10 February 2006

a bit from courtney

Hello from…
Ocean Beach!

You thought maybe you were getting a little ditty from not America again?
Nope. You are getting a hello from my homeland of sunny San Diego.

What? You wonder, perplexed at the thought of Courtney in the States.

Well, I have had a few requests for updates on my "normal" life. These
won't come frequently so don't be rushing off to delete yourself from the
googlegroup. I will try to keep it relatively short… relative to the fact
that it sums up eight months of living!

My time in Burkina Faso was one of the hardest of my life. It didn't take
me long to feel completely overwhelmed by the enormity of pain and the
seemingly endless cycle of poverty and despair. What the heck is going on?
I knew what to expect… I study this stuff… this is not my first time in a
developing nation… why am I freaking out?

This is the part of the story you stop and think that I am a bad
Christian for not being an optimist. Well, I'm not. This world is in a
state of hopelessness that is sobering and heavy for any person to bear. I am a
realist. Remember Caleb and all the other dudes who spied out the Promised
Land? I feel like I can relate. I know where God is leading me,
I see the land and I see giants.

Though I have seen God take on countless giants in my life and I am still
scared out of my mind. However, I have seen God take on countless giants in
my life and there is no reason He won't take on more. Good thing I am out of
my mind.

In my line of living I have learned I can't change the world, but the love
and truth of Jesus changes one life's world. My time in Burkina was not
only a time for me to work with and encourage beautiful people who are born
oppressed and impoverished; it was a time that God ordained to put my life's
drive into Mach 9.

So what now? After a couple near-death experiences (ie. malaria and an
accident involving a semi truck) I have realized that I am not dying anytime
soon, I have more work to do. I am finishing my degree at UCSD in
International Studies and Third World Politics. I will use that knowledge to
step up the work I am already doing to a level that will be more educated
and impacting. I am officially learning French, so now I won't sound like a
2 year old next time I go to West Africa. I am also praying about what route
to take in learning Spanish. The kids I work with at El Pozo in Tijuana, MX
help me a lot and put up with me nicely. Pray for my ease in learning
languages!

The vision of Beautiful Feet International (BFI) has grown exponentially!
Our mission of connecting and equipping the global body of Christ is
producing good fruit already! If you have no idea what I am talking about,
go to www.bfintl.org and look around at the concept that will be manifesting
soon.

As far as the near future goes, I see God directing me down a path similar
to the one I find myself on now. School, BFI and overseas work in the gaps
provided. I am in the interview process to work with SEND Ministries
(www.sendministries.net) in India from July-December 2006. How God told me to
go that direction is subject for another update as I have most likely lost
your attention by now anyway.

I just felt like I should share with you what is going on since you have
been and are an integral part of the work God is doing through me. Your
prayers and support are so felt, you have no idea! On more than one occasion
I have been put on someones heart to pray for and it directly corresponded
with an intense time of warfare in my life. THAT IS HUGE! That is what we
are called to do as the body of Christ. I can't thank you enough. Thank
you.

If you care to glimpse at some photos of my life in the past few years there
are albums available here http://flickr.com/photos/courtneyanne. Soon I will
also have some video clips of my summer in Burkina. If you want one of those
DVDs and I do not have your physical address, get it to me and I will get
one to you!

Know that you walking the path set out by God for you is enabling others to
do the same.

Love your sister,
courtney brandt