God is good, amen?

I can't believe the season of Lent is upon us already.  Last year, I added Praying in Color to my daily routine during Lent, a habit which I hoped would stick, but alas, I am human and do not always follow through with my good intentions.  At the beginning of this year, while on a trip up to the beautiful Upper Peninsula, I decided that I wanted to take note of the small blessings that I saw each day of the year.  I didn't do a whole lot with that until last week.  Earlier in the month, I thought I would do better with remembering my commitments if I wrote them in a calendar rather than the calendar on my phone.  So, I broke out my National Geographics from years past, my ever-useful jar of Mod Podge, and decorated the cover of a pocket notebook I bought in Paris when I was 13.  I sectioned off each page and wrote the date in each box and after making each mark so precisely and arranged the pictures and words on the cover just-so, I smiled with pride at my small accomplishment.  I set it down on our living room coffee table and there it stayed.  For 4 weeks.  So much for using it to stay organized.  Last week though, I was talking with a wonderful friend from camp and she told me about her gratitude journal.  She writes down the ways God blesses her each day in small ways and I burst out "That's exactly what I wanted to do!"  She encouraged me to do so and the next morning, she sent me a text that read "Keep an eye out for God's many small blessings :)" I took up that notebook I had decorated and marked off every day of this year, and started a gratitude journal.

Among other things I have found to be blessings, one is the way that prayer and support keeps coming in to send me back to France.  I am just shy of $1,800 away from having the outgoing expenses covered and have about 17% of the monthly support pledged.  Oh how good God is to me, even when I don't see it at the time.

I have a minor obsession with Pinterest (if you haven't caught on, typically when I use "minor" to describe an interest or a hobby, it means significant) and due to the addicting fun that can come from that, I have allowed myself one hour each day to go on.  I know, I know, "Abby, one hour is a long time to be on a website!"  But when you think of it, if you spend 15 minutes on it eight or nine times a day-as most people do-that is about two hours that you have spent in front of a computer and you weren't even connecting with people.  I'm not hating on any one who does this, just to be clear, because great enjoyment and creativity can emerge from finding the fun things on Pinterest.  I will leave you with this gem of word beauty that I found the other day:

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." Ecclesiastes 7:14

I have found that it is neither the good nor the bad times that are difficult, but rather the in between times.  I have moments of sadness and anger, but they pass quickly.  I have times of great joy and laughter and those memories carry me far.  But it is the days that bring neither joy nor sorrow that are hardest.  Living between moments is difficult not because I like drama but because I am just waiting.  You know that feeling.  The feeling of something huge is just around the corner but you can't see around the bend. 

Being at home has been lovely, filled with books, cleaning, and the various appointments that I haven't had the time for over the past years (you know, the dentist, physical therapy for my injured knee, etc.)  I have been babysitting and cleaning houses (two of my favorite things) for donation for France, and in that I have been doubly blessed.  Not only have families been generous in supporting me, but I also get to learn from kids. 

Kids are crazy.  They are energetic, creative, easily show their emotion, and forgive quickly.  I was watching three wonderful kids last week.  These kids are 4, 6, and 8 and I've known them for years.  The oldest smiles and waves at everyone at church and loves to talk.  The middle is the only boy in the family, and he plays the part very well.  He is all about building racetracks, throwing snowballs, and punching.  Totally a 6 year old boy.  The youngest is sweet and tries very hard to be like her older siblings.  She'll play with Polly Pockets with her sister, chase after her brother, and just loves being with them.  They don't care how crazy they act, they think their hilarious when we eat a snack in a fort underneath the table, and they love just being.  How hard is it for adults to just be?  I'm living in a limbo right now, finished with school, unable to find a job because no one wants to hire someone for 3 months, and waiting to go back to France, I try to fill my day with as many things as possible.  I can't just be and enjoy the stillness of this time in my life.  I am always trying to keep moving and stay active (a little hard to do with a bum knee) but what I am continuously learning from these beautiful kids every time I hang out with them is to do what they do:  enjoy the stillness of living, love every moment, and forgive quickly.

An update on finances:
Currently, I am at about 54% of needed funds for outgoing expenses: $3,874.37.  Thanks to the loving and open support of friends and family, about 10% of the monthly support has been raised.

It has been a while since I last posted, and I apologize.  The end of my college career left me a little overwhelmed!

During the last week of class, the Biblical and Theological Studies Organization sponsored a fundraiser for this ministry.  Four of my good friends played a concert: Riane McConnell, Monica Laytham and friends, Trinity Mather and Anders Nordstrom, and Ryan Ciganek and friends.  A number of friends, family, and family of friends donated homemade goods, photos, and artwork for a silent auction, and a great number of friends and roommates of friends donated baked goods for a bake sale.  Altogether, the fundraiser was an amazing success and raised over $1,300!  How amazing is that?  The community at my college is amazingly supportive and such an overwhelming blessing.  I'll miss that more than anything else from my time in college, but I'm very excited for what is to come.

Riane

Helen, Sarah, and Monica

The bake sale

My wonderful friend Shelley who helped organize the whole thing

Some good friends enjoying the evening

Enjoying the music

Anders and Trinity

Unfortunately, the camera died before I got any pictures of Ryan.  It was a great night and only came together by God's grace and His family.

Oh the Lord is good!

Since the last time I posted, God has multiplied by blessings.  I currently have raised $1,500 thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people.  God has been faithful, and not only in providing funds.  Within three hours one day, an entire fundraiser came together.  Some wonderful friends have joyfully agreed to play a concert, and more wonderful friends have agreed to use their artistic gifts to create beautiful things for a silent auction.  Everyone on campus has been such a blessing, from donating their time to advertising to encouraging me when things get overwhelming.  Random students who I don't even know well have come up to me and asked how fundraising is going and have told me that they are praying for me.  How blessed am I, that I not only have a supportive family, two supportive churches here in the States, and also an entire university campus praying for me and loving me through all of this?

Support Letter

Some people have been asking to see my support letter, and as I have run low on copies, I figured why not post it here?

GBSE – St-Etienne, France

August, 2011

What do people in France need just as much as Americans?

                Someone to share the good news of Jesus Christ

What can I do with my degrees in Biblical and Theological Studies and French?

                Return to France and share the good news of Jesus Christ

Dear

            As I write to you, I am about to begin my final semester at North Park University. My love of learning has proved itself more with each class I have taken and made it possible to graduate in three and a half years. As I have been considering options for the future with my double major, and after studying for a semester in Saint-Etienne, France, God has opened a door.

            I will be returning to the Loire Valley region to work closely with the church I attended during my semester abroad, Le Groupe Biblique de Saint Etienne. Since beginning my French study over eight years ago, I have fallen in love with the language, culture, and people of France. I have now been blessed with the opportunity to return for eighteen months to work in ministry for the people that I love so dearly.

            GBSE was started by a church planting team with the mission agency CrossWorld. CrossWorld was founded in 1931 and now has 80 teams in 30 ministry areas of the world. I will be involved in planning and implementing outreach events, working with the youth, involved with Bible studies and living in community with the unique group of individuals and families who attend. Check out the church’s website at www.groupe-biblique-saint-etienne.org

            While in Saint-Etienne, I will have the opportunity to attend culinary school, which will allow me to receive a fantastic education in an area which has been my passion for the past seven years, as well as learn and work alongside those who may not know Christ.

            An opportunity like this can only happen with the support of friends and family who will pray for me throughout my time in France and partner with my ministry through financial support. My budget will resemble that of a career missionary. One-time contributions totaling $7250 are needed for my “outgoing expenses,” as well as $3365 per month in monthly support for my 18-month commitment to serve. Monthly support works out to about $110 per day.

Some are called to go, others to send

         

I am asking you to prayerfully consider being one of my monthly partners and send me back to France to work with GBSE. Please fill out the enclosed response card and mail it to CrossWorld and let me know of your partnership with me. Throughout my service, I will be updating my blog with news of the work in France, as well as pictures and stories and a support update.

www.abbycrossworld.blogspot.com

            Thank you for the unique role you have played in my life, especially through your love and support. Please pray for me during this time of preparation and help me love and serve the people and youth of the Loire Valley.

                                                                        Que Dieu vous bénisse!

                                                                        (May God bless you!)

                                                                       

Abby Austin

227 E Lincoln Ave

Wheaton IL 60187

CrossWorld

10000 N Oak Trafficway

Kansas City MO  64155

www.crossworld.org

Checks should be payable to CrossWorld, with my name on a separate note. Each contribution will be acknowledged with a receipt for tax purpose

An Update

Hello again!

Well, it has been a while, and for that, I apologize.  I am now about 6 weeks from graduation from college.  Wow!  I do not know how that happened, but it has finally come.  Right now, I am hoping to be leaving for France in March.  My original goal was to leave in January, but the fundraising has been going a little slowly.  Right now, I have $835 of the needed $7250 before I leave.  While this is a little discouraging, I am full confidence that God will provide.