How can we summarize the last 10 months? GOD IS FAITHFUL! We haven't been able to share quite everything with you in our blog. There have simply been far too many things happening. A diary would surely have helped here.😄
The last few weeks have been super intense. In addition to the excitement of Johann's graduation, we are once again coming out of a major storm. What do you do when everything around you is raining, storming and shaking? Right, hold on to God's promises and value His Word more than the circumstances around you. This is easy to say or write and preach from the pulpit, but when you find yourself in the situation, it shows what you are made of. Small teaser - more on this in the next blog.
On May 11, 2024, Johann celebrated his official graduation from Charis Bible College together with 420 other students. A bittersweet feeling for him. On one hand, we celebrate what God has done in the last year and how he has brought us through. New friendships have been formed and we have had a great time together. On the other hand, we won't see many of these new friends next year. Nevertheless, we are happy for the people who are pursuing God's calling in whatever place God will use them. Betty is finishing her first year this week and is already looking forward to the next school year.
We would like to thank everyone who has joined us as a prayer and/or financial partner for this time. Without you, it would not be possible to make this journey this far and continue on. Thank you for listening to God's call and opening your hearts to us. You may not yet see the fruit of what God has called us to do, but already we have seen and experienced how people are being changed by the Word, where you will have your part in eternity. You will soon be able to read more about this on our website. Another teaser - we will be making a few small but significant changes to our website over the summer.😉
On Instagram, we asked what you would be curious about after 10 months in the USA. Here are our answers:
What was the most profound new revelation you received?
Betty: «I have learned so much this year that has yet to become a revelation. Head knowledge is not the same as revelation. And only revelation changes us in our innermost being. That's definitely something I've also learned this year. What has become most important to me is that it all comes back to my relationship with the triune God. Growing in intimacy with Him, getting to know His true nature, understanding the work of Christ more and giving the Holy Spirit more and more room to work in me and through me. In every problem I encounter, I must return to the finished work of Christ. There I will find the solution. And then I can truly live as an overcomer.»
Johann: «Don't judge your day by the harvest you reap, but by the seed you sow” (Robert Louis Stevenson). Everything has a beginning; a seed that has a source. The nature of the seed determines the nature of the harvest. New beginnings happen every day. They begin as seeds that carry the future. Thus a heart is founded or confused in what it is nourished by and in this it will also flourish.
Especially in relation to what we say, this has become one of the most important realizations for me. Whenever I speak to someone, I am sowing seeds in their life. I can bless or curse a person. That seed will sprout in that person's life sooner or later, unless that person rejects it or the devil steals the good seed. Of course, this principle is more complex than I have briefly mentioned here.»
How was Bible school with a child? How did you practically manage it?
It was important for us to spend a lot of time with Elijah during his baby years in order to give him the bond and security he needs. We were able to do this because only Johann went to college and Betty did her first year of study online. Betty spent the mornings with Elijah and when Johann came home at lunchtime, he would look after Elijah and Betty could watch her lessons. We needed discipline and grace 😉 It worked more or less well at times. As we know, with a growing baby you are always faced with changes and sometimes sleepless nights. Some afternoons we were just so tired that nothing productive was possible because we had to catch up on sleep. And on others, we built ourselves up and pulled through. And there wasn't always much time to study or read in the evening. But we are also extremely grateful for Kim, our house mom. She kept offering to look after Elijah so that we could go on a date, giving us a short break as a couple almost every week. Bible college with a baby is definitely doable. However, it doesn't look the same as it would without a family and it's important to adjust expectations accordingly or determine what the priorities are. Next year we will both go to school and Elijah will spend the mornings with a babysitter. We are so grateful for this great solution. She is a former Charis student and has children of her own.
This also means that it is important to us that Elijah gets our attention in the afternoons. We're not big planners, but we'll probably split the afternoons up a bit so that everyone can still find some time to study and we can also invest in fellowship with other students.
What were your biggest challenges?
Finances. It was in this area that we were attacked the most over the last school year. Many unexpected situations and expenses have arisen and will continue to arise. We have noticed that we need more revelation in this area in particular. Unfortunately, this is not really talked about in most churches. So most Christians don't have a biblical understanding of it. And yet the Bible doesn't talk very little about this topic... But God has never let us down and provided for us. Just as he will do next year.😊
How did you experience shared living during this time?
It has expanded our comfort zone. Living together means respecting the needs of others, putting yourself back, at times doing something you don't feel like doing and, most importantly, being flexible. It means learning to consider others more highly than ourselves, to love when we want to do the opposite and to be peacemakers. We have sometimes done this more, sometimes less well. Although we are all united in Christ, everyone brings their own culture, upbringing, habits and trigger points with them. 😉 There are days when couples go through difficult times, and you realize that pretty quickly and have to protect yourself from the impact. Open communication is just so important for living together and to always be aware that we have grace from God, for us personally and also to pass this on to the people around us.
"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." - 1.Th 5:24 NIV
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