Boundless Love

This evening my team spent a good portion of time singing hymns together. It was so moving and powerful to belt out the words to these weighty songs. These were team favorites, so I wanted to share the lyrics.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

What a love. How can it really be so? Next song:

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,My heart is still at home.

Budapest

Our team ventured to Hungary for 4 days to explore what life will be like during our two month stay there. We also, on this trip, applied for a Hungarian visa through the Evangelical Alliance as a volunteer. On July 16th we will find out for sure if we will receive this visa to stay in the European Union. Please continue to pray that God would make a way for us to stay in Austria however that may look.

In 2 and a half weeks we will venture to Hungary for about a two month stay. Our summer will definitely be packed full as we serve every single week at camps put on by the OM Hungary team. Last week they trained us in teaching English since that will be what we mostly do while there. I'm really excited to also participate in some physical activity while helping out at sports camps.

The next two weeks we're continuing to get plugged into ministry. I've been doing a lot of work with the homeless ministry in Vienna and it's been a lot of fun. I feel very welcomed and loved by the guys there.

Here are some pictures of Budapest.

The Kingdom

Friday night I had the opportunity to go on an outreach with a group that reaches out to women in Vienna who have, either by force or by choice, found themselves working as prostitutes. Our journey only began at 10:30 pm as we headed for the area of town where the Nigerian women are at. Many of them were sold to a pimp or a madam with the intent of paying off debts. One girl that I met was sold by her parents to pay for her younger siblings schooling. We walked the streets giving them tea, food, and anything else we could give. My heart aches for these girls and the total injustice of the situation makes me feel frustrated and helpless. At the same time though, God gave me peace that this isn't the ministry I'm going to be doing while in Austria.

God has been very faithful to show me where He wants me to be during my time in Austria. Over the past few weeks I've begun to really plug into the homeless ministry and I love it so much! I've been helping out with some homeless meals and outreaches a few days a week, and then also working for a second hand shop that supports the ministry. I've made so many friends at the homeless meals and have really connected with so many of the men there. They treat me like a daughter and really respect me. It's also going to be nice to do the behind the scenes work that isn't so glamorous. It's not very exciting to write home to your supporters saying "I ironed and sorted second hand clothes for 6 hours all for the sake of the Kingdom!" But every part of the Body is important. Even the parts you don't see in action very much. So, in sorting and ironing clothes for the second hand shop I will be funding a ministry that feeds, houses, and cares for many homeless people. Praise God!

Tomorrow morning I leave for Hungary for 4 days. We're going to fill out visa applications in hopes of being accepted in Hungary instead of Austria. Pray that God would bless this time and show us favor in the visa offices.

Goodbye May, Hello June!

The packed full month of May came to a close with a bang. A very special bang that happens every single year.... MY BIRTHDAY! Yes, I was born May 31, 1988 and celebrated my 21st birthday this year. My teammates had some surprises awaiting me and the day turned out to be quite enjoyable. The weather wasn't the most cooperative (it was so cold I needed to wear my winter jacket and a hat!) but I felt so loved anyways. The attire was "something plaid," the main attraction was a Mexican restaurant, and the highlight was a bronze gnome present! Check out the pictures.

So far in June we've been doing our best to get plugged into ministry. This is complicated because we will be gone most of the summer in Hungary. I've been having an amazing time hanging out with some of the homeless in Vienna. I have many stories to tell, but that will have to be saved for a later post. Auf wiedersehen!