Mari Isaacson

My favorite song since childhood has always been “Jesus Loves Me”. You know it, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… the Bible tells me so.” That song was written for children, still I have never come to outgrow it. The truth that Jesus loves me is powerful and life-changing. Yes, He loves ME!!!

Children have always played a very special role in Jesus’ life. He loved the children. He rebuked His disciples when they wanted to keep the children away from Him by saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not”! When you read Matthew 18 it is all about children. We need to be like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Woe to those who are a stumbling block to children… there are powerful words if you are… it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Think about that for a moment… Think of the world’s view of children today. Think of all the possible stumbling blocks, some greater and more hideous than others, still to Jesus they are all the same and have the same reprimand!

I was the speaker at a CEF prayer luncheon the other day and heard some things that really shocked me. I would have not been surprised if we were talking about Austria, but the disturbing prayer requests had to do with Washington state!!!

Did you know that there are parents going to the after school clubs with the sole purpose to disrupt the club and keep the children from hearing the gospel.

Did you know that parents are encouraging their kids to physically harass children who participate in the after school clubs.

Did you know some schools are no longer allowing CEF workers or even children to pass out invitations to the after school clubs. The children can only be told thru the internet. For those of you who don’t know, a child can’t attend such clubs unless they have a signed permission from their parents. Many of these parents aren’t getting the permission slips because they don’t have internet or don’t check on what the schools are sending thru the internet.

Did you know, that although it was ruled that these clubs also have the right to take place, many schools are still trying to do what they can to prevent them from happening. In some schools the clubs can only take place if there is a janitor available so some schools are making it harder for a janitor to be available, especially on a regular basis. You can understand or imagine what irregularity does to a club. It’s hard to reach the children if they don’t know when the next club is.

There are more such stumbling blocks all over the US!

Praise God for the schools where children are still encouraged to attend an after school club! We need to pray more earnestly for God’s protection for students, teachers and staff of these schools. Some schools are even clamping down on any teachers or staff who are caught praying in the schools.

We need to pray for victory over the different stumbling blocks keeping the children away.

We need to pray for more club teachers for the schools that don’t have any clubs due to the lack. Pray God will send more workers into His harvest field!

Please pray for me as I prepare to go to Alberta to reach the children there. Right now there are only four full-time workers for all of Alberta! Oh, there is such a need. I am in the process of applying for my work visa at present. Pray that there won’t be alot of complications. The counselor at the Canadian Consulat in Seattle was really trying to discourage me.

More regular supporters are desperately needed for me to go to Canada as well. Plus I need to raise the funds for a good vehicle. If all goes well, I hope to be able to move to Alberta in April. Your prayers and support will make a big difference!!! If you would like to help out with a one-time or monthly gift, you can send your donation into CEF, Int. PO Box 348 Warrenton, MO 63383. Make the check out to CEF but put on the designation line for: Mari Isaacson E3AT 4541. Remember, little is much when God is in it!!!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God bless you richly!

mari

Yes, there are differences!!!

There are so many things we take for granted. Isn’t that true?!?!?!

Would you believe that I have been experiencing a lot of culture shock since returning back to the states. Yes, the US is my home country, but I have been living ‘abroad’ (Canada & Europe) for almost 25 years!! Therefore, I thought you might be interested in some of the “cultural differences” I have been confronted with in the last 3 months. Some of it is quite amusing.

- different Holidays

- coffee!!!! I miss my european coffee!!

- church services (size, how the service is done, who gives the sermon, music, those involved in the service, special music, choir…)

- Traffic!!! (Traffic signs, traffic light functions, traffic rules,… I must say here, Americans are much more polite in traffic!!!)

- LANGUAGE!!!

- Food!

- Cars!! (size! stick vs. automatics!)

- gassing up the car! (my first time gassing up here in the US I didn’t know what to do!!! No joke, I stood there for 5 minutes before a voice from nowhere about scared me out of my wits… that voice then went to apologize for scaring me… I was rather embarrassed… the voice by the way was from an intercom. The lady in the store could see what I was doing.)

- prices!!!

- buildings

- greetings or lack thereof… in Austria we greet each other on the streets, when we enter a shop or business…

- locks on the doors… you lock in the opposite direction!

- clothing sizes, shoe sizes…

- store and mall sizes

- worth of the $

- power wattage

- plugs and sockets

- toilet paper and kleenexes…would you believe it, when I first moved to Austria, the toilet paper was like sandpaper, now it is even nicer and thicker than the tp here!!! Family and friends used to send me tp…. now perhaps I should get some of my austrian friends to send me some… what do you think!?!?!?

- Health food stores

- Postage

- How dates are written

- How time is kept (normal or military… in Europe its always military)

- Bedding!

- Europeans do MUCH more walking

- whether cats are indoor or outdoor cats

- cleaning your teeth in public… Austrians always hide their mouth while doing it!

- Table manners (how to use your utensils, what to do with your hands – for example, Austrians hold the knife in the right and the fork in the left. When the knife is not being used to cut the food, it is used to push the food onto the fork. There is no ‘hands in the lap bid’.

- attitude towards nudity. I won’t even begin to explain that one, sorry…

- not recognizing places I grew up in due to the many changes

- not knowing where to go to fax something, photocopy something, get passport pictures, find a computer battery….

Well, the list could be longer… give me time!  If I am having such problems with the US being my home country, imagine how it is like for foreigners!

Mission Conferences are pretty special. It has been a very long time since I was able to attend one, let alone be a part of one. I do remember the Mission Conferences we used to have at Prairie Bible Institute. They were awesome. I loved to hear what the missionaries had to share of their lives on the missions field. They were normal people like you and me.  Normal people willing to step out of their comfort zones to do something that was “unnormal”. Don’t worry, I know that isn’t a word but it fits the bill.

Last week I had the awesome privilege of being one of those normal people doing something “unnormal”! I was a missionary in Austria for the last 19 years. Believe me, I was totally out of my comfort zone… learning a new language I was still learning as I left, eating totally different foods (which I definitely won’t complain about… it was great food! Now I have to adjust to totally different food again being back in the states!), having to deal with a different mentality, different landscape (I did have the mountains, but totally missed the Ocean. Kaernten has tons of beautiful lakes, but nothing that compares to the vast ocean with its smells and surprises!). Clothing was somewhat different, even if you find that hard to believe. Ha, the Austrians could always spot the Americans right off without an American even saying a word… the clothing gave it away, especially the white tennis shoes. Oh man, we won’t even begin to mention the politics in everything, religious traditions that were such a way of life, the medical side of life and so much more. Ha, I am experiencing so much culture shock just being back!

Nonetheless, it was a joy and a privilege to be one of the “missionaries” at the Mission Conference at First Baptist Church in Moses Lake, Washington. On the first Sunday I sang a medley I put together… Jesus Loves Me and Does Anybody Love The Children. The latter song I had learned from some friend at PBI. I hadn’t heard the song before attending there nor since leaving. I wasn’t even sure it was a published song. Still that song had never really left me. Perhaps it inspired me to write the poem, Who Cares. Perhaps. Anyway, I really wanted to sing that song. Amazingly, Laura, the pastors wife found the words for me. That was a gift in itself. Now I have the words as I do hope to sing the song again while on furlough… in fact, every chance I get. I like it as a medley with Jesus Loves Me. God used those songs to speak to peoples hearts. Amen!

On Wednesday I spoke to the adults in the evening service. Would you believe it, I didn’t even stumble around with my words like I often do due to forgetting how to say certain things in English. I still stumble, but not that night. The Lord was good. Then on Friday I had a great time with the children. There weren’t a lot of children there, but the ones that were, were a real joy to be with. It was great.

Again I was awed and inspired by other missionaries there who shared their experiences and lives. I just hope and pray that I too can be such a blessing to those who come to hear me speak. We are just normal people living “unnormal” lives. But I am more than sure that we are not the only ones who experience the awesomeness of God in our every day lives. We are all missionaries in a sense. At least we should be! What do I tell the children?… if you are sharing your faith with someone else, then you too are being a missionary. Are you a missionary?

I discovered my new profession yesterday!!!

In the morning I grabbed the keys to the only vehicle available… the big Ford Pickup with double cab. I couldn’t avoid the adventure… and what an adventure it prove to be!

Now you must understand, in Austria we drive small compact cars. Since being in the states I have driven everything but such an economy car. I have driven driven Suv’s and big vans, why not a huge truck… To me it was like trying to manover a submarine. Sitting behind the wheel, I felt totally lost and had to adjust everything… the mirrors, the seat, the pillows (yes, pillows) which didn’t aid much in reaching the gas pedal. Then there was the fight with the seatbelt! This was not the time to have that safety device NOT work! Well, with everything adjusted as much as possible, I was on my way only to discover that the truck was almost out of gas!!!

I needed the truck. I needed to get to the church. There was no time to do anything but keep going, praying there would be enough gas to get me to the church on time. No, I was not going to a wedding but I did have to be at the church on time to practice the song I was going to sing in the morning service! Getting gas for this machine would have to wait till after the service. The feel of the truck was something I had never experienced before. First, I was so high up, it was like being on top of the world! Keeping the vehicle on the road wasn’t as difficult as I had expected, none the less, there was a continual pull and the steering wheel was constantly in motion. The truck lacked guts at times but I reached my destination in one peace.

The gas held out, but ironically, I got to the church only to be told that I would not be able to practice. There were tecnical difficulties with the other soloist therefore there would not be enough time before the Sunday School class was to start. Oh well… Now I had time to deal with the practically empty tank. I won’t say how long I searched for a switch, latch, button or lever that would open the door to the gas tank. There was none! It was incredible. It was very frustrating! Nada! Perhaps the door needed a key to open it. Investigating this only opened up another problem… there were two gas tanks! Which one was I supposed to use?!?!?! To compound things, I couldn’t even get ahold of my sister to get answers. What was I to do? I decided to leave the problem for my dad… after church.

As interlude, let me share what else made this such an adventure… I am short of 5′2″ (only sometimes are my eyes blue!) and the cabin of this truck is pretty high… perhaps you can then imagine the fun I had getting in and out of the truck… in a skirt!!!

Well, after church dad did check out the truck and we decided to just use the first tank which turned out the be the correct one. The door didn’t need a key, a lever, switch, button or anything else. It opened just fine.

Other challenges with the truck had to do with parallel parking, making U-turns, backing around corners, and other interesting manovers that are magnified with the size of the vehicle. But all in all, I survived. It wasn’t so bad but I wouldn’t want to drive the truck on a regular basis. A new Profession… I don’t think so!!

27. September: Singing in the morning service

30. September:  Speaking at First Baptist Church in Moses Lake. 6:30pm

2. Oktober:  Speaking to the children at First Baptist Church in ML. 6:00pm

3. to 18. Oktober:  Edgewood Baptist Church

19. to 30. Oktober:  Greenacres, WA with Ray and Nancy Paulson

more to come…

Poem: Who Cares? by Mari

Who cares about the child who was never allowed to see the sky; The child, who, so young, was never meant to die?

Who cares about the child who is undeniably all alone; The child with no family, no friends, no home to call his own?

Who cares about the child whose talents are forever unknown; The child, with disease or handicap, abandoned to an overcrowded home?

Who cares about the child who is cruel and filled with bitterness; The child who knows no other example but such a life of self-centeredness?

Who cares about the child who has so many possessions he doesn’t need; The child, whose parents have no time for their affections to take seed?

Who cares about the child who faces horrors too young to comprehend; The child, who forcibly loses his innocence before the age of ten?

Who cares about the child who thinks he knows it all; the child who attends church and club but short of salvation does fall?

God cares about the child, He bids each one to come; For him, He gave the greatest gift; the sending of His son.

Jesus loves the child, He cared enough to die; So he could be forgiven and someday live with Him on high.

Do you care for such as these, enough to do your part? You may be the only beacon in the storm, to a lost and searching heart.

A support team is a group of people who are willing to pray and financially support the ministry on a regular basis. CEF is a Faith Mission… we depend on the financial giving of others to enable us to do our work. We get paid through the financial support that we receive.

If you are interested in becoming a regular supporter or even one time giver, let me know and I can share with you more about it. I would need your address and phone number… or if you don’t want to leave it on this blog, you can send me an email at: austria.girl@gmail.com

Please prayerfully consider this as the work among children is vital. Over 80 % of all those who decide to follow Jesus are children under 15 years of age. In Matthew we read where Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and forbid them now for such is the Kingdom of Heaven”!

Lord bless!

mari

23. September 2009

Many years ago, I was in the corner of Burgenland, a provence of Austria which borders Hungary and former Yugoslovia. It was a very interesting corner, being at the time where the east was still under communist rule. There we were, standing there by the bobwire fence which kept us out of Hungary. Not too far away was a tower with a guard. Though he was some distance, we could still see the rifle he was more than ready to use. Then to our right there was no real fense so it was tempting to walk right into Yugoslovia. Yet, who was to know what was lurking in the woods just a couple hundred feet away. But interestingly, there was another strip of land between the two countries called No-Mans-Land. Nothing real special. Not very wide. Nothing really happening… you would think. Just a transition area. But, if you found yourself there trying to escape from one of the communist countries, it could prove to be very eventful… Nor very safe. You see, it was loaded with landmines.

Transitions. There are all kinds. Some more interesting and eventful than others.

I am in Transition.

You may be asking what that means…

After working 19 years in Austria with Child Evangelism Fellowship I have left that beloved country. I never thought I would actually, but God does tend to edit our plans when they are different than His. His ways, I must clarify, are never demanding… He has a way of loving bringing us along to the point where we realize that His way is indeed best.

In Austria, I was a Local Director for the Provence of Kaernten (Corinthia). Now I never really wanted to be a Local Director… I knew from day one that I wasn’t really cut out for the job. Nonetheless, there was no one else to do it so I did it… 17 years! God always enabled where I was lacking and the work got done. In case you don’t know exactly what CEF does, let me explain. We do Children’s Ministries: Good News Clubs, camps, retreats, party clubs, 5-Day clubs, rallies, and lots more dealing directly with children… mostly ages 5 to 12. Then CEF is also involved with teen work, getting teens involved in working with children. It is really exciting really. I am grateful for all the teen who have helped me thru the years. Most of them started off in the clubs! Some of them even went on to teach children themselves! We also have phone,  internet programs and mailbox club for the children. Then we have Seminars, Teacher Training, Children’s Ministries Institute and other means to help adults who work with children. CEF then offers a wide variety of materials: Bible Lessons, Missionary Stories, Songs, Memory Verse Tokens, and more to aid in working with children.

In 2007 God used my furlough to plant the seed of change in my heart and mind. The people at the Home Office were suggesting I look for change due to the growing health problems I was experiencing as a result of years of stress due to a job that was continually taxing me to my limits… and beyond. Then out of the blue I get two different invitations to join the CEF team in two totally different places… would you believe New Hampshire and Alberta, Canada?!?! But at that point, I wasn’t ready to leave Austria yet…

It took many different things in the year that followed to bring me to the point that I was willing to leave Austria if that was God’s will. When I finally did say “yes” to leaving, I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew it was time for a change. What’s more, the opportunity that opened up to me would finally enable me to use my gifts and abilities and work with children. I would get out of being a Local Director and start using the creativity God has given me with my writing, drawing, singing, and more. Talk about exciting… moreover, I would be much closer to my family. After being away the last 25 years or so… long story… it would be great to be more a part of my family again.

So, on 11. July 2009, I left my beloved Austria after many goodbyes and tears. When I think of the 21 years God let me be in Europe, I am amazed and very grateful!!! Right now I am in the states… on furlough for I am in desperate need of raising more support, both one time gifts and regular giving before I am able to start my new position. I will share alot more of this transition time in the weeks and months ahead. I love to write, so we shall see what comes of this blog…

By now you are probably wondering where I am headed after this transition period… Well, I won’t leave you in suspense any longer… I have answered the second invitation I received from Alberta, Canada. I will be joining their team next spring, when everything goes according to plan. I will need more than one miracle for that to happen, but God is in the miracle business. I do hope and pray that you, my reader, will be encouraged to pray for me in reaching that goal. Your prayers for my ministry during this transition and also in Canada are vitally important. I can’t do it without you. God uses the prayers of His people!!!

Well, I think I have written enough to start this out. I look forward to connecting with you thru this blog… thank you for sharing this time with me.

Yes, I am in transition… but then aren’t we all?!?!?