One of the things I love about Denver is how there is always something cool going on... always free art and amazing live music in the streets. A big summer event here is the chalk festival. Many artists get plots of pavement in the streets and can draw whatever they like in chalk. They close the streets and tons of people flood in to view the amazing drawings. They were so elaborate that it was crazy to think they would eventually be washed away.
We got gelato and walked around the streets enjoying the atmosphere and the beauty.
Tomorrow I will be staying the night in a box out on the streets!
My church is taking a bunch of people to stay the night on the streets to raise awareness of homelessness in our community and to fundraise for organizations helping the homeless.
If you could donate anything to this cause it would be amazing-- click here. You can also see more information about "Night in a Box" here.
I love that Jesus calls us to be so radically different in order to lead His broken people to Him.
I am constantly in awe of what God is doing here in Denver. The church family I am slowly becoming a part of, at Providence Church, is so amazing that it makes me want to come and live in Denver just so I can be a part of it.
There is a time of testimony when people get up and share what God has been doing in their lives. There are times of fellowship and of sharing the Word. The pastor is so vulnerable and so passionate (not to mention CRAZY challenging) about the work and Word of God. The congregation is so friendly and inviting. One of my favorite aspects about this church is the diversity. Every Sunday we sing songs in multiple languages throughout the service. Today we sang "How He Loves Us" in Swahili, Spanish, and English. It was amazing and brought tears to my eyes. The worship and the family feel of this church is truly one that is pleasing to God... a pure picture of Heaven.
Today I felt a strong urge from the Holy Spirit to pray for healing for a woman. I knew at the beginning of this summer that I wanted it to be a summer of abiding in God and following where He leads me--however hard or uncomfortable things are. I got to pray with this woman who was suffering from multiple ailments. After, I knew I had been obedient to God and that I had begun a new journey of constantly being radical for Him and actively loving His children.
This Friday night we are joining the church in a fundraiser to raise awareness about homelessness AND we are sleeping in boxes downtown... pretty much my jam, as most of you know.
A few of us headed out on a tasty adventure the other night--we ended up at Little Man Ice Cream.
This ice cream place is basically in a GIANT old milk thingy..(?)
The line is always down the block so obviously it is a must try. I had a wonderful strawberry sorbet with a sneaky bite of my friend's SALTED OREO--life changing, worth breaking a vegan diet for.
When I came to Denver, before I had moved in and met my fellow interns, I was scared. Scared that I would not be able to find people to explore this state with me... I was even scared I would have to just sit in my room every evening after work by myself and do nothing... I was so wrong.
There are so many amazing interns here that I have become friends with over the past week. Interns that build each other up, have fun with together, challenge each other, and love each other... interns that love to explore as much as I do! SO, this weekend we took advantage of our little break from social working and went downtown!
The Denver downtown area is amazing. There are live performers everywhere and even pianos just sitting on the sidewalk asking to be played or painted. There is shopping, festivals, and live music galore. I just love the flair of this place and the creativity that is being embraced.
^^Denver Rescue Mission's downtown campus (temp shelter and feeding line)
AKA DRML (Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street)^^
^^My cute little roomie--I am so thankful for her!^^
^^homeless people just making art on the street--beautiful^^
^^this quirky character sketching on this random plastic tent set up for people to sketch on..?^^
^^a random sample of things you might see downtown...a rejected gallon of milk...ndb^^
Internship is sort of a right of passage at Vanguard College (as well as a requirement) and I am so happy to have chosen such a great organization to go with-- The Denver Rescue Mission! I will be interning as a case worker for the Family and Senior Housing Initiative. It is an intimidating job title, but I know that God is going to teach me so much and grow my heart for His people!
I chose DRM because I wanted to be challenged in a way that I had never been before. I have been on many short-term mission trips, throughout my years, to places overseas mostly. I decided it was time (and more out of my comfort zone) to work with people in my own community--people who society have falsely deemed "the least of these".
I believe in God's restorative justice and His ability to turn lives around and change them for the better. I am so excited to see Him at work throughout my time at the DRM!
Things you can pray for:
for me to have a willing heart,
for me to grow and gain more initiative,
that I would follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit,
for life changing relationships to be built,
for DRM to have a hand in breaking the cycle of poverty,
and most of all--for Christ to be glorified above all else and for people to come to know Him.
I found this film floating around my room and took it to get developed. Turned out to have pictures from last summer's outing to Horlock Park with a couple of my friends in Edmonton.
Although it seems that many mass tragedies have hit close to
home throughout my life, I have never experienced the gravity that comes with
such events being close to home, that is, until now.
Just ten miles away from our home is where the monstrous
tornado took the lives of many and turned homes, and life’s earnings, into
rubble last night. It is a surreal feeling. As if my whole city, nay--my whole
state, is in mourning. Such a mourning that seeps into everyday activities and
brings communities as close as family.
The reality that it could have been my family is not real to
me; I still feel invincible… as, I suppose, many young people do. And as the
messages flood my inbox from loving friends saying things like “I am so glad you are okay” and “keep yourself safe”, I cannot help but feel
that my own life is no more valuable than those that were lost. I wonder if they knew the love and the freedom that
Christ brings. And when I think of that, I wish I could have traded places with
someone who perhaps had yet to encounter the living God, if only they could
live to find Him one day. Alas, I know it no help to stew in sorrow--so I will
live this life I have been given, trusting that God has big plans for me and
striving to live each moment to its full, seeing with God’s eyes and not my own
and loving without regard to my own comfort.
It brings joy to me that they have to turn volunteers away
to help this relief effort. It is amazing that so many people are looking for
ways to help that we have too many people. This makes me proud to be an
Oklahoman.
I believe that God can work through disaster and pain. There
have been so many people who have stepped up in this time of crisis to serve
their fellow human being, this, to me, is truly a picture of Heaven. All of us
joining forces to love one another with a reckless abandon—forfeiting our own
safety or comfort. My question is this: why does a disaster have to happen
before people in a community are motivated to love one another in radical ways?
Why do we not actively bring Heaven to earth in everyday life? I am not writing
these words to condemn, for I am one of these billions of people on this earth
who could due with improving myself to love others in a more active way. I
write these words to challenge us all. Do not wait for disaster to strike
before you start loving your neighbor actively. Do something kind for someone
today… and everyday. Bring Heaven to earth. Bring Him glory in all you do.
