But how in the world does a person pack for two-years though? Where do we even begin? What to take? What to leave? What to ship? What to store? What to sell? We haven't really started.... I'd rather be baking & shopping.
Here goes nothin'
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
How To Pack.
Thanks to JH Ranch, I am a champ at packing for a three-month adventure. Language school, no problem.
But how in the world does a person pack for two-years though? Where do we even begin? What to take? What to leave? What to ship? What to store? What to sell? We haven't really started.... I'd rather be baking & shopping.
Here goes nothin'
But how in the world does a person pack for two-years though? Where do we even begin? What to take? What to leave? What to ship? What to store? What to sell? We haven't really started.... I'd rather be baking & shopping.
Here goes nothin'
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Winning the Lottery
I have so enjoyed spending the last few days & weekends with sweet friends who are the image of Proverbs 18:24. (I would post a picture here, but some how we've neglected the picture taking the last several days).
Not to mention, I have won big time in the in-law lottery. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful family to marry into.
Not to mention, I have won big time in the in-law lottery. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful family to marry into.
Friday, May 27, 2011
In His kindness, I believe that at times, God uses our emotions to speak to us. However, I'm being challenged not to live by emotions. See, I'm in this season of life that is easy to do and believe what I momentarily feel like. I'm learning, though, that God is Sovereign, my emotions are not. I am called to believe Truth regardless of how I feel.
Just my few thoughts for the day... going to NYC this weekend. Perhaps I'll have more to say upon our return! :)
Just my few thoughts for the day... going to NYC this weekend. Perhaps I'll have more to say upon our return! :)
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
May 10th
Well, two years ago today was my first date with Austin.
Last year, at this time, I was working at Starbucks & planning our wedding.
This year, May 10th was also a significant day for us.... we got our first donation for our ministry in Nicaragua! (Thanks Barkers!) We're excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in the years to come. He is already faithfully providing encouragement, wisdom, funds, and relationships.
If you're interested in giving, checks can be made to Students International with "Hofsommer" in the memo line. If you're interested in giving via debit/credit card, you can download the form here. Both checks & forms can be mailed to P.O. Box 2733 Visalia, CA 93279
Last year, at this time, I was working at Starbucks & planning our wedding.
This year, May 10th was also a significant day for us.... we got our first donation for our ministry in Nicaragua! (Thanks Barkers!) We're excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in the years to come. He is already faithfully providing encouragement, wisdom, funds, and relationships.
If you're interested in giving, checks can be made to Students International with "Hofsommer" in the memo line. If you're interested in giving via debit/credit card, you can download the form here. Both checks & forms can be mailed to P.O. Box 2733 Visalia, CA 93279
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Big News
Well, Austin & I are back safely from our one week trip to the Dominican Republic. We're glad to be home, but didn't want to leave. Our time there confirmed our call to long-term missions.
We are officially going to Nicaragua to serve with Students International.
The week in the DR was my first time on a mission trip & my first time in a 3rd world country. Austin was so glad to be back there and the radiance on his face never dimmed. He truly is created for missions. I got a small taste of what the social work site would/could look like, and I got a huge taste of investing in the students. This particular ministry does a great job of focusing on both the poor people in the community and the students who are visiting on short-term mission trips... It seems like a perfect fit for us.
Currently, Students International does not have a base in Nicaragua, but we will be on the seven-person team to launch it. We can tell that God is already at work in Nicaragua, and He is perfectly orchestrating a network of resources. We have established a relationship with a local church, and we're excited to partner with them. A lot of the other details are unknown at this point, but it's clear that the Lord is simply inviting us to be a part of what He is already doing there. We will be in Masaya, which is southeast of the capital city, Mangaua.
We are extremely aware of our need for support. Friends who believe in us, encourage us, pray for us. Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I thrive on relationships and fellowship. Although we'll be away, we don't want the distance to cause a barrier... rather, we want our friends and family to know they're on the journey with us.
To be frank, we were given an idea for our budget, and I felt sick. It seems so overwhelming at this point. We have to trust that when God calls, He equips. We are praising Him for providing.We are certain that it will be a faith-builder.
It's exciting to see how the Lord has given each of us experiences that will be perfect preparation for long-term missions. As we continue this journey, I will do my best to continue updating everyone.
We are officially going to Nicaragua to serve with Students International.
The week in the DR was my first time on a mission trip & my first time in a 3rd world country. Austin was so glad to be back there and the radiance on his face never dimmed. He truly is created for missions. I got a small taste of what the social work site would/could look like, and I got a huge taste of investing in the students. This particular ministry does a great job of focusing on both the poor people in the community and the students who are visiting on short-term mission trips... It seems like a perfect fit for us.
A few of the baseball boys during devotions at the sports site with Austin.
Making casava with one of the women in the community.
Currently, Students International does not have a base in Nicaragua, but we will be on the seven-person team to launch it. We can tell that God is already at work in Nicaragua, and He is perfectly orchestrating a network of resources. We have established a relationship with a local church, and we're excited to partner with them. A lot of the other details are unknown at this point, but it's clear that the Lord is simply inviting us to be a part of what He is already doing there. We will be in Masaya, which is southeast of the capital city, Mangaua.
We are extremely aware of our need for support. Friends who believe in us, encourage us, pray for us. Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I thrive on relationships and fellowship. Although we'll be away, we don't want the distance to cause a barrier... rather, we want our friends and family to know they're on the journey with us.
To be frank, we were given an idea for our budget, and I felt sick. It seems so overwhelming at this point. We have to trust that when God calls, He equips. We are praising Him for providing.We are certain that it will be a faith-builder.
It's exciting to see how the Lord has given each of us experiences that will be perfect preparation for long-term missions. As we continue this journey, I will do my best to continue updating everyone.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Catching Up
It doesn't seem possible that a year and half has passed since college graduation, but there has been so much life-change during this short time.
The next day, I went to Europe to tour seven countries in a little less than a month with three of my dearest friends from JH Ranch (Arrington, Hannah, and Emily).
Very quickly after my return, I fell in love with that handsome, godly man, Austin. Everything about our relationship has been a picture of redemption, and we just knew it was right (perhaps I'll blog about it in more detail later). We got engaged in November of 2009 on Monument Circle.
And married October 2, 2010... which happens to be the same date I accepted Christ back in 2002. photo credit: Cassidy Dawn
This is the part, where I really want to pick the story up. The Lord faithfully provided a job for Austin, so we moved into an apartment in Indianapolis after the wedding. A week after our honeymoon, Austin was laid-off. Business was bad, and he was the last one hired, so the first one to go. His initial response was relief. It wasn't until later that he thought "oh, crap!" Thankfully, once again, the Lord provided a job... a temporary job, but a job nonetheless. As he was applying for more permanent positions, lots of doors seemed to be slamming in our faces. It just wasn't making sense that he was being turned down by so many companies that he was over-qualified for.... except that the Lord, was once again, at work in directing us. We were seeing tons of things we shouldn't do, but we weren't certain what we should do.
In the mean time, I had been thinking a lot about Austin's passion for Latin America. He spent a summer in the Dominican Republic serving with a ministry called Students International. I love seeing the way his face lights up when he talks about his time there, and it's always been obvious that we would love to go back. I was hesitant to mention how much the Dominican had been on my mind because I didn't want it to seem like the backup plan. One night, as we were listening to a sermon online, I felt this overwhelming sense of peace to just bring it up to Austin. We decided to pray about going overseas for missions.
We e-mailed the leadership in the DR, and just asked them to pray for us as we were praying about going. The next step for us was seeking godly wisdom. Austin & I talked with his parents the next weekend. Both of their responses were big confirmations! His dad said, "I want to urge you two to pursue it with fire! Austin, I've known you were made for missions since you were 10. I've never told you because you needed to hear it from God on your own." His mom said, "The Lord finally told you? It's about time." My mom, also, was not surprised.
As we have continued praying about what is next, we've sensed a peace from the Holy Spirit what we are called to serve with Students International. At this point, we aren't certain about where or when we will go. The most likely candidate is Nicaragua. We have finished our application, and we'll take a short-term trip in April. Please pray with us as we continue praying about what's next for us newly-weds.
The day after graduation, I went on my first date with a handsome, godly man.
The next day, I went to Europe to tour seven countries in a little less than a month with three of my dearest friends from JH Ranch (Arrington, Hannah, and Emily).
Very quickly after my return, I fell in love with that handsome, godly man, Austin. Everything about our relationship has been a picture of redemption, and we just knew it was right (perhaps I'll blog about it in more detail later). We got engaged in November of 2009 on Monument Circle.
And married October 2, 2010... which happens to be the same date I accepted Christ back in 2002. photo credit: Cassidy Dawn
This is the part, where I really want to pick the story up. The Lord faithfully provided a job for Austin, so we moved into an apartment in Indianapolis after the wedding. A week after our honeymoon, Austin was laid-off. Business was bad, and he was the last one hired, so the first one to go. His initial response was relief. It wasn't until later that he thought "oh, crap!" Thankfully, once again, the Lord provided a job... a temporary job, but a job nonetheless. As he was applying for more permanent positions, lots of doors seemed to be slamming in our faces. It just wasn't making sense that he was being turned down by so many companies that he was over-qualified for.... except that the Lord, was once again, at work in directing us. We were seeing tons of things we shouldn't do, but we weren't certain what we should do.
In the mean time, I had been thinking a lot about Austin's passion for Latin America. He spent a summer in the Dominican Republic serving with a ministry called Students International. I love seeing the way his face lights up when he talks about his time there, and it's always been obvious that we would love to go back. I was hesitant to mention how much the Dominican had been on my mind because I didn't want it to seem like the backup plan. One night, as we were listening to a sermon online, I felt this overwhelming sense of peace to just bring it up to Austin. We decided to pray about going overseas for missions.
We e-mailed the leadership in the DR, and just asked them to pray for us as we were praying about going. The next step for us was seeking godly wisdom. Austin & I talked with his parents the next weekend. Both of their responses were big confirmations! His dad said, "I want to urge you two to pursue it with fire! Austin, I've known you were made for missions since you were 10. I've never told you because you needed to hear it from God on your own." His mom said, "The Lord finally told you? It's about time." My mom, also, was not surprised.
As we have continued praying about what is next, we've sensed a peace from the Holy Spirit what we are called to serve with Students International. At this point, we aren't certain about where or when we will go. The most likely candidate is Nicaragua. We have finished our application, and we'll take a short-term trip in April. Please pray with us as we continue praying about what's next for us newly-weds.
Friday, February 25, 2011
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