Goodbye forever! See you at my new Website!

Well blogger friends,

A very gracious friend saw this sorry excuse for a website and decided to make me a nice fancy one for my fundraising and Young Life in the UK. Please check it out!

My new address is: elisebernius.co.uk (I know, so official right?)

New Staff Training Update- Better Late than never!

In January, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks with 300 First Year Staff Associates (about 10 International Staff like myself) for training in St. Augustine, Florida. This time was incredible for so many reasons. Firstly, it was a great time to learn about how I can be better in ministry and serving British teenagers and YL volunteers. The training included taking a theology class and an Introduction Youth Ministry, and relating this to the mission of Young Life and sharing the gospel in this ministry. The classes were so helpful and I feel like they have been instrumental in preparing me and motivating me to continue with the fundraising. I feel like even nearly a month later, I am still processing all that I have learned from the experience. Although I loved the training, my favorite part of New Staff was meeting and sharing time and experiences with the other people who are raising support for International Young Life Staff. I loved sharing stories and enjoying the support we have in each other. So many times in fundraising, it’s easy to feel alone and discouraged, but being at New Staff gave me 10 contacts who are going through the same process as me and have been great at being supportive! Overall, the experience at New Staff was great and has gotten me really motivated to continue fundraising!

Queen's Speech Chirstmas 2011

Can anyone blame me for wanting to move to a place where this cute little lady is in charge?!

This Advert is Calling Me Home

Basically, I watch a lot of BBC America. It keeps me connected with the motherland.

I might have gotten a little teary eyed while watching this commercial because I want to be in England so much.

The Lord is so good to place this desire in me! I feel so humbled to have such a strong calling!

A Prayer of Divine Support

A friend gave me some puritan prayers this week and they are fantastic. This is one of them that I have been leaning on.

Thou art the blessed God, happy in Thyself, source of happiness in Thy creatures,

my maker, benefactor, proprietor, upholder. Thou hast produced and sustained me,

supported and indulged me, saved and kept me; Thou art in every situation able to meet

my needs and miseries. May I live by Thee, live for Thee, never be satisfied with my Christian progress but as I resemble Christ; and may conformity to His principles, temper, and conduct grow hourly in my life. Let Thy unexampled love constrain me into holy obedience, and render

my duty my delight. If others deem my faith folly, my meekness infirmity, my zeal madness, my hope delusion, my actions hypocrisy, may I rejoice to suffer for Thy name. Keep me walking steadfastly towards the country of everlasting delights, that paradise-land which is my true inheritance. Support me by the strength of heaven that I may never turn back, or desire false pleasures that will disappear into nothing. As I pursue my heavenly journey by Thy grace let me be known as a man with no aim but that of a burning desire for Thee, and the good and salvation of my fellow men.

I'll Say A Little Prayer for You...

After a few weeks of Fundraising, I feel like God has already started to teach me so much. He has revealed both newfound confidence and insecurities and has released an array of emotion. Mostly though, I have learned so much about how important it is to PRAY during this season in my life. I will attest that spending time talking to God and focusing on WHY I am doing what I am doing, is vital to success in fundraising.

I'm so stinking excited about continuing forward, for however long (yikes!) God wants me to be on this adventure and of course I'm excited that every day fundraising gets me one day closer to living in Hoddesdon- my love and desire to be in England grows stronger all the time.

Please pray that these first months of raising support are filled with people around me, as many people tend to feel lonely during it. Also, pray that I keep focused on my vision, even when contacts are running short and things seem discouraging. God is so good and I feel so incredibly privileged that He has such a fantastic future ahead for me.

It's fundraising time in Tennessee

So... without further adieu I'd like to announce...

I have happily begun FUNdraising for Young Life staff in Hoddesdon, England!!

It's been about 5 days since I was released into the world and I'm excited for what the Lord is going to do with me through these next months. Please continue to pray for me! And definitely ask me about my ministry and becoming a donor or prayer partner!