Blessings from Dreamland

Our local weatherman, Bill Meck, took this...the crocuses are
beginning to bloom!

Happy Sunday, all my friends!

My Cats! (Well, I guess this is actually a picture
I took of the cheerleaders, but you get the idea)
They beat the Tennessee Vols today
for their 2nd road game win.

Today has been the culmination of one of my most productive weeks on this path so far. I was able to Skype with one of my good friends, Lara, who is doing her semester of student teaching in sunny South Africa, as well as chat briefly to one of my Rostock teammates, Justin Sismey (see a link to his family's blog to the right). I was even fortunate enough to meet with a friend of mine for lunch to talk about the mission. In combination with getting some other "housekeeping" done, attending church this morning, seeing evidence of the beginning of Spring and watching the Cats beat the Vols, I am feeling really encouraged!

In essence, I have felt nothing but pure, blissful thankfulness towards God this week...I have been able to do so much with His help. To those of you who know me, you would agree when I say that I am an unorganized, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of personality. I am never really engaged in the details of life, and I often spend my time sort of piddling around, procrastinating until the absolute deadlines to accomplish things. But lately, God has put this desire in my heart to really get down to business...to get my stuff together and start becoming a self-motivated, time-managing, productive person. I am convinced that this is God's way of preparing me for the life of a missionary where the work is sort of, well, ambiguous. Where there's no corporate boss breathing down your neck pushing for certain tasks to be accomplished. Where I am working individually, but as part of a team, to build relationships with people and to build up the Kingdom of God through whatever means He chooses to use. Though there are certain quantitative ways to measure success, such as church attendance or weekly giving stats, most of it is unmeasurable and immeasurable works of the heart. So, I believe, God is leading me to develop skills that will aid in this.

I recently enjoyed doing something I never thought I would want to do...I bought an agenda. A little green book where I am scheduling my day, and on many days, I am scheduling it to the hour. And by golly if I haven't accomplished every stinkin' thing I put in there! Everything from emails and exercise to birthday parties and lunch box packing, it's in there. I suddenly feel like every task that comes my way is accomplishable. I end my days exhausted, but rewarded in knowing that I am that much closer to making my dream of missions come true. Quick, slightly disturbing fact: I sat down to watch TV to unwind this week, and I found it a waste of time. I turned it off. WHOA.

The agenda. What a week!

But above and beyond it all, the blessing that has brought me to the point of tears several times this week is how many friends and family members have come forward and expressed their desire to support me in this work. It is natural to fear this daunting process that I have begun, especially with the knowledge that you are entirely at the mercy of God and the kindness of those around you. Very little can be as faith-building as relying on that, especially in this American culture where we are taught to be in control of every aspect of our lives in order to be successful. And here is the news, if I can hold the tears back long enough to type it...

In the past week, I have had 4 people/families pledge to support me for a total of $400 per month! That is nearly 10% of my budget in...if I may remind you..just 7 days!!

This weekend, I attended a retreat for the Alpha course I am currently a table leader for. There came a point where it was time to pray for each other regarding whatever matter was most important, and when it was my turn, I literally went through everything that has been going on in my life, and had nothing I wanted to ask God for...my heart was practically bursting at the seams with all my gratefulness and thanks. I asked the group, "Would you just help me to praise God?"

If I ever needed confirmation that I am headed in the direction that God wishes me to go in, this week has been it. I have never worked harder, felt more blessed, been more excited or felt more joyous than I am in this very moment! To all those out there praying for me and this stage of my life...Thank you and please don't stop! It's working! To all those that are out there reading this blog...God is real. :)

If you want to help and join in this ministry that God has called me to do, please:

• Continue reading this blog and praying for me, this mission and for the church in Rostock.
• Send me an email here or leave a comment with your prayer requests so that I may be sharing in the blessings that God is giving me. :)
• Prayerfully consider supporting me! Although I have experienced so many blessings of success this week, I still have a ways to go, and I can't do it without your help!

Here are ways that you can give (all donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt):

1. Send your checks made out to ECMI-USA with a separate note with my name, Alison Settle on it to this address:            ECMI-USA
                        PO Box 181
                  West Unity, OH 43570

2. Click here, specify me, Alison Settle, and you can donate through your amazon.com account.

3. Or for monthly donations via electronic transfer, send a request by email to rebekah.burkholder@ecmi.org

Many blessings and thanks to all of you for joining me on this journey. Keep reading! :)

Love,

Alison