I am blessed to live where I do!
Update September 24, 2008
Well, goodnews so far. My mom went to the dr today to have biopsy, but they wouldn’t do it because everything was looking so much better. She will see another dr on Friday and hopefully have more information, but I think that this is a huge work of the spirit. Keep praying and I’ll let you know what happens next. Life is always an adventure! Keep your chin up, that’s when you’re face to face with your maker.
here we go September 24, 2008
Now that I have been home for about 5 days, life has been hitting pretty hard. God is so amazing with what he has planned. As my family is going through a tough time, God is still in control. Today, mom is going in for a biopsy to test for breast cancer. Spirits are high at home, peace is evident and God is in control. I don’t know what it is, but I;m not super worried. I don’t think that it is denial, but more knowing who my God is and knowing what he is capable of.
It has been interesting to be at home, things are the same, but different. Things are great, but I miss my friends from my DTS and it’s weird talking to them on the phone or on Skype and not being able to see them. We got so close, I don’t think ay of us realized it in the midst of it all. I already have job opportunities too! I’m set up to do some drug testing and I just got a phone call to work tomorrow morning for a couple hours at The Zone, we’ll see what comes out of that! God is such a provider and I’m so glad to be at home and I now know without a doubt that this is where He wants me for this time.
Call me to hang out, anytime!
Natalie
“welcome back” September 21, 2008
Those words first came from the immigration officer in San Francisco. It actually put a smile on my face. It has been quite surreal being home. God is so good, my family is amazing, and my friends are great too. The biggest thing that I have noticed is that it is soooo quiet here. I can step outside and hear nothing. My room is so dark and it is easy to relax. I still am having a hard time believing that I am actually at home. Some things are different and some things are the same, but it is all good. All this to say, I’m home safe and getting used to being here. I’m going to start training for my new job tomorrow!
Thanks for your prayers as I transition back into life here,
Natalie
not goodbye, see you later September 13, 2008
Today, we realized how close we had really gotten to our once translators turned into friends in Indonesia. We had about 3 or 4 car loads of people drive an hour to come to the airport to say see you later to us. It is so meaningful to have them do that. Lots of hugs and tears were going around. They had gifts for us and we had some really sweet encouraging moments with our friends. At least 6 of them want to come to Perth in the next 2 years to do a DTS and have continuing training for what they are already doing in their city. They had a name for themselves when we arrived, NJTT, North Jakarta Translation Team. When we left, it was slightly altered, NJT, North Jakarta Transformers! It is so cool to see what God has done in the last three months. It is so surreal to think that we are on our way back to Perth and then home in about 6 days. God has blessed me so much by the friendships that I have with my team and with the people of Jakarta. I know that next Friday morning will be even harder as we say see you later to each other as students and staff.
I know that I have tried my best to keep my blog up as my adventures have gone on, but I hope that I have been able to convey properly what has happened. I know that written word is tougher than me talking with you face to face. My hope is that when I get home, I can really share with you what has happened to me. I love my God so much and he has become even more personal to me over the last 6 months. I know that my life and the way that I live it will be the true testimony to what God has done in me. Keep fighting the good fight!
Natalie
mixed emotions September 8, 2008
Here we are, down to our last 4 days in j-city. I’m so excited to go back to Perth to see friends that we left 3 months ago, but we have built some close friendships even here. We are told before we arrive that we should hang out in large groups of white people to draw attention to ourselves. Instead last night I looked around and with about 20 people gathered together only about 6 were white, the rest were our friends from Indo. It’ll be interesting to see how the goodbyes go. We’ve gotten really close and we could never see each other on earth again, but in heaven we can see each other again.
We’ve been busy wrapping things up and saying goodbye to people that are in the slums. We’ve been helping church’s go out and see what the time looks like in the slum’s. I’m still working on a video that we can leave here and they can use to encourage church’s and friends to go out and do outreach with them. It has been amazing how God has been using the first one that we made all over the city. it is erally mobilizing people like we had hoped it would. Plus, there is still another quarter to come and show it as well!
Today we’re going out again, and god isn’t done using us. We still expecting people to come to know him! Keep us in your prayers as we fly out Saturday afternoon. See you in 10 days!
Church today September 6, 2008
We went to this great English service today and had a good time
singing lots of hymns and scripture readings. Our last Sunday!
