Being back here and being able to share this experience with my husband has been incredible so far. I feel so grateful to be with the people here whom the Lord has given me a love for. I trust this is for a higher purpose and will have a lasting effect on the rest of our lives together.
It seems to happen often in my life, that when faced with a challenging task I struggle with feelings of feeling completely inadequate and ill-equipped. I feel that I may make terrible mistakes and people will see how truly unqualified I am. I know many people must feel this way about things they have to do that seem overwhelming and beyond what they are capable of and along with that, fearing the failure that comes with not being able to perform as needed.
The work to be done in Humla is what weighs on my mind; seemingly more than I can even hope to do. The thought of researching, training, evaluating and performing work with the ultimate goal(or second ultimate goal- the first being that Jesus is glorified and people come to know Him) of having enough food to eat, is a larger undertaking than I am able to do.
Before we left the States, friends prayed over us and one specifically prayed that God would protect our Hope(thanks Jes!). I realize that all of my hope needs to be in Christ and nothing else. If it is, tasks that seem daunting can be accomplished as we begin to realize that dependence on the Lord and His strength to work through us is essential. Phillipians 2:13 is a reminder of this: for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His pleasure.
Remembering that while I not feel adequate to do the work before me, the God we serve is more than capable of doing it and His strength works in me.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
We made it
We made it from Muncie, IN to Kathmandu, Nepal. It only took 1.5 days and way too long of a stay in the New Delhi airport. But we actually had no complications in our travel, which doesn't seem right. We still feel a bit like we're in a daze, but hopefully after a few more hours of sleep, we'll be in touch with reality. The end.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Going to Nepal
For anyone who reads this blog, but isn't on our email list, here's a copy of an email we sent out about our trip to Nepal in the near future:
Hello family and friends,
You are receiving this email because we (Daryl and Jodi) thought you would want to know about our plans for spending time in Nepal shortly. Most of you have let God work through you to support one or both of us in our lives in the past and we really appreciate you. In case any of you don't know, we are now married - Daryl Winger and Jodi formerly Treese.
Jodi was in Nepal from October '06 to May '07, but in May, the extension of her visa that she hoped for didn't come through so she had to leave the country on 2 days' notice. So, she allowed the Lord to take her back to Muncie, Indiana and fall in love with her good friend Daryl. There has been need for Jodi to come back to Nepal to continue some of the work she had been doing with RIDS-Nepal (Rural Integrated Development Services) since she had left on such short notice. And now God has led us and blessed us with the opportunity to go back together - which also is an answer to Jodi's prayer not to have to go back alone.
We have some plans for our time in Nepal, but nothing is set in stone and we fully expect God to lead us into things we haven't planned on. Here are our tentative plans:
We leave here (Indiana) on April 15th and plan to get back on June 4th.
After getting to Kathmandu, Nepal and spending a few days recovering from travel and making arrangements for more travel, we plan to make our way to the remote Humla district, which is where RIDS-Nepal is working.
We will probably spend about 3 weeks in Humla - Jodi continuing to develop the nutrition program and to train others who live there to continue in the work. Daryl will be helping out in any way he can as well as supporting Jodi. RIDS-Nepal has several engineering projects, which I'm sure will interest me (Daryl) and Jodi is sure they will have work for Daryl to help out with.
When we get back to Kathmandu, we plan to visit the churches and ministries and people who have been dear to Jodi's heart and important in her life. They all want to meet Daryl and we're sure God will give opportunities for us to share about what God's doing with us.
As we follow God on this trip, we'd really like you to pray for us. Here are some specific things we'd like prayer for:
* Safety
- There's possibility of a change of government while we're there, which could mean violence.
- Travel within Nepal and to and from.
- Our health
* Discernment for what to do and how to minister without fear of the unknown or unfamiliar.
* Discernment about the future and the possibility of returning to Nepal for a longer time.
* Emotional and relational health
- Culture shock - for Daryl
- Keeping our relationship healthy
* Humility and the heart of Jesus to serve and love those we come in contact with (including each other)
* For Jesus to be known and worshiped by all Nepalis.
Just to be clear, we are not asking for any money. God has blessed us beyond what we expected with all the money we need through wedding gifts.
Thank you for caring and praying for us. You are a part of what God will do through us. If you'd like to keep up on us before and during our trip, we will be updating our blog - hopefully fairly often. Our blog is at http://darylandjodiinlove.blogspot.com . Also, feel free to email us if you want to know more or if God shows you something as you're praying that you want to share with us.
Also, if you'd like to check out RIDS-Nepal, they have a website too: www.RIDS-Nepal.org
Love,
Daryl and Jodi Winger
Hello family and friends,
You are receiving this email because we (Daryl and Jodi) thought you would want to know about our plans for spending time in Nepal shortly. Most of you have let God work through you to support one or both of us in our lives in the past and we really appreciate you. In case any of you don't know, we are now married - Daryl Winger and Jodi formerly Treese.
Jodi was in Nepal from October '06 to May '07, but in May, the extension of her visa that she hoped for didn't come through so she had to leave the country on 2 days' notice. So, she allowed the Lord to take her back to Muncie, Indiana and fall in love with her good friend Daryl. There has been need for Jodi to come back to Nepal to continue some of the work she had been doing with RIDS-Nepal (Rural Integrated Development Services) since she had left on such short notice. And now God has led us and blessed us with the opportunity to go back together - which also is an answer to Jodi's prayer not to have to go back alone.
We have some plans for our time in Nepal, but nothing is set in stone and we fully expect God to lead us into things we haven't planned on. Here are our tentative plans:
We leave here (Indiana) on April 15th and plan to get back on June 4th.
After getting to Kathmandu, Nepal and spending a few days recovering from travel and making arrangements for more travel, we plan to make our way to the remote Humla district, which is where RIDS-Nepal is working.
We will probably spend about 3 weeks in Humla - Jodi continuing to develop the nutrition program and to train others who live there to continue in the work. Daryl will be helping out in any way he can as well as supporting Jodi. RIDS-Nepal has several engineering projects, which I'm sure will interest me (Daryl) and Jodi is sure they will have work for Daryl to help out with.
When we get back to Kathmandu, we plan to visit the churches and ministries and people who have been dear to Jodi's heart and important in her life. They all want to meet Daryl and we're sure God will give opportunities for us to share about what God's doing with us.
As we follow God on this trip, we'd really like you to pray for us. Here are some specific things we'd like prayer for:
* Safety
- There's possibility of a change of government while we're there, which could mean violence.
- Travel within Nepal and to and from.
- Our health
* Discernment for what to do and how to minister without fear of the unknown or unfamiliar.
* Discernment about the future and the possibility of returning to Nepal for a longer time.
* Emotional and relational health
- Culture shock - for Daryl
- Keeping our relationship healthy
* Humility and the heart of Jesus to serve and love those we come in contact with (including each other)
* For Jesus to be known and worshiped by all Nepalis.
Just to be clear, we are not asking for any money. God has blessed us beyond what we expected with all the money we need through wedding gifts.
Thank you for caring and praying for us. You are a part of what God will do through us. If you'd like to keep up on us before and during our trip, we will be updating our blog - hopefully fairly often. Our blog is at http://darylandjodiinlove.blogspot.com . Also, feel free to email us if you want to know more or if God shows you something as you're praying that you want to share with us.
Also, if you'd like to check out RIDS-Nepal, they have a website too: www.RIDS-Nepal.org
Love,
Daryl and Jodi Winger
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Link to Wedding Photos and Slideshow
We're back from our AMAZING honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and still excited to be married to each other.
Our wedding was kind of a blur....though it was beautiful. We don't remember too much of it, but our very talented photographer, Jayne Rohlfing managed to capture some incredible moments. You can view some pictures and a slideshow of the wedding on her blog.
Our wedding was kind of a blur....though it was beautiful. We don't remember too much of it, but our very talented photographer, Jayne Rohlfing managed to capture some incredible moments. You can view some pictures and a slideshow of the wedding on her blog.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
engagement optimism
I've posted some thoughts on our engagement's parallel to the Kingdom of God in my personal blog. Take a look if you'd like.
- Daryl
- Daryl
Monday, January 7, 2008
Answers to prayer
As we look back on the year 2007, we see so many ways the Lord has blessed us and allowed us to experience His grace. Here are some of the prayers He has answered:
For Daryl:
Daryl spent a lot of time praying for God to prepare him for missions, for opportunities to become more involved in ministry with Church, for God to bring people around him who would challenge him to have more spiritual growth, to not become complacent or materialistic. The Lord answered these prayers by having Daryl lose his job, become a part of the Internship at Muncie Alliance Church, and in bringing strong believers around him to hold him accountable and encourage his walk with Jesus. Additionally, God caused a great job to fall in to Daryl's lap, that wasn't necessarily a 9-5 ordeal and one that allowed him to be flexible and be part time later, when the Internship started.
Daryl had also spent time praying that if it was God's will that he go overseas, that he would provide a wife for him before making that move ;) ....the rest of that is history
For Jodi:
Jodi looks on 2007 as being one of the most amazing and challenging years of her life. So many big changes, trials and blessings. At the beginning of 2007, she was praying for a home group of believers that she could be a part of- which the Lord answered quickly by providing an amazingly loving group of people( almost every single one from a different country). Around this same time, Jodi found out that she wasn't accepted to grad school and though it was a very difficult thing to discover, she was encouraged that the Lord must have something better, even though she had thought that it was the best thing. A little while later, as her wonderful roommate whom she had lived with for four months prepared to leave, Jodi prayed for another place to live. Some caring friends offered to let her live in the first floor flat of their house- which was also called the Prayer House. It turned out to be a crazy-awesome blessing to be living in a House of Prayer, and surrounded by so much intercession. Soon, Jodi was on her way out to the Far West of Nepal. She spent a month away from fellowship and other believers, which proved to be a very difficult time, however, Jesus became so real to her during that time. Jodi prayed that she would be able to return to this place, but that that it would not have to be alone.... ;) God answered that one in a fabulous way.
Later, as Jodi sat in Thailand after having to leave Nepal because of visa issues in a whirlwind exit process, she prayed for direction of what to do/where to go next. It seemed crazy that she would have been enjoying and thriving so much in her time and work in Nepal and then have to leave it all in a rush. Jodi didn't want to just return to the USA- because it seemed like the easy way out, and in other ways, the hardest option. Jodi chose to come back, even though she still wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do- but the Lord provided the funds she needed to return at exactly the right time. Jodi spent a lot of time praying that her return to the US would not involve her falling in to a complacent walk with Jesus, but that she would remain strong in Him and that she could be used as an encouragement to others.
The Lord continues to answer these prayers in ways that have blown us away. We are thrilled to see that He really does hear us when we pray, and He is ready and excited to answer in ways that lead us closer to Himself.
Together:
Now, as we look forward to forging our lives in to one, we continue to pray for God's direction and guidance as we seek what He has for us together. We both feel so privileged to have the Lord's hand on us so strongly, and we pray for eyes to continue see His hand, especially when difficult times come.
For Daryl:
Daryl spent a lot of time praying for God to prepare him for missions, for opportunities to become more involved in ministry with Church, for God to bring people around him who would challenge him to have more spiritual growth, to not become complacent or materialistic. The Lord answered these prayers by having Daryl lose his job, become a part of the Internship at Muncie Alliance Church, and in bringing strong believers around him to hold him accountable and encourage his walk with Jesus. Additionally, God caused a great job to fall in to Daryl's lap, that wasn't necessarily a 9-5 ordeal and one that allowed him to be flexible and be part time later, when the Internship started.
Daryl had also spent time praying that if it was God's will that he go overseas, that he would provide a wife for him before making that move ;) ....the rest of that is history
For Jodi:
Jodi looks on 2007 as being one of the most amazing and challenging years of her life. So many big changes, trials and blessings. At the beginning of 2007, she was praying for a home group of believers that she could be a part of- which the Lord answered quickly by providing an amazingly loving group of people( almost every single one from a different country). Around this same time, Jodi found out that she wasn't accepted to grad school and though it was a very difficult thing to discover, she was encouraged that the Lord must have something better, even though she had thought that it was the best thing. A little while later, as her wonderful roommate whom she had lived with for four months prepared to leave, Jodi prayed for another place to live. Some caring friends offered to let her live in the first floor flat of their house- which was also called the Prayer House. It turned out to be a crazy-awesome blessing to be living in a House of Prayer, and surrounded by so much intercession. Soon, Jodi was on her way out to the Far West of Nepal. She spent a month away from fellowship and other believers, which proved to be a very difficult time, however, Jesus became so real to her during that time. Jodi prayed that she would be able to return to this place, but that that it would not have to be alone.... ;) God answered that one in a fabulous way.
Later, as Jodi sat in Thailand after having to leave Nepal because of visa issues in a whirlwind exit process, she prayed for direction of what to do/where to go next. It seemed crazy that she would have been enjoying and thriving so much in her time and work in Nepal and then have to leave it all in a rush. Jodi didn't want to just return to the USA- because it seemed like the easy way out, and in other ways, the hardest option. Jodi chose to come back, even though she still wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do- but the Lord provided the funds she needed to return at exactly the right time. Jodi spent a lot of time praying that her return to the US would not involve her falling in to a complacent walk with Jesus, but that she would remain strong in Him and that she could be used as an encouragement to others.
The Lord continues to answer these prayers in ways that have blown us away. We are thrilled to see that He really does hear us when we pray, and He is ready and excited to answer in ways that lead us closer to Himself.
Together:
Now, as we look forward to forging our lives in to one, we continue to pray for God's direction and guidance as we seek what He has for us together. We both feel so privileged to have the Lord's hand on us so strongly, and we pray for eyes to continue see His hand, especially when difficult times come.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
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