Farmers

Introducing Team Nuer!

Jared & Keisha, Christina, Laura, Cassandra & Blaise

(plus the 3 kiddos not pictured: Aiden, Ben, and Brooke)

After just our first week of training, I am so thrilled to be partnering with these people in South Sudan. I can already see how each person has such a different personality, but how each one of us is so vital to the team. I am way pumped! 

God has graciously allowed me to spend so much more time in prayer this week than I have in a long time. When I realize how much time was actually spent, it doesn't feel like it was nearly as long as it really was, which is awesome since I have always struggled with praying more than 10 min at a time. I can already see God moving in certain situations. This week was basically spent preparing for the vision trip we are taking next Saturday, March 16th. We will be gone for 12 days, and I am so excited. I am excited to finally make it to this land I have heard so much about yet truly know nothing of the reality of it all. I am excited yet very nervous about facing it all for the first time. I keep fearing that I will get there and realize that I will just not be able to do it... but I must keep trusting God for the strength and courage to carry me through.

During training this week one of the verses we studied was Proverbs 20:4 "The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing." In the past, I had viewed many verses like this very literally. If the soil is not prepared, then even if a seed is sowed, it is very likely that no harvest will come. But this week it was pointed out that it can be applied to many areas of life, not just agriculture. I began to see this passage in light of sharing the gospel with others. We cannot expect to just see a harvest of believers if we do not do the work preparing the soil, or in other words, being intentional in working on relationships with those whom we want to witness to. It was also pointed out that we must realize that it may be many long and difficult years for us to see results, or personally we may never see the desired results at all. But we still must be faithful farmers, intentionally plowing the fields in preparation for the seed to one day be planted. This passage was especially key to the team as we prepare to go into a land with different soil, both literally and figuratively. We must learn both how to grow crops in this different physical soil as well as how to reach out to build relationships with this very different culture. We must not become discouraged if we do not see any of our hard plowing work pay off. It may be years down the road before any salvation comes to Nasir, South Sudan. Whether we see thousands of South Sudanese won over for Christ or we see very difficult times and our number of Christ followers is zero, we will continue to praise Him and give Him all the glory and honor, for He alone is worthy. 

As we prepare over the next week to go to South Sudan, I would be honored if you would join with me and the team as we pray for:

• Team Unity
• Increased time spent in the word and prayer
• Clear minds to learn many new things
• protection from attacks of the enemy
• guidance from the Holy Spirit
• Travel mercies
• Ultimately, for God to be glorified through our short time in South Sudan

New Beginnings

I am officially an employee of Every Village! Yesterday marked the beginning of the journey of learning probably more than I have over the past 5 years, all crammed into less than 6 months. I hope my brain is ready. I do have to say that the welcoming onto the Every Village team was super awesome. I felt as though I was back in highschool running onto the basketball court for a game with the slow clap and cheers as the Nasir team came into the room. It was definitely a moment of great celebration as we have all looked forward to this day, and to top it off, we had cupcakes decorated as mud huts! But the best part about it was the powerful prayer time the 13 of us had. The Spirit was definitely thick in that room as we warred over eachother and the months to come and for the salvation of thousands in South Sudan. It brought me to tears to be in a room surrounded by people who are so passionate about the advancement of the Kingdom of God in South Sudan and ultimately proclaiming the glory of God. I am so profoundly blessed.

With new beginnings, there is also the closing of some chapters of my life, which requires constant surrender. Friday was my last day at Alta Mesa, and it was bittersweet. Even though I only worked there a few months, I was so encouraged by all the people who worked there. Everyone was so kind and willing to help in any way that they could. Many blessings to Alta Mesa Holdings. Along with the completion of my time there last week, I also received letters of acceptance into the Accelerated BSN programs at both UT Health Science Center Houston and UTMB in Galveston. Acceptance to both of these schools came as a huge surprise to me as my prerequisite grades did not meet the requirements laid out. In all honesty, part of me greatly questioned my calling to South Sudan, as it was pretty miraculous that I got into both programs. I started to think about how if I stayed in the states one more year I could provide better medical aid to the South Sudanese or if I didn't go, in a year I could be making pretty good money as a nurse. I realized that I needed to pray for complete surrender of my pride and selfish desires, which continues to be a daily struggle for me. But just seeing the faithfulness of our Lord and how He has moved mightily in my fundraising process as well as confirming my calling in many ways, I know that South Sudan is His plan for me right now. Nursing school will always be here. I have asked so many times why it has happened this way, where I have two paths to choose from, both of which are awesome, but I still do not understand. Thankfully, God does not ask us to understand all He does. I was reminded of what He continuously told me during the process of praying through my calling. He kept saying, "Christina, do you trust me?" So that is what I am going to do, trust Him, trust that He knows best and thank Him for the favor that I have so undeservingly received along both paths. To God be the glory!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you TRUST in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13