Much has been Given

Hello Friends,

The count down begins. I leave for my journey to Africa in 20 days. I can hardly believe it. Each day God continues to piece every little detail together regarding the trip. With each passing day, I am reminded of how much God loves me, how God is taking care of me, and how God will use me this summer in Africa. Each donation and with every card of encouragement I am reminded of how God has everything figured out.

As I have been preparing spiritually over the course of the last few months, I continue to grow closer to God daily. A particular verse has struck me dead in my tracks, causing me to pause and share the meaning that the verse has in my life today.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48
A few years ago, I wouldn't have thought much at all about this verse. I would have probably made the conclusion that I really didn't have THAT much, so the verse probably didn't really apply to me. I also probably would have stated that I wasn't entrusted with much of anything either, so much wouldn't have been asked of me either.  I would have looked at the worldly possessions that I had, which in my opinion at the time, didn't add up to much. I had a car I drove in high school that my parents graciously bought for me. I had my own furniture that I owned, a laptop, a cell phone, a closet full of clothes. None of what I possessed seemed to be that special or out of the ordinary. Everything was of basic necessity, or so I thought.
But now, after what I have seen, how MOST of the rest of the world lives, God has used this verse to truly speak directly into my life. And if I am being honest, I could almost be brought to tears at the sheer love that I feel when I am reminded of ALL that I have been given AND entrusted with.

Why don't you stop and take a few minutes to ponder over what you have been given? Have you been given much? I know I certainly have. I have been given a beautiful apartment, one that I have had the privilege of decorating and painting exactly how I have wanted. I have been given an amazing, new job over the last year; one that I love and am truly blessed to possess. I have been given new friendships; real and lasting ones; friends that I can call in any time of need, with any trouble. I have been given a new heart; one that is seeking after God and expanding His Kingdom. I have been given two, beautiful, sweet, loving boys, who I have had the blessing of meeting and loving on in the country where they are from. I have been given the opportunity to be a part of 3 different teams,
spreading God's love in Africa and in Nicaragua. I have been given the opportunity to spend the summer in Africa, loving on orphans, children who are forgotten even in their own cultures and countries.
What strikes me as the most amazing part of this list of blessings is that all of these gifts came from God and were given because He loves me so much. Did I need to paint my apartment three different colors? No, not at all. Did I have to start sponsoring my two precious boys or take any of the trips I have been on in the last year? Technically, no I didn't have to. It wasn't a life or death decision according to a world view. 

As I ponder over all that has been given to me, I can't help but remember the beautiful faces of those less fortunate than myself that I have met in Nicaragua and in Africa. I could have just as easily been born in South Africa, Ethiopia, or Nicaragua. But God chose differently for me. Acts 17:26-27 says, "God determined the times set for men and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." God had a reason for placing me exactly when and where he did, as the daughter of a middle class business owner and kindergarten teacher in West Lafayette, Indiana. It might seem pretty random, but it wasn't.

I realize that God was the one that gave me everything, and I take great pride and joy in knowing that He entrusted me with everything that I own. He trusts me to bless me enough with Obed and Moises. He trusts me with opportunity after opportunity to be His Hands and Feet in Africa and Nicaragua. He has trusted me enough to send me to Africa for two months this summer. He trusts me enough to provide a job that I love, that gives me the opportunity to serve Him in other countries. The more and more I trust Him, the more and more He blesses me. God also prepared particular good works for me. God has been planning and preparing in advance, giving me exactly what I needed to find him and do the good works He has planned for me.
You and I could choose to shut out the troubles of this world, stay quietly at home, and enjoy a comfortable, pleasant life here in the United States, ignoring the staggering numbers of deaths from starvation, AIDS, and other preventable diseases that steal the lives of so many each and every day. Or, we could use our positions as children of God, to speak up for the oppressed, risk comforts and devote time into investing in those who need the Light of Jesus brought to them.

Could it be that God has placed me or you in a position of comfort and material power for such a as time as today? I'm definitely not a savior of the world, but God is always on the move, ready to raise up relief and deliverance, PEOPLE who will go for Him, who will be His hands and feet. I believe I am a part of THAT Plan. My piece of that plan may seem small, as if it doesn't matter, but I'm just one part of the body of Christ. God IS on the move to change the world one person at a time. Obed and Moises are two small boys that have had their world changed forever. If Obed had living parents, the difference I have made for him would matter to his mother and father. It matters to both boys.

I am convinced that God is asking me to dance with Him, and we are finally in fact dancing together, at the same pace. I have been asked much, but He also is giving me much in return. And we surely are dancing the most beautiful dance I have ever been a part of. The craziest part about this dance is that God is really only asking one thing of me. I wish I could say the same about my daily requests I offer to God. Believe me, I don't just ask for one thing. I ask much of Him, and He only asks one thing from me; LOVE. He asks that I love Him with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul. He also asks me to love those who are hard to love; those who are easy to love; those who are forgotten, those who are alone. He asks me to love every single person in this world,

and He has given me MANY opportunities to do so.

Those opportunities haven't just been presented to me in Africa or Nicaragua. He has given me many here in Indiana, in my every day life. Friends, I urge you to take a look at the beautiful life God has given  you. If you are reading this blog post, you are not physically hurting for anything. You have been given much, and much is being asked of you; much in the form of loving God and loving others.Take heart, for God loves you and trusts you. You have been hand chosen by Him. You are special and loved more than you will ever know or be able to comprehend. You have so much to offer, so much love to be shared with others.

Start dancing with God today. Some of you may say that you can't dance and you have no idea how. Let God lead. He will show you. All you have to do is follow His perfect, planned, precise, steps. Everybody surely can dance! :)

Love you all.
Meg

God is Not Silent

As each new day passes by, and I grow closer to leaving for Africa for a two month journey, God continues to prove his faithfulness and the promises He has made to me in His Word. I have realized, more than I would like to admit, that this struggling, hurting world has conformed my thoughts, desires, and dreams. I have totally been affected by what this world values-- achievements, independence, money, and busyness. Over the years, I have allowed my heart to grow cold towards the "rest of the world." Out of sight, out of mind defined my life for many MANY YEARS.

Growing up, I never was in need of anything. I was blessed to be born into a wealthy, loving, family who happened to live in the United States of America. I grew up taking everything I had for granted. Education was simply something that was required and expected. Meals were never scarce. Money was never a problem. I have never given a thought to the abundance amount of clothes that hang in my closet or the 20 pairs of shoes I must own. Running water, flushing toilets, and electricity never once crossed my mind growing up, becoming a teenager and later moving out and going to college.
As a college girl, life seemed to have a few more responsibilities; paying my rent on time, buying groceries, and attending my college classes. But still a sense of ENTITLEMENT plagued my seemingly dead to the rest of the world body. My college scholarship was earned by who? ME. I had put in grueling and countless hours of hard work into getting a gymnastics scholarship. Surely, I was owed everything that had been given to me. And what did this worldly attitude provide me? Nothing but a indifferent life style that left me feeling small, empty, and unfulfilled.

My attitude revolved solely on my small, insignificant kingdom I had built around myself; everything centered on my gymnastics career, the athlete boyfriend I had to have, and the many so called "Friends" I had in order for me to experience happiness and joy. Yet, as time passed by, the emptiness always came back. The longing feeling I had to want a life that was fulfilling always seemed to be close by, yet somehow so far out of reach.

Have you ever felt this? I am sure most of you know what I am talking about. I tried to create a fulfilling life for myself. I was driven and hardworking. The goals I set for myself seemed to be good ones; earning my degree in hopes to be a University Athletic Director, getting married, having children, etc. Yet, my pursuit of these dreams I had for myself never gave me full satisfaction. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me. Why wasn't I happy? Didn't I have everything I would ever want or desire? My school was paid for, I was treated with the utmost respect being an athlete, I had what seemed be a decent relationship with a like-minded man, and I had love and support from my family and friends.

Still, I knew something needed to change. I felt it at the core of my very being. My heart longed and ached for something more, yet I couldn't put my finger on what was missing. I believed I had given my life to God, yet my actions were not showing that I even knew Him or was a friend of Jesus'. I told myself I was a Christian, yet nothing about my lifestyle made others believe I was Jesus' follower. My eyes were blinded, a veil covered my face, and ultimately I was living in a dark world plagued by my selfish life style. I considered myself to be a good person. I was devoted to my boyfriend, my friends, and my family. I didn't cheat, lie, or steal. I worked hard in my classes and in gymnastics, but every single part of my daily routine was solely done for myself. I did everything for me, never going out of my way or out of my comfort zone to do anything for anybody else. Sure, I would buy my friends birthday gifts, send my parents cards to express my love and appreciation for them, yet I never gave until it hurt, I was glorifying myself in all of my actions.

My small Kingdom I had grown to gradually build up around me over the 21 years of life I had lived came tumbling down in the blink of an eye when gymnastics and my fiancé were stripped away from me. Everything in my life seemed to be spiraling down, and I had no control of anything. I was lost, hurt, and filled with anger as everything I had worked so hard for came crashing down and was gone in an instant. I hit rock bottom, and finally was able to see that God was waiting there at the bottom, as My Rock, for me to finally confront him and give Him free reign over my life. But in my darkest days, I was able to rely not on myself, but on God to bring me to true life, true happiness, and true joy.

Gone are the days that my life is defined by being a gymnast. God has revealed himself to me, and I am now defined and known as a woman after God's own heart. I see now how broken this world is, and I have seen Jesus in the children and people of Nicaragua and Africa. God has mended my broken heart with the giving of my heart, piece by piece, away to the less fortunate, the poor, and the orphans of this world. God is my comfort and strength in my times of need. I have finally confronted my worldly heart and I have asked God to transform it into the heart that He has always wanted me to have. I now realize that I needed the Holy Spirit to change me and the Scriptures to renew my mind so I wouldn't conform to the world any longer.

Christ didn't scramble to elevate his position in the world. Instead He willingly moved downward-- far, far downward. And not only did he assume the lowest position, he placed special value on those around him who were also in the lowest positions; the widows and orphans of this world.
I can't thank God enough for this continual faith in me. I have a long way to go, but I thank God that He is revealing himself more and more every day. He is teaching me what it means to put Him at the top of life, deny myself daily, and take up the cross instead. I can't wait to show His love and share His love to those in Africa in just a few weeks. I can see the children now, their faces bearing the image of Jesus.
I praise God for using each and everyone of you, helping me to be the woman I am today, planting seeds, saying prayers, and offering love and financial support as I embark on this amazing new life God has given me.
I am honored to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need love and affection. These people, the children in these pictures, have saved my life, and brought me to the feet of Jesus, and I can't thank them enough for showing me who Jesus really is and that I have a forever friend in Him.
Blessings and Love to you all,
Meghann

God Keeps on Writing

Hello Friends--

It has been a little over a month since my last blog post. I have been overwhelmed with the faithfulness of our Amazing Father. With the return from my second trip to Nicaragua, I couldn't feel more filled and blessed to be a part of God's story. As if life couldn't seem to be more filled with excitement, love, and joy, while I was in country in Nicaragua in March, God seemed to be whispering in my ear that I might be needed for an extended period of time to work and help with the sponsorship program in the schools that NRN is involved with. I couldn't have been more excited to experience not only ONE WEEK in Nicaragua with my amazing friends and family there, but to spend SIX WEEKS at a time seemed like exactly what God had in mind and exactly what I wanted to do with my time this summer.

Of course, I needed to write up a proposal, stating what I would be devoting my time towards in Nicaragua for the 6 weeks; how I would join my church's team for the first week, help in the schools and with the sponsorship program for 4 weeks, and help led a team out of Terre Haute with my amazing team member and Nica Family member, Kathy. Upon my return, I quickly put together my proposal, sent it to the NRN President, Vice President, and Lead Missionaries Ginny and Cecil Campbell. Quickly, I remember just a few short weeks ago how wonderful it would be to spend and invest 6 weeks into the people, children, and the 4 schools in Nicaragua. I imagined how much I could help and what I could make possible by spending the 6 weeks there. Despite knowing that a trip like mine and investing 6 weeks into a place that I call home would be pleasing and right to God, for some reason I still felt like I wasn't getting the confirmation from God that I needed for this amazing trip.
I grew anxious, praying and asking God to help me to feel 100% sure that Nicaragua was where He wanted me to be this summer. I didn't want to act out in any selfish manner, knowing that Nicaragua, my children , and my dear friends and family who lived there would be something I would never turn down if presented an opportunity to be there with them. Nicaragua is home, and if you only had one time a year to visit, wouldn't you jump to any opportunity to go back? I certainly did as soon as I landed back in the States. Yet, God wasn't giving me immediate feedback. It was almost as if I wanted God to write on a billboard, "Meg, Nicaragua is where I want you this summer." I continued to not get my sign though.
Growing frustrated, I tried to stay still, knowing that the board wouldn't review my request until a few weeks later in April. I thought, "Well Meg, if you get approved and a whole board of people are praying over your stay there, then that is enough confirmation for you to go for six weeks."
The week of the board meeting came around, but the weekend before I was blessed with the opportunity to go the Great Banquet retreat in Frankfort, Indiana. The three day retreat was exactly what I needed at the exact time I needed it. I was able to go and spend 3 days away from technology, away from clocks, and just focus in on God and talking to him. I met so many amazing Sisters in Christ, experienced God's fullness and abundant Love for me in ways that I never thought possible. Going into the weekend I thought for sure God would give me answers about Nicaragua there, and then the following Monday I would surely hear from one of the board members about my proposal.
Well turns out, God didn't give me much of any answer at the retreat, and Monday came around, the day of the board meeting, and I never heard anything.
Talk about upsetting. I thought to myself, "Well, maybe the meeting ran late, and I will hear something tomorrow." As if waiting couldn't make the week any harder, the week also marked my last few days of coaching gymnastics. Most of you know I was a gymnast in college, and for the last 20 years of my life, gymnastics has been #1 above EVERYTHING. My girls that I coach have truly saved my life. I'm not sure if any of them realize just how big of a blessing they are to me. Over the last three years, I have had the privilege and honor of not only helping them be better gymnasts, but in using my story and my life to help them to see themselves how God sees them. Each and every one of my girls over the last three years has grown so much in their walk with God. What an honor and blessing it was to see them grow and mature. I love the girls like they are my own, but God and I came to terms and a conclusion that it was time to let my babies go. I had planted the seeds in their hearts, and I had to trust that God would protect them and send them exactly where they were meant to be. I was an emotional wreck that week to say the least.
Tuesday rolled around, no answer about Nicaragua and Wednesday rolled around and still, NOTHING. I was growing angry, tired of waiting on God. How dare I say I was growing tired of waiting when I really had only been waiting a couple of weeks? Can I say that PATIENCE is not my strong suit? :) As Thursday came around, the day marked my last official practice coaching the girls. Before I walked into the gym, I had a melt down on the phone with my mother. My mother will always be someone I can cry and vent to. I appreciate and love her dearly for the countless hours she has listened to me and offered me loving advice. I proceeded to pour out my emotions and frustrations about where God wanted me to be, why He hadn't given me an answer, what I was going to do without gymnastics, basically the whole nine yards. Of course, my mother calmly told me God would give me the right answer when it was time and that I needed to be patient. It wasn't exactly soothing or what I wanted to hear, but I had five minutes till the start of practice and I needed to hang up the phone.
I thought to myself I could check my email quickly before practice. As I opened up my gmail account, an email from Doug Ehrgott stuck out like a sore thumb. Doug was my Africa team trip leader in October, who works for Horizon International full time as a Global Team Builder. Doug and his wife Sandy have taken over 100 teams and trips to Africa. As I opened the email I couldn't believe what I was reading. The email explained that Doug had just returned from Africa the night before and God laid it on his heart to ask me to spend 8 weeks in Africa serving the AIDS orphans with him in a few different countries. I couldn't believe it. The answer to my prayers was delivered in email form from Doug. Everything finally was coming together, and I simply responded and said that I was all in.
Now with the email coming in the middle of April, I wasn't sure about any logistics or costs about this incredible journey. I knew that God had to line up many things to even make it possible for me to go. Doug later told me the dates, the costs, and what I would be doing exactly, and to be quite honest I was excited, nervous, and fearful all at the same time. Doug was so sure about everything though, telling me to not worry about the high cost of the trip, that God would provide and the right people would support me and want to be a part of the journey along side of me.

The last three trips God has blessed me with an incredible job to be able to fund all entire trips by my salary alone. With budgeting and the amazing blessing from my boss, I was able to make all three trips possible without asking support from anybody else. With my departure date only 8 weeks away, I had no idea how I could possibly come up with roughly $10,000, factoring in two months of rent to prepay before I left and all the trip expenses.  Asking for financial support has also been something that somewhat turns my stomach. People are weird about money, including myself at times. God is really growing me in my faith, for I am having to rely on Him in ways I never have before.
With the close of just a little under 2 weeks of raising support, I have raised close to $2000. God has used my sharing of this journey to not only bless me, but to bless others. I have been handed 500$ cash by a man I barely even know, and I have been blown away by everybody's giving and willingness to help. God has shown me that by asking people to be a part of the journey I am blessing them and I am showing them who God is and what He wants us to be.



I am amazed at God's faithfulness and how He is writing this journey of mine. If you are a person that knows me very well, you can see that NONE of my life is anything that I would have written for myself. BUT it is SO MUCH BETTER. I couldn't have even imagined any of my life amounting to half of what it has been to date, and I have God to thank. He picked me up, opened my eyes, and has allowed me to see through His eyes a broken world, plagued by orphans all over the world. I have come to realize and know that we are all ADOPTED. The children of Nicaragua and of Africa, along with my dear friends and family in both countries have added so much purpose and meaning in my  life that I never know could exist.
My life has been restored and I have finally answered His knocking and calling He has had in place for me all along. The world wants something different of me, but I am standing firm and trusting that God will provide everything I need to do His work in Africa for 8 incredible weeks this summer. Friends, if you are reading this and have given financially, I thank God for your faithfulness and willingness to come along side of me. Without you, I would not be going. It seems that I have a long way to go, numbers wise, but for God, this is a very small task and HE WILL SEE IT THROUGH. If you haven't given, I ask you to pray that God directs you in the right way and ask what He would want you to do.
I love you guys so much. blessings to you and yours on this beautiful day God has given us.

Meg