January 2018

Adventures in the first of the Year

        Hello everyone! How are all of you doing? How was the beginning of your year? This month has gone by pretty fast and there are a lot of different things going on.

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       Towards the beginning of the month all of the staff and students took a week of to come together for a spiritual emphasis week. A man from Answers in Genesis came to peak and talked a lot about creation. There was also a class on culture and generations today in America, Biblical confrontation and there were several sessions talking about the ministry. One of the sessions that I was in was about creating a Bible study out of the book of James for the summer program with teens. That was really cool to be a part of and we all are in groups to help come up with some material. I am focusing on looking over 5:7-12.

 

      God is teaching me a lot in general here at BMW. It has been a harder few months in all honesty but the Lord has been faithful through it. Sometimes it feels like i'm stuck in this box and cannot see anything. I've been asking the Lord to give me eyes to see Him and what He is doing and to change my heart, attitude and mind so that I can grow in Him. Some people think that it is hard to work on change as a bible student because it is easy for us to see all that we are doing wrong and wanting to fix it. The problem is it cannot be fixed all at once! He has been really working on me and I am grateful that He has been helping me feel less overwhelmed. The Lord has reminded me to look back and remember His faithfulness and provision. Again He is saying trust me. A life with the Lord is hard but wonderful because He has amazing plans, even when we may not be able to see it.

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"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

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        Something huge that I have begun to really think about is my internship. I'm almost finished with the school part of the program and will start my internship after the summer. Meetings have taken place and the plan is to go to Mongolia as assistant leader for the summer and then fly to Cambodia for my internship at the beginning of August! I'm very excited at the plan and thought of going back to Cambodia to do ministry. The Lord is really doing amazing things there and I believe it is a special time for that country. I'm just so excited to be used by the Lord and be apart of His work there. Please pray that I will die to myself and I will allow the Lord to shape me and use me there. As far as ministry there, I will probably help in the office, teach the BMW, teach English and help with anything teacher Nelly really needs. Please pray as I prepare for this. :)

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        This term has been busy and it is a short one! We have ten weeks of classes, 12 essays to do, and lots of homework and other responsibilities. It has honestly felt a bit overwhelming but the Lord is getting us through and He is teaching us. On a sadder note we have had a couple changes with teachers within the term. Mr. Stobie is not teaching or preaching here in Merritt Island anymore. We have missed how the Lord used Him in that. We also just found out that our Doctrine and Prophecy teacher will not be teaching for the rest of the term. So, we have gained three new teachers! So far I have enjoyed Miss Mindy in Hermeneutics class and i'm looking forward to learning more. I think the new teachers for the other two classes will do a good job too. All the students have also been adjusting to our new BMW coordinators Mr. and Mrs. Josiah and Bethany Frey. Change is hard sometimes, but again the Lord is growing us in the midst.

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 "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit."

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)

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        The fun shenanigans this month included a bonfire one night along with night canoeing. It was a nice time to hang out but the night canoeing was a bit of a blood pressure riser. We saw four sets of alligator eyeballs. It was cool to see them but I am glad we did not get close to them. Hannah F and I took a free weekend last month and stayed at Mrs. Pats house. As always it was wonderful to be there, off property hanging out. We accomplished some homework and had a nice time watching a t.v. show called Psych with Mrs. Pat. On that Saturday night we also made some peppermint bark that was really yummy. That Sunday was an adventure too. Hannah F and I have decided to try and really make Sunday the day of rest. By this it just means we're going to try to finish homework so that we can relax on Sunday. Anyway, we accomplished our goal for the most part that week and we went to a park to have lunch.

We were trying to see manatee, but it was too cold for them. So we decided to walk a little and go swing on some swings at the park. It was a good time. We had a pretty relaxing evening with Mrs. Pat before church that night.

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         The last week of this month I cleaned and did various jobs outside out at the JOY RV park in CoCoa. The Lord really used working out there as an encouragement for me. I had been feeling especially discouraged the few weeks before that and the Lord just tapped me on the shoulder and said hey, I'm here, I care and I love you. They were very kind and appreciative to me. I enjoyed being there. Backtracking to the beginning of the month, praise the Lord we are not sick anymore! A lot of students were sick around Christmas time and some brought it back with them. Thank the Lord for good health. A random fun thing Hannah F and I have done a few times is put on face masks to help with our skin. That has been fun to do.

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"For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea 

so that its waves roar- the Lord Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you

with the shadow of my hand- I who set the

heavens in place, who laid the foundations

of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

Isaiah 51:15-16 (NIV)

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       For Vespers  this month we had Cheyenne (intern in Malawi) talk to us about her time there and gave us the opportunity to ask questions. It was nice to see her. One of the week days Hannah F and I went to Mrs. Pats to talk. It was neat to hear about her experiences and talk out what is going on here. One night for vespers Anna and Tanner set up an ice cream bar and we just had some fellowship time before studying for mid-terms. That was a nice relaxing time since mid terms have brought some more pressure. Please pray for us students as we continue to take more Mid-Terms. 

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          Please let me know how I can be praying for you and feel free to update me on what is going on with you and your families life. Message me, email me or send me a letter about anything. I would love to receive something and write back.  God bless you. Thank you for the prayers you give and the support that you send. God uses you to provide for me financially by faith and I honestly cannot fulfill God's calling in my life without the Lord using you in that way. I am so grateful. God is faithful in our lives. Have a wonderful February!

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Blessings,

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       Annie Russum