School days!

It feels like it's almost Christmas because it's gotten pretty cold the last two days. Although, it's been perfect weather for about a week. Denmark is really pretty nice in good weather. :)

So the start of school was really good. We went on a three day trip to the West Coast and it was wonderful! There are only 2 Americans here; me and another guy from Dallas, so that is fun. Everyone else is mostly from Europe, lots of Italians and Danes. It's helpful for my Danish, but everything at the school is either spoken in English or translated into English so I have to seek out people to speak Danish with.

This week started the first week of real school and I'm already enjoying my classes so much. Besides the Missions School, I'm taking a Biblical Doctrine class, Biblical Survey, Communication, Ethics/World Issues and Danish language classes. So, it's been really interesting. We had our first meeting with the Missions School today. It's a very small school because it's brand new, but I think it will be a really good group. We're planning two trips this year. The big one will be in April and we'll be going to Togo, Africa. At the end of November we will be going on a small trip to China. I'm really excited about these trips and I can already see areas of my life that God is shaping and molding. Missions is obviously something that God put on my heart many, many years ago. I could have chosen any of the other schools at the bible college because they all seem really great, but I feel so strongly that missions is where God is calling me for this year. It is both, Martin and my greatest passion, and we believe it could only come from the Lord. More details for those trips will come later this week, especially the China trip. Please just pray that we will continue to hear from the Lord this year.

Here are some of my classmates. This was on our trip to the West Coast. We realized after we had finished eating lunch that there were 9 different countries sitting at the table. It's so cool, I absolutely love it! In this picture we have 2 from Texas (the guy in the front is from Dallas) Japan, England, France, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Wales and Italy. It's been a lot of fun hanging out with people from all over. You really learn a lot!

Back to school...back to school...(almost)

Ok, so here are some new pics of my nephew, David. I think I miss him more than humanly possible. Every time I get on Justin and Yvette's blog, I just want more than anything to be able to hold David. I've heard through my mom and Yvette that he's crawling faster than ever and saying "mama" now. I'm guessing that his next words are going to be "Aunt B" but I probably need to be coaching him a little more on that one. :)

We are on our 5th day in a row of sunshine in Denmark. I'm absolutely loving it. It makes riding your bike so much more pleasant when you don't have to worry about trying to do it in the rain. School starts on Monday. I am so excited. I've felt very encouraged this week knowing that next week, I will have a normal schedule, responsibility, homework, etc. :) I'm really excited to see what God is going to do.

I've become at peace with the fact that I won't be working while I am here. At first, it was a very scary thought, but God has already proven so faithful to provide whatever I need and I know I can trust him because he's called me here and still teaching me to depend on him for all my needs. I'm just so thankful for friends and for being a part of the body of christ.

Martin is working hard as always. He is almost finished remodeling his mom's house, just in time to begin building his brother's new house. I thought that I grew up in a family of construction, but I hadn't seen anything until this family. We've been working on new projects since I've been here. First it was my apartment, then his mom's house, now it will be Daniel and Pia's new house that they are building from the ground up. There is also another project in the future that is very exciting. The church has given Martin the opportunity to remodel this old farm building next to the church into a hang out/meeting place for the teenagers. With the help of Pia (she's an architect) they've made a plan for the space and the exciting part is that he will build an apartment attached that he will be able to live in, and then both of us after we are married. We'll get to design it ourselves and then also have someone pay us to build it. It's really exciting, but still in the very beginning stages, so we're still praying God will be done for it.

Teen Radical has been going great. I feel like I am finally really connecting with some of the kids and they are hungry for Jesus. The Danish church is very different from the American church, but I feel so blessed to be a part of this one, they are hungry for change and hungry for Jesus. I'm excited to see what will happen in this new year.

Check out the new pictures of Teen Radical on my Picasa.

http://picasaweb.google.com/LynseyWardlaw

The exciting world of no schedule!

So here I am on my 5th week in Denmark with absolutely no schedule. I must say, it does get a little old. :) I think you wish and wish for more time off, but then when you have too much, you can find another reason to complain. :) No, it's good really. I need to enjoy it and take it all in. I got to talk with my school leaders at the Bible College yesterday for the first time. I got a copy of the weekly schedule and it is going to be incredibly busy 5 days a week, so I know I will be wishing for that free time back again.

As of right now, I think I am leaning more towards the School of Missions than the Counseling School. I met the leader of that one and he was so excited about the new year. The Missions School will take 2 trips this year, one to China and one to Africa, so of course that makes it a bit more exciting. I have spoken with one girl who is also a teacher and she took the counseling school at the bible college. She said that it seemed like a lot of information that she already knew just from her education in being a teacher. So, I think I can see where God is leading me, but I am not for sure yet.

That brings me to my next prayer point. I just recently found out that I won't be able to work at all while I am here this year. Because of the type of school I am going to, the work/study visa doesn't apply to me. I only have a study visa. So...praise God, I sold my car, but I will have to trust the Lord to provide for my needs this year financially. I know he can and will do that, because I know he's called me here and he IS faithful. I am just having to learn how to live on a very small budget again...nothing like being a single teacher, who still lives at home. :)

We've been working so much with the teenagers. That is the one thing that really reminds me of home and I'm so glad that the Lord has given me the opportunity to step into that right away. Especially now, while I have a lot of free time. Martin and I are finding it hard to find time to sit down and plan our wedding...he is CRAZY busy. But, the reality is hitting me that I kind of need to get started on that, so hopefully soon we'll get the ball rolling.

I was kind of sad to miss the 1st day of school again this year, but I love hearing everyone's stories of ''school days''. It's just so fun.

Thanks for all your prayers! They're SO appreciated!