Continuing to Prepare

Returning home in the middle of July many things have come to a close and things continue to change.

For the first few days that I returned home I lived in a tent in my sister's back yard. That was fun, and such a privilege to experience that before going to the field.

God provided the one who He wanted to fill my spot at church, so we were working together so she could be equipped to step in.

Spending time with family and friends and starting to grieve leaving everything I know and everyone I love. God's promise "Heb 13:5 "...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." Sadness, Joy, Happiness, Excitement.

The day before leaving my sister and I went to the coast, to spend time together and in God's word and praying. To just sit and watch His awesome strength as the waves come in.

So now I am back in North Carolina at CIT for 2 1/2 months of cultural training, team building, community living, and spiritual formation. What an awesome experience, and one Studying different cultures, what is right what is not acceptable. Being prepared to become a child and sit and listen and learn. It is not about the task first it is about relationships, community. Western Worldview, what we perceive to be correct or right is that the worldview of another culture? No
The challenge is to listen, don't assume, to not be critical, to want to become a child sitting at the feet and learning.
"If we are to follow the example of Christ, we must aim at incarnation! Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself" (Matt. 16:24). These acts of self denial are in fact the first steps of freedom in Christ. We must consciously release our attachments to home, income, security, convenience, significance in work or ministry, and even comfort of family. We must enter a new community of strangers, often without many if not most of the comforts and symbols of home, and begin as children, learning at the feet of those we have gone to serve. The challenges will shape us; the changes will trouble us. Our bodies will get sick, our minds will suffer fatigue, our emotions will sweep us from ecstasy to depression. Yet the love of Christ will sustain us so that we can identify with Paul, who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (1 Cor: 9:22-23) (Ministering Cross Culturally). Alot to learn, alot to process but God says "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" "It is not I who lives but Christ who lives in me" that God would choose to use me is humbling, All the glory goes to my Lord and Savior.

CIT sits at the bottom of the Blue Ridge mountains you can go to their web site at http://www.cit-online.org/ if you are interested in finding out more about them. Everything they teach is tied to scripture and God is the head. What a awesome way to be equipped.

By His Amazing Grace

In Transition

Hi everyone:

Another week has passed, when I think about the time I've been here at CIT it has been a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord. Going deeper and deeper into His Word. But it has also been a time of stretching and meeting new sisters' and brothers' in Christ, and seeing how God is working in the lives of all.

Some going to Russia, some going to Vietnam, some going to Africa, some to India, all in transition and all of us pretty much homeless during this time of equipping. But I can truly say all of us Joyful and giving Thanks and Praises to our Lord and Savior.

Kay and I took a little time Saturday (Kay and her husband Kirk will be going to Cameroon, but will first be in language school for a year), to go and do some hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. What an awesome sight, God's creation in another part of the US.

If anyone is interested in seeing where I'm at and what I am doing check out CIT's website http://www.cit-online.org/.

The Lord bless you

Following His Call
Debbie

Chimney Rock, NC.