well, we finally took the cameras out! shan and me are having a good time, just chilling, staying up till 3am and waking up at 3pm, holidays are amazing! christmas was pretty sweet , you can read more about it on shan's blog if you are really that interested...i dont know what else to say only that everyone should try the game PIT its pretty sweet! something to consider: "by faith he (abraham) dwelt in a land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with isaac and jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is god." Hebrews 11:9-10

p.s. thanks chiara for lending me your beanie and your sweater hehehe :)

Puppies! My dog lady loo had puppies a few weeks ago...here are some pictures. We are gonna keep one named Christmas Joy, I can't wait to see her in June. Arent they cute?

ok, just to clarify my most recent post by BF i meant best friend not boyfriend ahahaha...a few of you have asked me so just to be clear shannon is one of my best friends in the whole wide world and I cant wait until she gets here. that would be wierd anyways to have a boyfriend named shannon....

well, the semester is almost over, 9 more days en counting. even though its been an amazing semester i am ready for a break. my bf shannon is coming in 9 days for 3 glorious weeks. i cannot wait to see her!!!!!! ill post all our adventures once she gets here.
on a personal note, i have been going through the gospel of matthew just focusing on the ministry of jesus. so amazing how much he gave out. he was all about people. i am excited for a new semester to really pour into people from the very beginning. that is what ministry is all about anyways, people.
i read chapter 16 today. "for whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." sometimes i dont think i really believe this verse, that if i loose my life for christ's sake i will find it...i keep trying to find my life. it is such a basic principle if we pour into him he will pour into us. that is one thing he has been challenging me so much in surrendering everything to him, to hold absolutely nothing back and dive into all that he is. basically, to seek him with my whole heart. what an amazing promise, "and you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." jeremiah 29:13
its basically up to me how much of him i want to experience, the more i let go of myself and cling on to him the more life i experience, the more i will see him. what do we have to loose (verse 26)? God give me an undivided heart to seek you!!!
"Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart." Psalm 119:2

"With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from your commandments!" Psalm 119:10

stay strong the end draws near, beloved bride...

Oh, I miss them!!! 6 more months....

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1

tonight we had a theme night at the bible college , the theme was old people christmas party. it was a lot of work but a lot of fun. there are only two weeks left of school. the lord blessed us with a great group of students and staff, i will miss them when they are gone! enjoy the pictures!
the balcha san

joshie

the waldrops

and my personal favorite, my roomie christy!

way to go guys!!!

Thanksgiving pics

Preparing for the feast!

the Girls, thank you God for Christy, Chiara, and Lyds!

thoughts from motherwell, scotland

i was looking though my old journal rereading what God was teaching me this summer, and i was blessed by some notes taken while listening to a calvary pastor from motherwell, scotland on the life of gideon:

the trip from egypt to the promised land only should have taken eleven days but because of disobedience and disbelief it took 40 years! dont let disobedience and disbelief rob you..dont be merely content with having escaped egpyt, step into the abundance God has for you. the failure of israel was that they never made a complete end of their enemies. later they became a hindrance. abundant life comes from being God-centered not self-centered. it was easier for God to get his people out of egypt than to get egypt out of his people.

hope these notes are encouraging...

Complete Abandonment

seems like the lord has been bringing up the same theme all this week and i think it is one i will forever see and think upon. the importance of abiding, i in him and he in me, the key to the whole christian life. how amazing a relationship. it is all about me surrendering daily more and more until there is nothing left of me and him filling me until all there is, is him. how my spirit longs for that, but the truth is there are so many things that fight against it. my flesh especially really wants to have its own way. it wants to plan its own future, to do what it wants. it does not want to trust that the lord has something far better than i could ever imagine, after all his thoughts toward me are good to give me a future and a hope. i cannot have my way and the lord's they are too exclusive, i must choose one or the other. someone's will must be given up. by faith, let it be mine. i will trust you lord, because i know your character, that you are loving and good, that you only desire what's best for me. it is a daily descision to choose to abide. how greatful i am to be only a branch, not worried about producing fruit, my only care in the world is simply to abide! and the more i do the more fruit that comes; marvelous, tasty, lasting fruit.

i read this poem in a biography on the life of john and betty stamm martyrs in china:

and shall i fear

that there is anything that men hold dear

thou wouldst deprive me of,

and nothing give in place?

that is not so-

for i can see thy face

and hear thee now:

"my child, i died for thee.

and if the gift of love and life

you took from me,

shall i one precious thing withhold-

one beautiful and bright

one pure and precious thing withhold?

my child, it cannot be."

--Betty Stamm

PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

We have been in Sweden the past 5 days and its been amazing. I have seen the Lord do cool things, not only in the city but a lot in my heart. We were really blessed to meet Mike and Sofia Ortiz and Joel Wickstrom the missionaries here, their hearts and passion for Christ are very evident, they were a real encouragement to me and a lot of people here. The work here is slow in coming but very productive, right now they are mostly just praying over the city waiting for God to break down strongholds the enemy has in this city and they eventually want to start a church. I am very glad to have been a part of it for the past week. Thanks all for your prayers!

Shabbat Shalom Eretz Israel! stolen from Tobey Hancock's cool Isreal pics

Beautiful Saviour

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive ou to Myself, that where I am there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." John 14:1-4

I've heard that in Jewish weddings when the groom was ready to wed he would start to prepare a house for his bride and himself to live in. As he builds, the bride is continually reminded that he could finish at any time and as soon as he is he will come to fetch her and marry her. What a rad reminder from the Lord, our bridegroom, that He is away building and as soon as its ready He will come for us and take us to our new home.

I want to understand that, like Abraham and the saints of old, who looked for a city not made with hands (Hebrews 11), whose hope and future was not in this lifetime but in the one Christ will bring when He comes back, whose citizenship was not of this earth but heavenly.

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 3:20

"I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be always!" How amazing, oh my love!

Sweden Bound!

I am leaving on Monday for Stockholm, Sweden for a week of outreach. Our team of 5 will be going to encourage the saints there, pray over the city, and just minister to the Lord through worship and prayer. Most of the students are leaving this weekend to various places please keep them in your prayers!

10 virgins

i read matthew 24-25 today. i've been thinking alot about the second coming of our lord. seems like the earth and all its inhabitants are groaning with labor pains. oh, when will this baby be birthed? why do i continually get so caught up and distracted with the things around me, the cares of this life? i forget to look up. when he finally catches my attention i can't help but rejoice and walk uprightly because of this amazing hope i have. how amazing, life eternal with the one i love so dearly.

"So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors." Matthew 24:33

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:42

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season. Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing." Matthew 24:45-46

Ya llego mi Madre!

Dusseldorf

Bonfire

Koln

Colors of Fall

Fall is here, the trees are changing colors and if it isnt really raining its raining leaves its so beautiful but it really makes me miss home. Today is one of those days where you just want to cuddle up with someone you love and watch movies or read a book and drink tea and eat chicken noodle soup. I miss home. God is so faithful though, He knows exactly when I need another family fix and He is sending my mom all the way from Peru here to Germany to visit for 10 days. But until she gets here God reminds me that He is my home, my shelter, yes my hideaway. How sweet He is. Thank you Father!

meditate:
love is patient.
love is kind.
love does not envy.
love does not boast.
love is not proud.
love is not rude.
love is not self-seeking.
love is not easily angered.
love keeps no record of wrongs.
love doe not delight in evil.
love rejoices in the truth.
love always protects.
love always trusts.
love always hopes.
love always perseveres.
love never fails.

Jesus Christ is ENOUGH!

this is a lesson the Lord is teachine me. he is enough if i will just allow him to be. how will i experince that enoughness unless i stop looking in other things and allow him to fill the void and longing in my heart. he is so faithful to meet when i show up and give him the opportunity. in class last night i learned a relationship with jesus only gets better and better the deeper you decide to go. show up give him a chance to be everything.

Trip to Heidelberg was amazing, the Lord gave us great weather and everyone had a fun time. Intern Girls (Christy, Lydia, and Michelle)
Crazy Matt

Tuukka, Vince, and Barber

Chillin in the shade

Heidelberg

Chiara Mai and Jessica

My Finnish friend Jaakko

Arne and Julia

hey hey, this week is coming to an end but the crazyness isnt going to end for awhile. The Lord is opening many doors for ministry but honeslty this outward man is getting really worn out. I would greatly appreciate your prayers. This next week is going to be super busy for me. On top of the practical things I have to do here I will be teaching my first bible college class next thursday and I need to study for that. We are going on a class trip early tomorrow morning to a city called Heidelberg, Ill post pics when I get a chance. On Sunday we are going for the first time to Dusseldorf to minister with the church there, please pray the Lord will do amazing things. Thanks all for you prayer and love. Misheru San

"For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3:26

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation." Psalm 149:9

Love Much,
Michelle

This week has been so crazy and it is only half way over. We are getting ready for all the new students to get here, a lot of them are already here. Lots to do, thats for sure. The Lord is so faithful however, I have been so strengthened and encouraged. Going into this week I was asking the Lord what He was doing placing me here, I felt so incapable of doing the work that is set before me, which of course is true but He reminded me that HE called me and He doesnt not expect me and will not allow me to do it all on my own. I have been so encouraged through the book of 2 Corinthians lately, such a good book about ministry! In 3:5 it says, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our suficiency is from God." Then later 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every work."
I am blessed to have these promises from the Lord because there is a lot to do this semester. I will be working for the registar, Ben Viscarra mostly. I will also be helping in the coffeeshop, cooking dinners (hahahaha) , and most amazing of all I will be helping lead a missions trip to Dusseldorf, Germany!!! How crazy, I have been praying about going there for a while now and God is so amazing and wise I cant wrap my mind around His goodness and sweetness to me.
Thank you all for your prayers and for stopping by to read what is happening in my life, maybe sometime soon I will put pics up. Please continue to pray the Lord would empty me of myself and give me the heart of a servant and that He would give all of us the strength to get ready for the semester, that He would also unify us as a team.
In my devos this morning I read a most amazing Psalm, 107 I was vastly encouraged.
"Oh , that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness."
much love, Michelle

New Intern Girl, Kristy that came yesterday. Me and Wendy went to pick her up from the airport in Frankfurt then we went out to eat yummy German food! Good times

Police Officer Michelle

Probably most of you hae heard about the big earthquake in Peru my family is fine as far as I know, please pray for the people of Peru and espeically that the Lord would use our church to reach out to them in this time when they are hurting. I think they sent a team to help the people affected by it. The Lord uses all things for good...

I cant sleep because there is a thunderstorm and I wanted to watch it so I decided to post the pics of the Christafari concert. Lots of fun dancing, learned some new moves :)

Christafari She was so beautiful and she sang really good too.
Girl bass player!

For Jason

Bike Accident

This is for you Shannon, since you cant be here. Sorry I didnt have anyone there to take a pic of me lying in the middle of the street!! This is pretty much all the excitement Michelle has seen in days...except tomorrow night Christifari is coming to do a concert should be pretty sweet, and they are staying at the Villa...Ill have to spy on them and take pics. Shan, member when Bleach came and I was so excited? If you were here you would be hearing about this too and we would have fun.

On a spiritual note the Lord continues to show me His goodness...how blown away I am that He desires to bless me so much...can one vessel contain so much blessing? I dont think so....its meant to be poured out onto others. The Lord along with blessing is giving me opportunity to minister to several young girls...please pray for my new friend who works at the Halle, she is working there for a couple weeks. Honestly, she grieves me. I want her to give her all to Jesus to really experience Him, I dont know if she has even tasted yet. Please pray the Lord would give me words to speak to her and that her heart would be soft soil ready to receive the word and bear fruit. I am learning more about the sacrificial, and unconditional love of our savior. Even when we were sinners Christ died for us, when we were dark and enemies He still came to us and pursused us I am now beginning to understand a little more...and it blows my mind. Thanks for your prayers, please pray for my toe...it hurts :) With Agape, Michelle

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Matthew 13:44, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

We are God's treasure, how amazing He joyfully sold all He had in order that we could be His purchased possession, that He saw us as something He greatly desired.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Beyond amazing, no words to express the greatness of His love for us. If we could just grasp and understand a little more everyday, know the depth, height, width, length of His love for us (Ephesians 3). Is that not our purpose? To love and be loved by Him? Oh Jesus cause us to understand and to live in light of that!

Matisyahu Jerusalem

Te quiero Papi!

Lovely Köln trip. Anne and her daughters Ida and Johanna invited me to go on their annual shopping/sightseeing trip to Cologne this year. I was spoiled.