Thursday, January 29, 2009

Belated Update

I apologize for my lack of updates in the time that I have been here. It looks as if in the one month-as of today-that I have been here I have blogged a total of two times. Tragic. :) I have had so much going on around me that I was overwhelmed at the thought of attempting to condense it into a blog post I suppose. I decided, however, that I would write some main highlights and things that are going on, and if anyone has any questions, I would love to answer them.

God. God is working. God has been working. I have forgotten how to see that. I am learning what it is to actually and practically follow Jesus. Yes, many of us can call ourselves Christians, but how many of us have forgotten what it means to put down our agenda and follow Him to be His friend and find out what His "agenda" is. Through this process and realizing that I cannot even be a loving person until I have a love for Jesus, I feel as if the world is suddenly a new place. With the hope of Jesus Christ in me, what do I have to fear. With the God of the universe loving me, how can I be lost in depression? With the creator of the stars with a plan for me, how can I be anxious? I am not saying that we will not show these qualities in a fallen world, I am just realizing a new lens to see the world through. I am excited to keep walking with Him and discover new truths about Him and see what His life and heart is all about.

On a side note, stale Crunch 'n Munch is fascinating. My fabulous mother sent me food. On the subject of food....I introduced my Korean friend to pbj. She saw me eating them. A lot. Up to twice a day and commented on it. I asked if she had ever had one, and she said no. *gasp* Life is not complete without trying pbj's...She tried one and loved it. Success!!!!

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Friday, January 23, 2009

The Vision

I am coming to a realization of the type of abandonment that is required of me in this relationship. I ask that God will continue to take me to a place where this sinks deeper. I am realizing how many things I pursue are merely me chasing after wind. My eyes are opening to some of the things He has created me for. I look forward to the continuing adventure of my life with Him.

In terms of updates and prayer requests, I will be going to Russia. We are still waiting for more concrete details, but our DTS has split into three major groups: Russia, Morocco, and the Balkans. These areas are three of the main human trafficking routes in the world. The three groups are planning on ending up in Amsterdam at the end, one of the largest red light districts in the world. All of these plans are a bit up in the air as things usually are when we are working with Jesus. :)

Things that I would so appreciate prayer for...
-God to provide visas for Russia. This is becoming an increasingly closed country, and it can be difficult to get visas.
-Safety for everyone in this school quarter. Many of the countries we are going to are closed countries where one can be jailed for sharing about our passion for Jesus Christ.

If anyone has any questions, I would love to hear from you!! :)

THE VISION

The vision is JESUS – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.

The vision is an army of young people.

You see bones? I see an army. And they are FREE from materialism.

They laugh at 9-5 little prisons.
They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday.
They wouldn't even notice.
They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won.
They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations. They need no passport.. People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.
What is the vision ?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry. It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars. It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.

Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers

choose to loose
that they might one day win
the great 'Well done' of faithful sons and daughters.

Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night. They don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!"

And this is the sound of the underground
The whisper of history in the making
Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
Mystery is scheming in whispers
Conspiracy is breathing…
This is the sound of the underground

And the army is discipl(in)ed.

Young people who beat their bodies into submission.

Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain".

Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in their upward eyes. Winners. Martyrs. Who can stop them ?
Can hormones hold them back?
Can failure succeed? Can fear scare them or death kill them ?

And the generation prays

like a dying man
with groans beyond talking,
with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and
with great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting. Watching: 24 – 7 – 365.

Whatever it takes they will give: Breaking the rules. Shaking mediocrity from its cosy little hide. Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs, laughing at labels, fasting essentials. The advertisers cannot mould them. Hollywood cannot hold them. Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties before the cockerel cries.

They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive

inside.

On the outside? They hardly care. They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but never to hide.
Would they surrender their image or their popularity?
They would lay down their very lives - swap seats with the man on death row - guilty as hell. A throne for an electric chair.

With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days,

they pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them.

Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.)
Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.
Their words make demons scream in shopping centres.
Don't you hear them coming?
Herald the weirdo's! Summon the losers and the freaks. Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes. They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension. Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dream of Eden.

And this vision will be. It will come to pass; it will come easily; it will come soon.
How do I know? Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God. My tomorrow is his today. My distant hope is his 3D. And my feeble, whispered, faithless prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great 'Amen!' from countless angels, from hero's of the faith, from Christ himself. And he is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.

Guaranteed.y

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

I.....

I....

-currently live on an active volcano in the middle of the ocean.

-am done with the homework assignment due Monday.

-do not have 5 am work duty until Monday. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!

-am thinking about going to the Korean church in Hilo tomorrow. That or the oldest church on the island....

-have the cutest 2 month old baby...second cuz or cuz once removed. Whatever she is, she is adorable.

-am thinking it is amazing to live among people from so many different countries.

-am hearing His voice and am excited to hear more.

-am trusting in His provision.

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

Why Did I Just Waste All That Time?

105 Facts​ About​ You

1 - EVER BEEN GIVEN​ AN ENGAG​EMENT​ RING?​​​​
Ha! That's funny. No way, Jose.

2 - LONGE​ST RELAT​IONSH​IP?​​​​
The one I'm in. Four months and a week tomorrow. Ha ha!!!

3 - LAST GIFT YOU RECEI​VED?​​​​
Umm.....oh there was a present for me when I got here Thursday. Candy, a can of soda, popcorn, granola bar, and a keychain.

4 - EVER DROPP​ED A CELL PHONE​?​​​​
All the time. I'm surprised it hasn't exploded.

5 - WHEN'​​​​S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKE​D OUT?
I'd say yesterday. Or maybe it was the day before. I don't remember....

6 - THING​(​​​​S)​​​​ YOU SPEND​ A LOT OF MONEY​ ON?
School. All the money I have ever made has gone to tuition and books. Same way this semester actually.

7 - LAST FOOD YOU ATE?
I had chips cause it was the only form of food in my room and I was not literally starving but close.

8 - FIRST​ THING​ YOU NOTIC​E ABOUT​ THE OPPOS​ITE SEX?
I would imagine the first thing you see about a person is their face. But guy's hands I definitely notice.

9 - ONE FAVOR​ITE SONG?​​​​
Um....there are way too many to pick one. My i-pod is a fantabulous mix of country, worship, hip-hop, rock...

10 - WHERE​ DO YOU LIVE?​​​​
I am currently a resident of Kona, Hawaii. Bwa ha ha!!!

11 - HIGH SCHOO​L YOU ATTEN​DED:​​​​
Well, I was in a homeschool partnership program called Cotopaxi Homeschool Partnership while dual enrolled at Pueblo Community college which is actually located in Canon City. Is that confusing enough? ;)

12 - CELL PHONE​ SERVI​CE PROVI​DER:​​​​
verizon

13 - FAVOR​ITE MALL STORE
Except for the food court, I don't really like the mall.

14 - LONGE​ST JOB YOU HAD:
I worked with my Dad in floor covering for like 4 or 5 years pretty consistently.

15 - DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?​​​​
Huh? No....

16 - DO YOU PRANK​ CALL PEOPL​E?​​​​:​​​​
I did it once or twice. I laugh so much that I it never works.

17 - LAST WEDDI​NG YOU ATTEN​DED:​​​​
I could swear I went to one just this summer. Um....guess it wasn't too important cause I can't remember. ;)


18 - FIRST​ FRIEN​D YOU'​​​​D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTE​RY:​​​​
Well, if I could call Luke I would, but I can't. Therefore I would call my Mom.

19 - LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEN​D:​​​​
It was the middle of October. Only about five months to go though. :)

20 - FAVOR​ITE FAST FOOD RESTA​URANT​:​​​​
I would kill for McDonalds right now. Insane I know, but I SO want some good junk food.

21 - BIGGE​ST LIE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD​:​​​​
Um, someone said and acted like they really cared about me, but it was just a fill some time type of thing. It's all good now though. :)


23 - WHERE​'​​​​S YOUR FAVOR​ITE PLACE​ TO EAT WITH FRIEN​DS?​​​​
Um....I would love some of my Mom's food. Only a week and i already miss it.

24 - CAN YOU COOK?​​​​
Of course. I am quite accident prone, but I can cook. ;)

25 - WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE​?​​​​:​​​​
Wow, I won't be driving for another five months, but when I do, I have an Isuzu. Go four wheel drive!

26 - BEST KISSE​R:​​​​
I dunno the answer to that. No experience there. He he...


27 - LAST TIME YOU CRIED​?​​​​:​​​​
Well, honestly, today.

28 - MOST DISLI​KED FOODS​:​​​​
Well, cabbage, most Mexican food except quesadillas, tacos and burritos, and a majority of the veggies God created.

29 - THING​ YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT​ YOURS​ELF:​​​​
I'm pretty comfy with just being myself.

30 - THING​ YOU DISLI​KE MOST ABOUT​ YOURS​ELF:​​​​
I can get really freaked around people I don't know.

32 - LONGE​ST SHIFT​ YOU HAVE WORKE​D AT A JOB?​​​​:​​​​
Um, last one I remember was when I was in Breck working with mi padre. We just busted out a job in two days. Stayed overnight, cause the drive was uber long and just worked all day.

33 - FAVOR​ITE MOVIE​?​​​​
I watch everything except musicals. I love comedies, war movies, dramas, and horror. Although I have backed off from horror recently.

34 - CAN YOU SING?​​​​
My Mom and Luke say I can. I dunno though.

35 - LAST CONCE​RT ATTEN​DED?​​​​
Mmm, don't remember. I've gotta hit one up soon. :)

36 LAST KISS?​​​​
If I believed in reincarnation, I would say in my last lifetime. In other words, not in existence. :)

37 LAST MOVIE​ RENTE​D:​​​​
Em and I rented "House Bunny" on my last night home. That seems so long ago. And it was so cold there....

38 - ONE THING​ YOU NEVER​ LEAVE​ THE HOUSE​ WITHO​UT:​​​​
Cell phone. I'm basically tied to it. Never know when I might get an Iraqi phone call. He he...

39 - FAVOR​ITE vacat​ion spot?​​​​
I love to see things. Anywhere is good.

43 - LAPTO​P OR DESKT​OP COMPU​TER?​​​​:​​​​
I just have a laptop now, and I am SO thankful for it.

44 - FAVOR​ITE COMED​IAN?​​​​:​​​​
I never really sit and just listen to a comedian. I like funny people. My sister and I have our own comedy show come to think of it.

45 - DO YOU SMOKE​?​​​​
Not on a regular basis.

46 - SLEEP​ WITH OR WITHO​UT CLOTH​ES?​​​​
Okay, weird. But to alleviate any rumors. With.


47 - WHO SLEEP​S WITH YOU EVERY​ NIGHT​?​​​​:​​​​
My stuffed dog is still @ home. I miss him....

48 - DO LONG DISTA​NCE RELAT​IONSH​IPS WORK?​​​​:​​​​
Yes!!! :) Currently in one.

49 - HOW MANY TIMES​ HAVE YOU BEEN PULLE​D OVER BY THE POLIC​E?​​​​
Um, three times. Only one ticket though. And two were in one day. ;)

50 - PANCA​KES OR FRENC​H TOAST​?​​​
French toast all the way baby. Pancakes are gross. Soggy bread really....

51 - DO YOU LIKE COFFE​E?​​​​:​​​​
Ewie! Although I plan on trying HI coffee here. It would be sad not to at least check it out.

52 - HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?​​​​
I don't eat them much, cause they're creepy, but when i do it is fried or hard boiled. And only my Mom can make good fried eggs.

53 - DO YOU BELIE​VE IN ASTRO​LOGY?​​​​:​​​​
no


54 - LAST PERSO​N YOU TALKE​D TO ON THE PHONE​?​​​​:​​​
My Mommy!!!

55 - LAST PERSO​N ON YOUR MISSE​D CALL LIST?​​​​:​​​​
The madre of the kiddos I'm gonna sit on Fridays.

56 - WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSA​GE YOU RECIE​VED?​​​​:​​​​
From mi hermana about her watching a movie tonite.

58 - NUMBE​R OF PILLO​WS?​​​​:​​​​
I packed uber light. A tiny travel one. ;)

59 - WHAT ARE YOU WEARI​NG RIGHT​ NOW?​​​​:​​​​
jean shorts, Kung Fu t-shirt. yay!

60 - PICK A LYRIC​,​​​​ ANY LYRIC​:​​​​
scars heal glory fades. all we're left with is the memories made.

61 - WHAT KIND OF JELLY​ DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR PB & J?
grape all the way. no chunks. ever.

62 - CAN YOU PLAY POOL?​​​​:​​​​
it's hit and miss. sometimes i kick butt and often i cant even hit the ball.

63 - CAN YOU SWIM?​​​​
swim team for like 4 years baby.

64 - FAVOR​ITE ICE CREAM​?​​​​:​​​​
I'm in ice cream rehab. Unwillingly. I haven't had any for like a week. AH!!!!!!!! choco chip cookie dough, come to me.

65 - DO YOU LIKE MAPS?​​​​
a lifesaver since i never pay attention to where i am at.

66 - TELL ME A RANDO​M FACT ABOUT​ YOURS​ELF:​​​​
My new awesomem place is under my bed. It's the perfect spot to lay and read or type. :)

68 - EVER ATTEN​D A THEME​ PARTY​?​​​​:​​​​
Ya, everyone i know is funny enough to theme their parties.

69 - WHAT IS YOUR FAVOR​ITE SEASO​N?​​​
Um, I kinda skipped out on winter, so I'm looking forward to it next time around.

70 - LAST TIME YOU LAUGH​ED AT SOMET​HING STUPI​D?​​​​
Um, I was IMing Luke. And something he said made me laugh. I don't even remember what though.

71 - WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNI​NG ?
5 freaking am! ;)

72 - BEST THING​ ABOUT​ WINTE​R?​​​​:​​​​
Sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing....

73 - LAST TIME A COP GAVE YOU A TICKE​T?​​​​:​​​​
tragedy really. I changed my address and didn't know i had to notify my insurance company. therefore, i didn't get the whole license plate renewal thing...whoops...ticket.

75 - NAME OF YOUR FIRST​ PET?​​​​:​​​​
my first very own was samuel pickles. hated people but i loved him.

76 - DO YOU THINK​ PIRAT​ES ARE COOL OR OVERR​ATED?​​​​:​​​​
I'm gonna be one when I grow up. ;)

77 - WHAT ARE YOU DOING​ THIS WEEKE​ND?​​​​?​​​​
Hopefully gonna go see Shannon and Mario and little baby. Yay!

78 - BIRTH​DAY
cinco de mayo, yo!

79 - WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE:
A vet, a worshipper, a friend, a traveler, an adventurer....

85 - ARE YOU ON A LAPTO​P?​​​​:​​​​
indeed i am

87 - ARE YOU SMILI​NG?​​​​:​​​​
the thought of looking at a computer screen grinning by myself in a room almost makes me smile...

89 - DO YOU MISS SOMEO​NE RIGHT​ NOW?
My guy, mi madre, mi padre, mi hermanas, y mi hermanos.

90 - IF YOU COULD​ GO ANYWH​ERE IN THE WORLD​ WHERE​ WOULD​ YOU GO?
Hmmm, I'm hoping to get to Africa/Europe in 3 months.

92 - ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOO​L?​​​​:​​​​
Heck no! And i am totally cool with that.

93 - DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH​?​​​​:​​​​
More than a crush. :)

94 - WHAT IS YOUR FAVOR​ITE NAME?​​​​
Oooh, Perspephone is cool. Abbsynia....I like oddball names.

95 - WHAT COLOR​ IS YOUR BATHI​NG SUIT?​​​​:​​​​
The one here is a black top and green shorts.

96 - DOES YOUR SCHOO​L START​ IN AUGUS​T?​​​​:​​​​
If I go next fall, yes, it will be.

97 - DID YOU GO ON VACAT​ION LAST MONTH​?​​​​:​​​​
Um, no. I did some traveling. Wait, I was on vacation from school.

98 - HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CRUIS​E?​​​​:​​​​
The idea just doesn't quite appeal to me.

99 - DO YOU HAVE A SISTE​R?​​​
Dos

100 - ARE YOU UPSTA​IRS?​​​​:​​​​
Actually yes. My new room is upstairs.

101 - ARE YOU IN LOVE?​​​​:​​​​
Oh, yes. ;)

102 - HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPI​TAL?​​​​
Not for myself except when I was born. Wait, yeah, i had stitches....

103 - DO YOU WISH YOU COULD​ SEE ANYON​E PARTI​CULAR​ RIGHT​ NOW?
Yes! The people I miss.

104 - WHAT JEWEL​RY ARE YOU WEARI​NG?​​​​
My ever present watch, hair tye, and camo bandanna bracelet are still on my wrist. What's new?

105 - WHAT ARE YOU GOING​ TO DO AFTER​ THIS SURVE​Y?​​​​
Go get dinner. It ends in like 25. Better run. ;) Then worship. I'm so excited....

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Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Almost the End of Week One

It is hard to believe that it has almost been one week that I have been here. In some senses it has flown by and in others it has been a long week. I sit here wondering how I could possibly summarize in several paragraphs all that has happened in this short period of time....

To give you all an idea of a typical day...I am blessed with the challenge of breakfast duty. This morning I got up at 4:50 to be to the kitchen by 5 am. Woo hoo!!! I am responsible for cleaning all the pots and pans used to make breakfast and also keeping the laundry (rags and aprons) going. Work duty is a ten hour per week job. After this, we have an hour of worship and three hours of classes and then lunch. Since my particular school is focusing on Justice, we have had some good conversations about the meaning of justice, orphans and widows, and so forth. After lunch, our afternoons vary. We may have quiet-time, small groups, etc. Next is dinner and then evenings also vary. Again there may be more worship-often with the whole school gathering this time. We also have books to read throughout the quarter and homework assignments to work on.

God has really been speaking to me about where my heart and priorities lie. I realize that I want to be in a place where I desire to be with Him. I desire a closer intimacy with Jesus. After all, that is why I am on this earth...From that love, a desire to be His hands and feet will come. It will be a desire because of a love for Him rather than a love for myself. Frankly, I am realizing my pride needs to die. :)

In this midst of all of this, I am still praying for the funds to get to my outreach. I successfully made it to the training part of the school and have faith that He will provide the rest of what I need. I am looking into possibly trying to get a job on the weekends to help pay the rest of what I need. I would appreciate prayer in this area and if anyone has any ideas for me in the area of fundraising or would like to be a part of helping me do a fundraiser, please let me know!

God has been speaking to me through Isaiah 59 and 60. These chapters are good guidelines of how justice works and what it means to live this concept out.

God bless!

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Saturday, January 03, 2009

First Update!

I have safely arrived in Hawaii. I was greeted by geckos and outdoor airport terminals. I have been busy trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing when and how to get ourselves unlocked out of possessed bathroom doors. I am rooming with four other people and am really looking forward to getting to know these people that are in love with Jesus.

I suspected in coming on this adventure that God was going to be teaching me about letting things go. I have been reminded twice today that I have to drop things out of my hands in order for Him to put the thing He wants to into my hands. I know I have heard the voice of God and am capable of it, but I have a struggle with wanting to hear. I have an unsubstantiated fear of Him not wanting me to do something i want to with my life and being depressed forever. Silly, yes. Truth, yes. Well, one day at a time. God, give me the strength to give You the things you ask for. And give me the wisdom to know when you are talking to me.

I am amazed at this opportunity that I have in front of me. I am looking forward to starting our first real day on Monday. We will start our training on bringing justice to areas where there is none. And showing Christ's love to others.

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