2010 Summer Intern Blogs

So this is my 3rd time trying to write my final blog because my computer doesn't seem to want to post anything from this site.

Since the last time any of the interns saw each other I've have time to think about everything that we did and the experience itself. I've come to the conclusion that I could've kept going even though I was physically done. There is something about doing an outreach that is just amazing. Even walking around painted different colors and talking about Christ just makes you feel like you are accomplishing something, even if the conversations go nowhere.

I can't thank enough Jason and his family, Beck, and Lexi for everything that they are doing and they did in my life. You all have forever changed me.

To all the students I trained, you guys also taught me things about myself that I never knew. You all were a blast and I enjoyed working with you guys out on the mission field.

To the pastors that spoke into my life and were with me through some crazy times, Pastor Kev you know what I'm talking about ("Well we have to go up cause we sure can't go back down!") You all have changed me and given me wisdom that I will hold close to my heart. I hope to keep in contact and talk with you all sometime in the future.

I couldn't see myself doing anything else this summer. This tour was where I was suppose to be. From here, I have one more year of college, marriage, and a career to look forward too. It is almost like climbing a mountain. Really going hard and putting in time and effort only to reach the top and see other, bigger mountains and wanting to climb them as well.

Through it all, God deserves the utmost glory, honor and praise because let's face it, with Him there wouldn't even be mountains to climb in the first place.

Blessings to you all. 

God is totally in the business of messing people up, but in a good way. This summer has changed the way I look at God and how I look at other people. Someone once told me that God is about love and He loves people and He should because He created all of us. It says in the Bible that God created and saw that it was good. Then we went through this crazy series of events of us as humanity falling away and coming back to God. Finally, God wanted to show us He meant business and that He truly loved us. He sent His one and only Son to die for us because of His undying affection for us. 

We need to love as God does. We need to love the people that do not know Him so much that we will help them in anyway possible because God loves them.  It is all about love. "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8 

Today I lead someone to the Lord. But it wasn't typical. This person knew Jesus and wanted to follow, but felt they needed to know everything or at least a lot about Him before they followed Him. I told them that getting to know Him WAS following him. You have to have faith to follow Him and, as you journey this messed up sea called life, you get to know him and even then you never really get to know ALL about him. I think we really forget that sometimes. Uncertainty is ok. Look at Abraham... He didn't even know where he was going. Just a lost nomadic man talking to the sky... But his offspring are nations themselves. Getting to know God and trusting him is part of what being a Christian is about. We choose to follow Him but then we must FOLLOW and not admire, as a friend of mine put it.  Jesus wants followers-not worshippers.

I love building fires in my fire pit back at home or at my friends house. There's just something about it that is relaxing and that I love. Building the fire itself though is the hardest but most important thing. If you don't build it correctly it will just fizzle out or not even start to begin with. If that's not enough, once it lights there is a huge amount of smoke that can cause you as well as other to tear up. Oddly enough I was reading a book of sayings and found this:

There is labour and great struggle for the impious

who are converted to God, but after comes inexpressible Joy.

A man who wants to light a fire first is plagued by smoke,

the smoke drives drives him to tears, yet he finally gets the fire he wants.

So it is also written: Our God is an all consuming fire. Hence we ought to

light the divine fire in ourselves with labour and with tears.

 I think this is so true. In order for us to become closer to God we need to work at it, or labor over it. Just like with a fire you need to work at it. There will be a lot of smoke and sometimes frustration because things are difficult, but eventually you get a nice fire. 

These past two weeks have been some of the craziest in my life. But I wouldn't have it any other way. This has been such an amazing experience for me in learning about myself and in stretching myself. Just going to parks and seeing kids and families faces light up and smile when a lot of the times they are smug or filled with sorrow. But even better we aren't just there to make them happy, we are proclaiming His name and Love to them.

There was one instance that just made my week: We made balloon animals for the kids and during the puppet skit one kids balloon animals untwisted but didn't pop. Andre saw this and ask the kid what was wrong. The kid told him with tears streaming down his face that it broke. So Andre  looked at it, picked it up and fixed it and the kid instantly smiled and was glad! 

So if you all didn't know this already... we pretty much have an awsome intern team this summer. Granted that this internship hasn't started exactly like we or anyone else ever wanted to, but never the less God is good and will remain so until He feels like He doesn't want to... which is never. So He pretty much is good all the time, so get the though of Him not being good or ever around out yeah HEAD! 

Second, Alexis which we lovingly call Auntie Lexi,  is an amazing artist.  We went over what she wanted to do for her new ministry, Painted Grace, today and I have to say I am pretty stoked to perform it because it is an amazing piece of art thought up by an amazing artist. I'll have to write more on it later or you can just comment on Auntie Lexi's blog and ask her to explain it to you!

BUT! It is late now and I really need to sleep... coffee only works it's magic for so long.

Blessings! 

I've had some really crazy things happen to me and have been part of some crazy strings of events but today and this internship has really taken the cake quite possibly. Between problems with the van and trailer, sound equipment, and now with what happened to Terri and the kids. It like my head is spinning and it's only day 3! With really crazy things like this going on, in my personal experience it can only mean God will move BIG! 

We had a really good time of prayer and worship tonight and had some really good bonding experiences as interns and beginning to build friendships. I can not wait to get out on the road and do some outreaches!!!!