Faith Week coming up!

Week 4 is in progress. I'm learning a great deal from my studies, this week is based on the ways and workings of the Holy Spirit. It's so awesome to be able to learn so much about the God of all and who He is as the Trinity. This week I am working on more plans for outreach to Africa in May. We are deciding on where to go and what God would have us do in the countries that we are visiting. Also, I have to make plans for any travel I want to do after outreach in August. I pray that God will lead me where He wants and that I will constantly remain open to hearing from Him.
Coming up is Faith Week. On Saturday, we will be setting out in groups of 3 with nothing but $10 in our pocket and a bagged lunch each to wherever our hearts desire and the Spirit leads throughout New Zealand. We will be hitchhiking our way around and basically relying on God to provide for food, transport and lodging wherever we go. (side note: New Zealand is one of the safest places in the world to hitch a ride, and it's actually quite common!) We are not permitted to ask for anything, but just to pray and trust. This is an exciting opportunity to not only see more of this incredible country, but to also earnestly trust in the Lord and see firsthand how He provides for His people. I can't tell you how stoked I am for this!! I would ask you all for your continued prayers for our safety and provision. And above all that God would give us all divine appointments to bless those we meet and continue to share Him! See you when I get back eh!

Something God showed me

A friend sent this to me yesterday. I know it came from God because this is something I'd been dealing with the past few days. Just how does God speak to us? Here you go, be blessed my friend.
The man whispered, "God, speak to me"
and a meadowlark sang.
But, the man did not hear.
So the man yelled, "God, speak to me"
and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said,
"God let me see you."
And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see
. And, the man shouted,
"God show me a miracle."
And, a life was born.
But, the man did not notice.
So, the man cried out in despair
, "Touch me God,
and let me know
you are here."
Whereupon, God reached down
and touched the man.
But, the man brushed
the butterfly away
and walked on
. I found this to be a great reminder
that God is always around us in the
little and simple things
that we take for granted..
. even in our electronic age...
so I would like to add one more:
The man cried,
"God, I need your help!"
And an e-mail arrived reaching out
with good news and encouragement.
But, the man deleted it and continued crying.
.. Don't miss out on a blessing
because it isn't packaged
the way that you expect.

Love Lisa

Safe arrival and first lectures

Well, here I am in NZ. I've decided to try posting my own website so you can all keep up to date on the goin's on around here. This is going to be such an incredible growth experience for me. I can already feel myself being stretched and challenged in some ways. I've almost completed my first week of lectures. I am learning so much about the life of Jesus and the relationship He had with the Father and so the relationship that I myself must strive for. What an awesome journey.
Next week we will be learning which groups and what countries we each will be visiting when we depart for outreach in May. I am so excited to go wherever God leads. I beg for your continued prayers that I will be open, and submissive to everything that God brings to me. Without that spirit of reverence and submission, none of this will be worth a thing. So I continually lay down my reservations and fears to Him to fill me with more than I could have thought even possible. I am so grateful for all of your individual emails and am greatly encouraged. I warn that I probably will not have much opportunity for many individual email responses. So just know that I think of you all and smile at every new letter! It is soooo encouraging. I love and appreciate you all more than you could know. Please take care and keep my updated on yourselves as well eh!