Summer Time....

Malus Beauregard House,
New Orleans

Some pictures from the road trip!
Gateway Arch, St. Louis

Hi Everyone!

So I've been home for about a week and a half now! I had an incredible road trip with my best friend and her brother, we got to see and experience so much! It was such a great trip! And, I got to show her around the place where I (sort of) grew up, so that was a lot of fun too. Now I'm back, I was also able to spend some time with my sister and her best friends during her bachelorette weekend. I really enjoyed getting to hang out with and talk to them. It was a really great time, laughing, talking, and just spending time with each other.

Eating some barbecue in Memphis!

National Civil Rights Museum,
Memphis

I wanted to share a little bit about some time that I spend in New Orleans. On our road trip we decided to stop in the Big Easy for a few days and just explore the city. It was so much fun! Especially since so much of the city has a lot of French mixed in! So while we were there I was able to see another side to it, I'm not sure if it's because I'm just more aware of these things, or because the Lord was pointing them out to me, or maybe this is totally normal to see, but I saw so much hurting, and pain. I saw people trying to make themselves happy, people who were selling themselves to make others happy, and people who were just downright miserable. It broke my heart. I saw devastation of a different kind, devastation of the spirit. I saw a hollow emptiness, and it stirred something in me. I knew in that moment, this is why the Lord has called me to a life of ministry. This is why I have such a big heart, because there are so many hurting people in this world that need to know the greatest healing that can come to their soul is the love of God.

As I reflect on my calling, I'm also reflecting on the next step I'm taking in my life. I am so excited to be going to Belfast, not just because I'm going to be working with an incredible group of people, or because I get to live in an amazing place full of history and beauty, but because for the next few years it is a place where I get to work, full time, reaching those that need to experience love. I get to just love on people, and live out the testimony of Christ's love for me. This is the truth: every person, no matter who they are, or what they've done is worthy of love. Christ taught us this. Love, God's love, has the most incredible power to heal, restore, and transform. This is my heart, this is my calling and my purpose. I want to love, radically, to be an example of the love of Christ. I'm not perfect, far from it, I make mistakes, and unfortunately sometimes I hurt people, but my hope, my passion is to do my best not to hurt others, but to show them love where there is none. Yes, there is more to being a follower of Christ, but it all starts and ends in love. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

Beignets at Cafe du Monde,
New Orleans

Claire and I in the French Quarter

So, my challenge to you is this: love radically this week. Love outside the box. Instead of judging someone for what they are doing, try to understand where they are coming from. Just because you are trying to love by understanding them, and their past does not mean that you condone their behavior. You are simply trying to show them the love that Christ showed you when you came to Him broken and desperate. So step outside the box, think of those that frustrate you, irritate you, make you downright angry, then think of a way that you can show them love this week. I'm challenging myself here too. I think it'll change our lives, don't you?





Blessings and Love,


Chrissy

Gulf Coast, Mississippi

One Season Ends, And Another Begins.

Ready to Graduate!

Some of my closest friends here at Bethany!
Love these girls so much!

Yesterday I graduated from Bethany Global University (Formally Bethany College of Missions). It's crazy to think that I'm done. Like, CRAZY. It still hasn't hit me that I may not see some of my classmates again for a LONG time. A season of my life is over. And what a wonderful season it has been! I have grown and learned so much. The Lord has shown me so much more of His character, His love, and His patience in this time being here. He has used my classmates, my teachers, the staff, so many people have been a part of this time. I can't even begin to thank all of you who have been such a big part of this journey! I love you all, and pray that the Lord blesses you abundantly for your hard work, and the time and energy you have put into the lives of those around you, especially mine. From the very depths of my heart, thank you for being here for me, and for loving me.

Christine, me, and Claire
Les Trois Filles!

So, what's next? As I said in my last post I will be going to Belfast (woohoo!! So excited!!)! So, what does that actually look like from here? Well, first, I will be staying on campus for the next two weeks. After, I get to take a road trip with my best friend, Claire, and her brother down to Florida. I'm pretty excited! I think it's going to be lots of fun! I'll be in Florida for about three weeks (one of which will be spent at my sister's bachelorette party!). Then I'll be flying up to New York for my sister's wedding! I'm so excited to celebrate with her, it's going to be a blast! After that, I come back here to Minnesota for a week. I'll be going through candidacy with Bethany International Ministries (This is an organization that is connected with my school, and the organization I was under while in Marseille). Once I finish going through candidacy, I can begin support raising! So the beginning of July will probably be the time I begin to raise support.

My Friend Amanda and I

With flowers and balloons
From my siblings!

I am so excited for this process, and for everything to get underway! As I described in my last post, I'll be working with Every Nation Belfast (I worked with Every Nation Marseille, formally Evolution 13, while I was in Marseille. So I'm pretty familiar with Every Nation as well as Bethany International, which is so great!). It's a church plant in Belfast (http://everynationbelfast.co.uk) pastored by Johann and his wife, Andrea. I felt the Lord place this on my heart when I visited back in November, and after a lot of prayer and seeking the Lord, I believe this is where He wants me! I am excited to be working in prayer ministry as well as children's church! Ireland has had people of great faith come before, C.S. Lewis from Belfast for example, and I want to be a part of helping people find out who Jesus really is. That they might go and share the gospel all over the world. I want to see them healed, and called up to leadership. I want to help equip them with the tools they need. I want to work with children, to help bring them up in the knowledge of God's love for them, and this world. I want to see Christ and the true gospel once again burn in the hearts of the Irish. I want to love well, to be a light, and to take the gospel to those who so desperately need it. I believe the Lord is asking me to do this in Belfast, to learn, to grow, to love, and to share. I am so excited to have you partner with me in this, whether through finances or prayer.

My Partner in Crime, the Peanut Butter to My Jelly, My Best Friend
Miss Claire Pinney, I'm going to miss this girl more than I can say!

So stay tuned! There will be more details to come! In the mean time, the Lord bless you and keep you, continue seeking His face, continue to love Him and seek Him in all that you do. Know that you are cared for, prayed for, and deeply loved. Thank you for everything, and I'm looking forward to the years to come!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

Everyone's Getting Married, Engaged, and Having Babies And I'm Over Here Like: I'm Going to Belfast...

That's right! This is my big announcement for those of you that haven't heard, I'm heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland! It's still early on in the process, but I've spoken with the pastor of Every Nation Belfast, Johann, and I'm working towards heading out there by the end of this year! I'm so excited! I'm not sure if you could tell by my blog post about Belfast, but I completely fell in love with the city when I went! My heart was captured by the people, and the love God has for the people there. I also feel that there is so much that I can learn there, especially from the team I will be working with! I will be helping with the church plant there, so I will be wearing plenty of different hats as far as what I'll be doing, but I'm so excited for what God is doing there, and what He's going to do through me!

So in the next few months I'm asking you to pray alongside me, that the Lord continues to guide me through the process of figuring out these next steps to go to Belfast, Northern Ireland. I am currently planning to go under Bethany International Ministries and work for Every Nation. Since this is such a special circumstance I'm having to work through a lot of details with these organizations, to make sure that everything that needs to be covered is covered. Please just be praying into this situation and that God would just be in it and all over it. I'm excited to be able to work with both organizations since both are so dear to my heart!

Also please pray for me as I'm finishing up my time here at school. I only have two months left until I graduate (What?!?) and I want to finish strong! Once I graduate, it's going to be a crazy, hectic time! My sister is getting married, then I need to come back to Minnesota to finish up the process of being sent out under Bethany, then I need to head back to Florida to start partnership development! So please keep me in your prayers during this critical time as one season comes to a close, and another begins.

To all of my long time supporters and friends: I am SO excited to take this next step with you all! You have been there for me, loving me, praying for me, and let me tell you, I would not be where I am now without you! My heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for you all! I am so blessed to have you in my life, and I cannot begin to express how much you mean to me! I am such a different person, the Lord is molding and shaping me into the woman He has called me to be, and you all have been an important part of that process. My heart is full of His promises, and the hope that He has given me, and I just pray that He fills your hearts with promises and the same hope. He loves you so much, and wants to continue to lead you. Just love Him, follow Him, give Him everything and you will be amazed at what happens! I never thought I'd be able to go to the UK, no matter how much I desired it, I thought it was a desire I would have to give up. But the Lord took the time to show me that it was a desire He had planted in me, because He has a plan and purpose to send me there. So open your heart to the possibilities the Lord might have for you! Seek Him, and He will reveal them to you!

I love you all, and will keep you updated on the process of everything! So excited to share this with you!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

Is This Home?

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been a while... I've been going, going, going since I've been back! But now I've found a little bit of time to write, so I'll fill you all in on what life's been like back here in the States!

First though, I want to say thank you. Through all of your prayers, support, encouragement, and love I made it through internship! It would not have been possible without you, please know that in your heart of hearts, I am truly thankful for all that you have done to help me get to France! Lives were touched, friendships were made, and I have been forever changed. So thank you, from the very depths of my heart, thank you for answering the call to be part of my team.

Well, it's been a little over a month since I've been back. And it's surreal. After a lot of running around during break (New York, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, and finally Minnesota to return for my senior semester) I've been able to actually sit down and begin processing. It has not been easy. For a while there I couldn't even talk about France because I just wanted to cry. I missed it. I still do. I built a life there, made friends, learned a language, loved, laughed, cried, lived. And now, I'm back here, in a place that was once familiar, but seems so foreign to me now. The food tastes funny, everyone speaks English, and I'm supposed to just pick back up where I left off? No. This is a time for readjustment, this is a time to reflect back, close one chapter, and move forward with the next.

This is one thing I'm so thankful for here at Bethany, during senior semester, everyone on staff is so gentle with you! They know, they understand, and they don't push you too much. I love it! I feel like I have a safe place, with plenty of people to talk to, who understand what I'm going through. I can be open, honest, and just vent if I have to. This is very much needed during reentry, it is a fragile time in a person's life, and it is important to treat them with the respect and understanding they need.

As I reflect back to my time in France I can see all of the amazing, awesome things God did. He gave me a friendship that I will always cherish, He gave me a family in Marseille, He gave me direction, and a love that I will never lose. During my time in France my heart for Europeans has grown exponentially. I am in love with Europe. Not just because of the beautiful scenery, the languages, the accents, but because God has such a deep, deep love for the people there, and He has shared this love with me. I know that He has such wonderful plans for the people there. I also know the darkness, the hopeless oppression that the live under, and I desperately just want to love the people there. I want to be used by God to shine the light of His love in these dark places. It makes me sad to see how so many people in the church remain ignorant of the need there. It genuinely hurts my heart. I know now though, God has not forgotten them, He has not abandoned them, and He continues to send people like me to them, to remind them of, to show them Jesus. I am so excited for my future, and all of the wonderful things God has in store for me and Europe!

So that's just a little glimpse into my life back in the States. I miss France, I'm glad to be back though, and I'm excited for this summer when I can share with you all in person! Sending you lots of love from the frozen tundra (aka Minnesota)!

Blessings and Love,

Chrissy

My Year in a Blog....

This is the end of one journey. Words cannot describe how I feel, a blend of emotions, sentiments, thoughts, and dreams pour out of me. My life has been forever changed by the time I've spent this last year. I've fallen in love with this place, I've met people whom I will love long after I've left. I have poured out and received so much. I have grown beyond measure, and I have learned who I am. A chapter of my life is coming to a close, and while it is sad, and it is hard, it is also exciting to think about all that is to come.

Marseille is a special and beautiful place. It is an ancient city, full of so many different kinds of people it would be impossible to count. There is art, architecture, history, science, and just plain beauty. This city has been my home for the past year, and while I sometimes struggled to embrace that, it has embraced me. I have met people that have encouraged and loved me when I needed it most. I have a family here, I made a home here. While many in Europe might think badly of this place, I think most highly of it, and I feel honored to have lived here even for a short time.

Most importantly I have received so much from the Lord in this year. He has grown me in so many ways. He has shown me so much of Himself, including how He loves me, and how He loves others. I have learned to see as He does, to listen to His voice, and the be unafraid to follow His instruction. He has given me strength to carry on when I didn't think I could. His love has given me hope and a purpose. He has guided me, and led me, and by His grace I have been able to follow. It is only in and through Him that I have not only been able to remain here, but to grow and flourish here. My heart has been completely captivated by Him, and I want nothing more than to continue serving Him, loving Him, and following Him for the rest of my life.

So in this holiday season, in this closing chapter, I need to say thank you. Thank you for your support and prayers. Thank you for every encouraging, kind word you have shared. Thank you for your love. Also take this time to be encouraged. The Lord can use any and every season to grow us, and often times we don't realize how much we've grown until we reach the end of it. Take difficult times to fall into His arms, to draw closer, and in the end you will see that you have grown exponentially. It's the hardest times that we grow the most. His desire is to know, and be known to us. Seek His face, draw closer.

Blessings, Love, and a Merry Christmas,

Chrissy