Same Heart, Different Heartbeat

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Do not copy, forward, distribute, or post this letter on social media View this email in your browser Back in America (for 54 more days...) I sure do miss the cuddle times What it's been like being back?! So it’s been a little while....coming up in July will be 3 months back in America. It sure is wild to think that in a few weeks I will have been back in America (or as my favorite 4 year old in Africa would say : amerita) for the same amount of time I was in North Africa. God has moved mountains both within me and all around me these past 6 months of life. I have seen His Spirit working radically to change many things in me. No longer do circumstances determine my well being or joy. Rather, Christ in me, the hope of glory determines my wellbeing and joy! There was a quote on the back of the team leaders door in Africa that said “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances” -Elisabeth Elliot. I have found that God has answered YOUR prayers. He has molded in me a heart that chooses joy and sees a different perspective. This is because of YOU! In my first update in North Africa, I had these prayer requests: * that Dad would mold my heart in such a way that I would choose joy as my weapon and thankfulness in every situation * to bring to the surface anything in me that is not of the true self and that needs to be worked through and healed before long term work and marriage * to continue crafting and growing in me a stubborn faithfulness to follow the small prompting of the HS to speak, lift, and act * to show me how to deeper receive His grace and as such, extend it to myself and others Can I share something with you?? God answered every single thing you prayed over me and abundantly more. I am so confident that the radical working of the Holy Spirit in me was wrought by the prayer of His people, rising as incense before Him. Thats you. You are the vessel that God used to move mountains. Your prayers were the avenue that God used in bringing me from one degree of glory to another. Thank you thank you thank you. I cannot say it enough! Thank you for praying and for encouraging. Every email I receive, whether it is one word of encouragement or a thousand means more thank I can explain in words. I am asking that you continue to pray, your support and gracious words are like honey from the honeycomb that refresh my bones. We are getting married ~holla~ Many new things are happening as well as many more transitions. As many of you know, Stephen flew back from New Zealand 3 weeks early to surprise me and propose! I was expecting him May 19th and he showed up May 4th. I have never been more surprised in my life and let me tell ya, I am beyond excited to spend my life with my best friend! Kiki (one of my dearest friends) schemed all of this with Stephen since January. She wrote an amazing blog of the day that Stephen proposed: https://christieannaapon.exposure.co/if-youre-a-byrd-im-a-byrd And here is the video of the actual proposal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2u9g3GVNCw The 'mushkilon' (problems) don't grow here   Stress? Nope Many people ask me “are you stressed planning a wedding so quickly?”. My answer is: no. I have decided that I am not going to be stressed or anxious about it. Instead, I have chosen the perspective that when it seems impossible to get the mound of things prepared, I choose to think “hmm wow what an opportunity to see God provide and show himself as provider”. Boom. The secret is not me in a different set of circumstances, its Chris in me. And Paul says “do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, make your request known to God and peace that surpasses understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus your Lord” (Phillipians 4:6). There have been times that I have had the temptation to be overwhelmed and stressed and it usually emerges in tears, in which I get on my knees and proclaim the promise in Philippians 4:2 and watch the Sprit of God answer with peace. Every. Single. Time. As Hilary Duff would say: Why Not?! So whats after that? Well Stephen and I have chosen to protect the first year of marriage as was commanded the men of battle in the Old Testament to be able to learn one another and how to live life as a married couple. Sometimes it hits one of us for real that we will be married and going across the world as husband and life in less than 2 months. Ahhh!!!! So exciting! What life will look like after getting married is one way tickets to New Zealand. We happen to have a 10 day layover in Hawaii and an 8 day layover in Fiji. (Side note: I have wanted to go to Fiji since a little girl and it has been such a dream of mine. I am going to brag on my future husband and tell you how incredible he is. He sees and supports all of my dreams, the big, the small, the ones I have had since a little girl, and so on. To the point that he is taking me to Fiji because he knows that I have dreamed of it for over a decade. He is the best gift God has given me.) We don’t know how long God will have us in New Zealand and possibly Australia but we are willing to go wherever He leads into the future and we are so excited that you get to be a part of it! God has created 2 hearts in me and Stephen yet has given us the same heartbeat for Kingdom of God and for the nations. I can’t wait to share all that is in the present and in the future with you. Thank you for your support and love in our lives!! I pray that God would bless each of your minds, bodies, souls, and spirits specifically and abundantly! Prayer Requests: * The weather for our wedding. We are asking that God would grant us a day that had some cloud coverage so that guests are not roasting in the heat, no rain, and a slight breeze for Stephen because he loves wind :) * Stephen needs ACL reconstruction surgery and is getting the operation on July 17th...pray for quick and full healing. * That God would continue to grant both Stephen and I His eyes, His perspective. * That God would give us vision, to see God clearly as He is and to see ourselves and each other as He sees us. The two most important things: our view of God and view of man (and self). Some Fun Pictures :) Stephen made a surprise date for me which included all of my favorite things: healthy food, candles, a sweet atmosphere, flowers, books, a countdown to our marriage, and fun music! He seriously is the most precious and I get to brag on how amazing he is for forever now hehe. On the left: My sister, mom, and I in Austin, TX for mothers day! On the right: Stephen and I in an aviary (the future Byrd's playing with birds ;) *names have been changed for their security Do not copy, forward, distribute, or post this letter on social media

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