 Literally the only that has gotten me through the past couple of weeks (besides some hard core worship and prayer of course) was the ability to be servant hearted. Its so funny. I really talk myself out of [any] role of leadership yet God allows me to be in those positions pretty frequently.
It all started off with my roommate’s phone getting stole in France. In those moments of panic, the Holy Spirit led me and I was able to do my best to comfort her and take action by going to the police right away. That was followed by sharing a phone. It was rough, and not because of the trivial things like losing time on social media. That was the last thing on our minds. Sharing a phone led to being left without any minutes or data. We had to rely on spotty free WiFi to get by (because our international service provider was no help) which definitely wasn’t a safe option. But knowing the peace it brought my roommate to be able to communicate with her family and take photos when all of hers were lost- that made all the frustrations amount to dust. Back in Prague, my classmates and I were all struggling to pack unexpectedly and secure flights back to America. Almost every single one of us had a flight canceled 24 hours before if not minutes before departure. When my flight to London was listed as canceled my brain didn’t go into shock but sought to get things resolved (and that alone was a blessing). Thankfully I happened to be at school and was able to instantly report the recent news, that affected me and many others, to my directors. Being at the school meant that I was able to get guidance from my directors and use a phone to call the airline. I was able to take the initiative by not only securing my flight but getting others the proper information to rebook their flights as well. And there were other little things like being able to collect my friends projects from the school when they weren’t able to make the trip to get theirs, giving information on how to cancel our international phone plans, and giving advice to my classmates on how to get through the airports. All of those things allowed me regain a sense of control in a situation that none of us could control. But way more importantly it gave me the opportunity to be used by God in the midst of chaos. I don’t say any of this to brag. Trust me I was an absolute mess through every stage of this experience. But taking the focus off of myself to help others was an answer to the peace God knew I needed. It’s weird that I consider the past few months as my biggest life accomplishment so far. More than any school acclamation or the amazing job opportunities I’ve had, this study abroad experience has taught me more than I would ever thought was possible. And for that I am forever grateful. ❤️
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Up until the moment I got on the plane I didn't believe this whole study abroad trip would become a reality. I constantly found myself waiting for something to happen that would prevent me from going. I had a lot of doubts but I reminded myself of this: God would not allow me to go abroad if it wasn't what He had planned for me. Living overseas, trying new foods, learning a new language, getting an authentic experience of the culture. That was the life ahead of me for the next four months and I was really excited about all of it. But knowing that I was about to do all these things without my Chrisitan community terrified me. Doing life with my studio friends has been an adjustment. We've all grown closer in our friendships. But we have a lot more freedom here. It's been a daily commitment for me to use my time glorifying God above all else. You can be praying for me to have spiritual conversations with the free time we have! For now, I've been watching the Summit live stream on Sundays but I'm hoping to get connected with a local church (the pastor is from Charlotte!!). And I've recently received contact info for some girls that are coming to Prague for mission work in a couple of weeks! My time here so far has been consumed by learning the city and the language. My first Saturday in Prague I participated in a scavenger hunt that led my friends and I running in the rain- getting familiar with the landmarks and history of the city. That next week we dived into an intensive language class- four hours of nothing but Czech every day. We all came in barely knowing how to say hello and finished the course being able to successfully order and pay a bill in a restaurant. This past week, I finished up my first week of actual class! All of my professors are native Czechs. In my three years at State, I've had the same rotation of professors since freshman year. Adapting to new teaching styles has been both refreshing and slightly challenging. At the moment, my classes consist of getting involved in a personal care packaging competition, discovering some interesting facts about galaxies and nebulas, and being introduced to countless European designers that I didn't even know existed.
-Czech food is actually pretty good. I'm basically living off of goulash and bread dumplings. The first week here I had to brave it out and try random dishes without any Benadryl on hand (it doesn't exist in this country and I forgot to bring some, sorry mom).
-They weren't kidding when they said this city is purely castles and cobblestone. I've definitely stood on the edge of some castles to snap a pic. I can't help it! -After expereincing both the New York Subway and the London Underground I can say Czech transportation is pretty efficient. Three metro lines and four trams can get me anywhere I want to go in the city. -It's warmer in the morning than it is during the day. But walking in the cold is made better by the constant dog sightings! Dogs walk around without leashes here and they can hang out in reastaurants. -The Czech language is no joke. Some words have at least four consonants right next to each other. The Czech word for ice cream is zmrzlina. And that's a simple word to pronounce. -Prague is the definiton of a sustainable city. The lights will turn off halfway during your shower. Be prepared to pay a dollar for ketchup. Water is not free. -There are tons of cathedrals here and the Czech Reubplic has a lot of rich religious history. Yet very few people are actually religious. -I've seen a kindness in the people here that I haven't seen anywhere else. I was literally brought to tears the other day when a young boy gave up his seat on the tram to an elderly man. I want to thank all of you that have supported and prayed for this trip. If you ever want to get in touch with me I'll be available through Instagram, Facebook, GroupMe, WhatsApp (+420 773 257 852), and email ([email protected]).
***If you're reading this you're probably thinking: Natacha, why are you still doing updates? City Project is over. Yep. City Project is over but I want to continue writing. There's something so freeing about blogging that the rest of social media can't capture. So there's no turning back I guess. This space is mainly for myself and if there's a chance that someone reads this, I hope they're encouraged. LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS I’m convinced that the mountains are a great refresher to slow down and remember what you are called to. Before the trip: I knew that this trip was planned for the end of the summer months in advance but the day came for us to travel north I didn’t want to go. At all. I dreaded the 12-hour car ride, and the rain that was predicted to come, and the fact that I would be away from home for an extra week. Coming out of CP I just wanted to be home and rest. That’s all I wanted. And God did grant that request- just not in the way I envisioned. I wanted to be home, in my room, watching Netflix but instead I received a better situation- being surrounded by God’s creation, knowing more of Him, and resting in His blessings (that even sounds more uplifting, right?). During the trip: In the midst of planning activities for each day and scheduling around the rain, I would describe MA as peaceful. I felt His peace when I sat outside each morning in the crisp mountain air and read my Sword. I felt His peace as I climbed the trails- in awe that the God of the Universe is the only one who could create mountains like these. I felt His peace as I walked the quiet streets of MA- thankful that I got to explore new places. I felt His peace all around me. MA, I apologize for doubting your beauty. And to my God, thank you for showing me good in the mountains.
ADVENTURES W/ CLARE I believe God puts friends is our lives that uplift us even in the busiest of transitions and changes and Clare is definitely one of those friends. I knew the transition going to back to college was going to be an adjustment but I was busier than I ever imagined. It's easy to get overwhelmed in times like these but it also helps to have friends that remind us to take a break and enjoy life. Adventures with Clare are always great. She's always down to get excited about the simple things- like eating way to much pasta in the dinning hall or having fun at a concert in the pouring rain. Clare is a person who cares and that is so evident in her friendships. Whether it was a random snapchat, a new song for me to listen to, or notes to get me through my first week back- she's was there (from miles away) constantly encouraging me. If you have friends like this keep them close. They are MAJOR blessings.
PRAY FOR: The first two weeks on campus are always a highlight. God's blessed me with reuniting with old friends and making new friends from all around the world. I'm so excited for this school year and all it will hold! Please join me in praying for all the students who are searching and seeking. Pray that they would find Jesus, who gives us purpose & meaning in our lives.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:9-10
CP UPDATE #4 // INTERNATIONAL Sorry for the late update! It's been a couple of weeks since we've all gotten back from international and I've finally been able to get my thoughts together. If you're not able to read this whole post please read over the "What God Taught Me" & "Pray For" sections. LONDON My initial thoughts: wow, London is a lot like New York. It's a big city with a transit system and a population with people groups from all over the world. My thoughts now: yeah London is all those things, but ultimately it's a place in need of the gospel.
MINISTRY Everyday we would go out and have conversations with the people- showing God's love by sharing the good news and asking about their own lives and beliefs. London may be a lot like NY but the spiritual climate is definitely different. We encountered people with beliefs that I've never heard of before and those with all types of views on who God is. People shared a lot of their brokenness with us and expressed that they just wanted peace in the world. God gave me a heart for the people that I didn't expect to have and every gospel share made my heart smile. God did so much in just 2 weeks. We knocked on 1663 doors, 117 received prayer, 119 said we could come back, over 50 gospel shares, 2 decisions for Christ so far, and 1 group already started!! Praise God! STORY TIME! I just have to share a couple events that He graciously allowed me to experience. (Note: I've changed the names of the people we talked with.) THE POWER OF DISCIPLESHIP. One afternoon some friends and I went with our field partner to facilitate a women's Bible study on John 1. Getting there was an adventure but the adventure was so worth it. We entered the home of the ladies we came to visit- Abigail, Bethany, and Sarah. Each lady had her own story. Bethany had recently accepted Christ and had such a heart to learn. When we mentioned the word baptism she wasted no time and showed us a video of her getting baptized the week before. And the joy she had on her face was undeniable. Sarah was a shy Ethiopian woman. It seemed like she didn't know much English but we were able to find the Bible in her language. During our study, she sat silently- possibly processing what was being said. Join me praying for Sarah- that she would have a desire to know more of who God is. Now, on our way to the Bible study we were told that Abigail was "on fire for God" and those words couldn't have been more accurate. Abigail had a soul that just knew and lived like God was as real as the sun we see in the sky and had a heart for others to know and live that too. She was so excited to be around other believers and she couldn't help but share truth and Scripture with every word that came out of her mouth. And I have to add, she explained John 1:1 so clearly that it gave my friends and I such a great confidence in our great God. That night was so encouraging. I've never experienced the power of discipleship like I did in that blessed apartment. Pray that the women in that apartment would continue to seek God and love others and that God would grow their numbers. THE LADY WITH THE BLUE DOOR. On one of our door knocking days we encountered Jessica, the lady with the blue door. Jessica had one of the wealthier homes in the neighborhood and when we asked if we could pray for her she asked us to pray for her children. After talking for a couple of minutes we learned that Jessica didn't consider herself religious but would take her kids to church on occasion for events. I was sad that we never ended up sharing the gospel with Jessica that day but I was filled with hope when she said we could come back another time. On one of our follow up days I was put in a group that was set to visit the road Jessica lived on! I knocked on her blue door and she remembered who I was. I asked her how her kids were doing and we prayed for them again. I knew it was time to share the gospel but my mind blanked from all the excitement. Thankfully, my friend was ready to share the gospel. God gave my friend the words and thoughtfulness that Jessica needed to hear. Jessica expressed that what we shared was something that would be good to have but she just wasn't sure. Pray with me that Jessica would be able to meet up with our field partners, that her questions would be answers, and she would one day put her trust in God. ***WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN ME 1. PRAY IN MY WEAKNESS It was hard in the moment but thankfully I learned this lesson within hours of being in London. On day one we prayer walked through the area- with no sleep or energy and with the heat of the sun covering everything. And while we were walking, out of our mouths came real, honest prayers. Prayers that humbled me and reminded me that I was human and can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5 "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."). Everyday we depended on His strength. And in our constant state of weakness our response was to speak with the One who gives all things- the words to say to the Muslim who doesn't believe Jesus is God, the energy to continue knocking on doors when we haven't talked to a single person in an hour, the patience to speak kindness and love, the trust that a confession was genuine- or one day will be genuine, the attitude that's excited for another day of ministy. Talking to my Creator in this way has given me a peace and a trust in God that continues to seep into my life. Talking with my Creator when I feel lifeless is actually so life-giving. 2. SEEING GOD WORK IS AN ACT OF GRACE Open doors, gospel conversations, receptive hearts, follow ups- it's what our whole team wanted to experience. But when I experienced time frames without any "good" conversations or watched other team members go to follow ups when I didn't have one- a part of me would get discouraged. One day my friend and I expressed our frustrations to another friend. And instead of complaining with us, he reminded us of the truth the whole walk to our destination. I remember him saying something about how we're really not entitled to see God move in the city- it's a gift when we see someone excited about the gospel. And that thought really changed my perspective to seek faithfulness not fruitfulness. 3. GOD IS STILL AT WORK We didn't leave every conversation with an overwhelming feeling of hope nor did we get to share the gospel with every person we met- and that was hard for me. I think about the lady and her disabled child, or the young man in the black hoodie, or the guy studying dance at university, or the mom at the park from Scotland with her two young boys. Will they ever accept the gospel and cling to the promises of Jesus? But then I think about the truth God has reminded me- "I am still at work." And that reminder gets me fired up because that means I can have hope that they will one day have a relationship with God and pray fervently that God will continue to work in the lives of every single person we met.
, BEING WITH JESUS During international, our team went through the book of John. It was an adjustment going from a book like Ephesians to reading a narrative but I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this gospel. The character of Jesus is so clearly laid out and God showed me many things that I've never noticed before. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." Thanks to the insight God gave Abigail, I saw "the Word was God" in a new light. Abigail answered two questions. (Q1) Who is the Word? (A) Jesus. (Q2) What is the Word? (A) the Bible. So, when we read the Bible it's the closet thing to having the Son of God with us. That's such a sweet thing to thing about. "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice..." John 10:16 was a constant reminder when we got together for Devo each day and thought about the day ahead of us. It reminded us of the why. We went to London because God has graciously allowed all of us to be a part of John 10:16- to point people to the Good Shepherd.
MY TEAM -we had fun together Having the sun come up at 4:30am and watching it go down around 10pm, navigating the Tube, attending World Cup games and cheering "it's coming home!," going to Creams and then wondering why we put all that sugar in our bodies, eating Meal Deals every night for dinner, and noticing that British fruit taste really good. This is just a glimpse of all the little things we did together. They made ministry enjoyable. -we had each other's backs This was a big deal for me. I was pretty nervous on our first full day. But all the nerves faded away when I remembered that I wasn't alone. Sharing in groups reminded me of Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." There was nothing to fear. I had friends ready to share the gospel when I blanked, to answer any questions I had about the Bible, to I was okay when I was sick. I can mention plenty of other moments like this. Literally, these are the people you want by your side in any situation. They model Hebrews 10:24-25 really well. -we pointed each other to Christ Devotional times were so sweet because we got to hear what God showed all of us in His Word. Every morning on the Tube we all practiced memorizing John 15- taking up the challenge to memorize a series of verse that look the exact same because having His Word in our hearts is worth it. At night we took the time to share what we were thankful for that day and chose someone to affirm and say how we saw God using them in specific ways. It was such a blessing to do life with these friends for two weeks!! At the beginning of this trip we were all strangers- and everyone had their own unique personality, which I viewed as a challenge. But as always God knew what he was doing and used the "randomness" of our group so that we might see more of His glory.
***PRAY FOR: 1. Our field partners- that God would continue to bless their ministry and work in the hearts of their follow ups and use them to advance His kingdom. 2. The city of London- that the people would see their need for the gospel and be ready to accept it. 3. Us students- that we would carry the same boldness we had during international back to our campuses and to the people God has placed in our lives.
CP UPDATE #3 WAKE FOREST WEEKS 2, 3, & 4 It's been a busy three weeks. WEEK 2 HIGHLIGHTS I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK. I DON'T CARE WHAT I THINK. "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." -1 Corinthians 4:3-4 MONDAY was a great reminder of how God's Word never gets boring. I've grown up hearing the stories of the Bible and have the tendency to just mindlessly read Scripture. All throughout City Project, I've found how great it is to read with the intention of understanding and knowing more of who God is. Monday afternoon we read The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Tim Keller. To sum it all up, it is GOD who judges, which means we don't have to constantly judge ourselves because Jesus went on trial for us and now God sees His Son in us (1 Corinthians 3 & 4). Keller's words were humbling and encouraged me to re-live the grace of the gospel daily. DEFINING "GOOD" "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." -Genesis 1:31 On WEDNESDAY our group got to hear some insights on Genesis >>> God is the self sustaining definer and provider of what is good and when we sin we doubt God's goodness put our faith in another source. It sounds so simple, but it was so nice to hear such an unfiltered version of Genesis. That night we went out to evangelize and had two notable conversations. First we spoke with a man from India that we called "D". He talked highly of his family and believed that brokenness in this generation stems from abandoning family values. We asked him about his spiritual life and he explained he didn't need Jesus because everything was going well in his life. We found out that D grew up learning about Jesus but when we asked if he wanted to live his life for Jesus D said he was content in the way he was living. Our second conversation was with an Indian woman named Ranita. We were able to share the gospel with Ranita but expressed that she couldn't put her faith in Jesus. She believed that Jesus was a real person but that He had no authority as God. As the conversation continued, Ranita was more opened to hearing about Jesus and took a copy of the gospel of John. There are so many people like D and Ranita right here in NC. Through evangelizing, God has showed me that gospel conversations are necessary. Our conversations might not lead to salvation in that moment but they leave room for others to think about Jesus.
WEEK 3 (CHURCH WEEK) HIGHLIGHTS WHAT LIFE SHOULD BE LIKE "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11 MONDAY night was pretty sweet. A group of us girls rushed to Barnes and Nobles in search of a specific book- with 30 minutes before they closed. On the ride there, with windows down and music playing, we all shared our experiences and how we've grown during City Project. In the back seat of my friend car I thought- this is what life on this earth should be like. Lifting each other up in everything we do and sharing what God's been doing in our lives. EKKLESIA "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (ekklesia), and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -Matthew 16:18 On TUESDAY we broke down the question: what is the church? In this generation, it's so easy to define church on our own terms. We spent time in Matthew & Acts and saw what Jesus planned the church to be, how the church is supposed to lead, and what the church is supposed to do. Church is not an institution but a movement. Church is not meant to be organizational but relational. WE ARE FAMILY "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -Hebrews 10:24 Continuing with the theme of the church, on WEDNESDAY we looked at church as family. Most Christians will agree that church means community but we make living that out difficult. Individualistic mentalities, running from commitment and conflict, and the thought of investing time are some things that keep us from living the way God calls the church to live. Community might be hard at times but it what makes life good. That Wednesday night was our last night of evangelism. We started off the night speaking with an elderly Christian woman named Patricia. She invited us into her home and told us her story. Patricia was a veteran and and lived by herself. We trained her in a way to share the gospel and we were able to answer some questions she had about the Bible. It was so nice to encourage another believer. We continued knocking on doors in the neighborhood but no one seemed to be home. I prayed for our group and begged God to give us someone to speak to with the 15 minutes we had left. God answered our prayer and the next door was opened! God is good. We spoke with a couple and asked about their life in the neighborhood. They were very friendly and allowed us to share the gospel with them. The wife explained that she was a Christian but she knew she hadn't been actively living out her faith. Her husband shared that he grew up Catholic but never hear the true Gospel. My friend asked the man if he would like to have Jesus in his life and he said he wanted that. My friend led him in prayer and his wife was overwhelmed with tears of joy. I'm so thankful God allowed me to witness someone's heart being changed by Jesus.
WEEK 4 (KIDS WEEK) HIGHLIGHTS (THIS WEEK HAS JUST FELT LIKE ONE DAY SO I'M JUST GOING TO SUM IT ALL UP) One thing that stood out to me this week was our session about suffering. Our leader shared his personal experiences and reminded us to look to the cross and remember just how much God loves us. As we prayed for each other and saturated ourselves in God's word I felt the love of my Father and remembered His faithfulness in the midst of my own suffering and the suffering of those around me. Reading Radical by David Platt on Monday was perfect as we're preparing for international. My favorite part of the section included a breakdown of Romans 10:13-15. I'm quick to remember the ministry of the gospel as a responsibility ("And how are they to hear without someone preaching?") but I often forget that it's also a privilege (“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”). This week has been Kids Week at Summit and all of us at City Project got the opportunity to volunteer. Growing up, my favorite week of each summer has been spent at church. Despite being tired and facing some minor health issues, I was so happy to lead a group of preschoolers and point them to Jesus. Part of me thinks that us college students enjoyed it more than the kids!
***PRAY FOR: As I am leaving for the international portion of City Project I would appreciate your prayers! ❤️ 1. Pray that out team would rely on God, be humbled, and know that the Holy Spirit is with us- speaking the gospel through us. "When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 2. Pray that our team would be representing the love of God well and those we're sharing with would see our love for each other and for Him and want a relationship with Him. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 3. Pray for the hearts of the people that will hear the gospel. That they would recognize and believe the reality, mercy, and grace of Ephesians 2. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." -Ephesians 2:4-5
I know that was probably a lot to read but I can't help but share all the amazing things God is doing at City Project! Again, thank you for your support and time. ❤️Natacha
CP UPDATE #1 NYC What a week. A week that I didn't deserve to be a part of. And I will forever thank God for allowing me to be on mission for Him in New York. New York was a week of transformation; in my own heart, the hearts of my brothers and sisters around me, and the broken hearts of NYC. So why were we in New York? Acts 20:24 puts it simply: "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." This was our attitude and battle cry as we took the gospel to the unreached people in our own country.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: PRAYER IS POWERFUL: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings." -Hebrews 10:22 Our purpose on MONDAY was to pray; to talk to God about our weaknesses and ask him to change the hearts of those don't know Jesus as Lord & Savior. On the streets of Queens, we walked by many different types of people from several Southeast Asian countries, most trying to find their satisfaction in the things of the world. Seeing the diversity of people that first day reminded me that the gospel is for all people and God can save the nations just like He saved me. God sustained us throughout the day and a spirit of prayer carried us throughout every hour. We prayer walked for countless hours but we never failed to find requests to bring to our great God. Probably for the first time, I prayed like I really meant it, with expectation that God would work. BOLDNESS COMES FROM CHRIST: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7 On TUESDAY God shook me out of my comfort zone like never before. Tuesday was our first day going out and sharing the gospel and I honestly didn't know what to expect. I often have the temptation to overthink and live in fear. Earlier that morning, it was said that "Pursuing discomfort for Christ will produce comfort of the Spirt." God used those words and His spirit to completely change my mindset. My group of three went out to share the gospel in a troubled, rundown neighborhood and when we walked into the apartments I sensed darkness all around me, yet my mind felt free of worry. Being in that environment was risky but God took every sense of fear and doubt away from me. He led me in boldness when our surroundings felt unsafe and when we thought about turning back. God gave me the ability to lead in that moment and share the gospel with a Muslim lady and share with her that Jesus is the One true God. This boldness was with me throughout the week and led me to share the gospel with a Muslims, Buddists, and those who had never heard of Jesus. God's presence in New York has assured me that I can truly find boldness in Christ and fear has no power over me. WORSHIP IS ETERNAL: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth...taste and see that the Lord is good!" - Psalm 34:1,8 THURSDAY morning was truly beautiful. I had the wonderful privilege of worshipping unlike any way I have before. I felt joy seeping throughout the room as a we learned the ways to say "God is Holy" in different languages. All our ways of familiar worship were abandoned and our hearts praised God with gladness. WE WERE MADE TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:44-47 FRIDAY was a day for me to reflect on all the great things God did. What occurred in Acts 2 long ago was true and real for us. My City Project friends have been such a blessing to me and the best thing is that we're united in Christ. We encourage each other daily, go to each other for prayer, lift each other up in our weaknesses, serve each other well, and rejoice when God moves. NYC has been a time of growth and joy and I'm so thankful to have had this experience.
PRAISE GOD: During our time in New York we had the privilege of Praying for 581 people specifically Sharing the gospel with 321 people Following up and having further conversations with 78 people Meeting and connecting 36 believers, and seeing 10 new people come to faith! PRAY FOR:
Please join me in praying for the ministry of Global Gates and their mission in New York City. Also for the hearts of the people in NYC- that the nations would be reached in our own country and those who have never heard of the name of Jesus will hear of the Savior of the world. -Natacha Life with hyperacusis: My days are often cut short; cut short by noise if you can believe it. I find myself wanting to be so productive with my assignments but my body is weak and slows down as the day gets later. And as each night comes, the random and unexplainable pain floods my head. My ears ring, migraines come, and I struggle to keep my eyes open, not necessarily out of tiredness but because I fail to concentrate on literally anything- all the daily symptoms of hyperacusis. I used to get so angry when this would happen but now I consider it as a blesssing in disguise. Through the pain, God gives me a break from the busyness of life and calls me to rely on Him. Even now, He gives me just enough energy to write this and find strength in the struggles. |
