Monday, March 12, 2012

Cruel Hoax

Last week lulled me into thinking spring was here. I enjoyed driving on the wet, but clear roads.  We woke up this a.m. to discover winter is still with us.  We got 10 inches last night...10 more inches the last time I checked and it's been snowing steadily all day long. 


Looking down - our car UNDER the carport

View from bedroom window, shadow in front is snow on window ledge

View from the shower ::grin:: 

Window icing over

UNDER the carport.....hard to see how much snow
this really is. Check out the car photo below. I have
no idea how Michael got out this a.m. 

I'm wondering if the snow will reach the seat by a.m. 

STUCK - trying to get out the door - finally got the snow pushed out of the way 

Fortress is gone but the pile of snow is higher

Lots taller - and our snow shovel is under there somewhere
thanks to Stacia and friends

Nisan JOY under the carport

WHO was wimpy today? I shoveled - they watched. 

Ah - Almond butter, cliff bars, super seed, muscle milk

These English Muffins are baking and I'm calling it a day. 

Unless school is cancelled - tomorrow is PWOC/Base day! 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Ministry Twists

One just never knows how ministry is going to turn out. ::grin::  I moved to Japan, thinking I would take a bit of a PWOC sabbatical. Instead God used me and a team of wonderful women to begin a new PWOC region - Asia Region. We knew we were a region when we'd hosted our first conference and a new leadership team for the next two years was selected.  I finally surrendered and put my name in for two more years.  Well - let me just share what I wrote for the Asia Region Page at PWOC.org.  This was posted Friday morning. 
I asked God for verses to guide my decision as the deadline approached to submit my name for another season of leadership in Asia Region. We were due to PCS 8 months after conference.  In my PWOC study I read Isaiah 55:8….”My thoughts are not your thoughts.” My thought was the finish line was in sight and I had left it all on the field. His possible thoughts were not my plan.
Here are more verses and my reaction to them.
For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace… Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to the LORD, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off. Isaiah 55:12-13
Whatever God is up to will involve going somewhere with joy and peace. Thorny issues will produce unexpected fruit. This fruit will be a memorial to the LORD.

I continued to seek Abba for vision:Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days— you would not believe if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5
NEW – how can THAT be with the same ole President? I continued to pray and considered:
I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me…The Lord answered me and said, "Record the vision…, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay…. But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:1-4
If the selected with only 8 months left in Asia – I will stand on the wall and guard.  I will watch and see what You are going to do. I know the vision will be clear at the appointed time. When we clearly have Your vision we will run forward with it. I will walk this out with faith.

A month after conference our DEROS was extended to July 2013.

At Vision Summit we were informed, pending approval, Asia region would become two. I initially grieved the separation. Many women have worked and sacrificed to see the birth of Asia Region.  I honor their commitment.
As I’ve prayerfully waited, God has put the pieces of the puzzle together. This will make two stronger PWOC regions. The verses began to make sense. We are doing something NEW, we have seen His vision and will run forward with it. We certainly would not have believed this a few months ago. The fruit of this decision will be a memorial to the Lord.
I’m reminded of words I shared at WILD 2011, ”Forward braveheart as ever thou are wont to do and Asia Region will follow the heart of the King.”

We move forward -always following the heart of our King with joy, faith, love and courage. We will run forward knowing the vision will not fail, but will bring forth the unexpected fruit Abba desires in PWOC Japan and PWOC Korea for His glory. If I can answer any questions please feel free to email me at JapanPresident@pwoc.org.



On the same day the following was posted on PWOC Japan Region's page at PWOC.org.

Dear Ladies from the Land of the Rising Sun,

Abba has used Exodus 33 to minister to me repeatedly as I serve His women. I’ve returned often to the promise in verse 14, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”  At the end of Asia Region Conference 2011 I shared about not being sure where God was taking us but KNOWING I didn’t want to move unless His presence went with us.
Have you ever camped out in Habakkuk? I have. Last summer God began to plant Habakkuk 2:1-4. I knew I was to stand guard and wait and watch for the vision He would reveal. 
It was with a sense of great expectancy that I began to pray Habakkuk 1:5 back to Jesus.
“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days –
You would not believe if you were told.”
 The extroverted otter in me loves the exclamation marks in this short verse! What powerful verbs…LOOK, OBSERVE, BE ASTONISHED, WONDER…..God is doing SOMETHING – something so unthinkable I wouldn’t believe it. I began to pray, “Let it be, God.”

With that promise I submitted my name for a second season of regional leadership. During a fall of prayer I watched, observed and wondered. Yes, I AM astonished at what God is doing.  I would not have believed it. It’s humbling to be in the midst of starting another PWOC region.

God is doing a big work IN OUR DAYS which we don’t fully understand at this point, but we can walk forward with Him in confidence. His presence goes with us. Our job is but to follow His heart.

It brings me joy to be starting this journey with you.  I’m excited to see where God will lead. Please keep the PWOC Japan in prayer. If you’d like to discuss opportunities to serve in this new region, please email me at Japan.President@pwoc.org.

Joyfully following His heart with you,
De’Etta Goecker (PWOC Japan Region, President)

Since January I've been quietly and steadily working towards a smooth transition for Asia Region to multiply to two regions. 2/3's of our leadership team will remain in Korea as leaders of  PWOC Korea. They are going to ROCK IT! Pam is going to be a superb Regional President and God so seamlessly orchestrated the transfer - we stand in awe.

My considerable energy is now turned 100% towards PWOC Japan Region. Watch out! ::snort::  We are just now able to begin the process of building full regional teams in both Korea and Japan - as you can't recruit for something you can't discuss. LOL The Army Chief of Chaplains gave the final approval on Thursday and we launched on Friday with Skypes with Presidents, emails, Facebook pages and more and more and more.

I've spent considerable time since Friday moving things from one web page to another, from one facebook page to another, deleting Asia Region's documents etc.   PWOC Japan Region has found a home here on Facebook, and here on pwoc.org,  and here on blogspot.

When I have time to stop and ponder...I find it amusing to be starting yet another PWOC....and my second  PWOC region. God certainly does laugh at me. He has taken every bit of experience I've gained "always HAVING to start PWOC's" and used it for this season of ministry.

I look forward to two more years of growing personally and as a region. I eagerly anticipate what God may do in Japan through this new PWOC region.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...