the next adventure.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
{One day at a time.}
Saturday, October 5, 2013
month two- check!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Day Eleven.
I have experienced so much in the past eleven days and it is a bit difficult to try and put it into words. I will do my best.
When I first got off the plane, I smelled the warm, moist air blowing off the ocean. I heard chatter in French and other languages that I was not yet familiar with. It didn’t feel as terrifying as I thought it would. The green trees and the smell of the ocean felt like home. It was a little blessing that God sent me.
My first night in Africa was spent at a lovely hotel right on the beach. I roomed with my new friend Katie whom I imagine I will stay close with till we are old and grey. She is also eighteen, has grown up in the Philippines as a missionary kid, and seeks the Lord every day. She is a great encouragement, has a kind and gentle spirit, and is willing to listen and then pray with me through all my worry and struggle. She is a huge blessing and I am excited to grow closer with her (:
We arrived in Bouake the afternoon of the third, and life has not been the same since. We attended a Bible study that evening, and it was a bit over whelming. We were dropped into African worship and they expected us to just go with it. Of course all the Ivorians had grace and just laughed with us, and it turned out being a lot of fun! I could definitely feel the presence of the Lord there and see the passion the people had as they praised His name.
After getting settled into our rooms -feeling a bit more at home- our routine began. Everyday we have bible study and worship at 7:30 AM, then French lesson with Timotee for an hour, next a seminar on culture shock from other missionaries, then finally lunch and a nap. After our rest, we visit people, have more French practice, or do service projects around campus. From 5:00-7:00PM we have free time where we all usually just hang out together investing in each other. 7:00 meant dinner and it was usually an African meal. So far I have liked just about everything that I have been given which is a huge blessing!
After dinner we talk and fellowship, and before you know it, it’s time to sleep and start all over again. (:
It has felt good having a schedule and knowing what comes next (I guess that is the student in me). It hasn’t all been easy though.
Some struggles that I have faced are of course homesickness. I not only miss my amazing, godly boyfriend Alec, but I also just miss familiarity. Being able to go for a walk in my neighborhood and not be glared at or whistled at. It has been a struggle fully falling into God’s grace and peace. Being here in the Ivorian culture has opened up some wounds that are tough and messy. I have fears and anxiety about my host family, fears about what will happen when I get back to the States, fear about getting sick. Just plain anxiousness. But God is SO clear in telling us to NOT be this way;
“..Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life…Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value then they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?.. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-27;34
I am doing my best to truly trust in this and believe in it. God will provide for me because He promises that! I have no reason to worry about what family I will be placed in, about getting a bug while I am here, or about choices for school once I come home. As long as I walking in the direction of God, doing my best to be righteous and seeking wisdom from Him, He will give me that wisdom (James 1:5) and I will be okay. God will not leave me NOR forsake me. I need to be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:5-6) God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace (1 Cor 14:33).
I am praying fervently about all these things whenever they are on my mind. I’m staying in the Word and also seeking council from wise people here. I am taking it one day at a time; one step at a time.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Thank you all for truly investing in my life and this Journey. It is a huge encouragement to know there are people 7,300 miles away praying for me.
Walking in faith each day,
Tiffany Marie Johnson
Saturday, August 24, 2013
seven days- One week- One hundred & fifty two hours.
August 31 at 6:35 AM. The pressure is on. There are only seven days till my flight for Denver takes off. After two days of getting everything together in Denver, my team will leave for our twelve month stay in Cote d’Ivoire.
I can’t explain to you my joy and excitement for having the opportunity to go and experience an entire new culture- things that I have never even thought of. I am excited to meet people exactly where they are at and my prayer is that Jesus will meet us there also. I am excited to learn and grow through my team and all of the people I will get to work alongside while I am there.
I am doing my best to have as few expectations as possible because, well nothing is ever quite the way that we plan. I am expecting growth- in faith, maturity, strength and knowledge. I am expecting joy- from the smiles on the people’s faces and from the memories that will be made. I am expecting different- a different environment from what I already know and a different me when I return to the states.
But, until the 31st at 6:35, it’s preparation. For the past twelve months, I have been planning and preparing for this new Journey in my life and I have come to the point where I am ready to actually GO. But, through all of the shopping trips, shots, pharmacy visits, information faxing, presentations, and moments of feeling quite whelmed; God has been there and has shown me the importance of each day and each step. It is slowly teaching me to be more patient and allow God to be the sovereign God that He is.
Today is my last Saturday at 'home', so I did what most teenage girls would do on a typical Saturday- I shopped! I spent the afternoon running around picking up the last bit of toiletries that I will need while I am away. Spending the afternoon with my boyfriend Alec's mom was such blessing. She was able to help me spend my money wisely and just keep me company as the days dwindle and the stress rises. After our long day of shopping, we went back to their house and are now enjoying cheesy eighties movies that make us cry. I am going to miss my boyfriend immensely, but I am going to miss his family just as much. They have welcomed me into their home and called me family since day one. I can't imagine going through this experience without them right by my side. I am truly blessed.
This next week is going to be so exhausting and will likely go by quicker than I would like it to. I have several coffee dates planned, a couple of Skype dates arranged, and much needed time with my best friend Rachael set aside. There will be many late night talks, quite a few tears shed, and hopefully some great last minute memories made (:
My request is that you would all be in devoted prayer for not only me, but my entire team. We have all been facing some spiritual warfare one way or another; and that can only mean that we are doing good things for the Kingdom. Please pray for Laura, Shasta, Suzi, Hannah, Katie, Richard, Crystal, and the four Germans that will be on our team Christina, Nathalie, Rebekka, and Stephan.
- I would be fully and wholly devoted to being in the Word and spending quality time with the Lord this week especially. It is SO easy to make excuses- He needs to come first!
- Prayer for my health. Often as I get stressed out and anxious, my body tends to shut down. Please pray that I get enough rest to sustain through my travels and adapting to the new environment.
- Please pray that our sovereign and great God would overwhelm me with great amounts of peace and comfort. The thought of leaving my sweet and loving boyfriend hurts me, but we both KNOW with all our hearts that I need to be in West Africa. Please pray for Alec's heart as he adapts to me being away and learning new ways of communicating with me.
- Pray for safe travels. It will be a looooooong trip. I get anxious flying so please pray that God will comfort me and encourage me through my team.
Blessings,
Tiffany Marie Johnson.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
forty five days.
That is what I have been shown during this entire time of preparation, but it has been made quite clear that God truly is sovereign and He does not do anything half way.
In the past two weeks I have found out that my trip is now 100% FULLY FUNDED! How amazing is our God? I was struggling with letting go of control, truly giving everything to God and allow His will to be done. I soon realized that if I am able to sacrifice my comfortability and familiarity to live in a foreign country for a year, trusting that God will protect me and teach me what needs to be done with my life to glorify Him, then why did I have such an issue surrendering the funding?
I have been told by several missionaries that the true walk of faith and often the hardest part of being a missionary is trusting that God will get you there if He needs you there. I have by no means mastered this concept, but it is becoming clearer and clearer each day as I lay this burden down at Jesus' feet.
With only forty five days left till launch day, I am experiencing many feelings. Excitement, exhaustion, stress, joy, fear, and worry. I have been reassured that all of these feelings are quite normal, but that doesn't take away the discomfort of having to face them.
Despite the fact that I am fully funded for the trip, there are still pre- departure costs that I am discovering. Moving to another country for a year requires quite a bit of supplies that one would never think to purchase/ need in the states. I will still be working two jobs for the next couple of weeks and all of my money is going straight into the "Africa Stuff Fund" envelope, but that won't cover the nearly $900 of expenses. If you are feeling lead to give in any way, please contact me at :
tiffanymarie0295@gmail.com
I have attached a packing list of everything that I will need to purchase before I go, and if you would like to bless me by buying something specifically from the list, please let me know and I will inform others that it's covered.
Please be praying that I spend the next forty four days enjoying each moment that I have. I am having a tough time wrapping my brain around the fact that I won't be able to hug my boyfriend everyday, or stand next to my best friend singing worship on Sundays. I will miss so much about my life here in the States, but I KNOW God is up to something. He has a plan and I am doing my best to just go with it. Please pray for comfort and peace not only for me, but also for all those I will be saying goodbye to on August 31. I am certain that as greatly as I will be missing them, they will be missing me also.
Thank you all for investing in my adventure for Jesus,
Tiffany Marie Johnson.
https://www.worldventure.com/sslpage.aspx?pid=1419
tiffanymarie0295@gmail.com
Thursday, June 27, 2013
sixty four days.
Those are some things I have experienced the past several months as I have continued to prepare for my trip to Cote d'Ivoire.
Since my last update, a lot of life has happened. I am officially a high school graduate (thank you Lord), I have been blessed with two jobs, and I have been able to share my story some more, getting the word out about what God is doing in my life and I have been amazed by what God has given as fruit.
These past several months have been far from easy, though. There is always the time where God needs to put us into the fire to refine us and to prepare us- I would say that I have felt a great deal of that. Until several weeks ago, my support raising was stagnant at 3% and it had been that way for about seven months. I had promised myself that right after graduation I would buckle down, and devote a majority of my time and energy into Africa planning and preparing and so I did. I felt I was doing everything that I could-- working right out of high school, making appointments to share with people in their homes, licking what felt like every envelope on the face of the earth, and praying my guts out. But I got nothing. At least that's what I felt at the time.
With no financial support coming in, I felt discouraged, confused and quite frankly frustrated with God. Why is it that He would move and help me jump over so many other hurdles, and then allow money to stand in the way?? This is the same God that owns the cattle on a thousand hills- money is not a problem for Him! Why would this desire be so strong and real in my heart if it was not God's plan for me? Maybe this just isn't God's timing- if people do not feel it put on their hearts to give, maybe it just isn't the time for me to go.
Those were my thoughts for a few days, especially after finding out that my launch date was now pushed up two weeks to AUGUST 31st. Everything suddenly felt impossible.
But, with much guidance, council, prayer, tears, and a little rest- God has made it clear that this is very possible for Him and I just need to trust in Him.
On June 2nd I presented my plans to the congregation at my church, this last Sunday on the 23rd I was the hostess of a Pancake Breakfast to support me with donations, a pop can drive plan is in the mix, and nearly every week in between I have had a table set up willing to answer any questions. I have been diligent and faithful- exactly what God has asked of me.
In four weeks time, God moved hearts and brought my support from 3% to 65%!!! It has been so amazing to see God's deliverance once again in my life-- there truly is tangible hope that this ministry is going to happen and I am so blessed.
I am continuing to work work work, staying in the word, seeking out encouragement from friends and family, and I will take the next sixty four days, one day at a time with purpose.
I felt like giving up- I refused to call it quitting but, that is what it would have been. I am going to till the end, not having any potential regrets for my future; wondering 'what if '.
If God has laid it on your heart to learn more about my ministry through Journey Corps and give in any way, please check out my webpage:
https://www.worldventure.com/sslpage.aspx?pid=1419
God is good.
Tiffany Marie Johnson
Saturday, April 13, 2013
one hundred & fifty four days.
That is what I would have said about six months ago if one were to tell me I would be going to Cote d'Ivoire, but it's happening.
God has been teaching me SO much since that faithful week at Jonah Ministries last July where He revealed to me that Africa is the place I need to be. He revealed to me the great deal of deliverance in my life and I began to see how He has held me in His hand every step of the way. It felt as if my relationship with the Lord was the wrong prescription of glasses- you are never really comfortable, but you don't realize how great your vision can be until you put the right pair on. God has yet to stop amazing me these past few months as I take steps closer and closer to Cote d' Ivoire.
This school year I am a senior- praise be to God! I have always enjoyed learning, but it has been a long road and I am thankful that this chapter is nearly finished. It has been a stretching year in several different ways. I made the decision to take classes that would challenge me and well, they are doing just that. I want to succeed and put forth my best effort but that is tricky when I catch myself day dreaming about the bright orange sun setting over the horizon of West Africa when I am supposed to be writing a research paper. Everyday I pray that God will give me the strength and the diligence to live in this moment; appreciating every opportunity, every person and not taking anything for granted.
Most of my classmates spend their time talking about the school they will be attending in the fall, the roommates they will have and the cost of their tuition. This has taught me to rely on Christ for my comfort and support because no other eighteen year old that I know is packing up and heading to another contentant this September. I love that God has called me to this, but isn't always easy.
This 'Africa' transition hasn't only affected me; relationships have changed. It has been interesting and quite frankly exhausting reestablishing where friendships stand, but it is necessary. This year is a year of change and readjustment.I have had to let go of several friendships, but in that God has blessed me immensely- teaching me more and more about myself and also providing new friendships/ restoring old ones. I thank God daily for the great examples that He has provided me with- it's incredible!
Beside school & maintaining healthy, godly relationships with great people, I am preparing to leave. I have gone to training in Denver, learning how to establish healthy and firms partnerships with people before I leave for the field. Since being back from the February training, I have shared. Called people up, ordered coffee, and shared what God has laid on my heart. It has been an amazing experience getting to watch the Holy Spirit work in the lives of these people I call my friends and family in Christ. I not only get to share my story with them, but I have the honor of hearing all their stories; how God worked and is still working in their lives-- what a blessing!
During this journey, God is teaching me to trust Him and let Him be in control. Many people think that my biggest fears are that I will go overseas and fall ill, or the bugs. Those thoughts make me uncomfortable, sure, but I would say my largest fear is money. Yes. Money. I KNOW God will provide and I KNOW that if I meant to be there, I will get there, but having 0% control scares me. I am doing my best to share Christ's story through my life and allow him to move people however he needs to. One. Day. At. A. Time.
This is me and this is where I am at. Daily doing my best to grow in Christ and help others to do the same. I am excited for this journey that He has me on & I am excited that you want to be apart of it. I will continue to update as I am support raising and raping up this year in the states and then once I am on the field I will use this as a tool to share the amazing stories of God's works and the ways I need prayer from my loved ones back home.
If you want to hear more of the story of how this whole Africa thing began, where it's headed, and what the future may hold, don't hesitate to contact me. I want to talk to you. (:
Thank you for being a part of my life.
- Tiffany Marie Johnson