Where it all began...

War wages in the heartland of the world. The garden of eden, where the world began.
The Middle East.

A beautiful land of hot deserts and caves full of secrets. Immeasurable are its depths of history, yet the very future of the world hangs in its grasps.

The children of this torn area of the world have known nothing but war, famine and islam.

Children are HOPE of the world. Jesus loved being with children-

Because they believe with their hearts. If you bring the heart of Jesus to the heart of children, you will reap the greatest end time harvest the world will ever see.

I am dreaming of the middle east... the harvest is plentiful!

The work of a Master Artisan.

The beautiful assortment of beads Allie brought!
Last night I got the surpreme joy of taking Gabrielle and Lauren out for Laurens 21st birthday!
They got the full treatment- Dinner, Massages, coffee, pumpkin bread the works! And then for the icing on the cake, Allison came to my house later and brought her treasure chest of jewelry for us to make our own creations out of!
The best part... I was the one being blessed!

I couldn't wipe the smile from my face the whole night! What a joy it really is to bless the one's you love!
Gabrielle is an amazing missionary to the unreached peoples of the world, Lauren is the new childrens Pastor at Victory Christian Center and Allison is the youth worship leader!
Wow, powerful women of God I have as my best friends in the whole world!! :)

I've stepped into a new season in my own life as well. I am the new administrative assistant at The Riot for Underground Jr. High Ministries. I'm learning SO much and I'm so thankful for a beautiful opportunity to serve the Kingdom!

My heart still beats and longs for the unreached, the street kids of the world and to pioneer the gospel. But oh, how I'm learning to flow with Holy Spirit and live in the place of waiting.

He is the master artisan... the creator of the universe.. the designer of my destiny! I would rather be created in His hands any day then try to do it on my own...
Like the jewerly we made last night, Jesus is taking what I thought was beautiful and totaly transforming it into a work of art!

You are the potter... I am the clay!

Gabbys coming!!!

I'm SO excited! Gabby is coming in town for the next 2 weeks...She's on her way here now!!
I cannot wait to catch up, fika and spend time with her!
There's something special that happens when covenant friends re-connect.. We share the same dreams and pick back up right where we left off. (And for us, that was in Africa!)

Thank you Samuel for sending her to us... I promise to take good care of her! :)

Thoughts of my heart...

LEGACY

My Grandfather Virgil Roberts was an amazing man. He was a leutenant in WWII, a hardworker at Carbon Limestone in Youngstown, Ohio. and was married to my Grandmother Anna Mae for 47 years. Together they provided for and raised 4 children, fought through the steel mills closing and left a legacy for 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

His greatest legacy...

A Man of God.

A question that I've had in my heart tonite....

What Legacy do I want to leave behind?

What will be said about me when my time comes to stand before God?

Will it be how much money I made? How much I climbed the ladder of success? How well I dressed? How many friends I had??

In my heart I am longing...

May it be said of me: that I lived my life to reach the unreached, and brought Jesus to people everywhere.

Was always full of JOY.

Lived like David- danced, worship and ran with a heart after God always.

Had integrity, character, wisdom, mercy. compassion, passion and a sweetness of spirit.

Loved ALWAYS!

And thats only the beginning, only a small fraction.. I don't want to just talk about it. I want to live it!

What do you want to be said of you?

Waiting In His Rest.

Journey's

Patience. Waiting. Rest. FAITH.

- Theses are some major words that I'm hearing from Holy Spirit lately.
One thing I have always known about myself: I am a very goal oriented person. You put a goal in front of me, and I'm running after it without stopping until I've either conquered or completed it.

This can either be a strength or a weakness for me.
Strength because I fight for what I know I want. Weakness because I have a harder time enjoying the journey getting there.

God has been teaching me alot about this! Especially entering into His rest and letting Him be in control. I'm always trying so hard to make things go my way, yet, I have to remind myself how many times God has come through and His plans have been SO much better then mine.

I must decrease and He must increase.

So here's a small update from me- a disciple of Jesus Christ.. learning to become who I'm supposed to be and become a distrubutor of who HE is!

No more talk... Living it! :)

Small moments- Enjoying the journey.

Time with my family

My littlest brother Micah - A Mighty prayer warrior with a heart of gold.

Fika's with Jesus!
Covenant friendships!

Lauren and I got to Skype with Gabby in Sweden!

Beautiful Youngstown

Beautiful is not typically a word you hear associated with Youngstown, Ohio.

You hear words like- Poverty stricken, murder capitol, cloudy, dark, boring... the list goes on.

Yet, in all my travels I have never experienced a city like my hometown!

Maybe everyone says that? I don't know. :)

I've personally been praying alot lately for a new and more passionate love and drive to see Youngstown saved and turned around for Jesus!

I've been thinking so much about how my heart yearns for the nations and peoples of the world, yet I'm still living here. Obviously, God is not done in Youngstown, Ohio yet- So neither am I!

I have decided I will serve, interceed and work for this city with my WHOLE heart until God calls me elsewhere. And what better ground to prepare for the nations then in my own city?

Infact in Acts 1:8 thats exactly what Jesus told the disciples to do!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria were the disciples hometowns. Jesus specifically told them to start there first!

So thats exactly what I'm going to do!

I've also come to realize the true beauty of Youngstown isn't in who she is today, but also in who she used to be. (And no, I'm not just talking about the Mafia years and such.) And it's not just in her buildings or landscape, but in the people who live here!

There's so much history to her. So many people have spent their lives loving, living working and raising family's in Youngstown.

She has survived, even when no one else thought she would.,. And for that I love her! (Yes, I'm aware I'm refering to my city as a girl. haha!)

So this blog I'm dedicating to my beloved hometown! Its going to be the best summer and I can't wait to see all that God does here! Let the preparation begin...

Covenant Friends!!

I am SO thankful for the amazing friends God has blessed my life with!

There is nothing in the whole world like covenant friendships! Covenant friendships are the kind of friendships where you sit and talk for hours and it feels like minutes. The kind of friendships that challenge you and cause you to run after Jesus and the passions He's placed in your heart with even more FIRE then before! The kind where you walk away feeling refreshed and lifted up.

These are the friendships I am most thankful for!

Lauren and I showing off our Africa rings from Gabby!

I got to see and spend time with my Lauren tonight for the 1st time since I left! She is one of my Cov' Besties and an absolutely beautiful woman of God! I enjoy every moment I get to spend with her! :)

I really love and appreciate all my friends!! ......

My lifetime friends- Allie and Katie

My Adventure buddy- Marissa

I'm also heartsick for all my friends around the world.....

I love you all so much and I am so thankful for who you are in my life. There is to many of you to mention everyone... but please know that you are ALWAYS in my heart, and have forever impacted my life!

Samuel 18:3 "Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."

My Heart is Home.

Where do I begin??

I'm officially back in America...But my heart will forever be at home in the Nations.Missionary life is the BEST life, there's nothing like it in the whole World!I have come to realize... It's the only life for me.

My heart feels so torn, in a good way. (Is that possible?) :)
I'm so happy to see my family and friends back herein America, but my heart misses Ethiopia and my Ethiopian, Swedish, Norwegian, Latina and of course American (I love you my Gabby!) family!

I was so blessed to serve every single day alongside the most amazing missionaries on the planet. Men and women of God who have given their lives to see the Kingdom advanced in Ethiopia and around the world.They are my heroes!! Thank you Samuel, Gabrielle, Filip, Erik, Maja, Katish, Katrina, Ashagre, Mohammed, Senabwa and little Naftali for taking me in and making me apart of your family. For taking such good care of me and for teaching me what real missionaries and servants are!

I can't believe my trip is over, but thankfully I know it's only the beginning!So now I'm home and I will serve and give my life here in the U.S.A until Holy Spirit moves and says something else, Because your a missionary no matter where you live.

One thing I know for sure- I will never be the same!
India and Africa have not only become adventures in my life but imprints in my heart! I don't know where to begin to tell people about all that God has done in me... but maybe sharing some pictures will help.

Thank you Jesus for this amazing life!! and being able to be with my bestie in the nations :)

My little friend from India

This boy taught me what loving on the least of these is all about!
I took his picture and gave him the only thing I had- a smile and a piece of gum. And it made him so happy!

My sister in heart and spirit- Maja!!

My heart was completely undone by the street kids in Ethiopia. Their thankful for food if you give it to them, their thankful if you play with them... but what their most hungry for is love!
My highlight of my day EVERYDAY was walking where the street kids were and being run over by their hugs! I miss them SO MUCH!!

Pretty soon this will be a return ticket to the Nations!
(instead of a handwritten one home.) :)
This is only the beginning.... the rest is still unwritten.

Africa....

is absolutely amazing!! I am totally falling in love. :)

This is the first time since I've arrived that I've been able to get blog spot up. I'm very excited!

I really don't even know where to begin as far as updates go.

I have loved every minute walking the streets and talking to the people. Their so friendly, so open, so loving.

I'm trying desperately to pick up the language quickly so I can speak to them on my own.

And it's the absolute BEST being here with Gabby and Samuel! Who would have thought 2 young girls from Youngstown would end up in Harar, Ethiopia as missionaries? Jesus did! And I'm so thankful.

The team here is great! I have to keep reminding myself that I'm here. I'm so honored to live with such amazing men and women of God... They are my heroes!

I feel like the theme of this entire trip has been LOVE. There is absolutely nothing in the world like loving on people and pouring Jesus out on them.

Walking the street with my best friends, hugging beautiful street children, greeting and kissing old women's cheeks in the markets, being invited into homes, house churches, Sunday morning church... WOW!

I still have 2 1/2 more weeks here and I'm going to enjoy every moment!

This is the best life!

Really Learning Gods Heart.

I don't have much time, but I wanted to update for all of you out there.

India is absolutely BEAUTIFUL in every way!!
The people here are so amazing! I have really been asking God to allow me to see them through His eyes. Especially the women and children.
The poverty is immense, and there's so much hopelessness in their eyes. From the smallest child begging on the street to the Sadhu's- Hindu's "Holy" men. Their all desperate for love, joy, peace.. anything to fill the void in their hearts.

Being a female here is difficult too. In America were treated as equals. The women here, however are treated as lower then dogs. According to Hindu tradition, they don't even have a hope for salvation. Could you imagine living like that??

My heart has been so broken, seeing these beautiful people worship the over 300 million Gods they have here, when all along the one true God is just wanting to take them in His arms and love on them!

I'm learning so much about denying my own flesh and just being Jesus to people.. even if it only means a big smile as I pass them on the street while riding in a Rickshaw. (Which is a whole adventure in itself.) :)

Pray with me for the people of India, and all the unreached peoples of the world!
It's time to learn Gods heart and find HIS bride!!

And so the adventure begins...

My heart beats with anticipation...

The time has finally come. Adventure is on the horizon!

Tomorrow morning I will grab my back pack and carry on bag, (the smallest I have ever packed in my life!) put on my lovely Converse shoes (Thank you Lauren!) and join the most amazing team on a trip to Northern India for the next 2 weeks!

My Besties- Lauren who I'll miss LOTS, and Gabby who I'm going to see!

From there I will fly on by myself to Harar, Ethiopia to live and work with Gabby and Samuel Strandberg and the team of Mission SOS Ethiopia/Harar Church of Joy for 1 month!! (I'm coming Gabby, and I cannot wait!!) :)

I am so excited!!

I feel like Queen Esther.

I can imagine the excitement and anticipation she must have felt as she waited for her turn to go before the King. All those months soaking in oils, learning how to become a Queen. How to sit right, talk right and lead. I'm sure there was a lot of nights where she was frustrated, wondering why she was, where she was. (I understand that.)

I'm sure she watched nervously as other girls went for their night with the King. Wondering when her turn would finally come.

But it did come! And because she learned to enjoy the journey, trust God, be faithful, learn the Kings heart and what He loved- she became Queen and saved a people! Wow!!

Now I'm ready to have my own Esther experience.

I am longing to love on the unreached peoples of the world! The poor, and the unwanted.. to pour out love on little street kids, to baptize new disciples and see people saved!

That is the BEST life a girl could ask for!

I love you all SO very much! Thank you especially to those who gave sacrificially to help make this trip possible. God has provided above and beyond for this trip, and its even more proof to me that it is ordained by Him.

I love you and will miss you all so much. But it's time- Spring has come. I'm ready to step out!

My amazing Fam who I'll miss lots!!

I feel like a sponge- I just want to soak up every minute of this adventure with the Holy Spirit.

Will you join me? :)

Matthew 25:35-40 "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

The Harvest is calling....