Wow, how time passes!

I am amazed how time gets away from me! I feel like I have not neglected this blog as completely as I have - oops! God will do something amazing and I fall into the trap of thinking I will write that in my update so I don't want to blog about it. But in truth, I do want to blog about it. When it comes time for my update, I do not have enough space so I fail to write about all the amazing things! What a waster I am, I should be openly passing God! SO, today's praises

1. I am at 46%!!! Now, I would like to say that I do not believe that is really an accurate number because I was in two amazing churches on Sunday and 5 or 6 people talked with me about the possibility of taking out monthly support in the ministry in Ukraine. I really believe I am going to be pushed over 50% very soon and I am so EXTREMELY happy, excited, blessed, overwhelmed... but overall praising God for all He is doing!

2. The van was fixed! After about 25 days and a new transmission, axle, and radiator. Sadly, it did not remained fixed, but it is in the shop again and I am sure the leak will be quickly fixed. In the mean time, God has provided a way for me to get everywhere I need to be. The place that I am "stranded" without transportation is really sweet! People I love, chapel and revival services, a place to sleep. I really have need of nothing and God has used this time. He has fed me and filled me up! Truly, I feel almost like I have been on a retreat and I am so thankful.

3. Spiritual growth - God has been helping me with an area of my life that I don't like to focus on. During this time, He has been showing me places that I am weak that He wants to make me strong. It has been difficult, but truly I feel He is giving me victory - I promise more information about this in my update for September.

Well, truly lots of reasons to praise and I promise more info soon.
In Him,
Shushan

a quick update

I had such an amazing weekend and I am loving Home Ministry Assignment. It is an amazing time of drawing closer to God, which has been such a rich experience. When I was in Ukraine, I was so reliant on God, often because I had no idea what to expect or often how things worked. When I had a regular schedule and life was pretty settled, I lost sight of some of that need to be completely dependant on God. Now, in HMA, I am back to just a state of uncertainty and the realization that so much is beyond my control. Again, God is teaching me to rely on Him.

Also, HMA is a time to really focus on other people. I have had just some amazing conversations and met so many just wonderful people, it has been so delightful. I have so many stories to share, but no time now. Please continue to pray for me.

In Him,
Shushan

a camera

I really need to get a camera. None of the pictures on my facebook were posted by me. Sort of ridiculous. I was looking at other people's blogs today and I decided that I really need to post pictures too! So, that is my next goal - get a camera. Of course, then I will need to take pictures. Something I admit that I am not really great at doing. I usually forget to take them when I want to or I forget my camera. The honest truth is that could take them with my phone, but I don't know how to get the photos off my phone once I have taken them. Admittedly, a silly problem. maybe I should invite one of my "photo happy" friends along with me on all my adventures and then the problem would be solved.

OH Well. Not a problem to be solved today!
Shushan

I love this blog

Last night I was talking with a friend about this blog - we went to the blog site and as I started reading the post (specifically the ones from Ukraine) I was right back in those moments - it was wonderful! I could feel how I felt and remember what God was doing and teaching me in those times! I thought to myself - I need to remember this and when I get back to Ukraine, I need to blog again.

This morning, I was thinking about the blog and I thought, it would be good to have that kind of experience when reading back over my time of HMA. So, I am going to attempt to start keeping up with my blog again. Now, I have just admitted that it is mostly for myself, a journal of sorts, but if you are not me and you are reading this right now, I pray it will be a blessing to you as well.

Last night, I was part of a service at the EKCC (Eastern Kentucky Correctional Center). It was a really great service! One of my friends mentioned that she has been reading the book of Job and I thought I love that book. So, this morning I read some of it. Now I admit, I cheated and skipped to the end. I love when God responds to all that has been said and reminds Job of who he (God) is and what he has done. It is also a reminder of who Job is. Such an amazing picture, just God speaking in the midst of what appears to Job as chaos and just the ultimate of despair. Then I was struck by the fact that to get to this revelation of God, I skipped to the end of the book, Job did not have that option. He had to go through all the difficulties to get to that place.

I pray that God will reveal himself to me, I am pray that God will help me to be faithful and true to Him, no matter what I need to go through. That I will not seek short-cuts or skip out on what He has for me as I long for comfort and ease. I want to go deep, to really know Him.
Shushan

summer update

I am so excited to share that I am entering the next phase of preparation to return to Ukraine as a missionary with World Gospel Mission, I am officially beginning Homeland Ministry Assignment (HMA) on September first. HMA is a time of traveling to churches and homes to share God's story in my life, His call, and the building of a support team for ministry in Ukraine. During this time I will also be finishing my final year at Kentucky Mountain Bible College and the ministries God has given me here.

If you do not receive my updates and would like to, please email me - 2shushan@gmail.com

Birds

Okay, for those who do not know, I am afraid of birds. I know it is an irrational fear - I have had people on more than one continent tell me that it is not normal. Okay, I can live with that. I don't know where the root of this fear is from, seriously no idea, maybe I watched a movie I should not have as a child or saw something in real life, maybe subconsciously I was traumatized by Big Bird, seriously, I have no real idea, but I am honestly afraid of birds. Can they hurt me? NO. Have I ever been hurt by a bird? NO. Does the sound of their flapping wings make me want to crawl out of my skin? YES. Never been a fan of aviaries, never liked the bird show at the zoo, walk purposefully around them on the sidewalk or beach. Honestly, it has very little impact on my day to day life, but today this has impacted my life and surroundings.

A bird is living in my dryer vent. I heard the silly thing this morning when I was in the bathroom, but I pretended like it was nothing. This evening when I heard it again, I realized that it was not outside, it was really truly inside my bathroom (admittedly it is trapped in the dryer vent). As brave as I am, I immediately left the bathroom, shut the door, and called one of the maintenance men here on campus. He said he would come in the morning. Hmmmm, clearly not as important to him as it is to me. Okay, so I can shower somewhere else tomorrow morning. In the midst of all of this I have made a spectacle of myself. Girls in the dorm are wondering why I am freaked out by birds. Most startling is the fact I have to "bird hunters" that want to catch the bird. So, right now, I am locked in my bedroom while Stephanie and Hannah are taking apart the vent.

Seriously, wierded out by the whole thing!

Blog about blogging

True story - I like to ramble! Not a huge suprise to anyone who has ever met me. Most often I speak the words in my head, but I also enjoy putting them down on paper (or computer as the case may be). I love being able to go back and read things I wrote, the words remind me of the thoughts and feelings I was having at the time of the writing. Somehow it is fuller and deeper than a regular memory.

I am reading the book, Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. In his discussion of written word as more than an echo of the spoken word, but that it has its own voice and in writing we are talking to no one and everyone at the same time.

It is vastly interesting and it causes me to want to write more. So more attention to the blog!
More another day, but that is all for now.
Shushan