Joyness!

Joyce

(also known as "Joyness," "Joycey," & "Joyceypoo")

The first thing that Sue (Liel Dorm Mom) told me about Joyce was that she had a beautiful voice. After meeting Joyce for the first time, I soon discovered that the Lord has blessed her with more than just a beautiful voice...but a passionate heart for worship.

Not only does Joyce play the piano and sing for the middle school chapel band, but she spends her free time writing praise songs. I am amazed by her gifts. Joyce is only 14-years-old! I wouldn't be surprised to see her traveling and singing with Hillsong in ten years. Seriously :)

Joyce's spiritual maturity is unparalleled. After asking for her permission, I wanted to share the lyrics to her most recent song entitled,"Father of All Love." Though the words are powerful, I wish you could hear the music and the melodious sound of her voice. For now, maybe you can just imagine it...

You are the Author and Perfector of my faith,

And I will listen when You speak to my heart.

I'll try to follow all Your ways and trust in You.

For You are...

You are the Lamp that will guide me on my path,

And forever I will give You all I have.

Because in lonely times You are always there.

For You are...

Chorus

The amazing, loving, wonderful Father.

You're the Shepherd that will never leave His sheep.

You are there when we cry out to You and fall on our knees.

You are the Open Ear and Father of all love.

You are the Lord of all the heavens and the earth,

And with Your help we'll try to make it known to all.

For I know Your grace will catch me when I fall.

I know You are...

(Chorus)

And we will lift up our voice to you, God.

Your love will never fail.

And we will lift up our eyes to You,

Our God!

The Father of all love.

Oh, yes!

The Father of all love.

(Chorus)

....

The moments that I have shared with Joyce have been so precious. This past Tuesday, she was one of the few students who came home after school (while the others played intramural handball at BFA) and I asked her to play the piano for me while I worked on our dorm schedule. She responded by asking me to sing along with her...I was delighted. For the next 45 minutes, we sat at the piano bench together and worshipped. I love my job! I love that my "work" involves praising God in song with my students here. What a gift.

Joyce and I connect because we are both able to enjoy the great value in worship music--it is the way we are able to meet with the Lord and gain access into His presence. As certain songs minister to me throughout the week, I share them with Joyce. And she gets it. She understands why they are encouragement to me and they take her to the same place as they do me. Please check out Kari Jobe's "You Are For Me" and "The More I Seek You" on YouTube. Both of these songs made it on our favorites list this week. They have moved us both to tears. I hope it lifts you up to know the reality that our God is for you and that He will never forsake you in your weakness.

...

A few more fun facts about Joyce:

-Joyce speaks English and Swiss German fluently and she is studying French at BFA

(her German speaking helps us immensely in the dorm!)

-Her parents pastor a church in Zurich, Switzerland

-This is Joyce's second year at BFA

-Joyce's favorite color is purple (I can actually identify all of Joyce's clothes by the color purple)

Caught in Love...

My parents and I--"Caught in Love"

Grove City College Graduation, May 2010

This week marks the 12th week of my work at Black Forest Academy. Over the past two months, I have introduced you to several members of my new family here, but there are also two very special people in my life that I cannot neglect to speak of. They may not live in Germany, but they certainly deserve to be honored today. Both of these individuals celebrate birthdays this month and considering the ocean between us, my gift to them will be a gift of words. After reading this entry, my hope is that you will see how grateful I am for their abundant love, unwavering support, and undeniable selflessness. Mom and dad, this is for you.

Nov. 8th-Happy Birthday, Mom!

Some of the most precious and encouraging words came from my mom several months ago as I was pursuing the reality of becoming a missionary. She explained, "Lauren, though I would prefer to have you here, I recognize that you are not mine and that you do not belong to me. I know your life belongs to the Lord and I am willing to share you with Him." Despite my mother's jealous love, I admire her and respect her so much for entrusting me to my Heavenly Father's care. Words cannot describe how profoundly thankful I am to have a mother that has never kept me to herself. As difficult as it must be for a mother to let her daughter go, she has let me be who God created me to be...

Mom, this has been the most special and lovely gift.

As a result of how you have loved me and let me go, I have found life! I have found Christ and I have found children in need of love because of you. Mom, I am flying now on wings like eagles...I am running now and am not growing weary...I am walking now and am not growing faint. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being the most selfless, gracious, and compassionate mother that a daughter could ever ask for. You amaze me, Mom, and I celebrate your life today! How joyful I am that you are here, that you have been healed, and that you are walking faithfully with our God. Oh, Mom, if I could be half the woman that you are. You inspire me. Because of the testimony of your life, you have transformed my understanding of wholeness and beauty. The Lord took your brokenness and sickness and He used them for something beautiful. Because of this, I will never be the same. Thank you for sacrificing so much on behalf of our family. Thank you for fighting for us.

You are the most wonderful mother.

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I am living,

My mommy you'll be.

Nov. 22nd-Happy Birthday, Dad!

When initially considering Germany, my dad's first response was, "That's fine, Lauren, you can go. But, you better not meet anyone over there!" I giggle because this is in part how my dad's love manifests itself--he is jealous for his daughters and he yearns for them to be near him and quite honestly, he desires them to marry men that won't take them thousands of miles away :) While he is certainly a goofy dad, his care and his love for me run so deep. And for this, I am eternally thankful.

At the end of July, my parents and my brother and I served together at a Christian baseball camp in northern Germany. At the conclusion of the camp and the day before my family and I would separate for five months, several of the German leaders took me aside in the prayer room of their church. My parents came along. For the next thirty minutes, I was blessed by the sweetest and most raw prayers that were being offered up to the Lord on my behalf. My dad was in tears. He prayed, "Father, I ... I give you my daugher." And then my mom followed with, "We entrust Lauren to you. Thank you for letting us borrow her for 22 years." Anticipating the goodbye that was inevitable, I was hurting. But, at the very same time, I was confident because of the faith of my parents. In my anxiety, fear, and nervousness, they believed for me and they trusted God for me.

Dad,

Though your birthday is still ten days away, I wanted to take a moment to honor you too. Just as I am grateful for mom's life, I am so thankful for yours as well. And just as she has helped me find life, so have you! Oh, Dad, because you have given me away, these middle schoolers are being so well cared for. I could see that it was hard for you to let me go, but because you did and because you believed in me, I can walk confidently now in the work that He has for me here. This is such a precious gift. Thank you.

...

I am touched by your jealous love, Dad. I am amazed by your tender care for our family. Just like Mom, you sacrifice so much on our behalf. Thank you.And I know that I have told you this before, but it bears repeating, I love the way that you love mom. I love how faithful you are to her.

You are the most gentle father.

I love you.

To the readers of this blog, who are parents...

My hope and my prayer for you today is that you would entrust your children to our Heavenly Father's care. By letting them go, you could also be giving them life. May the faith and the courage of my parents inspire you to give your children over to the One who created them, so that nothing would inhibit the His work. Trust me, you can trust Him :) I hope my life and my story will help you see that God can do so much good with a little bit of faith. I am safe here, I am well, I am thriving. My Father is taking great care of me in Germany, 4032 miles away from home.