so i met this guy today.
His name was Jake Chiefcalf.
he is native american.
he is funny.
he has the most amazing toothless smile.
he spends his days drinking away the pain of life.
he is asking questions.
he works doing construction.
he has four kids.
he taught me something today.
so the story goes that Marlee and i were walking downtown today, just kinda shopping around, casually looking, mainly just walking and talking. we were walking past this one club and we see Jake stumble out and sit down against the wall. We looked at him and offered him the smallest hello, seeing the sadness in his eyes. He responded and asked us to come talk with him for a moment and that he needed advice. Needlesss to say we talked, we listened, and we got to know this amazing man on the side of the road.
He told us about his wife, his kids, his job, and his struggles. We told him we couldn't give him much advice about his family dynamics since we had no experience but if he was hungry we would love to take him to get some food. So we headed to the mall and on the way there were tears falling from his face......he couldn't believe that someone would buy him a meal, no one had ever done that before. He prayed for us in blackfoot and we continued on. The meal consisted of tacotime.
great choice.
he asked us why we would not only buy him food, but take time out of our day to sit and talk and listen to him.
we told him about Jesus.
we talked about dealing with tragedy and about the cruel and hard things that happen in this world. we talked about the good things, and tried to focus on them.
Coming to a close we prayed for him, his family and his life.
There are some things we can't plan and some things that we would never plan, but God has a plan in everything.
Talking to Marlee tonight about our night and about this divine appointment we realize Jake taught us a lot. We realized that even though he was drunk, even though he may never remember what we talked about, or even us, that we would never forget him. That we will never forget Christs love for him to the point that he would use two small people like ourselves to show this man a glimpse of it.
funny thing is....earlier today i was telling marlee about getting involved in a homeless ministry, that Jesus had been tugging at my heart and revealing to me his love for the unloved.
I guess Jesus was listening.
west coast trail
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Oh Canada.
Today is the 3 week mark of my return to Canada.
One week in the lovely coast of rainy Vancouver with my beautiful niece and brother. Then 2 weeks here. Alberta. Farm country.
Oh how i love this country.
First of all Tim Hortons is amazing. Good good food-delicious and nutritious-for good good prices. Plus there is now one five minutes away. Thank you Jesus.
Also dill pickle chips. The first day i was back i downed a bag.
Snow....i was welcomed home with a snow storm putting 2 feet of snow on the ground, thankfully it is now almost all melted and is a blistering 13 degrees out.
New car....2004 Honda Civic.
Those are the latest updates.
Coming back i have been spending time with family and friends, registering for University classes, and driving my new car. It is safe to say that there is culture shock. First of all the weather...my feet never seem to be warm enough. Then there is always the fact that i spent lots of time by myself (which i don't mind in the least) and seem to do things in a much slower pace. It is funny because now i am home, even though it doesn't feel like home.
It won't be my home for long.
I know that eventually i will feel at home and i will have a stable place.
Unfortunately i have not been able to make it to my most missed mountains. Luckily i will get to spend the next 2 days there breathing the mountain air and hanging out with wildlife.
One thing i have been hit with lately is the worry of money. Every where you go in the world you find it. There are few places that are "free" of it, or should i say where money is not the focus. Since coming home i am face with this worry, with this realization that the majority of my last 3 years i have made no income and i plan on being a student for the next 4 years.
wow.
crazy how it can be something you don't worry about one minute and then all the sudden it is hitting you in the face.
Well i mean i got this new car, then there is insurance, then the gas nonsense now, then phone bill, credit card bill, the list goes on.
you'd think after what i have seen, the poverty, the injustice, those who TRULLY lack, that i wouldn't worry. You'd think after what i have seen, the supernatural provision, $20,000 being raised in 20 minutes by sixty people 18-25 years old, the rent money always being there, that i wouldn't worry. You'd think after what i have learnt about Jesus, about Jehovah Jirah, about his BIGNESS and His GOODNESS, His strong strong love, that i wouldn't worry.
I guess there is still more for me to learn. More revelation for me to have about my Jesus. The more i know Him, the more i trust Him, and the more worry falls away.
Like my earthly father wants to take care of me my heavenly father wants to also take care of me.
and He will.
On another note since returning from this last trip there has been some health issues on my end. There is always the normal things, and the tests just to make sure of parasites and such (especially since being in the amazon). So the routine tests have been taken, and more in depth tests are being taken this week. Gotta love foreign coutnries eh?
Well i have a parking ticket to pay and a stomach to fill.
Sunday is the beginning of camp.
The beginning of the next 4 months.
I can't wait.
One week in the lovely coast of rainy Vancouver with my beautiful niece and brother. Then 2 weeks here. Alberta. Farm country.
Oh how i love this country.
First of all Tim Hortons is amazing. Good good food-delicious and nutritious-for good good prices. Plus there is now one five minutes away. Thank you Jesus.
Also dill pickle chips. The first day i was back i downed a bag.
Snow....i was welcomed home with a snow storm putting 2 feet of snow on the ground, thankfully it is now almost all melted and is a blistering 13 degrees out.
New car....2004 Honda Civic.
Those are the latest updates.
Coming back i have been spending time with family and friends, registering for University classes, and driving my new car. It is safe to say that there is culture shock. First of all the weather...my feet never seem to be warm enough. Then there is always the fact that i spent lots of time by myself (which i don't mind in the least) and seem to do things in a much slower pace. It is funny because now i am home, even though it doesn't feel like home.
It won't be my home for long.
I know that eventually i will feel at home and i will have a stable place.
Unfortunately i have not been able to make it to my most missed mountains. Luckily i will get to spend the next 2 days there breathing the mountain air and hanging out with wildlife.
One thing i have been hit with lately is the worry of money. Every where you go in the world you find it. There are few places that are "free" of it, or should i say where money is not the focus. Since coming home i am face with this worry, with this realization that the majority of my last 3 years i have made no income and i plan on being a student for the next 4 years.
wow.
crazy how it can be something you don't worry about one minute and then all the sudden it is hitting you in the face.
Well i mean i got this new car, then there is insurance, then the gas nonsense now, then phone bill, credit card bill, the list goes on.
you'd think after what i have seen, the poverty, the injustice, those who TRULLY lack, that i wouldn't worry. You'd think after what i have seen, the supernatural provision, $20,000 being raised in 20 minutes by sixty people 18-25 years old, the rent money always being there, that i wouldn't worry. You'd think after what i have learnt about Jesus, about Jehovah Jirah, about his BIGNESS and His GOODNESS, His strong strong love, that i wouldn't worry.
I guess there is still more for me to learn. More revelation for me to have about my Jesus. The more i know Him, the more i trust Him, and the more worry falls away.
Like my earthly father wants to take care of me my heavenly father wants to also take care of me.
and He will.
On another note since returning from this last trip there has been some health issues on my end. There is always the normal things, and the tests just to make sure of parasites and such (especially since being in the amazon). So the routine tests have been taken, and more in depth tests are being taken this week. Gotta love foreign coutnries eh?
Well i have a parking ticket to pay and a stomach to fill.
Sunday is the beginning of camp.
The beginning of the next 4 months.
I can't wait.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
California
Okay. So the past few days have consisted of this:
#1 saying goodbye to my teddy bear that i have had since i was 4. I was packing my stuff at the hotel in Kona and i looked at him and said “i think it is about time, goodbye panda” that was the beginning of a new era for me. Yes i am 20 and i still had a teddy bear until yesterday.
#2 putting on a sweater. Oh man if i think California is cold just wait until i hit Canada. YIKES! I got off the airplane into L.A. and i was just shivering.....not good. Finally when i got to San Diego and got my bags i was able to put on another sweater and a toque. There is going ot have to be some serious shopping done when i get back to Canada....hello cold weather clothes!!
#3 In-And-Out Burger. A classic place that my good Norwegian friend Elise had never been to before, we had to make a stop there. It was grand....i enjoyed every minute of my grand greasy burger!
#4 touring San Diego. A friend from last years DTS Jeremy showed us around San Diego with me trying to stay awake in the back of the car between look out spots, since i couldn’t sleep that last night on the plane. Beautiful place indeed!
#5 Milking the last bit of my holiday to the fullest. Lying by the pool, reading, sleeping in, getting my nails done, and eating.....eating all the time.
Currently:
I am sitting in Starbucks in the Seattly airport.
1:01 am drinking a venti non-fat hazelnut latte with an extra shot of expresso
trying to stay awake until my 7 o'clock flight to beatiful british columbia.
Yesterday i said goodbye to my good friend and travel mate Elise as she is headed back to Norway. Today i hung out with a friend in San Diego and talked revival. How do we accomidate the revival that is happening? How do we stir up those around us and show them that there is SO MUCH MORE?
Tomorrow i am back in Canada, then in one short week i am home with no more vacation and only 2 weeks to say hello, unpack, say goodbye, and pack.
Sitting in the plane today i was totally bummed.
Thinking about how i am going to miss this life, the atmosphere, the hearts, oh the burning hearts, and the ripe lives of DTSers who are about to be transformed.
Then it hit me.....the real transformation doesn't happen during DTS. During the worship and prayer times and definitely during the outreach there are fresh revelation and new perspective but the ultimate proof of transformation is when the students go home. It is when they re-enter their homes, their schools, their churches, and their communities. It is when they are tested, hated, burnt out, without answers, and tempted with the same old things. THAT is when the true transformation shines.
Anyways. I could go on. For the next 3 hours until i check into my flight but i will spare you all.
Ciao for now.
Next time from Canada.
My home and native land.
#1 saying goodbye to my teddy bear that i have had since i was 4. I was packing my stuff at the hotel in Kona and i looked at him and said “i think it is about time, goodbye panda” that was the beginning of a new era for me. Yes i am 20 and i still had a teddy bear until yesterday.
#2 putting on a sweater. Oh man if i think California is cold just wait until i hit Canada. YIKES! I got off the airplane into L.A. and i was just shivering.....not good. Finally when i got to San Diego and got my bags i was able to put on another sweater and a toque. There is going ot have to be some serious shopping done when i get back to Canada....hello cold weather clothes!!
#3 In-And-Out Burger. A classic place that my good Norwegian friend Elise had never been to before, we had to make a stop there. It was grand....i enjoyed every minute of my grand greasy burger!
#4 touring San Diego. A friend from last years DTS Jeremy showed us around San Diego with me trying to stay awake in the back of the car between look out spots, since i couldn’t sleep that last night on the plane. Beautiful place indeed!
#5 Milking the last bit of my holiday to the fullest. Lying by the pool, reading, sleeping in, getting my nails done, and eating.....eating all the time.
Currently:
I am sitting in Starbucks in the Seattly airport.
1:01 am drinking a venti non-fat hazelnut latte with an extra shot of expresso
trying to stay awake until my 7 o'clock flight to beatiful british columbia.
Yesterday i said goodbye to my good friend and travel mate Elise as she is headed back to Norway. Today i hung out with a friend in San Diego and talked revival. How do we accomidate the revival that is happening? How do we stir up those around us and show them that there is SO MUCH MORE?
Tomorrow i am back in Canada, then in one short week i am home with no more vacation and only 2 weeks to say hello, unpack, say goodbye, and pack.
Sitting in the plane today i was totally bummed.
Thinking about how i am going to miss this life, the atmosphere, the hearts, oh the burning hearts, and the ripe lives of DTSers who are about to be transformed.
Then it hit me.....the real transformation doesn't happen during DTS. During the worship and prayer times and definitely during the outreach there are fresh revelation and new perspective but the ultimate proof of transformation is when the students go home. It is when they re-enter their homes, their schools, their churches, and their communities. It is when they are tested, hated, burnt out, without answers, and tempted with the same old things. THAT is when the true transformation shines.
Anyways. I could go on. For the next 3 hours until i check into my flight but i will spare you all.
Ciao for now.
Next time from Canada.
My home and native land.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Here we go again.
okay so my eagerness to write weekly obviously was not brought to action.
Between business and the fact that I spent the last month and a half in the Amazon Jungle i have a semi-legitimate excuse for not writing more.
So the question is "Where do i begin?"
there has been so much over the last 2 months that has shaped, stretched, taught, and amazed me.
Let me start in the Jungle.
So on the 21st of January my team and i left the capital city and traveled to Leticia Colombia. Leticia is a great little tourist town right on the border of Brasil and Peru. It is right on the river and it actually has no roads to it, you have to fly or take a boat to get there. It is quite a nice place full of indigenous people from all over. Besides the high prices for those of us with white skin and the hot temperature/humidity it is actually quite a liveable place. We stayed at the YWAM base there and would take 10 day trips out on the river to different indigenous communities and villages.
Our first trip was mainly in a community called Buen Successo (good success) which was 3 hours down river in a VERY fast boat. In a normal boat that most people would use it would have taken 9 hours to get there. To our benefit God blessed the YWAM base with their own boat for trips just like ours. This community was in Peru and so we got some interaction with the Peruvian people.
An average day in this place would look like so....
wake up and eat a delicious breakfast-usually eggs or arepas with coffee-which was made by our amazing YWAM planner/worker woman Monica.
Then in the morning we would hang out with some kids, sometimes visit homes and pray for families. Whether they were sick, needed some sort of provision, or just needed to be encouraged we prayed up a storm. Jungle life is pretty low key and there is never really a plan.
So each day looked different.
Everyday had lots of kids, one we called Porker (a little chubby guy who was probably around 3 and would just run around like crazy) and everyday usually had a swim time in the river to cool down and play with the kids.
Every evening we would have church service where we would do worship and share something that was on our heart. By candlelight as we were swatting at misquitos we would pray for people and ask God to change their hearts.
During our stay in Leticia we visited many communities and did a variety of different ministries. These included prison ministry, old folks home, a week in Brasil in a church there, and communities within the town.
Our second adventure down the river into the Jungle had quite a different spin on it. We went to 3 different villages in 10 days and our lovely YWAM friend could not join us....we were on our own. It is interesting how long it takes to cook supper when you are making it over a fire that first you have to make....oh ya and the wood is usually wet. It is also interesting how a 3 hour boat ride on our day off to see pink dolphins can turn into a day on the river with sun burns, fire ants, little food and few dolphins. It is safe to say that life in the Jungle is not always the easiest but it is sure worth it to get to know those people. There are definitely some people i met there that i will never forget, that have touched my life, and that i hope to see in eternity someday.
Throughout my time on this trip i was blessed with amazing students. Students that wouldn't complain when their legs and arms were covered with misquito bites, or the fact that we didn't have malaria meds. Students that were willing to do anything, be flexible, and laugh when those long days came. Students that always had my back, respected me, and were falling more and more in love with Jesus everyday.
Wow God sure knows what He is doing eh?
I am so thankful for the people God put me with to spend the last 3 months with, to teach me and support me. Thank you Colombia team. You are the best.
Now though that has come to an end. After a week in Kona debriefing the students have left, gone on their own seperate paths, hopefully with new perspective and revelation. I am also left with a greater depth of love, faith, and expectancy.
A lot of people see this time as an ending. An ending to a great faith journey, or God experience, i figure it is just the beginning.
Having the last few weeks to rest, reflect, and process what i have learnt the last 6 months has made me realize how much more i have to learn. My time with YWAM has come to an end (well for now, you never know what God might do in the future)and i feel ready for what is next. I feel confident in who Jesus is for the very unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable life i am transitioning into. There has been a time over the last 3 years of being involved in YWAM where God has wooed me, He has proven himself to me, and He has captured my gaze forever.
If there are two things that i have come away with from this trip to Colombia and these last 6 months in YWAM it is this.
#1-God is who He says HE is. Whether it is Yahweh, Adonai, Emmanuel, Rapha, Jehovah, Abba, Prince of peace, Lord of Lords, or The Great I Am. I believe it. I have seen it. No matter what the circumstance is, the fear is, the excitement is, or the unknown is. HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
#2-Jesus would rather have 1 person fully devoted, totally love stricken, and fearlessly pursuing Him, then 30 people luke warm who have prayed a prayer and go to church on sundays. There is so much more. If one person can find that, can witness the real raw Jesus and want nothing more in life then this life is worth it.
On December 13th 2010 i was in the prayer room on our campus praying because i was leaving for colombia the next day. As i was praying for my team, the country and people, and all the worries that i had God said something to me i will never forget. He said "Beloved. Beloved i have something for you to take hold of. I have fire in my eyes and i want to run with you." During the 3 months that followed i prayed into it. Asking God for more revelation on what that meant, and i heard nothing. Until one day the 27th of February to be exact. 5 words that are going to possibly shape the next 5 years of my life.
"YOU ARE READY. LET'S RUN."
So that is what i am doing.
Running.
Waiting.
Trusting.
For this next season, this next part of the journey, this next step i am running. Everyday ir is more clear to me what that looks like. Everyday there is more vision. Everyday there is more excitement. Everyday there is more love.
The plan is this. Serving at SABC this summer and running the Teleios program this summer as i did last summer. Taking youth and showing them real, raw Jesus.
Then i plan on going to the University of Lethbridge and gaining knowledge about people, cultures, and history through Anthropology. This will be very different for me. Studying, reading, writing. It shall be interesting.
Well one thing that i just want to say in closing is that i am in love with Jesus. There is nothing that i want more.
One verse that has been on my mind for the last 6 months is Psalm 27:4
I ask only one thing from the Lord, only one thing i desire. To dwell in your house for all my days, to gaze upon your beauty night and day, and to look with my own eyes at your temple.
As i get to know Him more i fall more and more in love with Him.
He is so loveable. I just get caught up with Him.
I can't wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow there is more of Him.
Between business and the fact that I spent the last month and a half in the Amazon Jungle i have a semi-legitimate excuse for not writing more.
So the question is "Where do i begin?"
there has been so much over the last 2 months that has shaped, stretched, taught, and amazed me.
Let me start in the Jungle.
So on the 21st of January my team and i left the capital city and traveled to Leticia Colombia. Leticia is a great little tourist town right on the border of Brasil and Peru. It is right on the river and it actually has no roads to it, you have to fly or take a boat to get there. It is quite a nice place full of indigenous people from all over. Besides the high prices for those of us with white skin and the hot temperature/humidity it is actually quite a liveable place. We stayed at the YWAM base there and would take 10 day trips out on the river to different indigenous communities and villages.
Our first trip was mainly in a community called Buen Successo (good success) which was 3 hours down river in a VERY fast boat. In a normal boat that most people would use it would have taken 9 hours to get there. To our benefit God blessed the YWAM base with their own boat for trips just like ours. This community was in Peru and so we got some interaction with the Peruvian people.
An average day in this place would look like so....
wake up and eat a delicious breakfast-usually eggs or arepas with coffee-which was made by our amazing YWAM planner/worker woman Monica.
Then in the morning we would hang out with some kids, sometimes visit homes and pray for families. Whether they were sick, needed some sort of provision, or just needed to be encouraged we prayed up a storm. Jungle life is pretty low key and there is never really a plan.
So each day looked different.
Everyday had lots of kids, one we called Porker (a little chubby guy who was probably around 3 and would just run around like crazy) and everyday usually had a swim time in the river to cool down and play with the kids.
Every evening we would have church service where we would do worship and share something that was on our heart. By candlelight as we were swatting at misquitos we would pray for people and ask God to change their hearts.
During our stay in Leticia we visited many communities and did a variety of different ministries. These included prison ministry, old folks home, a week in Brasil in a church there, and communities within the town.
Our second adventure down the river into the Jungle had quite a different spin on it. We went to 3 different villages in 10 days and our lovely YWAM friend could not join us....we were on our own. It is interesting how long it takes to cook supper when you are making it over a fire that first you have to make....oh ya and the wood is usually wet. It is also interesting how a 3 hour boat ride on our day off to see pink dolphins can turn into a day on the river with sun burns, fire ants, little food and few dolphins. It is safe to say that life in the Jungle is not always the easiest but it is sure worth it to get to know those people. There are definitely some people i met there that i will never forget, that have touched my life, and that i hope to see in eternity someday.
Throughout my time on this trip i was blessed with amazing students. Students that wouldn't complain when their legs and arms were covered with misquito bites, or the fact that we didn't have malaria meds. Students that were willing to do anything, be flexible, and laugh when those long days came. Students that always had my back, respected me, and were falling more and more in love with Jesus everyday.
Wow God sure knows what He is doing eh?
I am so thankful for the people God put me with to spend the last 3 months with, to teach me and support me. Thank you Colombia team. You are the best.
Now though that has come to an end. After a week in Kona debriefing the students have left, gone on their own seperate paths, hopefully with new perspective and revelation. I am also left with a greater depth of love, faith, and expectancy.
A lot of people see this time as an ending. An ending to a great faith journey, or God experience, i figure it is just the beginning.
Having the last few weeks to rest, reflect, and process what i have learnt the last 6 months has made me realize how much more i have to learn. My time with YWAM has come to an end (well for now, you never know what God might do in the future)and i feel ready for what is next. I feel confident in who Jesus is for the very unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable life i am transitioning into. There has been a time over the last 3 years of being involved in YWAM where God has wooed me, He has proven himself to me, and He has captured my gaze forever.
If there are two things that i have come away with from this trip to Colombia and these last 6 months in YWAM it is this.
#1-God is who He says HE is. Whether it is Yahweh, Adonai, Emmanuel, Rapha, Jehovah, Abba, Prince of peace, Lord of Lords, or The Great I Am. I believe it. I have seen it. No matter what the circumstance is, the fear is, the excitement is, or the unknown is. HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
#2-Jesus would rather have 1 person fully devoted, totally love stricken, and fearlessly pursuing Him, then 30 people luke warm who have prayed a prayer and go to church on sundays. There is so much more. If one person can find that, can witness the real raw Jesus and want nothing more in life then this life is worth it.
On December 13th 2010 i was in the prayer room on our campus praying because i was leaving for colombia the next day. As i was praying for my team, the country and people, and all the worries that i had God said something to me i will never forget. He said "Beloved. Beloved i have something for you to take hold of. I have fire in my eyes and i want to run with you." During the 3 months that followed i prayed into it. Asking God for more revelation on what that meant, and i heard nothing. Until one day the 27th of February to be exact. 5 words that are going to possibly shape the next 5 years of my life.
"YOU ARE READY. LET'S RUN."
So that is what i am doing.
Running.
Waiting.
Trusting.
For this next season, this next part of the journey, this next step i am running. Everyday ir is more clear to me what that looks like. Everyday there is more vision. Everyday there is more excitement. Everyday there is more love.
The plan is this. Serving at SABC this summer and running the Teleios program this summer as i did last summer. Taking youth and showing them real, raw Jesus.
Then i plan on going to the University of Lethbridge and gaining knowledge about people, cultures, and history through Anthropology. This will be very different for me. Studying, reading, writing. It shall be interesting.
Well one thing that i just want to say in closing is that i am in love with Jesus. There is nothing that i want more.
One verse that has been on my mind for the last 6 months is Psalm 27:4
I ask only one thing from the Lord, only one thing i desire. To dwell in your house for all my days, to gaze upon your beauty night and day, and to look with my own eyes at your temple.
As i get to know Him more i fall more and more in love with Him.
He is so loveable. I just get caught up with Him.
I can't wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow there is more of Him.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Week in Paradise
so we have been spending the last week in a little suburb called "Paraiso" which translated is Paradise.
Oh boy did we fall in love with that place and the people there.
On Christmas day we headed out and met a very nice pastor and his family who we stayed with during the entire week. They have a little church that they run out of the bottom of their house which is also their family business during the week.
From monday to friday we spent the mornings going to different families houses visiting praying and building relationships with them. During the afternoons we ran a VBS for the children in the neighbourhood. This part of Bogota is one of the poorest.
The city is split up into two parts; the north and the south.
The north is known as the rich part and the south the poor. They hate each other, people would rather live in poverty and live poor in the south then live wealthy in the north.
Paraiso is in the southern most part of the south up in the mountains.
I will never forget some of the kids, the awesome bed bug bites, the amazing view from on top of the mountain, or my 20th birthday.
Wednesday was my birthday.
i turned 20.
It was a pretty normal day..we visited some houses in the morning then we went to this amazing pizza place and ate WAY TO MUCH (which we seem to do all the time....i can't remember the last time i was hungry) and ate 2 dozen donuts with the mondo pizza. We returned back to the pastors house and did VBS then went to a church service in the evening. One of my team members Ian preached on John 10 and Jesus being our shepherd. WOW it was such a good night. One of my team members Javier injured his back last week using a sledgehammer and has been in a lot of pain, like he couldn't even move. During the service his back got really really hot. After the preaching we were praying for people that wanted more trust and to go deeper. It was really cool how God just opened up the lives of these people before me while i was praying. I could see heartbreak, and things of the past that were hindering this one lady, and i could see a calling on one ladies life for Missions and the fear that was holding her back. After the amazing prayer time i went up to Javier and said his back was healed. He had NO MORE PAIN!!! He bent down, jumped up and down and twisted something he could NOT do earlier that day.
We will never know why God decided to heal him then, in the middle of the church service but honestly we don't care. We just know that he was healed and that God is good. that God did it just because he loves Javier. So good. Then we returned home and ate even more food. The team surprised me with a really good cake made with wine....i know i know not on outreach but the other ones were made of milk and they know that i am allergic. So thoughtful!! haha.
After the cake....which was totally eaten in a very short time the team told me that they had prepared a dance for me. So they went downstairs to practice i cleaned up a little bit and then went downstairs. Dhishan took me outside because i couldn't see the dance. In a few minutes they all came outside and surrounded me in a circle. By this point i knew what they were up to. See i had been informed of a Colombian birthday tradition that involves people throwing eggs, cold cold water and flour at you in the street as you are tied up to a telephone pole. Luckily my team didn't tie me up, but sure enough they all splatted eggs on my head and threw cold water and flour at me. It turned out to be a huge flour fight that consumed the entire team including the pastor who basically started the whole thing.
That was my birthday.
On that i will never forget of course.....now i am 20. No longer a teenager. shucks eh?
So we arrived back at the base today after a long New Years celebration last night....with fireworks going off ALL NIGHT LONG!! We are tired and ready to just rest tomorrow before we start another week.
I am learning a lot, and one things is to take one day at a time. To treasure the friendships that i make and the people that i meet. I am so blessed and i am so in love with Jesus.
Now it is a new year.
One that i am sure will be full of tough times, but more then anything i want to look back on 2011 as i have on 2010 seeing how good God is. That through whatever circumstances that He is so so so good. That he loves me and that i love him SO SO MUCH MORE.
So time for one more story before i head to bed.
I lost my thumb nail on my left hand.
Let me explain.
So when we were in the town of Madrid a week or so ago we were cleaning and painting this house that was being transformed into a christian school. I was cleaning the paint off of the floor one day with a scrub brush. I was so intense into this cleaning job that i didn't see the nail sticking out of the wall. As the scrubbing continued the nail in the wall went right underneath the nail on my left thumb. Yup i continued with some pain not realizing how serious it was. That is until i saw the blood. Ever since then the nail has been trying to heal and not succeeding and finally today i got so fed up with it catching on everything and i realized that it will probably catch on something and rip off anyways.
So i took it off.
My knife and some scissors did the trick. Now i have a little piece of nail at the bottom and my stubby thumb looks even more stubby.
Well that is my story.
And my bed is for sure calling me.
Tomorrow another week begins and it shall be good.
Ciao.
Feliz Ano
Bendiciones
(yes i am getting very good at spanish!!)
Oh boy did we fall in love with that place and the people there.
On Christmas day we headed out and met a very nice pastor and his family who we stayed with during the entire week. They have a little church that they run out of the bottom of their house which is also their family business during the week.
From monday to friday we spent the mornings going to different families houses visiting praying and building relationships with them. During the afternoons we ran a VBS for the children in the neighbourhood. This part of Bogota is one of the poorest.
The city is split up into two parts; the north and the south.
The north is known as the rich part and the south the poor. They hate each other, people would rather live in poverty and live poor in the south then live wealthy in the north.
Paraiso is in the southern most part of the south up in the mountains.
I will never forget some of the kids, the awesome bed bug bites, the amazing view from on top of the mountain, or my 20th birthday.
Wednesday was my birthday.
i turned 20.
It was a pretty normal day..we visited some houses in the morning then we went to this amazing pizza place and ate WAY TO MUCH (which we seem to do all the time....i can't remember the last time i was hungry) and ate 2 dozen donuts with the mondo pizza. We returned back to the pastors house and did VBS then went to a church service in the evening. One of my team members Ian preached on John 10 and Jesus being our shepherd. WOW it was such a good night. One of my team members Javier injured his back last week using a sledgehammer and has been in a lot of pain, like he couldn't even move. During the service his back got really really hot. After the preaching we were praying for people that wanted more trust and to go deeper. It was really cool how God just opened up the lives of these people before me while i was praying. I could see heartbreak, and things of the past that were hindering this one lady, and i could see a calling on one ladies life for Missions and the fear that was holding her back. After the amazing prayer time i went up to Javier and said his back was healed. He had NO MORE PAIN!!! He bent down, jumped up and down and twisted something he could NOT do earlier that day.
We will never know why God decided to heal him then, in the middle of the church service but honestly we don't care. We just know that he was healed and that God is good. that God did it just because he loves Javier. So good. Then we returned home and ate even more food. The team surprised me with a really good cake made with wine....i know i know not on outreach but the other ones were made of milk and they know that i am allergic. So thoughtful!! haha.
After the cake....which was totally eaten in a very short time the team told me that they had prepared a dance for me. So they went downstairs to practice i cleaned up a little bit and then went downstairs. Dhishan took me outside because i couldn't see the dance. In a few minutes they all came outside and surrounded me in a circle. By this point i knew what they were up to. See i had been informed of a Colombian birthday tradition that involves people throwing eggs, cold cold water and flour at you in the street as you are tied up to a telephone pole. Luckily my team didn't tie me up, but sure enough they all splatted eggs on my head and threw cold water and flour at me. It turned out to be a huge flour fight that consumed the entire team including the pastor who basically started the whole thing.
That was my birthday.
On that i will never forget of course.....now i am 20. No longer a teenager. shucks eh?
So we arrived back at the base today after a long New Years celebration last night....with fireworks going off ALL NIGHT LONG!! We are tired and ready to just rest tomorrow before we start another week.
I am learning a lot, and one things is to take one day at a time. To treasure the friendships that i make and the people that i meet. I am so blessed and i am so in love with Jesus.
Now it is a new year.
One that i am sure will be full of tough times, but more then anything i want to look back on 2011 as i have on 2010 seeing how good God is. That through whatever circumstances that He is so so so good. That he loves me and that i love him SO SO MUCH MORE.
So time for one more story before i head to bed.
I lost my thumb nail on my left hand.
Let me explain.
So when we were in the town of Madrid a week or so ago we were cleaning and painting this house that was being transformed into a christian school. I was cleaning the paint off of the floor one day with a scrub brush. I was so intense into this cleaning job that i didn't see the nail sticking out of the wall. As the scrubbing continued the nail in the wall went right underneath the nail on my left thumb. Yup i continued with some pain not realizing how serious it was. That is until i saw the blood. Ever since then the nail has been trying to heal and not succeeding and finally today i got so fed up with it catching on everything and i realized that it will probably catch on something and rip off anyways.
So i took it off.
My knife and some scissors did the trick. Now i have a little piece of nail at the bottom and my stubby thumb looks even more stubby.
Well that is my story.
And my bed is for sure calling me.
Tomorrow another week begins and it shall be good.
Ciao.
Feliz Ano
Bendiciones
(yes i am getting very good at spanish!!)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas In Colombia
wow. Christmas time again.
For the last 3 years when Christmas roles around it doesn't feel like Christmas. In Africa the last two years they don't really make Christmas a big deal.
Oh boy do they party here though.
Today is Christmas day.
The last 2 days we have been working in this town called Madrid helping a pastor renovate a home into a christian primary school. We have been plastering, painting, cleaning, FREEZING, and still having fun.
Yesterday we worked for the morning and then got the opportunity to play Futbol (soccer) with some of the youth from the church. Futbol is huge here and we seem to play it a lot a lot a lot.
I am okay with that!!!
After the Futbol game we went to a Christmas Eve service and enjoyed the holiday spirit and also shared with the Church. After that we had the amazing privilege to go to the pastors house for food and celebration. Here in Colombia they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve at midnight, and usually party all through the night.
It was a great christmas Eve, and today will be really fun with the team. I have some surprise gifts for them, and then later on we are traveling 2 or 3 hours to a church up in the mountains, in a really poor place of the city to minister and do a VBS with them for a week.
Lets back up a little bit.......
the 21 and 22nd of December we went to this little town called La Mesa (translation The Table)
A small town about 2 hours outside the city. we traveled there and then did a program in the park. The church had invited the neighbourhood to come and so in this park we shared the Gospel, some of our stories, and some of our rough dramas.
God was truly Glorified.
I see more and more that it is not us doing anything, but Jesus working through us.
We played some basketball and futbol with the youth of the church and shared in an evening church service.
The next day (22nd) we rested in the morning before embarking on a huge adventure in the afternoon.
The pastor that was hosting us really has a heart for the Native people, those living in the Jungle and also just those living in the country side.
So we decided to join him in his ministry in the countryside.
We walked for an hour and a half on a dirt road with a BEAUTIFUL view of the Andes mountains. The whole city of Bogota is surrounded by mountains and let me tell you that they are amazing.
So after walking we played games with the kids from the community and then shared with them about Christmas and Jesus. After we gave out christmas presents to the kids.
then walking back while the sun was setting i was thinking about how God is so good, how He blesses us so so much and how He can take the simple things we do and say and impact the hearts of people for eternity.
wow.
I am so happy i know Jesus.
Well that is what has been going on.
Please pray for health. A lot of our team has gotten colds (including me) because of the weather here and amount we have been going and going and going. Pray for good rest because a lot of the team has not been sleeping well (including me) and just that we will have lots of energy for this next week of teaching VBS. Pray that we will stay warm it is mucho frio (translation very cold)
My team is pushing through homesickness this Christmas, they are pushing through their comfort zones, and they are looking on the positive side always.
Wow.
I am blown away.
God is good.
All Glory to Him.
Thank you Jesus for your protection, thank you Jesus for your plans for us, and thank you Jesus that we are not doing this alone. Thank you that you carry us, and thank you that YOU change hearts and lives. I love you.
For the last 3 years when Christmas roles around it doesn't feel like Christmas. In Africa the last two years they don't really make Christmas a big deal.
Oh boy do they party here though.
Today is Christmas day.
The last 2 days we have been working in this town called Madrid helping a pastor renovate a home into a christian primary school. We have been plastering, painting, cleaning, FREEZING, and still having fun.
Yesterday we worked for the morning and then got the opportunity to play Futbol (soccer) with some of the youth from the church. Futbol is huge here and we seem to play it a lot a lot a lot.
I am okay with that!!!
After the Futbol game we went to a Christmas Eve service and enjoyed the holiday spirit and also shared with the Church. After that we had the amazing privilege to go to the pastors house for food and celebration. Here in Colombia they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve at midnight, and usually party all through the night.
It was a great christmas Eve, and today will be really fun with the team. I have some surprise gifts for them, and then later on we are traveling 2 or 3 hours to a church up in the mountains, in a really poor place of the city to minister and do a VBS with them for a week.
Lets back up a little bit.......
the 21 and 22nd of December we went to this little town called La Mesa (translation The Table)
A small town about 2 hours outside the city. we traveled there and then did a program in the park. The church had invited the neighbourhood to come and so in this park we shared the Gospel, some of our stories, and some of our rough dramas.
God was truly Glorified.
I see more and more that it is not us doing anything, but Jesus working through us.
We played some basketball and futbol with the youth of the church and shared in an evening church service.
The next day (22nd) we rested in the morning before embarking on a huge adventure in the afternoon.
The pastor that was hosting us really has a heart for the Native people, those living in the Jungle and also just those living in the country side.
So we decided to join him in his ministry in the countryside.
We walked for an hour and a half on a dirt road with a BEAUTIFUL view of the Andes mountains. The whole city of Bogota is surrounded by mountains and let me tell you that they are amazing.
So after walking we played games with the kids from the community and then shared with them about Christmas and Jesus. After we gave out christmas presents to the kids.
then walking back while the sun was setting i was thinking about how God is so good, how He blesses us so so much and how He can take the simple things we do and say and impact the hearts of people for eternity.
wow.
I am so happy i know Jesus.
Well that is what has been going on.
Please pray for health. A lot of our team has gotten colds (including me) because of the weather here and amount we have been going and going and going. Pray for good rest because a lot of the team has not been sleeping well (including me) and just that we will have lots of energy for this next week of teaching VBS. Pray that we will stay warm it is mucho frio (translation very cold)
My team is pushing through homesickness this Christmas, they are pushing through their comfort zones, and they are looking on the positive side always.
Wow.
I am blown away.
God is good.
All Glory to Him.
Thank you Jesus for your protection, thank you Jesus for your plans for us, and thank you Jesus that we are not doing this alone. Thank you that you carry us, and thank you that YOU change hearts and lives. I love you.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Number 11
I have officially stepped foot into my eleventh country.
I know for some of you world travellers that is not a lot, but for me that is a lot. I started young......8 i believe and ever since then i have not stopped going.
5 days ago i put my feet into Colombian soil. My first South American country.
So far so good.
As i look back over the last 6 days since we left Kona i realize how much Jesus has blessed me. My team is just amazing.
Seriously.
God totally knew what i needed.
They are servants, they are joyful, and they are oh so flexible.
If i have learnt one thing already here, is that don't hold on to the plans you have to tight. Plans are always changing, times are always different, and there is always the unexpected transportation timing.
Welcome to Colombia.
We are in Bogota, a big city of 12 million and boy does it take some getting used to. Sometimes it takes 2 hours to get somewhere in the SAME CITY. Just because of traffic and public transportation!!
wowsers.
Okay i will share one story.
So on Saturday we were supposed to start ministry after 2 days of rest, seeing the city, and preparation. We were all ready to go and then our translator told us something really strange has happened. She went to phone the pastor to confirm us coming for ministry. When she talked to him he said that someone had called and told him that we wouldn't be able to go. There are only two people that speak spanish that know him and know that our team is here doing ministry. One being our translator, and the other the leader of the base.
Neither of them phoned him.
We checked and double checked and no one that we knew had phoned......we have no idea who phoned, how they knew we were supposed to go or how they even got his phone number.
So gathering as a team we prayed to see what was going on in the spiritual realm.
We felt like God was saying that is was Him protecting us from something, and that we must take this other door that he will open. We also felt him saying that he is testing us to see if we are really going to trust him. He didn't say what was next right away but we knew that he had something for us. We knew that He has a path marked out for us and so to just keep going and keep trusting.
We ended up going to this little house church that was so much fun, we hung out with the youth, went and drew a crowd on the street, and had the opportunity to minister in their church the next morning. It was truly Gods plan, it was truly Gods path.
God has already shown me that he is protecting us, that he is worth trusting. I am so excited for what He has planned for the next 3 months.
My team is healthy and full of the Joy of the Lord. Tomorrow we will be traveling to a little town 3 hours away and just bringing the kingdom in whatever shape or form the Holy Spirit prompts. On Christmas day we will be traveling to a church and teaching a Vacation Bible School for a week there. Pray that God is Glorified, that He becomes more, and that we are walking in obedience.
oh and i am only a teenager for 9 more days!!!!
yipee.
Keep checking in, you don't want to miss what God is doing through me and my team!!!!!
I know for some of you world travellers that is not a lot, but for me that is a lot. I started young......8 i believe and ever since then i have not stopped going.
5 days ago i put my feet into Colombian soil. My first South American country.
So far so good.
As i look back over the last 6 days since we left Kona i realize how much Jesus has blessed me. My team is just amazing.
Seriously.
God totally knew what i needed.
They are servants, they are joyful, and they are oh so flexible.
If i have learnt one thing already here, is that don't hold on to the plans you have to tight. Plans are always changing, times are always different, and there is always the unexpected transportation timing.
Welcome to Colombia.
We are in Bogota, a big city of 12 million and boy does it take some getting used to. Sometimes it takes 2 hours to get somewhere in the SAME CITY. Just because of traffic and public transportation!!
wowsers.
Okay i will share one story.
So on Saturday we were supposed to start ministry after 2 days of rest, seeing the city, and preparation. We were all ready to go and then our translator told us something really strange has happened. She went to phone the pastor to confirm us coming for ministry. When she talked to him he said that someone had called and told him that we wouldn't be able to go. There are only two people that speak spanish that know him and know that our team is here doing ministry. One being our translator, and the other the leader of the base.
Neither of them phoned him.
We checked and double checked and no one that we knew had phoned......we have no idea who phoned, how they knew we were supposed to go or how they even got his phone number.
So gathering as a team we prayed to see what was going on in the spiritual realm.
We felt like God was saying that is was Him protecting us from something, and that we must take this other door that he will open. We also felt him saying that he is testing us to see if we are really going to trust him. He didn't say what was next right away but we knew that he had something for us. We knew that He has a path marked out for us and so to just keep going and keep trusting.
We ended up going to this little house church that was so much fun, we hung out with the youth, went and drew a crowd on the street, and had the opportunity to minister in their church the next morning. It was truly Gods plan, it was truly Gods path.
God has already shown me that he is protecting us, that he is worth trusting. I am so excited for what He has planned for the next 3 months.
My team is healthy and full of the Joy of the Lord. Tomorrow we will be traveling to a little town 3 hours away and just bringing the kingdom in whatever shape or form the Holy Spirit prompts. On Christmas day we will be traveling to a church and teaching a Vacation Bible School for a week there. Pray that God is Glorified, that He becomes more, and that we are walking in obedience.
oh and i am only a teenager for 9 more days!!!!
yipee.
Keep checking in, you don't want to miss what God is doing through me and my team!!!!!
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