Daughters of Bulgaria Christmas

The team in Bulgaria went out to the streets and brought gifts to the girls. I received the following email and picture:

DofB gathered together to wrap the presents and pray over them and over the night. 

For our Daughters we had scarves and hats (thanks to Abby), calendars (thanks to Hertsmerk in Vienna) and cosmetic bags (thanks to the ladies from the vision trip a few months ago! they were beautiful and so full!)

For the children we had sets of hats, scarves and gloves as well as toys, school supplies, toiletries and some candy! 

"Dirty whores"

Now that I have your attention...if the title of my blog post offended you...please keep reading.

Two Saturdays ago I did something that I rarely do...I went to Starbucks to have coffee (sorry Dunkin Donuts) and use their wifi to complete my homework. I was having a terrible time concentrating on my homework at home because all my dog wanted to do was play and he kept hitting keys on my laptop and it was annoying me to no end...thus began my adventure at Starbucks...

 As I was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather we were having, a well-dressed man around his mid to late 40s sat down at the table next to me and began reading the newspaper; we exchanged pleasantries and than went about our business. Time went by, and I noticed that the man was staring at me and my computer quite frequently, but I did my best to just ignore him, even though I was growing uncomfortable. I smiled apprehensively at him and asked if he was having a good day, which supposedly served as an invitation for him to join me at my table. Now, being the "good missionary" I am (LOL) I should have just welcomed him and thought about how this is a great opportunity to meet someone new; however, I was actually thinking, "dang it! I should have stayed home with my dog."

I looked at this man closer, he was definitely at least in his 40s, he had wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. I thought this could be a good sign that he laughed a lot; I came to this conclusion as well because he was not saying a word to me, only smiling at me strangely. I politely asked his name to which he responded, "doesn't matter", so I, in turn, did not offer mine. He then cut to the chase and asked me why I was wearing a Bulgaria shirt. I looked down and indeed, I had put on my Sofia shirt that morning, not even really paying much attention. I shared with him that I had friends that lived there, and that I planned on moving there within the year. He became a bit more friendly at this point, telling me he was from Turkey and that he knew Bulgaria very well. He then asked me what my "fascination" was with that country and why I would want to move there. I explained that I was in school for psychology and Christian counseling and that I was also a missionary that was going to be joining an established team in Bulgaria. He probed for more info on the specifics of what I would be doing there, and as cautious as I was trying to be (he gave off a very sinister vibe) I ended up just telling him that I was going there to offer counseling to women in general. I did not feel comfortable disclosing too much info to him.

He felt the push back I was giving him and ended up turning belligerent towards me; he told me I was a "stupid American" and that I had no place being in "his part of the world" as a "crazy Christian." He also said to "stay away from the dirty whores on the streets" because they were right where they belonged. This was interesting because I hadn't mentioned at all about working and dealing with prostitutes. He said he knew women "like me" and told me that if I did go there and try to talk to the "dirty whores" that I would have "another thing coming" to me. He was literally yelling at me and making a spectacle. People were staring and one guy (rather than step in) was taking video. I was in COMPLETE shock and basically just politely stood up, told him that I would pray for him and then walked to my car and went home.

I'm not sure if I should have said more to him, or if I did the right thing, but either way, I have been praying for this man and the rest of the men who either don't care about, or abuse these women.

Have you been Spiritually Harrassed

I really liked this today from my daily devotional...

In the spiritual realm we deal with spiritual harassment from Satan and his legions. The Bible says "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph.6:12). It is important to recognize when we are coming against these forces. Satan attempts to distract us from our calling and destiny in life. We often trivialize the reality of the spirit realm of evil.

Paul tells us we must set our minds to deal with the spiritual realm of evil when it impacts our lives. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Eph 6:13).

The next time you feel obstacles have been placed in your life designed to distract you from your God-ordained mission, remember Paul's words and stand firm in Christ.

Share your faith

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ" (Philemon 6-7).

There is a strong correlation between those who publicly share their faith with others and an increase in spiritual growth for that individual. In my own journey I've discovered that when I stop sharing my faith with non-believers I begin to see a dryness in my walk with God.

Sometimes we justify our lack of verbal witness by saying we don't have the spiritual gift of evangelism. Or we conclude that because we have an introvert personality we leave witnessing to others who we deem as more qualified. As a well-qualified introvert myself, I've often wanted to use that excuse. 

Then, the Holy Spirit reminds me of a few instructions Jesus said to EVERYONE:

"But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Matt 10:33). "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15-16). There is not much confusion about what Jesus is saying in these verses. And it relates to all of us.

When we share Christ with others God allows us to gain a deeper and greater understanding of every good thing in Christ. Do you see the direct correlation between sharing your faith and your own spiritual growth? Paul says it's actually a prerequisite to spiritual growth.

One of the great ways to turn a conversation to faith is by asking someone if there is anything you can pray for them about. You will be surprised how easily this will transition you into a conversation about their faith lives.

Today's Prayer

Dear God,

People are always asking me "How are you?" Most of the time, it is just a greeting. They really don't want to know how I am. I admit that in a rush, I'll pass by someone and greet him or her with a "Hi. How are you doing?" Even though I care, I don't really expect to spend a long time in conversation to get all the details of how that person really is doing. That's sad. Please help me to be willing to sacrifice a little of my time and to take a few moments to offer a sincere and caring response. Maybe I should just say, "Fine...and how can I help you today?" or "Been a little under the weather, but doing great today. May I help you... or May I pray for you..." or whatever you lay upon my heart to say and do. I want to give a more personal touch...to be a blessing to others and show your love in my response.

In Jesus' name I thank you.

Silly conversation with God

So, I was driving in my car, praying for my friend's dad who is in the hospital (obviously not the silly part) While I was praying, I felt compelled to say words such as "thy" and "thou". This happens a lot, especially when I'm praying out loud in a group, so I decided to address this with God. 

The conversation went like this...

"God, I know in the bible words like "thy" and "thou" were used...however, they are not in my regular vocabulary so I'm not sure why I always feel like I have to say them when I'm praying. I feel like I'm from the renaissance era when those words come into my head. Like I should be saying, "Jesus, Jesus, wherefore art thou Jesus?" I'm not that sophisticated when I pray...I'm more like, "yo God, what's up? Thanks for this beautiful day we are having" :) and "geez God, why am I so dumb, I screwed that up again. Please forgive me." 

This got me thinking about how other people may pray or talk to God on a regular basis. He hears us and understands us no matter what or how or in what language in which we speak. It's pretty amazing how big and powerful our God is and how He doesn't care how we sound when we talk to Him, just so long as we talk to Him. 

At the end of this prayer/thought process I looked up and saw the cutest little cloud all by itself that looked like a heart to me. God was smiling :) and so was I. Thank you Lord. 

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and God is the sun."

Prayer request from Bulgaria

Email received from the team in Sofia...

Every week we ask our ladies how we can be praying for them. Sometimes they actually tell us things! And sometimes they say, "I have nothing...I'm ok". But they know that we pray for them during the week and that we care. 

Last Sunday E ran up to our car as we pulled up. Crying. She has had teeth problems over the last few months and now she is in a lot of pain due to a bad dentist appointment. She came up and hugged us and said she was hurting. We asked if we could pray for her she said yes. We laid hands on her and prayed for her right there on the Road. 

Whenever we talk to the girls about their teeth they always say that they have a "specific" dentist that they go to and have to wait a long time to get an appointment. We do not know what this means, but it further adds to our belief that they are controlled and not well taken care of. Please pray for our daughters' health. Some take drugs to escape, some never go to the doctor because they are afraid, and some believe that their health does not matter to them. Please pray for their health and that they would see their value and run to the foot of the cross. 

Pray for E, that her tooth would heal and also that she would come to know Jesus. And please continue to pray that the police would not be violent towards them anymore. They are so terrified of them and it kills us to know that people that should be protecting them are actually violent towards them. 

Thank you, again for your prayers. 

1 Chronicles 5:20

They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

MTW Network Magazine Article

Check out MTW's Network Magazine for the article about what God is doing in my life!

My ministry and how to support me

I have always felt a strong burden and compassion for the spiritually lost and abused, especially women and children. God has prepared my heart for the mission field by bringing me through tough trials and making me stronger through my reliance on Christ. I am currently getting my degree in psychology/Christian counseling and will graduate in spring 2014. I will then be moving to Sofia, Bulgaria where I will be working to help rehabilitate both women and children who are trapped in the darkness of human trafficking.

Imagine sitting in a dark, cold room all alone; you’ve been ripped away from your family and have no idea where you are…complete silence except for the crying of girls you hear in rooms nearby. The next thing you know, 3 men are coming in to grab you and take you into another room where you are repeatedly raped and beaten. This goes on for days…weeks…months…you finally give up. You’ve lost your will to fight and your body no longer feels like your own.  You are then sold to another handler who then forces you to sell your body on the streets to anyone who approaches you. This is what happened to a girl I met on the streets of Bulgaria. You could see the pain in her eyes and the desire she had to be off the streets…yet she is trapped.

There are more than 27 millionother women and children just like M all     over the world. Did you realize that every 26 seconds a woman is sold into slavery for the first time? These women need our help. The team I will be joining in Bulgaria reaches out to these women and shows them the love of Christ that they don’t realize exists. They don’t feel that God loves them and feel as though they are worthless. We will be there to let them know that they are special and that we can help them. We want them to know that we will keep showing up to minister to themand show them the love of Jesus in hopes that the Holy Spirit will move them to follow Christ and get out of the darkness. You can read more about the Daughters of Bulgaria ministry that I will be joining here: http://www.mtwbg.com/DOB

Ways to support my ministry… Please join me in this fight against evil! I need your prayers and financial support to be able to help these girls. Please pray about becoming a member of my team by donating monthly to my ministry. I need $100-$300 a month (or whatever you can give) per person to make this happen. You can donate here:www.mtw.org. Click on ways to give, and then give to missionaries. Find my name and click on donate. Please enter your contact information as well so that I can send you prayer letters and updates on my progress. Thank you so much!

LOVED BY CLEANSING

This is from my devotional today...thought it was worth remembering and sharing :)

Let the Lord see beneath the surface. Allow His love to penetrate. Permit Him to pass through all of your defenses to look at who you are under your makeup. Read the following poem and then ask God to remove any sin that keeps you from receiving His love. Even though there may be no one that you really trust, will you trust Him? "Perfect love casts out all fear" (1 John 4:18). Let Him tenderly, carefully, and lovingly peal away the layers. Let Him wash it all away. Receive His love.

"Under My Makeup"
by Susan Sampson

Who am I under my makeup?
Am I someone who's afraid to be seen?
Or am I a daughter of the King?

Who am I under my makeup?
Am I someone who's afraid to be real?
Or have I been marked by the Holy Spirit's seal?

Who am I under my makeup?
Am I someone who's defined by my wrinkles and flaws?
Or have I been set free from the laws?

Who am I under my makeup?
Am I someone who just isn't good enough?
Or am I covered in Jesus' blood?

Who am I under my makeup?
Am I someone who doesn't like my own story?
Or was I created in the image of God's glory?

Who am I under my makeup?
I am someone who chooses to believe,
That I am a daughter of the King!

God answers prayers

Hallelujah! No sooner had I put up my post about persecution did the person I was praying for contact me and apologize for her words and I was able to show God's mercy, love and forgiveness to her. Praise be to God!

"The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer." (Psalms 6:9 ESV)

Persecution hurts

It is much easier to ignore persecution from people you don't know; however, when it come from a friend or acquaintance it hits home and stings quite a bit more. Lord I pray for the people who persecute others, especially the one I have in my mind right now...you know who she is, Lord. I pray that I will not lose my temper or my nerve with her and others I'm faced with in the future. I pray you have mercy on the ones who laugh in my face when I talk about you Lord. I pray you open their eyes to seeing that You are real and use me to help show them Your countless wisdom and love. Thank you Lord. 

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44 ESV)

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12 ESV)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you." (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ESV)

Why do I have to raise support?

 Why do missionaries raise support? In my simplest of thoughts, raising support/funds is just ground work for people being a part of the Lord's ministry that He is doing through me. Not only does the support fund my ministry and allow me to go to Bulgaria, but it helps my supporters be invested in my mission. It lays the foundation for people to pray for me and truly be a part of the ministry in Sofia, Bulgaria. It also gives me a support system that I know is both praying for me and interested in my well being and what is going on in Sofia. 

Video about why missionaries raise support: http://youtu.be/7OoABUs2N40

Here is some scripture I found that talks about missions and support raising. 

The Great Commission:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19, 20 ESV)

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21 ESV)

"Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 ESV)

Magazine Article about me for the MTW Global Mission's Conference

GMC 2013 – Network magazine

“Switching Tracks: How God Used a Missions Conference to Change My Life”

By Melissa Kelley

Heading into 2010’s PCA Global Missions Conference in Atlanta, Julie Stout was unsure of her career, her calling, or her future.

The 33-year-old Gainesville, Fla., healthcare professional had recently exited a long-term abusive relationship that left her spiritually and emotionally depleted. Though she had felt a tug toward missions since childhood, it took a pointed challenge from her church missions chairman to move her to action. “He said he could see in me a strong desire for missions—so much so that he insisted that I attend the PCA Global Missions Conference in Atlanta at the church’s expense,” said Julie.

It was a worthy investment.

A Providential Encounter
The first person Julie met as she walked into the conference hall was missionary Dal Stanton, MTW’s team leader in Bulgaria. And that conversation set the stage for a vision trip Julie took to Bulgaria in 2012, where her eyes were opened to the vast needs of victims of sex trafficking. She is now itinerating and raising support to serve as a long-term missionary with the “Daughters of Bulgaria” ministry in Sofia.

“I have a strong desire to work with abused women based on my past,” said Julie. “It’s hard to get out of that dynamic without help. I can understand it because I’ve been through it myself.” When Julie leaves for the field in 2014, she’ll have completed her degree in counseling, allowing her to provide free counseling services to women transitioning out of abuse and sex trafficking.

Julie freely admits that she didn’t expect to come out of the PCA Global Missions Conference with such a clear vision for her future. “I thought I’d just be getting some general information,” she said. But God often surprises us in the way He works.

 2013 PCA Global Missions Conference Travels to Greenville, S.C.

Julie’s story may not be typical, but it represents the power present when thousands of believers gather in Christ’s name to seek His face and reflect on His work around the world.

The 2013 Global Missions Conference will be held in Greenville, S.C.  Co-sponsored by MTW and Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), the November 8-10 conference will welcome all who are interested in missions, including missionaries, students, musicians, pastors, artists, Christian leaders, businesspeople, youth workers, doctors, and teachers. MTW and RUF look forward to hosting some 1,000 college students at this year’s conference.

Conference speakers will include noted apologist Ravi Zacharias, MTW coordinator Paul Kooistra, RUF coordinator Rod Mays, Greek national pastor Glotis Kantartzis, and Indelible Grace founder/RUF pastor Kevin Twit.

Come share the excitement of God’s work at the 2013 PCA Global Missions Conference, November 8-10 in Greenville, S.C. Visit www.mtw.org for more details or to register. Early-bird registration applies through July 31 and there is a discount for students and for groups of six or more.

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[Quotes from previous conference attendees to use as mini-sidebars: ]

“I enjoyed the reports about where and how MTW is involved with what God is doing. So often in our church we know only about the work of the particular missionaries we support. To see more of God's work around the world is energizing, encouraging, and glorious.”

--attendee Gail Trapp

“The weekend was such a blessing in that I was able to establish stronger foundations with which to grow in my Christian community back here on my college campus. I am thankful for the energy and encouragement the Lord provided me through the teachings and interactions of the weekend.”

--Taylor Smith, college student

“Talking with missionaries I know and hearing missionaries from around the world say, "We need help—please come help us if you can," were the most influential and pivotal parts of the weekend.”

--attendee Brittany French

“The main sessions and talks were particularly good. It was helpful, encouraging, and moving to hear and see the testimonies through the videos and people—made missions very tangible.”

--attendee

“Singing praises to our God with other believers in such a large room was a small taste of heaven.”

--attendee

SIDEBAR:
Mercy Ministries Pre-Conference
MTW will be hosting a Mercy Ministries Pre-Conference, beginning Thursday evening November 7 and concluding Friday afternoon November 8.  Philip Langford of International Justice Mission (IJM), Africa, will highlight issues of justice both at home and throughout the world. Sessions are designed to provide practical assistance to help us become the hands and feet of the gospel. Find out more at www.mtw.org/gmc .

 

 

Thirty-one party for Bulgaria

First off I'd like to thank Kelly Fiorello, Christina Fischer, Sarah Teoli, and Melanie Holtham for coming to my party today for Bulgaria. It meant so much to me that you all took time out of your busy schedules to come and listen to my story and passion for the women of Bulgaria.

Second, I'd like to say that I am somewhat disappointed in my turn out today. I expected many more people to turn out but didn't. My initial instinct was to cry. I felt a bit defeated and underwhelmed. However, I realized that is exactly how satan wanted me to feel. I was quickly reminded that I am doing God's work and there are going to be struggles along the way. God never said the end result would be easy, He only said it would be worth it. I refuse to give up and throw in the towel. I am only beginning my journey to spread God's word in Bulgaria to the women in prostitution and human trafficking. There will be good times and bad times. I also must remember that raising funds has nothing to do with ME or YOU...it has to do with GOD. I will post more about WHY missionaries raise support later (I don't want to overwhelm you tonight with reading material lol).

Today turned out to be a good time despite the turn out. My written feedback from some of the women there at my party was proof that God had exactly who needed to be there to listen to me speak and it made a world of difference in my attitude towards today and what I am certain I am meant to do.

I want to state that there will be several opportunities to come and listen to my story and testimony and learn how you can be a part of changing the lives of a few of the 27 million women caught in sex slavery. I understand that this is a touchy subject, but it is a real thing that is going on in our world and if we all just turn a blind eye to what's going on, then none of these girls will get the help that they desperately need. I am in dire need of financial support to make this journey and represent my church and YOU in Bulgaria. But without your financial, spiritual and prayerful support I can't go. Please pray about supporting me in some way or another and help me get God's love to the suffering women in Bulgaria.

Lastly, you can still order online from my party until Wednesday, May 8. 25% will go towards my mission. I saw some of the samples of what's out there to order through Thirty-one and they have some great stuff!! Here's the link: https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E3163550&from=MYEVENTS

Thanks!