I'm having a hard time keeping time straight here and I never know which day it is. It seems like I've I've been gone for a very long time and yet I've only arrived. I am already missing so many of you back home, even though it has only been 5 days. But God is good and faithful.
God uses everything to draw us closer to Him, if we let Him. Selfishly, I want that to be the reason behind all of this. Him wanting me to draw closer to Him. But I know that this is about so much more than me. It isn't easy though. I know that my time in Ensenada is a chance for me to fall even deeper into His arms and I know that I will need Him to get through this time as well. After all, He is my Strength, my Comforter, and my Trust. It is Him who I will learn to lean on for each and every day.
It isn't that I doubt where I'm supposed to be. Or that I don't like it here. In fact I do. It's hard to explain but I just can't seem to find peace here. I am restless. I feel like my heart is already in Africa and as much as I try to find it here, I can't. It seems as if here I am only able to access my strength, my love, my joy, instead of His strength, love, and joy. It isn't enough and I know that. I can feel the difference and it hurts because I want to be alive here as well. I want to be present and useful to Him here in Mexico. I want to be doing His work because I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing right now, but I just can't seem to find myself here.
I keep calling out to God, asking for answers. His answer is always the same, "I am here." Which means that He is with me and that I can lean on Him. It also means that I have to trust Him with Africa while He is asking me to wait in Mexico. So, starting tonight, I let go of all that I'm waiting for. I want to see Him here, and if I am looking towards that future I'll miss Him because He is a God who is at work today. Which means that He is at work in Mexico and is waiting for me to ask to be a part of it. That means that I need to start each morning on my knees asking for His heart for Mexico, for today, for these people, for His children, for His mission here, for His never ending love and compassion. I want to feel His burning love here just as I do for the people of Africa. I want to laugh each day as I see His plans unfold and come to serve alongside His missionaries here. I want to end each day in prayer, praying over this country, over those I've worked with, for His kingdom to come here, for His blessings to pour out over these people.
I know that I won't leave Mexico until He calls me to leave and I am content to wait for that call. I don't need to keep asking when it will come. I know when it will come. When His work and mine is done here. So, with His heart for this place, I will rejoice that I am meant to stay here and that I have a chance to share His love with His most beloved children here in Mexico. I am so honored that He has asked and trusted me to serve here and given me a the opportunity to see His kingdom come in Mexico. Tonight, I will go to sleep completely at peace for the first time since I arrived in Mexico, excited for tomorrow to come and not wanting to be anywhere else.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Waiting on God....
This entire process of getting to Africa has all been based on God's faithfulness. Each and every need He has met. He has lead the way and blessed me through everything. So, far it's been pretty easy to trust God with everything including complete control over this trip and my life. And through this time I've prayed some pretty dangerous prayers, asking that He would not even consider my plans but instead use me exactly how He where He wants me.
I left for Mexico on Monday, still awaiting my visa for Gabon. I knew that I could trust the Lord with all the details and that He would work things out for me. He has been so faithful this entire time and I had no reason to doubt Him. But as I left I had a feeling that His plans for me looked a little different than I what I thought my future held. I was fully confident that I could have my visa by Wednesday, after all He and I had just been through this with my Uganda visa, but just felt like I should let all my expectations go. That He would get me to wherever I need to be, but that it might not be the exact timing that I had previously thought. It just seemed as if there was something going on that I couldn't understand but that He knew about.
In training in Ensenada there are 8 of us going to Gabon, all of us have been in the same boat....waiting. This morning came, and we received the final work that our visas had not come through and that we would all be staying at the Ensenada site until they came through. No one really knows how long this will take, but probably about a week or two. We had a chance to talk this morning after our morning session, and I can say that I am so thankful to be on this amazing team of women. These next days in Ensenada are going to stretch each of us, but we are here together by God's planning and I can't wait to see how close we grow to each other and the Lord during this time.
I'd like to ask for prayer over our whole team, that any discouragement and fear would be replaced by joy and peace. That we may all come to lean on the Lord for our strength and direction during this time and that we might know we are exactly where we are meant to be. Also, that we can support and encourage each other, not being afraid to be vulnerable with each other.
Thank you for your prayers!
Shannon
I left for Mexico on Monday, still awaiting my visa for Gabon. I knew that I could trust the Lord with all the details and that He would work things out for me. He has been so faithful this entire time and I had no reason to doubt Him. But as I left I had a feeling that His plans for me looked a little different than I what I thought my future held. I was fully confident that I could have my visa by Wednesday, after all He and I had just been through this with my Uganda visa, but just felt like I should let all my expectations go. That He would get me to wherever I need to be, but that it might not be the exact timing that I had previously thought. It just seemed as if there was something going on that I couldn't understand but that He knew about.
In training in Ensenada there are 8 of us going to Gabon, all of us have been in the same boat....waiting. This morning came, and we received the final work that our visas had not come through and that we would all be staying at the Ensenada site until they came through. No one really knows how long this will take, but probably about a week or two. We had a chance to talk this morning after our morning session, and I can say that I am so thankful to be on this amazing team of women. These next days in Ensenada are going to stretch each of us, but we are here together by God's planning and I can't wait to see how close we grow to each other and the Lord during this time.
I'd like to ask for prayer over our whole team, that any discouragement and fear would be replaced by joy and peace. That we may all come to lean on the Lord for our strength and direction during this time and that we might know we are exactly where we are meant to be. Also, that we can support and encourage each other, not being afraid to be vulnerable with each other.
Thank you for your prayers!
Shannon
Friday, May 18, 2012
Peace Which Transcends All Understanding
These things
I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have
tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
-John 16:33
I leave
really early Monday morning. I don’t have either of my visas or my passport
back yet. I know one was sent today, the other I don’t know if it’s even
coming. By the world’s standards I should be worried, possibly even freaking
out right now, but I’m different. I don’t live by the worlds expectations and I
don’t have any reason to worry. I have never been in control of my journey to
Africa and of that I am glad. I trust God with my life, I trust how He is
working, and I trust His plans for me. I’ve asked that He would use me to show
others who He is, and every time He does something that seems impossible, He is
visible in my life.
I don’t want my life to be easy, if it was I could
get through it on my own and that is something that I never want to be able to
do. I want to depend on God for everything and in every situation. I don’t ever
have to worry about today, because He will give me everything that I need. I
don’t have to worry about tomorrow because when that day comes He will take
care of it as well. The truth is, I’m not worried. I have a faithful Father and
I know that He will take care of me. Do I hope that I receive my passport and
visa tomorrow, yes, will I still trust Him tomorrow if it doesn’t, yes. You see
I know that my understanding and idea of timing are based on what I see (very
little…in fact it’s based solely on me), and I know that God understands
everything and has perfect timing based on what He sees (everything…and
everyone). I know that His plans are the right ones, and if it turns out that
He has a different way to get there for me, that’s okay with me. I know
that I am going to Africa now and if I have to change a couple flights or wait
a week longer that’s okay, I know that I will arrive exactly where and when I
need to.
I can’t wait to see how God uses these next couple of days! I have
been filled with SO much peace and joy for what is happening and what is
coming! I am so thankful that He is faithful and blesses us with peace beyond
what we can understand. He is so good and worthy to be praised!
The Lord will give strength to His people; The
Lord will bless
His people with peace.
-Psalm
29:11
“Be Safe”
“I’m be praying for God to keep you safe”
“I’m praying for your safety”
These are
the words that I have heard often in the past few weeks. I’ve smiled and generally not
said anything, because what do you say to that, what do you say when you don’t
want a life of “safety”. People mean well, and usually they are coming from a
place of genuinely caring about you, but why would we wish that someone was
“kept safe”. Truth be told, I don’t want to ever live my life in safety! We are
not called to be safe; we are called to a life with Christ and a life after His
own. If you know the story of Jesus Christ, His life was anything but safe. Some have been praying that God will keep me safe, I’ve been praying
to be taken out of safety and into the war zone, into the places that others are
afraid to go. I’ve been praying that I might live a dangerous life for Christ,
one that is full of His purpose. I want to be sent to those who are desperate
for hope; to those who are waiting for someone, and these places are not
usually safe. God’s plan is for all nations and all people to know Him, how
could prioritize my safety over His great plan? I am not going to Africa to be safe;
I’m going so that others might learn of His name and great love for them. I know that He
has placed His hand of protections over me, and with that I would go to the ends
of the earth if He asked. I want to live differently; I want a life that
depends solely on Him, not on me taking care of myself. So, I ask that instead of
praying for my safety, you would pray boldness over me, that I would follow wherever the Lord leads.
And the work of
righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and
confidence forever.
-Isaiah 32:17
And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
-Philippians 4:7
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Faithful Is He Who Calls You
Psalm 89:1
I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
Isaiah 25:1
O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your
name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
In two weeks I'll be saying goodbye to Redding, goodbye to those I love, and goodbye to the life that I've had. I still have way to much to get done, way to many goodbyes to say, but I am ready for this adventure to begin! I am so close to everything that God has promised that I barely can contain my excitement and joy, this is really happening!!! I have my tickets, my visas are coming, and I know everything is going to work out.
I am really close to being where I need to be financially when I leave, I just need about $600 more before I go and people who are willing to commit to support me monthly while I'm in Africa. A big "thank you" to everyone who has supported me thus far, I am so thankful for your generosity and excited for you to be a part of my journey in Africa!
Monthly Support
- I need a minimum of
$700 a month to cover my expenses in Uganda.
-This looks like 35 people supporting me at $20, 14 people
supporting me at $50, 7 people supporting me at $100, or any mixture of these.
-Donations can be made on the Stirring’s website (Stirring public donation ) or placed in
the offering, but must be made by the 1st of every month.
-Monthly commitment will last the 22 months I am in Africa
(May 2012-March 2014).
-Please, send me an email at shannonlundberg@yahoo.com to let me
know of your commitment and so that I can add you to my weekly update list.
For the Children
I am also planning on taking a few things for the children at the Hope
House in Gabon and those I meet in Uganda. If you'd like to be a part of
that check out the list below and email me at shannonlundberg@yahoo.com .
Basic First Aid Supplies:
Band-Aids, butterfly Band-Aids, gauze, tape, ace bandages, etc.….
Clothes:
Boys: t-shirts, pants, shorts, belts, underwear (ages 4-16)
Girls: t-shirts, skirts, pants, dresses, underwear (ages 3-16)
Other gifts:
Colored pencils, coloring books, notebooks (mini ones), pencils, pencil sharpeners, geometry sets, balls (gumball sized), stickers, bracelets and necklaces (for girls), toy cars (for boys), Bible story picture books (English or French), small stuffed animals or beanie babies.
Boys: t-shirts, pants, shorts, belts, underwear (ages 4-16)
Girls: t-shirts, skirts, pants, dresses, underwear (ages 3-16)
Other gifts:
Colored pencils, coloring books, notebooks (mini ones), pencils, pencil sharpeners, geometry sets, balls (gumball sized), stickers, bracelets and necklaces (for girls), toy cars (for boys), Bible story picture books (English or French), small stuffed animals or beanie babies.
Thank you, again for supporting me and sending me to Africa! Remember, I leave in two weeks, if you want to see me before I leave, let me know!!
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