God said "Go!"

Dear friends and prayer team,
First, I cannot begin to express all that God has been doing in my heart and life while I have been here at CCBCE! Our God is so faithful to teach us and mold us closer to His image, even when it means painful, difficult lessons. This has truly been a time where He has brought me out to the wilderness to speak tenderly to me as His daughter and show me direction for my life. I have no doubt that He is calling me to labor in His fields, for they truly are white for the harvest! I say this with fear and excitement: fear in the unknown and excitement to see what He will do as I obey Him.

As you may have known/heard, it had been on my heart to go to Israel and serve along side of the Calvary Chapel there in Tel Aviv for my 30 day outreach that is part of my mission training program. And while I had been seeking out the contacts there and working through the details of my stay there, God had been bringing up the country of Kyrgyzstan to my mind. All throughout my 10 day outreach to Ukraine, I continually was hearing about Kyrgyzstan, even ministering to missionaries from Kyrgyzstan who were getting more Biblical training at a Mission School in Ternopil Ukraine! But I still in my heart was striving after going to Israel. When I returned back to the school here in Hungary, I could not get Kyrgyzstan off my mind and heart, and yet I continued to push the thought aside. On Monday night, our missions director here at the school, Lisa Collins, came to me and told me that she and one of the pastor's here, Phil Metzger (Pastor of Calvary Chapel Budapest), had specifically been praying that the Lord would raise up someone to go to Kyrgyzstan to be a part of the team there and my name came to their mind. In addition, one of the pastor's from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan has also been praying! His sister is studying here this semester and I come to find out that she has been praying all semester that God would speak to my heart about going there for my 30 day! Sitting there with Lisa, I clearly heard the Lord say "This is the way, walk in it"! I have NEVER experienced something like that before! In addition to it being a predominately Muslim country, the language that most speak is RUSSIAN....which I have been continuing to study while I have been here! I am overwhelmed....I cannot help but think back to that Sunday evening after worship when I went to Pastor Chris with a heavy heart and tears, knowing that God had said "go" but having no clue where He wanted me to go! I am so blessed but His faithfulness to direct and lead my steps for His glory!

With the decision being made, I now have a little over three weeks to get everything in motion to leave for Kyrgyzstan. And while it is easy to become anxious, I think of the Word God gave my pastor as he prayed for my healing the week before I left for Hungary, "man's deadlines are not God's deadlines!" I have full confidence that He will make the way and provide the finances! He who called me is faithful! "His past faithfulness, demands my present trust." (Spurgeon)I want to ask you to please lift me up in prayer as I walk through this door. It can be intimidating, but I feel that all God has used in the past several years of ministry and training at my church, and all he has taught me while being here, He will now continue to use as I head out on the field. As I seek Him, please prayer that God will sustain me through the attacks from the enemy, that He will keep me in perfect health and peace, and that I will rely solely on Him to provide what is necessary for this trip ($1,500 for airfare and living expenses while I am there). Also, please prayer for the team of nine serving in Bishkek, for their families and ministry there. Pray that God would give them strength as He continues to open up the doors for ministry. In addition, lift up the hearts of the Kyrgyz people. Ask that God would be softening their hearts and drawing them to Himself.

I am so thankful for all of you and your dedication to pray for me and labor along side of me! I have been blessed and overwhelmed by your outpouring of love. I will continue to keep you updated about all that God is doing.

In His grace ><>Patricia

*If you feel led to support me financially, checks can be made out in my name and sent to my home address:1 Cleveland Ave., Narberth, PA 19072