Wow, it has been months since I have sat down & wrote an update on our lives. Why?- well to put it bluntly because we have no idea what is coming up next!
This summer has been full of life and transitions. Justin's parents have moved once- and will move again. Justin finished his final online course to complete his bachelors in Biblical Literature! I completed hours of teaching & commuting to Grand Rapids to complete my TESOL degree & internship requirements. Both of us doing this while working- we have been busier than either of us have been in a long time.
Some people talk of God nudging them gently in the right direction. I feel like Justin & I have gotten some strong kicks in the back in the right direction. Jobs, housing arrangements, and more have fallen through in Holland, MI. So we are left asking God (what we should have asked before), "Now what?!".
The answer to our question did not come quickly, and has not yet been answered fully. Fellow recent graduates and others may be able to sympathize with this slow waiting process. The answer has , however, started to come through conversations with each other, prayer times with God, and burdens on our hearts.
Those who have known me (Leah) for a while have known that I have always felt a call to oversees missions. As a little girl I balanced baskets on my head to prepare me to live with African women when I'm older. I pursued TESOL & Biblical literature to prepare me for a life in missions! Those who know Justin know his heart echoes my own- one thing that draws us together is our love & passion for oversees missions!
Our answer to "NOW WHAT?!"- has come in gentle whispers from God that simply say- "prepare to Go". No details about when, where, why, or how. He is preparing Justin & I's hearts to be ready to go. We are applying to mission organizations left & right, emailing people oversees in Palestine, Turkey, India and Thailand. We are praying and seeking- and we feel in our hearts that it is our time to go, and it will be soon.
Prayer Requests:
- opening our hearts to leaving our families & friends
- following God!
- details as to when & where we will go!
- joy in the midsts of waiting
Love all of you- more updates to come as we prepare for our life in ministry,
Leah & Justin Lechner
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Moving On...
Hello Family & Friends!! We are enjoying our last few days as Indiana dwellers & college students! Words cannot contain how excited we both are to graduate & be closer to family for a while. The joys of this week include having an excuse to organize & pack up our whole house , hanging out with friends, and finally being done with assignments/finals. The trials include countless ceremonies, to-do lists that now fill pages outside of my already packed planner, saying goodbye, and answering the question... “What are you doing when you graduate”?
It is a very good and valid question, one that has filled hours of talk for Justin & I (and many a journal pages for me). Sadly, Justin did not receive the internship at Central that we were both hoping for. While it is sad to let go of a dream, we know that doors only close to point us to other open ones. Right now however, God has us in the fog. We know that he is opening doors, He is just not showing us where yet. I love a good plan, so this period of uncertainty is sure to stretch my trust in God.
What door is opening next for us?
We know a few things for sure:
- we both have jobs to pay the bills & a home in Holland to move into. Writing this out makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for and how truly blessed we are to be taken care of by friends, family, and God!
- I will be teaching English to Refugees at Bethany Christian Services this summer :)
- We both crave to be involved in full-time ministry.
- I love children, languages & the Bible.
- Justin loves the Bible, discipleship, and community.
So what are we doing after the summer when we finish our last online courses & get our diplomas?? Hopefully something that combines our need for school debt to be paid off and our love for ministry. We have huge dreams- crazy dreams really.
We dream of running orphanages in Africa. We dream of starting a family young & adopting children from all over the world. We dream of studying the Bible, our passion, and getting our Masters degrees at Jerusalem University College. Justin dreams of forming a community of believers passionate about God’s word & discipleship. I dream of learning languages like Arabic & Chinese.
Pray Requests:
- that our dreams will stay God-sized & God-sent
- easy transition in our move & graduation process
- that we would find ministry positions in Holland
Here are a few pictures of our first 'home' together. I will miss it for sentimental reasons, but good riddance to the coin operated laundry and small counter space! I snapped a few pictures before boxes exploded and packing started. :)
Leah & Justin Lechner
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Less than two months:
It's hard to believe that we are on Spring Break when there is snow everywhere! Yet, here we are! We are spending our time staying with Justin's parents by visiting with friends, spending quality time with family, and applying for jobs! So far, I would say that this break has been a success :)
Tuesday both Justin & I had interviews for jobs starting in May/June. I interviewed with and was offered a nannying position that would start our first week in Holland and continue through the summer! The hours are perfect for me to do along side of my practicum and it's watching a beautiful 10 month old girl from a wonderful Christian home!
Justin interviewed at our home church, Central Wesleyan, on tuesdays for a two year internship program that would start in June. As we are planning on being in Holland for two years this would also be perfect for us! No details for him yet and more interviews to come. He is also looking for part-time work to do alongside the 'slightly' paid internship.
April 27 is our graduation day, but we are both receiving our diploma's in August. Justin and I both need to take one class this summer- and then we will be done! April 27 is also our moving day as our wonderful family who will be watching us walk in our graduation will be helping us cart all of our stuff up to our awaiting house in Holland.
A few thoughts:
God has been teaching me a lot lately about trust and hope. They often go hand-in-hand, or this is what I am learning. Trusting through tough times involves hope. Trust in God means trusting in the dreams He has given you and allowing yourself to hope. Hope is fragile, but it is a choice. Hoping for a better world, hoping for your dreams to come true, hoping for jobs to line up, hoping that family will be taken care of, hoping that your trust is not misplaced, and hoping for the impossible- hope is difficult, but it is a choice. I pray for you today that you choose to hope. That you dream dreams that are so large, so beautiful, and so difficult that they would only happen if God showed up. I pray that your hope leads you to joy and that your trust in God is why you have the strength to hope.
Pray Requests:
- Justin's job & future interviews at Central
- motivation for our last weeks at IWU
- financial provision
- trust & hope
- safety and joy as we drive down to Marion on Friday
God Bless,
Leah Lechner
Tuesday both Justin & I had interviews for jobs starting in May/June. I interviewed with and was offered a nannying position that would start our first week in Holland and continue through the summer! The hours are perfect for me to do along side of my practicum and it's watching a beautiful 10 month old girl from a wonderful Christian home!
Justin interviewed at our home church, Central Wesleyan, on tuesdays for a two year internship program that would start in June. As we are planning on being in Holland for two years this would also be perfect for us! No details for him yet and more interviews to come. He is also looking for part-time work to do alongside the 'slightly' paid internship.
April 27 is our graduation day, but we are both receiving our diploma's in August. Justin and I both need to take one class this summer- and then we will be done! April 27 is also our moving day as our wonderful family who will be watching us walk in our graduation will be helping us cart all of our stuff up to our awaiting house in Holland.
A few thoughts:
God has been teaching me a lot lately about trust and hope. They often go hand-in-hand, or this is what I am learning. Trusting through tough times involves hope. Trust in God means trusting in the dreams He has given you and allowing yourself to hope. Hope is fragile, but it is a choice. Hoping for a better world, hoping for your dreams to come true, hoping for jobs to line up, hoping that family will be taken care of, hoping that your trust is not misplaced, and hoping for the impossible- hope is difficult, but it is a choice. I pray for you today that you choose to hope. That you dream dreams that are so large, so beautiful, and so difficult that they would only happen if God showed up. I pray that your hope leads you to joy and that your trust in God is why you have the strength to hope.
Pray Requests:
- Justin's job & future interviews at Central
- motivation for our last weeks at IWU
- financial provision
- trust & hope
- safety and joy as we drive down to Marion on Friday
God Bless,
Leah Lechner
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Our Final Semester
Justin & I are back from break and starting up our final semester here at Indiana Wesleyan University! In four short months we will be graduated. We are both excited beyond words to complete this part of our life, yet in a few ways sad to see it go. Life is moving quickly, sometimes I feel as though my life constantly has the fast-forward button pushed and Justin & I both need to run just to keep up. Nevertheless, I have been forced to slow down lately with a sinus & ear infection- and have found some time to write and reflect on our upcoming year.
There are many exciting things happening in Justin & I's lives. We tease each other that 'real' life is starting soon. In a way, I suppose it is kind-of true. Over break I was able to visit the Refugee program in Grand Rapids that I will be teaching at for the month of May & June. Justin came along and we were able to tour the church and sit in on an 'elders' class. All of their classes are free to refugees and work on teaching them English skills for jobs and life in the US. Many of the students there are mothers, fathers, young adults, and children who have spent all or most of their lives in a Refugee camp. Some of them, especially the women, have never had any education at all before they will step foot into the classroom. It was a blessing for me to visit, I was able to see my passion for people and my newly learned English skill work so well together! I cannot wait to do my practicum their this upcoming summer.
Come the beginning of May we will move into the house we will be renting in Holland. It is on the southside very close to Church, and Jackies Place! Over break we moved our Christmas decorations into the basement, since our next few Christmases will be there. We are excited to be close to family for a few years, a stepping stone towards ministry that we hope doesn't fly by to quickly.
Justin, starting in May when we return, will be working fulltime in a Church to get his two years of service required for Ordination. We are hoping and praying that that church will be Central Wesleyan. (we are also praying that he will be able to find a paid internship). We are dreaming big and hope to both be serving as much as possible for our stay in Holland.
Now, I feel like I've made enough plans in my life to confidently tell all of you that these are just our plans. I know that God is leading us home, I know that we desire to be close to family for at least two years. But beyond that, if God tells you anything certain- please let us know! ;) For now we are (attempting to be) studying, working, and enjoying our last few months in our first apartment together.
Prayer Requests:
- motivation, our college career is ending and with it our desire to study
- jobs & internships for when we graduate
- health- infections, colds, coughs and fevers to be gone for good!
Love,
Leah & Justin Lechner
There are many exciting things happening in Justin & I's lives. We tease each other that 'real' life is starting soon. In a way, I suppose it is kind-of true. Over break I was able to visit the Refugee program in Grand Rapids that I will be teaching at for the month of May & June. Justin came along and we were able to tour the church and sit in on an 'elders' class. All of their classes are free to refugees and work on teaching them English skills for jobs and life in the US. Many of the students there are mothers, fathers, young adults, and children who have spent all or most of their lives in a Refugee camp. Some of them, especially the women, have never had any education at all before they will step foot into the classroom. It was a blessing for me to visit, I was able to see my passion for people and my newly learned English skill work so well together! I cannot wait to do my practicum their this upcoming summer.
Come the beginning of May we will move into the house we will be renting in Holland. It is on the southside very close to Church, and Jackies Place! Over break we moved our Christmas decorations into the basement, since our next few Christmases will be there. We are excited to be close to family for a few years, a stepping stone towards ministry that we hope doesn't fly by to quickly.
Justin, starting in May when we return, will be working fulltime in a Church to get his two years of service required for Ordination. We are hoping and praying that that church will be Central Wesleyan. (we are also praying that he will be able to find a paid internship). We are dreaming big and hope to both be serving as much as possible for our stay in Holland.
Now, I feel like I've made enough plans in my life to confidently tell all of you that these are just our plans. I know that God is leading us home, I know that we desire to be close to family for at least two years. But beyond that, if God tells you anything certain- please let us know! ;) For now we are (attempting to be) studying, working, and enjoying our last few months in our first apartment together.
Prayer Requests:
- motivation, our college career is ending and with it our desire to study
- jobs & internships for when we graduate
- health- infections, colds, coughs and fevers to be gone for good!
Love,
Leah & Justin Lechner
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