Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And so it goes with the blog. It’s been the best years of my  life in ways… going into ministry, serving around the world, and being a human example of what living for Christ looks like.

I’ve done my best over the course of hundreds of entries to try and describe what serving in missions and being a Christian wife and mother was like.

Early on, I promised God that I would live a life of transparency for him. Something that I hadn’t seen many other Believers be willing to do. Who could blame them? Still, it was a good fit for me, the honest approach.

In saying that, it’s time to say good bye and thank you for all of the loving kindness that you have afforded me. So many precious prayers too numerous to list, lots of financial sacrifice, and all that goes with that.

I can honestly say that for a very long time, I ate, drank, and slept Arise. I wish that I was still doing that but circumstances no longer permit it. It’s amazing what brokenness will drive you to.

The blog  will remain open for a week or so and then it will come down all together. There’s something to be said for giving God back what is his. I’m hoping that my life is an interesting story that has yet to be finished? He is surely faithful.

In Christ alone,

~Gina

~Gina for Arise Medical Missions

Just a quick word concerning the whereabouts of Gina. I’ve safely returned to Sarasota and all that goes with that. We arrived late Sunday afternoon and neither Austin or I could wait to get our arms around Simon’s neck, who looks more like a large bear now since having all of his fur grow out completely. Not to worry, he’s on the groomer’s list for a shave so he can survive the remaining hot summer days in Florida.

It was a profitable summer in that I was able to serve and meet with many friends and partners who have been praying faithfully for nearly a year now. Many tears were shed and joy too as we remembered so much of the good work that was accomplished through a fair amount of years in ministry.

Slowly, ever so slowly, I have come to realize the following. The year, along with all of it’s bitter and sweet fruit combined, has revealed to me that Jesus indeed is a very real source of inspiration and love. My situation has become a real-life reminder that some dreams — no matter how badly you want them — do not come true.

I learned in the end that there are many ways to let people see you shine even when you’ve been thrown into a pit. I vowed to do this moment by moment, day after day, week after week, month after month, and now approaching… year after year.

I willingly listened to people’s reactions about out circumstances, found inspiration in their prayers, and even grew from some of the rejection and judgment that I voluntarily elected to stand against.

And then I noticed that as a result of doing all that by myself, in a very real way… walking in truth through the good times and the bad– people noticed. In fact, many people started telling others about our family our ministry situation.  People would even come back asking me to continue to share openly and honestly. They helped me to become stronger and ensured that even in the valleys of this trial that I would continue to elect to keep my eyes firmly fixed upon Jesus.

I have arrived at the understanding that my family will never be the same as it was prior to this. I have arrived at the understanding that our ministry will never be the same as it was prior to this. And most of all, I have learned that for the most part, almost nearly all of my dreams concerning the future will not be coming true.

Still, what has been reaffirmed in my life now more than ever is that my love for the Lord is completely real. That he has been faithful. That he hasn’t let go of my hand or my heart a single time since this happened. That I can count on him to never leave and that I can count on being completely filled with an inexpressible joy when I meet him in heaven.

I no longer think of the future and do my very best to take my eyes off of the past. Instead, I will continue to faithfully walk with Jesus, hand in hand, for the remainder of my days, waiting and trusting in him for absolutely everything. He is enough and worthy of that kind of attention.

In Christ alone,

~Gina

I recently asked a fellow believer “Are you speaking truth into their life?” to which she promptly responded NO. Pastor Ray Pritchard recently sent this note which seemed so applicable so I’m posting portions of it now. Here’s what he has to say. The only lasting solution for spiritual problems in the body of Christ is to confront them head on with the truth. But that truth can be painful to hear. And it may cause one of two things to happen.

First, there may be sorrow that leads to repentance and salvation. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (v. 10).

Eventually the light dawns, and seeing what I fool I really am, I confess my sin to God, make things right, and with God’s help change my life. What is all that? It is the end result of truth-telling.

Second, there may be sorrow but no real change. I may not respond well to the truth someone tells me. That’s what Paul means when he says “worldly sorrow brings death” (v. 10). What are the signs of worldly sorrow?

Dejection: “I’m sorry I got caught.”
Defensiveness: “It wasn’t my fault.”
Self-justification: “You just don’t understand the situation.”
Anger: “Get off my back.”
Unkind words: “Who are you to be judging me?”
Projection: “You’re not so perfect yourself.”

Many Christians become quite adept at sidestepping the truth. Some of us make it a lifelong habit. That’s what the sorrow of the world is. It’s sidestepping the truth to avoid dealing with reality. It’s using every defense mechanism in the book so we don’t have to change the way we live.

 But godly sorrow always produces a radical change. Check out verse 11:

 Here are seven marks of godly sorrow:

First, we are quick to make things right.
Second, we are anxious to clear our record of wrongdoing.
Third, we are upset that our lives should contain such compromise.
Fourth, we are alarmed over our sin.
Fifth, we long to be restored to spiritual wholeness.
Sixth, we are concerned for the preservation of the body of Christ.
Seventh, we are ready to do whatever is necessary to make things right.

May God grant that the truth spoken in love and received in love might heal our hearts, lead us to repentance, free us from bitterness, and unite the body of Christ.

~Gina

Reference Citation: Pastor Ray Pritchard, Keep Believing Ministries, Aug 19, 2011.

Reference Citation: Wild Indians and Other Common Misconceptions – A Real Life on the Mission Field by Carol Martin

Just checking in from Living Waters where things are going well considering it’s Tuesday. No major accidents or injuries just yet and I hope that it stays that way among the 80 or so campers that are here plus all of the staff and additional visitors.

It’s absolutely beautiful today with perfect temperatures and beautiful flowers and trees to accompany that. The water of East Grande Lake is just like staring at a sheet of glass with a lovely blue hue and brilliance that is almost diamond-like.

Austin and I have both been praying about whether or not we should return to Nepal in October with Dameria’s team from Germany and have decided to continue to work our way in serving alongside of her in October. We are praying for affordable tickets and that God would show us the way. Lord willing, Dana will also join the team.

Every single day now God continues to give me a very clear vision of leaning and resting on him for absolutely everything. Surely it sounds easier than it is sometimes but God has been so faithful to me in all of this, it only seems right that I do my part and work on not being anxious about anything at all regardless of the situation. I’m just going to continue to gird my loins in prayer, asking him about every single decision I need to make, acknowledging all that he has done for me along the path of my life.

Yes, you’re right… this is from Philipians 4:6 which is a verse that encourages us to present our requests to God alone… not to man, not to people you respect and think have Godly wisdom, but rather to God. Especially since he has the power to answer each petition in a way that guarantees the result will be for good and not for harm. You can’t ask for more than that.

I’ve been holding on so tight. Look at these knuckles they’ve gone white. I’m fighting for who I want to be, I’m just trying to find security. But you say let it go, you say let it go. You say life is waiting for the one to lose control. You say you will be everything I need. You say if I lose my life it’s then I’ll find my soul. You say let it go - ”Let it Go from Tenth Avenue North”

In Christ alone,

~Gina

Wanted to check in from Living Waters Bible Camp where I’m currently serving in Danforth, ME. I arrived after a very long journey early Saturday morning and Austin and some of my favorite friends were there to greet me at the airport. It doesn’t get any better than that.

It’s beautiful here and I feel relaxed and thankful to have the opportunity to reconnect with many old friends. I have lots of memories here from years of serving personally and then by way of Arise.

Slowly but surely I am learning to live with the “plank” that I now carry as a result of my loss and yet I am noticing that I don’t mind it nearly as much as before. Thank you Father. I continue to argue that it is not time that is the healer of wounds but rather, it is Jesus Christ that helps each day.

Over and over again people share openly how sad they are concerning the loss in our family and for the ministry we shared in Nepal. I find it’s a great opportunity to remind people what can happen when we take our eyes off the cross. If I had the opportunity for one guarantee in my life it would be for God to never allow me to take my eyes off the cross.

Make no mistake in understanding that every single day it’s a choice with the responsibility resting on you. It’s not the church, it’s not based on circumstances or anything else. It’s all on you.

When I think of this summer, having left Florida the third week of June, it’s been a truly wonderful opportunity to serve in various capacities. Whether nursing or working, multiple Divine appointments abound for me to share in the love of Christ and I hope to not waste a single minute of any of them.

In Christ alone,

~Gina

Just six days left in the UK and then back to the United States and on to Living Waters. It’s already getting difficult to think about returning on some level because I miss Austin and Simon terribly and can’t wait to be in either of their presence. Still, I’m not quite done with my summer commitments and am sure that Living Waters will be such a positive experience and hopefully I can help a few people along the way as well.

It’s been comforting to return to living out of a suitcase over the last eight weeks or so in that it reminds me of our time in the mission field. I love the way God has given me the ability to be thankful and happy wherever I am. What a tremendous blessing that is. I’m easily satisfied much of the time, low maintenance, and don’t seem to require much at all to be able to smile or connect with those around me.

Still, on occasion, there remains that deep sorrow, way deep down inside, tucked safely away. It is in the darkest of those times that the light of friendship shines brightest when I’m willing to reach out to it.

~Gina

I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being  a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

It is not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

**Break**

Don’t you just love a message like this… be careful of getting caught up in all of the rules while forgetting the grace that accompanies it. God has taught me this message personally over and over again throughout the years, maybe because I needed to hear it so badly. Well, I think I’ve really began to understand it as of late, more so over the last year. Love it when something sinks in like that.

Weather is lovely here in the UK which is a real treat since it’s often rainy and wet. Lots and lots of beautiful flowers and green rolling hills. Austin is doing well at Living Waters and only has great things to say about his experiences there. I’m so grateful that he was willing to sacrifice his summer and serve in such a capacity. Many people don’t know that he has decided to stay there clear through the day before school starts. He finishes up on a Sunday afternoon and gets back home in time to sleep and get up for school in  the morning. I admire and respect him for his willingness to do it and that it was completely self-initiated. Such a bright star in my life.

My other children are doing well too. I try hard to not talk about them on the blog because they aren’t keen on being mentioned. Well then, so be it. I’m more than glad to go it alone and keep opening up my heart concerning my walk and my life as a Jesus follower.

So much to be thankful for concerning God’s presence in our lives isn’t there… regardless of our circumstances.

~Gina

Can we be a disciple and ignore the world around us? You and I need to be sure of our place as Christians in the world in which we live. We need to be sure of our place as individuals in the Kingdom before we even think about reaching out to others.

After all, we live in a society which in general can look at wonderful pictures of the world and our planet while ignoring the plight of starvation and killing in Africa, Asia, and around the world. We live in a society that is spiritually self-centered on most levels these days.

Timothy reminds us that we cannot give unconditional allegiance to the world but we are to submit to the laws of rulers and authorities because God has permitted them to be there for a time. Christians are to be ready to do whatever is good whenever we have the opportunity.

You can’t ignore the world in which you live. Be salt unto light, a picture of being able to flavor the society in which you live in. Society needs to see us shining our lights before men… being active, being a mirror of God’s goodness.

Be home lover’s with a purpose, attractive witnesses, not repelling all who come into contact with us. Grace is free only because Jesus bore the cost. All of us are easily fooled and deceived having been born into sin. God did not ignore the world that he created. Recognize that the world is not going to ignore us.

Think purity, peace, gentleness… giving practical help to those around us who need our help. Do you know someone who should be helped today? A young person who needs you to come alongside of him or her? Anyone at all who is waiting for someone to come alongside of them to help is surely waiting for you to do your part.

Amen.