carrie n kyli mitchell

New Job

2008-09-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

A week and a half after I get home, and I have a job already!!! God is so good! The week before I left for the summer I was freaking out about not having a job. I had quit my job, and told them that I was not coming back. I wanted to go back because honestly that would be the easy thing to do, but I felt like God was saying no. So, I told them I would not be returning. Well, the Friday before we got home, Kyli and I were on the bus to Tallinn to fly to Amsterdam. I was checking my messages, since the bus had WIFI, wireless internet. My friend had sent me a message that a position had opened up in the worship department at my church. So I emailed my friend, Larry, who works in that department to get the scoop. He said that they were interviewing and to get in there to fill out an application as soon as possible. We got back Wed., and Thursday morning I went in to fill out an application and had an interview also. AMAZING!!
SOOOO, my job will be the Admin. Assistant to Clarence Church, the worship pastor at Vineyard Church of Columbus. I am very excited because of his vision, and his vision for me. I will be doing mostly administrative things, and also supporting two other guys in the worship department. I am still in shock, but I am so excited to see how God grows me, and my worship leading. To be around these caliber of worship leaders is going to be such a blessing! Please be praying for me as I start my new job, and that God continues to grow me. My desire is to be where God wants me, doing the things He has gifted me to do. I am excited for what He has in store for me.

Kyli's first day of School

2008-08-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

August 19 was Kyli's first day of school. She started 5th grade!!!!! It is so crazy how time flies. Everyone is also saying that she has grown so much over the summer. She will probably pass me up soon! That is not saying a whole lot though!! :) She like her teacher so far. He seems to be the best 5th grade teacher, which I am excited about!

She was also so excited to get home!!! She could hardly contain herself with excitement! She seems to be adjusting to life back in the states very quickly!!

Amsterdam

2008-08-21T11:01:00.001-07:00

Rusted Bicycle in the canal
Beautiful Flower growing in the street
One of the many canals in Amsterdam
Can I say Bicycles??? I have never seen so many bicycles!!!

Dutch Windmill

Anke & Bart
Me, Anke, Annika & Abe
Haarlam

We left Estonia on August 8 and flew to Amsterdam! We stayed there for about 4 1/2 days. I was excited to see the city since my sister had lived there for almost a year. It is also very cool to see another place in Europe since I have really only seen Estonia. Like I mentioned before, my sister lived here for about a year so we met up with one of her old friends, Anke and her husband and 2 kids. They picked us up from the airport on Friday, gave us dinner Friday night then took us to our hotel. Then Anke came and picked us up Saturday morning, and we spent the entire day with them. She took us to see the windmills, we then went to have lunch at their house. Then we went into Haarlam which is right out side of Amsterdam, where they live. We saw where my sister worked, lived and went to church. Then we all went to the beach of the North Sea, walked on the beach and then ate dinner there. It was such a blessing to be shown around by someone who knows the area. AND, they made us lunch and dinner, and took us out to dinner. They were so generous to us, which was such a blessing.

The other days we spent walking around and exploring Amsterdam. We got to go to NEMO, which is a science center like COSI in Columbus, if you are familiar with COSI. We also took a canal tour which I really enjoyed. Kyli was not so excited about a boat ride, but she did ok. Amsterdam is definitely a beautiful city. I loved the water and canals. If you ever get a chance to visit, I would recommend it.

Interns & Debriefing

2008-08-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Lake Peepsi

Scott, Brett & Evelin

Scott, Brett, Joel, Kyli & I

I wanted to show a picture of Chris who is in the red shirt. Chris led our intern team all summer!

The last week we were in Estonia our intern team went to a Hostel by Lake Peepsi, the largest lake in Estonia. It was a great time of just hanging out, spending time alone with God and talking through the summer. It was great to take some time alone with God to just listen to what He has next for me. It was also good to reflect back on what God did during this summer, and to see His hand in what we did!

VIIMSI, so beautiful

2008-07-31T07:01:00.001-07:00

These are such beautiful pictures. After camp last week we went to Tallinn with the Atlanta team which is 2 hours from Tartu. Since we were up there we stayed with a girl, Kertu, that was at our first camp. She lives in a little town about 15 minutes from Tallinn called Viimsi. It is right along the coast of the Baltic Sea and these are pictures! I think this is officially one of my favorite places in Estonia. It was so beautiful! And, we got to swim in the sea off of a private beach!! Such a great time!!!

CAMP #3

2008-07-31T06:28:00.000-07:00

People we so sad to leave that some cried a whole puddle of tears!!
Our Master's of Ceremony!! They did awesome!
Two of my favorite people of camp - Maria & Liis
This is Gunnur iwth his daughters, who is the pastor of the
church in Rakvere where the campers were from!!
The infamous leg game of camp! Quite painful at times!!

The Atlanta Team
We are so cool!!! :)
One of the best stories of all summer!
Kyli and Kaylee, two of them
SO SAAAADDDD SAYING GOOD-BYE

This week of camp was a great end to the summer! We had a team from Atlanta come, and they did a great job. God did some really cool things this week! The Estonian kids were so open, more than normal. There was one girl that God just loved on all week through so many of us. She loved music and singing so that was how I personally connected with her. We did worship every morning and she helped with that singing worship songs! Pretty crazy!! So cool though. She had been through some pretty hard things, but God just used us to love her and help her to lower some of her walls. She said that when she went home that her mom was going to not know her because she actually has emotions now. Such a God thing!!!! There was also another guy, pictured in this last picture labeled "SO SAAAADDD..", and his whole purpose of coming to camp was to disprove Christianity. By the end of the week he was saying that he needs to know more about this God because his friends need this God. Huge step for him. He also agreed to meet with one of the missionaries here on a monthly basis. So SWEET!!!!

So now that all of the camps are over we are just trying to connect with as many students as we can before we leave. Then next Monday we leave for 4 days for summer debriefing with the intern team. And, on Friday, August 8, we leave Estonia!!! This summer has flown by!!!

Some Pictures from Camp #2

2008-07-14T04:20:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from camp number 2. We had a team from California here. It was pretty crazy because we ended the first camp on Friday afternoon. Then we went back to Tartu for about 24 hours, and had to head back to camp for the next week. It was a little easier since all of the interns were together this week, but we were still really pretty tired. We just got back yesterday from the second week. We now have 2 days completely off which is very nice. Then on Wednesday we are back to work to get ready for our last week of camp. We will have to split up again since we have 2 camps in the same week!! Our time is half over though which is pretty crazy! Thanks for reading our blog!! Peace to you all!!

Estonian Wedding

2008-07-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

Kyli and I had the opportunity to go to my friend, Eva's wedding. It was at the botanical garden in Tartu. Luckily the weather was perfect. We then had a picnic in the garden. Unfortunately, I could not understand anything since the wedding was all in Estonian and Russian. It seemed nice though!! :) We did not get to stay for the whole reception because we had to get back to camp. I was glad that I got to share at least part of the day with her.

John David & John Mark

2008-07-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

This is my new dear friend Jenna. We had so much fun together. We are both the youngest of a family of all girls. The funny thing is that we were the much wanted boy, but our parents got lucky and got another girl. She was supposed to be named John David and I was supposed to be named John Mark. So, we were calling each other John David and John Mark all week!! A special friendship as you can tell!! :)

Different Faces of Camp Host Scott

2008-07-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

These are pictures of our host for the camp, Scott. He dressed up in different pretty hilarious outfits to fit the theme of the program each day. He did an awesome job to play the different parts. He is also an intern for the summer.

One of my lovely fellow interns - EVELIN

2008-07-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

1st English Camp of the Summer

2008-07-01T05:17:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of English camp. The picture on the left is Lenna being a pig-elephant with the help of Dave!! The other picture is of some of the girl Estonian campers. Camp has been going good. This camp is a little smaller, but we have some great kids! Our American team is awesome too!

WILD LIFE

2008-06-27T10:28:00.001-07:00

This is your look at Estonian wildlife. WELL, the first picture is not really wildlife. We went to Estonia's version of a zoo and saw European bison. They were pretty sweet!! We also saw reindeer, but I did not get a very good picture!! The reindeer was the highlight of my trip though!! The next picture is of a stork and it's nest. I have seen many stork and nests everywhere!! They have these huge nests on top of poles randomly around the country. Then they stand in their nest on one leg!! It is not anything I have ever seen in Ohio!! :)

Beautiful Girls

2008-06-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my Estonian "girlfriends!" From left to right: Evelin, Eleri, Me, Daisey!! Evelin is one of my fellow interns this summer! It has been so great hanging out with these ladies. I just met Daisey a few weeks ago, but I knew Evelin and Eleri from previous trips! When I met Evelin 2 years ago she was not a Christian, and now God is doing amazing things with her! She is doing a great job as an intern you would not know she is only 17. Also, Eleri just became a Christian several months ago. God is just doing amazing things here!!

Living the Estonian Way

2008-06-17T01:02:00.001-07:00

I just thought I would give you a glimpse into my life living like an Estonian. This is the building that I will be living in while I am not at camp! It is a one bedroom apartment which the Estonians would call a two room apartment. It is common to live in an apartment with just one room and a bathroom. The first week I did stay with a wonderful lady named Eva in a one room apartment. She took great care of me! I moved last night into my own apartment. If some you don't know, Kyli, my daughter, is flying over this Thursday with my mom. My mom will stay for 10 days and fly back, and Kyli will stay the rest of the summer with me.

Another tidbit of info of my new "Estonian" life is that I don't have a car this summer! I am taking the bus or walking unless I happen to miss the bus or something like that! Which has happened a few times already!! :) I am also understanding while Estonians go to the store every day. When you don't have a car you have to carry everything the whole way home! Some things don't seem so necessary anymore, especially when your arms start hurting from carrying heavy bags! Also, the other picture above shows how to do laundry. I am blessed to have a washing machine, and then you hang your clothes on this dryer! It takes a little bit more planning! Well, that is all for now! Have a blessed day!

"Lift" youth night

2008-06-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday night all of us interns went to Lift for youth night. We ended up being guinea pigs for several things. This was one of them. They gave each group some random items to make us look like aliens. This is was the product of their creativity. I am the one all the way on the end in the trash bags. I felt pretty cool!!! :) It was great to get to meet some new people though. I met a girl that I had a chance to pray for which was very sweet!! It is awesome to see God moving!

First week in Estonia

2008-06-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it on Sunday the 8th. Everything went great with the traveling. I even had to catch a cab from the airport and find the right bus to get to Tartu, but it went very smoothly!! Thankfully I had someone coach me exactly what to do!

Then on Monday we went to staff meeting and then left to go to intern training! The picture shows the lake right behind the building where we were staying. It was beautiful! It was also good to just take some time to refocus and ask God what His agenda is for me this summer! It was also a time to get to know the other interns that are here for the summer! We have one Estonian, and 4 American interns which includes me. Then last night we had a picnic with all of the Estonian teams from 5 different cities. It is exciting to see how God is using this ministry to pour into other churches and teach them what they have learned!

Last day of work

2008-06-06T08:11:00.001-07:00

My last day of work was on Tuesday!!! sob, sob!!! I was really sad! I have made some great friends there, and had some awesome customers too! I felt so blessed though because they brought me balloons and a cake for my last day! I also got some very sweet gifts and cards! It is encouraging to see that people will miss you, and you did bring a spark of light into their lives! I just hope that I showed them a little bit of Jesus' love in their life!

Now tonight is my graduation for VLI! I am excited yet sad. This past few weeks have been filled with bittersweet emotions! Quitting my job and finishing VLI are huge parts of my life that are coming to an end! It is sad to not be able to see people that I see weekly and daily now! I am just trusting God where He is leading me, and am excited to see where He takes me in this new chpater of my life! Please pray that I make a smooth adjustment. Even going from American culture to Estonian culture will be quite an adjustment, and then when I get back it will be another big adjustment! God keeps reminding me that He has me in His hands and He won't let go so I am just holding on to that! Well, I need to start packing seeing that I will be leaving tomorrow! I better start sometime! Next time I write I will be on the other side!! :) Have a blessed day!!

So Blessed....

2008-05-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Just amazing things are happening! We have received all of the support that we need for the summer plus more!!! HUGE PRAISE!!!! I also put in my three weeks notice for work about 2 weeks ago, and even though they did not want me to go, all of my bosses have been so kind and supportive. I am so thankful about that because I was afraid they might be upset with me. Also, I needed a hard shell guitar case to take a guitar that is being donated to an Estonian girl, and I received a check from someone today to cover the cost of the guitar!! God just keeps providing in amazing ways. It is so encouraging to see Him working!

So, I only have 6 days of work left!! My last day is June 3. Then my graduation is June 6, and I fly out the 7th. Pretty crazy, but I am excited! It will be here before I know it! Thank you everyone for all of your prayers, support and just being a part of our ministry! We love you!

It is May already!!!!

2008-05-05T13:25:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it is May already! I am loving the weather though! I would take 60-70 degree weather all year long! I do have to say that we have not had too much luck on Saturdays though with Kyli's soccer games. Last Saturday it rained like crazy. Poor Kyli got in the car with water streaming down her face. BUT, they did win their game. I think it was the first win of the season!!! YEAH!! Kyli has been playing sweeper which she is loving! She seems to be improving in her soccer skills every week! It is fun seeing your kids doing something that they enjoy!

Well, it is about five weeks until it is time to leave for Estonia. SO, I am going to have to give my notice at work next week!!! I am kind of scared! I know God has it covered, but I guess it is the fear of the unknown and how my boss will take it. I am not one who enjoys confrontation. I have learned to do it when needed, but I do not particularly enjoy it! So if you think about it say a prayer for me. It is also sad to think of leaving everyone at work. I have made some great relationships with people at work, and hopefully I have at least given them a small touch of God's love!

"God of Justice"

2008-03-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share this song written by Tim Hughes! We sang it in church today, and it really hit me! This is what I want for my life, and I hope it stirs up a desire for you to do the same!

"God of justice, Savior of all,
Came to rescue the weak and the poor,
Chose to serve and not to be served.

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received now freely we will give

We must go, live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken, we must go
Stepping forward, keep us from just singing
Move us into action, we must go

To act justly, every day
Loving mercy, in every way
Walking humbly, before You, God

You have shown us what you require
Freely we've received, now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out"

God is surpising!

2008-03-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a month since I have last written, but a lot has happened! I sent out my support letters a few weeks ago, and God has provided amazingly already!! It is so encouraging to see God work when you take steps of faith. I have decided that I will not be returning to Panera when we come back in August unless another position opens that fits what I feel like God is leading me to. Another huge step of faith! Since making that decision I keep seeing/hearing how bad the job market is and how we are entering into a recession and on and on. But, God is bigger than that, and he provided a job for me last time we went to Estonia for the summer! So please be praying for the job situation! I have a problem with trusting at times when things are unknown, but I am learning that God sees the big picture and I have very short vision. He has not let me down yet!!!

"Life"

2008-02-18T14:55:00.000-08:00

Things are so busy yet, I would not like it if I did not have anything to do! Kyli is busy hanging out with friends, playing with Mocha and school. She will be starting soccer soon! Hopefully the weather will get a little warmer and actually stay warm. I have been really busy with school at VLI, working full time, Kyli and leading worship at different events! Life is not perfect, but definitely good! I know where God is leading us the next 6 months, but have no idea after that! Learning to trust yet act when God is leading you is such a balancing act! It is exciting though, and would not want it any other way! Well, it makes life an adventure at least!! :) Trusting God to take you where He wants takes a lot of trust and risk, but it is amazing! I would highly recommend you try it!

My first entry

2008-02-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Well, hopefully I will do better about bloggin than I did two years ago. Stay tuned for more about the next several months of our lives!!