Well, it's been two weeks, but I've been so busy! I am so amazed at how God has been moving in me, and in the communities we've been working in. I've met so many people that have touc\hed me in a deep way. God has used these people to speak to me, and to move me. I don't know that I have time to talk about every single person, and I don't even know who to talk about. But I suppose I could pick one.

Her name is Josephine. She's 26, both of her parents died several years ago, and she is left to raise her younger sisters. She was telling me about how it's so hard sometimes to feel like everyone needs something from you, and you have so little to give. She was already a Christ follower, but I was able to pour into her life and encourage her in her relationship with Christ.

All this time I've been asking God to send me people I can encourage with my story. So when I met a young woman the same age as me with a similar story, I was blown away. But why?? Why do I get so surprised when God answers my prayers and gives me what I'm asking for? I feel like this is a condition of all of our hearts. We pray for direction and when God answers, we get upset because it's not the direction we wanted. We have this idea of what we think our lives should look like, and so when God disrupts that with His plan, we gripe and complain about it. And maybe it's not just the fact that our plans are so different from His, but when He asks us to give stuff up.

The other night, we had a session about missions and giving our lives for the gospel. As I was praying, God showed me that I have no problem giving my life, it's the stuff and people around me I have to be willing to give. He asked me "Nichie will you give your family for the gospel?" Oh man.... That's a deep question! Will I??  I'm working through this right now, knowing that in the end I will, but coming to terms with it now is the challenge.

This makes me wonder what else God wants me to give up for Him? And what about you? What is it that God is asking you to give up to further His kingdom?? Your comforts, your stuff, the people around you??

Yeah think about that for a while... And hopefully you'll be willing to give up on some things to go deeper and further with Chris!

Nichie