January Newsletter:
Hellooooooooooo! Paul so often wrote great things like “grace and peace to you from God our Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” and every time I read those greetings I fly so fast past them, realize it, go back, stop and wonder about them, and then ask God for his grace and peace. So I say to all of you this:
I pray that you will be shocked at the largeness of God and will realize in the deepest part of who you are, along with all the saints, angels, and other spirits in heaven, hell, and earth - that as children of God, our obedience to Christ renders us literally unstoppable to any opposing force. I pray that this realization would revolutionize all our lives.
Ok. I know, it’s not as beautiful as Paul’s greeting, but for you I submit my somewhat awkward and lengthy greeting.
I am writing from my chilly basement in Abbotsford instead of my not so chilly basement in Spokane. In the fall when I went down to start with Lifeline, I went as a visitor just to make sure everything was what I thought it was and to get my paperwork together with Pastor Jim so that upon returning to Spokane after Christmas I could apply for a religious workers visa and be able to be paid by them in addition to the support I had raised.
With all the appropriate applications, letters and certificates, I went to the border and sat for a number of hours during which they may have asked me 2 or 3 questions. Then they took my picture, fingerprinted me, and flagged my car, gave me a special piece of paper and concise directions on how to get back to Canada. I have never been told so clearly how and when to turn left and then to proceed in a single undeviating direction.
So here I am. Not in Spokane – yet – but with a much clearer picture of what the US consulate, the border people, and immigration would like me to do. It will only be a matter of time and we will satisfy them and I will be back to writing to you from a basement over the border. I’m not frustrated. It’s not an attack of the enemy- I don’t think. Not at this point. I can still continue to do all my work up here, while having the luxury of seeing all my Abbotsfordian friends. Also, while preparing to go back down, I had a sense that I needed to stay here a little bit longer, but I wasn’t sure if that was me wanting to be here a little longer, or God speaking, and well, here I am for a little bit longer.
It has been great to be in Spokane working for Pastor Jim and getting to know the Andersons. If you can believe it, they think that I am somewhat un-opinionated. All I have to say about that is with all those kids and strong opinions, they don’t need me to add to the mayhem. They are so different from me and it has been interesting adapting, acclimatizing, going for walks, engaging in, staying out of, wondering, watching and then taking their family photo at Thanksgiving – the one that will go around the world to all their supporters . . . all those opinions in that room and me having to direct them all. Fantastic fun I say. Or stressful. You pick. So good for me. Like Flinstones vitamins – quite colorful and good for you.
I had an interesting time learning some things in Spokane. The enemy lied and gave me reason as to why I should be disqualified from performing the things that I felt most called to do. And then I would back off only to discover that the enemy had just successfully suppressed my expression, unique and essential contribution to the world – my “voice” to use a metaphor. It has been amazing being a Canadian in an American country while struggling with this issue of voice. I don’t know if it’s actually a Heidi thing, a Canadian thing, or just sin or fear. The Andersons seem to have little or no problem flat out saying what they think. Pastor Jim doesn’t seem to think twice about standing in front of an abortion clinic with a piece of red tape with “LIFE” written on it - placed over his mouth. At first glance it seems so radical and I wonder if it’s necessary. It’s so not culturally cool. But maybe it’s more outlandish and out there- that babies are killed behind those doors and I’m afraid to stand nearby and acknowledge it, let alone point it out. I’m not promoting a life of mere criticism and protest, but one of being unafraid of speaking the truth – regardless of public consensus or approval. My fear makes me uncomfortable and ashamed sometimes. You’d think that someone who leads worship and delivers the announcements in church (and Oh do I!) wouldn’t have much of a problem expressing things in front of others. Not so Idaho (it just rhymes – no reason. Just playing with words. Enjoy it).
I have been so challenged and continue to ask God for eyes to see more clearly what’s really going on. I love Jesus, that man who created such awkward situations by what he said, who pointed out truth and made people uncomfortable, who loved genuinely and valued people not position, who was drawn children and prostitutes and social outcasts. I pray that I will more and more be compelled by love rather than dictated by the threats of the enemy or the possible disapproval of the faces of the people around me.
So I have been working on a book and building a web-site – which you can look at. It’s www.lifeline-ministries.org. And while doing this, God has been working on me building into me courage so he can trust me with a burden, with a word of truth that might be contradicted by culture, misunderstood by friends, or rejected by a religious system. I don’t expect to not be afraid, but perfect love casts out all fear. I expect to be compelled by love and to walk through the warfare, fear and faces. And I am growing as I take courage and stay close to Christ and His word, AND get honest with people in my life, stay accountable, and take risks.
Thank you so much to all of you for your prayers, contact and financial support. I feel like I’m in God’s special school for Heidi and He is so perfectly and gently showing me His heart and helping me understand that there is no compromise in His love and character. There is so much to live for, so many broken people to pray for and love. In the church and outside of it. What a cost, what a love, what a God. Straying from truth and swallowing my voice robs not only me but whomever else God was intending to show His love to through me.
So much and such a great God.
Hellooooooooooo! Paul so often wrote great things like “grace and peace to you from God our Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” and every time I read those greetings I fly so fast past them, realize it, go back, stop and wonder about them, and then ask God for his grace and peace. So I say to all of you this:I pray that you will be shocked at the largeness of God and will realize in the deepest part of who you are, along with all the saints, angels, and other spirits in heaven, hell, and earth - that as children of God, our obedience to Christ renders us literally unstoppable to any opposing force. I pray that this realization would revolutionize all our lives.
Ok. I know, it’s not as beautiful as Paul’s greeting, but for you I submit my somewhat awkward and lengthy greeting.
I am writing from my chilly basement in Abbotsford instead of my not so chilly basement in Spokane. In the fall when I went down to start with Lifeline, I went as a visitor just to make sure everything was what I thought it was and to get my paperwork together with Pastor Jim so that upon returning to Spokane after Christmas I could apply for a religious workers visa and be able to be paid by them in addition to the support I had raised. With all the appropriate applications, letters and certificates, I went to the border and sat for a number of hours during which they may have asked me 2 or 3 questions. Then they took my picture, fingerprinted me, and flagged my car, gave me a special piece of paper and concise directions on how to get back to Canada. I have never been told so clearly how and when to turn left and then to proceed in a single undeviating direction.
So here I am. Not in Spokane – yet – but with a much clearer picture of what the US consulate, the border people, and immigration would like me to do. It will only be a matter of time and we will satisfy them and I will be back to writing to you from a basement over the border. I’m not frustrated. It’s not an attack of the enemy- I don’t think. Not at this point. I can still continue to do all my work up here, while having the luxury of seeing all my Abbotsfordian friends. Also, while preparing to go back down, I had a sense that I needed to stay here a little bit longer, but I wasn’t sure if that was me wanting to be here a little longer, or God speaking, and well, here I am for a little bit longer.
It has been great to be in Spokane working for Pastor Jim and getting to know the Andersons. If you can believe it, they think that I am somewhat un-opinionated. All I have to say about that is with all those kids and strong opinions, they don’t need me to add to the mayhem. They are so different from me and it has been interesting adapting, acclimatizing, going for walks, engaging in, staying out of, wondering, watching and then taking their family photo at Thanksgiving – the one that will go around the world to all their supporters . . . all those opinions in that room and me having to direct them all. Fantastic fun I say. Or stressful. You pick. So good for me. Like Flinstones vitamins – quite colorful and good for you. I had an interesting time learning some things in Spokane. The enemy lied and gave me reason as to why I should be disqualified from performing the things that I felt most called to do. And then I would back off only to discover that the enemy had just successfully suppressed my expression, unique and essential contribution to the world – my “voice” to use a metaphor. It has been amazing being a Canadian in an American country while struggling with this issue of voice. I don’t know if it’s actually a Heidi thing, a Canadian thing, or just sin or fear. The Andersons seem to have little or no problem flat out saying what they think. Pastor Jim doesn’t seem to think twice about standing in front of an abortion clinic with a piece of red tape with “LIFE” written on it - placed over his mouth. At first glance it seems so radical and I wonder if it’s necessary. It’s so not culturally cool. But maybe it’s more outlandish and out there- that babies are killed behind those doors and I’m afraid to stand nearby and acknowledge it, let alone point it out. I’m not promoting a life of mere criticism and protest, but one of being unafraid of speaking the truth – regardless of public consensus or approval. My fear makes me uncomfortable and ashamed sometimes. You’d think that someone who leads worship and delivers the announcements in church (and Oh do I!) wouldn’t have much of a problem expressing things in front of others. Not so Idaho (it just rhymes – no reason. Just playing with words. Enjoy it).
I have been so challenged and continue to ask God for eyes to see more clearly what’s really going on. I love Jesus, that man who created such awkward situations by what he said, who pointed out truth and made people uncomfortable, who loved genuinely and valued people not position, who was drawn children and prostitutes and social outcasts. I pray that I will more and more be compelled by love rather than dictated by the threats of the enemy or the possible disapproval of the faces of the people around me. So I have been working on a book and building a web-site – which you can look at. It’s www.lifeline-ministries.org. And while doing this, God has been working on me building into me courage so he can trust me with a burden, with a word of truth that might be contradicted by culture, misunderstood by friends, or rejected by a religious system. I don’t expect to not be afraid, but perfect love casts out all fear. I expect to be compelled by love and to walk through the warfare, fear and faces. And I am growing as I take courage and stay close to Christ and His word, AND get honest with people in my life, stay accountable, and take risks.
Thank you so much to all of you for your prayers, contact and financial support. I feel like I’m in God’s special school for Heidi and He is so perfectly and gently showing me His heart and helping me understand that there is no compromise in His love and character. There is so much to live for, so many broken people to pray for and love. In the church and outside of it. What a cost, what a love, what a God. Straying from truth and swallowing my voice robs not only me but whomever else God was intending to show His love to through me.
So much and such a great God.
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