Hurry!!

While I was on vacation in a little cabin in the woods in Arkansas last week, I picked up a DVD series called "Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People" by John and Nancy Ortberg.  Each day I would watch one or two segments.  In one of the segments John said, "you must ruthlessly erase 'hurry' from your life."  We usually talk about how busy we are and how we need to remove 'busy' from our lives, but Jesus was often busy. He was busy healing people, teaching, traveling, out by himself talking to the Father, etc...  Basically he was loving and serving others.  You can't hurry love and you can't hurry when you are really serving someone.  He didn't hurry or let people hurry him.  When Lazarus died, the disciples were all concerned because Jesus wanted to stay where they were and finish what they were doing instead of going to Lazarus's side.  Jesus waited a few DAYS before starting the journey to see Lazarus and his family.  He wasn't in a hurry...  He was doing what needed to be done and then going to the next thing. 

This statement hit me like a ton of bricks.  Probably the biggest reason I needed that vacation was that I had been hurrying through life to get it all done, now.  I was getting/allowing myself to be pulled in too many directions at once and not getting very much done well.  The other lesson from both the "Spiritual Disciplines" DVD and the story about Jesus and Lazarus is that I need to set boundaries.  If you are anything like me, that means boundaries on myself and boundaries on others.  I am currently reading a book called "Boundaries" by Cloud & Townsend.  I am only a few chapters in, but so far it is a great book that I highly recommend.  

I am not "fixed" yet :-), but I'm trying to be mindful of the words "hurry" and "boundaries."  Just thought I would share!  Hope you have a great "non-hurried" week!

Jan/Feb 2012 Prayerletter

Hello Family & Friends!

I can’t believe it is already March!  Where is the year going, already?  With a new year has come new volunteers, new volunteer jobs, new ideas, and new plans…  For someone who likes consistency, that is a lot of “new.” :~)

Speaking of new plans…. I am planning a partnership development trip around the end of April through mid-May, the purpose of which is to locate new partners who will provide the remaining 30% of my monthly support.  I would appreciate your prayers regarding where I should travel for this trip and that the last 30% of my monthly support would be raised quickly.  If you have friends that would be interested in supporting my ministry with Wycliffe Associates (WA), would like to host a home group one evening, or would like me to speak at your church, please contact me via email at Paula_Oestreich@WycliffeAssociates.org.  The sooner I can raise this last 30%, the sooner I can commit my attention full time to the ministry of serving Bible Translation.

The second area of prayer I would ask you to pray for is direction for international travel.  Last year I spent 3 months in Cameroon while the volunteer Program Manager was on furlough, and there are needs like that all over the world.  There either isn’t a Volunteer Coordinator in that location or they need someone to fill for a short time.   Please pray that the Lord would clearly guide the decision to go and to the specific location He would have me to fill in.

The third prayer request I have is for my vacation.   I am headed to The Broom Tree Refuge for a week.  It is a cabin in the woods in Arkansas set up for people in full time ministry to take a break and be refreshed.  I leave Sun (3/4) and return the following Sat (3/10).  Please pray that I would have a     relaxing and rejuvenating break, and also quality time with the Lord in the Word and prayer.  I will specifically be praying about the two aforementioned requests…

We praise the Lord for a good volunteer season. 

*Every season we are identifying more areas that volunteers can serve,      thus accelerating Bible Translation (in Dallas and around the world). 

*No serious accidents or injuries.

*New volunteers catching the vision of spreading God’s Word.

Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support.  I cannot do this ministry without each of you!

**To become a financial partner, click on the "partnership" tab above.

"I Knew What I Was Getting Into" by Misty Edwards

This is one of my favorite songs...

I knew what I was getting into when called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into.

I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into.

And I am not shocked by your weakness.
And I am not shocked even by your sin.
And I am not shocked by your brokenness.

I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you.

Cuz only I can see the end from the beginning.
And only I can see where this is going.
And only I can see the end from the beginning.
And I see in you the seeds of love.
And I see in you strength when all you see is your failure and all you feel is ashamed.
I can see deeper than that.
I know you better than that.

I knew what I was getting into when called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name.
I said it just the same.
I knew what getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.

Your only at the beginning.
You've only just begun and I know where you are going
And all you can see in the moment is that your hurting.
And all you can see in the moment is that your aching.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still want you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into when I called you.

Just don't give up.
And don't give in.
If you don't quit. You win, you win.

Just don't give up.
And don't give in.
If you don't quit. You win, you win.

Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
It's going to be okay.
Everything is in my hands.
It's going to be alright.
It's going to be Okay.
And you don't have to pretend to be something or someone your not.
Cuz I know you better than that, even better, even better than that.
Listen my Beloved.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name.
I said it just the same.
I knew what I was getting into and I still like you.
I knew what I was getting into and I still chose you.

October/November 2011 Update

Hello Family and Friends!

I am back from Cameroon!  During my trip to Cameroon I worked with some really wonderful missionaries and Cameroonians.  I am grateful for the time I spent there.  I learned a lot about Africa, Bible translation, overseas missions, and myself.  Two “themes” of learning that kept repeating themselves were:

#1 The difference between good, bad, and culture.  I could also call it good, bad, and different.  Other cultures do things differently, and sometimes is can be really easy to judge and call it bad when it is simply just different.  Ummm ouch…  (I wrote a blog entry about some funny differences—you can view it here.)

#2 Thankfulness.  It is pointed out all through scripture that we are to be thankful in all things—the good and the bad…. and I wasn’t doing a very good job. 

One of the families I helped “mobilize” to Cameroon was a Site Volunteer Coordinator (SVC).  Bob Lane, his wife and son arrived   in Cameroon last week for one to two years.  If you are thinking, “I thought that was what Paula was doing there, and going to go back to do for 6 months??”  You’re right…  Since they have someone that can be there full time, I will not be going back in the spring for 6 months as was previously planned.  Having 2 SVCs in Cameroon and none in Dallas (and several other places in the world) did not seem prudent.  :)

Please continue to pray for the following teams going to Cameroon in Nov & Dec this year:

1. Ndop Water Team will work with wells, bio-sand filters & follow-up in villages. 11/2-12/19

2. BEGAN Connectivity Team will be connecting notebook laptops with solar power to satellites for internet connectivity in remote   areas to accelerate Bible translation.  11/17—11/29

3. GNRO Electrical Team will work on electrical issues at the Great North Regional Office. 12/2—12/23

Also, please pray for Bob and his family as they acclimate to life, work, school in Cameroon.

DALLAS - 

I am back in Dallas...and hit the ground running.  The volunteers have already started arriving, with many more on the way this fall and winter.

It is hard to believe that this is the start of my 3rd volunteer season.  As I have heard our volunteers say time and time again, it is like a big family down here when they are all here.  While some of our volunteers come for a week, or two, or a month; most of our volunteers are in Dallas for 3 to 6 months.  The volunteers arriving now are mostly our 6 month volunteers.  In January the masses arrive and most will stay until around Easter. 

They will be doing a variety of jobs all around the campus (International Linguistics Center).  Many of the men are “jack of all trade” types, so they will work in the Buildings and Grounds Dept doing remodeling projects, building maintenance and upkeep, woodwork, fix-it jobs, replace flooring, roofing jobs, etc…  The list is long.  Many of the ladies work in our boutique and sewing room.  The ladies usually open an upholstery room for a month or two working on reupholstering furniture or upholstering furniture the wood shop makes.  We also have several volunteers that do administrative work from accounting to scanning books so resources are available for Bible translators all over the world.  Other areas volunteers work are the warehouse, dining hall, Museum of Cultures, IT, hospitality, and medical clinic.   With so many volunteers, service opportunities, and logistics it is no wonder that I stay busy, but I have to admit...I love what I do, the volunteers & personnel I work with…

On another note...I am headed to Kansas City, MO on Saturday, Nov 19 and will be there until Monday, Nov 28th to see family, friends and partners.  If you would like to get together while I am home, please call or email me.  :~)

Missions at the Airport!!