I Got the Ticket!

Okay...it's not THE ticket but it is an important one....

What ticket am I referring to?

Any guesses?

NO...It's not a ticket to the Dodger Game!

I got my airline ticket to attend the NMSI training in Florida.

Now many of you maybe thinking...Florida...whats so exciting in Florida?

Old ladies enjoying retirement? Humidity that makes you stick to the person next to you? While all of that sounds sooooo fantastic....the thing that really excites me about Florida is NMSI.

What is NMSI...well...it is like a "How to Missionary Training for Dummies" and quite frankly, this "dummy" needs some direction... VISA's, Budgets, Support Raising, Cross-Cultural living, and Global Training....just to name a few!

So, the countdown to training is on, and I leave for Florida on Oct. 21st!!! Wippee!

The hardest thing...

You might find it interesting but when I think of the hardest thing that I have to do in the upcoming year it isn't renting out my house, it isn't moving, it isn't quiting my job, or leaving my friends and family but rather it is having to humble myself enough to ask for financial support.

My parents, as many of yours I am sure, raised me with the idea that you need to be financially independent with money in the bank for a rainy day and a retirement account for your future.

The problem with missions is that you aren't working for that steady paycheck that most of us have come to rely on but you are depending on God for the money to come in each and every day. I'll be honest...that scares me to death! If I had the choice I would rather pull out all my hair strand by strand than to think about being dependant on others. I have found myself thinking about what will happen if I don't have enough to pay my bills, or enough to eat, or even enough to keep a roof over my head.

On the other hand though, I am excited that I will have to really rely on God each and every month to provide for my needs and I am excited that this dependence will grow my relationship with Him even more than I can imagine.

I am also excited that this dependence joins me together with the body of Christ. While I have not left yet I already feel supported and loved. Thank you to all of you who pray for me, love me and support me! It warms my heart more than you will ever know!


(FYI...If you chose to support me financially through a monthly or one-time gift click on the "NMSI donations" link to the right and click on my name, Helena Pira. Your gifts are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.)

Praise Him

God started putting Africa on my heart about 5 years ago when a childrens choir from Ggaba, Uganda came to my church. I recently stumbled across the Mwangaza Choir again on You Tube of all places and decided to let you see them for yourselves. Enjoy it!

House For Rent

So as you may have guessed...the house will be for rent. I just sent the ad to the cornerstone classifieds but if you know of anyone that's interested let me know! Here's a copy of the ad with some pictures as well!

2+2 Condo for rent in Canoga Park, between the 101 and 118 freeways, Just 15 minutes from Cornerstone. Includes:

• two underground security parking spaces
• In-unit washer and dryer
• Granite Countertops
• Master with walk in closet and private bath
• new appliances
• 2 private balconies
• wood flooring throughout
• brand new central AC/Heater unit
• Wood-burning Fireplace
• Community Pool and Jacuzzi
• 1218 SQ. FEET!
• Free water
  

Renter responsible for gas/electric. Unit can be rented either furnished ($1950) or unfurnished ($1795). Contact Lena at (818)357-0070 or hlynn15@sbcglobal.net.

Living Room



Hallway with Washer/Dryer


Master Bedroom



Office/Guestroom



Kitchen



Master Bath


Dining Area



Patio

BLOGGING 101

As a request from all my "techno geniuses" out there...
here is how you leave a comment on this, and any other, blog spot:

1. Click on the "comments" link
2. Type in the box that says: "leave your comment" - Typing all good things of course =)
3. Click on "Name" and type in your birthdate...haha...Hey, I'm just making sure your paying attention...you type in your NAME
4. Click on "Publish your comment"

NOW if you are a secret agent working for the CIA, FBI or any other agency that makes you want to stay anonymous...Instead of clicking on name in step 3 click on anonymous...

Its as easy as 1,2,3,4...Happy Blogging!

Bring it on!

So I never understood my pastor when he said he liked persecution BUT now I do!

I have learned that persecution is a sign that you are walking on the path God wants you on...if we aren't being persecuted then we probably aren't much of a threat to satan and well, quite frankly, I want to be a christian that IS a BIG threat to satan.

SO....BRING IT ON!

It makes me stronger and more dependant on my Savior and it validates my decision more and more every day!

I get it now.....and I LOVE IT!

No Man Is An Island...

I am not sure where I first heard that statement but I am sure that most of us have heard that at least once in our lives. While I am pretty sure that it's not found in the bible I do know that God does not build his body to work independently of each other.

As a result, I am currently in the process of building an updated list of people that want to be a part of my support team either through prayer or financial support.

Please email me at hlynn15@sbcglobal.net with your name, email address, and mailing address if you want to join me as I embark on this adventure that the Lord has laid out before me.

Thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, I couldn't do this without you!

T.I.A...This Is Africa

So when I have free time I like to browse for funny pictures and videos on the net...This search was as a result of the funny pictures two of my missionary friends posted on their blog...

And...yes...Africa has many opportunities for funny and random pictures! Enjoy!










Who needs an IPOD...
A car battery and a radio work great!
It builds up the neck muscles too!

Dare we call this
"one stop shopping"?




















Hummm...never had to go to
the convenient store to buy
electricity before...








How much can you fit in your
pickup???

What is Risk?

So I finished reading my pastor's book a few weeks ago (Crazy Love by Francis Chan) and some of the questions he posed were quite challenging. In addition to Francis' book I am also reading a John Piper book called "Don't Waste Your Life"....from my reading, here are the questions I am posing to you:

What is Risk?

Have you ever risked anything?

Was the risk for your own gain or God's eternal kingdom?


I love the way Francis put it...and I am sure his words are better stated than mine but basically...sitting back in your comfortable world, knowing that God has called you to do more and NOT doing it is risky...

It's risky not in terms of our own earthly standards but because we as Christians know we will be standing in front of our Lord to be judged one day...Do you want to tell Him that His plan for your life was too "risky" and "uncomfortable" or do you want to tell Him that you did what He wanted and that you tried your very best to complete the task He had for you.

I can't risk NOT doing what God calls of me.....

Prayer PLEASE....

As I prepare this year I am sure that there are many issues and details that will arise...BUT...for now, these are the issues that can use your prayers!

1. That my job will stay on a year round schedule: There is a possibility that we will change schedules and if we do I will not be able to attend the October-December Missions Training. As it is now, my boss has already approved for me to take 2 1/2 extra weeks for my vacation so that I can attend!

2. Fundraising: That God will provide the $ for both missions trainings as well as the monthly support that I will need when I am in Africa.

3. My Home: That God will provided reliable people to live in my condo and that the rent will cover the current mortgage expenses

4. Family/Friends: Most of my non-christian family members and friends are convinced that will talk me out of going. Pray that I will speak to them graciously yet boldly for Christ and that my move will impact them in a mighty way.

5. Unity in the Community: The thing I am super excited about with NMSI is that one of their main goals is to create a unified community of believers on the missions field. I love that! Pray for the community that I will be apart of both during training and in Africa. Pray that we would be cohesive, flexible, loving and supportive of each other and that our love for each other will in turn shine brightly the love of Christ to the nations.

Are you CRAZY??? or Just a REALLY GOOD person?

These two questions are two that I have been hearing from my friends and family in the last week...my response:

NEITHER!

I am far from a good person, in fact, the bible says there is none that does good, not one. I can do nothing good by myself...it is God working through me. If it were up to me I would sit around being self centered and lazy, it is only by God's love for me that I can love others.

As for being crazy...

If I believed that this life was all there was, then yes, giving up my job, my house and my life would be crazy BUT I don't believe that this world is all that God has for me. I am serving him now and giving up my worldly things for treasures stored up for me in heaven... I am thinking of my eternal future not my worldly gain.

As a Christian than...giving up my things now and serving God is the only thing that makes sense...its staying where I am and ignoring God that is the CRAZY and RISKY thing to do.

The Timeline...

Wow!! I am amazed at the response I have gotten from all of you and am so blessed to have so many people backing me up!

Now that some of you have had a little time to pick yourselves up off the floor and recover from the shock...here are more of the details...Keep in mind, these are my plans and God can change them in anyway that He so desires.

June - October 2008: Getting all the paperwork and applications in order

October 22-December 20, 2008: 9 Week NMSI Missions Training in Fort Meyers, Florida

January - April 2009: Finishing up my teaching job, getting my condo rented/sold, AND here's the big one...raising monthly support

Mid May-June 2009: 5 Week Language Acquistion and Cross-Cultural Training in Colorado

July 2009: Leave for Africa!!!

The Great Adventure!

What I find humorous is that most people when they think of God and what His will for their lives is they automatically picture the "American Dream". Don't get me wrong...I have done it too...The remodeled house, the car, and the comfortable job with benefits.

The thing that doesn't sit well with me is that no matter how comfortable I get in that "American Dream" I know that it is not what God desires of me... You know that thought in the back of your mind that tells you that maybe you are too comfortable... That things are too easy??

Since when is following God easy and comfortable? Ease and comfort are not the picture painted in God's word...and therefore should not be the picture I am painting for the world to see.

Many of you may know that in the last few years God has been impressing on me His heart for the poor, especially the poor in Africa. God has given me such a strong love for the people there that I can not even put it into words. I smile when I think of them and want to help them in anyway possible.

So God's call for my life, you ask?

I am moving to Africa!!!!

I am starting the application process with New Missions Systems International (NMSI) and am looking at deploying in May of 2009 (or sooner)! I am so excited to see where God will lead and how He will work and I can't wait to have all of you...my mukwanos (friends), on the road of adventure with me!