The end of the Beginning.

What a weekend! So much to think about! I went to Thanksgiving with the beautiful Thorson family, who by the way, I am very thankful for! I got sick at my first/only day of work...oops! I guess that wasn't meant to be! And lastly, I visited the Lovely Sarah James in Eau Claire, WI! It was so fun to visit her city and see the beautiful downtown! Her sister, Hanna, also gave me a free haircut! God blesses us in the smallest little ways!

We have a lot of work to do, and have been working hard as the semester ends! It is so crazy to think that I will be home visiting friends and family and worshiping at First Christian again for a few weeks! I can not believe that almost one semester of college is done! I have learned so much and grown so much closer to my Heavenly Father! He is doing amazing things in my heart, and I could not feel more blessed, loved, or passionate about what He will continue to do! I can't imagine something better than this, but I know God has great plans for greater things!

You are all such a blessing, and I can not believe that soon I will be home with most of you, even if for a short while! Seeing your faces will be such a blessing! I am praying for wisdom, healing, and happiness for each of you, and that the Lord would show you his will! Love you!

Job!

I am employed temporarily at American Eagle! Such a blessing! In fact, so much of a blessing that it has created a dilemma! Either way, I am thankful for the opportunity to at least have a temporary job! This is actually the first time I have gone through a hiring experience. I know that I have this job through God's blessings!

Its like another planet.

I woke up this morning in my "new" city to find it covered in a thin sheet of snow! It looks completely different! Its amazing, the artistry that our God can create! I feel like I live in a whole new place! It is absolutely beautiful! The snow shimmering on the ground, and each tree both green and bare with a thin highlight of white. It is like a dream!

...Well it is a dream, until your nose is so cold that it turns pink, and starts to hurt! Or your California boots aren't made for walking when it comes to snow! Or, you realize that driving in snow becomes a whole new adventure! Or the walk to the lightrail seems longer than it did last time!...The funniest thing, is today at least, I enjoyed every part of it! God has the greatest ideas!

Today was also a blessing in that I have two..TWO... interviews for jobs! One tomorrow morning for American Eagle at the Mall of America, and the other for Urban Outfitters at the Mall of A. I am a bit nervous, but know it is all in God's hands and if it is meant to be, he will work in the situation to make sure it happens! Today was such a blessing!

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight! Proverbs 3:5-6 :)

I continue to pray for you all each and every day! Thank you for being such beautiful people! You are all such a blessing!

Love, Hayli

God always opens that other door!

While going to the DR of Congo seemed amazing, it was not what the Lord wanted or needed me to do at this point in my life. As an intercultural studies student, I am learning a lot about the different places and the amazing cultures that are alive in this world. I love learning how to pray for them! I have also been praying for an opportunity of some sort that God will bring to experience another culture.

Today, I got a phone call from Wycliffe Associates. They need a volunteer to help with childcare in Mexico during Thanksgiving break, and they have asked me! The money that I have from Wycliffe Associates is enough to cover the trip! I was so afraid that God would leave the gifts that friends gave to a ministry would not be used. But, he has another plan that fits right into his plans for me here at North Central! God is widening my world as he widens my faith one step at a time!

I am praying for you all and hope that God showers you with grace and blessings! Thank you for reading and for your prayers and support. Our God is an amazing God! There is no one or nothing like him and no plans are better than his!

Be Blessed!

Love, Hayli

Which way? HIS way!

When you pray for God's will, you have to be able to accept it either way. Sometimes God's plan for you will be the plan that you wanted, and sometimes, it is not. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must learn to trust him and know that what we sinful humans of limited knowledge think may be best for us. After much prayer, my Heavenly Father has shown me that this trip to Africa that I had been planning for, is not his Will for me at the moment. A good friend of mine reminded me that we gain wisdom from seeking the Lord's will. Remembering that the one thing that Solomon asked for was Wisdom, I know that it is far more important to gain wisdom from the Lord and to follow his will, then try to "choose my own adventure." Another great friend, and a woman with an incredible gift for seeing the Lord's beauty shared with me that "the Lord never shows you something and doesn't give you something better." I know that this mission trip to Africa, whether the same trip at a later time, or another trip that is to an unexpected pace, or an unexpected need. I write this as I listen to "Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. I will follow you." I think of His plan that he has so perfectly mapped out and how he reminds me in John 14:6-7 of how he "Is the way." I want so much to go serve him, yet I forget that I need to dwell in Him and follow him, knowing that HE IS THE WAY, and no other way would be better than the road that follows Christ wholeheartedly!

I would like to share a letter that I have written to friends and family regarding my choice to follow the Lord and see where HIS plan takes me:

Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you know, I was working toward the goal of traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo in January to work with Wycliffe Associates, and a Wycliffe family there. I have spent much time in prayer with the Lord and continue to pray for His will. Prayer after Prayer leaves me feeling blessed and knowing that the Lord is giving me amazing opportunities and blessing me beyond anything I could have imagined.

The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to travel to Pine River, Minnesota to spend 5 ½ weeks at Trout Lake Camps and babysit two beautiful children while their mom ministers to hundreds of campers. I have been able to learn things about myself, about God and about loving others. As I continue my journey here at camp, I am excited to continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord!

In four weeks, I will have the opportunity to study at North Central University and major in Worship Arts and Intercultural Studies. I know that the Lord is calling me to NCU and blessing me with the opportunity to study that I didn’t know was possible this year. There are opportunities and challenges that the Lord has for me at NCU and I know that these are going to help me grow and love our Lord even more than I can imagine today.

The blessings that the Lord have given me are more than I could ask for. As I continue to pray for his will, and continue to seek advice from parents, college advisors and other Christian mentors, I have come to realize that it is not in the Lord’s plans to me to travel to Africa this coming year. I continue every day to pray for the Lord’s will for my life, and I know that this is still something that I feel strongly about and will continue to pray about until the Lord feels that it is time to answer my prayers.

I thank you all for your prayers and love. I pray that the Lord blesses each of you as you continue to grow closer to Him and His love.

Blessings!

Hayli Shaw

I woud like to thank you for your prayers! I am praying for you all as well, and praying that the Lord pours blessings onto you, as he has for me!

Jeremiah 29:11

An Attitude of Gratitude

I can't help in this time to stop and thank God. There is so much to pay attention to, to pray about and to plan for, but I have to look at why I am planning and praying and know that it is worth stopping my new busy time to thank God! The opportunity before me, to serve the Rasmussen family, Wycliffe Bible Translators and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is more than I could have imagined at almost 19 years old. While I am helping the Rasmussen's with their three little ones, I also hope to learn about myself, and about the people of the DR of Congo. I hope that this opportunity will bring me closer to the Lord's will for my life and show me the many different types of ministry that God will use me for as an ICS major. I have to thank the Lord for the love He gives me, the knowledge that He will always be by my side no matter what, and the knowledge that greater things are yet to come. I am also grateful that he would choose to use me, a young girl just out of high school, just starting to really get to know God. It makes me think of Jeremiah, who was called at a young age into the world and given God's words. I can only wonder what God's will for my life will be, but nevertheless thankful for where I am now, and where I am headed, no matter where it may be!

I also thank the Lord for each of you! For your prayers and support! Each prayer is such a powerful weapon, and so important in this ministry! Please continue to pray for Wycliffe Bible Translators, Wycliffe Associates Volunteers, the Wycliffe members in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the country and people of the DR of Congo.

Jeremiah 29:11 <3

The Nerves Kick In

I know these nerves aren't coming from God. I think back to reading and learning about partnership development through Wycliffe and the things they they could almost promise that satan would use against me. The feelings of I'm not good enough, they wont remember me, I'm horrible on the phone and won't be able to get information out, and any other nasty lies he decides to put in my mind. The fear of being to young to reach out and help this family, or that people might think so also comes to mind. But thankfully, I have an AMAZING GOD who reminds me through His word that I am good enough, and He is going to use me in any way that he can! I am really learning to trust him, as I previously mentioned, and the test continues to get harder, but I have God on my side! I know that as long as I am looking for his will, I will have nothing to worry about.

I'd love to share with you a few scriptures that I am trying to focus my heart on lately!

Jeremiah 1:7-8 "But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you
to and say whatever I command you."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you." Declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!"

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

As I read these verses again, I am reminded and given some peace about the partnership development that I will officially start this week as I start calling friends, family and churches. I ask for your prayers that I will listen to the words God gives me and follow his will as I continue my journey toward the Democratic Republic of Congo! :)

PS. I leave for Minneapolis in 7 days! Prayers that all goes well and I adjust for my new home for the fall semester well and adjust to moving 2,000 miles from my family to study God's amazing word would be great! :)

What a Test

Working on Partnership development, I have really started learning how to trust God. It really is quite a tough thing to do. We as people want it all our way, right away, and that is just not how it works! There is a bit of a struggle going on in my heart at the moment, as I push myself to trust God and know that "Father knows best!". I am constantly thinking about my favorite bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you." Declares the LORD,"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future!" I always think about this and how He has a future for me. Whether it is working with friends and family to volunteer in Africa, or studying for 4 years at a University that I did not think would have been possible for me to attend. College was my first test in trusting the Lord. In July 2010, I had no plans for a university and I was headed to community college, by July 2011, I am all ready and set to go, with financial aid taken care of, a dorm picked out, and classes registered. God must really have some great plans for me at North Central University. Which brings me back to a small sign He had for me in March on a flight to Chicago, when an elderly man I had never met was placed next to me on a plane and when I told him I planned to attend NCU, he told me his friend just thought the world of it, and God would do great things for me there. He moved on to a new seat and I didn't see him again, but I wish I could thank him for giving me Peace about NCU!

Knowing that God can do great things if it is His will for us, I am beginning to worry less and less about going to the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2012 with Wycliffe Associates! I am extremely excited and I know it would be an amazing experience. It would be a dream come true, but I remind myself one again, that God knows best and that I need to listen and wait on him. I ask for your prayer as I continue on this journey that God has me packing for and planning for. Please pray that I listen to my Heavenly Father and learn to trust Him in everything! I never thought that any of this would be in his plans for me, but now that I think about it, all I can do is praise Him and thank Him!

The Beginning

I am just now starting partnership development, and It is a bit trying. It is definitely a way to learn to trust GOD! I have never really had a huge reason to put my trust in the LORD before this year. NCU applications and Financial aid proved to be a tough adventure, and took a lot of prayer to see if it was GOD's will. So far, I have a feeling it is His will, and I am going to have an amazing four years there.

I am currently praying about Africa and the funding for the trip. If all goes well, and it is funded, I will spend six months in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Wycliffe Associates has a family living in the DR of Congo with three little ones, and need help with tutoring and homeschooling. It will be the adventure of a lifetime, but quite possibly the beginning of a lifetime of adventure. I am looking forward to spending time with GOD as I pray about Wycliffe and Africa and the possibilities that he has for me! I also look forward to partnering with you all in prayer and support! :)

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have you you," declares the LORD, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a Future!"