost like a new baby. God answered that prayer!

4) For Germany: That people's hearts will become good soil and that the word of God can take root in their lives and that they will be able to reap a harvest of what they sow.

Once again thank you so much for all your love and supports, and encouragements. 

First Week In Germany, Bielefeld

First Week In Germany, Bielefeld

         It is crazy to think that I have been in Germany for one week. The week leading up to leaving was so good. God was preparing my heart and spirit to leave. I felt filled with the Holy Spirit, and though I knew little of what lay ahead of me I was ready to go. 

       First week here...

      I am living at a host family: the Harders. They are an amazing couple with a 4 month old baby, she is very cute! The rest of my team is living at different host families. This makes communication a little tough, but we have now got German numbers and a phone package, so I am hoping that the rest of our time here it will be easier. We are partnered with a Mennonite Church called: Christusgemeinde Brachwede. It is a church of about 140 members, and they all are related to each other. I mean it they ALL are related to each other. 

       There are 5 people on my team, our team leaders: Jolene & Adrian and their baby Sofia, Annika, and myself. The couple already knows German fluently, but as for me and Annika we barley know how to say"Hello." So different members of the church have volunteered to teach us German 4 hours a day!! What an amazing gift!  So we have started learning German and are trying to understand this difficult language. This takes up most of our week. 

Where we have seen God at work...

 1)      Like most flights our luggage had to be under 50 pounds and our carry-on under 21 pounds. Before we left for the airport all of our luggage was over 50 pounds on the scale, and none of our carry-ons were under 21 pounds. Actually our carry-ons were so big that they could have counted as luggage. But when you have a baby and are going away for 7 months and have to take all the material that MB Mission gave you, what are you suppose to do? At the airport all of the scales said that our luggage was under weight, they never asked to weigh our carry-ons and they didn't care that they were too big. When going through customs in London, we were really worried. There was a very strict lady making sure everyone's carry-ons were under a certain size (once again ours were not). Standing in this line we were all worried that we were going to have to pay extra. Then we were randomly selected out of the line to go to the front of the line in a different area where there was no one else, and no strict worker measuring bags. Thank you God!! 

2)     We were flying with a 9 month old baby. She slept for all take offs and landings!! Praise God. She also slept for about 8 of the 9 hour plane ride. Everyone who was praying for her, thank you for God answered that prayer. 

3)    I have been so tired everyday, and I was feeling that God wasn't giving me any rest! I have been home only to sleep these past 4 days. As I was reflecting on the week and Matt 11:25-30 with my team, I was reading that  God says that "I will give you rest." 

      During that time I was sitting there thinking  "God you haven't given me any rest yet" then I started to remember. Every morning before I leave  the husband at the house that I am staying at asked me if I was able to sleep, I always tell him yes (well I am so tired still from jet leg and being busy everyday). He looks at me with unbelief saying that their baby was up all night screaming and that sometimes the neighbours wake up because she is so loud (her bedroom is right beside mine). 

     After reflecting back on this it was so obvious that God was giving me rest during the night. I believe that He has been closing my ears so that I am able to sleep!

     Thank you Jesus!!!

4)    I have had to navigate the bus and train routes here in Bielefeld. Well anyone who knows me knows that I get lost with English directions! I am pretty sure that God made Goggle Maps because He knew that I was going to start driving soon, and I would need all the help that I could get.  

      I have had lots of help trying to figure out the bus system. One time this week I needed to get somewhere in 30 mins and I knew that the next bus didn't leave for 25 minuets and that I was going to be very late. All I remember thinking is " God you are somehow going to have to get me to this place on time." Then from behind me I hear "Stephanie, Stephanie!" It was a 17 year old girl from the church that I have only attended once. She asked me where I was going and amazing enough I was going to her house. She took me along with her through a faster and way more complex bus line and I arrived at here house with 2 minutes to spare.  

       You didn't think I had only one bus story did you?

       Another day Annika and myself had to get from a new place in Bielefeld to a newer place in Bielefeld. Once again I really didn't know how to get where I needed to be and neither did Annika. But we got on one bus, then another. Once again in my mind I was thinking "God we are so going to get lost!" Then we heard from behind us "Annika, Stephanie." 

        

          We looked around and on that bus was a woman from the church that we are going to. She asked us where we were going and we told her, she then said "press the button right now and get off this is your stop." She then walked us to the place that we needed to get to, as it was still a 7 minute walk away. If she wouldn't have spoken up we would have been in a totally different place then where we needed to go. 

     What are the odds that in a city of 300,000 people, the two times that I was going to get lost or be late,  I ended up bumping into 2 different people from a church of 140 people. I know that God had orchestrated it all. And it later made me feel guilty. Where was my trust in God to get me where I needed to go? He even had done it once for me this week! Why would I think that He would allow me to get lost now when I needed Him. 

    Transit by myself the beginning of this week was stressing me out so much! But it is getting easier to go to a new place and not worry if I make a wrong turn or if I am going the wrong way. Because what is there to worried about when "God directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." (Psalm 37:23-24) 

God has very practically held my hand this week and guided my in a new city where I don't speak the language. 

Prayer Request:

1) Praise God for all the ways that I have seen him at work this week. He is so marvellous and good!

2) Language lesson, they are intense and are making me really tired.

3) Energy

4) That my eyes will be open to what the Spirit is already doing in this city! And I will see where God wants me to join in.

Thank you for all of your prayers!