I wanted to give you an unfortunate financial update. Because of the consistent plummet of the American dollar against the strong Slovak Koruna, my budget requirements have risen and I lost about 3% of what I had due to the rise.

I did some research and noticed that not even 5 years ago, $1 U.S.D. was worth approximately ~40 Slovak Koruna, while today it is worth approximately ~21 Slovak Koruna. (Correct me if I'm wrong). I wouldn't be surprised if my required budget continues to grow as the dollar drops.

God is surely providing despite hard times. I would appreciate your prayers in this matter, and that the Lord would swiftly provide the remainder of this support!

This weekend I'll be flying up to Pennsylvania for a little over a week to attend a round robin Missions Conference with about 8 or 9 smaller churches. I'll be getting a rental car when I get there and driving to about 6 different churches, some ranging up to a few hours away from eachother.

Please pray that my nerves won't be shaken, and that I can effectively communicate what God's been doing with me--both confidently and comfortably. Also please pray for my safety while traveling. The last time I was up in that area in February, I ended up breaking down and selling my car!

We're still at 41% or so today. An overwhelming number of people have offered to help in some way or another in the past few weeks though, so I'm trying to have a positive outlook on my support status.

For example, last night I spoke to a group of 10 who are in a bible study group. Our time went very well and I am so appreciative of them allowing me to come and speak! Special thanks to Tony and Ina Diana!

I hope to also have an informational session at my church in Mebane as soon as possible. Please pray that this would happen swiftly.

So many of you have asked to meet with me personally to find out more about the ministry in Slovakia and where I fit in. My schedule revolves around you! Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me and we'll set up an appointment. I'd love to buy you some coffee!

That's it for now. Thanks everyone!

Getting a Head Start

I finally finished the first installment of my language study flash cards tonight. There are approximately 650-700 cards that I've made by hand...they were made by cutting up blank 3x5 index cards into thirds, then punching a hole in one end, writing English on one side and Slovak on the back, putting a rip cord through a stack of 25-75 (depending on difficulty), then using a caribeaner to keep it all together. It probably cost less than $5.00 for the entire set. I won't lie, it took an incredible amount of time to do this, but I think it'll be well worth it.

Ever since I returned from Slovakia I've been trying to remember words and phrases here and there, but since the new year I've been trying to focus on finding methods to learn the language (especially since I've been living in NC with extra time to dedicate to this). Now that I've finally completed the flash cards I can start studying more efficiently.

That uneasy face I'm wearing is because of the difficulty I've already experienced in learning and remembering words and grammar rules. So even though I don't expect to have any reasonable knowledge of Slovak by the time I get to Slovakia *(whenever that may be)*, I do hope to at least get a head start in learning vocabulary and essential phrases.

Anyone have any other suggestions for learning a language? Or even Slovak?

Staying Patient

I'm sitting here reading the first few chapters of Romans and saw a few verses that made me smile...

- (Abraham) He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said.....but it's not just Abraham, it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless.

- We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, w're never left feeling shortchanged.

Please pray that the Lord would give me the patience and peace that 'surpasses all understanding'.

We're at 41% :)

FAQ's, and we're at 40%!

Hello all!

I wanted to take this opportunity and answer some more frequently asked questions. I had done this a few months ago but since my situation has changed a bit, it's appropriate to answer new questions.

1) What are you doing now? (the most asked question!) I moved back to North Carolina to live with my family at the beginning of February. I am spending most of my time on raising funds for Slovakia.

2) Are you working? I have a part-time job at a kid's camp I worked at for 3 years. Usually I watch kids during the week, though I cook for large retreat groups that come in, and will occasionally be involved in environmental education when needs arise. However, like I said, I am spending much of my time trying to raise funds.

3) What do you mean when you say "fund raising"? What does that look like? I spend much of my time making phone calls, e-mails, and other organizational things. For example, I will be speaking at a missions conference in PA at the end of March and I have to arrange all of my travel plans. My office is anywhere that has free wireless internet and good coffee! I'll spend anywhere from 2-8 hours a day there usually. That time is also dedicated to meeting with people one-on-one who would like to know more information about the mission.

4) How long are you going to be home? There is no possible way I can even give a decent guess to this question. I had hoped to be in Slovakia in January, so obviously my intentions are to get there as soon as possible. Whether it takes 2 weeks or 9 months, I have no way of knowing. It is completely dependent on how quickly the funds come in. I am praying that God would allow my time in North Carolina to be short, as I am anxious to start working. However, I am also praying for patience that I would understand daily that God's timing is so much better than my own.

5) Are you learning the language? Well, I sure am trying to learn as much as possible, though I will admit it's been a bit difficult to learn. I've made posters and flash cards to help me out. Language study is a part of my daily routine. Oh, and for any Slovaks out there- go ahead and make fun of my very cheesy study guides. I welcome it, especially the horribly drawn human. :)

Car Needed ASAP! - 36%

Hello everyone! We are at 36% today!

As you know, I've moved back to North Carolina with my family temporarily until I raise enough support to leave. On the way home from Florida I drove up to Ohio to visit a Slovak friend. To make a long story short, my car not only broke down twice in Ohio, but the repairs were so extensive I had to sell it before I came home because it was not drivable! I had to get a rental car and transfer all of my belongings into it just to get back to North Carolina.

This means I am without a car. I am temporarily using a family car but it will not be available much longer. Because I will only be in the country for a short time, I don't have too many options. An ideal situation would be to either a) buy an inexpensive clunker car and sell it before I go or the BEST option: 2) "rent" a car from someone local.

I hope to only be in the country anywhere from 1-4 more months (the sooner the better!) and I would be willing to pay someone monthly to let me borrow a spare car.

Do any of you happen to own a spare car and would be willing to let me "rent" (borrow) it until I leave for Slovakia soon?? Please let me know ASAP!

Cell: 407-739-8571 or Home: 919-563-5346

Ande

I want to give an enormous THANK YOU to Relevant Media Group (http://www.relevantnetwork.com/) in Orlando (Relevant, Radiant, and Leader. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/ ). I myself subscribe to Relevant Magazine (the only mag subscription I've ever had, and well worth it!), and was sad to know that it would be so difficult to get it while in Slovakia. Oh by the way, this is where I've been wanting to get a job for over a year!

I e-mailed them last week saying that some of the folks in Trnava really enjoyed Relevant Magazine, and so did I. I asked if it would be possible if I could take 10-15 issues of their old copies that aren't on the shelves anymore- only halfway expecting an answer back, to be honest. The next week a wonderful gal named Theresa e-mailed me and told me to come on by to pick them up! I went there last night to get them and she came to the front with a smile and a huge stack of magazines. She even went to the back to get MORE! She gave me at least 22-25 issues of Relevant, Radiant and Leader for me to take to Slovakia with me and keep at the ministry.

She sent me on my way with a smile and a hug, and I left there with a huge smile on my face, feeling so thankful for these guys for being so generous.

So Theresa, Cameron, anybody else who had a hand in that decision.... THANK YOU!! You're taking part in investing in a real difference.

So the other night I went to a Christian concert over at the college arena at UCF. It was Mercy Me, Barlow Girl, some other guys, and the reason I went: Skillet. For any Skillet fans out there, it was a fantastic show!

Anyway, in between sets there was a speaker who "entertained" the crowd while the next band set up. I have to admit, this guy was good. He gave an entire synopsis of the Gospel in a brief, funny, truthful, and clear way. He not only shared it through a great analogy, but threw in humor, some very serious consequences to not believing, and in a pretty tasteful way invited those who wanted to change their lives to take action. Over a thousand people stood up because they wanted to make a change, whether for the first time or for the 50th time. The tour even sent them all information, books, and devotionals to help with their walk.

While my attitude at first was "Bring back the music!!" at first, I was humbled pretty quickly as he kept speaking. How selfish I was to demand the musical distractions while he's trying to explain to thousands of people the message of the Gospel in their own youthful language.

By the end of his 15 minute speech, to be honest, I had a sincere jealousy for how he was able to express the Gospel in the way that he did. I really respected this guy for how great he communicated, and it made me want to learn how to communicate better. He was loud, funny, outgoing, and well-spoken. I started to feel a little down on myself, thinking, "Wow, if I was asked to get up on stage and say what he did, I'm about 100% sure it wouldn't be as great." In a very tricky way, Satan came into that scenario and wanted me to believe that if I couldn't speak as good as the speaker, I might as well give up. He wanted me to believe that I'm too soft-spoken and shy, to scared, to reserved to be effective in showing Christ to unbelievers, simply because I wasn't as "good" as this guy.

Soon after, I was reassured something pretty important. God is going to use me despite my sin. Despite my shortcomings and all the ways I fail, He's going to use the person who He's made to advance His kingdom in maybe a different way than someone else. There are unbelievers out there who would be completely turned off from the Gospel if they heard this guy speak. There are unbelievers who are tired of the way a lot of people are sharing the Gospel with them. There are a lot of people like me who find a huge value in a one-on-one discussion and close friendships.... who are quiet and reserved... who went through the same problems I went through as a kid... who are just looking for someone like them to share God's love in a really special way.

From what I have been told, this relational type of process is what the young people in Slovakia can relate to. Not all of them, of course, but some. I look forward to finding all the different ways that God has created me to share His love in "custom" ways to each individual young person. We're all called to be different parts of The Body of Christ. It's an understatement to say that it's a relief to have a God that loves you and will use you no matter how often you fall short!

Bauer HAS a Home! - Travel Plans - Prayer Requests

Finally... I found a home for my cat after 6 months! Now I can move forward without worrying about him...

So this is my last week at work at Strang Communications. I'll be leaving next Monday for a long trip home.

I'll be stopping in Tallahassee for a night, through Atlanta to visit Mission to the World, then up to Chattanooga to visit friends at Covenant College for a night. After that I'll go to Asheville, NC for a night and then up to Lakeside, Ohio for at least 3 or 4 nights.

From there I will either go home to NC or stop in NY and/or PA to visit family. Please pray for my safety during these travels. I had severe car trouble over the weekend, and even though the cost of getting it fixed was substantial, I am so thankful that I didn't break down in the middle of nowhere by myself!

If any of you live in these areas and want to meet up for coffee or a meal, please please call me!

__________________

Other than that, things are going okay. I'm not nearly as stressed as I thought I would be... at least not yet. Leaving my friends in Orlando is going to be a very very difficult thing for me to do.

Once I get home, I'm going to immediately start working at Camp Chestnut Ridge part time during the week/weekend. Most of my time will be dedicated to raising support.

I really do covet your prayers during this time.

Well, I'll write a bit more later. Hope y'all are having a good week!

Hello! I wanted to spread the word that I've "published" a photo book that is available for sale here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/163423 All profit will go directly to my support as I raise funds to go back to Slovakia for a year.

Bauer needs a home asap!

Hi everyone. We're at 27.8% today!

As some of you know (because I've blatantly asked you), I have to find a home for my cat. I obviously can't take him with me to SK. I've been looking for 3 months for a home, but no one seems to be able to take him. I've even tried taking him to the SPCA, and long story short, they wouldn't take him.

I am running out of options! Would any of you be willing to adopt a new cat?

Here's a little about him. His name is Bauer, and he's an orange tabby cat. I found him a little over a year ago on September 11th as a stray, and he was a baby when I found him. He has been neutered and declawed in the front paws (so he won't scratch up your furniture!). Bauer is extremely playful, loves attention, loves to be pet, loves to play games with you, and his favorite game is fetch. Yep, he'll fetch stuff like a dog, it's very cute. He'll come to you when you call his name or whistle and stop doing something when you say stop.

If you decide to take Bauer, you'll get all the fixin's with him, including a covered litter box, continuous food feeder, lots of toys, flea medication, etc. Oh, and he's had all his shots too and he has no health problems.

If you would like to come meet him, or if you'd like to take him, please please let me know as soon as possible! I need to find a home BEFORE JANUARY 22nd!!!

1/4 of The Way There!

Hello there!

It's been about three weeks since I've written on here. I haven't updated this site simply because my status had not changed very dramatically.

I did want to just give you a quick update and let you know that we are at 25%!

For those of you reading this, you should have received an update last week and 2 weeks prior to that regarding other matters of support. If you'd like to receive this, please e-mail me at andetruman@gmail.com

God has surely been good to me over the past few months since I've started raising support. I covet all of your prayers, especially over the next month or so as I prepare to leave for Slovakia. I am on standby, ready to leave as soon as the Lord provides the financial support.

I had hoped to go home for the holidays and leave soon after that, however, due to the circumstances I will probably be coming back to Florida to continue working at Strang Communications until I have reached my goal. Please pray for me during this time!

I've had a few questions about alternate ways to send in support, and I wanted to remind you that you are able to call Mission to the World at 678-823-0004 ext. 2451 to give donations. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has given so graciously to this effort. I appreciate everything you have done for the Lord! Lord willing, I will be updating this again before Christmas time if my status has changed, so please stay tuned!

Driving in the Fog

Well folks (whoever you are that actually read this), I think it's about time I have a little heart to heart. My good friend has been mentioning authenticity lately, and that got me thinking. To be honest, I struggle with knowing what information I should post on this site for you all to read. It's not that I have a problem with being open with what's going on, but I'm just not sure if the intention of the site is to keep you up to date on my support, or to keep you up to date with ME. I guess I'd like to make it a little bit of both-- because I feel that it's important for me to be honest with my supporters.

I bet every single one of you have seen a movie with the following plot synopsis: Main character has major obstacle in story, character is determined to overcome obstacle, character ends story with conveniently conquering the problem, rises up above problem, cut, end of story, we feel nice and smile in our unrealistic plot resolution. Have you ever seen a movie where the resolution to the problem never happened? The main character didn't come out victorious, and the movie left you in a sort of uneasy feeling. "Where is the resolution? Where is my perfect ending?" you say.

A month ago when I first started raising support, my "character" had a major obstacle to overcome. I was not only determined to overcome the obstacle, but planned on conveniently fixing the problem myself and rising above the issue with no setbacks or worry. Lately, I've begun to wonder if I may have picked up the wrong script. Did I got lost on the way to the right studio and end up in the "Not-So-Victorious-Type-Of-Film"?

If I'm losing you with this strange metaphor, I apologize. Let me get back to a realistic dialogue. For the past month I've been planning fundraisers to help the support come along. I tried really hard to make it work, I spent hours on the phone and in e-mails, hustling to get it together. I was so confident that they would all be a success, they would be unique and fun and perfect. I thought, "I have too much to raise to just sit here and do nothing!" Well, come to find out, (very long story, very short), all of the fundraisers fell through. They were all cancelled for various reasons. The most recent event with the most potential, the most excitement, and the most disappointment when it fell through, was a benefit concert. It came down to being cancelled because we couldn't find a stage in time.

My first reaction to these events being cancelled was, to be honest, real frustration. I simply could not understand what I had done wrong and why these things couldn't happen.

On top of that, I've been working out some conflicts in regard to my support raising, and different kinds of resistance. If you know me well at all, you know I'm a pretty sensitive person...so all these factors in the same pot really made for some interesting internal struggle. Satan honestly and truthfully used these circumstances to try and make me stumble.

I have felt the epitome of humility over the past month. I feel like I should have an "OFFICIALLY HUMBLED" stamp on my forehead. Why? Because I've been trying to do this myself. I (Me, Myself, and I, that is), have worked myself silly trying to communicate what God has commanded me to do. I may have even done it in such a way that has been slightly abrasive to you--and if I have, I do apologize. Please do not misinterpret my excitement for the Lord's work for being something of an annoyance. (I say this also not to make you feel awkward). Anyway, back on track!

Here comes the big, HOWEVER you've been waiting to hear. HOWEVER, we serve a faithful God, do we not? The Lord has not let go of me, nor will He ever. Through these discouraging few weeks, I really have learned something. I am learning to let go of this. Hold on, don't worry- not "LET GO" for good. I mean I'm letting go of trying to do this myself. Instead, I plan on letting God take care of it from now on. This doesn't mean I'm going to stop working at it...but there comes a point where you have to give up taking things on yourself that belong to God.

After Christmas, my future is a big ol' question mark. Most of you know that my family is in North Carolina, and I'll be going there for the holidays..but whether or not I'll come back or stay is impossible to determine right now. Many of you have asked me about this, so here's a chance for me to answer honestly and bluntly: Where I go depends on my support status. Friends, I hope to be close to my goal, if not surpassed by goal by New Years. Trust me, I fully understand this is potentially impractical; but the question isn't whether it's impractical for me (cause obviously that's true), but whether it's impractical for God. Well...it's not...not for Him anyway.

Technically, I could get a phone call in 30 seconds from someone telling me they'd like to offer the rest of my support. Technically, it could be 6 months or more (Heaven forbid) till I get the support. It's not up to me. So to answer your question more fully- if I'm most of the way there by New Years, I'll stay in North Carolina till I reach my goal and leave as soon as possible. If I'm not anywhere close, then I'll probably come back to Florida and continue working till I reach my goal. Like I've said a thousand times, it's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN.


This, as you can imagine, can be a bit difficult. It's like driving in the fog when you can only see a few feet in front of you. I covet your prayers! I was reading over my support letter today, and I noticed something. I asked you all to give before I asked you to pray in the letter. Friends, please, pray first. Prayer is powerful!

In the meantime, I am taking one day at a time. I am planning my life as though I will be leaving for Slovakia "as planned", during January sometime. I have sold or given away probably 75% of what I own, I'm buying winter coats for the frigid winter in Slovakia, deciding what instruments to take, what shoes to wear in the snow, what luggage I'll pack everything in and may even do a mock packing soon. Why would I do these things without knowing my future? Conveniently, none of us know our future, but just like driving in the fog, we see what's right in front of us and just keep going whether we see far down the road or not. What else is there to do, stop in the middle of the road? This is my way of trusting God to provide in His own timing; and if it's months and months till I get support...well...at least I'll be ready to go!

A few days ago I sang this song with coworkers before our company meeting in worship time. I am quite peculiar when it comes to worship music, and being the middle of the workday, I wasn't really "feeling it" throughout the songs. The last song was Great is Thy Faithfulness. Friends, when I saw those words "All I have needed THY hand hath provided, Great is THY faithfulness, Lord unto me" I stood there and wept like a baby. The Lord will provide my every need, despite canceled concerts, unsuccessful car washes, miscommunicated intentions, and questionable futures. There IS a resolution to this plot, He WILL cause a victory, and I didn't get lost on the way to the studio.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Take care, you all-- and have a restful and peaceful Thanksgiving!

Ande



(Photos courtesy of P. Tibenska)

Successful Strang Bake Sale

Thank you to all the folks who participated in the Strang bake sake! A special thanks to Cara Showers who did ALL of the coordinating and the hard work. We made around $225 yesterday, so yippee!

No one likes muddy water

I just wanted to write a quick heart-to-heart note to you all about something. In years previous, asking for support for missions was a very uncomfortable thing for me to do. I did not have the right perspective. As of late, however, God has given me a boldness that I've never had before to ask for help. The last thing I want to do, though, is make anyone feel awkward, obligated or uncomfortable with my attitude. Though I may be bold in asking you, I still want to be sensitive to personal situations.

PLEASE don't feel awkward if you're unable to help! I understand that we all have our commitments, including tithing and perhaps other missions. I just wanted to make it clear you can feel free to tell me if you can't support me, and I won't get offended! For some of you, God may have blessed you above and beyond your previous commitments and tithing...and if He's laid it on your heart to help, then great! If it's not feasible right now, then great! I would appreciate your prayers! I really do appreciate communication of any kind.

Second, on my brochure I quoted John Piper saying "Go, send or disobey". I wanted to just clarify that quote by saying I didn't mean "Go, send ME, or disobey"! I hope that is clear. Contact me if you want more of an explanation.

Serving the Lord in missions is an exciting thing, and I would hate for miscommunication to muddy up the water. Thank you again to all of you that have helped so far. We're at 16% today. Have a great week! (...and if anyone wants to come help scrub a few cars this Saturday, let me know! I could use a hand or two.)

Let's Meet!

I mentioned this in passing in my letters, but I would like to meet with all of you over the next few months. I'd also like to meet with your pastors, and any person or group that you know of that may be willing to support this effort. My goal is to fill up my schedule for a meeting every day until I leave! It doesn't have to take long, and we could grab some coffee or lunch sometime. The purpose of these meetings are to give you an opportunity to ask any questions, to allow me to show pictures and/or a presentation of my trip, and also to just catch up with one another.

Also, to reiterate, I'm asking all of you to put me in contact with your pastors and/or missions representatives. I basically want to tell them about the trip, ask your church to pray for me, and to also give them an opportunity to sponsor me as a missionary next year.

If you'd like to schedule an appointment with me, please don't hesitate to contact me now! I'm willing to plan months in advance :)

By the way, we're at .8% ($280)!

FAQ's

I've heard a lot of the same questions lately, so I'm going to answer them for everyone here as well:

Q: "What happens if you don't get your support?"
A: It's not a matter of IF, but it may be a matter of WHEN. My deadline is December 31, but if I do not have my financial support raised by that time, I will simply stay until it's raised (hopefully not too much longer!).

Q: "What about your career?"
A: God, in his awesome sovereignty, has called me to do His work while still using my career skills. I will be designing for the ministry, creating/maintaining their website, t-shirts, posters, flyers, and possibly brochures, etc. Isn't is great how He can call us to do what we love? I will also continue to design freelance projects in my spare time.

Q: "What about school?"
A: Lord willing, I'm going to continue taking a minimum amount of online classes, depending on my work load. I've been accepted with The Art Institute and will continue my education across the sea!

Q: "Where are you going to live?"
A: I won't know until it gets a bit closer to my departure. More than likely I'll be sharing an apartment with one or more American women within walking distance from The Building.

Q: "Where are you going to live when you get back to the U.S. in a year?"
A: Two months ago I wasn't going back to Slovakia. At this point, it would be quite silly of me to try and guess where I'll be in a year.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask!

Come, be a threat with me!

It may seem a bit early to share this kind of thing with everyone, but there's been something on my heart since Saturday. Satan doesn't hesitate to attack, does he? Something we can't forget is that the Enemy does not want missionaries to go. He does not want me to raise a team of individuals who are praying and supporting this mission, and he surely wants me to be discouraged by not getting my support by my deadline. We're a threat! Knowing this in my heart makes it easier when I get scared about the amount of support I'm being asked to raise. To be honest, something I have to tell myself every day is that raising support is not begging, it's biblical! This is so exciting and I want you have a chance to be a part of what God is doing!

I ask that you simply pray about it and consider what the Lord is asking you to do. Where God leads, He provides. He's going to pay for what He's ordered! He has given me a considerable amount of peace about the next few months, though Satan is at my door just waiting for my guard to be down. (Isn't that always the case??)

In Romans 10, Paul basically says there are 3 kinds of people: the unsaved, the senders and the goers. I want to give you a chance to be a sender! He also says "How can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?"

As for me? I was asked to go, and I am simply going where I'm told. Despite all my fears and hesitations, I am proceeding onward with Christ behind me and in front of me, and I'm now asking you to come along beside me.

We got our first pledge!

I've been sitting in coffee shops around Orlando for about 8 hours today! Two wonderful ladies from Life in Altamonte Springs magazine came by to ask me a survey question for their magazine. Their question was, "What do you want for Christmas more than anything?" After explaining my trip back to Slovakia, I responded that I'd like for the entirety of my support of $38,000 to be secure. They gave me $10! Hey, it's a start!

Going Back to Slovakia for a Year

In the third grade my teacher asked the class what we wanted to do when we grew up. We wrote our answers on a scrap piece of paper and turned it in. As she unfolded my piece of paper, her face lit up, and she enthusiastically said, "Children, someone in our class wants to do something very special when she grows up. She wants to be a missionary and tell people about Jesus around the world!"

Since that day in third grade, I haven't given serious thought to the idea of serving the Lord in missions for the long period of time; at least, while still single. I have endeavored to serve in short term trips around the world, and I am confident that God has challenged me and changed my life with those opportunities. Though the trips may have seemed random or disconnected, lately I have realized that God's had has been using those times to prepare me for something much bigger than I expected.

On the personal side of my life, I was experiencing some growing pains; ideas that forced me to grow in my faith. I had realized that over the span of my entire life, that God had used both tragedies and blessings all for my own good. It was as though God had turned a work-in-progress tapestry around so I could catch a glimpse of His plan for me. I realized that He really was taking care of me. By examining my past, I knew that He had a plan and purpose for me, far greater than my own.
It was through these experiences over the past few months that I made a conscious decision to start trusting the Lord with my future. I realized that I had not been trusting where He would lead, and I was planning my life according to my own desires. I wanted to believe in His sovereignty more than ever, and I prayed to Him, “Do what you want”. It was not even a week after this discovery that God flipped my heart upside down. Little did I know how much I would have to trust Him.

Allow me to rewind to a few months ago to June where I had the opportunity to serve in Slovakia on 2-week mission trip. I, along with Mission to the World, deliberated for months on an area of the world and a ministry that fit with my skills and interests. My objective was fairly simple: be a multi-tasking camp counselor for an English camp retreat for a group of Slovak teens. (For more information on this, please visit www.FizzThat.com/Slovakia to read my blog!). Within stepping foot out of the airport, I had a feeling this place would be different.

We drove from the airport in Vienna, Austria through the countryside over the border to Trnava, Slovakia. We arrived at the MTW ministry place called The Building. Allow me to explain the ministry in Slovakia. The Building is a safe place for locals, mainly teenagers. It is a place where one can come to learn English, hear seminars and concerts, study, socialize, or for any other reason they might need. It is not an outwardly Christian setting, but a neutral ground to get connected. It is through these activities, however, that allows workers at The Building to connect with the young people and share the Gospel with them.

I walked up the stairs with my luggage, dropped it at the entrance, and immediately started to meet the team. A group of musicians were practicing in the main room, women were packing up items in suitcases for camp, and others were in the kitchen preparing lunch. I was given a quick tour, and briefly introduced to people who were diligently preparing for camp.

Among the Ikea ivory couches, wooden tables, bright lamps and art work, the sunlight poured in on a beautiful landscape of teamwork and excitement. Through the mayem of preparation there was still an element of comfort and ease with the dynamic of the team. The atmosphere was brilliant, and I fell in love with it. The next day, we left on the bus for camp. I'm going to fast-forward 2 weeks, if you don't mind.

The end of camp was quickly approaching and I could feel a sadness within every time I thought about leaving. I knew this was not going to be easy. The hour of departure approached, and it was time to catch my train. I said my goodbye's, gave my last minute hugs, and kept on a fake smile as I thought, "I may never see these people again." I was convinced that I had no plans to return in the near future. I cried all the way to the train station. This was unlike any other departure from previous trips. This time, I really wasn't ready. I boarded the plane for home. Reality set in, the future was clear and I couldn't look back. I knew my plans, and they did not include Slovakia.

Days and weeks passed. Something was different with me. I didn't feel the same, and something was unsettled in my heart. Friends would say, "Something doesn't seem right about you since you've been back." One friend joked, "Did you leave half of you back there?". Though I smiled, I knew she was right. I kept waiting for things to feel "normal" again. People kept asking me, "What do you think God is telling you?" I discredited it being emotional and gave excuses why I couldn't go.

After a while, I decided to go back, just for a short vacation. I was ready to buy a ticket, but I waited a few weeks to decide on good dates to fly. One day, a thought hit me like a brick: Why don't I go back for a few months? So I called my representative from MTW and we talked about this possibility. She asked me if I'd consider going for one or two years. My response was immediately "No", though I agreed to pray about it. The next day I called my missions pastor and asked that we meet for lunch so I could discuss this possibility. He was excited about the idea for a few months, though, judging from my tears, we could both tell there was something more to this decision. He asked me if I'd consider going for a year or two. My head shook no, but my heart nodded yes, though I didn't tell him at the time. I thought, "I can't put everything on hold again, I have to keep doing my own plans! I don't want to go!"

At this point, my heart was torn in two places. My plans, or God's plans? I knew God was leading me, but I didn't want to accept it. He was working in me. He was doing something huge. For a few days, I tried to forget it. Have you ever tried to ignore God's calling? Impossible, right? I spent the next few weeks in thought and prayer. I mentioned the idea of going for a longer period of time to some close friends and the missionaries in Slovakia. Every single one of them was in full support of going for a longer period. I didn't want to go. I thought of dozens of reasons why I shouldn't. I wrote all of them down in depth, and prayed about them. By the time I re-read the reasons not to go, I prayed to God, "When do I leave?". I felt an undeniable summon, a call, a command; one that I could not run away from. One sign after another, I received consistent confirmations that God was leading me in this direction. I have never felt a more clear and concise calling on my life as I do now. So clear, if I ignored it, I feel like I would be disobeying the Lord.

God has softened my heart to serving Him through this ministry. It is a ministry that needs workers and supporters. I am boldly asking you to help this ministry through sending them a worker for one year. For this year, I will be dedicating my life and my skills to their needs. I will work as a team member through many ways, hopefully using my gifts in every way possible, including graphic design, music, teaching, and many other ways. My main objective is to build trusting relationships with the Slovak teens while reaching a point where I can share the gospel with them.
I have to raise $38,000 before January 1st. This is for 1 year of working. Although that is an intimidating amount of money to raise, I am confident in God's sovereignty in this calling and am persuaded that He will provide. I boldly ask you to consider supporting me as a volunteer worker in this ministry. If you are unable to make a one-time donation, please consider a monthly plan that will allow you to break up your support in smaller portions. Your support means so much to me, and will continue to make a lasting affect on this ministry in Slovakia that is sharing the Word of God to an unbelieving nation. If you are unable to support this mission, I ask that you please keep Slovakia and me in your prayers throughout this next year.