Colorado Springs

Lots of random fun in Colorado. This is my first visit. I came out for 5 weeks of training at Missions Training Institute (MTI). There are LOTS of ministries here in the Colorado Springs area, including Focus on the Family and COmpassion International. On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit both.



This was taking at Focus on the Family's kids area

Random writings not posted...until now

“I love Jesus”
For my online banking, when I sign in there are a series of security measures, one of which is a statement I chose to enter. It is “I love Jesus.” It is an important reminder to me, every time I look at how much money is in my personal account.
1. Not my money
2. Jesus is taking care of me
3. No need to worry
4. “Because He first loved me”



Sweet – stolen time at KMBC with people that I love. Should not be able to come home again, but I have had a little glimpse. 3 years at KMBC, people I came in with are still here. Never another time I would be able to come back and experience this again. What a blessing. Hard to leave. Gift really. So many of the things I love about KMBC – the people. Inside and outside at the same time.


Relationships are hard. Maybe that is why I am not married or even dating for that matter. It is hard to just be friends, aquaintences, associates, people are just difficult. It really is about balance and juggling. I think about living my whole life in a small town and knowing everyone. I think about my grandma who moved to Marion after she got married. In middle school, she would meet one of my friends and ask their parents or grandparents name because somehow, she had a connection to them. Maybe because I have spent the last 3 years on a small Bible College campus, I like the dynamic that everyone knows everyone.
I think if it were possible, I would really like to know everyone. I know it is inpractical and unrealistic. But, I struggle in sharing myself with people and getting to know them. So many relationships are so temporary, lives that just intersect for a few minutes – I want more. Lives that intersect for years – I want more there too. People not just at home in my town, but in different States and different countries. And it is hard. It hurts. Knowing people and loving people is a wonderful thing, but it costs something.

always an apology

I find that every time I look at my blog I need to apologize for not blogging. So, why keep the blog? I love to look back and read the blogs of when I was in Ukraine. They are a journal and I love to be reminded of what God has done. It is funny, that I write blogs and then often fail to post them.

So, right now I am at a training center in Colorado - my first time to the state. I am amazed by how beautiful it is here. I love the people I have met. Lots of sending agencies are represented and it is exciting to see people going to so many different countries. I am blessed to be part of it!

Well, that is it for now, I need to run get ready for church. More later.

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