prayer and support

Dear Family & Friends,

       Greetings from Indianapolis! As many of you know, I am finishing up my third year in nursing school at IUPUI. I cannot believe how fast these years have flown! It has been such a joy to see the many ways the Lord has blessed me throughout my time here. As much as I love the process of nursing classes and clinical, I know that there is a part of me that is longing for another place, the place that stole my heart almost two years ago, Africa.

      Many of you partnered with me on my trip with my church to South Africa. My heart for Africa and seeing the Lord work in mighty ways in S. Africa rooted in me a desire to return to that continent and share the love of our Savior with the beautiful people there. Through a long process of researching options, the Lord provided the perfect opportunity for me to go to Ghana and serve this summer.
  

     Even though Christianity is growing in Ghana, the northern parts are still predominantly Muslim and traditional idol worshipers. This summer, as part of a team with a mission agency called Pioneers, I will learn language and culture from national believers, reach out through English teaching, travel to unreached villages, and also assist in medical clinics. So not only will I be able to help these people physically, I will be able to share with them the healing power of our Savior as well.

Information on Pioneers can be found at www.pioneers.org

Will you please partner with me to bring the truth of the Gospel to the people of Ghana? I really need your prayer support. I firmly believe in the power of prayer to change hearts and lives.

• Pray that God will use the next two and half months to prepare me to serve Him this summer.
• Pray that I will continue to trust in His provision for this trip.
• Pray that the hearts of those we will meet this summer will be softened and prepared for His truth.
• Pray that our team will be unified and effective as we work together this summer.

The cost of the trip [June 3-July 26, 2012] will be approximately $4950. If you feel led to support me financially as well as prayerfully, you can make a tax-deductible gift to Pioneers on my behalf. You can make an online donation in my name here:www.pioneers.org/give/missionary. My account number is: 175220. Please contact me if you would like to receive my e-mail prayer updates as well. I look forward to sharing with you what the Lord has done when I return. Thank you so much!

Until All Have Heard,
Mary Bolander

“Look at the Nations – watch and be utterly amazed! For I am going to do something in your day you would not believe, even if I told you!”

~Habakkuk 1:5

I will be sending this letter to many people in the mail, I just wanted to give everyone the opportunity to read it and PRAY for me! Prayer is the greatest ally for me on this trip! Please consider emailing me to join the prayer list for updates on the trip, as well as giving financially to this new adventure. Thanks again so much!

Some pictures from my last trip to Africa. Enjoy! :)

playing with the children at a nearby township

talking after church with one of the girls

reading through the story of Noah

enjoying the beautiful African sunsets

i know who holds tomorrow

I have an old hymn book from my church..sometimes it is the best to take a few minutes and read the words to the hymns. There is such beauty and wisdom in the words of these old songs. 

This morning I stumbled upon this hymn by Ira F. Stanphill... 

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow; 
I just live from day to day. 
I don't borrow from its sunshine 
For its skies may turn to grey. 
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said. 
And today I'll walk beside Him, 
For He knows what is ahead.

 
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand 
But I know who holds tomorrow 
And I know who holds my hand.

 
Every step is getting brighter 
As the golden stairs I climb; 
Every burden's getting lighter, 
Every cloud is silver-lined. 
There the sun is always shining, 
There no tear will dim the eye; 
At the ending of the rainbow 
Where the mountains touch the sky. 

Many things about tomorrow 
I don't seem to understand 
But I know who holds tomorrow 
And I know who holds my hand. 

I don't know about tomorrow; 
It may bring me poverty. 
But the one who feeds the sparrow, 
Is the one who stands by me. 
And the path that is my portion 
May be through the flame or flood; 
But His presence goes before me 
And I'm covered with His blood. 

Many things about tomorrow 
I don't seem to understand 
But I know who holds tomorrow 
And I know who holds my hand... 

I am so glad that the Lord brought this song to my attention today. He knew that this was exactly the reminder I needed for today. There is so much unknown in my life right now. The Lord has brought me through so much and I know that He always supplies the strength I need. However, I am still human, I still doubt. I always the path He puts me in. 

But I don't have to. I don't have to worry about tomorrow. Because I know the one who holds tomorrow. I know that He has promised to hold me, He has promised to make my way straight. I just have to act upon that promise and TRUST. He has never led me astray. He has always been faithful and trustworthy, so why doubt now?!? 

What a beautiful Savior! That in my time of doubt, He provides the perfect reminder of His sovereignty and plan! I will trust Him and I know I will be blessed for it! 

I can't get over how the Lord shows Himself to me in new ways everyday! I love my Savior more than I ever thought I could!! 

blessings from my mom

My mom emails now. Yes, I know...the world must be ending, because I never thought I would see this day. However, I love the fact that she does because I get fun emails like this one. What a blessing to have a mother that loves the Lord so much and shares her love with her daughters. I am blessed! 

Greetings Mem,

Found something special in my reading of Spurgeon's devotional for March 17:

 

....We show our love to Christ when we sing of Him and when we pray to Him:  but if there were no sons of need in the world we should lose the sweet privilege of evidencing our love by ministering in alms-giving to His poorer brethren.  He has ordained that thus we  should prove that our love stands not in word only, but in deed and in truth.  If we truly love Christ, we shall care for those who are loved by Him.  Those who are dear to Him will be dear to us.  Let us then look upon it not as a duty but as a privilege to relieve the poor of the Lord's flock, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Surely this assurance is sweet enough, and this motive strong enough to lead us to help others with a willing hand and a loving heart--recollecting that all we do for His people is graciously accepted by Christ as done to Himself. 

Love to you, 

Your Mother 

 

Capturing Gratitude [51-60]

51. Beautiful weather in MARCH!

52. Birthday celebrations with family and friends.

53. Awesome new worship songs..and good memories that come with it!

54. The chance to learn under David Platt and Kevin DeYoung. 

55. Birthday cards from my family! :)

[inside of card: There's one in every crowd, and you're ours! that's a good thing..right?]

56. The reminder that in over 2 months I will be back to continent that has my heart!!!

57. The little joys in life... like watching a friend make some extra cash playing music on the street. :) 

58. Watching my little guy grow up! 

59. Beautiful reminders of how I want to live. 

60. Special notes from my sisters! 

i'm going back!!!

"You are faithful, God You are faithful!" These words ring so true in my heart and life right now. What a mighty God I serve. He knows my heart, He sees my desires and He granted me my greatest joy for this summer. He is allowing me to return to the continent that captured my heart. I get to spend over a month and a half in AFRICA!!!! :) The Lord is so faithful to give us blessings when we least expect them.

A few months ago, I had no idea what I was going to do this summer. I was worrying and anxious about the unknown. I had no job prospects and I really wanted to get medical experience. I finally got to the point that I had to give it to the Lord. I surrendered to the idea that no matter what I do this summer it will be perfect because He will be orchestrating it. After that, a lot of different opportunities came about. They were all wonderful options but I didn't have peace about any of them. Finally after turning down a few of the opportunities, the Lord opened a huge door with Pioneers. It is a missions agency that reaches the unreached people groups all over the world. They had multiple different trips with different focuses all around the world. I quickly applied and let the Lord work. After a pretty long application and phone interview, they accepted me to join their team that is going to Ghana this summer (June 3-July 26)! I could not be more excited! Not only do I get to go back to Africa, but it is also a medical trip. So I get to see what it is like to practice medicine overseas and hopefully gain some really good experience. 

I cannot wait to see all the things the Lord has in store for this summer. I am so excited to put my nursing skills to use where they are SO needed. As well as share the name of my Lord and Savior to hundreds of people who are living in darkness and have never heard His name before. 

I am going to be sending out prayer and support letters within the next few weeks. So keep your eyes out for them. :)

Thank you for your prayers and please don't stop! There's a lot of things to be done in these next two months and I could use all the support I can get! 

You Revive Me (Christy Nockels) 

You revive me

You revive me Lord

And all my deserts are rivers of joy

You are the treasure I could not afford

So I'll spend myself till I'm empty and poor

Lord I have seen Your goodness

And I know the way You are

Give me eyes to see You in the dark

And You race shines a glory

That i only know in part

And there is still a longing 

A longing in my heart

My soul is thirsty

Only You can satisfy

You are the well that never will run dry

And i'll praise You for the blessing

For calling me Your friend

And in Your name I'm lifting

I'm lifting up my hands 

we two alone

My parents got me another missionary book for my birthday..this time it was about the attack and rescue of two missionary women in the Congo in 1964.

I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the commitment required to take the Gospel to those in darkness.

Excerpts from the book:

One of the missionaries, Irene, was killed during the initial attack; these were the words spoken about her at her funeral.

 "We thank God for every remembrance of our departed sister. Quiet and unobtrusive, she went her way among us. From the very first day in Brussels she joined us in our little church and helped as she could. Whether distributing tracts, washing dishes or playing her accordion, she was always serving the Lord. Missionaries are very different from one another. Some strike us by their brilliant minds and quick learning of French, others by their friendliness or spiritual experiences. Irene was just simply a mirror of Christ to us... The Lord Jesus came among us as a servant to serve. She was of the same mind, and serving Him, manifested Christ. We were all the time very conscious that it was not she but Christ. (pg. 61)"

[What an amazing thing to be said about a person! I pray that one day, these same words would be said of me. I want the world to see Christ when they see me. Nothing more. Nothing less.] 

A beautiful example of the importance of unity among missionaries as well as leadership in the church. 

"Like most missionaries we were individuals of strong convictions, both called of the Lord to do a definite work, and we sometimes disagreed heartily as to how it was to be done. But our differences were short lived. We both were veterans with enough experience to realize that little irritations and personality clashes, if not recognized and rectified promptly, could soon build up a wall between us, making our ministry together ineffective. 1 John 1:7 gave us our only solution. 'But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.' (pg.69)"

After the initial attack that killed her fellow missionary Ruth had to go in hiding for a few days. After returning to her home on the missionary compound she expected everything to be destroyed. However, God had bigger plans to encourage and provide for her when she needed it most. 

"As I looked farther, to my wonder and amazement I found every article of clothing I needed. Again how near and real the Lord seemed. He upholds all things by the Word of His power but He also counts the hairs on my head and knows our every need. He had preserved my glasses and a pair of shoes (things which the terrorists had never left had they seen them) and now with the dress that Rebekah returned, I was completely outfitted. As I continued to search, I found a washcloth, a comb, a cake of soap, a toothbrush and best of all a Bible. My every need for escape had been supplied...All of these were treasures straight from the hand of my Father who had foreseen and provided.(pg. 85)"

Let me hold lightly temporal things, 

I who am deathless, I who have wings!

Let me hold fast, Lord, things of the skies, 

Quicken my vision- open my eyes.

Show me Thy riches, glory and grace, 

Boundless as time, endless as space.

Let me hold lightly things that are mine, 

Lord, Thou didst give me all that is Thine. - Unknown 

There is so much more in this book, it is full of examples of courage, strength, trust, and dependence on the Lord. 

I am just writing my little part in God's big story for the world. But I will go in obedience, trust and totally captivated by my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Depraved Indifference

Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I have for Your Kingdom's cause, as I walk from earth into eternity!