Finding my Authority

HEYYOOOOOO!!

Today, is indeed my birthday!! I can now say this is the first time I have celebrated it overseas! Also celebrating it 6 hours ahead of ya’ll is super weird! A couple days ago one of my teammates asked me a very good question. She asked me what I wanted to leave in my 22^nd year. I am not one to review my last years, but when she asked me this question it really got me thinking. Not only on what I want to leave behind but also what I have accomplished and what the Lord has done. This past year I graduated college with some of my favorite people in the world with a degree that I love. Then I got the chance of a lifetime to leave my home in August for a year to travel and spread the good news of Jesus. God has taught me so much in the last 7 months about myself and has pulled me closer to Him than ever before. I have been able to completely let go of my worries, take more risks, love on more people, travel and see the Lord’s creation. I have learned to see what it looks like to wake up every day and repeatedly surrender my future, my finances, my family, my friends, my desires and dreams to God. It has changed my thought process and view on my daily life. It has been incredibly life giving and let me tell you, the less time you worry about things, the more time you have to love on each other and enjoy the life God has given you!

Nonetheless, to answer my teammates question. What I would leave behind is something that I have struggled with that not a lot of people know. The Lord has walked me through it on the race and He brought it to my attention in Honduras. I want to leave behind the identity I give myself. As most of you know I am the youngest of my family, the baby. Do not get me wrong, it has its perks 😉 However, I have always seen myself as less valued, or having less wisdom than others. I have never seen myself as someone who walks with authority or confidence. Never wanting to stand firm in my beliefs and opinions just in case others do not agree. These past few months the Lord has taught me what it looks like to walk in boldness. I have learned that God has given us authority to walk in. I do not need to get it from myself or someone else. He GIVES us it. I find my authority in Him and in Him alone. I still have days where I struggle and I feel like I cannot do anything right, that I am never good enough or smart enough, but by the end of the day I remind myself those are all lies. I want to leave behind the identity I give myself, that I think others see me as, that the devil likes to continuously sneak into my thoughts. I want to leave behind the lies, and bring forth the authority and steadiness that the Lord covers me with in this new chapter of life called 23.

NOW FOR SOME UPDATES!!

I know a lot of you have been wondering what has been going on here in Romania while there is a war going on right next door! Lots of flexibility is the first thing!! We have been able to work alongside Hope Church and help serve Ukrainian refugees. Hope Church has been helping refugees with transportation from the border of Ukraine to where ever they need to go, Romania, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. We have also provided temporary housing for them. Some have lived in our mission house with us and others have been staying in two houses that Hope church has rented and they are looking into renting more. People who have donated through the website that I have shared before on social media, your money goes to things like renting houses, fuel for transportation, food, clothing and any other necessities that we provide the refugees. Hope Church has also been able to help over 250 Ukrainians over the last month, which is incredible for the amount of people we have here working. (P.S. if you feel called, our host would LOVE to have more hands-on deck to help out!!) I have loved getting the chance to support families, moms, grandparents, teens and kids emotionally and just make them feel human again, to laugh, smile and play games. I have heard stories of people leaving there loved ones to fight at war as well as seeing first hand photos of their hometowns and businesses being destroyed. The Lord has really broken down my heart for Ukraine and their people. Our team prays every day for miracles to happen and for the war to end, we cannot forget how powerful our God truly is. Being here, at this exact time is a miracle itself. Our squad was supposed to be in South America right now, but instead we got rerouted to come here, not knowing this was going to happen. We are here for a reason and I hope we take advantage of our last two weeks here in Craiova and share the love of God to as many people as we can.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Things you all could be praying for are of course the war, our church is sending a convoy to Odyssey in the next day or two with supplies for the people there. Pray for safe travels and discernment. Our pastor had a zoom meeting with US troops that are stationed in Italy right now and a couple of them will be flying here soon to help with the convoy. So, prayers for their safety as well. Last thing I would ask for is overall prayers for our teams for our emotional and spiritual health with serving in this type of ministry, it can be draining and prayers against burnout. We have three more months left on the race which is crazy to even type out!! But it is true and we all want to be filled with energy and the motivation to keep on going!!

Thanks again for all the prayers and support. I love you all and I will be home before you know it!!

If you have any questions on donating to Hope Church or to myself, or just want to reach out please do!! I will try to get back to you as soon as I can!

PEACE AND LOVE 

Michaela