Grace Like God: November 2012

Missions Trip!

I have been blessed to go on a Missions Trip with some here at school. Where do I get to go? Alaska!

Yes I am going on a Missions Trip to Alaska. I am super excited to be going. Our team is getting to know each other and we are planning great bonding activities, fire on the beach, and a shopping trip for warm weather gear.

What will be doing on the trip.

1. We will be going to Victory Bible Camp to help them out with what ever they may need us for. Shoveling snow, cooking in kitchen, and other fun tasks.

2. We will also be going into Anchorage to help out with Parachutes. Parachutes is an organization located at the Dimond Mall in Anchorage, Alaska and they are a drop-in center for teens from the ages of thirteen to eighteen.

3. We will also get to learn more about Interact Ministries and how we can pray for them. They are an organization that wants to get a culturally relevant church transforming every community in the North Pacific Crescent.

Our team would love if you could pray for us. Some prayer requests:

Financial: that everyone could the financial support needed to pay for the trip.
Preparation: that as we prepare for the trip all will go smoothly.
Connecting: that we can connect as a team and just come together as we prepare.
Safety: for when we travel to the big AK.
General: however you feel God leading you to pray for us.

Our first payment is due this coming week, just in a few days. So if you would like to support me, you can write a check to Ecola Bible School, Memo line: Missions Trip. DO NOT PUT MY NAME ON CHECK. Please put my name a sticky not and mail it with the check.

Mail to:

Ecola Bible School

PO Box 190

Cannon Beach, OR 97110

or you can pay with credit card over the phone call the office @ 503-436-2552. You can call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Just let them know that you would like to support Michelle Tingstrom on her Missions Trip and that you would like to pay with your credit card.

God Bless All.

Learning Many Things

First term almost over, what? It just can't be possible.

I am in awe that we only have two more weeks left in our first term at Ecola and in two weeks we will be heading to our homes for a month to be with family and friends for a month long Christmas Break.

I am shocked to think that I have been here for two months already, time flies when you're having a good time with wonderful people.

God has already stretched and grown me in many ways while I have been here. I have stepped out of my shell more than ever. On day one I was so out going, that the first years thought that I was a second year just because I was talking to everyone like it was no big deal, but honestly it wasn't.

He has shown me the power of prayer since I have been here. People have prayed for finances to come in so they can finish the term and they got those needs covered, along with more to pay for next term too. God has built a wonderful family of fellow believers here with the staff and students. It is just amazing how loving everyone is and how easy it is just to talk about life with everyone, every aspect of it. People have overcome great trails in their lives and its just wonderful to hear how God brought them through.

I have been humbled by many things through my time here. One example was when we took a Bible Test in week one. I thought I knew lots of things about the Bible, but I came to realize that I really know nothing. It is amazing how much I have missed. As I was growing up just like every other child, I seemed to only learn a few of the most popular stories in the Bible, not a bad thing, but there is so much more in the good book that I have yet to learn.

One class that I loved was the Life of David, it was a great class, I enjoyed hearing about David. I didn't realize how much I had missed about his life due to the fact that I never read his whole story, I just knew the bits and pieces like David and Goliath.

I have enjoyed all the classes so far and can't wait to see what the next term brings for classes.

My goal is to write a summary at the end of each week talking about the things that God has placed in my heart from the classes from that week. I wish I could have done that this term.

All is going well and as I said I am enjoying the classes along with the family that has been created here. The actvities that have been done have been wonderful. Dune Jumping, Hiking in the Ape Caves, Hiking just around, Walks through town, Coffee Dates, Movie nights, Volleyball, Running on the beach, Fro-Yo runs, so many adventures big and small create so many fun memories.

Thankful

Thanksgiving: a time to be with friends and family, when we share all that we are thankful for, stuff our faces with turkey dinner and pumpkin dessert, play games, and start off the Christmas season.

This year was my first year away from my friends and family who I have spent Thanksgiving with my whole life. I was blessed with the chance to go to a to friends family Thanksgiving. The day was filled with laughter, and pure joy. I spent my time playing games like Identity Crisis, Monopoly and Golf, watching some Curious George with the little ones, Eating a wonderful feast put on by such a wonderful family, along with a stroll around the block to help out bellies settle.

Oh the joys of being around a family with little ones running around and just loving on them. It makes me miss home and all the families I will be visiting upon my return. It reminds me of how Thankful I am to have so many families in my church that I am connected to and able to just visit whenever my little heart needs love of children.

I was reminded of all the things I am Thankful for and how often I forget that I need to Thank God for them. I take it all for granted and God is the one who deserves all the Thanks for my family and friends back home, my health, the time I am having a Ecola, my home church, the family I am making here, my job, His creation that is all around from the ocean to the mountains and everything in between and beyond. Thank You so much for my life Lord, you have truly blessed me and I take it all for granted. You are an amazing Father and love me for who I am, You are creating me to be the Godly Woman you have planned for me to be.

Just a few Pictures of the things I am Thankful for...