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Smilin_Kate
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State: Illinois
Metro: Chicago
Interests: Living an unashamed life for Christ. Missions. Traveling. Photography. Sports—Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Ice Skating. Dreaming. Shooting air pistols (this is not done in my dreams, no worries!). Music—Fiddle, Piano, and Vocal.
Expertise: Working on that one... ;-)
Occupation: In the process of being define
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/20/2006
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| As I write this, I'm sitting here in what I fondly have called "my" apt. of the last 4 years... in a place to which I have become rather accustomed to the idiosyncrasies it holds. Tomorrow morning as I pack up the last of my belongings and journey back home, I will never forget the moment I first stepped onto HQ property many years ago... and then coming back to serve on staff years later... and then this day, as I leave it, and begin down a new path. A path that is still so unclear, so mystical, and yet, so intriguing that I can't wait to begin. Though, I'll be honest, I sat down down today, completely exhausted at putting on a front of an "it's ok" attitude - when all I want to do is run from it all, find a place to hide, and sob my heart out. All this change IS good, but it's not easy to stare it in the face, and continue on as if it's all normal. While sitting down, at the end of myself, that is when He is able to bring me back up, and fulfill Himself through me. That is the exact point He wants me to be. It is only at that point when He can truly work in each of our lives. How assuring it is to know that Elohim, the Creator of the Universe, has already walked this path before, setting it straight, determining each curve, bump, and victory for me to become the person whom He intends in the end. Breathe in, breathe out, and press on! :)
Onward ho. . . home I go!
PS. The new face in the family is my brother-in-law (yikes!), which, because it's still so new, I don't even have a picture of him & Beth at the wedding yet. You can check out www.xanga.com/hqshutterbug for some images from the wedding! Congratulations Beth & Dwight!!!
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This 21 year old guy, Boogii, is one of a kind. Wow. If only he was a
tad older... :). He's currently in his second year at Bible College,
and training to be a pastor or missionary. He is solid in his
relationship with Jesus Christ, and is not afraid to share Him with
anyone. Although he doesn't speak English fluently, that wasn't a
hinderance in our communication over the summer, and by the end of the
two months, he was fairly confident in his English vocabulary. If only
I could pick up Mongolian that quickly. :\ Even though he isn't the
oldest of the "Mustangs," he definitely shoulders much of the
responsibility, and looks out for the others. He is a natural born
leader, and has great potential!
Don't be completely deceived by his angelic look though - I found out,
he can be quite the mischievous one. I lost count of how many buckets
of water were dumped on me while I was trying to nap on a table... or
how long I was held down in death grip with the hose spraying full
speed on me... argh. I must say, I also lost count
how many times he was up early in the morning or late at night making
sure our water tank was full, so running water wouldn't be an issue in
the kitchen. Or when the pump was broken, how many pails of water he
fetched for us in the kitchen. Don't even attempt to beat him in an
eating contest... or a game of mongolian cards... or a food chopping
contest... or... you get it. He always won. He knew what needed to be
done, and he did whatever he needed, to make it happen. When we ran out
of rice & sugar in the kitchen and had no money to purchase more,
he was the one who got us some. (I'm not sure from where or how... but
he got us some! We didn't ask q's.) He made me a gift one day (that
alone should have raised my suspicion!) because that is just the kind
of guy he is... boy was I in for a surprise! I'll let the picture
describe it. :)
See what I had to put up with. :)
Boogii was one of the three guys that came with us to the Gobi desert
to be our bodyguards/translators. During the trip, we had a day in UB
for the guys to take us around to all their favorite spots in the city.
While we were walking around, we came upon some street children, one of
which was wearing some pants that were just too big for him, and he
didn't have a belt. It made me cry just watching how the guys
interacted with them, and how Boogii gently pulled the little boys
pants up, and quietly said something to him, in which the boy responded
with a small smile. These guys know what life is like for them. It
wasn't long ago, (just over six years ago when the first boy was
brought into the ministry) that they were living in the exact same
place, and under the very same conditions those little boys live - out
on the street.
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Isn't it amazing what God can do when we place ourselves on His timetable, and ready to do anything that He desires?
Leading up to my great summer adventure, I had wrestled within my heart 2 other plans which though they would have been neat experiences, He still hadn't given me the peace to pursue them. I knew that they needed to be let go and placed at His feet. It wasn't but a few days later, and a good friend (Leah!) called me and asked if I would consider spending my summer with her in Mongolia, cooking. Inwardly I laughed. Me + Cooking + Mongolia=??? !!! Hah. Very funny God. Not quite sure what to say... I told her I'd get back with her. As I sought the Lord's direction, a verse caught my eye. (Hence the previous post months ago...!) Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." That was all I needed. With that as my confirmation from God, I stepped out in faith, and spent the following Jun-Aug in Mongolia!
The time spent with many of the orphans brought in by the ministry I was serving with, was the best part of my summer. No words could ever even begin to describe the joy that ministering to and serving alongside these kids brought to my heart. The burden & passion within me for orphaned and street children which I've had for as long as I can remember has only grown even stronger since this past summer!!! God is so good to allow me the privilege to not only serve alongside Leah, but some really awesome guys who had been orphaned either by circumstances, or rejection from their parents, and were saved from the life they knew on the streets through the ministry "LifeQwest." God has done an incredible work in each of their lives (and mine!–I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about!), and I believe He will continue to do so as they seek Him.
Thank you all "very so much" for your prayers this summer, and remember, God is faithful – always!
Bi chamd khairtai!
~Natasha
(the Mongolians were told a Russian, named Natasha was coming to help Leah for the summer... so therefore I became known as Natasha... and knowing some Russian words helped too. ;)
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God is faithful, and His way is perfect. Always.
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." -Proverbs 16:9 ESV
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Enjoy winter while it is still here – it'll be gone before you can say p-o-p-s-i-c-l-e! :)
(especially if your lips get frozen in the process!) :)
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