It's Cheesy and Long ENJOY!!!

I have been struggling for days to figure out what to say with so much happening and not enough words to articulate it….. i was at a loss and then this morning i learned a dear friend of mine passed away after a long battle with cancer.......Geri entered my life in 2009 with a quizzical look and many questions about cats; as i grew into a place in the Rampi family Geri was the one who kept things in army order and on your toes, she constantly directed my missteps around the kitchen and one night i had the pleasure of hearing her love of professional wrestling; Hulk Holgan being her untouchable favorite..Geri was a woman were innocence was not lost…… she managed a task i know i have failed…. she loved everyone unconditional, (except obviously any opponent of her hero Hulk)  her love for baby daniel was showered in her affectionate tones and attention to all his movements, just as her love for her cat lucky and my dog ophie-baby! Her ability to see the world in a lens so her own leaves me to believe that her relationship with her heavenly father was far beyond a depth i will ever understand......Geri was a fighter...whether it came to the use of the dryer on her time schedule or cancer, she fought! 

And as i sit in a country referred to as the cradle of civilization on a mission to fight against the perils of sex trafficking i am reminded that whether i am home or here….. death is death, pain is pain, joy is joy and life is life...people are people, tears are tears and GOD is GOD.......the questions that flood my mind struggle to find words to express how one is to grapple with the passing of a friend so far away or how to fight for the freedom of woman in a man made system of slavery……and I think how it is that when death comes or a child is sold the world does not come to a stop, there should be a moment were everything should stop because a beautiful well fought life has left or a precious, innocent life has been stolen.  Why is it the my breath is uneven or my heart skips a beat but life must go on……

SO i am resolved to look at these questions of passing and pain cushioned in the arms of mystery and love......I am honored to 

have known Geri, to have heard her story's, prayed with her, lived with her and loved her.........I am honored to be here with these amazing young girls who fight a battle I can’t even imagine, to walk with them if only for a short time and I am honored to learn more then I ever thought possible……

I came to work with woman rescued from sex trafficking to see what Jesus would do, to see what new weapons he had to defeat the darkness and two months in He has begun to teach me a lesson that will take me a life time to master...He has begun to teach me that...His truth is the same for all who want it, His healing is just as powerful where ever it is accepted and in the face of such pain, such wounds, such death His love is real.........I have not rescued a single girl from a dark alley or slugged any traffickers in the face but I have LOVED far beyond my limitation, i have stood in the face of lies and shouted HIS TRUTH…..I have held the exhausted bodies of His warriors and seen Him RESTORE, and I have had a joy that follows far beyond my boundaries…..because the fight is not against flesh and blood......but against the limitations we put on each other, against the lies we spread amongst ourselves, against the expectations we build and then proceed to fail and the destruction we create..

SO what i have learned is the fight lies in the way i allow His transformation into my life, in the joy i hold on to tight, in the truth i seek and the most importunately the love i share... The fight lives in our love for one another, to go to uncomfortable places, to push past differences, to see with eyes renewed in hope and the belief that no one is beyond transformation or so lost they cannot be found.... to live with a love that should never change according to the person, the community, or the country.........

I am grateful for the time I had to get to know Geri and I am grateful for the time here in India and the month I have left as I go further, see more and learn more about this weapon of LOVE!!

Here’s to an another amazing year following the LORD!!

Happy NEW YEAR suckers!! Lol I mean friends and family!!

Fresh Cut Grass

I have been in india a little over a week and it has been quite the adventure thus far. Once I landed in Bangalore i was driven by private taxi to the Women's house i was staying at for two night, from there i had time to explore the city a little before i was to head out the following day for my 8 hour cab ride to Ooty..............the thing that i could not get over and what i have heard many people say was the amount of people, in order to get through traffic you have to truly wait for a lull and run for it....which i was quite successful at once i figured out there was no stopping for pedestrians.

Following my day in Bangalore, a cab came and picked me up 10 the next morning and from there i rode through the ever changing landscape as if i was seriously in a car-raced themed video game.....for fear my death would be emanate and i would rather look it straight in the face i sat straight up, eyes wide and finger clinched (for most of the trip).......along the way there was never a really lag between crowds of cars, small towns and tons of people.......we were alway swerving between: bikes, cabs, people, large trucks, buses, people, motorized rickshaws, motorcycles, cows and again people.....As well the land is littered with huge bulletin boards and tea shops.......about 2 hours out of Ooty we then started to drive through a Tiger Reserve that had a road the size of a bike path, where we dodged, swerved and nearly missed the passing vehicles, but also where I was able to see only 50 ft away....alive.....real.......large.....magnificent Elephant!!! (can we say the HIGHLIGHT of my death defying ride).......From there we drove up and up and up the mountain to the other side where I took first glimpse of Ooty, a small city nestled in the fog and rain of India......I was greeted by the 3 girls from Freedom Firm and the volunteer who is already here, they were on there way back to their house the moment i arrived.........

For my time here i am staying in a house that was built in the 1860, perched on the top of a mountain, hidden behind pine trees and mist......there are serious moments where i feel that i am somewhere lost in a Jane Austin film.......(not a  bad place to be lost i might add..especially if Mr. Darcy would come walking through the midst)....the place where i work is a 45 minute walk down hill to the offices where the girls work and have their education everyday......right now there are 3 girls who live under the care of FF, each girl is 18 or older, there is a move in India right now among the rescue teams to get older girls out, especially those who were sold young and have been in the trade for quite a long time...........two girls have been in the 18month program for a little over 12 months and another one came two weeks ago.....this last week because their house mother is on holiday, I was asked to stay with them for an overnight, which i might add went quite well, they are lively, strong willed girls who are healing and seeking to regain their lives one step at a time......I am excited to get to know them more as time goes on most of the girls speak 3 or 4 languages but english very limited so i will start hindi language classes on Tuesday this week, if i am feeling better......

Par for the course on my international experiences i got sick the second night with the girls, I am recovering well and hope to start my daily work from 9-5 where I will help the girls in their work space as they make jewelry............

SO one week down.......So today I was feeling pretty bad and I was thinking how I missed home and then because we finally had a sunny day here they decided to cut the grass and in my room came a gust of wind like a sweet reminder carrying the smell of fresh cut grass a smell i swear smells the same where ever you are!!!
 Love u guys!! THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS!! on to another week!

First leg of the journey!!

Sitting in the Paris airport, sans coffee and sleep, listening to Adele and dreaming of leg room...i have to say i am feeling pretty good, one flight in and one more to go! I have reached the last 5 miles of this year long marathon and if I am honest there was a mile in there that I didn’t think I would finish…..but with the inability to turn around now and a fresh resolve to finish strong……I find myself digging into to that deeper part where the flesh must die to the unflattering climax of reality…..I came to a cross roads before I left…..i truly did not want to leave; I desired to just stay in the comfortable and surrounded by familiarity….the support of community and family has infested every part of my life and way of being something I had successfully avoided for year…Thus leaving me a little shaky in the legs where I used to be solidly planted in solitude... therefore the thought of going out on my own again completely had lost its appeal….

Then I remembered a few years ago someone prayed over me that Jesus would be taking me on adventures…….and I have to say this is the biggest one to date! And so as I think about what I will miss about home I find a stream of confidence deep inside that reminds me I would not want to miss this for the WORLD!! Because I was built for this, this is how he hand crafted this clay!! And if there was not a process of dying before I got here would I truly be able to live for an adventure such as this?

I have the privilege to love people for the one who loved them first, I get the honor to walk alongside His sons and daughters proclaiming exaltation of love, truth and transformation…………all while He loves on me, all while He stretches my boundaries, expectations and desires beyond my limited mind……

I will miss the warmth of the house on thanksgiving and the giggles as Santa delivers gifts to my nephews and amazingly enough I will miss the first snow fall…….but this, this moment where I can sit and know that I know I am doing what I am suppose to be doing is……….PRICELESS….. It’s untouchable and can flee with the slights curve ball but if I have learned anything this year...when it comes grab it…..So I sit in the Paris airport knowing that whatever self desires that needed to die, whatever choices needed to be made, whatever pain lead to this seat.... it was all worth it……..Boarding time:) 

in between!

I have landed back in the states for a two months stint, that if i am honest I did not plan on..........when i said i would go for the year i really thought that would mean to never return until the year was over........but to my surprise i am here......I landed about 4 weeks ago from my time in honduras which consisted of building, blistered hands, laughter, a car accident, laughter, and a scorpion bite.....it was a time in Honduras that I can honestly say I will never forget!! NEVER! 
Following that I was able to go a support Mission 21 MN with a photography project...I tried to display the idea that ANYONE can help support the fight against human trafficking just by being aware!! here is a picture of my display:

each pic has an 'I AM' statement, just declaring that anyone can stop human trafficking! and it starts with awareness!

As i write this i am reflecting on a year that has held it's twist and turns.......and i have to say it has been an amazing year so far and i believe the last 9 months has been getting me prepared to walk aside these young girls in India......there is a side of humanity that i will see I believe will be life giving and scary at the same time.
SO as i wait for my date to leave I am basking in the amazing hang-out time, conversations, laughter, rest, running, challenges and books! 
In the beginning of oct... i will have the opportunity to go down to Joplin, MO to help re-build houses!! It was a last minute door that opened and I am super excited to go down and help!! SO please check back as I will try better to keep you all up dated!!


mUcH LoVE,
siri

San Fran and Modern Day Slavery

Finished my two week training with Not For Sale in San Francisco, CA USA and all I can say is my brain is tired, my feet are soar and my heart is killing me.  This last two weeks I have learned SO much:

#1: Human Trafficking is real and once you start looking you will be shocked!

#2: Education yourself and being a smart consumer can make real change! Especially for people who you will never met but I believe will be eternal grateful (TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED)

#3: This kind of work (even as I am only a beginner) requires ALOT of laughter.

Being here; learning about the issue of Human Trafficking is a dream of mine (which can sound extremely weird)......but to make it plain if Jesus were physical walking the earth right now I believe this would be where you would hear him cry out for the 'least of these'.  The information is hard to hear:

 30 million human trafficked mostly built by the demands of: 

cheap labor + cheaper prices = labor trafficking

unregulated sexual appetites + young girls = sex trafficking

I won't blast you with all the details but just think about this: Human Trafficking is the 3rd MOST lucrative crime right behind the trading and sell of drugs #2 which is right behind the selling and trading of drugs #3.

BUT THERE IS HOPE!! many organizations and people are working tirelessly around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and restore victims of this tragedy as well I totally believe the ONE who came for the 'least of these' is working tirelessly through our prayers.  So please KEEP PRAYING for our brothers and sisters who have been trapped in this deadly cycle as well please educate yourself on what this issue really looks like!! 

For quick reference please check out the following web sites: 

Not For Sale: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/- Abolitionist education

Free 2 Work: www.free2work.org/-Understanding supply chain and how what u buys can help or hurt

MATTOO: http://mattoo.org/-Men against the trafficking others

Mission 21: http://www.mission21mn.org/- Minnesota safe house for victims who need our support. They are hosting an event in Rochester, MN on friday night Aug. 26th as well as Saturday Aug. 27th. Check out their web site for more information if you would like to help support. I will be displaying some photo's at both event. Come if you can!!!

These were just a few of the organization I have come across but the more we educate ourselves and become concise consumers the more we begin to deal head on with this issue of Modern-day Slavery.

Please if you have any questions or want to know more give me a shout!!

sirinestingen@gmail.com

Pray this finds you all well,

siri 

HERE WE GO AGAIN

The time has come for me to step back out on the road!! here is my support letter and explanation of what I will be doing next!! Thanks for checking it out!!

 

I begin the next steps to finish this year of service.

• I will begin first by being trained by an organization called Not For Sale, where I will be learning from the advocates on the ground in the area of Human Trafficking.  I’m going to learn the tools of investigation and about the supply chain of human trafficking.
• From my training with Not For Sale in California I will be coming back to then fly to Honduras in August.  For 3 weeks I will be working with Sanctuary Covenant Church as well as members of Substance Church to help build a school and do a lot of prayer ministry.
• Following my time in Honduras I will hopefully be admitted to work one-on-one with young girls who have been recued from Human Trafficking at Ooty Aftercare Program in Pune, India with the organization Freedom Firm for 3 months.

So in order to do this next 6 months I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!! Most Importantly YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT!!

And if the Lord leads you, your financial support. To complete the next 6 months I need to raise $10,000.  As I follow the Lords heart into the darkness of human trafficking – every bit helps!

SIRI NESTINGEN - ISAIAH 61 MINISTRIES

☐ I would like to prayerfully support Siri!

☐ I would like to donate to Siri’s Awesome 6 months of Services against Human Trafficking!

☐ I would like to donate on a monthly basis to Siri’s Totally Awesome 6 months of Services against

Human Trafficking!

Name: ______________________ Address: _________________________________

☐ Check here to donate monthly    Amount of Donation $_______________

Please make checks payable to:

Isaiah 61 Ministries, 5012 66^th Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

Thank you for your PRAYERS!!! 

Can't wait to send you further updates!!

And done for NOW!

This evening I had the graduation of this 6 month journey here in Heredia, Costa Rica.............and can i say it has been quite the journey......I have shoveled goat poop, met international speakers, walked for hours through the jungles of costa rica, read many books, feel in love with the Bible, struggled and learned to keep my mouth shut, lived with 7 girls, then 2, then 1, then 10, went running, slept, traveled to Colombia, sweated my body weight, ate empanadas, and chicken alfredo pizza from street vendors, became obsessed with ice cream and the air conditioning of the mall, watch God MOVE across language barriers, heal broken hearts, call on my gifts and teach me patience.....all this and I haven't even officially left Costa Rica.
I began this journey skeptical and a little sad to be leaving such an amazing community of friends and family who love me better then I could even imagine! But then I was reminded through out this whole time that though they are awesome NOTHING compares to the LOVE my savior has for me. But enough of all the sappy stuff....let me fill you in on the outreach part of this time here. 
We left for Colombia on a wed. morning at the end of April and arrived in a heat that I will never be able to describe other then picture yourself a minnesotan at heart who loves her summer but loves the change into the chill in the air of fall and relishes in the crispness that surrounds the air as the snowflakes fall when winter hits and who starves for the thaw and the opening of windows as spring ushers in our preciously short summers. Something THAT NEVER happens in Cartagena, Colombia- it is hot and when it is not hot, it is because you got on a plane, so to be honest for the first week all I really remember was the constant battle to not succumb to the desire to cry out the last bit of water left in my body, but I didn't.  
Instead we prayed, my group of 18 ( a combination of YWAM Heredia and YWAM San Jose) where blessed to join a couple in 24/7 prayer! An amazing experience of being solely in the presence of God, praying, worshiping, listening, singing, sleeping, writing and well just being.  In that time we were able to build a foundation that helped us to lead a missions conference in a church of 2000- I was able to preach and share the Power of God that raised Christ on the Third day lives in us!!! As well the team was able to encourage and motivate the congregation to step into their calls of missions.  From there we did some local outreaches in Cartagena.  Following that we all got on a very small boat and went twenty minutes away to a small island called Bocachica where we worked with young kids and did some knocking down of walls!! No literally they gave me a HUGE sludge hammer and let me tear it up and OH I did!!! If you ever want to visit an amazing Island with amazing people I would suggest Bocachica, Colombia.
 From there we returned to Cartagena to run a three-day, six session inter-healing conference, which was truly amazing, we saw the blind-healed, the broken hearted healed, the wounds of the past broken off, people delivered and most importantly the LOVE of GOD WIN!! I was able to share the word on the last night.
We ended our time with what will be my favorite memory of all thus far in ministry.......we did a LOVE FEAST.....we found a spot down by the dirty river on a bank covered by needles, broken toys and tons of trash, where we set up tables, brought chairs and invited our homeless friends to sit down where we served them a meal of pizza, empanadas and coca-cola. Around 25 came, at first not know what to do nor wanting to sit, we invited them to; but once they where seated it was hard to get them back out of the chairs and in that time we were able to pray with them, give them bibles and care packages full of necessities and some candy!!! My favorite moment of that was as the community gathered to watch what was going on, a group of 5 on-lookers saw a homeless man across the street walking away and with some ethusiastic shouting and urging they informed the man that he should come over because there is food for him over here.
A moment, that for me, showed that from one small idea/desire to show God's love not only will a person be transformed, so will a community, thus changing the world.
We returned 4 days later to Colombia where we said goodbye to our San Jose friends through a dinner party and then the 3 lone soliders of Heredia left to do 4 more days of outreach in southern Costa Rica, where we read, taught, prayed and worked.
 What a time is has been I have grown, been streched, challenged, loved, inspired and taught the most important lesson is (I pray to never forget)..........
GOD IS FAITHFUL!! He is faithful in the little things, He is faithful in the big things, Faithful in the things that I think too stupid for Him to care about, His faithful with HIS peace, and joy and truth. His is faithful SUN UP to SUN DOWN


OH ALL I CAN SAY IS MY GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!!!!!


Hopefully I will see you when I stop home for a quick nap and a re-up on some community love!!


love you all

siri 

OUTREACH TIME: COLOMBIA!!!

Friends, Family, Loved ones, Greatest Supporters:

I would like to start with: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!

So the time has come for me to begin the outreach phase of this journey in YWAM.  Up until this point I have learned so much about how to be in a place of true need.  Before leaving I had my ideas of how this time would go and as it always does it never goes that way, but I have to say my time here in Costa Rica has been an amazing time with Jesus.

First I have learned the power of prayer and moving out of the way and second have learned that just as much as I need Him, HE needs me….something that has revolutionized my life and that continues to help shape my everyday. 

So as I sit one day from outreach I write to you asking for your PRAYERS!! They have been a primary part of my time here and I have felt every one.  I could not be here without any of you.

Here are the details of my outreach first we will be going to the north of Costa Rica for 10 days to distribute bibles door to door, AMEN.  Then upon my return we will head with 15 other students from YWAM San Jose to Cartagena, Colombia to do a multitude of different ministries and this is the part I have been waiting for.  We will work in a barrio, orphanage and doing construction projects through out Cartagena.  I am so excited and know that God has a great plan for us there and is going to show up.  So I am asking for your support, what ever you can give but more importantly I am again asking for your PRAYERS!! They are the support I truly need.

1)    Outreach: $2,000- this money includes airfare, living expense and room and board expenses.

2)    Sofie: $500- on of my classmates who is a young Costa Rican student that is in my DTS needs support she is very close to the amount that she needs…….BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She is an amazing young woman.

These funds will get me through until June where I will be returning for about a month to give updates and hug everyone of you!  I know, believe and stand in the promise that God is faithful. So please give if you can BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PLEASE PRAY for me.

I look forward to sending you all updates, as we get closer to head out on our outreach.  And if you ever just want to check in on my and what is going on please check out my blog at sirinestingen.blogspot.com

I pray this finds you well,

Much love in Christ,

Siri Joy Nestingen

ISAIAH 61 MINISTRIES

☐ I agree to prayerfully support Siri!

☐ I agree to donate to Siri’s Awesome Year of Service in Costa Rica         and Beyond!

☐ I agree to donate on a monthly basis to Siri’s Totally Awesome Year of Serve in

Costa Rica to Infinity & Beyond!

Please make checks payable to:

Isaiah 61 Ministries, 5012 66^th Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

I need............

About three weeks ago we did a week long exercise that was called plumb-line, the way that it was explained to me is it a term used by contractors to explain how one would align the foundation of the house.
And essential a line for us to positions one's life too, thus a part of my learning here includes this week that allows me to align evaluate what area in my life are not aligned in my relationship with Christ........................so here i am completely ready to be open and let the truth come out.......i was ready to apologize for my pride, how i had used my mouth(an constant place for repentance lol)...ect... we had been given a day to pray and to really listen to what we felt the Lord was saying.....so here i am ready with my list and feeling good......in class i am thinking 'here i am 30 years into this game of life and i kind of finally have some things figured out, i am not going to get completely side swiped on this one, no way. I have done this too many time before to not have something figured out.'   (not prideful at all, but no worries i was ready to repent of that) :)

This is one of those moments where i completely believe Jesus is chilling at the right hand of God having himself a good old laugh!!!! 

So as we are sitting in class praying, the facilitator comes behind me and I am thinking 'nope she won't have to say anything to me and if she does i already know what she has got for me..... Jesus already told me!"
As she begins to pray i feel this tinge, this moment of reaction when your body automatically prepares for impact......and it hits, she say "Siri, He needs you to need HIM!" I gasped, 'what, what, I need him' i thought and then came the flood of realizations that-no i didn't need Him, need Him..........I could talk about Him, I could listen to Him, I would and could learn from Him, I could pray to Him, I would let Him heal me and I would talk to Him, i could wrestle with Him and I could leave Him behind if he didn't fit my plans................... but had I ever truly allowed my self to just Need HIM! Never before had i thought that HE needed me to need him, to want him.........not because the day was bad or i could see Him moving or I need Him to move something, but just to need Him, for no reason, just becasue.  I thought once i get to this place or that He is just going to let me go and wait for me to come back when i needed Him, not when He needed me..............

It says in webster dictionary that the word need is defined as: require (something) because it is essential. And i sat in that moment tears streaming down my face feeling this reality that unless I was in a bad situation or it was a convince for me I had never said..........I need you, I just need you........I have never allowed Him to be a required because it's essential to me, essential to get up out of bed, to walk to the bathroom, to talk to the person in front of me that is standing at the bank..........
For years i have heard it, i have been around people who understand it and i for sure, have wrestled with it, but never has it penetrated the depth of my being that way it did in that moment.


As i wiped the tears from my face, I cried out 'Jesus I need you, I need you right now' and this image flooded my mind..........there i am my nose touching his, my hands wrapped in his as i clinch them near my cheeks and i am softly whispering.......i need you, i sooo need you.


That image continues to bring Joy to my heart and peace to my mind.............and i truly have to say has allowed me to see my relationship with Him in a way that has started a REVOLUTION deep down inside!!! (don't worry this one will be on YOUTUBE)LOL!! kidding


So I say all this my amazing friend and family that most of the time WE need Him but more importantly HE needs us!!!! He needs us to be what he has created...... strong, loving, amazing creations that realize that needing Him is just as important as loving Him!!!


I love u all so much and pray this rocks you like it rocked me!!!
Just so you know I can feel your prayers, hugs and love all the way down here!!! thank you!!!


SiRi

how close?

Last week this woman named Donna Partow stopped by to teach two classes and in those two classes i got my behind rocked by Jesus, through her.......she is an international christian author, teacher and motivational speaker...check her out when you get the chance http://www.donnapartow.com.

But one statement she said dug deep, she said: 'The most dangerous place for a christian to be is this close

oh soooo close!

to the will of God' and it hit me like a ton of bricks!!!! This has been my favorite place to be for the past 10 years; close enough to hear Him, close enough to run back when things get bad or i need some healing, close enough that when things don't go the way i want i can find a soft place to cry and close enough that i can jump in and out but really........ not close enough to stay, stay in His will.  And then it made me thing about surrendering and how i have continuously surrendered when i could see the outcome or the amount i would need to pay for the thing that God was asking from me.........  And in that moment it became clear, i had thought myself out of the will of God numerous time, too many times to count.  I had tried and failed many times to out think God, i have tried to get Him to move this way and that with arguments and well thought out plans so that in the end i would not have to move.......... this whole time He has just stood there........ consistent in His will for my life. He has stood and cried, stood and yearned, stood and prayed that i would take one step closer to His protection, to His forgiveness, to His will, to His desires for my life.  And until Donna said it, this concept had never penetrated my being like it did in that moment..........a concept that shook my very foundation.......i have the choice everyday to walk into and out of His will for my life but until i decide to walk in and sit down, decide to walk in and rest, until i walk in and let Him do all the thinking........i will continually be ooohhhh sooo close to the desires of my heart, i will be oooohhhh sooo close to the best future for me, i will continually be ooooohhhh soooo close to His life for me if only i could just get out of the way.........so my friends i can not say that i have been totally reformed, but i can say that my footsteps on the journey before me have come into quite a bit more focus!! And with that focus i am eagerly trying every day  to choose to walk in and sit with the One who has my life gently tucked next to His heart. He hasn't failed me yet!!! :) 

I pray this speaks to u as well!!

PLEASE PRAY WITH MY GROUP AS WE FIGURE OUT DETAIL OF OUR OUTREACH!

 Soon I will be sending out info on where we will be going on outreach!! 

Much love in Christ,

siri

Remember

First and most importantly today is my BROTHER'S 28th Birthday!! love you dude! Wish I could send you some SUN!!

• I am coming to the end of my first three weeks here is this beautiful country! I have to admit that writing about my experiences is hard for me, and as many of you know I love to talk but this is not like a really long conversation that allows me some instant feedback and head-nods and I only say this to touch on the theme of this blog..........

Remember Stretching is a must!!  So here I go----S-t-r--e--t---c----h---i-n--g 

• Let me begin with the fact that I packed for tropical and got sweatshirt weather (which I understand that that is not a legit complaint with all my friends and family currently living in frozen tundras!) But again were talking Costa Rica and one thinks heat, but still beautiful and so goes the.....Stretching.......
• Our school is very small there are only 4 DTS (discipleship training students) and 5 EARS students which can make for quite small quarters leaving many to have to encounter the wrath of what happens when I eat way to many eggs or beans........again Stretching...also does not leave a lot of alone time during the day so for the first time today in three weeks people got to see the side of Siri that has had way to much people time, (not the one that smile) but again....... Stretching......no vehicle, time, room of my own, and not completely understanding why I am here, I am here, I am growing, seeing, learning and loving this time to see the Lord face to face.

I have to say that in all my previous stretching experience i have not lived them with so much peace and joy....I live with a peace that truly does surpass all understanding and in the midst of that peace I have been able to see the Lord not only in those around me but in the very earth He created, with His peace I can hold on to His HOPE and TRUTH!! 

• Truth that though i may not have what i listed above, or truly know why I am here, HE knows and HE knows the plans he has for me and I AM SOO EXCITED to see what they are......BUT before we can get there I have to keep practicing this -take one day at a time- again back to the........ Stretching.....part.

So beyond all those experiences here are some logistics:
 the first week we had orientation, week two biblical stewardship, which if you need any bible verse on WHY WE NEED TO take care of this earth- let me know I got a few :) And this week we are learning bout how to hear the voice of God!! Next week we will be going to a warmer base here in Costa Rica to learn more about God.....
I live with a bunch of goats, which are not the smartest animals!! (sorry they just aren't) one pregnant horse, cats, dogs, a billy goat named Gandalf, chickens, a compost toilet (which I have yet to use but will one day soon) a family of 7 kids, two parents, 2 staff and 9 students..and as i write this ONE VERY LARGE Taranchula all on 5 acres in the mountains of Costa Rica......not bad.


It has been quite an experience already and I expect nothing less and SO I must remember the even though it is stretching I am not breaking but growing!


Please Pray for us as we listen on where we are to go on our outreach which begins in APRIL: Israel, Pakistan and Kenya are our options right now. I will keep you all updated as time goes on and more is revealed.


So before this gets to long, I just want to leave by saying THANK YOU!From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS< YOUR LOVE < AND YOUR SUPPORT!! and I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!! even the snow!! well maybe just a little!


Much love,
siri

And It HAS BEGUN!!!!

I am only thirty minutes shy of boarding the plane and all I can think about is how sore my behind will be tomorrow when I land in Costa Rica! But what also invades my mind is the love of those who helped bring me to this place not only physically, but mentally and spiritually.  I am struck that even though I am boarding the plane alone, for one of the first times in my life I do not feel alone.  I feel 360 degrees of love. I know that as I begin this journey it will not come without it bumps, battles, scrapes and bruises but more importantly for me it comes with a soft place to land regardless of the outcome.  So as I prepare my mind and heart for this next stage of spiritual growing and maturing I am grateful, for my community.  A community that loves me so much they let me go!!
And I pray that I will be able to love as hard, as furious as those who have loved me bring me to this place in my life. Thank you friends, thank you family for allowing me to be me, thank you for listening to me and for hearing me!
I love you!!
Now enough for all the sappy stuff! I am excited to see how my limbs will be shaken and how the Lord shows up......I will update as much as possible so keep checking back! Ready or Not HERE I COME!!!