Whoops.

So I have not done a very good job of keeping this thing updated. I'm sorry about that. A lot has happened since May 28th, like a team of 20 wonderful people from Kansas has come and gone. But I will talk about that in another post. First I want to share what Father has been teaching me in my time here in Amsterdam.

I'm writing this on a Tuesday. We leave Amsterdam on Saturday. I don't know where this month has gone. But here is what I can tell you. Whilst overseas, we do LTGs, or life transformation groups. Over the past two weeks, us girls have read Isaiah. I read it my first JSI summer and have loved it ever since. Reading all 66 chapters in two weeks was a challenge, especially with a one week team on the ground.  However, there is a lot to be said for reading so much in a short amount of time.

Father's redemption and restoration of His people is what stood out to me the most this time around. So many times He tells them He blots out their transgression for His name's sake. He restores His people for His glory and fame. His love for us comes out of an overflow of His passion for His glory. I think it's easy to sway too much to either side: He is love or He is for His glory. Both are true. I take so much comfort in knowing that Father's passion for His name comes first. In my finite mind, that's how He is able to lavish His unconditional love on us; it doesn't depend on us. It can't. If He loved us to love us He would be a push over God. Instead He has a mighty arm that leads us, protects us, and restores us when we foolishly try to wander away. He is only good.

This past week I realized how many lies I was being hit with from the enemy. Lies about my singleness, my appearance, my role here, and a little bit of everything else. Father has been super faithful and has quickly helped me recognize lies and remind me of truth. But even pebbles can bury you if they pile up long enough. And one night I realized all at once the weight I've been under. Father was near though. He used that to open up Philippians 2:3-4 to me in a whole new way.

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

For me, this starts with the language I use in my thoughts. If I ever felt slighted, overlooked, or lesser in anyway because of recognition or affirmation someone else got I would think, "Well, they deserve that more than me." So it sounded like I was being humble but really I just stored up hurt and a little shame for myself. I was piling up the lies. It was unhealthy. Father revealed the right language is, "They need that right now." It has nothing to do with me. When I think about how a friend might need a certain affirmation at a particular time doesn't shift anything on me. It pushes me to rejoice and pr for them. It helps me put those verses into practice. I'm not competing with anyone. What I need, my Father is faithful to provide.  He knows what I need to encourage me and to keep me seeking Him. It is healthy.

I have been designed the way I am for the good works that were prepared for me to walk in before the earth was created. He knows I am a crazy mix of pride and insecurities and can only handle so much before one side spins out of control. One of my best friends taught me one of my favorite sayings, just be you and just love JC. We don't have to strive to impress people, we don't have to fit any particular mold. We are to be obedient and just walk in the way He shows us. He promises to be near, to show us the way, and to make the rough places smooth. He does these things, He does not forsake us. He is only good.

This is basically what I have been learning. It is sweet, it is rich, and it is good. Thanks for pr for me. It means more to me than y'all know. I would be good for nothing without them. Love y'all.

Switching Gears

I don't know how much experience you have with bikes, but sometimes life is a lot like switching gears. Sometimes the transition is smooth, sometimes it takes a few pedels to get the chain to fall into the right place. This has been my time in AMS. When we first got here, I had to change gears. It was raining and cold. Nothing is ever fun in the cold rain. Especially when you're a South Texas girl who is only used to temperatures in the 50s in the winter time, NOT late May. But after a few days, the gear fell into place and everything started flowing smoothly.

Another rough switch was the hostel we are staying in. At first we weren't sure about it, and were a little disappointed actually. But after we started meeting the staff and getting a better feel for the place, the gear fell into place. I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else. We have gotten to meet really cool people and have some great conversations. It's been fun to be here for a few weeks and watch people come and go and really get to know the staff.

The switch that had the biggest potential to be rough was the arrival of the JSIs. Fortunately, it has been the smoothest transition of all. We have 4 college age students, two guys and two girls. They are an awesome bunch. As an answer to pr, they hit the ground ready to run. They have been champs. We have had a lot of fun with them and have watched them do some good work. The next two days will be  a free day and a rest day. I don't think any of us could be more excited. It will be nice to rest, cut loose a little, and actually do some touristy things.

Praises: It's been absolutely gorgeous for the past two days. We're talking two of the prettiest days I think I have ever lived in. So pr that we have mostly just days like that for the rest of our time here.

Pr requests: I have felt a little under the weather the past week or so. So please pr that I'm all better by the time the one week students get here. Please pr for the 7 of us as we prepare for them. Pr we would have fun and restful break days and get everything done that we need to. They will be arriving next Wednesday.

Thanks for being awesome! Love y'all!

Full Disclosure

To be really real, yesterday was a hard day. I think it hit me that the training phase is over and the summer is officially here. This city is beautiful, but it has not been exactly what I expected. It is hard to go from staying with friends to staying in a hostel. It is hard to go from being with people who know the way to having to figure everything out on your own. We gotten lost more than a few times in the roughly three days we have been here.

Amsterdam is very much a biking kind of place, so we have spent most of our time pedaling around. It is fun but it can be stressful too. Yesterday, while trying to squeeze past a car on a crowded street, I knocked a bike over and almost fell into a canal. By Father's grace, there just happened to be a boat docked in just the right place to keep the bike from falling in. I'm not going to lie, it was probably one of the horrendous moments of my life. I was completely helpless as the bike clattered to the edge of the water. I had my own bike between me and it and there was nothing I could do but watch. My heart sank and rose as I watched it land perfect only the edge of the boat and stay on land. I put my own bike down, picked it back up and leaned it against the tree it had been resting on. And that was the perfect picture of my day.

Being in AMS has been harder for me than the ME. It's not at all what I expected, but it's true. I think a lot of that has to do with familiarity. Even thought the culture was more foreign, we were always with people we knew well who knew the culture well. That was the whole reason we were there, get us out of our everyday lives to fully focus on the summer. And y'all, it was wonderful. My time there really did prepare me for the role I am here to do. I am so excited for the job I've been given and what I get to do. What it did not prepare me for was the moment where it shifted from the time of training to the time of doing. I woke up one morning in Holland and the summer had officially begun. The JSIs arrive the day after tomorrow. Sarah, Hunter and I have spending all our time prepping for them, all the time we aren't trying to find where we are. Yesterday, as we rode around I felt like bike. I was helpless and wasn't exactly sure how things were going to turn out. I was basically on the verge of tears most of the day.

But Father is faithful. He reminded me that all of the time we are riding around is perfect to pr for the city around me. He reminded me to be thankful instead of upset or worried. And it changed everything. He was able to change my perspective, my outlook, and my attitude. I have spent pretty much all of my time overseas in the book of Col in the NT. Man, everyday those same words have rocked my world differently. It's definitely living and active. In Col, everywhere it talks about how to live, it is followed with something about thanksgiving. Every time he mentions pr, he says to be thankful in it. Col 4:2 is my theme for the summer.

Because Father is constant, only good, and sovereign, he was like the boat that kept me from falling into the canal. And not matter what's going on, he will always be there to keep me from falling in the canal of despair, selfishness, or whatever I'm on the edge of. He's good like that. And I couldn't be more thankful.

Please pr for the three of us as we try to get everything ready for the JSIs. Please pr we are able to learn our way around completely and are confident in where we are. And that we are safe on our bikes. Seriously, there are so many ways to get hurt here. Please pr for the JSIs as they travel here. Pr that soak everything up at base camp and are able to hit the ground running.

Thank y'all for everything. I honestly, really, and truly couldn't do this without you.

PS, looking back now, almost knowing a stranger's bike into the canal is pretty funny and definitely a typical Kelley story. So you're welcome for the story and the analogy. 

Made it!

Just wanted to let y'all know we have made it to Amsterdam! Hunter joins us tomorrow and we will start preparing for the JSIs who arrive next week! I can't believe summer is actually here. Look for a full blog sometime in the next couple of days.

Love y'all! Thanks for the prs!

Safe & Sound

After a very long, albeit fun, travel day(s) Sarah and I arrived at our final destination on May 9th. It has been a fun and incredibly packed few days and we are so thankful for the time we have here. We got to do some crazy fun things, like snorkel in the sea, and have started to prepare for the rest of our summer. We will be here for the rest of the week then we will venture to Holland and really get the party started. I look forward to giving y'all more details once we hit the ground in Amsterdam.

Thank you for all your prs for our travels. Father is good and got us where we needed to be on time. We even got to explore London (Fundon) a little bit! We went to Westminster Abbey, found 10 Downing Street, ate lunch overlooking the Thames, and even had coffee with Queen. And by that I mean we drank coffee whilst looking at Buckingham Palace. For all intensive purposes, we're counting that one. We also stumbled upon Horse Guard's Parade where all of the Olympic beach volleyball matches were held. So basically we are almost like Olympians now. We were even asked for directions by another tourist. We quickly told the man we weren't from London. Once he heard our Texas draws he immediately responded with "No you're sure not". Good times.

Please pr we will be productive in our remaining time here and enjoy time with the Ms we get to spend time with. Please pr that we will soak up everything we need to and arrive in Amsterdam completely prepared for what's to come. Please pr for all the students who are finishing school and preparing for their trips as well.

Y'all are the greatest ever. Thanks for everything.

Y'all stay classy friends. 

Well, here we are.

Ladies and gentleman, in about 8 hours I will be on a plane heading for London. I can't believe this day is actually here. It is surreal and excited and stressful all at once. To be honest, I have never felt so underprepared for a trip in my life. I think that's what happens when you have to worry about leaving part time jobs and not being sick right before you leave.

But because Father, I know that the more underprepared I am, the less I will try to work out of my own strength and knowledge. He's good like that you know? It's like he's always sufficient and enough. I am so excited for this adventure he is letting me go on with him and some of my favorite people. I am anticipating this to be the hardest overseas adventure thus far, but also the best. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be living my adventure and my dream job right out of college. Dad is good y'all. So stinking good. He is constant, only good, and completely in control.

Please be pr that I will stay right where he wants me all summer, seeking him first and above all else. Pr for safety in traveling and for a great time of training in the ME before heading to Europe for the rest of the summer. Pr for continued healing for my body and refreshment for everything else as I kind of unplug from the world to plug into what my role is for the summer.

I love you all and can't wait to share every story and anecdote with y'all along the way.

P.S. I am deactivating FB today until about May 17. If you need anything, please email me at kelleywilliams12@gmail.com