Goodbye, Germany.
Hello, USA.
At least for now.
JULY 2013
Dear Friends,
MOVING
I am back in the States now. Ending life in Germany and beginning it again in the USA is a significant and complex task. Several weeks ago I shed my possessions down to several bags. Now I am in the process of planning and packing up my life in my parents' home and mailing it to Seattle, WA, where Chris and I will move after we get married in 4 weeks.
"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN RA" Video
Yet, I want to leave you with a beautiful and concise video of what your prayers and finances went towards these two years. Frank, my co-RA at Maugenhard dorm, consolidated hours of video footage of daily activities and interviews with current RAs and crafted a 8-minutevideo about a day in the life of a Black Forest Academy Resident Assistant (RA). Enjoy getting a glimpse into the hearts and ministry of my fellow BFA RAs this year.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
I am deeply grateful for the meaningful ways you have journeyed with me over these last two-and-a-half years preparing for, living in, and moving back from Germany and my service at Maugenhard dorm. We appreciate your prayers up to this point and now as God continues to show Himself faithful as we reorient to the States and begin marriage. Those of you who have been financially supportive of the ministry should have received a letter in the mail, explaining how you can end your giving commitment or continue through my two gap months with TeachBeyond. If you have questions about these details, please email me:michellemwaters@gmail.com.
UPDATES
I can hardly believe it, but it is time for these email correspondences to end. Even though my involvement in the ministry in Germany has come to a close and you will not get periodic updates, please feel free to keep in touch from time to time. When I am back in the area again maybe I can see you.
ENCOURAGEMENT
I want to leave you with a few nuggets that God is encouraging me with these recent days. I have included the relevance to me in italics.
- "The Blessing" by John Waller lyrics (click to listen to a recording): "Let it be said of us / By the ones we leave behind / Let it be said of us / That we lived to be a blessing for life [...] // This day / You [God] set life, you set death right before us, this day / Every blessing and curse is a choice now / And we will / Choose to be a blessing for life [...]." Michelle - This formal ministry may end, but my heart is to chose for Chris and I to be a blessing wherever we are - for life.
- "I hang my soul on those strong pegs, those 'I believe's' And I am strengthened." - Elizabeth Elliot, Let Me Be A Woman, pg. 6. Michelle - Despite the hard parts of processing major changes in life, I am comforted by the profundity yet simplicity, of holding to the core confessions of the faith when all else can feel like "shifting sand."
- "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with you all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." - Ephesians 3:16-21, NLT. Michelle - I feel humbled to read it, but I want this to be our prayer for me and for you in the years ahead. May we experience God's love simply but profoundly.
Go with God,
Michelle Waters (soon-to-be Michelle Jones)
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