So...
I lost my cell phone on a bus last week...
A little frustrating when I first realized what had happened, not gonna lie.
I went through this whole "lost and found" Christian analogy lesson in my head, ya know, trying to smooth away all the angry feelings and let even this be an occasion for joy. LOL... right. Went through all the excuses in my head - oh, it's okay, it was a fairly cheap phone anyway... ah, but I liked my cheap, simple phone... ah man, I lost all my messages and contact info... ah shucks, do I really need to pay for a new one... hey, I can't get ahold of anyone tonight, I literally know no one's number but my own... hey... it's actually kind of nice for once to be out of such close contact with everyone who may "need to get ahold of me."
Soooo... the next day, God sent an encouragement my way - a HUGE, unexpected, overflowing care package from some dear friends of mine. Wow... what a blessing. And with the card, there was a check for exactly the cost of the phone I had lost... whoa. Okay God, tears... yup, the tears of joy, let them overflow.
And then... the search for a new phone. I was quite excited when I realized that at least I would be able to keep my same number so I don't have to tell everyone else a new number! And then I relentlessly tugged away at my "tight, Dutch" nature, and decided to splurge a bit on a "pretty" nice phone since I haven't bought anything for myself in awhile, and a few friends told me with their gifts that I should do exactly that at some point while I was here. Sooooo... I got a new phone - and it's a "jewel." Literally... the Motorola Jewel. pretty cool. :) And the best part was - I got to make another new friend - the girl who worked at the COSMOTE shop. She helped me for a long time that night, explaining things about how the phone system works that I hadn't understood so clearly before. And after that, I told her to enter her name into my phone as my first new contact... :) Her name was Natassa - the same name as one of my other really, really great friends here in Greece! It made me smile, really big. Thanks for another fun relationship that I could start with another beautiful Greek girl.
Okay God, thanks for greatly redeemed a mildly frustrating situation. :)
And then today when I heard of how a friend of the ministry's house got broken into last night - and so many things stolen - like a new laptop, camera, money, etc... I thought to myself, whoa... and I just had to deal with the very minor stress of losing a cell phone. What can I say to encourage this family? I could think of nothing except how surely I know that God somehow redeems every single minor or major frustrating, awful, evil, upsetting situation in this world for good and for his glory. I pray that this family will somehow be comforted by that powerful truth.
Monday, April 27, 2009
People...
I love people...
I love talking to people...
I love understanding people...
I love Greek people...
I LOVE my Greek neighbors -
Anna and her elderly mom - across the street on the opposite 4th floor balcony...
George and Ritsa - my neighbors next door in my apartment...
I love laughing with them as we stutter through broken phrases, a few words here and there in both English and Greek... trying to understand one another... aaaaahahaha...
I love it... but oh... it can be frustrating because, like I said...
I love people...
I love talking to people...
I love understanding people...
I want to understand Greek... NOW...
So I can TALK to these people...
and understand all people speaking GREEK to me...
AH!!...
patience Meg, patience...
For now...
At least...
I really love smiling at people... :)
(And I think smiles are worth a thousand words...)
I love talking to people...
I love understanding people...
I love Greek people...
I LOVE my Greek neighbors -
Anna and her elderly mom - across the street on the opposite 4th floor balcony...
George and Ritsa - my neighbors next door in my apartment...
I love laughing with them as we stutter through broken phrases, a few words here and there in both English and Greek... trying to understand one another... aaaaahahaha...
I love it... but oh... it can be frustrating because, like I said...
I love people...
I love talking to people...
I love understanding people...
I want to understand Greek... NOW...
So I can TALK to these people...
and understand all people speaking GREEK to me...
AH!!...
patience Meg, patience...
For now...
At least...
I really love smiling at people... :)
(And I think smiles are worth a thousand words...)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Turkey, Wedding, Germany...
What do these three things have in common?...
Hehe, well nothing much except that I will have gone to all three of them in less than three weeks! :)
Here's the e-mail I just sent to my supporters. I just painfully realized my e-mail lists aren't even completely up to date anymore, so I haven't been sending to all of the contacts I want to, oops... Oh well, it will be okay. I don't need to let this sharing of the blessings God has poured out in my life become a burden or a stress. And as soon as it gets to that point, I need to immediately stop what I'm doing and re-focus my main goal - to bring glory to God in absolutely everything! :)
So anyhoo, like I was saying... here's that e-mail I sent. Enjoy! :)
Hi friends,
I just wanted to say a quick thanks for praying for me as I made a trip to Turkey last week. It was a wonderfully blessed time of encouraging the missionaries we stayed with while we were there. I wish I had time to share more details with you, but I'm actually preparing to go on another trip to Germany in the next couple of hours... I will be going to the Mission-Net conference to promote our Operation Joshua vision and Hellenic Ministries in general. It should be a blast! Visit http://www.mission-net.org to find out more about it.
Right after I get back from that I will be going straight to the Hellenic Ministries campsite property, Porto Astro, where we will have a family conference, sharing our stories of God's faithfulness in our lives through the year, and just truly enjoying the fellowship of our amazing staff. I'm super excited for it. We each wrote up a year in review report. A lot of mine is information that I have already shared with you, but I thought I'd attach it and copy the report for you anyway. :) Enjoy!
The picture I've attached was taken after I went to a wedding this past weekend (right after I got back from Turkey!). It was a truly blessed celebration of perfect love - 1 John 3:16... there is no greater love than this - that you lay down your life for your brothers. The Gospel was shared and beautiful music was sung. I was so blessed to be there... my first "big fat" Greek wedding, hehe. After the wedding, my Greek friends went and hung out at a great cafe and had yummy drinks and desserts.
The next day we went to church together, had lunch, and then... they asked me to go bowling with them. I still hadn't been home yet to change out of the dress I wore to the wedding. But I absolutely cannot say no to bowling.. sooo... yes, I went. And I was the bowling queen, hehe. I totally beat everyone...even though it was my first time bowling in a dress, lol! (You must share this with Grandma & Grandpa DJ, Mom & Dad... it's all because of the great practice we've had all these years every thanksgiving!!)
Anyway, I really must go for now. May you be blessed to be a blessing this week. And make sure you share this e-mail with anyone and everyone who may be interested... and share their e-mail with me so I can add them to my list!! :)
Until I have the opportunity to share more of God's blessings with you...
Meggan
**And here's my report, copy/pasted...
“Where are you leading me, Lord? I want to follow. Help me to be obedient!”
I have been blessed to be a blessing…
…just like God blessed Abraham to be a blessing to the nations. Through countless opportunities and experiences, I have been able to learn and grow and let the blessings overflow to everyone I meet! I have also been loved so deeply by God and wonderful family and friends that I feel especially empowered to share that amazing love with others. And I have been invited into an amazing adventure of living life to the fullest through the grace and hope I have in Christ, and I want to spend my life spreading that invitation to the ends of the earth!
Last year at this time…
…I was preparing to graduate from college with a double major in Music Ministry and Christian Education Ministry, and I was constantly coming up with new ideas for what God and I might do together next! Random options ranged from being a princess at Disney World, to traveling the world writing travel guide books, to staying right in Iowa working at a Christian college or as a youth leader, missions coordinator, and/or worship leader at a church. I told everyone that it did not matter where I went or what I did, because I would have a “missionary” focus wherever I lived. It was just a matter of discerning where my passions intersected with the needs God kept on my heart.
So I applied for a job at my college…
…that everyone told me I would be perfect for. While I was trying to make my plans work together, God decided to throw in a spectacular twist. All of the sudden, the dream I thought I had always wanted was being offered to me on a silver platter, but I did not feel any peace about it. This created perfect timing for God to give me a glimpse of the plans he wanted to lead me towards for my future.
The day before I flew to Greece to start a summer of ministry with HM…
…I heard the news that they offered the college job I had applied for to someone else.
The next day I arrived at the Athens airport…
…and heard the news about the trip to China. I am not sure what Johnathan thought when I raised my hand to say, “Yeah, sure, my plans have changed recently; I’ll go to China with you…” But a few weeks later when I reminded him of my call to go, he immediately put me on the phone with Sarah Wheway who helped me settle all of the practical details for joining the team! I am still in awe of the Lord’s guiding hand through it all. What a privilege it was to serve and worship with the OG3 team, following an already amazing summer at the sports camps and Operation Joshua.
As I cried out to God…
…that he would give me the eyes and ears to sense his leading, and the strength and courage to follow, I can testify excitedly that he answered my prayer! As I continued to cry out to the Lord about the next step to take after our summer adventure together, I had no question about the direction he was giving me the peace and assurance to follow. I was praying for less attachment to my possessions and comforts and more reliance on God alone for my every need. I was praying for God to help me follow him with abandon – to trust him more with each and every life decision, big or small. I was praying for a place to use my gifts and passions. I was praying for clarity in the BEST ways to encourage my friends and family with what God was doing in my life... and basically I had no other option but to follow the Lord calling me to share my story, raise support, and move to Greece.
And after four months of tremendous blessing and provision through my friends and family in Iowa, I returned to Greece on January 16, 2009, to live and love with joy.
So I continue to pray…
…because prayer isn’t just for the greatest work… it IS the greatest work, drawing me into an ever more intimate relationship with my Creator, Lord, and King. My Father, Savior, Friend… :)
I pray for…
…FOCUS on THE goal - running after Jesus Christ with all of my heart, soul, might, and strength... for I am NOTHING without you, God. Lord, I need you near me, and I thank you for your presence that I feel amongst my brothers and sisters at our family staff meetings, and I thank you that we are united together through our individually seeking you first.
I pray…
…that I will be in TUNE to the Holy Spirit's leading. It is so annoying when an instrument in the band is out of tune with the others... so Lord, keep me united with your Spirit, empowering me with the courage to add my part to the glorious harmonies of the beautiful redemption symphony you are composing in this world. :) Thanks for those moments your Spirit has led me to share a special song in these last few months, and thanks for clarity for which Greek church family to invest my time with.
I pray for…
…connections and relationships. I have already had the chance to catch up with many friends that I made last summer, and I have also made SO MANY new friends through the Bible school, HM ministry events, visiting various church congregations, and taking advantage of opportunities like Mission Konnect. I am very excited to get to know more of the HM “BASIC” extended family. :) And I want more and more and more of this, God... Thanks for making me such a relational person! :)
I pray…
…that God will continue to keep me filled up to overflowing with his joy, peace, and love, empowering me to pierce the darkness of this world with the light of Christ.
I expect…
…to be a blessing and encouragement. After arriving once again at the Athens airport this January, my buddy, Janet, picked me up, and on the car ride down to my new home, she asked me what my expectations were for my time in Greece. I said, “To be an encouragement – that is my only expectation.“ As our OG3 team “archerers” (inside joke) theme verse says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as In fact you are doing.” (1 Thess 5:11).
And I am filled…
…with a huge sense of passion for the Operation Joshua vision that I get to spend the majority of my time working with according to my role in our HM family. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
There is so much more I wish I could say…
…but I feel helpless to share the massive list of things I have been praising God for since my arrival – because once you start seeing Jesus all around you, it is quite hard to stop. So for me who likes to record every special moment, I grieve the thought of forgetting something. But then I remember, God knows - he is writing my redemption story and using my voice in his redemption song. I am so excited to see the next chapter and sing the next chorus as I continue to surrender all of my plans, hopes, and dreams into the hands of the One who blows my petty, tiny, puny visions out of the water… and I hope that it includes me staying here and working with you all as long as possible!
Hehe, well nothing much except that I will have gone to all three of them in less than three weeks! :)
Here's the e-mail I just sent to my supporters. I just painfully realized my e-mail lists aren't even completely up to date anymore, so I haven't been sending to all of the contacts I want to, oops... Oh well, it will be okay. I don't need to let this sharing of the blessings God has poured out in my life become a burden or a stress. And as soon as it gets to that point, I need to immediately stop what I'm doing and re-focus my main goal - to bring glory to God in absolutely everything! :)
So anyhoo, like I was saying... here's that e-mail I sent. Enjoy! :)
Hi friends,
I just wanted to say a quick thanks for praying for me as I made a trip to Turkey last week. It was a wonderfully blessed time of encouraging the missionaries we stayed with while we were there. I wish I had time to share more details with you, but I'm actually preparing to go on another trip to Germany in the next couple of hours... I will be going to the Mission-Net conference to promote our Operation Joshua vision and Hellenic Ministries in general. It should be a blast! Visit http://www.mission-net.org to find out more about it.
Right after I get back from that I will be going straight to the Hellenic Ministries campsite property, Porto Astro, where we will have a family conference, sharing our stories of God's faithfulness in our lives through the year, and just truly enjoying the fellowship of our amazing staff. I'm super excited for it. We each wrote up a year in review report. A lot of mine is information that I have already shared with you, but I thought I'd attach it and copy the report for you anyway. :) Enjoy!
The picture I've attached was taken after I went to a wedding this past weekend (right after I got back from Turkey!). It was a truly blessed celebration of perfect love - 1 John 3:16... there is no greater love than this - that you lay down your life for your brothers. The Gospel was shared and beautiful music was sung. I was so blessed to be there... my first "big fat" Greek wedding, hehe. After the wedding, my Greek friends went and hung out at a great cafe and had yummy drinks and desserts. 
The next day we went to church together, had lunch, and then... they asked me to go bowling with them. I still hadn't been home yet to change out of the dress I wore to the wedding. But I absolutely cannot say no to bowling.. sooo... yes, I went. And I was the bowling queen, hehe. I totally beat everyone...even though it was my first time bowling in a dress, lol! (You must share this with Grandma & Grandpa DJ, Mom & Dad... it's all because of the great practice we've had all these years every thanksgiving!!)Anyway, I really must go for now. May you be blessed to be a blessing this week. And make sure you share this e-mail with anyone and everyone who may be interested... and share their e-mail with me so I can add them to my list!! :)
Until I have the opportunity to share more of God's blessings with you...
Meggan
**And here's my report, copy/pasted...
“Where are you leading me, Lord? I want to follow. Help me to be obedient!”
I have been blessed to be a blessing…
…just like God blessed Abraham to be a blessing to the nations. Through countless opportunities and experiences, I have been able to learn and grow and let the blessings overflow to everyone I meet! I have also been loved so deeply by God and wonderful family and friends that I feel especially empowered to share that amazing love with others. And I have been invited into an amazing adventure of living life to the fullest through the grace and hope I have in Christ, and I want to spend my life spreading that invitation to the ends of the earth!
Last year at this time…
…I was preparing to graduate from college with a double major in Music Ministry and Christian Education Ministry, and I was constantly coming up with new ideas for what God and I might do together next! Random options ranged from being a princess at Disney World, to traveling the world writing travel guide books, to staying right in Iowa working at a Christian college or as a youth leader, missions coordinator, and/or worship leader at a church. I told everyone that it did not matter where I went or what I did, because I would have a “missionary” focus wherever I lived. It was just a matter of discerning where my passions intersected with the needs God kept on my heart.
So I applied for a job at my college…
…that everyone told me I would be perfect for. While I was trying to make my plans work together, God decided to throw in a spectacular twist. All of the sudden, the dream I thought I had always wanted was being offered to me on a silver platter, but I did not feel any peace about it. This created perfect timing for God to give me a glimpse of the plans he wanted to lead me towards for my future.
The day before I flew to Greece to start a summer of ministry with HM…
…I heard the news that they offered the college job I had applied for to someone else.
The next day I arrived at the Athens airport…
…and heard the news about the trip to China. I am not sure what Johnathan thought when I raised my hand to say, “Yeah, sure, my plans have changed recently; I’ll go to China with you…” But a few weeks later when I reminded him of my call to go, he immediately put me on the phone with Sarah Wheway who helped me settle all of the practical details for joining the team! I am still in awe of the Lord’s guiding hand through it all. What a privilege it was to serve and worship with the OG3 team, following an already amazing summer at the sports camps and Operation Joshua.
As I cried out to God…
…that he would give me the eyes and ears to sense his leading, and the strength and courage to follow, I can testify excitedly that he answered my prayer! As I continued to cry out to the Lord about the next step to take after our summer adventure together, I had no question about the direction he was giving me the peace and assurance to follow. I was praying for less attachment to my possessions and comforts and more reliance on God alone for my every need. I was praying for God to help me follow him with abandon – to trust him more with each and every life decision, big or small. I was praying for a place to use my gifts and passions. I was praying for clarity in the BEST ways to encourage my friends and family with what God was doing in my life... and basically I had no other option but to follow the Lord calling me to share my story, raise support, and move to Greece.
And after four months of tremendous blessing and provision through my friends and family in Iowa, I returned to Greece on January 16, 2009, to live and love with joy.
So I continue to pray…
…because prayer isn’t just for the greatest work… it IS the greatest work, drawing me into an ever more intimate relationship with my Creator, Lord, and King. My Father, Savior, Friend… :)
I pray for…
…FOCUS on THE goal - running after Jesus Christ with all of my heart, soul, might, and strength... for I am NOTHING without you, God. Lord, I need you near me, and I thank you for your presence that I feel amongst my brothers and sisters at our family staff meetings, and I thank you that we are united together through our individually seeking you first.
I pray…
…that I will be in TUNE to the Holy Spirit's leading. It is so annoying when an instrument in the band is out of tune with the others... so Lord, keep me united with your Spirit, empowering me with the courage to add my part to the glorious harmonies of the beautiful redemption symphony you are composing in this world. :) Thanks for those moments your Spirit has led me to share a special song in these last few months, and thanks for clarity for which Greek church family to invest my time with.
I pray for…
…connections and relationships. I have already had the chance to catch up with many friends that I made last summer, and I have also made SO MANY new friends through the Bible school, HM ministry events, visiting various church congregations, and taking advantage of opportunities like Mission Konnect. I am very excited to get to know more of the HM “BASIC” extended family. :) And I want more and more and more of this, God... Thanks for making me such a relational person! :)
I pray…
…that God will continue to keep me filled up to overflowing with his joy, peace, and love, empowering me to pierce the darkness of this world with the light of Christ.
I expect…
…to be a blessing and encouragement. After arriving once again at the Athens airport this January, my buddy, Janet, picked me up, and on the car ride down to my new home, she asked me what my expectations were for my time in Greece. I said, “To be an encouragement – that is my only expectation.“ As our OG3 team “archerers” (inside joke) theme verse says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as In fact you are doing.” (1 Thess 5:11).
And I am filled…
…with a huge sense of passion for the Operation Joshua vision that I get to spend the majority of my time working with according to my role in our HM family. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
There is so much more I wish I could say…
…but I feel helpless to share the massive list of things I have been praising God for since my arrival – because once you start seeing Jesus all around you, it is quite hard to stop. So for me who likes to record every special moment, I grieve the thought of forgetting something. But then I remember, God knows - he is writing my redemption story and using my voice in his redemption song. I am so excited to see the next chapter and sing the next chorus as I continue to surrender all of my plans, hopes, and dreams into the hands of the One who blows my petty, tiny, puny visions out of the water… and I hope that it includes me staying here and working with you all as long as possible!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My "brief" biography
So... for the North American Hellenic Ministries board (NACOM) meeting a few weeks ago, each of the missionaries here was supposed to write up a quick little biography description with our prayer requests so that the board members would know us better (especially since there have been so many of us that are new!), and how best they could be praying for us. Like I just posted, I can definitely feel those prayers being answered! But anyway, I thought I would expose my dorky self by showing you the process I went through to cut my "brief" bio down as small as possible so that it wouldn't be drastically longer than everyone else's. Oh, the crazyness of being such a passionate creative writer... haha. So, are you ready for a good laugh? Let me copy and paste the various drafts for you... (I'll mostly just post the "background" section.. because that is what I modified the most times... the rest was pretty much the straight forward format that everyone followed): (And if you're bored and truly don't care... please feel free to just skip below to the final product!):
Background: I am the oldest of three in a close-knit Christian family. I have lived in two small town, Dutch communities, and I am thankful for the long-term relationships these places naturally cultivate to make me feel known, loved, and encouraged. God gave me a clear calling to ministry in high school, and the opportunities to lead worship and plan church/mission events haven't stopped since. In 2008, the summer after I graduated from college, I connected with HM as a member of the Pioneers Edge team. I helped with the sports camps, OJ, and even a "last minute call" to OG3, China. In January 2009, I moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Background (choppier...): Oldest of three in a close-knit Christian family. Thankful to feel known, loved, and encouraged through long-term relationships cultivated in the two small town, Dutch communities I have lived in. Since receiving a clear calling to ministry in high school, opportunities for me to lead worship and plan church/mission events keep arising. Summer 2008 - Pioneers Edge team member. In addition to helping with the sports camps and OJ, I followed the call to OG3, China. January 2009 - moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Meggan De Jong
From: Sully, Iowa, USA
Training: BA in Music Ministry & Christian Ed. Ministry from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family. Thankful to feel known, loved, and encouraged as part of the two small town, Dutch communities I have lived in. After call to ministry in high school, have had continuous opportunities to lead worship and plan church/mission events. Summer 2008 - Pioneers Edger. Helped with sports camps, OJ, and followed the call to OG3, China. January 2009 - moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Current Prayers: Connections & relationships, Focus on THE goal, In tune to the Holy Spirit’s leading, Filled to overflowing with the love, joy & peace of Christ
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family with small town community roots. Lots of opportunities to lead worship & plan church/mission events. Connected with HM the summer of 2008 to help with camps and Operation Joshua, and then went to China for OG3. In January 2009, came back to Greece to serve long term with HM.
And the winner is... duhn, duhn, duh...
Meggan De Jong
From: Sully, Iowa, USA
Training: Music Ministry & Christian Ed. Ministry - NW College, Orange City, Iowa
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family with small town community roots. Lots of opportunities to lead worship & plan church/mission events. Connected with HM to help with camps and Joshua, Summer ’08. Went to China for OG3. Back to Greece to serve long term with HM, January ‘09.
Current Prayers: Focus on THE goal; Connections & relationships; In tune to the Holy Spirit’s leading; Filled to overflowing with the love, joy & peace of Christ
Okay, yes, that was the final one, I promise. Commence laughing NOW! ;)
Background: I am the oldest of three in a close-knit Christian family. I have lived in two small town, Dutch communities, and I am thankful for the long-term relationships these places naturally cultivate to make me feel known, loved, and encouraged. God gave me a clear calling to ministry in high school, and the opportunities to lead worship and plan church/mission events haven't stopped since. In 2008, the summer after I graduated from college, I connected with HM as a member of the Pioneers Edge team. I helped with the sports camps, OJ, and even a "last minute call" to OG3, China. In January 2009, I moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Background (choppier...): Oldest of three in a close-knit Christian family. Thankful to feel known, loved, and encouraged through long-term relationships cultivated in the two small town, Dutch communities I have lived in. Since receiving a clear calling to ministry in high school, opportunities for me to lead worship and plan church/mission events keep arising. Summer 2008 - Pioneers Edge team member. In addition to helping with the sports camps and OJ, I followed the call to OG3, China. January 2009 - moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Meggan De Jong
From: Sully, Iowa, USA
Training: BA in Music Ministry & Christian Ed. Ministry from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family. Thankful to feel known, loved, and encouraged as part of the two small town, Dutch communities I have lived in. After call to ministry in high school, have had continuous opportunities to lead worship and plan church/mission events. Summer 2008 - Pioneers Edger. Helped with sports camps, OJ, and followed the call to OG3, China. January 2009 - moved to Greece to serve with HM for as long as God allows.
Current Prayers: Connections & relationships, Focus on THE goal, In tune to the Holy Spirit’s leading, Filled to overflowing with the love, joy & peace of Christ
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family with small town community roots. Lots of opportunities to lead worship & plan church/mission events. Connected with HM the summer of 2008 to help with camps and Operation Joshua, and then went to China for OG3. In January 2009, came back to Greece to serve long term with HM.
And the winner is... duhn, duhn, duh...
Meggan De Jong
From: Sully, Iowa, USA
Training: Music Ministry & Christian Ed. Ministry - NW College, Orange City, Iowa
Background: Oldest of three in a Christian family with small town community roots. Lots of opportunities to lead worship & plan church/mission events. Connected with HM to help with camps and Joshua, Summer ’08. Went to China for OG3. Back to Greece to serve long term with HM, January ‘09.
Current Prayers: Focus on THE goal; Connections & relationships; In tune to the Holy Spirit’s leading; Filled to overflowing with the love, joy & peace of Christ
Okay, yes, that was the final one, I promise. Commence laughing NOW! ;)
Overflowing with joy, peace,... and snot!
The last 10 days or so have been absolutely wonderful...
I have been filled to overflowing with joy and peace, just as I have been praying for since I arrived in Greece.
Unfortunately, I have also had a cold, and while the worst of it had ended after just a couple of days... I still am overflowing with that lovely stuff that comes with colds, yeah... blah, lol. Seriously, is there no end? :)
Oh well, all of the good stuff has definitely overshadowed that annoyance!
I am in the middle of writing a report to share with my new fellow Hellenic Ministries missionaries at our family conference coming up in mid-April. I'll likely post it eventually... but for now, it's enough to say that each of my primary prayer focus points for this season of my life are being answered in very special ways...
They are for:
Connections and Relationships
Focus on THE goal
Staying in tune to the Holy Spirit's leading
Being filled to overflowing with the love, joy, and peace of Christ
**I have so many new connections and relationships I am building in Athens already that I am actually starting to get concerned that I have too many friends, haha. Is that a bad problem? I am praying the Lord will help me be faithful to encourage and spend quality time with those he leads me to invest most in... I just... wow, yeah, can't even begin to start listing all of the very special people that I have met so far, mostly because I don't want to leave any of them out! They range from being random people I have met on a bus, to students from Canada and America here for a few weeks or a few months, to Greek students in Bible studies, to fellow classmates from all over the world learning modern Greek with me, to adult men and women of all ages at church or Bible studies who have offered much encouragement and wisdom, to fellow missionaries from a number of different organizations all over Athens, and... yeah, okay, I could go on, but I should stop... Again, Lord, thanks for making it such a passion of mine to meet new people and start new friendships!! :)
**My prayer last summer was for the eyes and ears to see and hear clearly where the Lord is calling me, and then to have the courage and strength to respond. That is still my prayer, but I've modified the "focus" of that a bit.
The eyes - for "FOCUS on my one and only goal, Jesus Christ!" As I am seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all else will be added... and oh, it sure has been, let me tell you! :)
The ears - to stay IN TUNE to the Holy Spirit's leading. I want to keep developing an ever more clear sense of when the Holy Spirit nudges me to respond to his promptings for steps big or small. I want to know and recognize the voice of the Lord so intimately that I don't have to doubt or question it.
**And oh my goodness, I have been overflowing SO MUCH with the love, joy, and peace of the Lord. In fact all through last week I kept making the comment to some of my friends that if God wasn't careful, he was going to drown me in this overflowing flood of his goodness and presence in my life. I LOVE IT! Keep filling me up, Lord! :) I have been able to have a few sweet intimate dates with God... along a beautiful beach, and in my sun-filled room, and during a Greek church service, etc... and I want more. :) Because it is WAY too fun to let the joy, peace, and love that I am filled with, overflow and encourage those around me. It's absolutely wonderful the feeling of not needing any of it in return when I give it out, because, yes, remember: God is keeping me FULL to OVERFLOWING! Then of course in the process of giving it out, it always returns in even greater abundance even though you don't have the sense of needing it... but anyway, of course that is one of the special, beautiful ways that God continually keeps me overflowing! At times I feel almost too giddy to handle it, yeah... really, I'm serious. Haha, I know there was a few times people just kinda chuckled at me like I was crazy when I had this big, goofy grin filling my entire face when they asked me how my week was going... but what can I do? I just can't help it!! :) And I guess for now I'm not yet having a self-conscious complex about being the big "goofy, giddy" girl, haha! ;)
ANYWAY...
Thank you so much Father for everything! :) And thanks for drawing me ever closer to yourself, so that as I am looking to you, others will see a light beam shining brightly, piercing the darkness of this world, and directly pointing the way to you: THE way, THE truth, and the LIFE... Thank you for redeeming me and cleansing me and covering me in your righteousness so that I have this privilege of helping bring glory, honor, and praise to your precious name! I love you, Lord!! :D
I have been filled to overflowing with joy and peace, just as I have been praying for since I arrived in Greece.
Unfortunately, I have also had a cold, and while the worst of it had ended after just a couple of days... I still am overflowing with that lovely stuff that comes with colds, yeah... blah, lol. Seriously, is there no end? :)
Oh well, all of the good stuff has definitely overshadowed that annoyance!
I am in the middle of writing a report to share with my new fellow Hellenic Ministries missionaries at our family conference coming up in mid-April. I'll likely post it eventually... but for now, it's enough to say that each of my primary prayer focus points for this season of my life are being answered in very special ways...
They are for:
Connections and Relationships
Focus on THE goal
Staying in tune to the Holy Spirit's leading
Being filled to overflowing with the love, joy, and peace of Christ
**I have so many new connections and relationships I am building in Athens already that I am actually starting to get concerned that I have too many friends, haha. Is that a bad problem? I am praying the Lord will help me be faithful to encourage and spend quality time with those he leads me to invest most in... I just... wow, yeah, can't even begin to start listing all of the very special people that I have met so far, mostly because I don't want to leave any of them out! They range from being random people I have met on a bus, to students from Canada and America here for a few weeks or a few months, to Greek students in Bible studies, to fellow classmates from all over the world learning modern Greek with me, to adult men and women of all ages at church or Bible studies who have offered much encouragement and wisdom, to fellow missionaries from a number of different organizations all over Athens, and... yeah, okay, I could go on, but I should stop... Again, Lord, thanks for making it such a passion of mine to meet new people and start new friendships!! :)
**My prayer last summer was for the eyes and ears to see and hear clearly where the Lord is calling me, and then to have the courage and strength to respond. That is still my prayer, but I've modified the "focus" of that a bit.
The eyes - for "FOCUS on my one and only goal, Jesus Christ!" As I am seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all else will be added... and oh, it sure has been, let me tell you! :)
The ears - to stay IN TUNE to the Holy Spirit's leading. I want to keep developing an ever more clear sense of when the Holy Spirit nudges me to respond to his promptings for steps big or small. I want to know and recognize the voice of the Lord so intimately that I don't have to doubt or question it.
**And oh my goodness, I have been overflowing SO MUCH with the love, joy, and peace of the Lord. In fact all through last week I kept making the comment to some of my friends that if God wasn't careful, he was going to drown me in this overflowing flood of his goodness and presence in my life. I LOVE IT! Keep filling me up, Lord! :) I have been able to have a few sweet intimate dates with God... along a beautiful beach, and in my sun-filled room, and during a Greek church service, etc... and I want more. :) Because it is WAY too fun to let the joy, peace, and love that I am filled with, overflow and encourage those around me. It's absolutely wonderful the feeling of not needing any of it in return when I give it out, because, yes, remember: God is keeping me FULL to OVERFLOWING! Then of course in the process of giving it out, it always returns in even greater abundance even though you don't have the sense of needing it... but anyway, of course that is one of the special, beautiful ways that God continually keeps me overflowing! At times I feel almost too giddy to handle it, yeah... really, I'm serious. Haha, I know there was a few times people just kinda chuckled at me like I was crazy when I had this big, goofy grin filling my entire face when they asked me how my week was going... but what can I do? I just can't help it!! :) And I guess for now I'm not yet having a self-conscious complex about being the big "goofy, giddy" girl, haha! ;)
ANYWAY...
Thank you so much Father for everything! :) And thanks for drawing me ever closer to yourself, so that as I am looking to you, others will see a light beam shining brightly, piercing the darkness of this world, and directly pointing the way to you: THE way, THE truth, and the LIFE... Thank you for redeeming me and cleansing me and covering me in your righteousness so that I have this privilege of helping bring glory, honor, and praise to your precious name! I love you, Lord!! :D
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Communication
In the last month...
I have started and completed a 60-hour (that's just CLASS time) Greek language course.
I have met some friendly Greeks on the bus and used the Greek I knew for short, funny, helpful conversations.
I have had so many wonderful, encouraging conversations with...
fellow HM staff; my fellow Athens Center Greek language school classmates; my roommate; new friends at the Bible school, church, and Bible studies; new random friends from various locations in Athens, hehe... etc, etc, etc.
I have sent an update e-mail (or two?) to my personal supporters e-mail list (but unfortunately I recently realized that I forgot to combine the mailing lists for the message(s) to send to my entire prayer network/friends list as well)
I have updated my facebook "Pray for Greece!" page with more prayer requests
I have taken more pictures of Athens and the various settings I am in to communicate with people across an ocean through image... buuut, I haven't exactly posted them all yet, haha, oops.
I have done quite well at responding to individual personal e-mails, facebook wall posts and messages, etc...
I have sent out a mass e-mail to all of the HM constituency.
I have helped organize, offer suggestions, and edit and update content for the HM and Operation Joshua websites.
I have had several great meetings about being an important part of HM's "new" communication team.
I have helped set new communication goals for keeping our HM family up to date news, events, and prayer needs.
I have composed letters to communicate with major donors about financial needs, but most importantly to ANYONE and EVERYONE about helping us communicate the Operation Joshua vision and join our prayer team.
I have experienced mutual encouragement with the Mission-Net staff as I have been communicating with them about the details for having HM present at their conference in April.
I have shared my life story (the "15 minute version," hehe) with fellow missionaries - the Campus Crusade group who I didn't even have to wait for Mission-Konnect to connect with and learn ALL of their names. :)
I have felt the Lord's presence and voice speak to me SO clearly that I wept.
I have been able to communicate (in TWO more new contexts) God's word through the memorized Scripture, with God's help, I have permanently engraved into my heart and mind.
I have creatively communicated God's love and praise through MUSIC, YEAH!!! :)
...at a Brazilian church (SO FUN!)
...at the Hall
...at the Bible school
...at basically any random piano I come across!
I have had some WONDERFUL, precious phone conversations with friends and family back home.
I have been writing in my personal journal nearly every night, conversing with God about my day, and praying for my friends through creative writing.
I have probably forgotten some of the opportunities that I have been able to communicate with people...
So....
I HAVE been communicating A LOT... (and I am SO thankful for the passion God has given me for communicating and the special ways he is leading me to use this gift!!!!!)
but...
I have NOT posted to my blog...
AH, whoopsies... For you faithful readers out there, forgive me! I really will try to do better this month!! :) But if worse comes to worse... try to find me through another various form of communication I am doing better at. Chances are I am still communicating what God is doing in my life SOMEWHERE in this web world. But if not, well, I AM doing so in live conversation, so I guess you'll just have to set up a date to come visit me in person!!!! :)
I have started and completed a 60-hour (that's just CLASS time) Greek language course.
I have met some friendly Greeks on the bus and used the Greek I knew for short, funny, helpful conversations.
I have had so many wonderful, encouraging conversations with...
fellow HM staff; my fellow Athens Center Greek language school classmates; my roommate; new friends at the Bible school, church, and Bible studies; new random friends from various locations in Athens, hehe... etc, etc, etc.
I have sent an update e-mail (or two?) to my personal supporters e-mail list (but unfortunately I recently realized that I forgot to combine the mailing lists for the message(s) to send to my entire prayer network/friends list as well)
I have updated my facebook "Pray for Greece!" page with more prayer requests
I have taken more pictures of Athens and the various settings I am in to communicate with people across an ocean through image... buuut, I haven't exactly posted them all yet, haha, oops.
I have done quite well at responding to individual personal e-mails, facebook wall posts and messages, etc...
I have sent out a mass e-mail to all of the HM constituency.
I have helped organize, offer suggestions, and edit and update content for the HM and Operation Joshua websites.
I have had several great meetings about being an important part of HM's "new" communication team.
I have helped set new communication goals for keeping our HM family up to date news, events, and prayer needs.
I have composed letters to communicate with major donors about financial needs, but most importantly to ANYONE and EVERYONE about helping us communicate the Operation Joshua vision and join our prayer team.
I have experienced mutual encouragement with the Mission-Net staff as I have been communicating with them about the details for having HM present at their conference in April.
I have shared my life story (the "15 minute version," hehe) with fellow missionaries - the Campus Crusade group who I didn't even have to wait for Mission-Konnect to connect with and learn ALL of their names. :)
I have felt the Lord's presence and voice speak to me SO clearly that I wept.
I have been able to communicate (in TWO more new contexts) God's word through the memorized Scripture, with God's help, I have permanently engraved into my heart and mind.
I have creatively communicated God's love and praise through MUSIC, YEAH!!! :)
...at a Brazilian church (SO FUN!)
...at the Hall
...at the Bible school
...at basically any random piano I come across!
I have had some WONDERFUL, precious phone conversations with friends and family back home.
I have been writing in my personal journal nearly every night, conversing with God about my day, and praying for my friends through creative writing.
I have probably forgotten some of the opportunities that I have been able to communicate with people...
So....
I HAVE been communicating A LOT... (and I am SO thankful for the passion God has given me for communicating and the special ways he is leading me to use this gift!!!!!)
but...
I have NOT posted to my blog...
AH, whoopsies... For you faithful readers out there, forgive me! I really will try to do better this month!! :) But if worse comes to worse... try to find me through another various form of communication I am doing better at. Chances are I am still communicating what God is doing in my life SOMEWHERE in this web world. But if not, well, I AM doing so in live conversation, so I guess you'll just have to set up a date to come visit me in person!!!! :)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I Want to Serve
Love Meal - February 2, 2009
After House of Worship on Sunday night, I met David. He had found my “Pray for Greece!” facebook group and was interested in serving at the love meals. I told him we would be happy to have his help, especially since this week we had predicted that we might be short-handed. He asked where and when; I told him to come back to this same place anytime tomorrow afternoon; and he showed up right when he said he would. We had actually finished setting up already, but it gave everyone a chance to chat and get to know him better through fellowship and prayer. As the night went on, he served with his “natural bouncer abilities” – standing at the door to welcome those eager to come in, and he participated in the dirty bathroom clean-up work afterwards – rubber gloves, mop, and all. We had to test his authentic willingness to serve with us, no matter what the job, right? :) He maintained his ready and willing attitude, and we expect he will return to serve with us again at future meals. I am always very blessed by the way God connects his family together through prayer and service.
Colossians 1:22-24 – “Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
After House of Worship on Sunday night, I met David. He had found my “Pray for Greece!” facebook group and was interested in serving at the love meals. I told him we would be happy to have his help, especially since this week we had predicted that we might be short-handed. He asked where and when; I told him to come back to this same place anytime tomorrow afternoon; and he showed up right when he said he would. We had actually finished setting up already, but it gave everyone a chance to chat and get to know him better through fellowship and prayer. As the night went on, he served with his “natural bouncer abilities” – standing at the door to welcome those eager to come in, and he participated in the dirty bathroom clean-up work afterwards – rubber gloves, mop, and all. We had to test his authentic willingness to serve with us, no matter what the job, right? :) He maintained his ready and willing attitude, and we expect he will return to serve with us again at future meals. I am always very blessed by the way God connects his family together through prayer and service.
Colossians 1:22-24 – “Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
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