Picture posts

I've finally caught up with posting. :) It took me long enough!. Each post is past-dated, so here are links to the new ones:

Cambridge
Austria
Hungary
Too cute not to post...
L'Abri again

Family newsletter

I recently included an update in my family's newsletter, and I thought I would share it with you here.

Greetings from Micah Noel!                                                  

I have just returned home from six months of study and service in Europe. Before I left, I decided to keep a journal throughout the trip. I wanted to have a record of what God taught me to remind myself in the future.  I so easily forget the work that I have seen God do. Here is the passage I wrote on the front page, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.  Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?” (Psalm 77:10-13)

Since I returned home, I have been looking over the entries in my journal from the past six months. I would like to share with you some of the memories from my travels, and a little of what God has done in my life while I was gone I have an excerpt from my journal entry on May 11th, written in the airport the day I left. “I was reading Ephesians 1-2 earlier today. It really encouraged me because I have been going back and forth between being afraid I made a mistake in thinking this trip is God’s will for me, feeling scared to death about it all, thinking it will be okay and I can handle it, feeling overwhelmed with the thought of being gone six months, etc. I believe, though, that this is what God has for me, so I am going to step out in faith and trust Him.” Some phrases that stood out to me in Ephesians 1 were, “[God] has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ...His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves…the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

 

My relationship with the Lord and my understanding of who He is grew by leaps and bounds, especially during the time I was studying at L’Abri. In the past, I acted like God’s love for me depended on my performance, although I never really believed this to be true. I placed my value as a person in what I did, and of course I could never do enough to think that God or other people were fully pleased with me. Now, I have realized that my Creator’s love for me never changes, and as a result, the things I do can come out of love for Him, not because I am trying to earn His favor. A tremendous weight has been removed from my shoulders, and I feel great freedom to rest in God’s unmerited favor that I have in Christ. In my journal I wrote the lyrics to the song “In Christ Alone.”  It expresses well what is on my heart.  “What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.” Of course, I have known all of these things in my head for a long time, but I am just now learning what they really mean.

My purpose in visiting various ministries and missionaries in Europe was to experience the way that God is working in different places. I also wanted to be able to serve the missionaries and to minister to the people with whom I came in contact. Although I didn’t realize it beforehand, I was amazed at the diversity of the opportunities I experienced. I was able to do a lot of things that I really enjoy, such as sharing harp music in many churches and homes, teaching piano lessons, and allowing people to experience playing the harp for the first time. I also did a lot of “normal” things, such as cooking, cleaning, caring for children, organizing, etc. Of course, there were also some experiences that took me outside my comfort zone, but most of them I grew to enjoy once I got used to them—traveling from country to country by myself, starting to learn the Romanian language, communicating with people despite a language barrier, and witnessing on university campuses. What affected me the most was the people I got to meet and the relationships I developed. In only two of the places that I visited did I already know someone before hand. Yet, each place I went, I discovered a connection with people that transcended culture, ideas, customs, and language barriers. As a result of these experiences, I am learning to place more of an emphasis in my life on relationships with people.

My time in Europe was a wonderful experience of learning, growing, stretching, and enjoying God’s goodness. Thank you to all who lifted me up in prayer and supported me financially. I am thankful to have seen God at work in so many ways and so many places. I am also thankful to be home now with family and friends, and I am looking forward to what God has for me in the future. It is hard, though, because I feel like my heart is here at home and also in a lot of other places now. Lord willing, I will be able to go back at some point, but I am waiting on God’s timing.      

Because of Christ’s love,                                                      

Micah Noel

Psalm 119:32, 35

I run in the path of Your commands,
   for You have set my heart free. 

Direct me in the path of Your commands,
   for there I find delight. 

Yes, I am home...

I am home now, thanking God for His good gifts, and enjoying being able to catch up with my family and friends. It is such a blessing to have a circle of people who care about me to welcome me when I return home.

I still have a lot of stories and pictures to post, so I plan to back-date these posts in the next few weeks. Be sure to check for posts with earlier dates, as I want to keep everything in chronological order. :)

Blessed is the Lord, 

For He has heard our prayer;

Therefore our hearts dance for joy

And with our mouths we shall thank the Lord.

(from the L'Abri morning prayers liturgy)

Journal excerpt

I need to be constantly reminded of God's unconditional love for me; that nothing I do or don't do will ever change the fact that He accepts me as His child.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39).

Cambridge

When I was back in England, I got to go punting in Cambridge. It's a lot harder than it looks, but nevertheless, I would highly recommend the experience. :)

Austria...

is really beautiful, in case you didn't know. :)

Inside an ice cave!

Five months!

In Budapest, Hungary

I left Kansas City exactly five months ago today. I am still loving it. I am not so overwhelmed anymore with all the details and uncertainty, but instead I am amazed with God's enduring faithfulness. 

Hungary

Working wtih Campus Crusade in Budapest

 

I bought a tie for my dad at this cute little store.

Oh, I want to know You more

Just the time I feel that I've been caught in the mire of self,
just the time I feel my mind's been bought by worldly wealth,
That's when the breeze begins to blow, I know the Spirit's call,
and all my worldly wanderings just melt into His love.

Oh, I want to know You more,
deep within my soul I want to know You,
oh I want to know You.
To feel Your heart and know Your mind.
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me cries that say I want to know You.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds ordinarily lose life and song,
My heart begins to bleed, sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race, but set my own pace and face a shattered soul,
now the gentle arms of Jesus warm my hunger to be whole.

And oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breath
to know you in Your death and resurrection.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You, to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

(Sung by Steve Green, words and music by Steve Fry)

Be still, my soul

At the Black Sea in Eforie, Romania

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

Too cute not to post

Some adorable Romanian kids

Part of the group at the music camp

A month in Romania

Our group practicing hard at the music camp in Campina, Romania.

My friend Ruxi and I

Everyone loved to hear the harp!

This older gentleman liked the harp, too. :)

Several families invited the group of music teachers to have dinner in their home. By the way, Romanian food is really, really good!

At another family's home in Bucharest.

Arnah, an American missionary who I met in Romania. I was so blessed to meet such a "kindred spirit," and we had some wonderful fellowship and ministry together.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask of the Lord,
   this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
   and to seek Him in his temple. 

 

What have I been up to in The Netherlands?

For the last three weeks, I have been in Kruiningen, The Netherlands, which is in Zeeland, the most southwestern province. I have been visiting my second cousin and his family. Some of the things I've been doing:

Helping with website and editing projects for the ministry with which my relatives work.

Lots of cooking and baking, and I've learned some new ethnic recipes, which I am excited to take home with me.

Seeing lots of beautiful scenery!

Bryony and I

We made, wrapped, and decorated over a hundred of these brownies for the town fair. 

I think these are the best brownies I have ever eaten! Moist, dense, and just a little crispy on the outside. Is your mouth watering yet???

I finally found a practical use for these origami butterflies that I like to make.

I've been trying lots of new foods lately, and I thought tell you about one of my favorites!  These are Speculaas, which are crispy cookies that are a little sweet and made with delicious spices, such as nutmeg and ginger. They remind me a little of gingerbread cookies, but much better. There is also a Speculoos spread, which tastes the same but looks like peanut butter.  Personally, I think beats Nutella any day, because it's not as sweet. No offense to any Nutella lovers out there. :)

Can you tell I am loving it here? :)

Another poem....

So quick to stray,

to walk away;

Where are You, Lord?

No, truly, where am I?

So quick to turn, 

so slow to learn;

How is it that

I've run from You again?

Quick to forget

Your face, and yet,

What else is it

that I am looking for?

Don't let me go

for Lord, You know

It's You I want, 

though I may wander so. 

Picturesque-ness in The Netherlands

The church next to the building where I am staying

Journal entry from 8/24

I am learning to appreciate the process of living, instead of just wishing I could fast-forward to the end result.

That's what life is-- a process and journey of learning and growing, and getting to know my Creator in a more true way.

It takes a lot of time and work, but much of the richness is in its unfolding.

The tide comes in right up to the buildings in Bosham, England.

A lovely footpath in Greatham, England.

Guess where I've been!

Before I headed off to The Netherlands a few weeks ago, I spent one whirlwind day in a very famous city.   From the pictures, it shouldn't be to difficult to tell which one I mean. :)

Note to self:  one day is hardly long enough to experience anything, especially such a bustling and diverse metropolis. Rumor has it that there is plenty more to see, including a lovely palace. Oh well, I think I did pretty well for one day. 

A certain famous bridge, which bears the name of the city. 

The fountains at Trafalgar Square

A very well-know clock tower

Westminister Abbey
The highlight of the day was Evensong at 5:00 pm.

One of the "back doors" of Westminister Abbey