Ahoj from Slovakia one last time!

Dear Family and Friends,

It is hard for me to believe that in just 2 days I will be graduating from DTS Slovakia. It has truly been a life-changing experience. I feel blessed beyond words for this amazing opportunity. I would like to share some thoughts with you on what God has done in my life in this past month as well as over the past 8 months. When I think about my Father has done in the past month, I am reminded of the verses in Psalm 66 that say, "Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make his praise glorious. Say to God "How awesome are Your works!"

Lovin' my Father
I have really come into a fuller understanding of what it means that God is my Father. It has been a beautiful revelation as I face each day knowing that my Father has his arms wrapped around me and is leading me through each moment of each day. I truly feel his love and I am amazed at how he reveals his love to me each day through his creation, what I read in the Bible, the little comments people say, and the peace that I feel deep down in my heart. We all have a perfect father who loves just because he loves us. Embrace this everlasting love. Soak it in. Rest in it.

Renewing my mind
The mind is so powerful and I have realized the great importance of making sure every thought is in coherence with the truth of who God created me to be. This has been a battle for me over the past 8 months and it hasn't been an easy one. The devil can be very sneaky in the way he tries to make us think, but praise the Lord that we have victory in Him and can fight with the truth and that will set us free. I am claiming freedom over my life each day.

Kingdom of God
I have come into a deeper understanding of what it means when he pray that "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". It means that we need to bring heaven unto earth. This has huge implications on how we live each day. It says in the Bible that "Greater is he who is in us that he who is in the world", so we need to claim the authority that God has given us. This means that we can do even more than what Jesus did on this earth. How exciting is that?! It is my desire to live each day so that I am bringing heaven unto earth and influencing the world in a supernatural way.

Unity
Over the past month, we have had several teachings about bringing the Catholic and Protestant church together so that we can further God's kingdom. I have realized several times how I had the wrong assumptions about the Catholic church. Throughout these teachings I have come into a deeper understanding of the Catholic church and how they have far more similarities than differences. In one of Jesus' last prayers to the Father, he cries out and asks for the church to be one just like he is one with the Father. This too has become a cry of my heart because we are serving one God.

Life After DTS
I have come to face the reality that I can't live in a DTS forever. Bummer! However, I am looking forward to going home and influencing the Kingdom of God where I live. I will no longer be returning at the end of April, instead I am going to be staying in Europe for another 2 months to visit some of my friends that I made on DTS, visit my family in the Netherlands as well as attend a wedding of two of my fellow students. I am more than excited for these coming months and feel so blessed to have this opportunity to slowly ease back into reality. I will be returning June 18 and I look forward to seeing most of you and sharing with you stories and pictures of these past months. I do not have any definite plans when I get back to Grand Rapids, but I am trusting in God to provide me with a job until he leads me elsewhere. I really have a deep passion for teenage girls and would love to be a mentor for them in some way. God really confirmed this passion while I have been here and I know he will provide a way for me to serve in this area.

Thank-you so much for making it possible for me to go on this journey. As I am writing this, I have tears in my eyes because I am so overwhelmed by the goodness of God through you and through your investment in my life. May God bless you along your journey as you find peace and rest in your hearts and minds.

Much love,
Kelsey

P.S I will post pictures on Picasa in about a week or so that will give you an inside look on the adventures that I have been on in the last month like white water rafting, skiing on mountains, and of course hiking. I will also have pictures from my graduation. Enjoy!

Praise:
- For all the wonderful teachings I was able to receive and how they have impacted my life in a mighty way.

-For the many opportunities that my team and I had to visit different youth groups and share with them about the DTS as well as pray with them.


Pray:
-a smooth transition for everyone as we return back to our homes and share what God has done in the past 8 months
-Safety as I travel from country to country. Pray that my times will be meaningful and that it will be a time when I get rejuvenated.