PRAIRIE - April 2009

Graduation & Friends at Prairie Bible Institute - Three Hills, Alberta, Canada

^ The Pseudo-Fam (well almost everyone) At Grad!

^Keren & Sarah

^Sarah & Victoria at Grad (Together Again!!!)

^Happy Graduation to the Grads at the Massey's house! (Happy Birthday to Jordan too!)

^Lunch with George & Ruth Foxall - The Foxalls are retired Missionaries who served in Nigeria, Africa for 40 years (Ruth worked as a Nurse while George trained future leaders through Bible school education). I have been richly blessed, time and again, by the Foxall's loving friendship, delicious meals, and Godly mentorship.

^Marji Krahn & Me at Grad - Another sweet reunion with a dear Friend

^Tea & Desserts at the Mission with Nursing Buddies :)

- A Beautiful day out on the Prairies -

^One childhood memory I have from living in a small community out on the Prairies in Alberta is climbing atop the big round hay bails and rolling them in the fields. When I saw these two lone hay bails out in this field near the old Catholic church I said, "Keren lets try to roll the hay bails!" She said, "Vicky those things weigh a ton (literally)!!!" Being the good friend that she is, she agreed to help! So we climbed on top of the one ton hay bails and pushed with all our might, but those bails were not going to roll. We huffed and puffed and laughed until our energy was drained, but it was worth trying! That afternoon we drove around the countryside looking at old barns and churches, I was once again reminded of the beauty of the Alberta Prairies and her vast open sky!

Overlooking Calgary, Alberta...Goodbye for now "O' Canada "

A New Season

Life is an adventure especially when the Creator of the Universe is the Guide. I seems like after nine months of resting and preparing for the next place God will take me things are starting to move. It is like knowing Spring is fast approaching because the wildflowers are budding. As of February 9th I became a Licensed Practical Nurse! This came to me as quite a shock, but as I am learning God's ways and plan is higher than mine -- so I praise Him for the success and the ability to pass the licensing exam. Throughout February I applied and waited to hear back from several different jobs all over the world you might say. As my mom put it, "I laid out several different fleeces." Yes, they were answered in suprising ways.
In the Fall of 2008 I applied to attend a Midwifery school in the Philippines. My heart was set on this plan, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me. But as it turned out, and I am very thankful now, this was not the case. By mid March I received one of the most encouraging letters from the Director telling me that although they really liked my application I was not accepted to the school for this coming Fall term. God is so good though, because the month prior to this letter I believe He had been preparing my heart for this news. He was telling me that all things are made Beautiful in His time, and now was not the time to go midwifery school in the Philippines. I was also planning on possibly going to Angola, Africa for three months to work in a hospital over the summer, but that door has also closed, but I believe will be open in the future. Then there was Alaska. I would love to go to this wild American land someday. So I thought way not apply for some jobs up there! I did but nothing came about, so again maybe at a later time in my life. The door that God opened up for me is one door that I never seriously considered to be a viable option, especially with our economy the way it is right now. But my God is bigger then our economy! On March 13th I had my first interview at the Southern Oregon VA Rehabilitation Center for an LPN position in their Infirmary. I had no idea they were even hiring! I was overjoyed and a bit fearful for an interview then when they called me and offered me the job (unofficially) I knew this was a God thing! As far as I know I will be starting in May. It seems like a new chapter in my life. I am excited to see how God will use this time, as I know it will be challenging I am ready. Until then I will continue working at the Sugar Pine Company Cafe in Butte Falls and what a treat and joy it is to work there! I love the people, my coworkers and boss -- God is Good!

I will end with this verse from Ephesians, a passage that has become more tangible to me in over the past several years. As Paul prays this it is my desire too for you and me:

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the Glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)

No matter what kind of season you are in right now I promise you that Jesus Christ is guiding you and knows, better than anyone, the blessed joys and torment of trials that life brings us. May you rest in HIM and may His Word rightly fill you with a great knowledge of HIS LOVE FOR YOU.

In His Service Always,
Victoria Lawrence

The Melody of Nature: Wild Turkeys & More

Have you ever witnessed the moments at dawn in the country when everything is still and quiet. It is like the creation in waiting for the first ray of the sun to shine before playing the music of the woods. This Fall I have had the opportunity of witnessing moments like this. Sitting on a hillside near my home overlooking the range of mountains surrounding the Rogue Valley, I found myself more in awe of the beauty of my Creator and Lord as I watched the melody of the morning unfold before my eyes. The funny thing is though I was turkey hunting! There I sat crouched up next to an oak tree with my cameo jacket on, binoculars around my neck, and holding a double barrel 12 gauge Shotgun in my hands. In fact, one particular morning I went out I was sitting next to the tree and as the sun came up I began to hear the turkeys gawbling back and forth. Soon one flew above me from the roosting tree to the field behind me. Before I knew it there were about 20-30 wild turkeys flying like bombers over me into the field to feed for the morning. I couldn't believe what was happening, so I tucked my head down so they wouldn't see me as they flew by! Unfortunately I couldn't get close enough to get a good enough shot at one, but I saw some big ones and hopefully next time I will get enough to get one! I laughed thinking to my self, "here I am waiting hoping to shoot a wild turkey, while soaking up the beauty of God's handiwork in creation! I can definitely say though that if I take home a turkey this season or not the times of quietness and eager anticipation out in His creation in the early mornings have been well worth it.
Going back to my first thought of the moments before the sun comes up and all the earth is still, I feel as though this in a sense is where my life is at right now. I am waiting in eager anticipation for what may come in the future (as the time of waiting seems long, I know that in eternity's time it is a mere blink of an eye that this time here will be). Like the Christmas song says about the night when Christ was born, "Silent night Holy night, all is calm and all is bright..." I wonder if the hours before Christ was born if the world was still and quiet? Then at the right appointed time the Saviour and Lord of this world became flesh -- Emmanuel, God with us. The biggest adventure of Mary and Joseph's life began, but it was only after the still and quiet night that the Son was born. I guess you could maybe say the best things come with time and moments of quietness.

A friend recently encouraged me to look at Philippians 4:6, as I explained how I am waiting to take the NCLEX (Nursing Board Exam). When I looked it up I was not surprised to read this verse that I clung to during many moments in my life. It says this, "Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus."
One final thought. As I was reading in our living room the other day I came across this thought from Oswald Chambers in his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest. It is so fitting for this time that I am working and involved in the community of Butte Falls. It is my prayer.

Chambers writes on December 2nd, "I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself."

I wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I pray that this season of being with family and friends will be filled with warm and joyful fellowship as we celebrate the greatest gift of all -- Jesus Christ.

In the Joy of our Lord and Savior,

Victoria

Living, Working, & Waiting

For the past four months I have been living, working, and resting at home here in Southern Oregon. I thank the Lord for the gift of time that seems to be one of the themes during this season of my life. Throughout the summer months and into the fall I have been able to do many of things that I have always said I wanted to do: like picking apples from our trees, canning apples and other fruit, going turkey hunting :), and walking out "Polly's Road" in the evenings with my parents (and my Dad's new dog "Czech"). I have also had a unique priliedge of getting to know some of the high schoolers in the town of Butte Falls, as myself and good youth pastor friend have begun a "Bible study" for high schoolers one day a week during lunch. What we have realized is though is that lisitening to them and playing with them is vital and an important step for pointing them to their wonderful Creator, we know as Jesus. These things and more have been unforeseen gifts and now moments I will always remember. I have also been studying and preparing to take the nursing board exam (The NCLEX), which I will soon known (maybe within the next few months) the date I can write the exam. I believe the Lord has a good plan for me, wherever He leads me I am confident that in His timing and place I will be abundantly satisfied. I am learning much about waiting upon the Lord and resting in His time. A friend recently told me how nice it must be for me to get this time of waiting until the next adventure clearly begins. And I agree, yet even though there are

many days when I grow anxious for finishing "the nursing thing" and starting "the next thing." When I really think about it though this season is unlike anything I have ever experienced, so I am learning to sit back and thank God for this unique time of waiting. It is a sweet time of being home with my family. So I wait upon the Lord and am surrounded by a quiet place that draws me to hear the voice of my Maker and a place that sings of the beauty of our wonderful Creator.

As this time has been a lot about waiting upon the Lord for His direction, there has been many great things (I like God' appointed things) that He has opened up for me to do. I have grown up outside of a town of approximately 400 called Butte Falls my entire life. I have always thought of this town as a unique community. As I grow older and travel to other places I have begun to realize how sharing the love and hope of the Gospel is a vital need in my own community. I know the Lord has a special plan for this community and I look forward to seeing the fruit of His Word arise. The Lord has opened the door for me to become more apart of this small community in more ways than I could have ever imagined! I love this town and I am developing more relationships with the people in the town I believe I am seeing that the Lord is using this "time of resting" at home for a greater purpose. One of the many highlights of this time has been working as a waitress at a small cafe in Butte Falls called, "The Sugar Pine Company Cafe." I love working at the Sugar Pine, in many ways I believe it has been a great introduction for me for nursing. I see so much parallel in the duties I do at the Sugar Pine and with the duties I will be doing as a nurse. I know it is a "God Thing" that He opened this opportunity for me to work in Butte Falls as a waitress! I have met numerous people: local towns people, hunters, and people from as far away as Texas. The Lord is good and very humorous :)! I have also learned more about the blessing of laughter, whether it is laughing at the funny things I do or at life in general. I know that in all things and through all circumstances the Lord is shaping me to be the woman He desires me to be. I am thankful for this time -- for preparing me for the adventures of living for His Glory and His time! I am learning so much about simply living each day with thankfulness to the Lord for all that He is doing in me, through me, and for me. I praise Him for opportunities of shining God's grace and mercy to "Joe the Plumber" type people as well as to people who have faced great loss of loved ones. In closing I want to share a verse from I Peter 2:12, "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." This is my desire and prayer request that those whom the Lord has called to be a witness of His Gospel message among the people in Butte Falls would seek to serve with excellent behavior in word and deed. It is my hope that someday, whether I witness it or not for each person in Butte Falls to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, to be freedom from the bondage of sin, and to grow in the light of God's grace.

May the LORD's eternal blessing be upon you. Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers. There will be more to come when I take my nursing licensing exam...

In the Joy of the Lord,

Victoria Lawrence

The Places I have Been & the Places I will Go

Life is Good. Throughout the past several months I have done a lot of "moving around" and changing. I have gone from living in a house of four girls in Three Hills, Alberta, to graduating from a nursing program, to living in Calgary, to staying back in Three Hills, to travelling to Mozambique, Africa for a three week community nursing practicum, to living back at my home in Southern Oregon! At times I have felt like a sojourner, and I just in all reality (and in light of eternity) I am simply that, a sojourner. I have learned a lot over the past several months, from travelling and spending time with wise mentors. So here is just a brief update as to what I have been and what may be in store for me in the coming days.

Like I said I spent three AMAZING weeks in the bush of Mozambique learning about the culture and teaching basic health to children and adult women. It was simply eye opening and a trip I will never forget. It was restful and purposeful. We did a lot of community nurse type things, stayed with a local family (I even got to help carry water from the river and wash dishes African Style), we helped at the local health post, and helped give immunizations to women, children and babies in three local communities (partnering with the local hospital team). We laughed and ate really good meals together. We spent time reading, chatting, and listening to one another. I loved our team of eight (six ladies and one manly "Spiritual Leader")! I would love to go back someday if the Lord opens that door, but no matter what I will always be remembering: the people, our host families, the missionary couples (Lynn & Dwight, Earl, and Franzwa & Alta), the morning and evening walks, the drums at night and the most marvelous starry nights. Africa is a country of great need -- beyond what we in North America can ever really understand or imagine. We can help through prayer, visiting, and encouraging our neighbors to remember to Thank God for our many undeserved blessings (like clean drinking water & the opportunity to learn how to read). So Africa will always be in my heart and prayers...It was an incredible adventure!

At this point I am now living back at home in Oregon. I love my home, my family and simply resting. I am humbled and overwhelmed by how much I have been given at time, in all things physical health, a beautiful place to live, my own room, a good church, and so much more. Within the next couple months I will be taking the National Boards for Nursing (called the NCLEX). After passing this exam :) I will be licensed to practice as a Practical Nurse! This is very exciting and scary at the same time as this will a challenging exam. After this I am hoping to work somewhere local for the next few months, but not for no longer than a year. All my "plans" at this point are simply steps...or to put in another way it is like I am throwing many different casts into the water and waiting to see which one catches the fish! This is an exciting time and there are so many possibilities for the future I am excited to see where the Lord leads me! I am also doing several different volunteer things for the time being (trying to gain as much experience in areas that I can) like being a volunteer Fire Fighter for the Town of Butte Falls and I will soon be volunteering with Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. I am also applying to the NewLife International School of Midwifery in the Philippines. This would begin next August, I am praying that it will work out! I love looking into things, things that I dream about -- I know I can't do everything, but God is Big and His ways are higher and wiser than my ways, so I will seek Him and allow Him to work out His perfect plan for my life! I am enjoying this time, even though it is a time of waiting -- it seems that there is enough to keep me busy learning! My parents have been an invaluable support and encouragement to me at this time too, so I just want to say THANKS to You Mom and Dad!

Well I think that pretty much covers the majority of my life at this point...I trust that you all are doing well. May the Lord richly bless you, as you Bless others around you. For as we are given much, much is required of us, thus let us be willing and ready to act and live out the LOVE and message of the Gospel of Christ everyday that God grants to us on this earth.

"Grace and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" - II Thess. 1:2
Love,
Victoria Lawrence

When the Morning Dawns...

"O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for Joy and be glad all our days." - Psalms 90:14

I love the morning! It seems that the morning is a time when all the busyness and noise of life are calm and still. The morning is a peaceful reminder to me of the Lord's simplicity and incomprehensible beauty. Life is new and fresh -- I am awed by the Lord's creation for He is the Giver of Life. I will always remember the small little picture that my dear Aunt Gildee had hanging in her house it read, "Start each day with a smile." Those words of wisdom remind me that life is precious and short and that is why the mornings have been a precious time for me to spend seeking and sitting before the One who fully knows me. For in the morning I see the light of His glory through the morning sunrise and I cannot help but to smile, for my soul that He has placed in side of me is filled with a newness of Joy and Wonder of Who Jesus Is.

For the journey of my life is guided by the Lord. Over the past several years this had become increasingly evident. I am walking through the seasons of life and seeing more clearly that the Lord who has made the Heavens and earth has also made me for a unique purpose...I am discovering who I am in light of Who He is. This is a journey that is a process, a process that has not and will not always be filled with happiness or smiles, but as the Lord endured the cross for the redemption of sins with all joy. I believe that He will grant me the grace and strength to walk this road, for in spite of all that I will face and have faced His strength and peace will sustain me until the day He brings me home. This blog I pray will be a place that I am challenged to express my thoughts and to share with you, who have played intricate roles in the shaping of my life, the things I am learning along this journey. May the Lord's blessing be upon all of you and may His Joy be made full in you, through you, and for you. Grace and Peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (II Thess. 1:2).

Sincerely Yours,

Victoria Parker Lawrence

"Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your Salvation say continually, 'The LORD be magnified!'"

- Psalms 40:16

"And I shall sing of His lovingkindness all of my days." -Psalms 89:1