Happy Thanksgiving

It is that time of the year, the holiday season has arrived. That time where we come together for a big family dinner, exchange of gifts for one another or ourselves and we share one by one around the table what we are thankful for?

I am grateful for what God has done this year in my life, it was the most challenging year spiritually, God has done a lot of pruning all for the better and I am grateful for a God that loves us so much that He won't leave us the way we are, but that He brings transformation forward. 

I am also grateful for people like you who have supported me in prayer, in finances, in friendship and in so many different ways.

I thank you also, if you prayed for the current Bahamas mission trip I led with 21 members from Crossover Church. It was truly a fruitful and successful mission trip. Check out the video!

Grace and Peace

Nikita Carter

p.s. for prayer email me at nikita@crossoverchurch.org

Nikita LIVE from Amsterdam....

Greetings Friends and Family,

I am writing this newest update from my childhood home, The Netherlands at 01.00am! with a typical hot tea and dutch black honey licorice. Yes, I am home!

Why did I go back home?
I had the opportunity to renew my stay in the USA for another season with Crossover Church as a missionary to the church, the city of Tampa and the many great friends I have made over the past 3 years working full-time in the mission field.
So in order to update my immigration status, every now and then I have to fly home to my hometown Amsterdam and apply for a Religious Visa (R1) at the US Embassy in the Netherlands. The waiting seemed longer than ever, but it reminded me God's timing is never too early and never too late, it is plain perfect timing!

It was refreshing too, to go for business matters and yet at the same time to be able to see family members, eat home cooked food, travel through the city on the subway, visit old memories and catch up on life with one another.

As I had the gift of being able to go home, it was nice for a moment to step out of a work mindset, work performance based thinking, but to simply step into simplicity. The ability to meet other believers and share faith. Pray for each other and to not think about the next appointment or what else there is on my to do list for the day. That was uniquely different, but so good!

What did I do?
Besides taking care of business. I took it upon myself to study as much as I could, through a variety of books, sermons, visiting churches, visiting dance studios and enjoy the journey of learning new things. 
 

I recommend anyone to find time to read these books. Eye-opening truly! 

What have I learned?
You will never have enough knowledge to say I know enough about God's word! A growing believer exists only when he/she takes the time through discipline and investing time to learn. 

I look forward to step back in to the USA to serve the leaders and congregants of Crossover Church, and to grow further to learn about God's love, grace and mercy and to share it with anyone and everyone.

Grace and Peace from Amsterdam!

Nikita

p.s. Enjoy the family photos of an ordinary girl from The Netherlands!

 

Nikita extends stay in USA

Jesus on a Mission= Nikita on a mission

Jesus showed the way and he lived his life as an example to all his followers. For three years he discipled, taught and showed what living for God looks like. When we say yes to Jesus, it also means we say yes to the messy parts of ministry, it means saying yes to continued grace and yes to continued hope. Jesus said: "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone"  (Mark 16:15)

It has been 2,5 years since I said yes to full-time mission work at Crossover Church, and I have taken the decision to extend my time in the USA after September 2015. I thank you for prayer and monetary support which makes it possible to continue the missionary stay in the USA.

What is it like to be in missions full-time. Well take a look and find out as I hosted 6 missionaries from Texas during their mission trip to Tampa last month at 7 local ministries in 3 days.

Help those in need
We all have dreams right? What better way is there to ignite and inspire kids to dream big by making vision boards with them. At the DreamCenter of Grace Family Church in Ybor City we spent an afternoon with kids and shared about having dreams for the future and the importance of having vision (Prov 29:18)

Spending time with urban kids from Ybor City at Dream Center

Pray for those in need
At 11:30pm we went out with a team of 11 and brought 30 boxes of pizza, and Macdonalds to feed over 60 homeless people in DownTown Tampa. Besides feeding stomachs, we prayed with anyone who desired prayer.

Feeding stomachs and lifting up souls with prayer in DownTown Tampa

Love those in need
I had the opportunity to minister to women at the Alpha House of Tampa through music, dance, testimony sharing and fellowship. Alpha House is a place for homeless pregnant women and mothers with young children. They offer safe housing and the tools to become self-sufficient and effective responsible parents.
Visit for more info: www.alphahouseoftampa.org

Praying with Tina after we ministered to the women in Alpha House