There's this episode in season three of The Office when Pam has an art show and she decides to invite everyone from work to come. After taking her very first painting class, she displays her watercolors in a gallery, along with her entire class. To her severe dismay, her watercolors go practically unnoticed amongst the big, elaborate canvases displayed by her classmates. No one shows up for her show, save for her awful boyfriend, Roy, and Oscar, whose friend completely criticizes Pam's work right in front of her. An incredible failure sinks deep into her, and Pam Beasley, my personal hero, feels the all-too-familiar burden of defeat. We've all experienced the sting of failure, yet some people are able to cope with it more resiliently than others. Unfortunately for me, I've always had difficulty with failure. Defeat so easily finds itself on my doorstep, and I often allow it to define me. Anytime I begin feeling as if who I am or what I've done will never be worthy of any sort of praise from others, I want to give up. I have invented my own version of success, and if I don't live up to it, I feel completely insignificant. Last week, I participated in the 2nd Annual Fresh Paint Art Show, in which I had submitted four pieces, in hopes to sell them for Africa revenue. I worked really hard on my pieces, and I thought they were decent enough to display in the gallery. Unfortunately, I showed up the morning of the show to hang them, and my heart sank. Everyone else's work was light-years better than my measly watercolors that were sure to go overlooked on the gallery walls. I was humiliated as I watched people walk around, and although they weren't saying it out loud, I just knew in my wretched little heart that they were thinking terrible things about my artistic abilities. It was then that I thought of Pam, and I realized how similar we were at that moment. Failure weighed heavy upon me, so I hung my head and allowed Satan to beat me up about it. I felt like giving up. I had sat on the sidelines with my artwork, and he first time I put myself out there, no one fell at my feet in praise of my work, so I felt like I failed. Truthfully, I often steer clear of doing things if there is a chance of failure involved. God gives me these huge desires, yet I always cower in fear on the brink of that final leap, simply because I don't want to feel defeated. This attitude only allows me to sit around a sulk, rather than embracing the challenges that God presents me with. I'm afraid that I will end up with nothing to show for myself, so I pine over the meaning of success. What does it even look like? Someone once told me that success is living a whole day in complete obedience to God. I don't think that I look to God for success enough, and that's where I fail. Failure didn't stop Pam from pursuing the path she had been blessed with, and I should look to that as an example. One of my favorite songs is a song called "Challengers", which often serves as courage for me, as it says, "another vision of us, we were the challengers of the unknown." Why not challenge the unknown? Even if we fail in the eyes of mankind, we will never fail in the eyes of our Creator, as there is success in following Him that is unlike anything of this world. I can, indeed, claim the reason why I have this issue, which leads me to my next point: I care too much about what people think of me. In fact, part of me is worried about what my team will think of me being the first person to write a free blog. Will they think I'm really lame? Will they think that I have no social life and I all I do is sit around on my computer all day? Now, isn't that silly? The answer, my friend, is not really blowin' in the wind…it lies in part two of this blog. So, until next time…
Here is the link for the Mozambique Traveling Info by the CDC: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationMozambique.aspx . The recommended shots are: Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Tyhoid Rabies Malaria Please check this site as they tell that Chloroquine is Not effective in Mozambique.
LADIES: You have to wear a skirt while in Mozambique. That skirt has to be to the knee.
-You are allowed to bring TWO suitcases. One suitcase is for
your personal clothing and one suitcase will be used for ministry supplies.
During training camp, you will NOT
have access to your ministry supply suitcase, so don't put anything that you
are going to need in that suitcase.
-Your ministry supply list can be found in your handbook. It
is very important for you to read that.There are no changes to the list. Bring what
you can on that list, you do not need to bring everything on it. When everyone
gets here, we will make sure each team has what they need for ministry.
-Everyone needs to bring a swimsuit to training camp.
Regardless if you think you will use it or not on your trip, you NEED to bring one. It will be used
during your training camp.
Your whole team completed the assignment on time! It is supposed to be a 3 week assignment, but you have all shown me that you know what you are doing! Your the only team to do this so far :-)
I
encourage you to comment on each post and get to know your team a
little bit more before you come to Gainesville. This blog is now free for you to write on it whenever you want. I encourage you to blog once a week before you leave, and let your team know what's going on in your lives. Let them lift you up and speak life!
Just a reminder, when you are out in the
field, you will be required to blog at least once a week on this blog. Might as well get some practice.
Posted in A Trip Update by Jaribel Torres on 4/22/2008
Community. Openness. Realness. Freedom. These four seemingly simple words have been major themes in my life lately, and it all began my first year of college. The friends I have made in college have changed my life. I came to college and I thought I knew who I was and what I was looking for but soon my boundaries were shaken. I had entered community. It was in my small group of friends that I learned the importance of being open and being real. With my friends there was an atmosphere that allowed for openness and realness and anything other that just didn't seem right. I was encouraged to be me and it was okay. I finally experienced a love where I could just lay out who I was—the good and the bad—and I was accepted. There was understanding and encouragement as well as challenges. It was understood that we were in everything together and we were there for each other. There was growth. It was in that group of friends that was able to be open and real with myself. I was able to confront my struggles as well as grow in my strengths. I was able to deal with my past hurts and explore my true passions. I was free to be me. I wasn't used to being able to be open and real and express doubts and concerns about life and about God but with my friends, we were honest. We were honest and together we've grown. We've matured spiritually, emotionally, and mentally and it's been awesome. It's been such a great experience to tackle life together, challenging each other, and supporting each other in this journey we call life. Through my friendships I learned the beauty of community and now how can I desire anything else? Through the odd mix that I call my friends, I learned about the freedom that comes through openness and being real. I experienced the beauty of the body of Christ and the freedom that comes through embracing it. It's something that I desire to see everywhere that I go and something I always want to pour into and help develop whenever I can because of how much it's impacted me. My beliefs or values haven't been shaped by just one specific event; it's been a series of events. They haven't been impacted by just one person; it's been by many people. The past three years have been a journey of transformation in who I am and what I believe and I'm so excited to continue that journey!
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 6PM EST we will have a Support Raising Team Conference call. Vicki Gross, our
director, and Becca Arnold, will be conducting the
call. You will need to call in if you don't have $2000 in your account.
The
number that you call in on is: 712-451-6100. You dial that number and
then it will ask you for your access code which is: #348324. Please email nextstep@adventures.org if you will be participating.
Posted in A Trip Update by Daniel Hovanas on 4/22/2008
You know that feeling when you get when you’re in a room full of people striving for the same goal. Where everyone is vibing for the same cause. Where you feel the momentum going forward for this revolution. This revolution that can’t be stopped. Where you feel so close to the person next to you, and you have no idea what their name is. Where you get goose bumps, and you begin getting this excitement growing in your soul to where you want more, need more, crave more. Then the guitarist plays a few more chords, and the singer sings a few more lyrics. And then you get this rush of all new emotions. Music is away for me to express my feelings, my love for Jesus and others. Though I can’t sing, I can play my guitar and to me that’s just as good. My guitar to me is like a gateway to God. When I play, I only play for him and no one else. It’s like we have this special bond between us that’s connected by my guitar. (When I say special bond I don’t think that God and I have this thing that no one else has. I think we all have our special way of communicating or showing our love to God, that only you and God know and share). I tend to play my guitar a lot, actually I play it everyday. I play for the youth group and on Sunday services, and I can’t get enough of it. The best part about playing my guitar is that I get to share my gateway to God. My special bond. Like today at church we played this song where I was able to turn my guitar up way loud and rock out. I was playing with these funky sounds that I made the night before, and to see the older generation of our congregation rocking out to it was awesome. When I see and feel everyone vibing together with a purpose and a common goal, it makes me feel like I did something good, and that God is pleased. To me that's the greatest feeling in the world.
Posted in A Trip Update by Ruth Phillips on 4/21/2008
On a Thursday afternoon in December 2005, I received a phone call informing me that a friend from high school was killed in a car accident. I couldn't control the tears- they seemed to naturally flow from my eyes for hours. My heart was heavy. It just didn't seem right for someone so young and so full of life to be taken.
That same night I went to our weekly FCA gathering on campus where a man named Gray Forrester was speaking. I didn't really feel up to going that night, as my eyes were swollen and red from crying all afternoon, but the Lord had a message He wanted me to hear. I will be honest; I do not remember everything that Mr. Forrester spoke about, but I do clearly remember four words that I have held onto ever since: "God never says oops." It finally clicked! God never wishes that He could rewind time and change the way things pan out. He knows- He has always known! He has purposed every minute of every day of all that goes on everywhere in His whole wide world. He is God. He is good.
When circumstances in life occur, in mine or someone else's, I am the first to say, "everything happens for a reason." Until that night, however, there was no root to that phrase. I didn't really understand that God is truly in control over all things, and whether we perceive them to be good or bad, He is in control. I saw the Lord in a new way, as He revealed to me a glimpse of His power and His glory.
Little did I know how deeply I would carry that message with me throughout the rest of that school year, in particular. Not much later, a close high school teacher died after battling cancer, my Bible study leader (also my sister's best friend) was killed in a car accident, and one of my best friend's dad's was diagnosed with ALS, and is now with our Lord. Oh, what do we cling to and how do we find peace apart from knowing that the Lover of our souls is in control of this life that is fleeting.
That night at FCA I felt as though the Lord was speaking right at me. What an impact that made on my walk with Him, and the way I view all of life's happenings. I forgot to mention, as we closed FCA out that night we sang "It Is Well with My Soul." Isn't God amazing?!
Posted in A Trip Update by Ben Hoagland on 4/21/2008
"Never underestimate my Jesus. You're telling me that there's no hope. I'm telling you you're wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus When the world around you crumbles He will be strong, He will be strong."
-Relient K, "For the Moments I Feel Faint"
My family had it easy growing up. The most we ever had to deal with was my brother not getting along with my parents. I thank the Lord that we never dealt with much pain or heartache. I had not had to handle tough, life-changing situations throughout the first 18 years of my life. That all changed the summer after I graduated high school.
Not long after graduation, my sister-in-law Holly found out she had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She and my brother Alex had been married for just under two years and they had a one year old daughter named Gracie. Holly had just graduated from college where she had played basketball for the past four years. She was in the best shape of her life, and then a bomb was dropped on our family.
I did not realize the significance of it at the time. I knew cancer was bad, but I had never dealt with anything like this in my life. My family was shocked. How could this happen to a young family that had everything going for them? Little did we know that this huge trial would show us how big our God really was.
Holly began chemotherapy in July of 2006. It was very hard on her and my brother, but it could have been much worse. My family was able to help out with their daughter, and the chemo's effects on Holly were less sever than expected.
In December of 2006, Holly had her last chemo treatment. She has been cancer free ever since. Through all of this, my brother, his wife, and the rest of my family all grew much closer to the Lord. We saw his awesome power and the amazing power of prayer. We thank the Lord everyday for how He brought us through Holly's battle with cancer.
There are many times when I survey my life, and I can instantly recall so many huge events that have wrecked me into the Christian that I am becoming. They sit so vividly in my mind, as they have sent tremors through my faith that are still felt today. I have recently learned, however, that I am a sucker for big moments such as these. The consumer in me constantly craves being presented with a feast from God, and I have somehow convinced myself that if I don't receive it, then I'm wasting my faith. It wasn't until God allowed me to stop and truly take in the idea that He can be seen in the small things more than anything else that I began to truly live my life by seizing moments as they come. I spent a month doing mission work in Swaziland last summer with an incredible girl named Lauren. She's not only my first nomination for the "Proverbs 31 Woman Award" (if there actually were such an award, and if anyone actually wanted to know my ideas on who was eligible to win it), but she's also a really cool girl who has since become one of my closest friends. One night, Lauren and I were taking a walk to the outhouse, and we began talking about the stars. Words can't even begin to describe how breathtaking the Africa night sky was, as it glowed and streaked with constellations unseen by Americans. I told Lauren that I wished I could take a picture of the stars, but that I didn't know the fancy camera tricks to do so. She then responded with, "yeah, but isn't it so great that you can't take a picture of them? Those stars are something that you just have to experience rather than capture." I thought that this was profound, yet I didn't quite understand why at the time. At the very end of 2007, I reflected on the year and came to the solid conclusion that it was the best year of my life. With the exception of going to Africa for a month, there weren't very many huge events that happened; it was just a really great year. There were so many tiny details about 2007 that made it life changing. I know I can be overtly passionate about things, but I truly believe that these details, although small, have shaped me and I will never forget them. That's when Lauren's words really hit me, and I realized that it was personal experiences that were so important in life. God gives us moments that build and build until they leave us standing in a place we never thought we'd be. When I think about that, I can only be assured of the realness of God. He's in the small things - the everyday things- and to discount them as being unimportant because of their size hinders us from experiencing Him in unique ways. I don't know, maybe 2007 only seems like the best year of my life since I've come to this realization, but who cares. If we can end every year recognizing more of the small moments we've been granted, then I think we're in pretty good shape. Slowing down to drink this in has been very crucial to my relationship with God. After all, He was never too keen on the boisterous. He didn't send His only son into the world in some loud, public manner; He came to us humbly, as a baby in a manger. If I'm constantly scrambling to make small moments bigger than they are, I am missing out on fully experiencing them. That's why it's ok that we can't take a picture of every beautiful human interaction we witness, record each amazing conversation we have, or even get a video of our favorite musician at a concert when they're standing five feet away. We would miss out on something that was created for us to experience. We must seize every moment, because when it's gone, it's gone. I've set out to seize more of life's smaller moments. How marvelous it will be to lay down in such glory!
*Notice
how her title is capitalized, she put "Trip Update" for her category,
and she has a nicely placed picture that is relative to her post. If
you need to change your post, please do so!
If you have any questions, please email me at
sethsimonson@adventures.org
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
"Bring out the boxes, we're moving again!" I did not expect this phrase to pass from my Dad's lips anymore. Fresh from Iraq, my father should not have received new orders to report to Washington D.C. in August. After all, that only gave my family two months to find a new place to live in a state that we were not familiar with. Needless to say, I was very unhappy.
Being in a military family, I am no stranger to moving. Even so, this particular move was most unwanted on my part because I had just finished my first year of high school, I was becoming more involved with my church and my amazing youth group, and I had the best friends that a girl could have. Life was better than it had ever been for me. A single phrase shattered it all.
After the bomb dropped, I could not understand why God would take all of this away from me when I had been deprived of this kind of connection with a community all my life. I pleaded with Him to fix everything, to make it impossible for us, to go. When my prayers weren't answered in the way I hoped and expected, I decided I wasn't going to turn to my Heavenly Father anymore.
Eventually I had to accept the fact that I would be going with my family, despite my own declarations of independence.Who knew that the journey I was about to embark on forever changed me and my relationship with the Lord.
It didn't take me long to realize that I was going to need God's help to become adjusted to my new home. I still did not feel the connection that I had had with Him before, but nevertheless I asked for help. The thing is, I thought that this connection was only possible because I attended a great church and a thriving youth group in my old town, but God showed me that I didn't need this to have a strong relationship with Him. Before, I relied heavily on others' interpretations of the Bible and I rarely went to the Word on my own and just read. I had to start doing this when we moved to D.C. Bible studies and youth group were virtually impossible to get to due to their placement in the week so God showed me what I could do on my own.
Being the melodramatic teenager that I was, I thought my life was over when we moved to Washington. Amazingly enough, it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Not only did God show me how much I needed Him, but He also showed me his undying love and faithfulness. God provided for me in so many ways during my time in D.C., even when I didn't deserve it. No matter what happens, I believe that God will always be there for me and make every milestone in my life, good or bad, a way to grow closer to Him.
Posted in A Trip Update by Ashley Preston on 4/20/2008
As weird as it sounds, the Mexican-American boy named Jorge is one of the most beautiful, special people I have ever had the honor to meet. I am not one to call boys beautiful but his soul is exceptionally special in my eyes. He is currently twenty years old, approximately one day older than me, and moved to Matamorous from Brownsville, Texas to sell crack to make more money for his family. Dropped out of school and everything. When I met him we were both eighteen. I met him during my first mission trip to Matamorous Mexico with the AIM program during the summer of 2006. My youth group and I were assigned to a colony along with a few other groups and everyday would be something new. We heard through the grape vine that there was a crack shack along the side of the colony towards the back and that we should be careful. Me, being who I am, disregarded that fact. In my mind, we should focus on that particular place without forgetting the rest of course, but pay special attention to this uneasy situation. The local pastor of that colony had been trying to get through to the owner and dealers at the shack but hadn't gotten very far. On one of our rounds of the colony, I spotted the shack and saw a young man sitting on a rickety old lawn chair looking in our direction. From where I was, which was around 200 feet away, he had dark skin (his shirt was off) black curly hair and jeans on. Something complelled me to make my way over there and talk to him. He didn't look at all what I pictured he would. I told Richard, my youth pastor, that I wanted to go over there and talk to him. He was VERY hesitant and tried to convince me to go into another direction but he knows that once my mind is set there is no changing it. Finally he gave in and our little group walked through the mud over to the young man. As we got closer, the feeling to help this boy rew stronger and stronger. When we reached him, not positive that he knew English, I stuck my hand out with a huge smile and yelled "HI I'M ASHLEY! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" Clearly he knew English. He smiled, put his hand in mine, and said "Jorge." I knew right then and there that he did NOT belong in this situation and that I was going to do everything in my power to help him out of it. He had a sort of innocense and naivety that ripped my heart in two. His passion was soccer and he wanted to grow up to be a professional soccer player. Coincidentialy his father was American and moved to Georgia, which is where I am from. We had our little small talk and then I gave him one of the pamphlets we had been instructed to hand out to everybody we met. I insisted that he join us in church the next night and I promised him a seat right next to me. He said he would try to make it. So we said out goodbyes and left. Later on that day, I saw him going into a hut with a pack of crack in his hand and saw how uneasy he was. I looked him straight in the eye and smiled saying "I can't wait until tomorrow!" He smiled and proceeded into the hut. Even later that day, I saw him from opposite ends of the little street and yelled him name smiling and waving yelling "SEE YOU TOMORROW!" I saw his head flop back and lazily wave his hand in the air. Clearly he got the point. The next day I was so excited to see him I made my way straight over to the hut, accompanied by a boy of course. We got there and I asked him how his night went and made sure to point out that I couldn't wait until church that night. I told him that if he didn't come, I was going to march over there and drag his behind in. He laughed and agreed. As the day ended and church time approached, I was waiting outside for him to come. It was around 5 after the time it started and I was starting to get antsy. I asked one of the chaperones, Mr. Redgrave, of our trip to escort me to the hut to pick him up. He agreed and I started walking. We got to the corner where you turn to head towards the shack and I saw him standing there with a big man signing some form of papers. Jorge looked in my direction and told me to wait a few minutes. I turned around and patiently waited. A few minuites later I turned back around and my heart fluttered at the sight. He was running as fast as he could right towards me with the biggest smile on his face. He said "I told them today is my last day of bad work! I can go back home and finish school now!" I gave him a huge hug and congratulated him them proceeded into the tiny church. As promised, there was a seat next to me for him and if you could have seen the look on all of the locals faces, including the pastors, you would have smiled as big as I did, and I'm not even sure that's possible. We started the service off by singing some songs and clapping. Soon a few of the people got up and started to get up and clap their hands high in the air while dancing around the room. He looked at me and asked if he could do it to. I told him sure and we got up to dance. He was so happy. After some singing and dancing, the pasor started to preech. He was listening very intently and I saw his eyes start to water. When the pastor opened the alter up for people to come forward, Jorge looked at me and I asked him if he wanted to go up there. He shook his head and I grabbed his hand and made out way to the front. We knelt and started to pray. I started to feel him shake and I looked over out of the corner of my eye and saw tear drop stains on his tattered jeans. At that moment my heart just burst and I was so happy. He was feeling the love of God and I knew then that he was going to be ok. At the end, the pastor and my youth pastor started talking to him while I stood at the side and Jorge gave his life to Christ. He said that he would like to help with the construction and that he would be back the next day to help. We said our goodbyes and I think all night I prayed for his safety. I was so scared that the devil would come and try to bring harm upon him for his achievements and break it all up again. But I knew that he was in God's hands and that he was going to be fine. The next day at the site, I waited for Jorge to show up. It was 30 minutes after the time we told him to show up and he still hadn;t arrived. I started to get in a state of panic dreading the unknown of wether he made it home safe the previous night. Everyone assured me he was fine but I wasn't going to be happy until I saw him with my own eyes. Finally he showed up with a small backpack and handed it to me. Inside was a folder with pictures of him, his e-mail address, and a worn out wooden plaque that says, happiness is having someone to care for. On the back of one of his soccer pictures he wrote, "I don't know how to write your name so that's why it is in blank. But keep this and remember me because I'll be waiting you or some thing like that. You're special for me." I smiled and thanked him numerous times then proceeded to get to work washing cement buckets. I begged my youth pastor to figure out some way for him to go back with us because I didn't want him to live there anymore. He pointed out to me that Jorge wouldn;t want to leave his family and for me to get that crazy idea out of my head. Still today we keep in touch through e-mail and he has called me a few times asking when I was going back to Matamorous. He went back to highschool and started soccer again and is having a great time. In the process of helping change someone elses life, mine had gotten changed. Jorge will always have a special place in my heart and will never be forgotten. I now use this testimony of Jorge to tell groups of juvenille boys that there is hope and that there is a God that cares about them and that no matter the situation, there is always the one and only God standing by their side.
Posted in A Trip Update by Amie Rawlings on 4/20/2008
"
"Love is doing whatever you need to do to help people see and savor the glory of God forever and ever. Love keeps God central because the soul was made for God." -John Piper
There is this man in my life, my boyfriend, Kraig Joshua Bartel and I have been together for a year now. At the moment, he is one of the most encouraging people in my walk with Christ. We met in New Orleans on a missions trip last spring break building a roof. He lives in Oklahoma and I of course am in Colorado but the distance has turned out to not be of any difficulty. It gives us the privilege of talking on the phone every night. Anyhow...
It amazes me every day how much Kraig encourages and challenges me in my walk with Jesus. Kraig is a man who bases his life on the Truth of the Bible in every aspect of life and every decision he makes. The most important thing to me in a relationship is that the other person constantly reveals more and more aspects of God's character to me. Kraig and I have a relationship that is based only on loving God and glorifying Him and if we lose center on that, we know we have no purpose. Luckily, Kraig does a very good job of keeping me accountable and guarding my heart. The most recent thing that Jesus has used Kraig to show me is that I should always strive to grow closer to Jesus. Non-stop. Prior to this year, so much of my walk has been a roller coaster. I hit a peak and feel as though I am suddenly "on fire for God." I begin to think that I couldn't possibly be a "better Christian" and then I sadly become incredibly prideful. Then comes the downward spiral in which I am broken once again and lose focus. Kraig reminded me a while ago that I'm never going to be equal with Jesus and I now have a passion to constantly pursue the heart of God in both highs and lows. I know that without Jesus, I am nothing. I seek to always get to know my Father better. I have a heart of joy and acceptance of grace. I have been humbled over and over and I thank Jesus for his use of Kraig in my life every day.
Posted in A Trip Update by Elaina Corrova on 4/20/2008
Ambrose Redmoon once said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." People who have been an inspiration to most are the ones who are willing to lift something above the fear that trembles in their heart. When most people think of the person who has inspired them the most, they think of someone who has lived a long respected life, became successful in their career, or someone who somehow left a legacy for themselves here on Earth. The person who inspired me the most is a man who lived a life that was cut short, left a legacy for Christ, and left an impact on my life. The person who has impacted my life was a family/friend of mine, who was 23 when he passed away defending our country in Afghanistan on March 26th, 2005. At his memorial service there were hundreds of college students, friends, and family members who were deeply grieved by his death. Although his death was shocking and hard to face, the knowledge of knowing his life was well lived comforted most. Something that set him apart from most was his relationship with Jesus Christ. He was able to love in a way most people can't imagine because Christ's love was being expressed to others through him. He chose to not live a life for himself, but he decided to life his life for Christ. I'm sure many times he was fearful when speaking truth into his fraternity brother's lives, or standing in enemy lines in Afghanistan, yet he went on. He knew that Christ, and his country were ultimately more important than any fear that was inside him. Ultimately, in putting Christ first in his life, and living his life for Him, he left an inerasable impact on my life. After attending his funeral, my relationship with Christ collapsed. I couldn't understand why God would take a son who was being used so much on Earth. I couldnt comprehend why God would allow so much pain. It was a side of Christ that I had never seen before, yet Christ came through and showed me himself through that hard time. For a while, after he died, I saw God as this father who sat in heaven with anger, wrath, and hate. I felt as though my heart was broken to the point where no more tears could stream down my face anymore. In my desperation I cried out to the Lord to show me himself. I then questioned God, and in questioning him, I found out who he really is. He showed me that he is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34), compassionate, and loving. After seeking the Lord, I was challenged to live a life like my friends who lost his. I knew that if I really wanted to live, if I truly wanted to change the world, I would have to constantly die to myself so that Christ would live through me. I want to leave a legacy for Christ, and not myself, like my friend did. I know that I will never get to the point where I will be completely fearless, and be able to see exactly who God is, but I will still pursue Christ whole heartedly. I have made it one of my biggest goals on Earth to glorify the Lord by trying to legacy for Him like my friend did. His legacy for Christ is still going on in my life, and I hope someday that people will be able to look at my life and not remember me for the good things I did, nice words I said, or any accomplishments I have ever had, but be able to see Christ's legacy running through my life. I know there will come a day when I will see my friend again, and thank him for living the life he did. For my friend, Brett Hershey, courageously ran after Christ, and as a result inspired me to do the same.
I have been on what seems like a
long journey to getting to a place where I don't need all the answers in a
"black and white" way.Know what I
mean?When I ask somebody a question I
want a "yes" or a "no."I certainly don't
want a "maybe."After I transferred to Seattle Pacific University,
I began to grow strong in my faith, which is great because that's the reason I
transferred to SPU in the first place.But by the beginning of fall quarter '07, I felt as if I needed proof
that God really existed.I wanted
logical, direct answers to my questions.I ended up in a core Philosophy class that SPU requires all students to
take.It was a Philosophy class on
faith, science, and how the two work together.The professor was phenomenal at presenting all arguments
objectively.We talked about the
different aspects of evolutionary theory and creationism, the problem of evil,
free will and divine providence, and the like.Besides looking at all these different parts of philosophy, by
discussing these topics with my classmates I received answers to all my
questions about the parts of my faith I had been struggling with.
The class ended.Life went on.Winter quarter was easy.I had
time to sleep, time to read books (other than textbooks), time to be with
friends, and time to be alone….However, in the midst of last quarter I found
myself unsatisfied, again, with what I believe.(In retrospect I laugh, because it's so obvious to me why I was
struggling.) Anyway, my spirit felt dry, and I was frustrated with everything
and everybody in my life, Christians and Pagans alike.
At the beginning of this quarter, I
began another class that SPU requires on Christian Scripture.At first I hated studying the Bible, because,
well, it's crazy!Crazy things happen in
the Old Testament (and in the New Testament, but we're studying the Old
Testament right now).I kept thinking to
myself, "This can't be right.Why would
God, who is outside of time, think to create the world as we know it for now
reason?This can't be real."As thoughts such as this one came into my
mind I was persuaded by them, while at the same time I knew that what I believe
is true.
Then, one day as I was working on
extensive study notes for this class (that are required three times a week), I
was talking with my friend, Mike, about all these doubts and struggles I was
experiencing.You must know one thing - Mike
and I have known each other for a very long time, and since we're so
comfortable with each other he started laughing, and I didn't appreciate
it.He told me, "Megs, I'm laughing only
because you've been through this before, it's normal, and you know that what
you believe is right."I stopped,
considered what he said, and realized he's totally right!Mike is right.These doubts and struggles are normal.I also realized that being in community and
speaking openly about where I am in my faith with friends like Mike is a great
way for me personally to keep Satan's voice in my head as quiet as
possible.
You may be struggling with your
faith.You may even be doubting it.It's okay.It will never stop being okay.God never said this journey
that we're all on together is going
to be easy.So, please if you're having
a difficult time believing in the reality of God, talk to somebody, and be
assured that your faith is alive and working in your heart.
Posted in A Trip Update by Austin Schulz on 4/20/2008
Six years old, and I was being set loose from my family for three whole days.Six years old - and I was ready for puppets, music, Bible lessons, and friends.Six years old - and I was first setting foot onto the gravel of a place where God had much larger plans to mold me.Six years old - and I was a camper at Hidden Acres.
No one could have predicted the impact Hidden Acres would have on my life as my family departed and entrusted me to my counselors.My future was a blank slate - my past at this point could have been considered a blank slate.I was a normal six year old girl with long red pig tails, two missing front teeth, and glasses.But when I went home, I anticipated with anxious energy the next chance I would be able to go to camp.I returned the next summer, and the summer after that, and the summer that followed, and every summer that came to pass.I cannot pin-point the true motivations that prompted me to return as a child, but ultimately, I know that it was God's way in working His plans for my life.Books could not contain the testimonies with which God has blessed me in the unexpected ways I have been developed through the ministry of Hidden Acres.Nor could they withstand the intensity of which those summers have helped in defining who I am in the present.As a young camper and eventual staff member, I have seen the Gospel message at work; I have been challenged at a young age to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ; I have learned the heart of servanthood; I have felt the rain of prayers and of His Word as He displays His faithfulness; I have experienced the Body of Jesus Christ in action; I have shared the joy of investing my life into campers for His purposes; I have found my identity in what is eternal and not fading.All glory is to be given to God in preparing such a plan in such a place for this heart to develop.
Specifically, one of the greatest gifts of which God has used Hidden Acres to help me find is the gift of my laugh.In a time when all my 15-year-old self-value was placed on rejection due to my faith, eventual loneliness and low self-esteem due to false and imagined opinions of others, my first summer on staff uncovered an Austin that I did not know was even hiding.Being surrounded by authenticity - friendships that ran deeper than the surface - a confident woman who placed her identity in her Maker and Savior was unraveled.Was this really me?Nobody would believe it.But I knew who I was, and my God knew who He made me to be.My newfound enthusiasm for life sprung like a broken pipe full of water.Joy had now given me the ability to laugh - the ability to genuinely smile - the ability to be me.Puppets, music, campfires, Bible lessons, and Lake Lechler may have been the centrality ofmy motivations in returning to Hidden Acres after that first time I ever unrolled my sleeping bag onto my chosen bunk, but if that is what brings a growing individual to a reassurance of their identity in Jesus Christ, let us never lose sight of the importance of being six years old.
Just a few words that most of our world thinks of people with a mental disability. I have been privileged enough to grow up with someone special who has given me the utmost compassion for those classified as disabled. Jesse Dodge Brooks was born 10 years before I was and although our age gap would normally leave room for drifting into different phases of life, Jesse and I never had that problem. Although he is 28 years-old, he is 7 years-old mentally because he has Downs syndrome. I was four, he was seven. I turned seven and he was still seven. Sixteen came along…still seven. I am now almost 19 years-old and my 28 year-old brother is still seven. Quite frankly, this is one thing that I would never trade with him. While academically he is limited, Jesse surprises me everyday with his sense of humor and witty comments. He is honestly the funniest kid I know! He teaches me more than anyone I have ever met, and yet he has no idea that he does it.
Life is simple. There are no complications. There is no reason to worry. Life is so good! All these are things that Jesse has taught me, again without even knowing it. Routine is key in his life, but it is the simple things that make him the most joyful. Tearing off a new day on his Elvis calendar, "wrestling" with Dad or "Pops" as he calls him, movie nights with the family, walks in the park, and of course Friday nights- pizza, root beer, and snickers. Could life get any better? He works every day at a sheltered workshop with adults with similar disabilities as him, and while the basic jobs he does often become redundant, he looks forward to his 90 cents an hour paycheck every other Friday. He has no concept of money. He doesn't stress or worry about what is to come. He finds something to look forward to and works his heart out until he gets there.
Selfishness and worry fill me up. I become anxious over the littlest of things, and then I see my 5'0" "little" brother's smile while watching Season 3 of Full House for the 25th time, and a burden begins to lift. Why worry? Why stress? Jesse has no concept of the complexity and history of theology and he could never write a statement of faith. He couldn't list the books of the Bible or quote scripture in times of need. And yet he has the most faith and hope of anyone I've met. He is the epitome of joy. When the going gets tough and when I feel like I can barley go on, it's Jesus in my brother that brings me back to my knees, thanking the Lord for the blessings. God is good, all the time. Jesus, a good movie, and a king-size snickers…life is complete for Jesse Dodge.
*Notice
how his title is capitalized, he put "Trip Update" for his category,
and he has a nicely placed picture that is relative to his post. He also placed links in his article. If
you need to change your post, please do so.
I encourage you to read each others posts and comment! Lift up your future team mates!
Posted in A Trip Update by Jolene Freed on 4/17/2008
"You mean you and your sister are…FRIENDS?"
In a world where sibling rivalry and hatred runs rampant, my obviously deep and respectful relationship with my sister have caught people off guard on more then one occasion. They seemed to assume that since we were sisters we naturally held little regard for one another and spent our time intently focused on making life miserable for each other. Generally speaking, siblings seem to have a way at bringing out the worst in us. They are that one person who has the talent of pushing all the wrong buttons at all the wrong times! You end up absorbed in trying to either get rid of them or pretend they don't exist. These stereotypes are perhaps the reason why my sister and I have the ability to shock people when they observe how we relate to each other. They might be even more shocked to know that she is the first to come to mind when I think of a person who has enriched my faith and inspired by beliefs.
We grew up seven years apart. I was the much anticipated little sister and she was the best protective big sister a girl could ask for. While her friends spent their time pushing their little sisters away, my sister constantly had me involved in her life. She was a girl solid in her faith and open to continual growth. She was creative and always had ideas of things for us to do. We would read a book together, take a jog while we prayed, and took turn leading devotionals. When God called her to missions I was not a happy camper. It was fine for God to transform her life, but did it have to be so far away from me?? After 6 months she came home, more dedicated then ever. Her example, her influence, her friendship built character within myself and had the most prominent effect in the forming of my faith.
God uses all sorts of people to strengthen our faith. Sometimes their the ones we don't expect, like the boy who really got on your nerves, the girl who came across like a snob, or the Aunt you just couldn't connect with. Then sometimes it's the ones who just make sense, like a youth pastor, parent, or for me - a sister, a girl who's there from the beginning and the one you'll never be able to get rid of. To have the spiritual support from someone who is on fire for Christ has been one of the most valuable gifts I've been given. Becoming more like Jesus becomes more attainable when you have a living example right before your eyes! Yes, I AM saying all this about someone I've spent my entire life with, my sister - my friend.
Everyone
should have their passports by now or at least applied for. For those
of you who don't please call me (Vicki Gross) today so we can talk about it
800-881-2461 ext. 217
You WILL need a visa for this trip!
We will post that information as soon as we get it!
My name is Elaina Joy Corrova, and I am one of four girls in my house.
I have 2 beautiful sisters (one is 8 and one is 19) who I love very
much. My parents are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, and I
look up to both of them a lot. I graduated early from high school (I
have no idea how that happened because I took a ton of art classes and
a lot of lunch periods :) ) and went to a month and a half mission trip
to CO. I am 1/4 Italian... but I am pretty sure that the Italian-ness
took over my whole body (so I am close to 100% Italian).... and I love
food! I look forward to getting to know everyone and serve the Lord
along side you!
In an attempt to serve you better with questions on blogging, I am available to chat online using AOL Instant Messenger.
My screen name is:
sethdsimonson
Here is my schedule on when I will hopefully be available to chat (all EST): Monday: 9am-4pm Tuesday: 1pm-8pm Wednesday: 9am-4pm Thursday: OFF Friday: 9am-4pm Saturday: OFF
I thought it might be helpful for those of you who blog and aspire to do it
better, if I shared some thoughts and observations about blogging. This is a four-part teaching on blogs,
designed especially for those who are fairly new to the practice and want to
use it for more than just "having" to. The
four parts will consist of: good
blogging, bad blogging, digging deeper, and taking it to the next step.
Part one in a four-part series on blogging
Lesson One:
Good Blogging
First of all, the basic elements of a good blog are that you need to have: something
worth saying, a voice to say it, and a reason for your readers to come back.
Let's elaborate on the first point: something worth saying. There are a lot
of blogs right now that are being written by people who are not saying much. So,
in order to write a good blog, you actually have to have something worth
saying.
Find out what you really want to say in your blog, and say it. (Reminder:
your blog does not have to be about you.) Just because you have something worth
saying (for instance, you're traveling the world) does not mean that people
will want to hear you. A good story is a place to begin, but if you don't tell
it well, people will leave. Moreover, if you don't concentrate on a specific
area that you think is important and let your voice (that is, the feel and tone
of your writing) evoke powerful emotions, then you are not going to captivate
your reader.
Your words will be a big part of this, but images can supplement your voice, as
well. I make it a norm to use at least one picture per post that has something
to do with what I am writing. For some of you, your pictures may outweigh any
written content, and that's fine. That is all part of discovering your voice.
You are competing with millions of other bloggers for a short window of time;
it is crucial that you choose your content wisely, speak the language of your
target audience (which means you have identified your audience), and say what
you have to say concisely.
Lastly, you need to give your readers a reason to come back. Once you know
your voice, you need to develop a pattern or theme of your writing.
Occasionally, you might want to do a multi-part blog posting to keep the reader
coming back for more, but I wouldn't make all of your posts multiple parts.
Part of the beauty of blog-writing and blog-reading is the shortness of each
post. When you give someone a reason to come back, whether it is a continuation
of an earlier post or a new idea yet to surface, you are building a good
readership and insuring your blog more hits in the future. I am doing that very thing by promising you I
will have next post about bad blogging in the next couple days. Talk to you then.
In 4 weeks, all of your paperwork has to be turned in!
Let's not put this off! The longer you wait to do it the more stress you are
going to be putting on yourself. If we don't have all of these documents turned
in to us you will NOT be
able to go on the trip! Please call me if you have any questions about the
paperwork that needs to be turned in.
Here is
the paperwork that needs to be turned in:
Copy of Passport If not already turned in
Medical Release This is TWO PAGES
and the second page needs to be notarized
Please check your email for a 3 week mandatory
blogging assignment. The first assignment will be sent to you onApril 14th and will be due on Monday, April 21st.
Post the assignments under the category "Trip Update" & add a picture that is relevant.
This is mandatory and designed to help you blog better.
I was born on 6-11-87 in Brooklyn with Puerto Rican roots. I grew up in
Camden, NJ and have moved around a lot but now I live with my
step-father, mother, older brother and two cats in Philadelphia, PA.
I'm a student at Nyack College studying Intercultural Studies and
Psychology and loving it! Here's a bit about myself: I'm shy yet I'm
not; I like to talk yet I like to listen; I love to laugh. I also like
movies but I love music; I love to read. Hmm, what else? I'm a morning
person and a night person but I also find sleep enjoyable. By the way,
I'm on Facebook.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7PM we will have our first Mozambique Team Conference call. This
will be an awesome opportunity for you to get to talk to your team
members and to ask any questions that you might have. Becca Arnold and Em Halls will be conducting the
call. We are so excited to get to talk to all of you!!
The
number that you call in on is: 712-451-6100. You dial that number and
then it will ask you for your access code which is: #348324. Please comment if you will be participating!!!
In this age of technology, Facebook has become a great way of connecting with people, as many of you know. It can also be a great tool for sharing information with the masses. Many of us were mobilized to the cause of missions, because a friend told us about an opportunity to serve. You can be that same friend to someone else and help wake up a generation to its destiny. You can do this by visiting the sites below (if you have a Facebook account) and sharing them with others...
Since you are all going on a trip with us, you will soon be Alumni! We already have a Facebook alumni group, and this is a great place to keep in touch with people before and after your trip: AIM Alumni Page
Together, we can use technology to sound the call to our generation to fulfill the Great Commission in the nations! Be sure to share this with anyone else who might be interested in hearing more about AIM.
Don't bargain with God. Be Direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we are in.
The first time I heard of this was at Training Camp last year. To be honest at first I thought these people were kind of crazy.They
believe that God responds back to the questions they asked him. I was
uncomfortable with that, but my real problem was that I didn't think
that this wonderful amazing God would really spend that time speaking
to me! God loves us SO much. He wants to communicate with me and you.
He wants to show us what we want to know, he wants to answer our
prayers. He wants to know us, and us know him.He
wants us to have a PERSONAL relationship with him. He wants me &
you and your grandma to all have a different, special relationship with
him.
Think
if you could ask God what his will was for you and then hear his
response? Wouldn't that be life changing! Well, he does want to speak
to us, we just have to listen.
We
don't have to pray these prayers with thousands of words, we don't have
to think about what we need to say or worry if we are praying the
correct way,
Listening
Prayer is asking God a question and waiting for a response. It's not
complicated, or saying the right words. It's about being willing and
waiting. You might already be hearing God, but you don't want to put
words in God's mouth and dishonor him if it isn't him, but have you
ever stopped and thought maybe you were dishonoring him by not
crediting him? So don't be afraid to give God the credit!
So,
here is what I encourage, challenge, want you to do. I want you to give
this a try. You might not hear anything at first but keep trying! What
do you have to lose? What if you had the opportunity to hear God's
voice but never tried?
Take a ˝ hour a couple times this week and try!
źQuiet Yourself.
źAsk for protection from deception.
źAsk for clarity to hear & understand.
źWait & Listen.
Journal
your questions and the responses that you get so that you can record
what you heard. Then you can look back on it later. Get guidance from
someone more spiritually mature then you, so that you can make sure
what you hear is from God. Journaling also helps you keep focused about
what you are doing. Don't worry if other things pop into your head,
like your English paper or that you forgot to feed the dog, just have
another piece of paper to write down these things, because by writing
those down you both dismiss them from your mind and remember to do
them.
Don't worry if you don't hear anything the first time. Practice is the only way you will see results.
When you get an answer, clarify that it is from God by going through these steps.
źAsk: Is it Scriptural?
źAsk: Will it produce good fruit, or spiritual growth?
źDon't be afraid to ask someone (who is a mentor, or who is more spiritually mature)
źApply it! Don't be content to hear from the Lord, but do what he tells you.
EXERCISE
Journal
about this: Take your Bible, journal and two different colored pens.
Use one to write what you are thinking, and another to write what God
is saying to you.
Spend a few minutes thinking about this scripture:
2
Chronicles 7:14-15 "If My people who are called by My name will humble
themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their
land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in
this place.
Ask God these questions and wait for the Holy Spirit to respond.
1. What has kept me from you?
2. Have I humbled myself & sought your face?
3. What do you want to tell me?
This Bible Study was written by Emily Halls using excerpts from the book "The Art of Listening Prayer" by Seth Barnes.
It is hard to know where to start, or even what to say when trying to
describe myself to people I have never met before! I suppose the
beginning of my 21 years is as good a place as any to begin. I was born
on September 19, 1986 to two loving parents and an awesome older
sister. Since then, there have been three more gifts from God added to
our family, giving my Dad four weddings to pay for and a son to carry
on the family name (he is the baby- 11 years old now)! Needless to say,
there was never a dull moment growing up, and always someone to play
with. My parents introduced me to the Lord before I could even talk,
and through their godly example, I trusted Christ as my Savior when I
was seven years old. I grew up loving the outdoors, playing sports,
going to church, going to camps, etc. I was home schooled until 5th
grade, and then attended a very small private school (I graduated with
25 classmates)! Because my school was so small, it was easy to be
involved in sports, student government, and various extracurricular
activities. I am now a senior (about to graduate… with thousands of
other students) at Clemson University. Since my time here, I have been
involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), intramural
sports, small group Bible studies, and simply building relationships
with some pretty amazing people. So here I am-a simple girl who loves
life, spending time with people, new places, cooking, sports, the
outdoors, the Lord and His Word, the lake, spring days…and much more!
Hi, my name is Ben Hoagland. I'm a sophomore at the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga studying Occupational Therapy. I'm originally
from Fayetteville, TN. I'm a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and
involved in a Greek ministry as well as a campus ministry at UTC. I'm
really excited about what God is doing in my life right now. He's
letting me know more and more everyday how much I need Him and how much
He can do with someone who will follow Him. I can't wait for the
opportunity to focus solely on the Lord for two months.
Growing up as the baby of three older brothers and the pastors
daughter, I was a prime target for stereotypes. "The princess",
"goody-two-shoes", and "the perfect PK" were commonly used when those
who did not know me would describe me. Little did everyone know, the
Lord was working in my life through those years and because of those
names I wanted more than anything to break through the barriers and
make a new name- daughter of the King. I am Erin Brooks, a freshman in
college at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO and I am a
Christian Ministry Studies major. Dancing and swimming were big parts
of my life growing up and being outdoors is where I feel the most
alive. My oldest brother, Jesse, has downs syndrome and my experiences
with him have caused me to have a passion for the mentally and
physically handicapped. Some call me "bubbly" and while I've never
understood that description, I do have a tendency to be on the more
energetic side. I love to laugh and be with my family. Missions,
overseas in particular, has been something God has laid on my heart for
many years and I am finally doing something about it! Let the
stereotypes be pushed aside and God's will be done!
Community. Openness. Realness. Freedom. These four seemingly simple words have been major themes in my life lately, and it all began my first year of college. The friends I have made in college have changed my life. I came to college and I thought I knew who I was and what I was looking for but soon my boundaries were shaken. I had entered community. It was in my small group of friends that I learned the importance of being open and being real. With my friends there was an atmosphere that allowed for openness and realness and anything other that just didn't seem right. I was encouraged to be me and it was okay. I finally experienced a love where I could just lay out who I was—the good and the bad—and I was accepted. There was understanding and encouragement as well as challenges. It was understood that we were in everything together and we were there for each other. There was growth. 
To me that's the greatest feeling in the world.
As weird as it sounds, the Mexican-American boy named Jorge is one of the most beautiful, special people I have ever had the honor to meet. I am not one to call boys beautiful but his soul is exceptionally special in my eyes. He is currently twenty years old, approximately one day older than me, and moved to Matamorous from Brownsville, Texas to sell crack to make more money for his family. Dropped out of school and everything. When I met him we were both eighteen. I met him during my first mission trip to Matamorous Mexico with the AIM program during the summer of 2006. My youth group and I were assigned to a colony along with a few other groups and everyday would be something new. We heard through the grape vine that there was a crack shack along the side of the colony towards the back and that we should be careful. Me, being who I am, disregarded that fact. In my mind, we should focus on that particular place without forgetting the rest of course, but pay special attention to this uneasy situation. The local pastor of that colony had been trying to get through to the owner and dealers at the shack but hadn't gotten very far. On one of our rounds of the colony, I spotted the shack and saw a young man sitting on a rickety old lawn chair looking in our direction. From where I was, which was around 200 feet away, he had dark skin (his shirt was off) black curly hair and jeans on. Something complelled me to make my way over there and talk to him. He didn't look at all what I pictured he would. I told Richard, my youth pastor, that I wanted to go over there and talk to him. He was VERY hesitant and tried to convince me to go into another direction but he knows that once my mind is set there is no changing it. Finally he gave in and our little group walked through the mud over to the young man. As we got closer, the feeling to help this boy rew stronger and stronger. When we reached him, not positive that he knew English, I stuck my hand out with a huge smile and yelled "HI I'M ASHLEY! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" Clearly he knew English. He smiled, put his hand in mine, and said "Jorge." I knew right then and there that he did NOT belong in this situation and that I was going to do everything in my power to help him out of it. He had a sort of innocense and naivety that ripped my heart in two. His passion was soccer and he wanted to grow up to be a professional soccer player. Coincidentialy his father was American and moved to Georgia, which is where I am from. We had our little small talk and then I gave him one of the pamphlets we had been instructed to hand out to everybody we met. I insisted that he join us in church the next night and I promised him a seat right next to me. He said he would try to make it. So we said out goodbyes and left. Later on that day, I saw him going into a hut with a pack of crack in his hand and saw how uneasy he was. I looked him straight in the eye and smiled saying "I can't wait until tomorrow!" He smiled and proceeded into the hut. Even later that day, I saw him from opposite ends of the little street and yelled him name smiling and waving yelling "SEE YOU TOMORROW!" I saw his head flop back and lazily wave his hand in the air. Clearly he got the point. The next day I was so excited to see him I made my way straight over to the hut, accompanied by a boy of course. We got there and I asked him how his night went and made sure to point out that I couldn't wait until church that night. I told him that if he didn't come, I was going to march over there and drag his behind in. He laughed and agreed. As the day ended and church time approached, I was waiting outside for him to come. It was around 5 after the time it started and I was starting to get antsy. I asked one of the chaperones, Mr. Redgrave, of our trip to escort me to the hut to pick him up. He agreed and I started walking. We got to the corner where you turn to head towards the shack and I saw him standing there with a big man signing some form of papers. Jorge looked in my direction and told me to wait a few minutes. I turned around and patiently waited. A few minuites later I turned back around and my heart fluttered at the sight. He was running as fast as he could right towards me with the biggest smile on his face. He said "I told them today is my last day of bad work! I can go back home and finish school now!" I gave him a huge hug and congratulated him them proceeded into the tiny church. As promised, there was a seat next to me for him and if you could have seen the look on all of the locals faces, including the pastors, you would have smiled as big as I did, and I'm not even sure that's possible. We started the service off by singing some songs and clapping. Soon a few of the people got up and started to get up and clap their hands high in the air while dancing around the room. He looked at me and asked if he could do it to. I told him sure and we got up to dance. He was so happy. After some singing and dancing, the pasor started to preech. He was listening very intently and I saw his eyes start to water. When the pastor opened the alter up for people to come forward, Jorge looked at me and I asked him if he wanted to go up there. He shook his head and I grabbed his hand and made out way to the front. We knelt and started to pray. I started to feel him shake and I looked over out of the corner of my eye and saw tear drop stains on his tattered jeans. At that moment my heart just burst and I was so happy. He was feeling the love of God and I knew then that he was going to be ok. At the end, the pastor and my youth pastor started talking to him while I stood at the side and Jorge gave his life to Christ. He said that he would like to help with the construction and that he would be back the next day to help. We said our goodbyes and I think all night I prayed for his safety. I was so scared that the devil would come and try to bring harm upon him for his achievements and break it all up again. But I knew that he was in God's hands and that he was going to be fine. The next day at the site, I waited for Jorge to show up. It was 30 minutes after the time we told him to show up and he still hadn;t arrived. I started to get in a state of panic dreading the unknown of wether he made it home safe the previous night. Everyone assured me he was fine but I wasn't going to be happy until I saw him with my own eyes. Finally he showed up with a small backpack and handed it to me. Inside was a folder with pictures of him, his e-mail address, and a worn out wooden plaque that says, happiness is having someone to care for. On the back of one of his soccer pictures he wrote, "I don't know how to write your name so that's why it is in blank. But keep this and remember me because I'll be waiting you or some thing like that. You're special for me." I smiled and thanked him numerous times then proceeded to get to work washing cement buckets. I begged my youth pastor to figure out some way for him to go back with us because I didn't want him to live there anymore. He pointed out to me that Jorge wouldn;t want to leave his family and for me to get that crazy idea out of my head. Still today we keep in touch through e-mail and he has called me a few times asking when I was going back to Matamorous. He went back to highschool and started soccer again and is having a great time. In the process of helping change someone elses life, mine had gotten changed. Jorge will always have a special place in my heart and will never be forgotten. I now use this testimony of Jorge to tell groups of juvenille boys that there is hope and that there is a God that cares about them and that no matter the situation, there is always the one and only God standing by their side.
"
my life into campers for His purposes; I have found my identity in what is eternal and not fading.
My name is Elaina Joy Corrova, and I am one of four girls in my house.
I have 2 beautiful sisters (one is 8 and one is 19) who I love very
much. My parents are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, and I
look up to both of them a lot. I graduated early from high school (I
have no idea how that happened because I took a ton of art classes and
a lot of lunch periods :) ) and went to a month and a half mission trip
to CO. I am 1/4 Italian... but I am pretty sure that the Italian-ness
took over my whole body (so I am close to 100% Italian).... and I love
food! I look forward to getting to know everyone and serve the Lord
along side you!
I was born on 6-11-87 in Brooklyn with Puerto Rican roots. I grew up in
Camden, NJ and have moved around a lot but now I live with my
step-father, mother, older brother and two cats in Philadelphia, PA.
I'm a student at Nyack College studying Intercultural Studies and
Psychology and loving it! Here's a bit about myself: I'm shy yet I'm
not; I like to talk yet I like to listen; I love to laugh. I also like
movies but I love music; I love to read. Hmm, what else? I'm a morning
person and a night person but I also find sleep enjoyable. By the way,
I'm on Facebook.
It is hard to know where to start, or even what to say when trying to
describe myself to people I have never met before! I suppose the
beginning of my 21 years is as good a place as any to begin. I was born
on September 19, 1986 to two loving parents and an awesome older
sister. Since then, there have been three more gifts from God added to
our family, giving my Dad four weddings to pay for and a son to carry
on the family name (he is the baby- 11 years old now)! Needless to say,
there was never a dull moment growing up, and always someone to play
with. My parents introduced me to the Lord before I could even talk,
and through their godly example, I trusted Christ as my Savior when I
was seven years old. I grew up loving the outdoors, playing sports,
going to church, going to camps, etc. I was home schooled until 5th
grade, and then attended a very small private school (I graduated with
25 classmates)! Because my school was so small, it was easy to be
involved in sports, student government, and various extracurricular
activities. I am now a senior (about to graduate… with thousands of
other students) at Clemson University. Since my time here, I have been
involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), intramural
sports, small group Bible studies, and simply building relationships
with some pretty amazing people. So here I am-a simple girl who loves
life, spending time with people, new places, cooking, sports, the
outdoors, the Lord and His Word, the lake, spring days…and much more!
Hi, my name is Ben Hoagland. I'm a sophomore at the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga studying Occupational Therapy. I'm originally
from Fayetteville, TN. I'm a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and
involved in a Greek ministry as well as a campus ministry at UTC. I'm
really excited about what God is doing in my life right now. He's
letting me know more and more everyday how much I need Him and how much
He can do with someone who will follow Him. I can't wait for the
opportunity to focus solely on the Lord for two months.
Growing up as the baby of three older brothers and the pastors
daughter, I was a prime target for stereotypes. "The princess",
"goody-two-shoes", and "the perfect PK" were commonly used when those
who did not know me would describe me. Little did everyone know, the
Lord was working in my life through those years and because of those
names I wanted more than anything to break through the barriers and
make a new name- daughter of the King. I am Erin Brooks, a freshman in
college at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO and I am a
Christian Ministry Studies major. Dancing and swimming were big parts
of my life growing up and being outdoors is where I feel the most
alive. My oldest brother, Jesse, has downs syndrome and my experiences
with him have caused me to have a passion for the mentally and
physically handicapped. Some call me "bubbly" and while I've never
understood that description, I do have a tendency to be on the more
energetic side. I love to laugh and be with my family. Missions,
overseas in particular, has been something God has laid on my heart for
many years and I am finally doing something about it! Let the
stereotypes be pushed aside and God's will be done!