Thankfulness

I am thankful for my sweet neighbors and roommate!

I am thankful for my teammates from OM Ireland!

We have a special bond!

I am so thankful for my family. Not pictured here...my brother, sister in law, nephews, and of course grandma!

And of course...I am thankful for God's gift to me..my future Husband!

Today is Thanksgiving in the States. Living overseas you will find that this day is no different from any other day. There are no turkey decorations adorning the shop windows...no long lines at the grocery store getting last minute pumpkin in a can! Before you stop and have a pity party for me...I must tell you that I am surrounded by God's presence and have an overflowing heart of Thankfulness!

So what am I thankful for? Of course I am thankful for ultimately what Jesus did on the cross to set me free...my future husband who is so patient and considerate of me...and my family back home in the States. But as my time comes to an end here in Ireland...where I have been serving for the last 15 months...I am overwhelmed with Thankfulness for being allowed this opportunity.

I am thankful for God's provisions for getting me here in the first place and all the cool "Godbumps" stories...as my friend Andrea would say...that have happened along the way to confirm my being here. That has been 5 years in the making...so lots of history there.

Two stories stick out along this journey. One is my very first trip to Ireland over 5 years ago...when I was a brand new believer. I was unsure how this whole support raising thing was going to go...and needed to raise $1600 for the trip. My very first check in the mail was for the full amount! I had raised enough support not only for one trip...but for a follow up vision trip. It was also during this first trip that God showed me that I could use my practical skills for him on the field...when we had to basically plan an entire new event when we hit the ground as the facilities we were using pulled out on us at the last minute. So we had to come up with an entirely new plan in just a few days time.

A more recent one happened only last week. Can I just say that God is an on time God?! I was reflecting on my time here...knowing that He had called me here and just asking Him "why did I not get the privilege to lead a single person to Him while I was here?" Sure there were many times that I was able to share Christ on the Cross and what that meant with others...but there was no ultimate fruit of salvation that I was able to see from the labor.

But then God reminded me of the influence I was honored to have over my neighbors. Since moving into the house God put me in here...I was blessed with wonderful neighbors...all of which do not know the Lord. I had opportunities to share with them Christ's plan of salvation...but they were very few. Mainly I felt the best way to show them Christ was to live life as He would want me to. Now I must admit that I didn't always do a great job...some days I was cranky and it showed...but in the end I really sought the Lord and asked Him for the chance to represent him in front of them.

The "fruit" of the labor was not seeing them come to know Him...but came in a simple email. My sweet friend and neighbor recently moved to London to look for work. The job market here in Ireland has been quite desolate to say the least. I was sad to see her go...she was a close friend...and I had prayed for her fervently that she would come to know the God I love and serve. However, she did not.

Just last week as she was skyping me she was telling me that she was up for a job and if she got it...it would be one of the best jobs she has ever had. I told her that God wants the best for us...and that I would pray for her. She quickly ended the conversation after that...as she always does when I start to talk about God. But then just the other day...which was one of the days I was reflecting on my time here...she sent me a message saying "Mary...I got the job! Your prayers worked...thank you for praying for me!" No it wasn't "I have come to know Jesus as my personal Lord and savior"...but it was a sweet moment of God reminding me that my "work here has not been in vain".

So I leave Ireland with the verse that reminds me that whatever we do for the Lord...it is not in vain. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

I am so Thankful for that I "Get to do what I do for Him!" What are you thankful for?

PS...as I right this...I am yet overwhelmed again with thankfulness!!! I just got off the phone with Jacco who has informed me that God has provided a house for us which we can move me straight into as soon as I move to England! This is great news with having a "permanent address" which we need to apply for a visa for me to live in the UK! Thank you Lord!!!! :)

OUR FUTURE LIFE IN ENGLAND

Since I did not take a lot of photos...most of these have been borrowed from friends. Thanks!

J man greeted me with flowers as he always does! :)

They were so beautiful and smelled lovely.

Me and Jacco all dressed up for a surprise date. He took me to Glasgow Scotland (we are very close to the border of Scotland) to see the Royal Scottish Symphony.

MAC Junkies!

City Center of Carlisle...old cobble stone streets are very common.

Most of the houses are Terrace Houses...similar to what you would see in parts of New York. Most are red brick as well.

Many Estates adorn the city of Carlisle...makes you feel that you are in the movie Pride and Prejudice doesn't it? :)

There is a castle in the town

My Man looking fine amidst some of God's beautiful creation!

Beautiful Lake District. It reminds me of Colorado.

The changing of leaves in the fall is quite spectacular!

The OMNIvision Team

Shooting a video in the Lake District in Winter

The Office..notice the sawed in half car in the backdrop!

The other engaged couple on the team...getting married in January...Henrik (Germany) and Janet (States).

One of the married couples on the team, Claire (England) and Pedro (South Africa). I have a feeling we will become sweet friends! They just announced they are expecting their first baby!

Pedro during a sound check

The Team in a meeting and prayer time before an event.

J-man doing his thing at one of the events.

Crazy guys...guess they have to have some sort of fun...they are constantly loading and unloading these huge trucks for events!

Pedro and David acting all smart.

Simon editing

Monitoring Equipment from the Truck

So I have asked for an OMNIvision shirt to be made special for me since I am one of two girls on the team. I would like it to be a black shirt with hot pink logo and writing...do you think they will go for it?

Hello precious friends and family. I wanted to give you a little insight and pictures of my future life in England. I had the opportunity for a short first time visit to my new home town this past week. During that time J took me around to see all the local sights...office...and of course ASDA...their version of Wal-Mart...love it! I have included many pictures of the local town and area as well as pictures of my new team...OMNIvision...the media division of OM International.

Many of you already know...but here is the timeline of events over the next few months. Please be in prayer for each one!

· Early December: 


o Move to England


o Pray for storage for belongings


· End of December: 


o Fly to Holland to spend Christmas with Jacco's Family
3.

· December 31st: 


o Fly to the States and see my family for the first time in a year-this will be J's first time meeting them as well as his first time in the States!


o Pray for a sweet time of reconnecting and that it will not be too overwhelming to J. :)

· December 31-March 28th:


o Home on Furlough


· Jan 6-7th: 


o Re entry debrief at OM USA


o Pray for a sweet time and wisdom as we must make decisions as to which field we officially will be under (OM USA or OM Holland)...has to do with medical insurance coverage basically. 


· End of January:


o We will be having a social for all of my prayer and support team to share about my year in Ireland and to officially introduce Jacco and our future ministry together in England.

· February 7-10:

o OM USA Outbound


o We will have the privilege to be speaking with the new potential recruits about the two fields...Ireland and England

o 
Pray that God would use us to minister and encourage others who might be seeking either field.

· February 20th:

o OUR WEDDING!!!!!


· Feb 21-March 5th:

o Honeymoon in Hilton Head 1st week and time spent with family I have not seen in a while.

o Also showing J where I grew up...went to school etc. 


o Pray for sweet time and also provisions...we don't officially have a place yet for our honeymoon...but a house in HH was offered to us as a possibility.

· March 8-20th:

· Team Building TOUR!!! :)

o We will, Lord willing be traveling to several states as well as host many get togethers to share our vision and God's leading to work in England. 


o Please pray for people's hearts to be challenged and encouraged to step out and get on board...not only in our ministry but in what God might be calling them to! 


o If you would like to host a get together...please let me know.

· March 22-28th:

· FBCW Missions Conference

o Please pray for a sweet time of refreshment and anointment on all those who attend. 


o Also please pray for emotions to be Christ centered, as this will be our last week in the States. It is sinking in for me and my family that this leave will be a more permanent one. But I always take comfort in what my Mama says to me "I can get through this because I know you are there "doing the Father's business".

· March 29th:

· We fly to our new home in England

o Please pray for provisions of the following:

o Finances to ship my furniture to England-looking to ship over on a crate.

o Also finances for start up costs (car, house supplies, couch, etc).


o House to move into-we will be working with the International office to look for a house in England over the Internet. They will be checking it out for us...but we have to leave it in God's hands, as we won't be able to see it in person until we arrive.

o Also we would like to have one to move straight into when we get back as we will only have about 2 weeks or so before we officially start back working in the office...and traveling.

§ When we come home to England we will be kicking off our busy travel season with OMNIvision...and we would like to have our home settled before we leave on the road. 


· End of April-Beginning of May:


o I will officially start working with my new team and hubby!!!

As you can see...we will be very busy during these next few months...but are so excited to see what God has in store. He is so FAITHFUL and AMAZING! Did we mention that we love that we "get to do what we do for Him"?! Until next time...know that I love you and am counting the days until I see you and have you meet Jacco!

MOJO (mary and jacco oldenkamp) :)