Road Trip!

I'm home again!

I was gone for about eight days on what I jokingly referred to as my "Goodbye Tour". The whole thought process behind this trip is a long story, and it didn't quite work out as originally planned, BUT it was a wonderful trip. I spent time in Indianapolis, Beloit, Chicago, and Bloomingdale, and got to see many friends. God was really gracious is giving me special time with many people I love dearly, and probably won't see for a while! It was a really relaxing trip, despite all the driving, because I was with people who know me well so I was able to just be myself. And the icing on the cake was that I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my favorite couples last Saturday. What a special trip it was! Thanks to those of you who prayed for me during my time away.

I also really enjoyed the freedom of being on this trip by myself. It was FUN just to have time on my own and be able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I was kind of surprised by how much I liked it...but I really did!

So I returned and hit the ground running. Last night was the first night of Youth (I'm a youth leader this year) which is always exciting. Then today, I had an appointment with my advisor at OSU, where I am now officially enrolled! Well, sorta. I'm on the waiting list for Romanian 101. I'd appreciate your prayers about THAT! My advisor thinks I should just go to class and ask the professor to sign me in on the first day of class (Sept. 24) and seems to think that will be a good possibility. Still, I'm a little concerned, especially since I've kind of rearranged my life around taking this class. I have to admit, though, it IS kind of weird to be back in school again and having to talk about school bills, parking permits and student IDs. I'm torn between being excited and...not! :-)

So other than that, God continues to remind me in small ways that He's taking care of me and giving me exactly what I need. I've really been blown away recently by how gracious He is, not just in big things, but in little ways. Example? I've suddenly acquired a sense of direction. Laugh if you want, but those of you who know me know how surprising that is! :-) In the last three months, something has clicked in my head, and as silly as that sounds it really is a reminder that God's taking care of me. He's gracious. He loves His children, and He loves to take care of them. Of us. Of me. Wow.

PS Support update: 7.33% Yay!!! :-)

Just An Update

Hi Friends!
I'm trying my best to update more! I feel like I don't really have much to say, which is why I don't write. Mostly right now, my life consists of Walgreens, phone messages and emails. And the Olympics! :-) I cheer for the USA, of course, but I also cheer for Romania (WOOHOO!) and Germany, and feel a warm fuzzy in my heart for other places I've been, too. Kind of more fun this way. More chances "I'll" win!

I've also taken on a small writing project for ABWE. The Eastern Europe Regional Team is having their bi-yearly conference in the Fall in Greece (wish I was going to be there!), and one of my teammates was given the job of getting all the devotionals for the adults, teens, and children written for the ten days PRIOR to the conference. Apparently something fell through with the children's devotional, and he asked the Romania team (which includes me now! Yay!) to help. So I've been given one of the days, and will be working on writing a devotional about why passion (or hunger/excitement, for the kid's sake) is important. NOT an easy topic to convey to kids, I'm discovering! Really abstract! So I certainly would appreciate your prayers in this new endeavor! I like writing and I love teaching, so despite the fact that this is kinda intimidating, I thought I'd give it a shot. How cool to be part of the "team" before I'm even there!

In other news, my "little" baby brother (Caleb) leaves on Friday to go to college for the first time. I'm excited for him and very proud of him, but will miss him...not just at home, but at work, too! So please also pray for him over the next week as he says goodbyes...and then begins a whole bunch of new hellos! There isn't a doubt in my mind that he'll do great, but it IS still scary and a big adjustment for him! And for those of us at home, too! :-)

More to come! I have a road trip coming up next week, and I'll have to tell you about that soon! Blessings!!

Psalm 16

1. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take reguge.
2. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

3. As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

5. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Just one of my favorite Psalms, especially over the summer. And, just for good measure, here is verse eight...in Romanian! :-)

Psalmi 16:8

Am necurmat pe Domnul înaintea ochilor mei: cînd este El la dreapta mea, nu mă clatin.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm going to try something new. I'm going to be short, sweet, and to the point, while trying to answer many of the questions people have been asking me. The whole being concise thing is new to me :-) but I'll give it a shot!

1. "What will you be doing?"
Good question! A large part of my work will be administrative. The members of the team there are headed in so many different directions! I'm hoping to take some of the pressure of paper work and communication and details off them so they can focus on other aspects of their ministry. Cause I LIKE details and organizing and nerdy things like that! :-) Other opportunities include:
*A small (English-speaking!) Christian school.
*A camp that is being started by my teammates, Andrew and Leah Postema.
*The youth group and young adults group at the church in Bucharest.
*Sunday School teacher training.
*A ministry to unwed mothers.
*An orphanage visitation group.
These are just some of the things I'm aware of, and I'm sure I'll see more once I'm in Bucharest. I'm excited about the various opportunities, and many seem to be a good fit for me!

2. "When will you leave?"
Really, there is nothing holding me here in Columbus. I'll leave as soon as I have raised all my support (ABWE requires that I have 100% before I can go), but I have no idea how long that will take. I could be home for six months or two years, it just totally depends.

3. "How much support do you have to raise?"
The total amount is $2,704.05 a month, for two years. Housing is the biggest expense, because rent in Bucharest is ridiculous. Originally, they had me budgeted at $1600 a month JUST for rent, but they have bumped it down to $1000 a month with the stipulation that I find a roommate. Because of the weak US dollar and the fact that Bucharest is in the top five of the most expensive cities in Europe, this amount really IS necessary.

4. "What are you doing now?"
I'm working full-time at Walgreens still. I'm also just beginning the process of raising support. I finished copying and addressing the first round of support letters just yesterday, and will meet with the Missions Committee and Deacons at my church this week. I'll soon be making prayer cards, working on a presentation and display, and then contacting churches where I can present. I will also (hopefully) be starting Romanian classes at OSU in September. Added to that, I'm thinking and praying about how I can be involved in my home church while I'm here. As you can see, I am indeed busy.

5. "How can I help?"
I'm so glad you asked! :-) First of all, you can pray. I'll be sending out regular prayer updates, and I'd be happy to send you a prayer card as well. If you'd like to be involved that way, email me at: kabernathy@abwe.cc
I'd love to add you to my prayer list!
Second, of course I need financial supporters as well. The nice thing about being short term is that I can accept monthly gifts and one times gifts, and both are REALLY helpful to me as I begin this process. If you'd like to be involved this way, you can also email me (see above), and I would love to send you a support letter, or give you information about how to contact ABWE.
Third, there are a MYRIAD of other ways you can help me, if you'd like! I need people who are good with computers and PowerPoint to help me with a presentation. I need people who like talking on the phone to help me make contact with churches and figure out which ones would be good opportunities for me. I need people who are good at public speaking and can help me and give me pointers. And I ALWAYS need creative people who will brainstorm will me, help with prayer cards, and think about how to make a display. As you can see...I need a lot of help. If any of this sounds up your alley...please email me!

I think that's about all I have. Thanks for your interest in me as I prepare to go. And sorry that the whole "short, sweet, and to the point" thing didn't work out so well! ;-)

A Decision...At Last!

I've returned home from Harrisburg, and though my body is still exhausted, my spirit is so refreshed! I can't remember that last time I was so encouraged and...spiritually refreshed. The sessions were good and helpful, but the people that I met and spent time with really made the week. I met people of all ages, from all over the world, with all kinds of personalities, and gifts and talents, but who ALL truly desired to serve God and are willing to make sacrifices in obedience to Him. Between the other people in AMP (Assistant Missionary Program) and all the veteran missionaries and new appointees, I was surrounded all week by incredible people. There are so many stories I could tell, so many people I'd love to share with you..but of course at this point, you've probably seen the title of this post and are wondering when I'm going to get around to telling you about my decision. So here we go.

When I wrote that post last Sunday night after I arrived in Harrisburg, I had mostly made up my mind. (Sidenote: I did eventually get a roommate! Ironically, she was a girl I graduated from Moody with six weeks ago, and though we didn't know each other, we recognized each other immediately. How funny!) By the time we were each asked to share our testimonies on Monday, I could say that I was going to "Romania...I think". Which was of course followed by tears. Lots of tears.

The question everyone asks me, of course, is how I decided. If you ask me that in person, I'll probably start to cry. But even though I'm not exactly SURE how I've reached that decision...I have, and I'm happy to share it with you. My dilemma the last six weeks has been between Germany and Romania. Some of you knew that. If you talked to me much at all, you know that I love Germany. I love the country, I love the people, I love the team there. It seems like such a perfect fit in so many ways. I have come so close to choosing Germany, and in fact almost told everyone two weeks ago that I would be going to Germany. But I couldn't. I just couldn't quite do it. And so I began to reconsider Romania. During that time, I also got a call from the team leader in Romania officially inviting me to join their team. At the time, I wanted to push it out of my mind, but I couldn't. I could see a spot on that team for me, a hole I could fill, and I found myself EXCITED about the prospect of the ministries I could be involved in there, much to my surprise. Something had changed, and I realized that while going to Germany may not be wrong, God's best for me would be Romania.

To me, it honestly doesn't make sense in a lot of ways. My logical mind doesn't see how it fits together, and there are many questions in my mind about Romania that remain unanswered. I still cry when I talk about NOT going to Germany. But I realized this week that even though the desire of my heart is to return there, it isn't where God is leading me right now. God doesn't always lead us to our heart country. I heard that in the testimony of others this week, too. As one of the girls I met this week likes to say, our God is wild and unpredictable, and we can't put Him in a box.

When I entitled this blog "Steps of Faith", I didn't realize what exactly that would entail, but this is a bigger step than I anticipated. Maybe you're even reading this and thinking, "Are you sure, Kristie? It really sounds like Germany make more sense, and you love it so much!" But I AM sure. Despite the fact that I have doubted and wondered and worried in the last week about whether or not this is the right decision, God has very graciously confirmed, even in the last few days, that this is indeed His best. I can't even tell you how much strength that gives me. To know that regardless of what Romania holds, it IS His will for me, brings so much peace. I can't describe it as anything other than a peace that transcends all understanding. I haven't felt this confident that I am exactly where God wants me since I made the decision to go to Moody five years ago. And let me tell you, it is a great feeling!

I'll write again soon about what I'll be doing in Romania and what is next for me. Until then, be encouraged, friends. God is working in the lives of His people and it is exciting to not only OBSERVE, but also to be a part of it.

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." (Psalm 16:8)

A "C" To Be Sure!

"You may bog down in the details of the decision-making process.
You can make major decisions, but may be criticized for the amount
of time you take to gather and analyze information. Although you
like to hear the opinions of your managers, you take risks when
you have facts that you can interpret and use to draw conclusions."

I'm officially in Harrisburg now, in a hotel room, waiting for all the fun to start tomorrow. Granted, finding my way to Harrisburg today was fun in and of itself, but...one plane, two trains, and a mini-van later, I'm where I'm supposed to be. (But I still don't have a roommate...I think I have one...maybe??)

The quote above is from a personality test that I had to take in preparation for this week. If you're familiar with the "DISC" personality test, I'm a high "C", and have the classic "Perfectionist Pattern", which is shocking to those of you who know me, I'm sure! :-) I found the assessment of my decision making process to be amusing and probably true. I DO like to have all my info, which is why I STILL don't have a decision. To be honest, I think I probably have already made it, but there is still that one little last piece of information I need to add. And so I can't quite say it. Sigh. Sometimes the logical side of me has a problem with faith.

All that said, I'm looking forward to a week (without Walgreens!)) where I can focus on THIS part of my life and really think and pray. I mentioned in my last post that I really just wanted a day away from everyone to think and pray, and while that definitely didn't happen last week, I think God DID answer that prayer by giving me today (and a very tardy roommate...or no roommate...we shall see!) and I'm thankful for it!

...So off I go, to gather and analyze more information! :-)

Busy Days and Unanswered Questions

My brother tells me that I need to update this or people will stop including me in their circle of blogs that they regularly check. I wonder how many people other than him even HAVE a circle of blogs that they regularly check, but I get his point. So here I am.

The last few weeks have been very full, and the next couple will be as well. Lots of work, and coffee with friends, and lesson plans. I like to be busy, but I'm realizing that I haven't left myself a whole lot of time to think, and suddenly the decision making deadline I gave myself is only a week away. It isn't that I haven't thought and prayed about it, but just because of the pace of life right now, most of my thought and prayer lately has been only in passing when I find a free minute at work. What I would love more than anything is to be able to take a day to myself, and just LEAVE and be by myself, away from everyone, to reflect and pray and listen for a long period of time. That isn't realistic, at least in the next week...but maybe I can find half a day! :-)

VBS at Immanuel starts on Monday, which will add to the madness, but I'm looking forward to it! I mean seriously, this is what I love and want to do! (I just look forward to the day I don't have to work at Walgreens and THEN go to VBS! :-)) I'm a "teacher" for the 5-7 year olds. My prayer has been that we will do this WELL and that the parents and kids will see that we think they are important because GOD thinks they are important. Please pray that we see whole families impacted by Christ's love through us and the truth of His Word.

I'm also thankful for the ways God is giving me opportunities to be involved while I'm home. It is hard to commit much without knowing how long I'll be home, and then realizing that I'll be traveling and raising support in the near future, but He keeps dropping things in my lap that encourage me, keep me busy, and help remind me how much I do love the church. Besides VBS, I also get to teach the Jr High class tomorrow, and sing at Grandpa's service at the retirement home. I'm teaching the Sr High girls in a few weeks too, and I'm also working on some curriculum for the children's ministry at IBC. These are all things I ENJOY, and despite the busy-ness, I really am thankful for the chance to be involved while I'm here.

I do leave a week from tomorrow (July 13th) for Harrisburg for my training with ABWE. I'm looking forward to a week off from work (woohoo!) and the chance to meet people, hear their stories....and learn whatever it is we need to learn! I still know very little about the whole thing, and a year ago that would have driven me nuts, but now...Eh, it'll all work out! :-)

So that's where I am these days. Thank you all for your encouragement and the reminders that you're praying for me. I'm very thankful for that, especially when everything looks so confusing and muddled. Please do pray for VBS this week, and the decision that I really would like to make soon. Also pray that I don't get so caught up in DOING (see above!) that I don't take time to listen and just be in His presence. God knows what He's doing. And sometimes He lets us see that, too! :-)