Dobar Dan

waddd up Serbian language! Dobra Dan means "good day!" So good day everyone! It is nearly midnight my time currently as I write this but the city is still thriving..many people stay up and walk around and enjoy the nightlife. My partner and I actually got back an hour ago from walking from our apartment to the beach. Seriously, this late and two girls?! why yes! :) It is extremely common and safe (even though police are not visible hardly anywhere). But here is a recap to catch you up on life thus far:

I left Jackson to Charlotte--which was emotional..and those that know me know that I do not like to be emotional at all..and especially in public. I was sad to leave my momma and papa and Brennan for such a long time and a long distance but supa stoked on how God was going to work in and through me. I easily met up with my partner in Charlotte and we enjoyed some BBQ for lunch before our 8 hour journey to Munich. ahhhhh as a history major I was thinking of all the wars and historical events that have happened in Europe. and I decided to read through Hebrews since it mentions faith a lot and that I would need faith in the pilots to know what they were doing and God to keep us safe. That was a blessing in itself to read of his faithfulness!!! The pilot was very charismatic and nice...i believe i saw him in the wee hours of the morning help serving the passengers. Supper was good, movies were good, sleeping--not so much. I had 2 lightsleep hours and my partner had none--brave soul!
I got to see God's beautiful splendor with the sunset, the sunrise, and flying over all of the Atlantic and European continent!!! I could not help but to praise Him! If you know an unbeliever--buy them a plane ticket and allow them to see His heavenly greatness.
We landed in Munich and waited 4 glorious hours for our last flight..it was bright and cheerful outside yet it was only early in the morning. My brain was confused to say the least!
Thus, we landed in Belgrade (the American name) or Beograd (the Serbian name) and saw our friends--and had all our luggage!!! awesome blessing!

Sorry its long but i'm 7 hours ahead so i have tons of info streaming through my wee brain.

We left the airport and immediately saw the Serbians FANTASTIC driving skills! not! It is crazy!! No speeding limits, no caution for other drivers, nothing! But our hour drive allowed us to get to know our Brother and Sister. We first off went to the mercator (market) and got some basic food and living supplies. Then, we got to see and settle into our sweet apartment. Such a blessing! After that we fellowshiped and ate with other friends and we ATE! all of them are from the south, so we feasted on some lamb and beef logs (good--first time eating lamb) and a southeastern Europe dish that involves cucumbers, tomatoes, and cheese along with desserts.
Twelve hours of sleep later to recuperate from jet lag and I was ready to go to what I am finishing today for me. We were very relaxed in schedule to accustom to everything. We visited the piazza--great prices for fresh fruits and veggies. Like a kilo of them is 150 dinar which equals around $2. shazam! Then we rested, went around the town center and acted all touristy, and ate a delicious dinner! And here I am...way of life here is more relaxed yet crazy..but awesome.

 Soo many opportunities to be an example of God's love. Please be in prayer for my partner, our friends here, and myself that we maintain focus and direct on why we are here, for our language to pick up (I know a few words like thank you, excuse me, hello  and bye, and good day.), for us to be a refreshment and encouragement for our friends, and to edify the Fellowship already here.

Extremely terrible it is long--but you are now caught up to my day which is now your day :) Thank your for all your support and love. Chau!

first blog post ever.

I have always enjoyed the thought of blogging and admired those that write and read blogs; yet, I had never caught on to the whole blogging concept..until now. I have seen people use it as way to express feelings to an unknown mass of people but also as an opportunity to allow family and friends to follow one as they travel or go off to do missions. The latter is why I have joined the vast blogging community.

This whole summer I will be venturing off to Southeastern Europe to be the Hands and Feet of God to a dark and ritualistic world. I cannot express to you how excited I am to be given this opportunity..yes, one might say--why not come here and stay in the US?--that is a logical question but this people group [Roma] I hope to encounter and minister to has been a burden on my heart for nearly four years when I first heard about them at Fuge.

(sorry, for the randomness--but that is how my brain operates)

You might be wondering how I came up with a weird title---so I'll tell you.

James 4:14 "You don't even know what tomorrow will bring-what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes."  While a stranger to the Good News might think that verse is insane, I find complete comfort in it. My 20 years of life has had some rough and smooth parts but compared to eternity, it is nothing! My life that I sometimes consider boring or hard or joyful is like snapping your fingers. The 'bit of smoke' in the verse is translated as a 'mist'..hence the title of the blog..a mist of a life.  When considering the two months that I will be gone--who knows what I'll be doing, who(m) I'll be coming into contact with, or when this body of mine flies Home? My God knows the answer to each of these questions. Each of them have troubled me in this process since I loveeee to plan everything out. However, I must daily deny and carry the cross and forget about these meaningless issues. God continued to comfort me when He spoke through a Sister: Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Give it all away and His peace while be the best comfort possible. In this mist of a life, I cannot fret over these small things but be concerned with the bigger picture that has been set in front me: the eternal life of these Southeastern Europeans.

So please be in prayer for my summer partner, Bethany, and I as we join the family already there and the people we will be serving to have an open heart.

Sorry it was long..hopefully the rest will be short and sweet and filled with stories of God is working over there.