Back in SLO and ready to go!

I'm finally getting the chance to blog again - it was just to hot in Oakdale to sit upstairs and use dial-up internet. I left home early this morning to try to beat the heat although it was already muggy and it even rained as I drove on the 5. . .there went my clean car! And surprisingly I drove into a rather muggy San Luis Obispo as well. Thankfully it cools off in the evening and I enjoyed my bike ride to and from downtown as I met a friend at Farmers Market and got a haircut (this salon is open til 9!).

I really had a great time at home and I want to post some pictures to prove it. Two weeks ago I bought a digital camera at Costco. . .I don't know a whole lot about it yet but I should be able to get some pictures going :

My friend Bryanna worked at the best restaurant in Oakdale, Cafe Bliss. . .she did a great job serving me my favorite Oriental Salad!

I worked an afternoon in my parents' fruitstand and did some other little things for the business as well.

This is my best friend (since we were toddlers!), Marlene, who lives in San Fransisco. I had such a fun day in the city and it was great to see her and eat at a yummy restaurant in Nob Hill.

Here my brother, Joost, and I are enjoying a fun afternoon of skiing with the Kamper family.

Well, putting these pictures up didn't go as smoothly as I had thought it would. . .I'll work on that for next time! I also had a great time visiting with more friends, sewing, swimming, reading, baking, and rejoicing in the Lord's provision. With that comes a lot of excitement to get started now that I am fully supported!

On Sunday night the staff members are getting together for a BBQ at our director's house. On Monday we leave for a staff and student leader retreat in Three Rivers. I, along with Jenn (another staff member) will be putting together the menu, shopping, and cooking for the week. This is my first official "task" and I'm so excited, it's right up my ally! If you know of any yummy recipes that feed about 20 let me know!

The plan is to get a letter into the mail (for my financial and prayer supporters) before I leave on Monday. . .if you want to be on this list but think you might not currently be then let me know because I'd love to regularly let you know what's happening and how you can be praying.

I'm still in awe that the Lord really does give us the desires of our hearts when we are delighting in Him and seeking after His will! Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

100%

I'm siting at a Cafe in Oakdale to report to you that my financial support team is complete!! The Lord has faithfully provided - what an adventure this summer has been. . .and it's probably only the tip of the iceburg. Thank you for your prayers - I will continue to post more in the coming days. My computer battery is about to die so this is it for now. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

Wow!!

So, I'm at home using dial-up internet but I just can't help posting the latest news! I am currently at 98% of the support goal!! SO CLOSE. . .it has been such an encouragement to see the Lord raise up the last couple of supporters for my support team. I am entirely blessed and humbled as I look over my current list of 94 supporters. I am completely in awe. . .keep checking back in the coming days - I promise to post when we've reached 100% so we can give God all the glory. Thanks for all your prayers thus far!

DWAP

Dessert.With.A.Puropse.

I went to two DWAPs this week. This is something that the Grace Church missions board has put together for people to gather and hear about a missionary that the church supports. They are held in someones home, yummy dessert is provided, and it's a great chance to hear how the Lord is blessing the ministry of reconciliation that He has allowed us to be the hands and feet of. On Monday night I heard a tidbit about what the Lord is doing in Russia through Jim and Ruth Overton (and their 3 cute kids!) and tonight I heard about Jen Peet's work with Campus Crusade (we're co-workers now :)!) at UC Santa Barbara. Both times I was just so encouraged and excited about the reminder that God is BIG and He (not me!) is doing a BIG work across the globe. What a blessing it is to be called, each and every one of us, into the mission field. . .into a life that brings God glory in all things, and by doing so draws others to Himself. I like this quote that I came across as I was finishing a book titled The Gospel for Real Life (by Jerry Bridges - I highly recommend this book to all!): "We are not to be a terminus point for the gospel, but rather a way station in its progress to the ends of the earth. God intends that everyone who has embraced the gospel become a part of the great enterprise of spreading the gospel" (166). I am really looking forward to having a DWAP (or two. . .one in the valley and one on the coast perhaps) down the road. I am starting to realize that in a few short weeks I will begin a job that really is a dream come true for me, not that it will be perfect but my heart is in it because my heart is the Lord's and my heart is to do the Lord's will. . .because no matter how crazy, stretching, challenging it may be it's always the safest place to be.

As for a quick update. . . I am currently at 93%! Slow and steady wins the race and I'm excited to see how the last 7% will come in. I'm headed home tomorrow for a little over a week of relaxing, starting (and hopefully completing) some projects, visiting with friends, and most of all enjoying my family. I'll try to keep you posted now how things are going throughout the week. I also just bought a digital camera (yay for graduation money) and want to start posting some pictures. . .once I figure out how to use it - me and technology are not friends, don't let this blog deceive you. :) Have a great weekend!

You Said

You Said (Reuben Morgan)

You said, “Ask and you will receive what ever you need.”
You said, “Pray and I’ll hear from heaven,
And I’ll heal your land.”

You said Your glory will fill the earth
Like water the sea.
You said, “Lift up your eyes;
The harvest is here, the kingdom is near.”

You said, “Ask and I’ll give the nations to you.”
O Lord, that’s the cry of my heart.
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light as it rises on us

O Lord I ask for the nations
O Lord I ask for the nations

These are the lyrics to a song I heard/sang to the Lord for the first time at the Internship/STINT Kick-Off Conference I went to in April (that feels like I REALLY long time ago!). I remember being moved by this song as I thought about how amazing it is that the Lord allows us to humbly ask according to the things He has promised us. What a gift that we, who stand righteous before Him because of Christ alone, are permitted to partner with Him in reaching the nations.

Perhaps the biggest thing that can get in the way of seeing the Lord work is my pride. Thinking that I can love and serve and reach out on my own. Really, this is ridiculous because pride is a very strong indicator of a broken relationship with the Lord. Thankfully I have died to sin and live to Christ - only for this reason is it even possible to daily set my pride, and all my other sins, aside so that I can see Him and serve Him clearly - so that I can believe His promises and ask big things of Him. Jesus said to the disciples, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). What amazing grace that we are not only saved from our sins but we are saved to live a life of joy and victory, even while on earth (and completely in heaven) because God desires good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. . .which is to bring glory to His name. Let's humbly ask big things of the Lord this week so that His name may be glorified!

The Cornerstone

Hi all! I just finished typing an update for my home church's newsletter, called The Cornerstone and thought I would share what I wrote here as well. I grew up (well, from 5th grade on as this is when my family moved to Oakdale) in the Community Christian Reformed Church. I have so many GREAT memories of this church body and am so thankful to have their prayer and financial support as I head into ministry. What a blessing it is to be the first directly sent full-time missionary from this church. But more so, what a blessing it is to see and hear how the Lord is using this faithful group of people in big ways for His glory in the Central Valley!

August 11, 2007

Dear church family,

Summer is flying by! After graduating from Cal Poly in June many changes and new adventures started to take place. I began my summer nannying job for a family with 3 kids (going into 4th, 2nd, and K). I’ve learned a lot of things, one being that I have no desire to own a Mercedes after getting to drive theirs (this works well with the Lord’s plans for ministry, I don’t think fancy cars are in my future). I have also learned, and will probably need to learn again and again, that money cannot buy happiness although we are still tempted to try. All in all, I must say that this job has been a great way for me to pay the summer bills but also that I am looking forward to finishing with them next week.

Another form of change this summer was moving. I have discovered that I really dislike moving! I moved out of the house I lived in for 2 years at the end of June, house-sat for July, and moved into my new apartment (with my wonderful roommate Rebecca, an Oakdale native also) in the beginning of August. I still have boxes in my room and lots of things to get organized but it feels good to stay put for a while. I am living on a very busy college street. . .surrounded by neighbors who like to party, and not just on the weekend. I also have a breathtaking (not really) view of Highway 1 from my bedroom – buying ear plugs is on my to-do list! Some positives are that I have my own room, the rent is good (for SLO at least), and Cal Poly is a short bike ride away.

A new adventure that kicked into full gear after graduation has been the support raising process that must be complete before I begin full-time ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ at Cal Poly and Cuesta. Never have I been more challenge in taking a step of faith as I have been lately. It has been so amazing to see the Lord provide (I am currently at 88%. . .but prayerfully at 100% by the time you read this) yet it most certainly has not been an easy process. One of the main struggles for me has been making phone calls. I have experienced many a discouraging moment trying to call people only to hear the phone ring and then go to voice mail time and time again. A verse that I was so encouraged by a few days ago says, “On the day I called, you answered me” (Psalm 138:3). I am so thankful that the Lord does not have Caller ID or an answering machine!

And now summer is already wrapping up. One more week of nannying and then I head back to Oakdale for about a week and a half. I am looking forward to being home and recharging with the family before I begin ministry on September 2nd. The first thing on the agenda is a staff and student leader retreat in Three Rivers (at a great place we get to use for free in the Sierras). When we get back from a time of planning, praying, and praisin’ the Lord WOW week (Week of Welcome for incoming students, like the lovely Hitch girls) will begin and that’s when we hit the ground running. Fall quarter will be an intense time of reaching each and every student with the good news of Christ and for mobilizing the believers in the Word, in unity and in love. I am so excited to keep you posted on how the year goes. Thanks for your support, both prayerfully and financially – I am blessed in more ways then my mind can even comprehend. See you soon!

Love, Arijaan Bulk

Where I'm At

So, the title of this post can mean several things. . .

Where I'm at: I've moved into the apartment with Rebecca, although I have yet to settle. Thankfully I am no longer pulling clothes out of a box - my closet is the first thing I organized. Now with a little decorating help from my mom when I go home in a week and a half I think it will be a very cute room.

Where I'm at: I only have 6 more days of nannying left and then the book closes on that short chapter in my life. Learning a lot from this experience and, though my situation is not nearly as extreme as portrayed in The Nanny Diaries by McLaughlin and Kraus (my mom passed on the book to me yesterday and I'm already on page 272) it has been interesting none the less.

Where I'm at: I'm missing my parents (a good sign!) after spending some great time with them on Tuesday and Wednesday. . .they stayed in Pismo - we all got sun burnt, ate yummy food, and relaxed together. They really blessed me by coming to visit, and I think the time away was a blessing for them as well!

Where I'm at: 86.5% with about 3 weeks to go

Where I'm at: Numbers aside, I feel as if I've hit a wall. . .although, mostly I think I was just in a "funk" today. I find that when I work at support raising hard on my own (3 key words. . .telling you and me where I'm going wrong!) I become discouraged - even though progress is being made. Today I felt so tired of initiating. . .mainly in the sense of making phone calls only to hear the phone ring and ring, or to get the answering machine for the 10th time and then trying to go through the quick thought process of if leaving a message would do any good because it seems as if, in general, people don't like returning calls. And that's when Satan creeps in and reminds me that all I will be doing in ministry is initiating (making contacts, starting spiritual conversation, leading in any way. . .all this required some level of initiating on the part of the doer) and therefore it's going to be a rough year. Well, thankfully I KNOW the Lord tells me otherwise because He reminds me, time and time again, this it is He alone that will accomplish anything, He does not need me to do His work. He will use me, and He will allow me to initiate successfully, but only so that His name may be lifted up. And that is what I want too, so I press on and ask that His will be done even when that scares me because He is my loving Father who wants me to ask in Jesus name so that my joy will be full (John 16 and 17 are the root of these thoughts). And so I ask, "Lord may your will be done, in all areas of my life, so that your name may be most glorified in and through my life, but only in Jesus name because of the great love He displayed on the cross. Amen."

Searching for God Knows What

I am reading yet another book by Donald Miller called Searching for God Knows What. I'll take a quick little break from packing and doing laundry to share with you this passage that gripped me:

"Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless this is the driving influence behind every human's social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem" (92).

I see myself in this, aside from Christ. How about you? I praise the Lord that He loved us so much to send His son to die in our place so that we may experience fullness of life in Him, the life He intended for us to live when He created us. Yes, I am fallen, a sinner, BUT I am redeemed by the blood of Christ. May we, as children of God, live today in such a way that allows us to rely on Christ and experience the fullness of life!

August has arrived!

Wow - the summer is flying by! And so has this week. I've been busy nannying (2 weeks to go!), making support phone calls (and leaving lots of messages - it's so hard to get ahold of people!), and moving out of the great place that I've been at for the month of July and into a more permanent place (a year, at least). I've enjoyed living on my own but it's high time to have a roommate (well, more like apartmentmate. . .we each have our own room!) again. I am thankful for the time that I've had to kick back and relax on my own BUT the Lord created us to be relational beings who crave fellowship, first and foremost with our creator but also with those He so creatively created. That being said, I am so excited to live with Rebecca! This is a very special godly woman to me - the fact that we're from the same hometown and considered rooming together as freshmen at Poly (decided to get random roommates and still keep in touch - it worked) makes the thought of finally being able to live together that much more special. Rebecca has both encouraged and challenged me so much over the years - I hope to do the same for her in the year to come. Another fun component to the year is that Rebecca recently gone engaged to a wonderful guy and they are planning a wedding for next summer. It will be such a blessing to live with her before a whole new stage in her life begins.

So this weekend I will be moving the last things over, cleaning the house before Jenn and Kevin return (leaving some special goodies for them to find!), and getting organized in the new apartment. It's fun to arrange furniture (I used to rearrange my room numerous times as a young girl) and I decided today, thanks to my mom's advise, to angle my desk in the corner. It takes up a little more room then putting it directly against a wall but I really like how it looks. I am also hoping to find, or make, a new duvet cover and pillow cases - I know you'll be shocked at my color choice. . .green. :) We'll see what I find and I'll keep you posted.

I also want to keep you posted on the support raising status. I am currently at 80% of the goal. Crazy! I also met with my support coach today and found out that the report/start date has been moved to September 2. . .giving me a few more days to reach the goal. Truthfully though, I would love your prayers in terms of meeting this goal before the deadline. Ultimately, whatever you and I pray - let's pray that the Lord's will be done. . .in all things. Have a great weekend!