I'm here!

In Belgium that is. (and not actually in either of the buildings that are pictured above)

Today is a perfect October day, complete with lots of misty rain and grey skies interspersed with brilliant bursts of sunlight. I'm currently relaxing in between hanging out at Le Catalpa (trying to figure out what all I'll be doing there from week to week and day to day) and going to Ujeb (a Brussels based youth group of sorts.)

These past few weeks I've spent being initiated and trained at OM, meeting a TON of people and just learning what my days will look like while I'm here in Belgium.

I've also attempted to start LAMP (language acquisition made practical) which involves wondering around the neighborhood and speaking French with people (I'm making it sound a lot less structured than it actually is, there are "routes" and "phrases" and catchy titles to accompany the different steps of the process.) I say attempt because one of the beginning steps is to find people (i.e. people that are mostly complete strangers at this juncture) to help you in this process, such as shop keepers and neighbors. You begin, in other words, by approaching random people. Yikes. It starts to get really tricky when one considers that Belgium is a bi-lingual -even tri-lingual - country (this is particularly evident in and around Brussels.) The first lady I attempted to say my little phrase to spoke Flemish. Of course, I didn't realize this until I had said my sentence a couple of times, nervously watching her confounded face, thinking that I was butchering her language beyond comprehension, until she finally blurted out "Nederlands." Oy.

It is really great to finally be here (even amidst the awkwardness of languages and beginning steps -though it may be because I'm still reveling in the honeymoon stage of my transition -we've been talking about culture shock and descending in the pit of misery before normalization occurs.) Really, though, in complete honesty, it is good to be here.

I'll post more details later, but for now au revoir!

Newsletter 1

Hey all,

I officially have my visa and my plane ticket and am pretty much set (minus packing) to head over to Belgium! I leave September 29^th and am ridiculously excited to get to finally be leaving for Belgium, though also quite nervous.

My funds are still a little low, however I’m an okay to go on the amount of funds that I do have. More support would be preferable, though, so if you are interested in supporting me it is not too late and would still be greatly appreciated.

I went down to Atlanta last week to pick up my visa and was blessed to get to hang out in Chattanooga for a week, catch up with friends and get to visit both Rivermont Pres. and East Ridge Pres. It was such a huge joy to get to see people there before heading out.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. The timing on all of this seemed at first merely frustrating as my departure date kept getting pushed back due to funds and visa, however I realize now how perfect it is as there will also be two other girls coming at the same time as me and because I got/get to be home and help as my family packs and moves. I’m so

thankful to be going when I’m going.

Blessings,

Aubrey

Prayer Requests:

• Safe travel to Belgium (I’m not a fan of flying.)
• Completion of funds.
• Smooth transition for me and the two other girls coming at the same time.

Quick update

Visa: check

Plane ticket: check

I leave September 29th for Belgium! I am so excited to be getting over there.

My funds are still a little low, however, I'm okay to go.

I'll be sending out my very first newsletter soon (most likely a short one) so if anyone wants to receive said newsletter/newsletters let me know.

Plane tickets and the plains

I am officially moved back to the plains of Indiana to finish up raising support and to spend some time with the family before, Lord willing, heading off to Belgium near the end of next month.

Despite the fact that I am still (somewhat patiently) waiting for the decision regarding my VISA and still have support raising left to accomplish, I am realizing the need to raise the funds for my plane ticket, since by the time I am cleared to purchase a ticket it will definitely be crunch time. And so I look to you, my brainy friends, for ideas regarding a creative way (or ways) to raise said funds. Any ideas?

In other news, other than moving and support raising there is nothing significantly new to report. I am officially at 60% of my needed funds (though unofficially at an unknown higher amount.) I am enjoying family and the mass amount of corn fields here as well as numerous amounts of good books (and quite a few addicting tv shows...) If you feel so inclined to pray for me (which is always greatly appreciated and needed,) I am vastly in need of that golden mean balance between trust and motivation.

Thank you all so much for your help in this.

Support Raising...

Through support raising I've been learning my own limitations, my own stubborn pride (I definitely do not like asking people for help) as well as God's great (though rather mysterious) sovereignty. It's been a very stretching experience, but all things considered, a good one.

That being said... I need help. Obviously both in the realms of financial and prayer, but also in suggestions and advice on the process of support raising. I have had a fairly random approach which is beginning to find some kind of coherence and method, but is still rather irregular. I also want to apologize to those of you who have either not gotten a support letter (if you feel left out, I can assure you that it has been completely accidental) or to those of you who have gotten several through the confusion of my helter-skelter note taking. I am learning. I also want to express my intense appreciation to those of you who have supported me/are supporting me in any way. I can't even begin to express my gratitude.

I am at 58% of my needed funds. It does feel good to be past the half way point. This experience has accentuated my realization of the rapidness of time. I am swiftly coming upon August, which is my hoped for (yearned for etc...) departure date. I can hardly believe it. I have applied for my visa and am awaiting the outcome of that detail (with some baited breath.) I am so very excited (though I'm pretty sure I have overused that word during this process.)

Le Catalpa

http://www.lecatalpa.blogspot.com/

A bit about Belgium and IMPACT Belgium

Taken from OM's website:

Belgium: a land of complex political and cultural history, almost hidden within the centre of Western Europe yet at the heart of many things that define Europe as a whole. It is the capital for the European Union and headquarters for NATO. The tensions between the major language groups characterise many of the struggles that exist not just within borders of the European Nations but epitomise the struggle to weld a Union from such a diverse agglomeration of political entities.

Christian History in Belgium has been turbulent. Catholicised as part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was one of the battlefields during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, many Protestant believers fleeing to the Netherlands leaving Belgium once again predominantly Catholic. Currently, this Catholicism is representative of culture more than belief, only a small percentage attending mass while secular studies is the most common subject for religious education. From approximately 750 Protestant Christians pre WWI (out of a population of around 7 million) Belgium is now 0.2-0.5% Evangelical/Pentecostal (pop 10.5mil) (not including expat. Christians). This statistic is comparable with some of the most unreached people groups in the world.

Our goal: Through GA teams and long-term partnership to empower the church to impact this nation with the Gospel. As only around 40% of local churches are locally led, we seek to raise and encourage national leaders with a heart for mission. Not just globally (but definitely including it), but to empower them with strategies and people to reach their own nation with the hope of the Gospel

The Details:
Our recruits will follow one of three streams with a focus on either ministering to the Secular, Muslim or Refugee paradigms. All three streams have a focus on a team based incarnational ministry: learning the relevant language; participating in existing ministries run by local believers; initiating new and creative ministries relevant to culture and demographic and serving in a local church. We aim to maintain a high level of exposure to non-Christians within their normal way of life. Team life will provide a forum for support and development.

The focus of our training aims to develop within the recruits a ‘context for ministry’ – the end result should be a team member equipped for ministry wherever the Lord should lead. This will entail biblical foundations of theology and missiology, practical tools for evangelism, interpersonal relationships and cross-cultural ministry. Team members will be expected to serve practically with the team in Belgium and where possible have the opportunity for development of interests and talents with a focus on how they can be used in mission.