partnerships

Since returning to Indiana, we started raising support for the Well. Understandably, most people ask with an inquisitive but usually more I feel bad for you face, "How's that going?" By all means, if you asked me in New Jersey about it, I had that look. I had that uncertainty. I was nervous.

It seems silly but the other day, while watching the Olympics, the commentators were talking about a gymnast and said, "You know a lot of these girls feel anxiety and stress. But this girl channels those nerves into excitement." Whether or not that seems cheesy, it has been challenging. God is correcting my thoughts. God wants that for us.

So, how has it been going? Of course, Logan and I find ourselves tired and stretched. But by far, we are more encouraged than we could imagine. These opportunities to share the vision and the work that has already begun in New Zealand fill our hearts. I'm amazed by the hope and peace I feel after meetings. To feel so overwhelmed by generosity. It's more than raising a financial sum. It's relational. It's unique. It's kingdom work.

The conversations that we've had, the wisdom and encouragement from others, the excitement and interest, is a blessing. It is a gift. Thank God for His Spirit that leads. Thank God for individuals who believe in the church. Thank God for people of faith. Thank God for people who generously and freely give. Thank God for you, for those who have and want to meet with us.

One of the most special moments was last night, sharing with my grandparents the importance of their faith and how that has enriched my life. "We have and will always pray for you," they said. To be able to affirm that wherever I go, wherever I am, I take their Spirit and faith with me.

That is the essence of every meeting. To partner, to carry the Spirit that unifies us, to share the hope. To carry the faith of those here in the States that care about the spiritual condition of New Zealand is a blessing not just a burden. We carry every partner's prayers for the individuals and community of Christchurch. To be a church that experiences and expresses God's love. That is God's Kingdom.

orb community church

Logan is taking a class called Missional Theology for January term. It's been incredible to watch him come home every day inspired. One of the professors for the class is the pastor of a church in Redbank, NJ, and invited students and their families to attend their worship service.

I'm not really sure where to begin, but it was a really neat service. The church has a worship team who writes most of their songs. The congregation was diverse for a new church and smaller congregation: older, young, single, married, lots of kids. It was cool, really cool. Of course, I loved the kids dancing to the last worship song after they finished their own service, such joy.

Afterwards, we drank tea and met others. We felt welcomed and were touched by the deep relationships between those in the congregation. Logan's professor invited us into his home with an awesome fireplace, and his wife fed us all sorts of amazing soups. We climbed in forts with his kids and shared our stories.

On the way home, I prayed to God that He might use Logan and I to help others feel that way. To invite them into our church and home, to share our stories, to find and encourage others to live in God's story and participate in whatever ministry He has called of them.

For more about the church, check them out here. And I also need to say the sermon, it was perfect, felt like something Logan and I needed to hear before leaving for New Zealand, appropriately stretching and provoking. For those neat worship songs, listen to The New Ancients (also here, Dying Faith is my favorite). But trust me, it was (and is) much better singing these songs together as the body of Christ.

(photo via virginiahall)

spiritual direction

"Spiritual direction means to listen to the other without fear and to discover the intimate, divine connections within your own stormy life history. It means to help others discover that their questions are human questions, their search is a human search, and their restlessness is part of the restlessness of the human heart--your own included...

When God enters into the center of our lives to unmask our illusion of posessing final solutions and to disarm us with always deeper questions, we will not necessarily have an easier or simpler life, but certainly a life that is honest, courageous, and marked with the ongoing search for truth. Sometimes, in living the questions, answers are found."

- Henri Nouwen, Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith

nursing license

After four months and seven days, I am a New Jersey registered nurse backed up by a twelve digit number, probably the last in my entire nursing class, but still thankful. Logan brought home these beautiful hydrangeas (thanks, babe). We're going to go eat sushi for dinner, and then I'm heading over to Jamie's house for craft night.

He is faithful.

our first move

August, where did you go? You were full, planned and jammed, stuffed with as many good things as Logan and I could fit in a month. Seriously, the list is long: visiting family, studying, passing NCLEX, family camp, packing, kayaking, trip to Michigan, bonfires, swimming, cleaning, shooting guns, fingerprints, camping with old roommates, emptying my childhood room, job applications, filling med trays, babysitting, cooking, morning coffee dates, birthdays, more packing, bowling, and a wedding. As August slipped out the backdoor, September and fall weather embraced us beginning with our move to Jersey.

Logan and I simplified our stuff, packed our things into a sixteen-foot truck, and attached our car with a tow dolly. We really didn't need a sixteen-foot truck, but it's all they had. So Thursday morning came, we ate Karmel McKnutt donuts with Mark and Lauren, hugged our parents, and hit the road. Bless Logan's heart because he drove the entire 700 mile trip, all twenty-something feet of us, to Princeton while I colored Lisa Frank pictures.

Early Friday morning, we started moving boxes into our simple apartment on the second floor. It went quick with the help of our new neighbors. We felt so loved by helping hands, homemade jam cookies, lent toilet bowl brush, church friend cleaning our dirty bathroom, invitation to a cookout, and a free watermelon. Pretty amazed by the good community of families that surround us. My parents, our second hands of help, came Saturday night in time for the Boise football game. I was excited to show them around Princeton and our church. I'm so thankful for their help putting away things, cooking for us, hanging up things. Goodness, I'm sure everything would still be in boxes if they hadn't decided to come.

It's weird, I remember this time last year Logan leaving for Jersey, hating long-distance, but finding peace knowing that he wouldn't be moving alone this year. It's such a comforting feeling to realize that we have each other. We're sad to leave Indiana, but excited to finish his master's and start my nursing career. This time away will be good, bittersweet, a completely different type of season of growing for us. This weekend we did first married type things from our first trip to Ikea (exciting at first, quickly replaced with feeling overwhelmed), nervousness about finances (I still need a job), my transition to East Coast norms (I'm timid, Jersey is not), fitting everything in our apartment (it's small and cozy). I'm just so happy to be doing this together. Goodness, I love that boy. We're so young, laughing a lot and still taking naps when we should be unpacking.

At the same time, it's hard. We're living in two places at the same time. We've moved our things to New Jersey, but we're back in Marion. Logan leaves tomorrow to go fishing in Canada with his dad. I'm staying in Indiana, embracing every moment with family before we leave again. Like most newlyweds, this first move is the beginning of unknown steps, not quite sure where we're headed after Logan graduates, but excited for the opportunities He has given us, praying for peace where to go. We have vague ideas, two kids with some dreams, loving God and desiring His heart, looking to be part of His means in wherever He's at work.

"Perhaps, faith is the capacity to see what is already there."
- Steve DeNeff & Dave Drury, Soul Shift