Swazi {T-15days!!}

In 15 days I will be on an airplane headed to Africa. How surreal is that? I'm a little shocked at how quickly this trip has crept up on me but I am so ready! I am ready to have my world flipped upside down, I am ready to experience amazing things, and I am ready to watch the Lord transform my life and the lives of so many other people!! The packing has begun, or rather the piling of things has begun... Our once office is a combination of my stuff for Africa and all my textbooks for school. (I decided to go back this spring for my bachelors in nursing... long story... it was inevitable so I figured now would be a great time to start) I received a donation after I paid off my trip and decided to use it to buy some fun stuff for the kiddos in Swaziland! Volleyballs, parachutes, bubbles, puzzles etc! I am so thankful to have all of this support from my family and friends, it really blows my mind to think of all the people who have donated and prayed for this trip and it is finally happening!!!

The packing has begun!!

I have been doing a lot of praying and reflecting on how fortunate I am to be going on this trip, and have praying that the Lord will use me in whatever way he sees fit while I am there.  One of the big things our leaders have pushed is to not have any expectations and to be flexible. So that is what I am trying to do, I am expecting nothing but what HE has in store for me.  I have also been so blessed to have made some new friends in preparation for this trip and I ask that you will add them to your prayers as well! Emily, Rachel and I have conveniently managed to book our seats all next to each other on every plane ride, there will be 4 total. Lets hope we don't drive each other nuts, and my fear of flying goes away with my amazing plane buddies!!!

I have also been working on a fun backpack of goodies for Nompelo, or sponsor child! I pray daily that I get to meet her in person, but understand that things happen and nothing is a guarantee.  With the help of some friends I have compiled some of our favorite scriptures and have been surrounding her with them for weeks.  I know she cannot read English, and I most definitely don't speak SiSwati but I think just the presence of HIS words surrounding her is powerful.

There are many of us going on the trip that sponsor children and I know we would all appreciate your prayers that we get to share some time with the kids, for many they have been exchanging letters for years and for others like myself it has been just a few short months.  There is such potential for this to be an amazing experience, but like I said before things happen and it is all in HIS power!!

 Our flight leaves at 11:15am on February 19th, we will fly to Atlanta and have a 3hr layover to enjoy some dinner.  We will then embark on a 15hr flight to Johannesburg South Africa (they are 8hrs ahead of us here in MN), we should get there around 4:35pm on 2/20 (My Dads Birthday!!!). On Thursday morning 2/21 (My father in-laws Birthday!!!) we will head to Swaziland via coach bus.  Friday 2/22 (My buddy Cayden's 2nd Birthday!!!) we will spend the day working with the kiddos at the care points, and Saturday the second RVC Swazi team arrives. Sunday 2/24 is a BIG DAY!!! This is the day the River Valley Church Swaziland location officially launches!!! We will be worshiping and spreading his world all day long.  Monday and part of Tuesday will be spent on Safari, and Tuesday afternoon is the time slotted to meet our sponsor children.  Wed we will drive to J-Berg and head home around 8:00pm Africa time.  We should arrive in Atlanta around 6:00am on 2/28, putting us back home around 10:30am.  Now of course all of this could change in a heartbeat, but I thought you guys would like a glimpse of my trip!

I will try to do one more blog before I leave, and I can't wait to share this incredible experience will all of you when I get home!!!

Love, Hugs and God's Blessings

Gretch

SWAZILAND {Update}

Happy New Year!!!!

As I embark on 2013 I am so excited to see what the Lord has in his plans for me.  My trip is 1 1/2 months away (1 month and 16 days technically) and I am just giddy when I think about it!!! I am so anxious to find out how the Lord is going to work through me to benefit this country and it's people. One of the missions we are going to be working with is Children's Cup I ask that you take a moment and check out their website!! This photo was taken from their facebook site and I just wanted to give you guys another face or 30 to why I am going on this trip. This is a picture from their staff appreciation picnic this past summer. "These amazing people are the missionaries and Children's Cup staff in Swaziland. Ensuring proper care, education, nutrition, and the HOPE found in a relationship with Jesus Christ for 6000 children" (caption from their fbook site!) How amazing is this photograph?! Another really cool part of this picture is the building they are standing in front of, that is the River Valley Church Swaziland Campus Church and Dream Center! This building was created by RVC and will be officially LAUNCHED while I'm in Swaziland in February!!! This building offers so much hope and promise to the people of Swaziland, I am so humbled to be a part of such an amazing church and mission trip. I can't wait to show you pictures of what the church looks like next month and the amazing experience launching it is going to be!!

https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensCup/photos_stream

I am still about $900 shy of my fundraising goal and have until January 14th to meet that goal.  If you would like to donate please follow this link DONATE!!! You will need to create a user name and enter your information, if you feel more comfortable writing a check you can mail those to me and I will bring it to RVC. Thank you so much for your encouragement, support and prayers!

~Love, Hugs and God's Blessings~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy {Day AFTER} Christmas!

December 26th, the day AFTER Christmas....
The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over, the return lines at the stores are long, most stations are no longer playing Christmas music, we have way too many leftovers and we are all in need of a trip to the gym. 
I had an AMAZING Christmas, or rather 4 Christmases (how is that a word?!)... 
Each special and perfect in their own ways, but most importantly filled with FAMILY, LOVE and LAUGHTER!!! This Christmas was also filled with some sadness and memories of friends and family no longer with us, which left an empty chair (or 2) at our dinner tables. More than ever this year I was thankful for TIME spent with family and friends.  It is one more holiday filled with memories and photographs that can never be replaced or taken away. If you took away every present received this Christmas it would still have been an amazing Christmas because it was spent with those that I love and cherish. I am just so thankful and blessed!

Here are some of my favorite memories and pictures! Christmas Eve was spent in Red Wing per usual with my mom and her family and my Aunt and Uncles home! We had amazing food and Rich even dressed up as Santa for the kids! Christmas Day morning we had my Dad, Aunt and cousins over for brunch. I made Ben's favorite Cheesy potatoes and attempted to make Nanci's cinnamon roles (not as good!). We watched Christmas Vacation and after brunch and presents, Chad, Hunter and I made our way to Mike and Nanci's house.  We brought Hunter (and snacks) to visit Chad's Grandma.  All of the nurses gave us funny looks, but Hunter behaved himself and Chad's Grandma Pat enjoyed the unexpected visitor.  After visiting for a few hourse we headed back to the Lilja home and had lasagna and played our traditional game of Monopoly. Chad and Josh dominated per usual, but it was fun all the same! Hunter even let us use him as a ribbon holder. It was an amazing few days filled with as you can see lots of pictures and even more memories!

 

I will leave you with one of my favorite songs about the day after Christmas as told by Matthew West (one of my favorite singers..)

Day After Christmas
Here comes the letdown Christmas is over
Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer
But before we have a breakdown, let us remember
The light of the world is still here

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world

Come January I’m ready for summer
The Super Bowl’s over and I’ll settle for spring
Sometimes we all need a change in the weather
But it won’t change the reason we sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
The light of the world
The light of the world

So take down the stockings, take back the sweaters
Take down the lights and the star and the tree
But don’t let this world take your joy after Christmas
Take joy to the world and just sing

Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here

PEACE {GMG Advent}

"That's my parting gift to you PEACE! I don't leave you the way you're used to being left-feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset, don't be distraught." John 14:27

PEACE: A feeling of contentment, or calmness, a lack of fear, comfort in the unknown, TRUST.

When I think of PEACE that is what I think of, and then I think of the reasons I am able to find PEACE in this world and it is because of JESUS.  He came as a savior in the form of a baby, and died a horrific death but was able to find PEACE because it was his purpose. He gave us the gift of PEACE just as he tells us in John 14.  He is always with us even though we can't see him.

"For a child has been born-for us!

The gift of a son for us!

He will take over the running of the world.

His names will be:

Amazing counselor

Strong God

Eternal Father

Prince of PEACE" Isaiah 9:6 

It is Christmas Eve and I am at PEACE. It's not because all of the presents are wrapped [I have 3 more to do] or because I am ready for the Holiday [I have a pie to bake]. It is because I have been saved, I have been given the gift of eternal life, and what better way to find PEACE? And its SNOWING!!! The Lord has sent my favorite thing on my favorite Holiday. 

This post along with the last few posts have been part of a bible study I have been doing to prepare for Christmas.  My friend Branson has faithfully lead us for the last 4 weeks on a journey of faith and devotion.  We read a passage daily and then post it to instagram (@mrslilja) tagging the women in our group, and then reflect. It has been such an amazing spiritual journey! To have a group of women who will pray for you and be there to listen when you need to vent is amazing, and to think we have never actually met in person, and most of us live in different states! The Lord works in amazing ways, bringing PEACE through people we've never met, and guidance and answers when we least expect it! 

There are so many things I am thankful for this Christmas, but I think the one thing that makes this Christmas more special than any other is my true understanding of the reason we celebrate and my renewed faith in the Lord.  Without that FAITH and TRUST in HIM, I would not have the PEACE I currently have.

I wish your family a very Merry Christmas filled with HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Gretch

JOY! {GMG: Advent Study}

JOY! 

"When they saw the STAR they were OVERJOYED. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him" Matthew 2:11

Tis' the season to be joyful, to celebrate the birth of a baby who was born to die so that we may live for eternity in heaven! But sometimes it is very hard to find JOY in this world... Sometimes all we want to do is skip this season that should be filled with JOY when we are filled with sadness. I watch parents I have come to know and love say goodbye to their babies, who then have to figure out a way to find JOY in what is left for them on this earth.  I've watched my family say goodbye to their husband, father, grandfather only to think about what it will be like this Christmas without him at the dinner table. This world is filled with sadness, no doubt; but there is JOY that comes with knowing our reunion with loved ones is only separated by our time here on earth.  Such a small increment of time when you think of spending eternity in heaven with your child, father, husband or grandfather! 

So this season I have come up with many reasons to have JOY! And of course I am going to show these to you in the form of photographs... (big surprise right!?)  

Joy is:

JOY is: Memories that are filled with people who no longer with us and honoring those who are in the arms of Jesus.

JOY is: The boundless and never ending love of parents

JOY is: Watching little brothers and sisters turn into amazing young adults with bright futures ahead of them.

 

 

JOY is: Attempting family pictures... and then getting two great shots!

JOY is: Having little girls look up to you as a role-model

JOY is: Pretending to be in high school again, enjoying the 'Twilight Saga' and trying on fur coats in dressing rooms,  JOY is amazing Friends!

 

JOY is: Watching the first snowfall of the year, and getting to experience a child's JOY as he experiences the JOY of SNOW for the very first time!

JOY is: Smiles and Laughter of Family!

 

JOY is: Christmas Traditions

JOY is: Whatever we want it to be.  JOY is something different for everyone, we get to choose what brings JOY to our lives. Today and in this Christmas season I choose JOY! Even though this world is not perfect, and there are many things I wish I could change that I cant, there is always the option of JOY! So will you choose JOY? 

Merry Almost Christmas....

Africa Update!!!

I just wanted to write a short update for all of those that are following my journey to Swaziland Africa!! It is just a little over 2 months away, and time is FLYING by!!! I am getting so excited I can hardly stand it, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me and this trip.
My fundraising is going great, thanks to everyone who has donated thus far!!! I have raised $2000 of the $3200 I need to, and have a few deadline coming up shortly.  I pray that the Lord will  make this trip happen for me, and I am giving him all of the trust I can muster up. My final absolute deadline is January 14th, but I am asking for donations to be in by Dec 31st so I will have an idea of what additional money I will need to pay out of pocket. If it is on your heart to donate please follow this LINK yes I know you have to enter A LOT of information, and I apologize for this! If you would rather mail a check that is also an option. They can be sent to  the following address, just place my name and "Swaziland" in the subject line.

River Valley Church 

14898 Energy Way 

Apple Valley, MN 55124

I just received yesterday an updated picture of the little girl we sponsor Nompelo, with a letter from the center she goes to. They are working on teaching the kiddos about being healthy and staying active. They have been teaching them all about hygiene and are on the lookout for kids that may be infected with HIV and getting them proper medical attention. In the picture I'm posting she is playing soccer, and check out those flower flip flops!! Definitely a girl after my own heart, there was also a picture included of her on a bike with some other kiddos.  I continue to pray that I will get to see her in February and that the Lord will make it known what she needs and what I can bring to her!

Thank you so much for keeping up with this journey, I pray that you will be impacted through these posts and through my trip!!

May the Lord continue to bless you and your family through the Holiday Season!

With Love,

Gretch