by Tina | Sep 22, 2014 | Devotional
Today I would like to share with you our very exciting news! We have our Visas in hand and leave tomorrow morning for Nigeria!
We are so excited to be FINALLY leaving! We know that God has had a purpose for our delay, and are thankful that He knows what’s best and has it all under control!
Here is what our schedule is like for this week:
We land in Abuja Tuesday afternoon, will spend the night in Abuja, go to Jalingo to pick up paperwork for our work quota, then head up to Gembu. We will not not have internet or contact for a week or so. Do not be concerned if you do not have contact with us. No news is good news here!
We will be working on transition and learning what’s going on at the ministry until October 7 when we bring Art back to Abuja to go home. We get to be in Gembu until we leave December 16 to return to the states because of the elections there and the turmoil that ensues. We will return to Nigeria after things have calmed down and Art will join us to finish the transition training.
Here is what I would like to request prayer for: Safety for all in the ministry as we travel and clarity of mind and wisdom as we have the first 2 weeks with Art, then 10 without. That we have no trouble getting our STR visa and avoid any more delays there. That we will hear and understand God plan for GECHAAN’s future.
My point for today is this: God is faithful and true. That’s all we need to know and we are excited to get to share that with you in weeks to come!
I look forward to blogging the next time from Gembu!!
by Tina | Apr 17, 2014 | Devotional
I have been thinking lately how very blessed I am. During this whole process of the last two years of activity Dan and I have been blessed with being on the same page and truly loving and respecting each other. We have loved talking with people about what God is doing in Nigeria and how he is leading us to be there soon. I do not know many couples who are able to raise support and work full-time until all of their funds are raised. God has truly blessed us!
Yesterday Dan was making me laugh hysterically. I realized once again, how very blessed I am to be married to my best friend, father of my children, and life partner. I am so excited to see how God is going to use us as a couple and individually as we work in Nigeria.
We have been through rough times, and I have told you in past blogs how I was ready to throw the life I knew away and leave Dan and everything behind. What if I would have done that? Think of the joy and blessing I would be missing out on and the privilege of serving my Savior to reach unreached people groups and dying people for Him? I’m so thankful for the God of grace and peace who rules my life and loves me unconditionally!
My point for today is this: God has a plan, a big plan for your life. What will you miss out on because you are holding on to anger, bitterness, grief? Dan, in his empathetic way tells me occasionally, “I have one word for you, lettergo!” I hate to sound cliche, but let go and truly let God use you!
by Tina | Mar 13, 2014 | Devotional
I am at my favorite Caribou here in Brooklyn Park, MN. This, as well as the Hedberg’s table and couch have been my “office” since we sold our house in September.
I feel that Dan and I have been living in the “land in between” for so long now, that I’m not sure what a “normal” life looks like anymore. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing, just an observation!
Last week we were at 92% of our monthly partners. I thought, this is so weird, I keep calling and leaving messages and e-mailing and nothing is happening. I can say it, I was weensily discouraged. Then I thought, “This is how God has worked all along this journey so far, about once a month we have a big jump in support from all the work during the past month-Keep calling, keep contacting, just because we’re so close doesn’t mean it’s going to go faster!”
Straight ahead! A dear Pastor friend, Pastor Joel, reminds people frequently, that is our job, keep on, straight ahead toward the prize! Well, this was the week that God brought the last 4 weeks worth of work for us into our view and we are over 97% of our needed monthly support. Mind you, this all changed in 2 days! So friends, I say to you, “Straight Ahead”! We don’t know how God is working behind the scenes, BUT we DO know that HE has it all under control. I need to trust, and to tell you the truth, for the past 2 years, one day at a time, one step at a time, with an eye on the future and getting to Nigeria has been our long-term goal. The very cool thing is it’s getting closer, and then do you think we’re going to live a “normal” life? I don’t think so!
My Point (albeit fairly rambly) for today is this: Do you want to settle for “normal”, when God has a better plan for your life? HHHMMMMM………
by Tina | Dec 31, 2013 | Devotional
Well, I’m sitting here in the Hedbergs house, drinking coffee and contemplating this past year. Last year on New Years Eve Day we started painting our old house to get it ready to sell. So much has happened this year that it really blows my mind!
Since I am the very short-term planner in the household and Dan is the long-term planner, I am thankful I didn’t know then everything that would happen. There has been a large amount of work and blessing God has brought to us this past year, this has produced growth. I can truly say I am not the same person I was a year ago, and this is not a bad thing! Here is a monthly re-cap of what God can do in just 12 months.
January-paint the whole interior of the house, continue purging, both working jobs and working on raising ministry partners.
February-work, purging household items, went on a “Love Like YoU Mean It Cruise”!
March- one year anniversary of my shooting in Nigeria, continuing to work on house, visiting with people and churches.
April-Give my notice for my work for May 30. Replace carpet in our entire house, continue working on developing partners in ministry, house goes on the market.
May- 1, our 31st anniversary, start working on the outside of our house, it sells in 10 days, we need to be out in a month. Pack like crazy.
June-The buyer backs out, Katie and Robert move out, we are sitting in a fairly empty house, re-strategize, re-group and decide, to refinish wood floors and re-surface deck. I don’t quit work the end of May because they can’t find someone to hire to replace me yet, direct Vacation Bible School for the last time perhaps.
July-house goes back on the market after doing a lot of work in the yard as well. I continue to work as well as Dan working. Mom moves out of our house. We visit with a few individuals as we are not able to visit churches on Sundays as I am working. House sells again.
August-Buyer backs out again. On the 15th I work my last day at Edinbrook Church as Director of Pre-school Ministries. We have a few showings, visit some churches, continue partnership development.
September- The house sells to the most wonderful family, we find a new home for Lola and she is very well-loved there. We move into our friends, Steve and Nancy’s house. Continue raising support.
October-Dan is working 4 days a week now, I turn 50, visiting churches and individuals, visit Connecticut and Ohio, as well as Mayo Clinic Visit for Dan.
November-Partnership Development and Dan has hip replaced at Mayo Clinic.
December- Dan is already walking without crutches or cane, feels wonderful and we prepare to start our pre-field, cross-cultural training in January as well as churches and individuals to visit to finish off our support raising efforts.
I am amazed and in awe when I think of the wonderful people we have met this year, the blessings we have experienced in spending time with friends and relatives in preparation for this being our last year in the States for however long God sees best. I have been blessed to visit with people in large churches, small churches, contemporary services, traditional services, and feel a familial bond with all. I see through all that 2013 has brought to us that we are just a tiny part of the wonderful family of God, and it humbles me to think that we, Dan and Tina, a couple of farm kids from Pine River, MN get to serve God out there in His great, big, wonderful world.
My point for today in all of this rambling is this: Our plan may not be God’s plan, but HIS plan for you is so much better than you can even imagine! Follow Him, if He’s calling you, answer. If you don’t, you will never know the joy you missed!
by Tina | Dec 2, 2013 | Devotional
This morning I looked out the window at the beautiful snow falling gently down and thought, “My view from here is pretty good!”. The picture on this post is a Nigerian view, equally beautiful, but different then our Minnesota view. This got me to thinking about my view of things vs. God’s view. We see such a tiny part of the whole. God has a plan and a vision for each of us and wouldn’t it be such a sad thing for us to miss “the big picture plan” that God has for us because we get stuck on our “limited view” of things.
Dan’s hip replacement surgery has gone so well and he is doing great, we are so thankful and looking forward to getting back to visiting churches as soon as possible. Wouldn’t it be a shame for Dan to have continued with the pain and weakness of a hip not working because of the fear of surgery and pain of healing? I know this sounds silly, but I think we all do things similar to this because of fear. Fear of the unknown and fear of change, perhaps fear of not fitting in or living the American Dream. Friends, I tell you, God’s plan for you is bigger and better than the American Dream.
My point for today is – Are you searching for God’s dream for you, and what will you do when you find it?
by Tina | Nov 12, 2013 | Devotional
Today it dawned on me that it was November 6, 2011 when Ivan Veldhuizen asked Dan and I to pray about going to Nigeria. Now, this seems like a long time ago, but not so! This is what God has helped us do these last two years. We went through the process to become missionaries, we went to Nigeria, I was shot in Nigeria and recovered, we were commissioned by Converge as missionaries to Nigeria, we got rid of 2/3’s of our belongings, we got our house ready to sell, and sold it, found a place for mom to live, Katie and Robert are settled in a cozy house, found a great home for Lola, our fur-child, quit my job, and managed to finish out gracefully, made the decision to have Dan’s hip replaced before we go to Nigeria, and are currently at 57% of our funds needed to leave for Nigeria. Two years ago I truly thought that we would be in Nigeria by this time, but God is getting us there and giving us the strength and encouragement to get there. Thank you to all of you standing beside us these past two years, praying, giving, and loving us. We are only here to this point because of God’s goodness and your support!
My point for today is that we are members of the body, Dan and I are getting closer to being in Nigeria each day, but we need YOU to stand beside us too! Thank you!
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