I left my home in Kansas just as my brother was almost getting close to good on his trumpet. There was still that time, every day, when he was supposed to go in to the spare room, close the door, and play his trumpet. Even with an old house, it wasn't too bad at muffling the sound.

Well, now "little Jeremy" in the next apartment building over is learning to play the trumpet. And with the beautiful weather (in the 70's) we've been having, Jeremy has been practicing in his corner room with both of the windows open. We can hear him clearly as he struggles through "Oh When the Saints go Marching In" and other such popular band numbers.

At least I haven't been trying to sleep while he practices.

Jen and Laura-- Thanks for your prayers and posted comments. I'm feeling better, but still tired. I'll be in the office tomorrow. My Kansas visitor is John from cross country. I haven't asked him if I can publish his name, so I'll refrain from more information.

It was good to hear the stories at prayer meeting tonight. Stories from people who have just met the leaders and the native missionaries on the field. Stories of those leaders and missionaries dedication. One of the places the team stopped was at a Girl's Bible School in A., India. Cathrine had a picture of herself with 10 of the students who were preparing to go out to work in the mission field and complete their requirments to graduate. She met them the 10th of this month. They left to go into full-time ministry the 20th of this month. It helps make things more real when you have a face and a name and story for the people going out.

In that area of India, the opposition to Christianity is so strong that they are sending "special forces" into each village ahead of the missionaries. The "special forces"? The ladies. The Bible Women. Why send ladies first if the opposition is so strong? The village fanatics are less likely to attack and beat up ladies.

Yep. Definately the flu. Praise God it was the short-lived variety. I was done throwing up by the end of last night and spent today in bed with a massive headache. I'm still pretty wiped out and won't be in the office tomorrow--though I think I'll try to make it to Prayer Meeting on Tuesday night. Rach is sharing and I have visitors from KS in town.

Pray for me. I feel like I'm coming down with the flu. I'm cold and shaking and my skin is extremely sensitive and my tummy doesn't feel good. And I feel like a whiny little kid who wants her mommy.

I'm going to bed.

What did I spend my late evening doing? Playing sand volleyball on a concrete slab court with no lights and a 35 mph wind. Crazy. But it was fun none-the-less. Dynamics are slowly changing within the group of single young people that God has called to GFA. And it's a good change, I think. I'm more comfortable.

If you're in the Dallas area, stay off of the Dallas North Tollway tomorrow afternoon. My sister Susan and I are taking driving lessons!

Prayer: That I would continue to hunger after God and know his voice.

Interested in coming to see the Gospel for Asia office in Carrollton, Texas? There's a ride leaving the Hutchinson area this coming Monday night and returning to the area on Thursday early afternoon. We'll provide a place for you to stay and volunteer work at the office. Tuesday night prayer meeting should be really good as Bro. KP will be back from India and several of our staff members will be sharing about their experiences during their recent trip. Questions? Interested? Email me!

To my Mom and Dad- I'm not emailing tonight. I'm just heading to bed. I'll be at the office at 7AM to watch Pat and Eric rollout some computer patches. At 9:00, Jacie is moving to her new apartment. The afternoon might be booked. And Erika is flying in from India tomorrow evening. But I still love you.

Okay. So here's the personal challenge I'm having. Everyone asks what I do in my free time. I can't figure it out either. Today I woke up late, got ready quickly, and was at the office at 7:30 to get ready for Thursday morning training. At 8:00, we had prayer time and at 8:50, I shared a five minute computer training time with the staff.

The training was funny in itself. We were working with booking resources. I told everyone: "If you're reserving use of the Board Room, make sure that you mark the Board Room as a RESOURCE, not an Attendee. ROOMS ARE NOT PEOPLE." Then, in my example I showed them, I marked the room as an attendee. So the reservation didn't work and I was baffled until members of my audience called out: "You forgot to make the room a resource!" It was a really good training since my audience got to see that even I mess up and they got to see how to fix their mistakes.

Well, this post is long enough and I only got through 8:55AM. PRAY: For time management and a balance between sleep (which I really enjoy), relationships with others (which I really enjoy), and other stuff (like bills, thank you notes, and advanced IT research). I have so many things I CAN do, but I need to schedule what is BEST to do.

Today was busy. There's a new project that GFA is preparing to roll out and I was busy today formatting some Word docs for the project. The day ended as I got the formatted docs to the development coordiantor Chris and he emailed the files and notes to the head of the IT department in India so they can do some programming. I finally stopped for lunch about 7:00. Sarah's fajitas were delicious!

I got an email this morning from a fellow staff worker saying that Jon, a Sterling College student, had signed up to do a Max Missions trip. I was so excited. It is always challenging to me to see other college kids get involved and personally sacrifice to help reach the unreached world.

I was thinking last week... I miss Coleman. and Kyle. and Justin. and Chris. and Andy. and Wes. and Andrew. and Mike. and David. and Windell. I miss just hanging out with guys. I miss goofing off with the IT majors and wondering "What the XML is going on here?" I miss Ultimate Frisbee and running into trees.

But I don't miss them enough that I would want to leave GFA. God has me where he wants me and I'm delighted to be here!

Oh...and Tony/Nick/Stephen- if you actually stop by here- you have to leave a comment. And thanks for a fun evening.

The home staff team arrived home from India tonight about 7:30. It is so good to see Rach again and she is happy to be home. (It's good to have you home, Rach.)

I was going to go to bed early and then bug my cousins for breakfast in the morning, but Rach and T. are going to Burger King. I said I would join them. Rach jumped up and down when I said that. Some sacrifices of sleep are okay.

I just got home. Thanks for all your prayers. Pray that I can stay awake today at work--and actually be productive.

I'll be traveling to Okeene, Oklahoma tomorrow. I'll be speaking at Zion Baptist Church in the morning on Sunday and at New Hopedale Mennonite church in Meno in the evening. You're welcome to stop by if you're in the area.

It is always later than I think it should be when I go to bed. I'll be leaving here about 7:00 in the morning and arriving back about 1AM Monday morning. Praise God for my sister Susan who will be traveling with me and keeping me awake.

Thought for the day: "True servanthood is relinquishing all rights for selfishness and choosing to do only what is right and best for others." -Gayle Erwin.

Quote from the urgent email that went out yesterday regarding Manja's trial:
"Just before Manja's case was to be heard before the full bench of the Nepali
Supreme court, an opposing lawyer somehow petitioned some of the judges to
completely cancel the case. Three of the judges, including the chief justice
were upset with the petition but to no avail. The case has been dismissed and
will have to be completely restarted."

Stop by the website and read the update in its entirety. Please continue to pray as Bro. Manja remains in prison and struggles with discouragement.

Prayers are amzing things! Dave was at prayer meeting this morning and was at the office off and on during the day as he continues to recover from jet lag. Ralph came in mid-morning. He still had a headache, but it was diminishing. Pat got a phone call from the doctor this morning telling him that his heart is fine and he could come back to work. He came in to work this afternoon, but was still pretty beat. The doctor still doesn't know what's causing the extreme fatigue, so continue to pray.

I hurt some feelings today. I didn't mean to. Looking back, I'm not sure how I could have changed things. Pray that I will have the grace to go forward and grace for each person in the situation.

Yesterday I mentioned that IT member Ralph was doing Jeff's job as well as his own job? Ralph went home this morning with a migraine. PLEASE PRAY for Pat and Dave and Ralph and Jeff and Javier.

Oh-- Brother Manja is wrongfully imprisoned in Nepal. His trial will be taking place tonight (our time). Please pray that all charges will be cleared and he will be released to join his wife and family. Check out the whole story at Manja: Prisoner in Nepal -- Gospel for Asia.

The IT staff has been a little slim recently. Jeff and Javier are in India. Dave is in India. Ralph is busy doing Jeff's job, so he's not really available either. Pat was here, but yesterday his doctor ordered him home from the office until further notice--Monday at the earliest. That left Eric and myself and part-time volunteer Sam.

I was so excited when Dave returned from India last night. Hurrah! At last, one of our leaders is back!

Dave was throwing up all night--apparently food poisoning from the McDonalds at the Detroit airport. Isn't that ironic? To spend 2 weeks in India (where they tell you not to drink the water and don't eat what you're offered) and then return to the states to get food poisoning?!?

PLEASE PRAY for Pat and Dave and Jeff and Javier.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Kansas this weekend. Despite the fact that I attended Sterling College and grew up in Anthony, I had never been in the Yoder/Partridge area. It was certainly unique to see five horse and buggy teams while on the way to church on Sunday morning. JR and Fern Yoder were my host family and although I wasn't there very much (since I was out seeing supporters), it was a huge blessing. If I ever have free vacation time, I think I may just head up there to relax!

Thanks to all who stopped by my open house on Saturday: Dave, Terry, Ken, Jen, Laura, Michele, Angie, Sean... And a BIG thanks to Lailoni and Dennis for opening up their home. May God bless you all!

I'm back. I pulled into town last night just after 10:00. Praise God! I made the drive from Yoder to Dallas in 6 hours! And WITHOUT excessive speeding. Your prayers made the weekend a huge blessing and made the drive safe. I'm really worn out--plan on getting some good sleep tonight so I can get work done tomorrow. I need to do some phone software training with the Volunteer Department tomorrow and get ready for Thursday morning training.

I sat here on my bed room floor just a few minutes ago, almost crying. I received a two page, hand-written letter from Mrs. R.K. in Oklahoma. She wrote about the 20 new calves on the farm (all but two were heifers). She wrote about her grandaughter doing missions in Chicago. She wrote that this would be the first year since she was married in 1939 that she wouldn't have a garden. She wrote about the doctor's diagnosis that she has congestive heart failure and a leaky valve. "I'm doing okay," she writes. "I have so much to be thankful for. I'm so anxious to leave this world. Then I would be with my husband in heaven... We had 61 wonderful years together." She had been saving up and included a check for my support. "I'm sending an offering. I want it to go for your work." She added, "I do talk to the Lord every day about you and [my granddaughter] and other missionaries I know."

How precious. What an encouragement and blessing her letter was.

Tonight is probably my last post until Monday night. I'm heading for Hutchinson/Sterling tomorrow to be a part of the the Plainview Mennonite Missions conference. PLEASE PRAY: that God would prepare people's hearts, give me the words to say in each situation, and raise up the rest of my support. Pray that I would spend time each day with God and be able to hear his voice.

Thanks!

Some thoughts strongly related to my time at Sterling College:

Did Jesus ever say to go "change the world"? Did he ever tell his disciples to "make a difference"? To "become the leaders and founders of a world revival"? He did tell them to "Go in the all the world and preach the gospel." He told they would be his witnesses. He told them they would be hated.

Jesus never told them to "be significant," but yet that's exactly what they were. Why? Jesus said, "If you want to be great, you have to the servant of all."

Bro. KP said recently: "We are called to be servants. Jesus didn't say be someone significant. The higher the responibility you are looking for, the more of the servant you should be."

Wondering what servant leadership is all about? Start by forgetting the "leadership" part. Just be a servant.

Tonight is Tuesday night prayer. Every Tuesday night, the staff and families of GFA join together to pray for each other, the office here, and the work on the field. We're having a guest pastor speak tonight. Lord, please prepare my heart to focus on you. Help me to take every thought captive instead of letting them run wild.

Here's some song lyrics for you to think about:
At all costs, I will take up my cross
And follow you 'til I die.
At all costs, I will make your name be known
For I want the world to know why.

If ever I fall, disgrace your name;
If ever I lose my way.
At all cost, bring me back to serve you again,
For I want you at all cost.

Do you really want that? Do want him to bring you back at all costs? What if something in your life becomes more important to you than God? What if God has to take away your job or your money or your house to get your attention? Are you ready for that?

Well, I was going to write a nice, newsy post today, but Luci told me it was past my bedtime. I spent this evening getting ready for my trip this weekend. Today was busy at the office. Taun's CPU fan on his laptop went out. Fred's laptop monitor stopped working 8 hours before he left on a week long trip. And the Vietemese department got a weiner dog stuck in their CD-ROM drive. Okay, so the last didn't really happen. But the other two did.

It's night night time.

I was awaken this morning by a phone call from my mother--just checking on me and returning my phone call from the day before. Have I ever mentioned I love my mother?

I enjoyed church this morning--I got to share some prayer requests from the mission field in prayer meeting AND spoke with several people after the service about the ministry of Gospel for Asia . The church I attend meets in a school building (small church--only 400 people). So every Sunday after service, we have to tear down the stage and mics and speakers and pack them away into a trailer. I always enjoy serving--especially in situations where my muscles can get some excercise! At first the guys who help with the tear down were all concerned about me, a frail little girl, lifting monitor speakers and keyboards and platforms. But, in the past nine months, we've come to a nice balance. I can lift most things and if something is too heavy, I ask one of them to do it. Sometimes I still wish I were a boy...

I'm trying something new with my blog. Here tries:

Try flunked. I was trying to add a picture by doing img src = http://... anyway. I think it has something to do with blogspot hosting it.

Prayer request: Pray for my preparation for my trip to Kansas. I'm leaving Thursday and there are lots of things to come together.

No post last night. Last night was extended night of prayer and I got home about 1AM.

Rach left for India this (Saturday) morning. Please pray for the team of 14 people from our office that are traveling to India and pray for Dave and Chris as they work and travel in India and prespare for the next big project.

It's a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l day here! I'm trying to get everything put together for my trip to Kansas next week. I sent out a whole ton of emails yesterday and newsletters/ announcements too to let people know that I'm having an open house in Sterling on Saturday, March 13th. I hope some of those people stop by here...

You know that "photo journal" idea I mentioned on Thursday? Well, we started it on Friday morning and everything was going great. We were having a large variety of breakdowns and problems and by 9:30, we had photos of about six different things that I do. About 9:35, the battery on the loaner digital camera was dead and we lost everything. The battery took about four hours to recharge. I guess we'll try the idea again on Monday.

Today I was a little off kilter. So please pray that I can be more on track tomorrow. Aren't you glad his mercies are new every mornings?!?!

My department coordinator is leaving for 12 days in India tomorrow. Our PC Administrator and our Print Room Administrator are both leaving for India on Saturday. Rach is leaving for India on Saturday as well. Pray that things would continue to run smoothly in the office. PLEASE PRAY for the computers--that we wouldn't have hardware failures or things like that. With the PC Administrator gone, it will take a lot of time to fix problems like that. Praise God that He is able to keep everything running.

I started a photo journal today--tomorrow I'll be taking pictures of everything thing I do. We'll see what tomorrow brings. This is so that the people I see in Hutchinson and Sterling can "see" what I do. Then maybe I'll find a way to let other people (like you) see them.

I praise God for each one of you that reads this. Your prayers keep me going!

For all of those who know their geography. If you're starting in Dallas and traveling to Little Rock, do you go through Siloam Springs? That would be a... no. So much for Dorinda's geography skills.

I'm been talking about me in the third person recently. That's not unusual, but I didn't think I usually did it that much. Maybe I do it more than I imagine. I did enjoy a wonderful vanilla creme at Starbucks this evening with Katie. Oh, Katie? Did I ever ask your permission to put your name in my blog? Is that okay? Anyway, I had no sooner gotten home from a wonderful evening out than MY ROOMMATE RACH squirted me with my own water gun! Of all the injustice!

Pray: That I would continue to seek God and LISTEN to Him and that He would work out all the details of my upcoming trips. Oh, and pray for Rach.

So let it be heard, so let it be known.

Dorinda (me) will be in Hutchinson, KS March 12-14th for a Missions Conference at Plainview Mennonite Church. All supporters, friends, and generally interested people should stop so Dorinda can greet them. Conference hours are 6-10pm on Friday, 4-10pm on Saturday, and 9am-3pm on Sunday. I would LOVE to see you there. Email me for more information and directions!

Praise for today: God opened up a door for me to share at a Baptist church in Okeene, OK on Sunday the 21st. Pray: That God will open up the door for me to share at John Brown University Chapel.

Okay. So I was going to blog about communication and my crazy day at work. But then I just received one of the most startling emails of my life! Too bad this is a public blog or I could write about it. I think I'll have to use my private journal.

Well... onto the the random ramblings of today: It was a GORGEOUS day today. Breezy, but not horrific wind. Lower 70's for temps. Samuel and I played a little frisbee out behind the office building after work today. Tony and Stephen joined us. It was a lot of fun, but my arm wore out REALLY fast. Somedays I wish I could stay in the same physical condition I was when I was running cross country in college --without all the work! But it just doesn't work that way.

Our spiritual lives don't work that way either. It takes daily work and time with God to get in shape spiritually. We can't expect to keep up with God's plans and grow closer to him if we don't spend time each day excercising our spiritual muscles.

Prayer request: Completion of some projects at the office and wisdom for a situation in Kansas.