Anointed!!

For two weeks we’ve been working along side a team of 15 from Germany. Most of them spoke English so the language barrier was small. During our time together we painted another church, did some renovations and experienced some Portuguese culture together. It was fun to get to know people from a different part of the world that have a similar background. Quite a few of them came from Russia to Germany in there family history, just like one side of my family originated in Russia. I had chance to speak some Low German with a few of them and reminisce about similar foods that we eat.

The second week with them we helped plan and organize a youth camp. There are very few youth in the churches here in Portugal. In total there were only 12 youth that came to the retreat from number of churches. But the goal of this retreat was to unit the youth from different churches so they can all start meeting together regularly. Over the three days we saw them start to draw together, and interacted with them despite the language barrier.

I had a neat opportunity on the last day to pray for all the Portuguese girls at the youth camp. They had just had a bible study together and had done a lot of sharing. Many of them are going through hard times with there families splitting apart. They had finished there meeting with tear stained cheeks, and as they joined the rest of the group God put on my heart a few verses from 3 different Psalms that God had spoken to me, after I came back from N Africa last year feeling very broken. I was able to pray over them using a few objects as symbolism. The first was a huge white sheet to cover them symbolizing unity, and purity as sisters in Christ. The second was anointing with oil, to symbolize healing. It was a precious time together. I had the Psalm 51: 7-12, Psalm 147: 1-6, and Psalm 68: 5 + 19 read and prayed over them. Assuring them that each day God wants to carry them in his arms, through the brokenness, with understanding that cannot be comprehended.

Kitchen Water, & Sea Water

We have started serving in Portugal. The last week has consisted of alot of paint and water. The day after we got here the apartment we were staying flooded, and the majority of our things got soaked. A pipe broke in our kitchen and there was three inches of water everywhere. It was an interesting start, but God is good, and nothing was destroyed. We are now in the process of painting two churches, and getting ready for the first youth camp held by the churches here in Lisbon. A team of 15 people from Germany also joined us today and will be working with us for the next two weeks.

My team and I are learning how to function together. We are slowly learning what each person needs and how to serve each other. Being the leader has it's difficult times, but for the most part is going well. I'm learning alot about how to pray, and God has already answered prayers for unity in our team.

One thing we are doing as a team is memorizing scripture. The passage that I'm memorizing is James 1, and the part I have been holding on to is "If you need wisdom or you want to know what God wants you to do. Ask and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent you for asking. But when you ask make sure you really expect him to answer. For a doubtful mind is like an unsettled wave in the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." Being a leader for the first time can be a little nerve racking, but God is teaching me to how to rely on him, and how to lead in love, with gentleness, and boldness.

Here are a few pictures of Lisbon, and are last few days here.

TEAM TIME

My TEAM!!
(left to right) Sean, Corbin, SonJa, (mime) Andra, BJ, Anita


Wednesday evening, with my bags packed I got on a plain headed for Montreal! The next morning I tried to resist the grogginess that was taking hold of me after a long night in airports and planes. Soon after I arrived I was picked up from the airport, and whisked off into the morning Montreal traffic to College Notre Dome.

A few days later my teammates arrived and for the first time we were all together. There are two other girls, three guys and myself on the team. We were all encouraged to be together, and the ease of comfort we feel around each other.

My team is gifted in very creative areas. We have a combination of photographers, artists, people into drama, and musicians. I am excited for the plans God has for us as a team.


God is also continually meeting me. He's been teaching me how to pray. I'm learning that prayer is a huge part of being a leader and is also incredibly powerful. This week I've seen answers to prayer with in our team. The unity that God has brought into our team this last week is incredible. People have come out of there shell, and we are learning to be a team in all aspects of life, supporting each other, and coming along side each other in prayer.

Please pray for us as we continue to get to know each other.

Pray for a continual openness and transparency as team members

Pray that we would discover how to have fun as a team

Pray for me as I continue to discover how to be a team leader in this setting.