Summer 2016

Although it seems like we are living in the fast lane of life, God is good. We are a little over halfway into our time in the USA and, although I am ready to not live out of a suitcase, I am hesitant to go back and jump back into school. You see, this has been a good summer. We have been able to see friends from many different circles. We have feasted on favorite fast food joints. We have driven all up and down the West Coast. We (and by that I mean Ed) have battled a few mouse nests in our car for said road trip... ok, maybe that wasn't so great, but it's a story!

Over all, God has shown us again and again how beautiful the Church is. We have been welcomed by new church groups and reconnected with former communities. We have enjoyed lunches and dinners and just hang outs with many people. And although it's been two years since we were both back, it feels as if we just left thanks to so many people's hospitality. We have been reminded how amazing our supporters are and that we CANNOT do what we do without their prayers, words of encouragement and friendship.

So, although life in the States does not feel normal, it has been beautiful!

And here are some highlights so far :)

Ed's farm house

Lighting paper lanterns

Sunset on the beach

Girls weekend with the Besties (and Quatchi)

Hiking at Lava beds with Sarah's parents

Celebrating Father's day with my grandpa

Redwoods

Alcatraz prison

San Fransisco

Benditos!

God is so good. So faithful. So wonderful.

We arrive back in Bogota early this morning so blessed! It's a series of small, rather quiet thing, but has been God's gentle way of saying "I love you" and "I will take care of you". Here's the list of the last 48 hours:

1- Financial support- Friday we received news that all of our one-time financial needs have been met! And more than met- exceeded! Fund raising for a living is a nerve racking, yet faith building experience. One that tickles the back of the mind saying "is it really going to happen?" "is this really worth the effort?". But then God provides and BAM- doubts are gone and God is working!

2- Travel Vouchers- Saturday morning we headed to the airport in Portland. As we were waiting at the gate, the gate agent offered $300 in vouchers is anyone would like to take a different flight. Since we had a really long lay over in LAX, we figured it would be an easy way to save some money for future airline purchases. We headed to the gate and within a few minutes we were booked for a later flight- still giving us time in LAX for our connection with $600 in airline vouchers in our hands. Thank you Lord for providing a little extra boost towards our next trip.

3. Flight connection- Our middle flight (LAX to Houston) was scheduled to arrive just in time for us to make our connection. Unfortunately we left LAX late and delayed our arrival time. This is my least favorite thing about flying- tight connections. While I went to the back to go to the bathroom I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask the flight attendant if there was any way we could be sure to make our connection. She said that the flight would know we are coming and wait for us, but she would be willing to ask passengers to stay in their seats to let us off the plane quickly. I thanked her and calmed a little. Turns out we landed at our scheduled time (!!) and the fligth attendant did make the announcement and many people let us through. Turns out there were a few other people making the same connection as well. We exited the plane to search for our next gate. Turns out is was right across the hall. Literally. It was only 2 numbers apart! We didn't have to run and it was easy. I breathed a sigh of relief! Praise God for the little things!

4. A ride home- We arrived in Bogota early and were shuffled through immigration fast. It helps that it was 5 in the morning and the immigration officer looked like he could use some coffee. Our luggage was first on the carousel (another benefit of a tight layover!) and we headed through the door with no problem. I called the family who volunteered to pick us up and they were just around the corner so within 20 minutes of landing we were in the car heading towards our apartment. I am so grateful to live and work in a community that helps each other out. I didn't have to bargain in Spanish for a taxi or wait for traffic.

Again, I am feeling blessed this morning! And with this view outside my window I leave you...

Northern Bogota on a Sunday morning

Summer update 2014

It amazes me that our time in the States is drawing to a close. We have been so blessed to share at churches, meet up with friends and family and enjoy the great beauty of the State of Oregon.

It is also overwhelming. Oregon is no longer our home. While here we live out of suit cases and our car constantly looks like we are moving. We gorge on delicious food, and yet still have to make sure to eat our vegetables. We have conversations with people but leave with a lingering "hope to see you next time we're around". Its a strange unsettled pace of life.

I ran across a blog post about 2 weeks ago that sums up the challenges living the missionary life. Here's a link. You can read it or not. Personally I have felt all of the points at one time or another. Communication with supporters is hard, but also a great way to constantly tell to the stories of God working. Asking for support is awkward, but a tangible way of seeing God work and provide. Loneliness is true and comes and goes in season.

That part though that hit me was:

7. “GOING HOME” IS A LOT OF WORK.

WHAT THEY SAY
It’s great to be back home.

WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY
Please understand, I now have two homes. When I’m at one, I’m away from the other, and there is a lot of emotion involved in that. On top of that, my life is absolutely crazy when I go “home.” I have to see relatives and friends, visit with partner churches, and take care of any number of issues that have arisen with my health, my electronic devices, and my government paperwork. Whether it’s a few weeks or a few months, I spend my time living out of suitcases and hustling from one appointment to the next. Is it good to be home? Sure. But when I get on that plane to go to my other home, I breathe a sigh of relief that life is almost back to “normal.”

My, oh, my- I know!

So, friends- our summer update is this: we love seeing you! We love that we live in a day and age where going "home" for just a month is possible. We love catching up on your life and seeing God work. We love visiting churches and worshiping in English. We are blessed. We are happy. AND we need grace extended upon us as it wears at our bodies and our minds. Understand it is good, but it is hard.

I will leave you with this: I am convinced Oregon is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. Not sure you believe me... check these out! (plus be ready for a full blog post upon our return to Bogota)

Why I love living on financial support

Two to threes times a month we receive a financial statement letting us know how much support has been raised that month. It is honestly my favorite email. Not because I know I can pay our bills the next month, or because I am greedy, but because I love seeing how many people God has pulled together to allow us to live, work and minister in Colombia. We have so many wonderful, faithful supporters, who not only see what God is doing, but are willing to financially invest in His work around the world through us.

It is hard to express in words just how awesome it is to live month-to-month relying on the body of Christ to support and carry out the work God has called us to, but here is my feeble attempt to share my gratitude and excitement of this topic.

1. It allows us to partner directly with the community God has given us.

By having friends, family and fellow believers supplying our financial needs, we feel they are just as much a part of God’s ministry as we are. When I get to sit with a high school student and pray for her, I know that there are many other people who are also with us in that time. When we get to lead and love on our students every day- there are many other people also showing love from afar.

At summer school I was able to teach my pre-kinder students about missionaries. They were so excited to learn about people obeying God and serving him. When practiced sentences, they got to say “Mrs. Trussell went to Colombia”.  I have no idea what seeds God was planting in their little minds, but how amazing would it be to have one my students be a missionary because of the seeds God, through our financial and prayer partners planted in their heart

2. It helps us understand the body of Christ.

In Romans 12:4-5 it says: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We many have the ‘function’ of going and working with Colombian and missionary families, but we both feel that we belong to our supporters and prayer partners through a very practical partnership. We would not be able to do what we do without the generosity of the greater body of Christ.

I remember a year ago at our training- we were in the middle of support raising and a lady came up to us and handed us a check for a large of amount of money. She explained that a long time ago friends of hers were going to Colombia and asked for financial support, and she did not give. Years later, the Lord reminded her of this and decided it was time to make things right by supporting us. It blew me away- her obedience to God and her spontaneous generosity. I felt I belonged to her as part of the same body.

3. It holds us accountable to spending wisely.

In this day and age of the credit card and instant gratification, it is easy to spend more than you make. By us being on financial support, we have an obligation to use wisely the funds God has given us through our supporters. Matthew 25 talks about using what God has given us wisely. It means more than saving and hoarding, but it means making investments in the Kingdom. We are able to live in such a way we can be generous with meals, activities and fellowship- to disciple the students we serve.

4. It deepens our faith in God’s provision.

Psalm 40:4 says “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” God longs for us to depend on Him for everything. It is so hard to live a life that shows we depend on God to meet our needs- not our own works or skills. By living on faith that God will provide enough financial support to meet our needs, we have to trust him. It grows our faith. It builds our trust in God and diminishes our trust in ourselves.

When starting this support raising process four years ago, I knew it would be a way to knowing what God has put before me. If I was able to raise the support I needed, then God was saying “go” but if it was a struggle, I would know God was saying “do something else”. The very practical “putting out the fleece” was one of my ways of listening to God and knowing if I was obeying Him.

 

These are just some of the reasons for support raising and each person has a different story and testimony of how God provides for them. I know that God has called us to this life, and we are to be obedient. I also believe that God calls everyone to different places and support raising is not for everyone (if it were, then who would support who?). I thank the Lord regularly for the wonderful body of Christ, and the people who directly take care of us, and are obedient to his word.

Thank you financial supporters.

Thank you prayer partners.

Thank you friends and family.

And most of all, thank you Lord for loving us and dying for us so that we may have a way to live for you.

Fundraising!

Our ministry in Bogota counts on God providing us with financial support. Right now we are short of our budgeted needs and we need your help to move us along.

We set of goal of 15 new $25 a month supporters by July 5. This will fill up our tank to allow us to move to Bogota with full funds.

How can you help?

1. Sign up online. teachbeyond.org follow the "donate" link in the upper right-hand corner.

2. Use our support form and mail it to teach beyond.

3. Attend "Colombia night" on June 18 at First Baptist Independence from 6-8pm. There we will give you an opportunity to support us financially- as well as hear more details about our ministry and eat some great food!

Any questions, concerns or just want to know more... email me at sarahtrussell11@gmail.com.

Support Us

In order to teach, we are on missionary support with TeachBeyond. 

We raise our own support to enable the cost of tuition at the school to be minimal. To donate Click here or you can use this form. 

Thank you and we greatly appreciate your help in our ministry to children!

Numbers of my life!

10 Days left in the USA. My estimated departure date is August 10! I have not yet purchased my airline ticket, due to delays in accounting at the mission, but I am ready to go.

86% of my funds are in officially. I have another 12% in the mail-which will allow me to purchase my airline tickets. I am still in need of $25 a month or a special gift of $300.

1400 miles driven in my car in the last week- I have been all over the NW saying goodbye and spending quality time with friends and family.

19th of August my students show up in my classroom for the first day of school!

XX?? of partners praying for me, supporting me and allowing God to move actively in this process! THANK YOU!

Learning

Its the second week of training, and although my brain is about to explode, I have been so BLESSED to be a part of a community focused on serving children overseas and giving me the tools to do so with dignity and effectiveness. I have been exploring the "TCK" or Third Culture Kid- a child who is from one country yet lives in another, has identity in both, yet not fuly either. This refers to missionary kids, immigrants, children of diplomats etc.

But most of all, God has been speaking and preparing my heart to live and work overseas. I know this may seem like a shocker to most people who know how much I have traveled and how much I love culture, but I will always be a learner!

God has a sense of humor, and I mean that in the ironic way. Before leaving for training, I decided to pack one of my books from Urbana (the conference I went to in December) and take it along just in case I had some time to read. The book is called "Simple Spirituality" by Christopher L. Heuertz and although it is not one of the classics of Christian literature, I decided to glean from the words of a man dedicated to living life among the poor around the world.

The first of the disciplines was Humility. In general, this is something I understand in concept, but if I were to really examine my life, I would not call myself humble. I take pride in my achievements, and tend to bask in the praise of others toward me, rather than seek God in the praise. I tend to down play the words with responses of "humility" but I know my heart and true attitude- therefor kid myself with an attitude of false humility. The book hit this hard within the first paragraph of the first chapter and immediately I was convicted. I continued reading and was spoken to about the power of God and that for me to really be humble, I must first know God. Not just know about God, but intimately know my creator. Upon my understanding of God and the sacrifice of His son, humility would be a natural form of worship.

Well, the part of humor comes on the first day of training when we were discussing entering a new culture and what it takes. The most important thing: humility. Of course! As I had been wrestling inwardly with the conviction to know God more in order to be pulled into a state of true humility, I would see the immediate outcomes of a life of humbleness through working in a new culture with people I dont understand. God had planted seeds in my mind in order to begin to teach me and allow me to be open to what it is He is doing.

The second part of this is in Chapter 2-Community. This is an understanding of the church I have been exposed to and begun to understand over the past two years. The essential element that God created us to be a body and in relationship with each other is not only a good model, but what He intended. As a North American I thrive and strive for independence and the understanding that I NEED others to be complete is a struggle to comprehend and even more challenging visualize.

In today's session, we spent some time on "body building" focusing on things that will help us have a healthy community where ever we move. We focused on the basic skills of Engage, Empathize and Encourage. All three of these seem elementary in the Christian walk, yet are crucial to having a healthy community.

We need to be intentional in finding a community-not just with believers-but with everyone we encounter. As I move to Mali, my temptation will be to surround myself with the Americans and English speakers. I have to remind myself of why God has sent me to Mali and intentionally reach out to the Malians I encounter.

As brothers and sisters, we are also to live a life of empathy towards others. Not superficial help, but truly hurt with those who are hurting and rejoice with those rejoicing. Life in another country can be exciting and new, yet it is found to lonely and isolating at times. Also, spiritual warfare is real: trails come when the devil is threatened. While following the direction and movement of God, trials, struggles and hardships come and I need to be aware of and compassionate towards my family.

Most of all I need to keep a spirit of encouragement. Life is hard-we live in a broken world. As I work with children, teachers, families and Malians, I need to encourage and support those around me. At the same time, I need encouragement from others! Its a two way street, a dependency. But most of all, I need to be in the Word, seeking the Lord through prayer, and available to listen to and learn from the voice of God.

Life is a never ending lesson. God is constantly molding me; making me more like Him. There are spurts and dry spells- yet I am confident that when I am open to what He is saying, and choose Him over anything else, my life may be a blessing to Him and those around me.

God is faithful

Hello praying friends!

Well lots is happening and life is pretty exciting. I have spent the last week on the road visiting friends and family, and although I am ready to not be in my car, it has been a sweet time of conversation and sharing about what God is doing in my life!

Few things to be praying about:

TRAINING: I leave for New York tomorrow morning for a 2 week training. I am so excited to connect with other missionaries, dive into Gods word and be equipped with tools that will be invaluable on the field! Ed finished his training last night in Minnesota, so together we are getting ready to roll!

SUPPORT: As of last night I have 75% of my one-time costs covered and 5% of my monthly expenses. God is providing left and right and I am so excited to see His faithfulness! Thank you for all your support and help!

PREPARATION: I am moving to a Muslim culture and extreme poverty. It is going to be in a completely different life and although that is exciting, it is hard at the same time. Pray that I am able to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare for my life in the next year!

Thats all for now!

Life is fun!

Its June and I am 2 days from away from being done with school. I will have my last Final on Thursday, so I am pumped to be almost completed with undergrad studies.

A few updates with Mali

1- Support raising has begun! Letters are going out Friday and I am stoked to see God move quickly. That being said, it is going to take help from everyone to see this to completion. Please pray and consider being a part of my financial team.

2- Well, for all those not in the facebook world, I should let you know I am in a relationship. About 2 weeks ago, I was asked to be in a relationship by my good friend Ed Trussell and I said yes. At the time I had no idea what this would mean with me heading to Africa and him graduating this term too-but trusted God was working. Well, I came to find out that Ed had been probing around behind my back and was accepted as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at the school in Mali as well. So what that means is he is joining me in Africa! Its still a little unreal, but exciting at the same time.

3- I head to New York for training on June 27th and will be gone for 2 weeks. The training is specific for Missionary kids and the people that work with them overseas. I am super excited to be surrounded by like-minded people and hear what God is doing around the world, as well as gather tools that will help me be more effective in Mali.

Please continue to be in prayer regarding Gods direction, porvision, and grace in this time of transition!

It's Official!

After a 30 minute phone interview yesterday, I was officially endorsed as a mid-term missionary with WorldVenture!

I will start support raising in the next week, so be paying attention to the mail, for the letters are coming.