Merry (almost) Christmas! I hope everyone's having a great Holiday with their families and/or friends. Most importantly, my prayer is that no matter what is going on, you take time to think about the Birthday we are to be celebrating. And while you're at it, thank Him for His life and death as well. Praise the Lord, He not only was born on Earth and lived and died, but He rose again, saving us! God is so awesome!

So far I've actually been relaxing this Christmas. I convinced my family to cut down on the mass of presents this year, and you'd be surprised how much that has helped. If it were up to me, we wouldn't worry about presents at all ... I mean, haven't we already gotten enough for Christmas!?

Anyway, I must get back to family, and I'll write more later, but... Merry Christmas!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Somehow I thought I'd be really busy during these 2 last weeks at home, but so far it's been the exact opposite. I've been bored for once! I know I should enjoy having nothing to do... so I'm trying to relax while I still can. I'm enjoying some family time, and looking forward to seeing more family on Christmas day. :) I need to start packing!! I'm sure it's going to take me a while to pack for 2 years... but I still haven't unpacked from training!

I'm very ready to move on and get to South Africa. Being home right now just feels strange. I know it's going to be hard to say goodbye to some people, but I'm ready to get on with the show! :)

Here are some things you can begin praying for as I get ready to go...
*Safe travel to South Africa (I leave January 2nd)
*Smooth transition into the new culture
*Confidence in teaching older kids than I've ever taught before
*That I will make a couple friends from Johannesburg within a couple weeks of being there
*Opportunities to share the Gospel!

Have a great Christmas and New Years!!!



Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Wow, I'm done. This feels strange. Another transition... my life is so FULL of transitions!! I'm home in Sanford now, and I leave January 2nd for South Africa. I'm very happy that I get to be here for Christmas with my family. :)

It's a little sad to not be at MLC anymore, and I already miss my friends there. It's different now from when I came home from the wedding because now I know we've all really parted ways. It's awesome to know that God has chosen to spread us all out all over the world for His glory! But I will still miss them!! It was hard to say goodbye to people that I've been pouring my life into for the past 6 weeks. Last night all of us journeymen had an awesome prayer time and a time to just share with each other what God's done in our lives, or what we've all meant to each other. That was great, and of course full of tears.... though they were good tears! After that, a group of us went to see Return of the King at midnight! Good times all around. I ended up staying awake the rest of the night with people, and then packing and cleaning up my quad. After pulling my first all-nighter in quite some time, I drove back to NC (stopping to have lunch with Jennifer P!).

So, now that I'm going on no sleep, and I'm a little drowsy from some meds (I somehow got bronchitis while at the MLC a few days ago!), I'm going to keep this entry short for now and try to get some rest! I hope to see many of you before I leave!!
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

3 more weeks......

3 weeks from today I will board a plane and head for Johannesburg, South Africa. Less than a month, folks! Wow... The time for me to actually leave is finally getting close. I got my last 2 immunization shots today, one of which was tetanus, so I am a little sore today. Things are finishing up, classes are pretty much done, and I think everyone here is ready to GO! I like it here; I have learned a ton, and the people are great, but I am ready to move on to my job assignment in South Africa. I am a little nervous, to be honest, but I know God has called me, and I am ready to follow that call. :)

The first real realization that things are going to change big time while I'm gone happened earlier this week. I got an email from Chris McMurtry, my friend in Houston, TX, and he is ENGAGED! He's getting married next December, and of course, I won't be around to go to the wedding. That really hit me hard because it's a wedding I would love to be at to celebrate with them. It's weird to think that this might not be the only time this will happen... In fact, I'm pretty sure it won't be! It's sad to miss things that I know I'd be a part of if I were in the States, but I guess this is all part of the life of a missionary, and it's worth it. :)

Please pray for me as I wrap things up here at the MLC. Pray that I will continue to listen to God's voice, even in the hustling of the business that comes with transitions. Pray that my time with family this Christmas will be precious time, and not busy stuff going on. I really want to enjoy my time with everyone!
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

PS - When I go home (either on the 16th or the 17th) I'll be going to Sanford. If any of you are thinking "man, I want to hang out with Bonnie before she leaves," PLEASE tell me so I can plan accordingly. The week before I came to MLC I feel like all I did was drive around the state saying goodbye to people, and I won't have that much time between MLC and leaving for South Africa January 2nd. Don't get me wrong, I DO want to see everybody, but if you email or call me the week before I leave and expect to be able to plan something, your chances are slim (unless you're really really special, and only I decide that!). haha Just a warning!! And on that note, Summit folks... is anyone planning something for New Years?? LET ME KNOW! Love you all!!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Ground shaking effects felt at MLC! Well... many of you may have heard, but for those of you who didn't, yesterday I felt an earthquake tremor for the first time ever. I really didn't know what it was, and we were in the middle of a women's conference when it happened. It wasn't until later that someone told us what had happened. I mean, I definitely knew that SOMETHING was going on, but I didn't know for sure. So THAT was fun! Yesterday we divided up for the second half of the day, and we had a men's and women's conference. I can't speak for the men, but the women's conference was very nice! We had 2 catered meals, some great panel discussion with missionary wives, sessions, and a great time of worship and teaching by Bobbie Rankin (Jerry Rankin's wife). Good times all around. :)

I don't have too much to update on as of now. I'll be home in a week. How crazy is that!? If anyone, and I mean anyone, would like to come to the commissioning service next Tuesday afternoon, please email me (joburgjourneygirl@webmail.co.za) and I will get you details. As of now, no one's coming, but if you're interested, I'd love for you to be here! Just let me know. Thanks!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Lots of new pictures! Check 'em out! Yay!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

What an incredible weekend!!! God was so good to me. My biggest prayer going into this weekend was that I would be able to relax and actually ENJOY everything rather than being stressed about getting from place to place. God answered my prayer and went beyond. (Funny how He does that, eh?) The wedding was beautiful. Everyone looked gorgeous (or handsome). I had fun getting a little pampered and having my hair done, which is rare for me! Everything went as planned for the wedding except my poor nephew, Zachary, getting sick right before the wedding started. My sister-in-law, Jamie, had to stay back with him and missed the whole thing. Sad, huh? Cheryl looked beautiful, and seeing Brad's face throughout the whole thing was worth a million bucks. He looked the happiest I'd ever seem him. I still can't believe he's married, but hey... he deserves it, and he married the woman I know God planned for him all this time. They're so incredibly perfect for one another!! The reception was fun... seeing family members, taking pictures, and catching the bouquet. You know, I used to be thrilled when that happened, but now that I've caught quite a few of them, I'm not so convinced that they work anymore. hehe ;)

After the reception I headed to Durham to sing in my church's production of "Christmas Spectacular." My goodness, when I walked into where everyone was, I don't think I've ever smiled so big (ok, I'm sure I have at some point, but bear with me here). I was finally HOME! I realized this weekend, that I've gone without seeing family members for a while before, but I'd never gone this long without seeing my church family, and I really missed them!! The way people responded to seeing me, you'd think I'd been gone for 5 years and not 5 weeks. I tell you, the love of a church family that God has knitted you tightly into, is a gift that lasts forever, and is entirely irreplaceable. The show was great. Singing with all of them was amazing, and worshipping with such a choir is something I have truly missed. Saturday night I was finally able to relax and unwind a bit a the Baker's house (for those of you who are wondering, and have asked, NO, Chris wasn't there... what do you people think I am? Geez!) It was great to be in a real house with a real family as opposed to housing at MLC with other people my age. I like to pretend Mr. and Mrs. Baker are my "Durham parents" anyway, and I just love them, so it was fun to hang out with them. Plus they made French toast, so really... who wouldn't love 'em? hehe :)

Sunday was yet another wonderful day. I got to go to the Summit, which I had been missing very much. I was, again, greeted with many hugs and "how are you!?!s". Really, you'd think I'd been gone forever. But I loved it! Sunday School was fun, as usual. I had to say some actual final good-byes this time though. :( So that was sad. The other performances of Christmas Spectacular were wonderful and I know God worked through them to bring people unto Himself. I got to see Kurt, Janna Kay, Ruth Anne and Joshuwa Holiday (the family from the Summit who are career missionaries in Johannesburg). They were home on state-side and were in Durham for the weekend! Seeing them just made me more excited about going to South Africa in January!!

After Christmas Spectacular Sunday evening, I went to Jennifer Pickelsimer's place to spend the night... Just like old times! I woke up at 4AM this morning (yeah, that IS early!) to drive back to the good-ole MLC. It's a little weird to be back here, especially knowing that I only have a little over a week to be here. But it's great to be back amongst the fellowship here, and back into the swing of things. It feels as if I've been gone forever... almost 4 days is a long time here at MLC!!

It's been a long weekend, and I got an early start today, so I think I may take time for a nap this afternoon. I think I deserve it. :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

So much to write about!! I am writing from my home (in Sanford) and man, it feels weird to be here. Not a "bad" weird, just VERY different. I am not used to TV and relaxing! It took me about 4 hours to drive home in very yucky weather though... sleet/rain in the dark. So I am glad to be home! It is great to see my Mom and Dad and my cat, Oscar. :) And it certainly will be nice to sleep in MY bed tonight!!

Let me tell you about our Southern Africa culture day yesterday (Wednesday). This week at MLC has been regional time. That means that instead of everyone at MLC meeting, just 5 of us from the Southern Africa region have been meeting with our Richmond Associates (a couple living in Richmond who have been missionaries in Southern Africa for a long time). This time has been wonderful, and very relevant to South Africa. Well, on Wednesday, we had "culture day." All of us ladies wore our long skirts in lieu of the day. We learned about cultural/tribal beliefs and customs, special greetings, and cultural faux pas. The coolest part though was cooking a South African meal. We meet in out quad so that we could use out kitchens. We cooked the whole meal ourselves! We made, mealie pap (pronounced "pop"), which is kind of like a fine grits that form up, vegetables to go on top of that, baked chicken, and peanut butter rice. Here's the kicker... for an appetizer, we had... all the way from South Africa... dried mopani worms!! I wish I could tell you they were great, but in all honesty, I almost gagged. THey don't taste "bad." But when you think about what you're eating, it's hard to get it down. But I DID IT! I passed the test. :) All of the other food was really good though!! It was exciting to cook food like in Africa. My roommate and I even had the job of washing the vegetables in our bathtub! Good thing we were warned ahead of time and could clean it!!

Well, I have a big weekend ahead of me. Tomorrow we head to Winston-Salem, where my brother's wedding is. I have to get my dress (and I am PRAYING it fits!) and then we have the rehearsal and all the jazz. Saturday is the wedding at 1pm, then the reception afterwards. Then as soon as that is over, I quickly change into another dress, and drive to Durham for Christmas Spectacular (the Summit's Christmas show). After that I'm going to the Baker residence to basically crash!! I have a feeling I will be exhausted by then. Then Sunday morning I REALLY get to go HOME! I get to worship at the Summit (the closest thing to Heaven I can experience on earth as of yet). I am so excited about seeing my friends and family there. I have missed them more than words can say. Sunday night I am singing in the show again, and then heading back to the MLC. I probably won't be on here anymore until I get back to MLC. When I get back there I'll put some pictures from culture day on my webshots. I've got some great pictures of the worm experience! (Sorry you have to wait for them!)

Have a good night everyone! Thanks for checking in!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Whoa! It's December already! Does that make anyone else freak out just a LITTLE!? I can't believe I have been at the MLC for almost 4 weeks already. It has flown by! Thanksgiving here was wonderful. The worship service was phenomenal. It was great to actually go to a worship service on Thanksgiving Day. It really helps you to remember exactly what we are to be most thankful for. I know people were praying for me, because I really expected to be sad about not being at home, but God was good to me, and my spirits were high all day. Guys, I even watched a little football - aren't you proud of me!? :-D Friday in DC was pretty cool. My group definitely spent a lot of time figuring out the metro system. Man, it takes forever to get from one place to the next! We ate at an Ethiopian Restaurant (it was African... though not South African). The restaurant was called Dukems, and I got Dukem Tibs (Lamb). I wish I could explain the whole ordeal, but it's hard in words. We had no utensils to eat with... just this really thin bread that you tear and pick up the meat and vegetable with. It was quite delicious! We really didn't get to talk to anybody in DC, which was a little disappointing to be honest. But a lot of people from the MLC talked to people and shared about Christ, so thank you for praying!

Right now I can't think about much accept for this crazy though.... MY BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED NEXT SATURDAY!? Yeah, that's exciting, but a little weird. hehe I'm happy to be going home for a short visit though. It will be a nice break from VA.

Well, that's about it for now... sala kahle! (bye!)


Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

For those of you who couldn't open my letter... here's the info in plain text format... not as pretty, but same stuff!

SAWUBONA!
(Hello, in Zulu)

What’s new for Bonnie Sue?
Hello from FPO at the MLC of the IMB of the SBC in RVA! For all of you who have no clue what I said… I said, “Hello from Field Personnel Orientation at the Missionary Learning Center of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Rockville, Virginia!” If there is one thing we learn here, it is A LOT of acronyms! But really, I have learned so much more than acronyms. There is no way I can put in this letter how much I have learned the past 3 weeks. My brain has been on overdrive the entire time! We have learned about church planting movements, and how God is radically bringing people to know Him, and people are starting new churches all over the place. It has been awesome to hear about how God is working all over the world! We also had some great teachings on spiritual warfare. The president of the IMB, Jerry Rankin, did the teaching, and I could have listened to him teach about so much more than he did. This week has been great too. I have officially been here for half of the time already—I can’t believe it! Monday we had the greatest speaker so far. He spoke about anthropology, which doesn’t sound interesting…. but it was great! He had been to Southern Africa, and knew so much about the area. Monday night he took some of the Journeymen out for coffee and was very candid with us. It was great to hear such a smart man talk about where I am going. And he even helped me start learning Zulu! There are three “clicking” sounds in Zulu, and they are really fun to make! This Thursday we are having a special Thanksgiving service, and then the MLC is preparing a special Thanksgiving meal for us. It won’t be the same as dinner with family, but my friends here are great, and their families aren’t here either, so we will share it together! Friday we are going to Washington DC to minister there. We will be practicing “cold-evangelism” to people we meet. I am very excited about that!


Life at the MLC

So you know how I live… I’ll try to explain! I have 2 apartment mates, and they are both going to the Southern African region (one to South Africa, and one to Botswana). We have an apartment to ourselves. Then we share a “quad” with 3 other apartments. In our quad there are 3 families. One is a young couple with a baby boy, Benjamin. There is also a family with 2 kids, Jasmine and Sami. The other couple is an elderly couple. It’s like a whole family! I have been able to baby sit a couple kids here at MLC, and I have LOVED being able to serve others by playing with kids!! There are about 100 people here at MLC, about 20 of which are journeymen. The other journeymen here are wonderful, and we spend almost all of our spare time together. I’d be lost without them! God has been SO good to me!

PLEASE PRAY!
*Pray for those here without family during Thanksgiving.
*Pray for God-appointed
opportunities to share the Gospel in DC!
*Pray for me to have discipline to get all my work done!
*Pray that God will continue to give me a passion for the people in South
Africa.
*Pray that I will not get so busy that I leave God out of my life!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

-God has been so faithful in giving me great friends here who understand me!
-I am beginning to learn, and actually remember, some phrases in Zulu!
-I get more excited about going to South Africa
everyday!




Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Updates:

Crazy news... I tested positive for TB today... yeah, that's strange. They said I've probably been exposed to it at some point, and just have some of it in my system... it won't hurt me now, but many years down the road it could come back to haunt me. So, I may have to take some kind of medicine for about 9 months and then I'll be clear. It's all good...

Prayer request: Friday we are going into Washington DC to practice being in that type of area (lot of different cultures represented). We're going to do things like analyze people, watch them, talk to them, look for things in the city, and mainly witness to people. Please PRAY that God will begin working on people's hearts NOW and that God will use all of us in monumental ways on Friday!!

INVITATION!!!!
Tuesday, December 16th - Commissioning service! This is going to be very special for me, and I would be SO HONORED if people from home came to this!! Email me and ask for details if you are interested! joburgjourneygirl@webmail.co.za
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Sawubona! (Hello in Zulu)

Not TOO much has happened since I last wrote, and this will probably be short (my internet time is dwindling as I get busier and busier!). Friday was another shot day... only 2 more shots to go until I'm finished! This coming week ought to be fun... 3 VERY packed days of sessions and seminars. Then we have Thanksgiving here (I won't be coming home). I am one of 3 people in charge of planning the worship service for Thursday. After the service we'll have a special dinner, and then "family time." Most people here are family people, so they'll be doing stuff together, but us journeymen will be doing something together since we are the only "family" we have around here! Good thing I like them, eh? :)

Prayer answered!! Joshuwa Holiday has his visa and the Holidays are coming home very soon!! Praise the Lord for answered prayer.

Prayer requests for me:
*diligence to get my work done (many of us j-men are still in the college (aka procrastination) mode!
*wisdom to know which information is vital to me and which is not (you HAVE to filter here, there's no way to remember everything)
*discipline in my daily walk with Christ/devotional times

That's about it for now. Goodnight!



Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Wow... I am so full of knowledge, I don't know what to do with myself. Too bad I can't remember half of what I've been filled with!! I tell ya, there's so much incredible information that we get, but it is so much that there's no possible way for me to remember it all. This week we have been learning about spiritual warfare from Jerry Rankin (the IMB president!). Like I said, I've been bombarded with tons of stuff, but I'll share one of the things that has really stuck with me........

Satan loves nothing more than to make me believe that I have certain rights. "I deserve a nice house, I deserve a car and nice clothes, and 3 square meals a day. I deserve good health care, perfect eye sight and straight teeth." Someone show me in the Bible where Jesus says we deserve such things. On the contrary, Jesus calls us to leave these pleasures behind and follow Him. Jesus even says that, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt 8:20 or Luke 9:58) In Matthew 16:24, He says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Somehow, "my rights" and "denying myself" don't seem to jive together very well. I have no rights except the freedom that Christ has given me in Himself. This thought has been very humbling to me, and I hope that you will take a few moments to really (yes, really) think about it. What do you have, or hold onto, that you think you "deserve"? Check it with scripture... does God say you deserve it? How many Christians are in this world who have nothing, but still praise the Lord? MANY! Consider yourself blessed to be in such a rich country, but please, don't allow yourself to be deceived into thinking that you (and I mean ME too!!) have earned or deserve any of it.

Now, off of my soap box... :) I got to talk to my Melissa today!! That makes me happy. I just happen to be in the computer lab, on instant messenger when she got on. Oh, if you don't know, Melissa is the journeygirl already in Johannesburg. I am going to be living with her for a year. Anyway, she told me something today that made me SOOOOO happy! The other day, one of her students, Thandekile, asked, "when is my good friend Bonnie coming back?" I met Thankdekile this past summer when I was in Johannesburg and I really clicked with her, but I didn't think she would remember me! She will be moving up to high school next year, so she won't be in my school, but Melissa told her that when I get there, we will try to get in touch with her, and maybe do a Bible study! Please be praying that God will open that door. How perfect of a beginning would that be? I mean really, I get there, and there's a new Bible study just waiting for me. I'll be praying about it, please do the same. The township she lives in is Dhlamini.

I'm still having tons of fun here at training. The other journeymen here rock, and I love ALL of them!! God has orchestrated so many wonderful relationships already. My roommates are so special to me, and I am very happy that they are in the same region as me, so that means we will get to see each other at least once a year (if not more!). I got to babysit twice this week. Two little precious babies! Well, toddlers really. One child here, Nathan, has gripped my heart strings. He is my house church leaders' son (Dr. Eitel's grandson!) and I LOVE him so much. He is the sweetest baby (he's 13 months old) and he gives the best hugs a child can give. Hopefully I'll get some pictures of him online soon so you can see him. They are going to Kenya, so some of the Summit people going on that mission trip in January will get to see my baby! :) I'm a tad jealous!

Well, Heather, my roommate and I are off to Wal-Mart soon. Yay for chances to get off campus! Love you all!!



Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Guess it's been a little while since I've updated this weblog. Sorry about that! So... what have I been up to? Well, yesterday (Friday) was the first of 3 immunization clinics and I got 2 shots (polio and hep A). I'll get a total of 6 before I leave. They don't feel wonderful, but at least I won't get polio, right!? :) This past week at MLC (missionary learning center) we learned all about CPMs (Church Planting Movements - they are ALL about some abbreviations here). That was cool, and even though it's not the exact model I'll be using in South Africa, I have learned a lot.

Last Sunday we started meeting in out HCPs (House Church Practicums). MANY people here are going to places where they literally can't meet in a "church" building because of government, finances, or a number of reasons. So, we have house churches here. It's very cool. We are a group of 4 journeymen and 3 families (with a total of 5 kids ranging from age 11 months to 13 years). We meet Tuesday-Friday every morning and then for a longer time on Sunday, and our times together are great. This is a group that I can be real and open with. I'm going to miss them all when we leave! Hey, Summit people... this is cool... my HCP leaders are Dr. Eitel's son-in-law and daughter, and they know some of you guys! How cool is that? It has been so wonderful to have someone to talk to about home who knows what home is like!

Last night I got to go have dinner with my regional director's family, the other missionaries going to that region, and some other South Africa missionaries who were here at MLC for a stateside conference. It was so nice to talk to experienced missionaries and get their advice!

These past couple weeks have been an emotional and spiritual up and down over and over again. One day I feel great, the next I wonder how God could call someone like ME into His service. But then I realize that God knows what He's doing, and HE alone has called me and put me here at MLC to learn and then in SA to be His servant (well, to be His servant EVERY day). Sometimes I see these other Journeymen or other missionaries in general, and think, "man, they know so much more than I do. How can I be a good missionary like THEM?" But God so gently reminds me that all I need to know is Him. "When I came to you, I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus and Him crucified." 1 Cor. 2:1-2 If Paul determined not to know anything, then I don't have to know everything either. Praise the Lord! Christ is enough for me. And I need to stop comparing myself to other people... God made me the way He wants me to be! :) So, that's what's been going on in my mind lately.

Let me know what you're up to too! :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

First things first: PRAYER REQUEST FROM THE FIELD!

My team leader and his family (whom many of you guys know), the Holidays, are running into major problems. They are supposed to come home for their stateside assignment in December. They also recently adopted their little boy, Joshuwa. They are having major problems with getting Joshuwa's Visa, and what it boils down to is that they're having an important meeting this coming Monday, and if they don't get his Visa, they're not coming home for another year. PRAY specifically that God would work for His glory in this meeting on MONDAY. Perhaps God wants them to stay, and if this be the case, pray that the Holiday family will be accepting of God's will and timing. Pray for peace and understanding that only Jesus Christ can give them.

As for me, I'm having a great time here. Today we had our first regional team time, when we met with our Southern Africa region leader and his wife and they gave us some information and just some preparatory stuff.

Today we also began talking about the persecution that comes along with being a Christian in many countries, and I don't mean like "she doesn't like me because I won't party with her." I mean torture and death and the like. It's not a pretty picture, though God warns us about it ALL through the Bible. The persecuted Church is the growing Church!

Last night the journeymen had a really fun "event." We all had to go on a scavenger hunt in Richmond, VA (where not many of us are from!!). Oh man, it was so so so much fun. I was in a car where none of us knew where we were going, so we had all kinds of fun stopping at random places to ask for directions! The journeymen are such a blessing to me. I miss my friends at home VERY VERY much. So I know that God has given me friends here to somewhat fill the void that I have by not being at home. God's cool like that! =D Soon there will be some new picture on my photo album of the fun we had last night. :)


Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Oh yeah... I have some NEW pictures from training on my webshots photo album. :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hey Folks...

Today's focus was all on Church Planting Movements. LOTS of information in a short amount of time!! It's very exciting to see what God is doing in so many countries around the world!! We're busy, and it's hard to learn everything that I feel like we should learn. I'm trying to just glean the best of the info and try not too hard to learn EVERYTHING. My roommates and I have been told not to stress too much about all the information, but rather to focus on building string relationships with the people here. Oh yeah, I don't think I told you guys that I am on the worship team here. VERY exciting... we are in charge of planning and implementing cross-cultural worship experiences. This coming Saturday night we're doing a Spanish service and I get to sing in Spanish. Yay!

That's all for now folks... g'night!
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Yesterday was the personal retreat. It lasted from 9:45 until 3:45. I chose to spend the time in my room, and started out listening to and singing some praise songs and just meditating on the many different characteristics of God. It was so nice to just stop and be in His presence with no time line or schedule pushing me to hurry it along! Another thing I did was read the book of Nehemiah. One of my pastors has been urging us to read this book, so I finally did! One thing I learned from reading Nehemiah is that when God calls His people to a task, He's going to be the one responsible for making sure it happens! God finishes the work He begins! It was an awesome day, and I realized just how little time I spend with the Lord on any other day - very convicting.

Last night all the journeymen got together again to hang out. I'm getting to be good friends with them... I can't imagine leaving them all in a little over 5 weeks to go to our different parts of the world!!

Today (Saturday) is a free day pretty much. The only thing we have to do is go take a fitness test (grr, I feel like I'm in middle school again). I'm not looking forward to that, but oh well... what must be done, must be done.

Thanks to those who are emailing me - I really appreciate you taking time to keep in touch!! :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Quote from the day's studies:
" Your call will get you to the mission field, but prayer will keep you there."

Today was our first full day, though still not too bad/stressful. We've had a few sessions that focused on our prayer lives and how important our daily walks with Christ are. Truths I've heard tons, but always need to hear more of! They emphasized just how hard it is and will be for us to remain diligent, even when we're tired, and multiple people warned us that it seems like we experience more temptation away from home than we would on a regular basis here... great.... Please pray that as I get tired here (which probably will happen eventually) that I will not waver in my commitment to the Lord. Tomorrow (Friday) from 10am till 3:45pm we are having a "quiet retreat" which is a time to simply get alone with God for an extended amount of time. Pray that I will learn to slow down and listen to God, something I very much need to learn.

So funny story... =)

This morning I decided to finally use my cute little one-cup coffee maker that Mom and Dad gave me before coming up here. I bought a can of coffee, splenda, and creamer the other night, and this morning I was so ready to try this new toy out. (Trust me, I was needing my coffee!) So, I open up the plastic lid, expecting there to be a metal pull-tab lid to take off, but nooo, it was a solid metal lid. This kind of lid requires a can-opener, and guess what we are NOT given in this apartment... You guessed it... no can opener anywhere. So here I am, sleepy, and wanting my coffee, and not being able to get into the can. I stop and think... my roomies are still asleep... can't ask them what to do... I venture into the kitchen to see what I can find, and I found a BIG knife. So, I carry the knife back to my room and proceed to saw a hole in the top of this can, just big enough to get a spoon in so I can get my coffee. Inventive, eh? I figure it's a lesson in using what you're given to reach a desired goal. :) Praise the Lord, I got my coffee and it's been a great day since.

I just got back from playing Cranium with some fellow journeymen here are training. There are not many of us here... maybe about 30. Anyway, Summit young-pros, we're much better at playing games that these journeymen. Our group couldn't stay focused long enough to read a card for goodness sakes! You all need to come up here and teach them a thing or two. ;)

Ok, time to get offline and read some more for my book report. Then it's off to bed at a reasonable hour! Love you!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81