The ISI "Scoop"

Cooking Thai food that was amazing with my friends!

I would like to dedicate this entry to my friend Lisa Wilkison, who is very interested in hearing the "scoop" of how I finally decided to join ISI (for new comers, that's International Students Inc.).

If there is one thing in my life that I should have learned by now, its would be to" never say never". In high school I vehemently declared I would NEVER like math or science... I am a Dietitian and love science and get along great with algebra. After college I had a frustrating experience in a country called Ukraine, I said I would NEVER go back. Where did I go this summer again? oh, yeah... Ukraine. Just in the past year, my dad mentioned the possibility of me going on staff with ISI, to which I was set against and even declared I was not interested. I was going "overseas". I had big plans and aspirations to save the nutritionally underprivileged and to share the good news with them while I'm helping them nutritionally. I wanted the fun and adventure of immersing myself into another culture, learning another language, and adopting the native customs. So my plans were made... and I followed them.

I got a part time job so I would have some income and something to do while I was looking for ... well, something to do... for a long time, full time, for Jesus. I talked with several missions agencies, each one promising from the start, but lacking key ingredients for "Bethany's Perfect Job Mix". I wanted a team, a personal connection with the organization, and couldn't decide where to go; I love the world. I was in desperate need of international culture (i live in a corn field in Indiana). I started volunteering teaching English to mostly spouses of international students. I loved it. I also signed up to be a friend to an international student from Thailand. Through her I have met other students. I was able to use my nutrition education to help a woman who just had a baby. I enjoyed all of this, but still wasn't getting it. I was getting agitated. Why wasn't God moving? Let's back up a bit...

Back in Ukraine this past Summer, God was trying to teach me something. It was only one simple verse, Psalm 46:10 "Cease your striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heavens, I will be exalted in all the earth". I have a hard time being still. But the most important part of that verse, was that God does not need me! He does fine without me actually. God gave me a picture in my head of my parents farm as that verse played over and over in my head. I knew He wanted me at home for a while, but I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to "let God be God". I never let Him choose His perfect plan. I had my plans and they must be God's because why else would God give me these desires if not to fulfill them? hmm... (if this thought progression sounds familiar, it's ok.. your not weird). Lets go back to the main story line.

So, here I was, my independent nature flaring up in anger at my poor family. I finally decided, in October, to do something different and go to an ISI retreat in Ashville, N.C. with my Dad. I wanted to talk to those on staff to get a better idea how they made their decision regarding ministry. I still was not immensely fond of the idea of staying in the country. While at the retreat I met some great people who had a lot of great thoughts and ideas for me... all of which included recruiting me to ISI. Typical! Now what? In my personal prayers God revealed to me my fear of failure. My fear that He would not use me unless I used my degree in ministry and that right away. A fear that I would be wasting my degree and my 5 lovely years in school. He told me I was believing lies. I began the slow process of thinking about thinking about joining ISI. A light began to glimmer and grow steadily brighter. I would be getting paid to hang out with internationals from everywhere around the world, tell them about Jesus, lead Bible studies, teach them how to be healthy in America, teach them about American culture, teach ESL, give them rides, eat their yummy food, help them with any kind of acclamation to life here, .... sounds Amazing! I don't have to pick one area of the world. God will pick lots of countries for me. It really seemed too easy. I started second guessing. I suppose I still will at times. I am in the application process and covet your prayers!

oh, and one more thing. Part of the Campus Staff Job is visiting former students who have gone back to their country. God is Good. Need I say more? (Lisa, I hope this is enough detail for you).

Thanks

Thanksgiving was a time of family, friends, food, and more food. I am very thankful for all four! My sister Anna brought 2 friends home with her this year, Daniele and Daniela. We also had fun with Our Taiwanese and Chinese friends that helped us celebrate. Pictured above are my nieces, Mireil and Adaline playing with Daniele and Lance. Daniela had never seen snow before (she's from Columbia), so she had a great time with the first snow. It was hilarious to watch her take pictures of everything and try to make a "snowdoll" (her version of a snowman).

The day after T-Day marked the beginning of the Christmas tree season, with much wreath making and tree cutting. Gabe, my nephew, armed to the teeth with a saw is helping Grandpa and his dad cut up a tree for wreath greenery. Just don't let him carry the saw around the house. He might take after his Uncle and start cutting up random objects, scary!

Adaline and Mireil have big gloves on so they can help Grandma pick holly for the wreaths. They love helping on the Farm. This year I am helping to organize a Christmas party for International Students on December 14th. Its usually a great time to show them the traditional activities that surround the holiday, like decorating cookies, trees and wreaths, or even making gingerbread houses. We also share the origins of the Christmas story with them. We already have several signed up to come.

I am so thankful for the many learning processes that God has brought me through. (I can't believe I said that). As many of you know I am applying to work with ISI(International Students Inc). I just sent in my application and am awaiting the next step. I keep asking God to prepare my way, and that I will be obedient to His words with a willing and excited heart. I have begun to build a ministry at Purdue, but it could be that He wants me elsewhere. Please join me in prayer for continued guidance. Thanks so much!!

Fall Beauty

Fall has never been my favourite season because it has always symbolized death and dying right before winter. This fall has been different. I feel like I have had time to appreciate the colors, smells, and the events that bring people together. These two beautiful ladies above are friends that I have had the privilege of getting to know through Purdue and International Center programs. Pinthip (in purple) is from Thailand and in the Ph.D. Food Science program at Purdue. Laleh (her lab partner) is from Iran and sometimes attends my English conversation class. They are both kind and generous women. I am praying for them both and will invite them to my house for Thanksgiving.

Last weekend I took them to a bonfire/cookout hosted by a local West Lafayette church. It was held out in the woods by a creek. The fall colors were gorgeous and we all got to meet other International Students and their host families. Laleh got to experience S'mores for the first time. Its fun to watch people have fun with something as simple as toasting a marshmallow. I am praying about joining ISI, the organization my dad has been with since I was 11 yrs old. I love Int'l students and its such a great opportunity to reach out to them in our back yard while they are here studying. Pray with me for the people from all over the world that come to Purdue to study.

I am not a Country Bumpkin.

Despite what many of you may think since I moved to "Waynetown" Indiana/the middle of nowhere, I am not a country Bumpkin. I have tried to get into the farming way of life with gardening and digging trees with this painful contraption called, "the tree toad". I have tried to delight myself in the wonder of creation, so much so that I forget the future High fructose corn syrup fields surrounding me, or the smell of manure. It is beautiful, don't get me wrong. But my soul craves culture of another kind. Even just the simple international venues in Lafayette. I regularly see people from other cultures and am cultivating friendships with several of them. Even just the fact I can get sushi and Thai food there, instead of the local bar's special, "Rocky Mountain Oysters". I am pretty gutsy when it comes to trying new foods, but bulls testicles just don't even tempt me... call me crazy.

I enjoy the fresh fruits and veggies tremendously! I am very thankful for my parents willingness to take me in during this time of transition, but maybe it would be best just to visit. I knew the hardest part about the whole transition would be living here, w/ my family. I knew this.... and yet here I am, asking for it. God is preparing me for something unique and different. I wish He would hurry up and tell me. He is often not in the all fire hurry that I am. I want to learn so I can move on... literally! I feel like I have no purpose here. Ok, this has turned into a whining session. I'm sorry, I'm done.

Desert Full of Grain

Why are you hungry in a desert full of grain?
Why are you thirsty in the rain?
Be still and Know,
that I am God
Be still and Know,
that I am the Lord.
I will be exalted.
I will be high and lifted up.
No matter what you do,
no matter what you don't do,
I will be All, and that's all you need.

Your cup is running over,
your plate is piled high.
Look at my words and you will see
my fingers in your life.
Why are you hungry,
and why do you thirst?
Can't you see,
or are you blind?
Can't you hear, feel, and know,
know the truth?

Why are you hungry in a desert full of grain?
Why are you thirsty in the rain?
Be still!

A Step Back?

I just got a job last week working in a local coffee shop in Lafayette, IN. This job is the first job I have really enjoyed since working at the YMCA in high school :) I am currently volunteering at the International Center at Purdue, teaching an English class with my dad and another volunteer. The class starts next week. I will start to be busy once I am working 4-5days a week and teaching twice a week. I feel like I am taking a step back because of my current pay and living situation with the parents. I am praying that God would make it obvious what I need to do next. I have at least 5 different ideas bouncing around in my head at once. The hardest part is being still and listening to what God wants me to hear... not even what he wants me to do. I am at a loss. I don't know how to proceed. I have done all the website searching and "recruiter-talking" I want to do. He knows.

life

There seems to be an amazing trend in life.... its called "consistent inconsistency". Yes, its also called an oxymoron. My life is riddled with it. I have decided to take a pole amongst my peeps. This is a very important question.
Do you have any suggestions for me as far as what I should do or what mission organization to check into? Please comment or email me with any thoughts. I shall await them with the greatest anticipation.
I am up for just about anything. I am currently looking for a part time/full time job while I wait on the Lord. I mostly need to spend a lot of time in prayer. But I don't want my life style to become inactive.

I cry out to the Lord! What will you have me do? I am listening... help me to listen.