The near future

1 week worth of finals
2 weeks worth of normal undergrad classes
3 weeks left in Cedar Falls and until graduation
4 weeks until Christmas
5 weeks until Nicaragua
:) Senioritis kickin' in

Backpacking...a memory for sure

So this weekend I have the grand opportunity to go on a backpacking trip.  As some of you know I was super enthusiastic to join this backpacking class but as the trip approached and I learned of the forecast rain I quickly lost my grand ol' attitude.  The rain, however, was very least of my concerns.

Let's start at the beginning...

We go to the WRC and my group is riding in Shaggy's van.  Now Shaggy is in her late 50's early 60's, she has a tattoo under her right eye (which I found out this weekend she got a year ago to cover her gang tats), and when asked where she is from she will tell you no where, her family was traveling performers.  Ok so that just gives you a little taste of the driver of this vehicle. 

Well immediately our van of 5 got separated from the group....Shaggy forgot to get gas.  So we left late and we went about 20mph over the speed limit.  I thought Terrin was going to get car (or van in this case) sick.  The greatest part was that as we were speeding down the road another girl on the trip announced that she was not going to pay for a speeding ticket.  We were about 10 miles from the park when we watched as a state trooper did a Uturn and the lights went on.  He only gave us a warning but we were slowing down to stop so I think we just got really lucky...or I should say Shaggy got really lucky.

We got to the park finally and began hiking.  It was a good hike but we had to stop frequently.  Shaggy shared with us that she had 12 shots of Vodka the night before...made me feel even safer that I had just ridden in her car for two hours.  NOT.  It was also raining most of this time.  We only hiked for a few hours before setting up camp.  We quickly set up our tents and just had a waiting game.

We spent the afternoon attempting to play capture the flag in the forest.  Note to self: When there is a large present of thorns don't try running through them, it's usually not successful!  We also played some games, made lots of food, and asked some questions out of my professor's famous QUESTIONS BOOK.

Later that night...

We heard many ghost stories, some more believable than others, from some of the outdoor rec guys that worked at Camp Foster last summer.  Then Shaggy decided to tell her ghost stories....or stories in general...  [I know it seems like I may be picking on Shaggy, but really she is just such a character that if I were to ever write a book, she would be it's star] 

Shaggy story #1:
Shaggy moved into a house in Texas with her father.  She decided to take the attic room and that night saw a spirit of a man.  [this may be a good time to note that Shaggy is native American]  She told us that you can never see a face of a spirit but any way this man didn't like her much.  She tried to hold a seance but couldn't because he father kept falling asleep and therefore the whole circle never completed.  Her friends stopped wanting to come over so she moved out.

Shaggy story #2:
Her husband haunts her old house.  Her grandchildren have seen him.  She told us that she just ignores him, just like she did when he was alive.

Shaggy story #3:
[This is the one where began to think she was full of it or crazy] She can look into people's eyes and see things about them.  She told us about this time she was I think at the mall or something and looked into this man's eyes.  She saw he was going to be stabbed and told him he was going to stabbed on Halloween.  He said it was his birthday and he was going to a party.  She told him that he needed to take someone with him to save him.  Two weeks later...the man knocked on her door.  He wasn't wearing a shirt and had been stabbed.  He called her a witch...

Shaggy story #4:
[we were rolling by then end of this one...it was fun to see my professor's face...he was sitting behind her.]  She told us she can also make people do thing with her mind.  She used this power for bad things when she was younger.  [This next piece is my fav...]  She can also now tell what people are going to do.  Her example you ask?  She knew that the cop was going to pull her over.  At this point I just burst out laughing.  Terrin leaned over to me and whisper..."I could have told you that...she were going 85 in a 55!!!!"

After this we went to bed...or at least attempted to.

Sleeping didn't really happen: 1. We had built our tent on a curve...our heads were going down and so were out feet. BAD IDEA!  2. It was FREEZING!  3. Mummy sleeping bags are stupid.  When I was in high school I had a lot of trouble with my knees and now every time it rains they get really achy.  It's difficult to stretch that out when you are in a little mummy sleeping bag.

Overall it was a fun experience, with VERY interesting people and I would do it again, maybe build my tent somewhere else but you get the idea. :)

My Dad

Last night as I was driving home from Hy-Vee I all of a sudden realized how much I was like my Dad.  One of the things that used to drive me insane when I was younger was that my father can never take the same route to and from a location.  He always has to take one way there and a different way back.  He would call it "the scenic route."  I used to tell him I would never learn my way around because he always took different routes so I could never learn them.  What really got me last night was when I realize I always take one route to Hy-Vee (leave my apartment, got N. on South Main, turn on to University and then turn in at Valley Park Dr.) but for some reason I ALWAYS take a different way home from Hy-Vee (go out toward Boulder and take the back roads around to Orchard then go back North to my apartment.)  I know it is silly to find this amusing but as I got home and was telling my roommates how I'm like my dad I realized something else that I got from my father, the purpose of my going to Hy-Vee in fact.

If you have every watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you know that the father in that movie thinks that Windex will cure all things: every alignment, every cut, etc.  Well my family finds this hilarious because this is how we grew up thinking about Vicks.  If you don't know what Vicks is then first of all shame on you, but it's a vapor rub.  I remember my father sticking this stuff in my nose as a child and telling him it smelled and I didn't like it!  He was always assure me that if i wore it, in the morning I would feel so much better.  And here I sit, with a cold and a nose and chest covered in Vicks, which was my purpose of going to Hy-Vee at nine o'clock last night. 

I am proud to say that there are more things than just my ADD driving and cold remedies that are just like my dad, but these are just my recent realizations.  Love you Dad!

Last First week of School...as an undergrad student I guess

It seems like I have been in school for forever but at the same time no time at all...how can this be?  Well I will give you the big ideas of how my first week has gone.

I LOVE my apartment! My bed is lofted, which isn't my fav but I have lots of room and a futon to take naps on :)  I also get my own sink and only share a bathroom with my immediate roommate.  This doesn't seem big but when you are living with 10 other people it is!  I love having lots of roommates.  Today four of us went on a walk around Cedar Falls.  It was fun to get to talk to Farren, a roommate I just met, but absolutely love already! 

Ministry has been hard getting started.  First of all I feel really disconnected to campus since I am only here for a semester.  On Tuesday I just decided to tell God: Lord, I don't want to serve you right now, I don't feel like this is where I want to be, etc etc.  But lets get real, God always knows just what to say to encourage me.  It came from 2 Timothy 1:7 "He has not given you the spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline."  Guess what the one who is in me is SWEET-power? Love? self-discipline? it is exactly what I need!  I am still struggling getting a bible study together but think my apartment is going to be a good starting place, today on our walk I talking to Farren about it and she is in.

Classes are going extremely well!  It's easily going to be my easiest semester since I was a freshman.  I love many of my classes, ok all but my Capstone and Methods of Science.  My Capstone is entertaining because my professor is a stick it to the man kinda guy, hilarious comments that are often inappropriate; The class however is about science terms that are way over my head and i can't pronounce.  Methods of Science is just plain boring.  I have decided to dedicate my time to working on my doodles and building relationships with the girls that sit at my table, possibly by writing notes.  Our professor reads off of a wordy PowerPoint that she posts online. 

My time with God has been awesome since coming to school!  I have these very awkward breaks in my school day that are like 2-3 hrs long so I just stay on campus, hemisphere lounge of the Union, and do my quiet times and some homework.  It's been awesome.  I am reading through Acts and I love it!  As I am about to embark on a new journey next semester it is really good for me to see how the first church is run and just their love and fellowship with each other.  It has also been sweet to see the faithfulness of God, in the end of Acts 2 it talks about how God gave them favor in the eyes of all people and was bring new believers into their group daily!  WOW! I am beginning to pray that for this not just of Navs but for this campus.  It makes me so excited to see what God has in store next!

Tuesday night was Nav night and it was flippin' AMAZING!  First of all we had to sit on the floor and stand in the back because there were so many people!!!!!!!  Worship was great with the packed house!  Kyle Nelsen did a great job of explaining what the Navigators is all about and laying out the gospel.  I am so excited to see how God is going to work through this ministry with him leading it!  Also as student leaders we are praying for over 100 students to sign up for Main Event this year.  We are going to take charter buses if we can get enough people to go!

Ok, last but not least I am reading a book/going through a bible study with the book Calm My Anxious Heart. It's so great!  I am learning so much from this amazingly wise woman!  I started reading it after I got really anxious about student teaching over the summer.  It has been so great to just let go and let God take over.  This weeks memory verse was Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  WOW!  I have had this memorized for a long time but I haven't really meditated on it.  I have learned that we have a choice when we are tempted to anxiety a.We can become anxious and nervous and just a mess or b. We can pray!  Pray specifically for what we are tempted to be anxious about and pray for peace, which is God's part.  Our part is to pray.  God's part is to give us peace.  This has changed not only the way I have been dealing with my anxiety but also my prayer life. 
One of the activities I did this week was right out the positive and negative parts of my circumstances at this time of my life.  So i did this.  Then it asked which one do you dwell on...ok I had a TON more in my positive side yet much of my time is spent on the negative part.  Dang!  Philippians 4:9 says "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  It takes practice to give our anxieties to God.  It takes practice to pray specifically.  It takes practice to be thankful.  It takes practice to dwell on the positive.

So here are my thoughts, lessons and processings for the week.  Hope you enjoy! :)

I am the worst blogger in the world! - Prayer (week 5)

I have decided I am most definetly the worst blogger in the world...pretty much because I don't do it AT ALL! I just forget about it. I love reading others and then after I am done reading theirs I don't do my own. So here is an attempt as writing about what has gone on over the past month and a half.

1. Faith, Prayer, and promises week! (July 5-10)

This was a sweet week for me! I was just able to really look at my prayer life and first see how little my view of God is. It's amazing how closely linked these three things are. A highlight this week were actually from our bible study:

a. Are you not? Who have you discovered God to be?

Over the course of my life God has proven to be many things. He is a provider (meeting all of my needs according to his glorious riches Philippians 4:19), He is sovereign even when it seems like things are out of control, His is powerful, He is faithful. I could go on and on. Who have YOU discovered God to be?

b. Did you not? What has God done for you?

He let me discover his love! I became a believer because God revealed his peace to me. He provided me with a family. He loves me unconditionally. He has given me amazing friends who encourage me in my walk with the Lord.

c.Will you not? What are you believing God to do in and through you?

So what am I praying? I believe God will provide give men in exchange for my life Isaiah 43:4. I believe He will grant me wisdom when I ask and when I'm in need Proverbs 31:36. I believe He will guide me when I am lost and confused on what to do next Proverbs 3:5-6. I believe He will also protect me Psalm 32:7. I believe God will make me into the woman He desires me to be- Phil 1:6 & Gal 5:22-23

I was asked this summer by a friend what is my biggest fear. I told her being alone was my biggest fear. Even thinking about it makes my heart hurt. Promise I am claiming: "...and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20 I hate being lonely, but Jesus promises us that He will be with us always, where ever we are: if we are in Jacksonville or Slater or Cedar Falls or Managua, Nicaragua; He is there with us! Praise God!

Ok I was going to do a summary of all the weeks but I'll do them in separate posts so it won't be overwhelming.

Fun things this week:

1. Group date with Troublemakers

The date ask is on facebook in two parts!  If you can take a look at the video-very creative

We went to a condo on the 18th floor, on the beach!  SO BEAUTIFUL!  Then the guys made us an amazing dinner and we played catch phrase.  My abs hurt so much from laughing after this 5 hour date!

Just ignore my blabbering about how awesome it is, just look for yourself and imagine you were actually there!

2. We dressed up as cows for "cow appreciation week"

This is my work groups: L to R-Me, Kayla, the cow, Jeff, and Emily!  Jeff was a little embaressed by us.  We stopped to get gas and Kayla was mooing out the window at other customers.  Jeff appoligized "Sorry for my friends."  Haha...too funny!

3. Sunrise Sunday morning before church!

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

July 4th weekend: Last E-training week

All I can says is wow! It was a challenging and exhausting weekend. We had so many people here with it being family weekend and 4th of July! But it was also very joyful too!

It was our last week of evangelism training. I went out with Laura Tyler(LT) this week. The first people we came up to wanted to listen to us but while we were sharing seemed really uninterested and told us they were already believers. We kept walking down the beach and prayed for the two girls we had talked to. As we were talking we passed a group of six girls. We usually only talk to groups of less than three...it's a lot less intimidating and much more personal. But I really felt like we should go talk to them. I told Laura this and she's like "I don't like talking to big groups" and I said "I don't either but they are all girls and they aren't doing anything." Before we approach we quickly prayed for boldness and courage because we were pretty scared.

We went to the three girls on the far end and asked if they wanted to see an illustration of the main theme of the bible. The girl on the end pointed to the third girl in and said "I think she wants to see it." I asked all three girls if we could share it with all of them. They agreed. The girl who wanted to see it was named Nikki and then there was Elizabeth and Bri.

As I started the bridge illustration they were joking and Iw asn't sure how it was going to go. Once we got to our testimonies though they became much more serious. After I shared mine I asked LT to share hers and I saw on the face of one of the girls that she could really relate to the ways God had brought Laura to Himself. We continued on and were talking about how it's not just knowing that God has saved you from your sin but it has to be a heart thing, a relationship. Nikki asked "Yeah, how do you do that?" We told her she had to turn from her sins and trust God that He forgave her and let Him lead her life. She told us she had really been thinking about it a lot lately. I was so excited. God had really been speaking to her heart and a seed had already been planted but He used LT and I to really point her toward Christ.

None of the three girls accepted Christ that we know of but we did get to pray for them before we left. We asked them what we could pray for them about and Elizabeth, one who hadn't really said much said guidance. I ask if you are reading this to please pray for Nikk, Elizabeth and Bri. Pray God would be ministering to their hearts and they would accept the gift God is giving them. LT and I left really encouraged by what God had done and just the opportunity He gave us to share the truth with these girls. We literally couldn't stop smiling :) Even in our weakness God used us.

The fourth was wonderful. We went to the beach and the waves were absolutely crazy as well as the number of people there. They shot fireworks off the end of the pier. It was a great time of fellowship and I brought home enough sand in my stuff to make a sand castle in our room. :)

Today was the beginning of prayer week!

Who Am I Really?

Welcome to Identity in Christ week. I feel like this is a question I am constantly asking myself. Who am I? What is my purpose? The bible has a lot to say about this and I have been learning a bunch about the lies I have been believing about myself and the truth, the way God sees me.

As people in this society we are constantly are giving and receiving messages about who we are and who others are. This could be something someone told you or even an event in our lives. As I think about the times where God really broke down my identity to make me trust Him more, one in particular comes to mind. When I was a sophomore in high school I got a varsity suit. I was then devistated that as a Junior I was denied one at the beginning of the season. It felt like everything I ever knew about myself was untrue. One of the things that God really taught me during this time was that I was more than just basketball, infact I wasn't basketball at all. Basketball became something I enjoyed rather than something that defined me.

Basketball was something that had made me feel good about myself but I think the false identities that make us feel bad about ourselves are even worse. In high school I wasn't very well excepted. I had one good friend but was being left out of things often. These events allowed satan to tell me lies like: You're not lovable, you are pretty enough, you aren't someone people like to spend time with. Last fall at Main Event confrence in Kansas City I identified these as lies that I still have trouble combatting. I can see how they effect me and still wrestle with them in my friendships which can make me insecure at times.

One of the things I've really been learning this week is just how to look only at who God says I am. God doesn't want us to find pride or sadness in anything that people tell us but rely on what He says as truth. What is really cool is that we have been given the fullness of Christ's identity when we accepted His gift of salvation. For bible study this week we looked at Ephesians 2. We made a list of who we were before Christ and now after.

Before: dead in transgressions & sin, following the world, disobedient, objects of wrath (ouch!), separate from Christ, excluded, without hope, without God and LOVED.

After: alive, receivers of Grace, God's workmanship, citizens of God's people, members of God's household, dwelling in the Spirit of God, and LOVED.

It's sweet that this is how God sees us every day! I can't wait until Heaven and my experience of who I am is the same with the way God knows me.

I think a good way to show you what I've learned this week is for you to watch this video. A couple of the team leaders I work with were talking uabout it and so I showed it to my girls as part of our bible study last night. Please watch it. Oh and one last thing. I just found out today that one of our staff was diagnoised with breast cancer and is having surgery on the 14th. They found it extremely early and she is having a mastectomy and they don't even think she will need any other treatment so praise God for that, but just be praying for fast recovery for Patty would be wonderful!

Video: You are Special

Weeks 2-3: Scriptures & Relationships

First off, I now have pictures on my computer so here are some of the pictures from the past few weeks.

This is our team at a theme rally night.  I made the girls flower pens as a welcome present and we all had them to record the insights of Jerry Bridges speaking on the word during week 2.  He spoke on how we can trust scripture and also how the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelations points to Jesus.  It was wonderful to hear from such a wise man.  This week we also got to do the skit.  It was called "So you Think You Can Quote Scripture!"  It was hilarious....Laura Tyler has pig tails because she was a little girl, she is really 22. 

This picture was from our first group date.  Friday we went our second group date.  We went to the beach and ate some fresh fruit, which is such a blessing having something rather than apples.  We had strawberries, fresh pineapple, watermelon, cantelope, and grapes.  Wonderful!  Then we played three games of sand volleyball which is quickly becoming one of my favorite pastimes! 

It was a great way to finish up Relationships week. We got to hear from both Beth and Jim Luebe and Kim and Mike Havenstein.  Both were very good and brought up a lot of conversation among our teams.  We were also very blessed to have Kyle and Katie Nelson and boys around for the week.  My team got to babysit Toby and Parker Thursday night during bible study.  They are such great boys!

This picture is actually from a week ago Friday we had a aqua olympic party.  One of the games was water polo via tubes.  This is a picture of the action.  We also did a sychronized swimming competition.  Here is a video of the Epic Romance:

This Saturday we did our fourth week of Beach evangelism.  We tried something new by going out in Co-Ed pairs.  I went with a team member Kyle and we got to talk to two couples.  One of the couples names was Jennifer and Mike.  Mike said he was believer and Jennifer said she had never heard of Jesus before.  It was really eye opening to meet someone who hadn't heard the name of Jesus before.  It was an exciting experience and we are really praying that Jennifer accepts Chirst. It has been so encouraging to hear stories each week of people accepting Christ on the beach and those are only the ones we know.  Please be praying that seeds we plant will be watered!

I Corinthians 3:6-9 Paul says "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

This week will be talking about our identity in Christ.  Hopefully I will have time and internet to update you soon!

Week 1: Abiding in Christ

This is the first official week of the program.  We have a theme every week and this week's is Abiding in Christ.  We are studying John 15:1-17 which talks about how Christ is the vine and we are the branches.  It has been wonderful to begin a routine. 

I have officially started my job at Adventure Landing.  We have been getting up before the sun, which is between 5:30 and 6.  It is beginning to wear and it's only the beginning of week two.  Pray for time to rest! My job is really funny...I am maintenance/Welcome girl!  That's right...welcome girl! :)  For the first three hours I clean.  I get to run the bathroom machine, that's right a machine made for cleaning bathrooms, in the mornings.  I also vacuum for hours.  My vacuum is very special....it's a backpack vacuum which makes me kind of look like a ghostbuster.  It has earned me some nicknames including: sandsucker and ghostbuster.  My boss George just likes to call me and the other Nav girl that works with me George's Angels.

Being Welcome girl is my favorite part.  Mostly because I get to talk to people and not just listen to the vacuum.  One day last week a little girl was walking in on a hot day with her dad and was saying "I love waterparks, I love waterparks, I love waterparks!"  SO ADORABLE!  I told her, "Hun, your are going to have an amazing day!" :)  Then today I had just said my "Welcome to Adventure landing." and this little boy began waving at me and said, "Excuse me, excuse me, Welcome to Adventure Landing to you too!"  So cute!  Then he turned to his mom and said, "Mom, I welcomed her to Adventure Landing!"  HAHA!  Love being welcomed at work.

The other really fun occurrence was our first group date!  We were asked on a group date by team "<" (that's team less than).  They also are in our church group so it was really fun to get to know them.  We had supper together at the Osprey Diner, which is the dining hall :) and then went to the mall for a scavenger hunt.  It was so fun...hopefully I will have pictures soon!  We then went to a chocolate shop that also had ice cream.  We got ice cream and a free piece of chocolate and took a walk in the town center parking lot.  It's a great group of guys and we all had a great time!

We also had our first bible study this week.  And our first rounds of one on ones!  I feel like I am really connecting with my girls and I love them all dearly!  I can't wait to grow with them as the summer goes on.  One of the things you could be praying for is scripture memory.  It's something that, as a team, we have been struggling with.  Even though they know why it's important to hide scripture in your heart it has been a challenge.

Beach evanglism was great this week.  I went with Laura Tyler and we both got to share once but both groups were believers.  If you could be praying for non-believers who are ready and searching to come into our paths that would be really encouraging.  Jerry Bridges this week and talking about the WORD!

Earth Wind and FIRE!

I have been in JAX now for over a week!  It seems like it has gone by so fast and I just can't believe what God has already been teaching me and the ways He has been challenging me and shaping me to be more Christ like!

First I think I should share about what an amazing provider He has been!  Before school got out I was reading in Exodus 16 how after God brought the Israelites out of Egypt He fed them with Mana.  Each person was provided with just the right amount to meet their needs.  It was sweet how God didn't give them too little or too much.  I began praying that for my fundraising this summer and praying that I would be fully funded by the time I got to JAX.  Well our God is a faithful God who meets all of our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ!  It took us two days to get down here and on our first stop I got a phone call and I AM FULLY FUNDED!  Which is such a blessing!  I feel like I can now just focus on the work set out for me here and put all of my energy there!

There were also many aspects of my character that I was praying over God to break this summer and again he has been faithful.  One of these is my pride.  I would say that it's something that is always there, especially in a leadership position.  I was talking to Heather today, I girl that was in my bible study at UNI, about how God has really began to break me down in this area.  At UNI I feel like the NAV staff knows me pretty well and will give me many chances to lead and take things over which is one of the sources of my pride.  Here the staff doesn't know me as well and so they will pair me with another team leader that has been here before.  My first instinct is to defend my competence but I know that it is just my pride.  It's been amazing how God had been teaching me humility through these little things.

Another characteristic is when I get into large groups of people I tend to have a dominate personality...sometimes I call it "competitive talking."  I have really begun to desire being a more peaceful and quiet person, not meaning I don't talk but that I don't have to rule the conversation.  I have also seen God work in this way too.  I don't feel the need to command attention to myself which has been a new experience.

The most exciting thing is my my team! We are team EARTH WIND AND FIRE.  I didn't know about this whole team name thing but it's kind of a big deal to pick a sweet team name.  So mine is based off of Isaiah 43:1-2 and it's about how not matter what we go through God is our creator and he is with us.  I was so nervous to meet the women on my team but I couldn't me more excited to have these three wonderful ladies in my group.  Liz and Laura Tyler go to the University of Iowa and then Erica goes to Northwest Missouri State.   They are wonderful and It has been a joy to get to know them and their hearts for the Lord.  

Yesterday (Saturday) we got to do some evangelism.  I got to go out with Erica and we talked to three people.  They all said their were believers, but the most exciting thing is Erica got to share the bridge (illustration of the gospel) for the first time!!!!!  It was so exciting to see.  One of the things you could be praying for is just boldness and opportunities for us to share the gospel.

We have also had a bunch of team time this week.  One night we got gelato and just walked on the beach, we also all went swimming in the ocean and another night we spend an hour looking for a cookie place that I guess had now closed...so sad but it was the journey that was fun :)  Last night we went to an area downtown to eat that is right next to the harbor and we got to see almost twenty dolphins!!! It was AMAZING!  If you would be praying for just further unity and vulnerability for our team that would be wonderful!

I also had orientation for my job at Adventure Landing...which I start tomorrow.  We spent most of orientation playing lazer tag and driving go-carts so it was pretty fun.  I start at 7am tomorrow and I'm told we are doing odd jobs since we work at 7 but the park doesn't open until 10.  I'm really excited and think this job should be pretty fun and interesting.  They told me I might just be welcoming people to the park.  I like welcoming people so I'm totally fine with that! :)

I know this was kind of scattered but I hope it gave you a little update on what I'm learning and areas where you can be praying.  It is so encouraging to know there is a group of people prayerfully supporting me! Oh and my computer isn't working so I don't have any pictures so sorry...I'm sure there will be some on facebook soon!

Man's Best Motivator

So part my R&R since I've been home is going on walks and runs.  My running partner(s) are amazing motivaters...they have four legs, are covered in fur and are my two dogs.  My dog Molly is a genius.  She knows even when you are thinking about going on a run or walk.  This morning I was going to try to sneak out without her but she knows...

I woke up, checked the weather (humidity of 91% :P ), changed into my clothes and went to get my shoes which were up stairs.  I thought "If she is up there i'm just going to grab them, put them behind my back and put them on downstairs. (Have you ever tried to put on running shoes with an excited beyond belief dog dancing around your face?  It's hard! :) )  Anyway I saw her, went into the other room to get my shoes, put them behind my back so she couldn't see them and went down stairs to put them on and brush my teeth.  Soon I hear her "I know what you are doing and I want to come too" whines from the top of the stairs.  She sits there for a while and then they come down the stairs and are right outside my bathroom.  She goes into my room and sees no one then goes back up stairs.

After hearing these whines you just can't say no to her.  She is just the sweetest thing!  So after I got out of my bathroom i put on my shoes and decided since she is coming with me I might as well show the world the world's smartest dog.  Many times if my mom asks where I am going and I don't want to set off a reaction with Molly I have to say "I'm taking M for a W"  She knows walk and she knows w-a-l-k so you can't say those around her.  It's considered pure torture in our house and just cruel if you get her all excited and then don't take her for a walk.  In part of this video you can even hear my sister say "you are so mean" thinking I'm just video taping her for fun.

 Miss Molly also discovered car air conditioning on our drive to our running trail.  It was so cute, she kept putting her nose right on the vent! : )

Here are my superstars after our run...

Duke (he is very photogenic...haha!)

Molly

PART II - Taking a step of faith

After deciding at EDGE preview that I was going to start applying for JAX the next step was the trickiest!  Telling my parents, who were positive I was going to Eagle Lake.  However, God's timing is perfect.  I had spent the rest of the week in Colorado visiting friends and had only one, short night before I had to get back to Cedar Falls to Biscuit sit. (Biscuit is the dog I dog sit :)) 

I got home after driving for 12ish hours, I ate and fell asleep on the couch...however, after I woke from my little nap my parents asked if I had heard anything about this summer.  I told them that I wasn't going to be going to Eagle Lake anymore I was going to go to JAX.  My parents were caught off guard and there were a few tears shed but I showed them everything I had gotten about it. We watched some videos, google mapped University of North Florida and talked for awhile.  I went to bed knowing that I was going to JAX with my parent's blessing.

The next day I packed up my car and headed for school.  Next I had to apply.  Which would have been an easy task if I wasn't such a procrastinator and didn't take the literacy education killer class this last semester!  I did eventually get it done...even if it was at 9:45 PM the night it was due...:) And....I got accepted as a team leader.

One of my parent's biggest questions was how I was going to pay for this.  I told my dad that most people raise support.  This was what kept me from being a team leader in summer of '09 at SMR so I was worried how this would go over.  However, my parents talked about it and the next time I was home my parents told me to do what I needed to.  It was sweet to see how God had worked to change their hearts and continue to open doors for me to go to JAX!

Even though my parents were now at least semi-comfortable with me raising support, I hadn't realized that I wasn't quite there yet.  I had tried to save but with little time to work that wasn't really an option.  I hadn't realized how much pride I had and how in order to do this I would have to get over that and allow people to partner with me in doing God's work.

One of the passages that has been very uplifting to me in the past few months with fund raising has been Philippians 4:10-20.  Paul is thanking the Philippians for their gifts and sharing in his ministry.  That is what I was needing...partners in ministry.  I was also encouraged by one of my staff members.  I ran into her on my way to bible study one night and I started asking her who I should send letters to.  She told me everyone!  I don't get to decide who is on my team.  I had the chance to invite everyone I knew to be a part of what God is doing through me and that is good and glorifying in his eyes.  So I started sending out letters!  Nearly 100 letters in total.

It's been amazing to see God's faithfulness in it all.  I had been avoiding checking it and then when I finally did I saw I had over $400 already, which was so incredible!  When I got home for school I was seeing that I had quite a ways to go and was getting a bit discouraged.  I have been learning a lot about prayer and praying fervently and what that looks like.  So I went for a run and prayed the entire time for my funding.  One of the promises I prayed through came from Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  God is going to meet all of my needs, even my funding for this summer!  It has been amazing to see God's faithfulness I am now up to almost $2000 as of tonight and am so excited how God is going to provide the rest. God has really grown my faith in this process...and that is what it has been, a process.

Even more to come about JAX and what I've been learning during my break!  I leave in 10 days!

Part I - Beginning the Journey

I would say it started last summer. I stayed in Cedar Falls, took classes, and worked all the hours catering and babysitting could give me. I definitely learned a ton and grew as a woman of God but it wasn't a restful or extremely fun summer to say the least. One day while sitting on my couch in my apartment avoiding homework I began research on what I was going to do THIS SUMMER!

I eventually decided on doing Eagle Lake Camp. It was perfect! It was in the mountains of Colorado (which I love), it was PAID (my parents would like that), and it was working with kids (which is what I'm going to do with the rest of my life). This was exactly what I was supposed to do with my summer! I was sure of it. I had even talked to one of my best friends and she was thinking about it too!

For some reason though I knew I wasn't suppose to send in the application. I had it almost all filled out...but it just didn't seem right for some reason. Then Main Event 2010. Even though I was convinced I was going to Eagle Lake I knew that God wanted me to have a leadable heart and keep my options open. I had been learning a lot about listening to God and waiting on him.

One night as I was praying and spending time in the word before my bible study I felt God was telling me I didn't trust him. I began to realize that I wasn't trusting God with my finances. Eagle Lake Camp was the easy choice because all I had to trust God with was that I would be accepted. With JAX I would have to trust him with raising over $2,300 and being accepted and guidance to lead and I am currently learning much more.

So...I resisted...until encouragement came. As I was leaving for Thanksgiving break I received an anonymous card in the mail with $100 in cash in it. It said to use the money to help me do God's will for me that summer. I knew as soon as I opened that letter I was not going to Eagle Lake and I was going to trust God with more than I wanted to at that moment! God had increased my faith through this he was going to be faithful for the rest.

I ignored this and tried my best to escape the topic for the time being with my parents. Then over Christmas break I went to EDGE preview. The whole weekend was about trusting God--go figures :) I also had a talk with one of my roommates at EDGE about raising funds and how her parents weren't in total support and how she dealt with it.

After EDGE preview I knew I was going to STP.

Two verses that comes up time and time again in my journal during this time.

"Always give yourselves fully to the word of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

I knew that no matter what I did this summer it was not in vain as long as what I was doing was for the Lord...

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding

but must be controlled by bit and bridle

or they will not come to you" Psalm 32:8

I knew God would be faithful to this promise of leading me as long as i sought to understand and listen to his voice. It also was reassuring that this decision depending more on God than on me.

*more to come in PART II :)

Taking a Look Around...

I think it is really easy for me to be blind. Blind to what is going on around me because I'm scared to face what it really means. I don't want to feel bad or guilty. So instead I ignore it because it's easier than being vulnerable.

One of my assignments for my Human Relations class is to do some community service. We were given a group of choices and one of the places was the hospitality house in Waterloo. When I was younger I remember watching a show about poverty and crying myself to sleep because I was guilty of what I had. How I would have given up my bed that night to anyone. Ever since then I seem to look the other way or make myself "blind" when I see someone who is really poor. I haven't ever interacted with the really poor. When I was in high school my family drove to Florida and I remember staying in Atlanta. We saw people in living under bridges. My first reaction was fear.

This fear is what I felt going into this experience: fear of the unknown, fear of not knowing what to say to them. I also am possibly going to Nicaragua for my student teaching. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the world and in less than a year I will be living there. My perception of the homeless was old men sleeping in the park who were either on drugs or alcoholics. I expected all of them to be lazy, not wanting to better themselves. My expectations for the house were that it would be similar to a coffee shop atmosphere for the homeless. Neither the people nor the place aligned with my imagination.

While sitting at the dining table during lunch on Saturday I had a surprising moment. One of the ladies that had come in that day was talking about when she went to UNI. This lady was trying to get a job doing landscaping. She was following up on a lead she got at the hospitality house. I wouldn’t describe her as lazy by any means. She had just hit rough patch in her life. The trigger was that she had gone to UNI. She was a college student just like me at one point. She had lived in the dorms and figured out her schedule and walked around the same campus I now do. Now she was living in her van and showering at the hospitality house. Made me think about how it could happen to anyone.

This morning I spent sometime driving around the neighborhood before I got to the house. It is like something I've never seen. It's just 15 minutes from my apartment but it's a whole new world. Tilting houses, high speed chases, and fences made out of tin: this is what the neighborhood is made of.

The house is just that, a home for the homeless. It has a bathroom where the homeless people can bathe, a washer and dryer where they can do their laundry, computers where they can catch up with family or look for jobs, clean clothes, a TV and games were the can relax and of course food to eat. Joni, one of the directors, saw a need in the community and has been working to meet that need. Shelters like the Salvation Army and the Catholic Workers House will let people sleep there but there is no place for these people to go for lunch or if it’s cold or rainy outside. I also learned that the Salvation Army only lets people stay there for twenty nights and Catholic Worker’s House only lets people stay there for ten nights. After that they are back on the streets.

I think I learned that sometime you have to be willing to walk in someone else’s shoes. We are more alike than different. It also made me very thankful for what my parents have done for me and the status I was born into. I know if I ever had troubles they would take me in to help me back on my feet. This lady needed just that, a little help to get her back on her feet. I also realized how much I take for granted. I have clothes that I don’t wear. While I was there a man came in and took clothes from the clothing room. The clothes that I wear would be better utilized by them, than they are currently being used by me. I would recommend everyone get to know someone who is in poverty it really changes your perspective and let you see how privileged most of us are.

I also look at Joni and how her heart just breaks for these people. She not only saw something that needed to be done but she did something about it. She is the one advocating for the homeless in Waterloo. She gives so much of herself to these people. She is truely dedicated to her mission. There are only two other places like this in the Midwest: one in the twin cities and one in Chicago.

Student Teaching

Two weeks ago I had my international/out-of-state student teaching interview. I didn't know where exactly I wanted to go. I had put Greece and Switerland as my top two choices but was thinking that I wanted to stay in the US and just do a out-of-state placement. After talking to Leigh Martin, the director of international student teaching she suggested that I go to Nicaragua. It is an amazing school and they are always begging for student teachers from UNI. I am so excited to have this opportunity to live in another country and learn about their culture.

I am super excited to see how God is going to use this opportunity. My roommate Mallory is going to Nicaragua this summer for a couple weeks as part of the Speech Pathology group here at UNI. They are actually working at a Christian orphanage. I would love to work at an orphanage like this. Nicaragua is a very poor country so I know there will be lots of places for me to serve and I'm so excited about it! I feel like God is really openning doors for me to go to Nicaragua. More to come!