And then she smiled...

I found this picture off of a website yesterday and it made me smile.

This is me just over a year ago.

On my way to the Ukraine, ready to see God move.

Fast forward just days and I had seen God so much through SO MANY things.

At this point I had decided, just probably a day before that if there was no reply from Mercy Ships when I got home (I had applied in November/December and it was now late March) - that I had heard God wrong, and I would obviously be doing something different after graduating.

I remember getting home after the best two weeks of my life (also two of the hardest weeks) and asking my Mom if there was any mail for me. She handed me things from different schools and YWAM's and such stuff and my heart sank. I realized that somehow, my prayers that I thought had led me to the ship were wrong and God was calling me elsewhere. I was so discouraged.

The next day I checked my email and as I scrolled through the many emails I'd gotten while being away, I read one that said (or something like this) "Mercy Ships Acceptance Letter". I'm pretty sure I screamed! It had never crossed my mind that I would receive anything through email. I quickly opened it and read it.

All along I had felt pretty strongly that I would be going for possibly 3 months, maybe more, and probably starting in January. I had applied for 6-8 months starting anytime after September just to have something down, but I had no idea.
I read through and saw that I had been accepted to start in September for 8 months! Wow! That was so God. Looking back, I would have never changed this much if I had come in January. I can't imagine now having left home when I did.

These past months have been some of the hardest of my life in so many ways, and yet the most rewarding as well.

Today I checked my countdown on Facebook and saw that in I think 22 days I will be driving away from this ship. I will go to the airport and beg for them to let me take my two bags onto my one bag limit flight (definitely a prayer point if anyone out there has kept me in their prayers)!!! Then I'll head home. Away from this place that has consumed my every moment for the past 7 months!

Wow!
I didn't exactly plan when posting for this to get so reflective, but, whatever. Your fault for reading I guess ;)

So to explain these many pictures.

The top one obviously was as I said, a year ago, when I was young and yet so old in my own mind, all ready to go to Ukraine where I was stretched further than I can explain. I saw God multiply gift bags, and lost a large part of my heart there.

The second picture was of my beautiful Patricia. This little girl captured my heart a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to go back to the orphanage. I did though on Saturday, and much to my absolute delight - she recognized me. I love the picture because she isn't looking at the camera - she's looking into my eyes. Wow! My heart is gone yet again.

The third picture is of my blue hand after painting! Most of it is gone, but a few places will not leave. I looked rather like a smurf!

The fourth picture is of three of the chicks from the orphanage. SO CUTE!

The next one is just fun. I found a program so I can edit pics so I played around a fair bit and like how it worked. I wish I'd found this program months ago. At home I edit pictures way way more, so it was fun to find a way to completely change the colour schemes and edit! Maybe it's good that I didn't find it until now!

The next is from a birthday party. Two of my friends here on the ship Emma and Peter had their birthdays so we had some fun with a huge group!

This lovely group of ladies is my 'family' here on ship. We've adopted ourselves. Most of the girls are from our 'band' as I posted last time!

I started crying a bit today when I considered the future. I've been so worried about it, and God's so faithfully been telling me SO LOUDLY that I don't need to worry. Every single thing I've read this week in the devotional book I'm going through has talked about giving God my load, how He has a plan, and to trust in Him.

Thanks God!

Even reading through other people's blogs I get encouraged.

Tonight at my Bible study we watched a video called 'Kickball'. We're going through the Nooma series and it's just another way God's taught me. Today was about how we go through tough times and God has something better for us later on. The verse to go to was one that I'd read last night about giving God my load.

Thank you Jesus!

I think the strongest thing God is teaching me is that my life is His. And I've realized that I actually want Him to lead me.

He's showing me that His way is not mine, and that I will not be living a mundane life if I give it to Him, and that's alright.

Holy Blessed Saviour

My hearts on a string
Every time you watch me sing
Because I know
That you know
Everything

Nothing I ever say will mater if it doesn’t
Cry Holy
Nothing I ever touch will ever make a difference if it’s doesn’t
Cry Blessed
Nothing in me means anything if it doesn’t
Cry Saviour.
Lalalala…

My souls’ on the line
Every time I get a rhyme
Because I know
That you know
Everything

Nothing I ever say will mater if it doesn’t
Cry Holy
Nothing I ever touch will ever make a difference if it’s doesn’t
Cry Blessed
Nothing in me means anything if it doesn’t
Cry Saviour.
Lalalala…

Holy Blessed Saviour
All my praise to You
You are my reason to even be here today
So let everything I say
Cry Holy Blessed Saviour

Nothing I ever say will mater if it doesn’t
Cry Holy
Nothing I ever touch will ever make a difference if it’s doesn’t
Cry Blessed
Nothing in me means anything if it doesn’t
Cry Saviour.
Lalalala…

So I say,
Everyday,
Holy Blessed Saviour

Nadine Schroeder
March 11th, 2008

God is so good! His perspective shows beginning to end with everything in between, before, and after. My perspective shows yesterday, where I see that He has been faithful, today, where I pray that He will be with me, and tomorrow, when I trust that He will be faithful.