it's official!

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We got our official ID's today! 
I am now a member of the DRM intern staff. 

Today we all went through orientation and learned about the history 
of the Denver Rescue Mission, along with the guidelines and purposes of each of the centers. 

I have already made some good friends of my fellow interns here. 

God is so good here in what He is doing in all the programs and what He is already doing in us.   

my next big adventure.

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I am about to leave to begin my internship! 
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. 

Thank you for partnering with me on this journey! 

home sweet homa.

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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.
  
Your Kingdom, come quickly.
Your will be done the same.


we will move when you tell us to move.

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Nan Kang, China. 

The very words warm my heart and invigorate my being. 

After returning from my time in China two years ago I had a bad attitude about the place. It is, no doubt, a hard place to be. One cannot express their faith in God fully because Christianity is squelched by the government. In prayer we could not close our eyes nor speak the name of Jesus ((or God, for that matter)). Our sole intent of going to China at all is not to preach the Gospel or put on a youth service, but merely to share Christ through relationship... relationship that, most of the time, takes years to build. It is not glamorous, instantaneous ministry but, perhaps, it is among the most rewarding things a person can do on this earth--to share Christ through action (and pray someday to share Him in word) to those very people who have been deprived of knowing His name... In a country where people are tortured and killed for knowing Christ and serving Him. 

Needless to say, God completely changed my attitude about China. 

I taught English for a week (for almost eight hours a day) at the high school in Nan Kang. The very campus itself was built on the same ground where a church once stood. God was so clearly at work there. I grew so close to the students and teachers in NK and would pretty much do anything to be back there in this very moment. I can safely say that my time at NK has turned out to be one of the best weeks of my entire 22 years of existence. 

There was one English teacher at NK that I spent every hour with, her name is Lily. God gave me such outstanding opportunities with her to speak about my faith. I know in my heart that someday she will have the freedom of knowing Christ. Pray for her. Pray for them. This school will, one day, stand for Christ and Christ alone. This I know. 
(where the church used to stand)
(Penny, a teacher at NK school)
 (Lily and I)
(Lily, Angela, Penny, and Kelly--English teachers at NK)

we will go where you tell us to go.

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I cannot believe a month has come and gone and now I am back from SE Asia. 
To say time has flown this past school year would be an understatement. God has done so much in my life and is continually growing me and shaping me to be the person He desires me to be. I have had so many opportunities to grow my leadership, including this recent trip to Asia. 

On this amazing trip I was given the opportunity to lead three different teams. The first was into a small city in China called Nan Kang. Next, into the boarder of Thailand and Burma in a city called Mae Sot. And finally into the jungles of Chiang Mai, Thailand ((I also spent a week in Beijing touring)).

God has transformed my heart and my worldview through each place and each person I have grown to love. I truly saw the beauty of meeting my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who live on the other side of the world. It baffles me that Jesus can bring together so many people and give them a bond unlike any other. 

Over the coming days I want to share some stories and pictures with you. 
My hope is that you will see God at work all over the world.
 He was there before we went and He is still working there even though we left. 

I thank God for how far I have come in life and on my journey with Him. It is crazy to see His plans for my unfolding. He truly has a plan for His children, to prosper and not to harm them. 

it's the friggin' weeken(d).

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Since I am leaving for Asia this coming Friday I have been stressed with finishing homework (I am pretty much done with the semester AHH!). This weekend I had an assignment, AN ASSIGNMENT, that made me pause from doing homework and do things I enjoy. "A Day of Celebration". Woosh. It was needed celebration. So, after finishing like ten assignments Thursday night (I stayed up so late all by my self to do so... a rare thing for me), I went into the weekend with a better, less stressed attitude! 

Yesterday, Andrew and I baked vegan cookies, made chocolate covered raspberries, went to the thrift store, went to Lan's (our favorite local Asian haunt) and watched 
three movies (THREE MOVIES, who does that??? We do). 

I have one more major assignment... major... preaching in front of my class (blah)...
THEN I AM FREE! Free to eat as much Pad Thai and green curry as my little white person belly can handle (which is a lot...). I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in Asia this year. Something huge is coming and I can feel it in my bones. 

So, I am Yours God. Do with me what you will. These days. And all the days to come. 
I believe it's going to rain. 

when it matters most.

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Today after class I spent time in our prayer room, a nice big space that looks out over downtown. We have a little place where people can write prayer requests or just thoughts from God and tack them on a wall. Today, I found a note tacked up that was just perfect for what I am going through at this time in life--a little reminder from God to me, written by a willing hand. 

"I have forgiven you, you are my child. 
Rejoice in the fact that I love you. 
I have also forgiven you of this guilt and regret you are living in, let go of this. 
I want you to live in the freedom I have given you. 
Accept it and learn to love who I have created you to be. 
You are my child. 
You are my child. 
I love you. 
I love you. 
I love you. 
Let go of everything that is holding you back and accept the life I have prepared for you."

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