Prayer Weekend

Every year the leaders from SFC gather in a different country to pray for each country together and to support and encourage one another as we look ahead to the next year and all of our planning needs. This year we were in Athens, Greece encouraging a female worker who is currently the only worker in Greece.

It went really well, we had a wonderful time of prayer and I learned so much more about the behind the scenes look into working on campus'. I am learning a lot!!! Also this weekend gave me a chance to prepare for Belgium's upcoming service trip to Greece--I am really excited about it. It should be awesome!

Some interesting facts about Greece (that I learned from a book called "How to Learn Greek in 25 Years"): 98% of all Greek words have a food-related sense; and that the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" actually resembles Greece a lot more than one would think. I arrived a day early so that I could go see Corinth as well as ancient Athens, so feel free to check out my pictures of both!

Back to Brugge

Brugge, an hour away from Brussels by train, has always been my favorite Belgian city. It is rich with history (as with the majority of Europe). In the middle ages, it was the richest and largest city in Europe, inhabiting 900,000 people. The Parisians to this day call it the "Venice of the North" as it is filled with canals that weave along and in between the city streets. It holds a magic almost for me every time that I go to it. Regardless of the weather, it is always beautiful, stunning actually.

This past Saturday, Joelle (a nursing student that is a part of the Students For Christ leadership team) and I went to Brugge. I, odd as it may sound, was the tour guide all around Brugge, because this was her first time to go, even though she's lived in Belgium for over 5 years now. It was so much fun! We had a chance to really bond together more and also to see Brugge, which in my opinion is still one of the most beautiful cities around (even though I do live in Brussels which is also nice). I showed her the important things that I remembered, the only house not destroyed by the fire in the 13th century, my favorite chocolate shop, the colorful town square, and my favorite place--the Beuginage (where maidens and widows went in the middle ages through the 18th century to devote their lives to God). It was awesome!!

How Nuremberg changed the World

1918 was not the last time that Nuremberg was used to change the world. Recently (December 28th through January 1st) about 40 students and campus leaders from Belgium joined up with about 200 others in Nuremberg for the European Student Conference. At this conference, there were over 25 campus groups represented, and the people in each conference represented over 30 different nations from around the world. Countries such as the US, Russia, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Belgium (of course), Germany, France, Slovakia, Albania, India, and Kazastan.

It was an amazing confrence! There were many subjects, but for me the main subject was "Complete Abandonment to God." Some of the points that I am still salivating over are:
1. If God is favorable towards us, there is nothing to fear.
2. Are you passionate from the power of God or for the power of God?
3. The will of God is our lives is simply to become more like Jesus.

Being here in Europe and seeing how much the national boundaries are fading between cultures really brings new thought to the meaning of "international." This "international" confrence had attendees from every contitent in the world. I believe that it truly will have international, world-wide affect as students go back to their campuses, speak to others about the confrence, and talk to people from their home. Like a small spark, the word of God will begin to spread even more in 2006 than before.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! Even though I do miss being with family during this time, it feels good to be in Belgium. The city is all lit up and at the Grand Place, they even have a manger set up (take in mind that Belgium has Catholic roots). I love Christmas time, it just seems like such a warm time with the Christmas music, the lights, and families coming together to be with one another, not to mention that it's the celebration that Jesus was born, born to die for us all. Three days ago, SFC had it's Christmas party and it was so much fun. Everyone was there, eating, singing Christmas songs, there was a white elephant gift exchange that was absolutely hilarious, CDs and a pearl(esque) necklace were the most fought over. All the students at SFC are warm and welcoming. Even at my first meeting they already seemed liked friends.

Yesterday, I organized for a group of all those who were interested to go to see Narnia in the theatres, it was fun as well. Eight or so of us went and it was a touching movie, I almost think it could have been a bit longer, I wanted to have more glances at Narnia, but I recommend it with the copy of The Lion, The Which, and The Wardrobe (by C.S. Lewis) close at hand. It is a quick read, but it is very touching. I recommend seeing it.

Tonight we are going to do Christmas at Midnight. (I've even heard it rumored that the kids got me a stocking this year too!) But first we are going to watch one of my ABSOLUTE favorite movies: It's a Wonderful Life. That is one of the top movies on my top ten list, I can even watch it in July, I just love it. So I need to get going, but I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas!

European Drivers

Now that I am here, I must admit, seeing people drive in Europe is like seeing the Indianapolis 500, except much slower and that it is in my own neighborhood. It is not uncommon to see a car hit numerous times while another vehicle is trying to park. Neither is it uncommon to create lanes to drive in, where the road usually has three or four lanes, you now can see five. I am thankful that I live off the main street, yet still inside the city. It is so easy to get around and to meet up with people. I love it. I am also thankful, that I haven't ever driven in Brussels.

In Brussels!

After nearly one year of fundraising, 15 weeks of waiting for my VISA to come in, I am finally in Brussels. I arrived yesterday with all my luggage (all 190lbs worth) and a lot of fatigue after having pulled an all nighter-flight including a 5.5 hrs lay-over in Frankfurt, Germany. Yet it is soooo good to be here. I feel welcome and have a little apartment to call home, and I am nearly unpacked. (Yesterday my unpacking consisted of dumping my suitcases onto the floor, but now, all of my clothes are put away and I am finding places for the other things I brought to make me feel at home.) The family is great here. There is Steve and Deanne Turley (whom I have come to assist) they have been leading Students For Christ for 6 years, and they have three kids: Rachel (16), Bethany (14), and Luke (12).

It feels so good to be here, but yet it is almost like a dream. Yesterday I kept thinking as I was traveling that it did seem like a dream that I was now able to go to Belgium, yet I had a catch to that dream, I knew I would wake up in Brussels, Belgium and that everything I had been hoping for so long will start to happen--I will be living in Belgium, befriending students, and seeing God's glory as He works through their and my lives.

In the waiting, I've learned God's goodness

"Once you send the application in," said the Consulate's Representative "it normal takes between three to four weeks for your VISA to be processed, but it could take longer." Honestly, I had hoped that my VISA allowing me to go to Belgium would take about two weeks, but now I am in my tenth week of waiting, and every person I have talked with in the Consulate office is shocked that I have waited that long. As of right now my only hurdle before getting to Belgium is my VISA. To make matters worse, I just received word that there could be some problems with my VISA and that although it was sent to Belgium two days after I sent it down to LA for processing in August, it was still in Brussels.

At first I must admit I was a little scared. I didn't doubt God's timing, but I did wonder if the Consulate people really knew of His schedule to get me to Belgium as quickly as possible. So I decided to do a quick topical search on God's goodness. Throughout all the verses in the Bible, I found three things to be echoed time and time again.

1. God always fulfills every promise that He gives.
2. The Lord is good, His love endures forever.
3. God is good, He satisfies our every need.

Therefore, I know that my VISA will come in time and that there is no reason to fear. This story, these complications are the beginning of a great praise report when my VISA comes into my hands. God uses all for His glory and I pray that God will use this situation to bring about the most glory possible. So I appreciate all of the prayers. Knowing that one day I will have my VISA in my hands. I should hear news soon.