Thursday, January 23, 2014

Almost time to go home.

My journey through the West Coast of America continues and is slowly coming to an end.

I spent 2 days in Turlock with a dear friend Debbie who I met in Slovenia this past summer. She's been to Slovenia a couple of times and she came to help with Performing Arts Camp this past summer. We connected right away, I was her coffee girl :)
It was so good to see her world, stay at her house, hang out with her daughter Chloe and just rest. Oh, it really was good to rest.
They made one of my dreams come true - they took me to San Francisco! I grew up watching Full House and it means so much to me to be able to see the city, all the roads and the Golden Gate Bridge! So much fun! God cleared the weather for us - there was no fog, almost no wind, it was warm... it was perfect! AND we had Mexican food for dinner!! What else can I ask for, really? :)

I stayed in Modesto with 2 other families who've been a really big part of Performing Arts Camp over the last couple of years. They took such good care of me! They took me to Monterey (they said my middle name should be Ray; Mana Ray in Monterey :). It was just so good to relax, explore and enjoy time with them.



Lin, one of the main ladies for Performing Arts Camp, hosted a dessert night. I shared my testimony and the work of God in Slovenia with about 30 people who are in different ways connected to Slovenia. Some of them had even been to Kocevje and it was great to hear their stories and experiences of Slovenia!

I flew to Portland on Saturday morning and got picked up by a very special friend, Anna. She was a missionary with Josiah Venture in Slovenia from 2004-2008 and she was one of the main people God used to reach out to me.
I was able to spend 4 days with Anna, her husband David and their precious daughter Sophia. I shared my story with their small group, and Anna and I had a chance to share about God's work in our lives at Canby Bethany church on Sunday.

Anna and I had time to talk about the past, she helped me understand how she felt when I was still living in the darkness and how she had hope that God will save me.
Her and I shared a journal for 4 years and I hadn't seen it since 2008. I was able to read it with her 2 days ago. So much darkness, pain, sin... but it's amazing to see that God was really pursuing me, trying to get my attention and He really loved me throughout all of those years! He didn't give up on me and when I was finally ready to give Him an opportunity, He grabbed it!! Oh, His loves for us... how in the world did I deserve to be His daughter?

I am currently in Spokane, Washington. It reminds me of Slovenia a lot :) it's really cold, snowy..
I was able to encourage people at one of the churches here last night and share about God's mighty work. God really is at work; not just in my life, Kocevje or Slovenia - He is working EVERYWHERE! He is amazing!

I will stay in Spokane until Monday when I go back to Oregon and will stay in Salem for 5 days with Andrea who will be coming to Slovenia as an extended intern in Kocevje in June! That's when my journey in America ends and I will return back to Slovenia and continue serving God there.

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I was very nervous about these 7 weeks in the States; I am not a public speaker, I like being in my own bubble and I like to stay in the background and observe. This trip was everything but that!
God really stretched me, helped me to step out into the unknown and do things for Him that were hard for me. But it's for His glory and He is worth it!
I learned so much about God and His character. He revealed Himself to me in new ways, special ways.
I learned so much about myself! I can do things in God that I would NEVER think I could! It's amazing to experience that!


Thank you for covering me with your prayers and being on this journey with me. I'm really starting to realize how big of a family in Christ I have - and I am thankful.
 

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting, dear friend! I am SO GLAD you came to the USA!

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  2. I am too!!! It was so good to see you, see where you live and enjoy a couple of days together! :) Thank you so much for having me! :)

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