Pretty amazing to think about it

Last week, I went to join Pastor Xavier and Jason and Ryan on a day out. We drove to Hout Bay and to Simons Town. As we stopped for a cuppa coffee after some great Fish'n'Ships, it hit me. We stopped at a place that I had been to nearly 4 years prior to that day. 4 years ago, I went on a short missions trip with East Hill. Part of that trip was to establish if I should really go to South Africa as a Long Term Missionary from East Hill. I was in a pretty hard place that time. To be honest, I was afraid...very freaked and anxious about even thinking to do it. We had stopped at that place to have a cappuccino and Paul took this picture of me. Then, last Thursday it hit me. I set only one table away from the same spot that I had sat in 4 years ago...and this time, I thought, :"

I am a Long Term Missionary! I actually did it! I am not afraid anymore! I have been living here for 3 years and this has become my 3rd home!!!!!

" Wow, how amazing is this!!!!! Looking back I can see God's fingerprints...well, handprints...footprints..... I am amazed and I stand in awe

likePartners

This morning as I was eating my breakfast at the guesthouse, I was looking outside. What a beautiful day, I thought. The sun was shining; I could see the mountain clearly; and the color green was absolutely stunning. Then my gaze fell on the two trees standing very close to each other. I thought: " Each tree is different, yet they grew very close to each other. They keep each other company, they share life with each other". It is a beautiful picture how I view two partners in life. Both different from each other, yet close to each other. My heart longs for such a person and God knows. I was encouraged by how nature again could display a picture of God's truth and my longing so perfectly.

Dear dear Jesus, my Jeshua, my forever, thank you for this picture and thank you for being here with me. Thank you. I love you with all my heart, soul and mind, with all I have! Kerstin Sunshine

HAVEN

Hey ho, I found a place that I can call my own, MY OWN! After I had been praying for quite a while…(since December last year) – I know that a lot of you joined me in that prayer over the months…, I found a place last Monday. The Pastor helped me find it. It was perfect: Kitchen, Lounge, Balcony, Bedroom, Bathroom, Guestroom: all furnished. I pray my rent per month which gives me more flexibility especially now that I leave for the US/Germany in July. I tell you this is such confirmation of Jesus knowing the desires of my heart. I have been longing to have a place on my own. Don’t get me wrong, I loved having roommates…some of my favorite friends have been roommates one way or the other….but it is time now that I have my own HAVEN. My HAVEN where I can retreat especially being with a lot of people. My assignment is being with people which is awesome but it is not always easy. It brings me to my limits and then it is awesome to come home to my own place. It was such a blessing to stay at Granny Jenny’s place for more than 1 year. As she put it in her note to on Thursday (my moving day) : GO FLY, BUTTERFLY. So here I am, I spread my wings and I fly. This is a new chapter, a new season! Enjoy the pictures of my apartment No. B 13 and praise God with me!!

9YEARS

It is time again to celebrate…now for the 9th time!!! WOW! Today, nine years ago (!!!!!), I gave my life to Jesus in a very nice flat in Lausanne/Switzerland. The flat belonged to Christine and God led her to lead me to HIM! Every year on this day, I make a special note, do a special thing and remember that special time that turned my life upside down – UPSIDE DOWN in the best way possible!!! I remember when Christine and I had finished the little prayer (boy was I nervous and excited for I had never prayed like this…2 people together), Christine told me that I am a Christian now and we went from her kitchen into the living room where all the others from our Bible Study waited and I announced:

I think, I guess I am a Christian now

–grin- I remember it as if it where yesterday! Then we popped a German (!!!!) bottle of Champaign and took this picture!!! Blessings to the one who risked so much to reach out to me at that time…blessings to all those who did! Now, 9 years later, I followed God’s call on my life to go to South Africa to bless people in need here. Crazy stuff but fun stuff….stuff to praise and worship the only one who could make this possible: Jesus Christ-DADDY-Holy Spirit=3 in one…what a mystery !!!! I have more of my testimony on my blog on earlier posts from 2 years ago- feel free to browse through HERE! I know that without Jesus, I would not be here, without Jesus I guess I would be in a very complicated marriage and without Jesus I definitely would not be the woman I am today! HE reminds me of this every day…every day I know that without HIM I can do nothing (John 15:4) A humble Miss Sunshine on a very sunny day here in Cape Town

Gershwin

Gershwin update!! WOW! A few weeks ago...on a sunday morning, there was a man in front of my door. As I got into the car he came closer and I recognized him- IT WAS GERSHWIN - the ones of you who remember the story of Gershwin and how he popped up at my doorstep to ask me to lead him to Christ. Read the story HERE.WOW. SO here he was:

I am here, Ma'am, I am here to tell you that I found a job at a restaurant and my family and I praise God, Ma'am.

I was totally awestruck. I thanked him for reporting to me and we wished each other God's richest blessings. God is good and HE is at work!!

SweetRENEWAL

So here I am, I am moved by God, by HIs love and I know HE renewed me..just this last weekend, I cold feel HIM healing and mending things in my soul,my heart. It is still fresh that is why I am writing this note. I just walked down the street to come to this internet cafe and I felt different. SOmething has changed inside of me. Before I knew Jesus I never knew this feeling, this truth. Man Jesus is good, He grabs my heart again and again and HE whispers words of love in my ears. Really , you might ask...yes really and I am not crazy...well maybe crazy for God . funny. I have been in a relationship with Jesus for over 8 years and it still feels like yesterday that Jesus found me on a little road in Lausanne Switzerland...just like yesterday when I felt that peace for the first time...just like yesterday that I decided in my heart that this is God and that I would never let HIM go. Well, life is not easy with or without God, BUT is is easiER! it is and the love and healing that God has brought to me since then is amazing and HE never stops to love on me. I just finished reading a book by a good author (just like my other favorite author Francine RIvers) Karen Kingsbury. I read the book but allt eh time it brougth me back to God and I often found myself putting the book down and talking to God like I would talk to you, you know? It was in one of those last nights that God gave me a word, a promise , something that gave me hope in some recent frustration I had. Then I went and saw teh second movie of teh NARNIA serious and God swept me away. It is weird to describe but when I went to the theatre, I felt Jesus whispering into my ear ehile I was watching the movie. If you know Jesus and talk to HIM like to your best friend then you may know what I mean.. ANyway..the poin tof all this is that I just wanted to say that you can meet God anywhere, in a book, in a movie theatre and HE is real, HE is alive and I thank my God for loving me for wihtout HIM I would not be here , without HIm I would not feel teh hope and peace and love and without HIM...I guess I would not be alive anymore. Thank you my God, this one is for you!!!

blessingTIMES

Here I am close to Easter sunday actually. I wanted to post some pics from my walk on the beach yesterday. It is really warm here, summer time actually and hard to believe that it snows in Germany or Holland..... I now have my own cell group and I am so glad for that one. We meet on wednesday nights and we pray and have some a cappella worship time. God is good and I am eager to celebrate Easter here!! by the way: the moon looks different here! It is true! enjoy the pics...I will also include the ones from my tour at night to see the lights over Cape Town from last night.....

MyTHANKYOUtomyGod

I waited 7 to 8 days for this but it is important to write it out: my thanks to my God:

Dear heavenly Father, I heard your gentle invitation 1 1/2 years ago to open my heart to the possibility of coming to South Africa. You overcame my fears and doubts easily because you know me, my God, you know me deep deep inside. Thank you dear Jesus for giving me allI needed to come here to Cape Town! I exalt you Jesus for your love and grace, for your sovereignety, for you perfect love that DOES cast out all fear. This blog post I dedicate to YOU my dear and tender Lord! Thank you thank you thank you for being with me those 7 months in Germany and thank you for a purpose in all this...more than one! Thank you Jesus for all this! Thank you for bringing me to Cape Town! Despite all the obstacles...you came through and I am here. My soul dhas not fully grasped it yet. I thank you and bless your name Jesus!! Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me and giving me wisdom where I needed it. Thank you Lord for yoru words to me and your guidance. I exalt your being LORD, I exalt your name Jesus. You are God and you reign above all! You are in control!!!! Your name is Immanuel- God with us!!! Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins and iniquities! Thank you for yoru grace toward me that is anew very morning!!! Thank you that YOU have a purpose and a future, a plan not to harm me but to prosper me and in all this to point to YOU my God!!!! I thank you dear God, my Father, blessed and exalted be your name. Honor and strength and wisdom be to you alone. I honor you Lord Jesus for you made it possible for me to come here to Cape Town. Whatever you want me to do, whereever you want me to be, help me to listen to you. I am yours dear Lord and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!! Your Sunshine

less than 900 $

As of today, my new balance is this: I need less than 900 Dollars for the first time to be able to get a document that I need for the visa! HALLELUUUUUUHJA!!!!!

My plane to embark with: missionary!!!

Today as I went to be in a sunday service again, I was so encouraged and there is one aspect I want to tell you of. We were talking about how the two disciples walking to Emmaus were surprised and filled with joy when they finally reallized that the person who had interpreted the Scriptures to them was their and our Lord Jesus. Jesus appreared to them being intersted in their concerned faces while they were discussing the past events that had so shocked them. Furthermore, he stayed with them and taught them out of the Scripture without revealing himself yet. Our pastor talked about a very good metaphor this morning. He said:

"Someone once told me to compare out lives as a Christian with a journey on the plane. The plane is the metaphor fo the word, the Sciptures, the truth. We need to be in the word, in us to the plane, although it we need to trust and believe that this plane will get us to where we want to go. Armed with courage and all, we go and sit down in the plan, we go and sit in the word, we are int he word and let the Holy Spirit serve us as we are flying, as we are reading. The Holy Spirit shows us the truth and comforts us. He makes it comfortable in the word, in the plane. We cannot or should not get out of the plane before our destination- that will be painful!!!! We need to hang in there until we arrive at our destination."

We talked about our personal plane right now, where do we need to seek God's revelation through HIS word like the revelation the two disciples from Emmaus got through the word by Jesus. My plane is called : Being a Missionary. It took me a lot of courage and more than half a year for God to free me a bit more of my anxieties, but now I am on the plane, I am ina the word and reading about Paul and how things hapenened, how he had to work and what needed to be done. I am learning but by flight is in turbulences right now and I feel a little sick. I need new joy and hope in areas of this calling and I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is flying with me and He will help me understand He will help me change and look forward.

Dear Lord, let me be a missionary worthy of the calling you gave me, knowing that I cannot do it on my own but through you and in fellowship with teh ones you gave me as brothers and sisters. Help me to understand, help me to learn, help me to grow and help me to keep on walking!

This is our God

Someone experienced God and I want to shar this with you- I am proud of MY GOD!!!!

"One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator) We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates) "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. "All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm." The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of course,I replied! That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God'sprompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon." "Before they call, I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24)"

I got an email today with this content and I am stunned and amazed at my GOD, don't you think HE is not the best ever like ever ever ever? Forgive my unbelief and help me to dream and live BIG my LORD

SWEET HEAVINESS

I am feeling this sweet heaviness about me these days. I am somehow feeling peace in the midst of it as well. That in itself is a WOW moment (good and inspiring blog Travis!), that in itself is a miracle. I feel calmer and yet in anticipation thes days. The sweet heaviness is something that brings tears to my eyes every once in a while, makes my heart heavy but yet thankful. I am emotional and that seems normal I guess. I still have 9 days here at work with my family of East Hill staff and then another week before I fly home to Frankfurt. Weird but I am looking forward to it....looking forward to my friends on that sied of the world. I know I am in the zone, I know I am doing what I am supposed to do in life and that really brings me huge satisfaction. This Sweet heaviness has a very sweet and tender aroma and I am ok with it because I know it is part of the journey. I am sweetly broken and I surrender to my God Almighty, JESUS is HIS name, my High Priest who takes good care of me!

Test in trusting - Promises need faith!!

Wow, so I am in a total trusting training here. Trusting in the lord my God....... HE is my shelter and my solid rock on which I stand. As I am reading in Hebrews I learn how important it is to have God's promises followed by faith I need to put in HIM and HIM alone. Words without acts are dead as James declared and it is true. The Israelites had all those promises from THE ALMIGHTY GOD and yet they did not put their trust in HIM and so those promises have were not fully fullfilled. In Hebrews 4,I read about God's rest and I yearn to enter this rest and I say and proclaim that I trust my God to fullfill allt He promises that HE has given me. HE will come through!

My dear dear Lord, thank you for givingme promises and now I tell you that I trust you in all you do to fullfill those! Help my mistrust and give me strength to stand firm in these days! YOur Princess K

Test in trust, promises need faith

WOW, I am tested in my trust to the Lord big time. Yet, I stand firm on the solid rock, HIS promise. Reading in Hebrews this mroning made me realize that God's promises need to come with faith on my part. God had promised the Israelites so much and yet when they were in the desert, they did not put their trust in GOD and acted on that faith. Thus the promises were nor fullfilled. I strive to enter into God's rest as it talks about in Hebrews 4. And I need God's help to trust in the promises that He has given me. WOW, what powerful Scripture!

I trust and stand, you are my portion, my deliverer, my shelter,s trong tower and I come to you in time of need: NOW! Your Princess :)

Missed opportunities-Taking things for granted?

I have been thinking about this one for a while and every time when I am to take up my tent and belongings and move on, I come back to it. I think about missed opportunities, things that we take for granted, people that we take for granted......

As long as everything stays the same: no problem- BUT as soon as there is change in thea air, then we get it, we think about what we have had all this time that now will be different. Have we taken things, situations, people for granted?

Last week I was at a memorial service. That person used to be at the office every week. She was there, every week. Then, one day we got a call from her sister telling us that this lady died...just like that. I was shocked...we all were and still are. When I was sitting on my chair at the memorial service, I suddenly came to think about how much I took her for granted. Well, if I take HER for granted, what then about all the precious people around me every day? SO needless to say that this post makes me feel grateful for what I have....for what God provides me with wherever I go. A Pioneer for God

YOU ARE MY VICTORY!

Victory , that is what I proclaim, victory and I am not standing alone...all of you are standing with me, an army of warriors, an army of lovers, an army of encouragers, an army of intercessors! Victory over this life that is to be proclaimed...every day!

Lord, this life of mine longs to be lived for you, fully pured out for you...with all my mistakes and all my wounds...fully poured out for you, Lord! Why? Because that is the only thing that makes sense in this world! Your will be done! I am in your hands dear Jesus! Hold me tight! Your Sunshine!

Pray with me - HE WILL reign! a lot of money still to come :)

I think it would be good to split all taht money and break it down taht i still need so you can pray with me very specifically:

My admin. expenses will be high in August : 580 $, after that it is 280 $ each month . My housing will be 500$ a month from November on My medical insurance will be 260 $ per month My plane tickets from the US to Germnay and to Cape town are all in all 1760 $ Food will be 300$ each month counting from November on Medication will be 150 $ each month.

It is always easier to pray and to look at money broken down into segments, a good friend of mine told me once. Please keep all this in ur prayers. I trust God in all this and have piece right now but it is not easy. Keep me in your prayers and that I can trust my God who can do so much more than I even dare to think. If you feel led to support me financially with whatever amount , then please make the check out to (tax-deductable) East HIll Church with South Africa Long term Missions Kerstin Berthold on the memo line the address is:

East Hill Church PO Box 650 97030 Gresham

or to my current home adress here:

Kerstin Berthold c/o Rodriguez 4233 SE 182nd AVE PMB 358 97030 Gresham

Thank you for standing with me ! Kerstin

Full and content!

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

The best relationship is the one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

I read these quotes just now and I am content. I just came back from a very wonderful time full of good talks and laughter and remembering old times. I cherish this time and thank God for it- it is a treasure, a nugget. This friend represent s a world to me that becomes alive when I see her and hang with her (Alexis, thank you!) I am full, not just from good food, but full with good friendship time, full and content! Thank you , dear Lord!

Worthy to be praised in the midst of this storm

I praise my GOD for His love endures forever! He has a mighty hand and an outsrtechted arm and He can perform miracles! With all I have in me now, I praise HIS holy name. He is the one who had lunch with me at Boccelli's today. He is the one who is my PEACE!! My comforter is to be praised for He is steaady when I am not. He has a good plan for me, a plan to propser me. I thank my JEsus here and now and proclaim again I TRUST YOU, JESUS!

I am ready to embark on this new journey

as ready as I can be in the midst of this! AGAIN I TRUST MY JESUS-

my Jesus is the best, he is my best friend, he is there with me and for me, he shows me the coolest most fun pictures and he makes me laugh. My Jesus dances with me, my Jesus holds me and comforts me. Jesus my comforter!!!