Slovenia Mission Trip and Other Winter Happenings

"As you are going, make disciples of all nations..." - Matthew 28:19

Thank you to all of you who prayed for the mission team I traveled with to Slovenia!  The International Sports Federation was founded in 1993 and over the last 20 years has sent over 8,500 volunteers to more than 120 countries, while partnering with missionaries serving in those locations.  Sports is the platform used on the trips to build relationships and open doors to share the Gospel.  The team flew into Ljubljana (see map below) and traveled a couple hours to the northwest of Slovenia to Bovec where missionaries Joe and Kim Kelley reside.  In a country of about 2 million people, less than 1,500 have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Extreme sports are a big part of the culture there so that was the platform we used for the week. Our team's job was to be on the ski slopes each day and be intentional with those God put in our path.  We went to three different resorts - Kanin, which is on the border of Slovenia and Italy, allowing us to ski in two countries in one day, Kranjska Gora (in Slovenia) and Tarvisio (in Italy).  Through relationship building and materials we were able to hand out throughout the week we gave hundreds of people access to the Gospel.  At night, we delivered calendars to every home in Bovec in preparation for the new year that had Bible verses on them.

Through my time there, more than anything I was reminded that missions is a lifestyle not just a one or two week trip. It is a lifestyle with an intentional missional mindset of making disciples as we are going each day of our lives.  It made me question what I could do to be more intentional each day of my life back home.  Whatever our gifts are, we can use them for His glory as we surrender our entire lives to Him every day.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised again... We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

-2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 20

Please continue to pray for Joe and Kim Kelley, the missionaries we served with in Slovenia and for the hearts of those there to be turned to Him!

The days leading up to heading overseas were crazy, but I had a night celebrating Christmas in Montana before heading to Utah.  

After getting everything taken care of in Montana, my good friend Crystal and her family, along with two other of their friends, road tripped from Bozeman down to Utah with me.  We had a blast skiing at Deer Valley and visiting the Olympic Park.  We got to catch part of an aerial ski competition up close which was incredible to see them flying higher than the building!  I also spent time with my uncle and my mom, her parents, as well as a brief time with some of my cousins.

Uncle and Gayla

After all the travels, especially the 26 hour/four flight finish from Slovenia back to Bozeman, I was so thankful to be back home!  I am so thankful for the Kirkwood church family here in Montana and definitely missed everyone while I was away.  Everything is going great here, as there have been many visitors over the past couple weeks.  This Sunday, the 13th, we are having Friend Day where everyone is inviting people to come worship with us.  We will be having a breakfast and then worship service.  We also have a couple people getting baptized that day which is exciting as well.  Pastor James and Misty are doing well and baby Levi hit the three month mark today!  I just started a Christian Missions Perspectives class at Montana Bible College this semester.  Next Friday I also have a sweet opportunity to speak in Chapel to the kindergarten through 6th graders at Heritage Christian School.

I am in town for a couple more weeks and then I am back on the road again - heading to Orlando, Florida for the 50th Rec Lab ministry conference.  It is the oldest and most attended sports ministry conference in the world.  It will be my fourth year going and it is always a great time of worship, seminars, and fellowship with so many who share a passion for using recreation as a way to reach people for Christ.  It is always a refreshing time and I always walk away with many ideas and even more on fire for the Lord.

Lastly, for those in Nashville - some of you already know, but I will be in town January 31 to February 5 so I can't wait to see so many of you!

Know that all of your love, prayers and support mean the world to me!  Wishing all of you a Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what this year holds!

Please pray for:

- Friend Day at Kirkwood this Sunday - that many would come and hearts would be turned to Him!

- Ability to catch up on everything after the crazy last few weeks.

- That God would continue to open doors here in Bozeman.

- I am speaking in Chapel at Heritage Christian School on the 18th to the K-6th graders - please pray for God to be glorified through that time!

December in Bozeman!

What a busy first half of the month…

Kirkwood hosted a Christmas concert December 6 put on by Amanda Lorentzen, an up and coming artist.  The following evening was the youth lock-in, which included food, games, movies and more fun all night long.  Bless those who stayed all night with our youth pastor.  I had to coach a basketball tournament the following day. 

One of my favorite parts of the last couple months was the opportunity I had to coach the Heritage Christian 5^th-8^th Grade Girls’ Basketball team.  They completed their season this past week.  The girls’ finished one of the season ending tournaments in 2^nd place, competing against all the other schools’ purely 7^th-8^th grade teams.  It was such a blessing coaching a group of girls who improved so much throughout the season and learned to play as a team.  Most importantly they honored Christ in how they competed, how they responded to adversity and in how they encouraged one another.  The other coach and I were so proud of how they played.  

TEAM VERSE: "Don't you realize that in a race
everyone runs but only one gets the prize? So run to
win! All athletes are disciplined in their training.
They do it for a prize  that will fade away,
but we do it for an eternal prize."
-1 Cor. 9:24-25

Heritage Christian Basketball
Gallatin Gateway Tournament
Runner-up Team

End of year team party.

During the season I had the chance to do weekly devotions with the girls.  The one that stood out the most to me was when we talked about the fact that athletes spend over 95 percent of their time training and less than five percent competing.  However, when we look at our spiritual life, we often spend very little of our time training.  We spend about 99 percent of our time living and less than one percent in intentional time with Him.  It really caused me to stop and evaluate if there are better ways that I can spend my time each week.  There are so many lessons from sports that can be applied to life and to our walk with the Lord.  And just as in sports where we are competing against an opponent, in life there is a spiritual battle that many of us do not take seriously enough, as evidenced by how little we work to grow daily in our relationship with Him.

The month has also been full of opportunities to substitute teach at Heritage Christian Academy.  I so enjoy spending time with the kids during Bible, math, science and other activities.  However, each time I substitute, it gives me a greater appreciation for full time teachers and also the sense of humor the Lord gives us.  Everything between having to fish the marker out of the fish tank (no pun intended) when a girl dropped it in during prayer requests and the egg that splattered on the floor during a science experiment was quite a good time!

The Kirkwood singles Christmas party was earlier this month, complete with a white elephant gift exchange quite unlike any other I had been a part of in the past, finger foods, games and a lot of laughter.  Kirkwood also hosted a Christmas event for kids of the community that included cupcake decorating, the Veggie Tales movie “It’s a Meaningful Life” and the candy cane story to share the Gospel.

Veggie Tales movie at Kirkwood Christmas Celebration

Cupcake decorating

Misty telling the Candy Cane story

Sunday night the 16^th we had the Kirkwood Christmas Celebration.  It was such a sweet time of fellowship with the body of Christ that attends KBC.  We had dinner, worship and took communion.  In preparation for the event people volunteered to decorate each of the dinner tables and come up with goodies, and I of course, got to do the kids table.  What a blast!  I am so grateful for my church family here in Montana and it has also been a time to reflect on how grateful I am for my church family in Nashville at Judson who God is using to allow me to be out here - sending my love to all of you!

Kids table for Christmas dinner

Lane girls :)

Wyatt kiddos! :)

Kids lighting advent candle

KBC Christmas worship time

I also got to enjoy a sweet time with Pastor James and Misty and the family celebrating Christmas before we all hit the road this coming week.  Baby Levi is getting bigger each day (and cuter if that's even possible) and the girls are so sweet.  We had a great time together eating at Outback, opening some presents and watching a movie!

Chillin' :)

Baby Levi!

PJ Christmas pic with the Wyatt girls

I have a few more days in Bozeman before heading to Utah and then to Slovenia.  I will finish up with a Christmas party for the kids who attend Wednesday nights at church and celebrating Christmas with my Montana sister Saralyn, her husband and kiddos who are such a big blessing in my life ... In the midst of everything going on, the greatest joy comes from being able to celebrate the birth of our Savior! May our eyes remain focused on Him through this season.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Prayer requests:

-Pastor James and Misty are traveling (by car) to Tennessee (and back) with the four kids including Baby Levi.  They leave the 18^th to head to TN so please pray for safe travels and their sanity to still be in check when they return, and of course that they will have a sweet time with family while they are there!
- TeamKid Christmas party at church December 19th.

-I am road tripping to Utah December 20^th with a good friend and her family who will be staying to ski for a few days and then I will be spending Christmas there with my uncle as well as my mom who is flying in town and her side of the family.  Please pray for safe travels and also for the opportunity to share the love of Christ with all I am with during that time.

-On December 27^th I leave straight from Utah to head to Slovenia (Europe) on a mission trip and will be there until returning to Bozeman January 6.  My teammates and I will have the chance to ski the alps and share the Gospel – what could be better?!  Please pray for the team I am traveling with and check out www.sportsmissions.com for other opportunities to serve with the International Sports Federation.

Giving Thanks!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

-Colossians 3:17

It has been a whirlwind month of November.  I hope all of you had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family!  This has truly been a month of being constantly reminded how much I have to be thankful for.  God promises in Philippians 4:19 that he will "meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  I have seen that promise fulfilled in so many ways this year. The Lord has been so faithful in everything, from the move to Montana in May, through the passing of my dad, through the ministry doors that have opened, through a procedure on my back that has left me feeling as good as I have in more than six years, to the many people He has put in my life who constantly point me to Him, and just the ability to grow in my personal relationship with Him daily, He has truly provided for my every need.  And it's amazing when thinking of the things I am most thankful for, almost all are things that money could never buy.  I am constantly reminded of my favorite verse that says "where (our) treasure is there (our) heart will be also (Matthew 6:21)."  I am so thankful to be rich in the things that God values over what the world says is most important.  Know that I thank Him constantly for the role so many of you have played in encouraging me along the way.

Things have been busy at Kirkwood Baptist out here in Bozeman getting ready for the winter season.  We have been working on some upcoming Christmas events, finishing up calendaring for the coming year, and spending a lot of good time in the Word.  Pastor James' and Misty's baby boy is growing so fast and just hit the six week mark!  We also just had a new family come into town from New York and they are just getting settled so everyone is eager to get to know them better in the coming months.  Also, a man that many of us had been praying for came forward and accepted Christ after service a couple weeks ago - so exciting!

I have also been busy coaching the Heritage Christian 5th-8th grade girls' basketball team.  It is a fun group of girls and we are getting ready to head in to some tournaments after Thanksgiving break!

Baby Levi - the Thanksgiving turkey :)

Hanging with the Wyatt kiddos

In the midst of everything I took a very quick road trip down to Utah to clean out some stuff at the place that was my dad's.  I was blessed to have a friend with me to help and we had such a sweet time together.  I am so grateful the Lord puts people in our lives to walk with us through each season!

Utah Road Trip

Utah Road Trip

I also got to go back to San Diego for the first time in almost a year for Thanksgiving.  I got to see my mom and friends I consider family.  It was a sweet time catching up with them and getting to wear flip flops for a couple days was nice!

With the Emerick family

With my mom

Quick stop at the beach

Although I grew up in San Diego and enjoy the beach, I am most certainly a mountain girl at heart and love being in Montana in Big Sky country with all the snow!  As we get ready to head into December, and as the lights go up, trees are decorated and gifts are purchased I pray we can all keep our eyes on what Christmas is truly about and have the ability to see God at work all around us.

In the coming weeks please pray for:
- Youth Lock-In at Kirkwood December 7
- Upcoming Kirkwood Kids Christmas Celebration December 15
- Kirkwood Christmas Dinner and Worship December 16
- I leave December 27 on a mission trip to Slovenia (near Austria, Italy and Croatia). Please pray for myself and the team I am traveling with as we all prepare to head over there! (If you go back to my Aug 24 blog post, there is more information on the details of this trip!)

All Things October

Wow, what a second half of October! God is good...

It started with Pastor and Misty's family coming in to town to see little Levi (who is three weeks old today!)  That meant I had the opportunity to go stay with the McLean family for my birthday week.  We took a trip to Rocky Creek Farm, carved pumpkins and enjoyed time together.

Rocky Creek Farm

At Rocky Creek Farm

Pumpkin Carving

My pumpkin :)

Ministry-wise I had the opportunity to paint Bible verses on a couple of the walls of the church.  As we painted, I was reminded of these verses, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deut. 6:6-9)".  We were able to get the Youth Room and front foyer of the church completed and are looking forward to some more projects soon. 

Working on the Youth Room

Youth Room

Front foyer

We have also had the chance to spend a few days helping out one of the family's from the church on some construction that needed to be completed on their house before winter comes.  It was sweet to see everyone come together and be willing to use their gifts for His glory.

Additionally, we had the annual church hayride which was an absolute blast.  After prayer meeting outside by the fire, we got on the hayride and stopped out in the fields where the kiddos (and many of the adults) jumped off to try to feed the animals.  It was hilarious to watch and just the best time with a great group of people.

Last night, we had Trunk or Treat at Kirkwood and made some good contacts with people of the community who came by.  We had the cars outside and then games, chili, cider, hot chocolate and a skit inside. 

Getting ready for Trunk or Treat to begin

Alex getting ready for Trunk or Treat



Jesus, Marty from Madagascar 3, a Honduran soccer player,
a chef and a pumpkin making up the "Holy Rollers Praise Band!"
It was a one time performance :)

Personally, over the last couple weeks I had the opportunity to substitute teach at Heritage Christian School for 5th and 6th grade and had a great time.  I am also coaching the 5th-8th grade girls basketball team for the school.  They have been working hard and are gearing up for our first game this week.

When I was with the children at school, they had Chapel and learned about how God can use our problems and everything that happens for His glory as we trust and walk with Him daily.  When we went back to class we were able to discuss Psalm 40:1-3 which says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."  This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture because it is a promise of God that when we cry out to Him, He will answer and will always give us a firm foundation to plant our feet on.  That doesn't mean life is easy and there aren't painful times, but it is most often through our brokenness we see Him most clearly and He is able to restore us.  Why does He do this?  Because He loves us and He wants to use us so "many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."  I have seen this so clearly in my own life and am so thankful that God has grown me through the hard times and places.  May we all be in awe of Him in every season.

As we head into the holiday season, please pray that God will continue to open doors for us to minister to the community and for hearts to be turned to Him! 

My prayer is that each of us can give thanks and remember that He is sovereign, He is faithful and His promises will always and forever be true ...

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Sending my love to all of you!