Exploration

After settling in to my new home I have explored the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As a part of training the students were divided into groups and challenged to explore new areas of the city. I visited Hindu temples, mosques, city malls, plazas and ate every type of Malaysian food you could think of. It was a full day of exploration, buses, trains and walking.

I am throughly enjoying getting to know everyone in my program, God has bought us all together for this season in our lives and after only a week it seems like one big family.

We just arrived back home in KL from a retreat. We went in the middle of no where for 4 days and had a time of prayer, fellowship and fun. We explored a waterfall and went swimming in the rain forest for an afternoon and swung from ropes into the refreshing cold river water.

The Lord has already revealed so much to me during this time at the retreat. Everything we do should be for His name's sake. That means, my life is not my own, my dreams, my desires, my will...everything should lay down at the feet of my creator. In this, I am going through a process of becoming the woman of God He wants me to be. Making a conscious effort everyday to live out a life walking with Jesus and allowing Him to teach me, mold me, test me.

I'm not saying the journey is easy my friends, because where there is a call, there is a cost. The theme of G.E.T. this year is "Finding your destiny" and that's exactly what I intend to do. One step at a time I am allowing God to show me his faithfulness and show me the path that I may walk on it and honor His name. That's what life is about, ey. Living life to the fullest, enjoying everyday, not worrying about the future but being content in the present. In the movie, Kung Fu Panda the wise turtle says "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery and today's a gift, that's why its called the present." May we each live our lives with this mentality.

Arrived at my new home!

After traveling over 50 hours, no one speaking English at an overnight layover in Seoul, South Korea, and eating authentic Asian food for the first time, I would say my journey has begun.

It has been a long trip to finally get to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but I made it! I arrived last night and got to my house around 8:00pm. I unpacked a little and then went for supper. I was able to get in bed for the first time since Tuesday night and get 11 hours of sleep!!

During my layover in S. Korea my friend Sarah & I went exploring throughout Seoul. The city NEVER sleeps! We arrived in downtown around 4:00pm and finally sat down at a 24/7 coffee shop at 5:00am the next morning. There were shopping malls 8 stories high, food places every other store, and marketplaces galore. It was absolutely mind-blowing that on a Thursday night everything was open until 4:30am. That’s the way it always is…thousands of people bustling around the city until the wee ours of the morning. It was definitely an experience & it worked out that we didn’t have to get a hotel or hostel to stay in, just exploring all throughout the night.

I am living with 8 other girls in a house. The girls living here are around my age (22-27) and from Australia, East Malaysia, USA & the Middle East. In the program there are 7 total interns and about 20 students. I am so stoked to finally meet all the team!! The team is from 9 different nations…talk about diversity! I can’t wait to meet all of them and learn about their culture and ultimately study in the program together.

Just a quick update to let everyone know I arrived safely. I will post regularly. Be blessed!!

I'm leaving on a jet plane...!

I bought my flight to Malaysia! It finally feels like this journey in my life is about to happen. My flight leaves from Chicago on May 26 and returns at the end of February 2011.

I have an amazing testimony of God's faithfulness! Over the past couple of weeks I have been praying that God would provide a way for me to keep up my ability of speaking Spanish...then I started thinking, how in the world can I use Spanish in Asia?? BUT the Lord knows the desire of my heart AND connected me with a girl, Sarah, who is going on the same program with me. This is just the beginning of the story! Sarah & I have been chatting back and forth about getting prepared for Malaysia. I shared my heart about my one hesitation being I wouldn't be able to keep up my Spanish and to my shock, that was her one hesitation. We both are fluent in Spanish...which means I will be able to practice Spanish while I am in Asia! That confirmed that I am being obedient with the will of my Father. Another shocker....there is a Spanish community in Kuala Lumpur, so not only am I able to communicate with her, I will be able to be around other people who speak Spanish. This totally rocked my world!! If I was doing what I wanted to do I would be back in Spain or Latin America, BUT by being obedient to will of my Father He not only gave me someone to fly with, speak Spanish with, but a group of people to be connected with.

I want this to encourage you that whatever your desire and passions are, God wants to move in that area of your life. Have you ever realized He placed them there, so He wants to bless them in your life? If you give your life to Him completely, He will move in your life, surprise you in unbelievable ways and totally rock your world!!!!

Embracing Uncertainty

In the midst of all the chaos of graduating college, fundraising for Malaysia, keeping a social life and maintaining a relationship with the Lord, one thing seems clear: I am learning to embrace uncertainty in my life.

As a part of my GMT internship I have a list of books to read. One is called In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson [p.s. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn to move past your fears and embrace a life of fullness and eternity in God]. This book has totally rocked my perspective on how God uses circumstances (good or bad) to change our mentality of Him.

In the book Batterson says "God is always working behind the scenes, engineering our circumstances and setting us up for success." At this point in my life God is putting the puzzle together, I see a piece here and there come together slowly, and I am beginning to see the picture.

I am embracing not knowing what my life will be like in 1, 5, or 20 years and it feels REFRESHING! I am learning to let go of my plans and time line and allow God to move me where He wants. I thought I had it all figured out. I would graduate college and move back to Spain and teach English, be married by the time I was 25 or hopefully 30 and then get a job that would allow me to travel and experience new cultures. Boy, am I wrong. I am putting all my fears to rest and allowing God's grace to move in my life and take me where He wants.

I encourage all of you to do the same. Isn't life more exciting when you don't know the next step or turn? It's the same exhilarating feeling when you don't know a huge drop is coming on a roller coaster or what it will feel like to sky dive for the first time or bungee jump off a cliff. Anything could happen, and the feeling is sensational! Embrace the uncertainity and enjoy the ride, I am!

Change in GMT Internship

I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for being so support of me thusfar! I am very excited about this opportunity and everyday the Lord is revealing his grace and confirmation that I am heading in the right direction.

I received an e-mail today from Global Ministries Teams about a change in the internship program. Orginally the internship was for 11 months, beginning with 9 weeks of training in Malaysia and two (2) four-months field placements. The GMT Leadership has met and are making a minor change to the program. I will attend the 9 weeks training in Malaysia, and then I will be place in one country and do an internship for six months (mid August to mid February). During my placement I will be working with GMT missionaries and partners.

This is only a slight change in the program, but I wanted everyone to be aware. Please pray for the Lord's guidance as to where He wants me to go for my placement. I am still in need of monthly support (June 2010-Feb 2011), so if it is on your heart please pray about an amount and contact me at ginalmcbride@gmail.com

Again, thank you for your prayers and support.

1st Fundraiser!!

On Saturday, March 20 from 5:00-8:00pm come on out to Pizza Inn in Duncan, SC. It is located off of Hwy 290 near Byrnes High School.

In order to raise money Pizza Inn will donate 10% of sales to me & I will have donation jars around the restaurant. You have to eat anyways...why not make it Pizza Inn?!? I would love to see you there!

The beginning...

Dear Family & Friends,

I am very honored to share with you about an internship I received for May 2010-April 2011. I applied to be part of Global Ministry Teams (GMT), which is a missions based organization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GMT has been in ministry service for over 30 years. With partnerships all over the world, GMT has been able to train leaders, impact nations and develop social relief care among some of the world most restricted access nations. With a presence in the continents of Africa, Australia, America, South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, GMT’s continues to fulfill it’s main objective to mobilize, train and release this generation to share The Gospel with those who have never heard.

As an intern I will begin my journey by completing an intensive 9-week G.E.T. (Global Evangelism Training) in Malaysia. After completion I will be placed according to my gifting and calling with GMT networks worldwide. I will be placed in a country for 4-months to share the gospel as well as work on community development, language skills and serve where I am needed. I will return to Malaysia for Christmas and the New Year to be with the GMT family. Shortly after the New Year I will go out into my second placement for 4-months and complete the same tasks.

I am excited about this new journey in my life. I will graduate from Converse College on May 15, 2010 with a BS in International Business and BA in Spanish. As many of you know I have always had a heart for the nations and want to make a difference. The estimated cost of the trip is approximately $15,000. As a young soon to be graduate $15,000 is a lot of money. I am fundraising in a 3-month period in which most people spend at least 12-months fundraising.

Through this decision making process my parents’ council was important to me in this decision and I have spoken with them and they are supportive of my decision. I have also prayed about whether this is what the Lord wants me to do for a season and I feel complete peace about it. Therefore, I am trusting the Lord to provide during this prepartion.

It would be greatly appreciated for you to be in prayer and support with me on this new journey in my life. My immediate needs are buying a flight and paying for first month expenses and G.E.T. training. A one time or monthly donations are accepted and both appreciated. If you are interested in giving, please e-mail me at ginalmcbride@gmail.com

Again, thank you for your support, prayerfully and financially. If you would like to find out more information about GMT ministries please look at the following links:

http://globalministryteams.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dWdEMMqjYQ

Please continue to visit this blog as I update often.

Blessings,

Gina