England

On April 9th at 1:31pm I will be sitting on the tarmac of the Port Columbus International Airport destined for Philadelphia. After an almost 4 hour layover in Philly I will get on another plane and fly over the ocean (for the first time) to Amsterdam, Netherlands. I will be in Amsterdam for not quite 2 hours before I jump on my last plane to Birmingham, UK. At 10:30am on April 10th I will gather my guitar, 2 suitcases and my wits and travel the last leg of my journey - a 40 min car ride to Nuneaton, England and the Kings Lodge, a Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School. 

After sleeping for a few hours to fight off jet lag, I will dive into life as a nanny. I will be surrounded by 12 or so other people from 9 different nations, all gathered in the English country side to learn about Jesus. 

I will share a room with 3 or 4 other girls from around the world. Life for the next 3 months will consist of taking care of baby Daan, Skyping with Mom and Susan, weekend excursions (if I can find a car) and developing my character. 

I know this is going to be a wonderful opportunity for both me and my family. 

Letters and such would be most welcome over the next 3 months. The address for the Kings Lodge is -

The Kings Lodge

Watling Street

Nuneaton

Warwickshire

CV 10 OTZ

England

I will also be on Skype as much as possible - annaelizabeth89 

I look forward to the continued surprises of God these next few months and upon my return. Please pray for my family and I as we are apart and as we grow. 

Dear Jesus, Father in Heaven,

You are Holy!

Break into this world and dwell among us as you do in heaven.

Give us just what we need for today. 

Forgive us and help us to forgive others.

Do not let us fall and be ashamed, show us the way out when we are tempted to sin.

You hold the power in heaven and on earth. To you be all glory. Let your kingdom reign! Forever and ever.

Let it be so.

(paraphrased from Matthew 6:9-13)

In Him^,

Anna

P.S. Can anyone suggest some good books, podcasts, music, etc that I can dig into over the next few months?

Boldness

"Whatever situation you are in, remember, God always knows something you don't"

What does boldness mean to you?

Boldness is talking to a God you can't see.

Boldness is praying for someone other than yourself.

Boldness is listening for whispers from Jesus.

Boldness is understanding when He whispers.

Boldness is hearing a request from God.

Boldness is following through.

Boldness is speaking.

Boldness is conversation.

Boldness is making a fool of yourself.

Boldness is speaking the name of Jesus. (Out loud)

Boldness is telling people God cares for them. 

Boldness is pushing through fear.

Boldness is saying yes.

Boldness is saying no.

Boldness is being open to change.

Boldness is being ready.

Boldness is understanding.

Boldness is seeing.

Boldness is doing.

Boldness is love.

Boldness is passion.

But most of all, boldness is simply being in the presence of Jesus.

 

"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." -Hebrews 4:15-16 (New Living Translation)

I especially like the way the New International Reader's Version puts it:

"We have a High Priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a High Priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. So let us boldly approach the throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it." 

The biggest step we can take. The boldest thing we can do, is to simply approach the throne of grace. 

And when we become overwhelmed with fear or anxiety or anything that would hinder us from Him, remember, God is bolder than you can ever imagine. Jesus made God accessible to us so that we can come to Him and receive the gifts He has to give us. 

I started this week out thinking that my life would continue on the way it was. I thought the most challenging thing God had for me at the moment was to learn to be more bold. I never thought God would choose to show me just how bold HE can be. 

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." - Hebrews 11:8