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| WE DID IT! This is what a win looks like. |
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Kaléo Program - A Look Back at 2012-2013
Check out this video which my friend Levi, a videographer, made about our year in the Kaleo Program. This brings me so much joy, but yet nostalgia at the same time. God is good!
Check out this video which my friend Levi, a videographer, made about our year in the Kaleo Program. This brings me so much joy, but yet nostalgia at the same time. God is good!
Final Thoughts
Being home from the Kaleo Program for two months has given me lots of time to think. There have been many conversations, experiences, stresses, nights of crying, days of endless joy, but especially God holding and guiding me all the while.
At first it seemed like the entire program was a dream, something that didn't even seem to apply to my present reality, but slowly and surely, God revealed the things stored away in my heart that he had been planting there all year long. His many truths, passions, passages in his word and friendships are golden treasures that I will never forget.
Something that has been vital and very powerful after coming home from the Program had been committing one of my friends each day by name to God in prayer. There are four summer months in which we as girls were challenged to pray for each other day by day. I have committed my brothers and sisters to God, committed their lives, their hopes, dreams, struggles and victories. Messaging them and telling them that I have been praying for them and asking for updates has been incredibly encouraging, a reminder from God that I am never without my community.
I got my yearbook from the year in the mail in which I had been involved in making as Photo Team Leader, reminding me of all the memories and experiences we had together! God is so good and he has been continually showing me his faithfulness in reminding me about the brothers and sisters he has given me.
I was also able to hang out with Levi and John who are mainlanders of BC like myself, and asking how they have been doing since returning home. I also got the amazing privilege to go back and visit Qwanoes during the Ethos Young Adults Retreat as well as the Open House where I saw Ashley, Lyann, Derek, Andrew, Evan, Jordan, Colin, Denver, Janelle and Lokadia! God has been encouraging me that these connections are not just for a year, but rather for a lifetime.
Obviously, just because I am able to connect with my Kaleo Program family does not mean that everything is amazing and I do am not struggling. I miss them all terribly, especially the ones whom I have not gotten a chance to see, but I know that this year was not meant for me to cling on to, but rather use as a type of spring-board to soar into the challenges and joys ahead in the next chapter of my life. He has been stressing to me over and over that it is not relationships, financial or emotional security or success which dictates satisfaction in life but rather, it is in CHRIST ALONE who I find my satisfaction.
A passage that Brent, our valedictorian read to us at graduation (which I had actually given him) was Philippians 1:3-11:
At first it seemed like the entire program was a dream, something that didn't even seem to apply to my present reality, but slowly and surely, God revealed the things stored away in my heart that he had been planting there all year long. His many truths, passions, passages in his word and friendships are golden treasures that I will never forget.
Something that has been vital and very powerful after coming home from the Program had been committing one of my friends each day by name to God in prayer. There are four summer months in which we as girls were challenged to pray for each other day by day. I have committed my brothers and sisters to God, committed their lives, their hopes, dreams, struggles and victories. Messaging them and telling them that I have been praying for them and asking for updates has been incredibly encouraging, a reminder from God that I am never without my community.
I got my yearbook from the year in the mail in which I had been involved in making as Photo Team Leader, reminding me of all the memories and experiences we had together! God is so good and he has been continually showing me his faithfulness in reminding me about the brothers and sisters he has given me.
I was also able to hang out with Levi and John who are mainlanders of BC like myself, and asking how they have been doing since returning home. I also got the amazing privilege to go back and visit Qwanoes during the Ethos Young Adults Retreat as well as the Open House where I saw Ashley, Lyann, Derek, Andrew, Evan, Jordan, Colin, Denver, Janelle and Lokadia! God has been encouraging me that these connections are not just for a year, but rather for a lifetime.
Obviously, just because I am able to connect with my Kaleo Program family does not mean that everything is amazing and I do am not struggling. I miss them all terribly, especially the ones whom I have not gotten a chance to see, but I know that this year was not meant for me to cling on to, but rather use as a type of spring-board to soar into the challenges and joys ahead in the next chapter of my life. He has been stressing to me over and over that it is not relationships, financial or emotional security or success which dictates satisfaction in life but rather, it is in CHRIST ALONE who I find my satisfaction.
A passage that Brent, our valedictorian read to us at graduation (which I had actually given him) was Philippians 1:3-11:
"Every time I think of you, I
give thanks to my God. Whenever
I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in
spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who
began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally
finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I
should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.
You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in
defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long
for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will
overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and
understanding. For
I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and
blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the
fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus
Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God."
May God get all the glory and praise from our lives, and I pray every day that I would not lose faith or give up hope that HE who began a good work in me would carry it on to completion until the day that he returns.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
In His Footsteps
Whenever you enter a new chapter of your life, you always try to be expectant, but try not to have expectations. When I first started being a part of the family of Warmland Community Church with Mike and Evan, I didn't know what to expect. I had never been in a small church that I had really enjoyed before, so this was a totally new experience. I also was not quite sure how the missions trip to Mexico was going to go, but I was filled with anticipation. However, I was quite prepared for the ministry which was going to take place working at Camp Qwanoes because I have been a part of this ministry for seven years now as a camper and staff.
Now, as I say my last goodbyes and reminisce on the year behind me, I am filled with so much joy but I can't shake the feeling of nostalgia. There is no way to clearly sum up the experiences I've had and the work that God has done in me, through me and around me, but all I can say is that it has been absolutely life changing. I have seen lives of my youth girls, campers on retreats, and families at the church in Él Papalote changed because of Christ's redeeming work! I am so blessed and honored to be a part of these miraculous works of God these past eight months. God used me to develop close knit relationships, share about his love, power and glory, and ultimately further his kingdom because I am obedient to him. He has also changed my attitudes in so many ways, highlighting my hidden pride, given me an appreciation for his body, the church, in whatever way it takes form and shown me the power that only he alone has in his world.
Over my wide ministry experience, I was challenged and stretched by being put into situations that required less of me and more of God. In the first Juniors Fall Retreat at Qwanoes, I was on the games team for the weekend, but one of the counselors had a tragedy in her family, so I was asked to take over her cabin for the remaining part of the weekend. Feeling totally unprepared, I embarked on the journey with these girls, completely relying on God and I saw him work through me as I shared with them the truth and treasure of the gospel that night. I was also challenged by my youth kids at Warmland quite substantially. Living in a small community, these kids do not have much exposure to Christianity, the gospel or Jesus and it was so difficult to communicate truth about God in a way that they would grasp it. There were constant distractions such as friend groups, phones and ipods as well as goofing off during the night that made it extremely difficult to communicate the message to these youth. The only consolation I had was that ultimately, God held them in his hands and that he was working in them, no matter how distracted they were. All I had to do was love them, show them that I care and model a godly life in hopes of those seeds falling on fertile soil.
I found myself growing immensely in my leadership, boldness, tact as well as love for God, his people and ministry, desiring his name to be glorified all over the world. During the missions trip in Mexico, I grew immensely as I was relying God to speak through me in this foreign language and culture and I saw that my gifts came from him and only him. On the missions trip, and in camp and church ministry I had to step out and just love when I was completely frustrated and see God in every situation. I learned to listen to his voice instead of trusting my own instincts and impulses and in the midst of that, I found myself making relationships that I will treasure for a lifetime. I will never forget my friends in Mexico, the youth and leaders at Warmland as well as the campers and staff at Qwanoes. God has shown me the riches of his kingdom in his people and I will forever keep them in my heart as evidences of his grace towards me.
The hardest part of leaving is who you leave behind. Although she will be in my heart forever, I will miss my thirteen-year-old youth girl Hannah from Warmland running up to see me each week and showing me her latest skateboard trick, her scraped hand from falling off her bike at the boardwalk. I will always miss standing with her in the worship service, arm around her, our fingers interlocked and listening to her singing God's promises and praises. Last night I said goodbye to her for the last time at youth group and as I sat there with her in the corner of the church, both of us caught in a tearful embrace, I knew that this was what the kingdom was about. God brings people together transcending ages, races, countries and experiences. As I remember my wonderful campers that I counseled this past year, all my kids at youth group, the families of Warmland that welcomed us into their homes and hearts and the wonderful relationships I formed with Mexicans from the church in Él Papalote, I know that one day I will be together with them in heaven and that brings me great joy.
God has richly blessed me over this year in the Kaléo Program in ways that I don't even deserve. I only have him to give the glory and the praise for allowing me to be his hands and feet, participating in this wonderful ministry to his people, tying hearts together, lives together and ultimately eternities together. As I go to carry on this ministry back in my city of Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland, this same God goes with me and ahead of me as I partake in the good works he has prepared for me in advance. "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:21
"It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." -John 3:29-30
Now, as I say my last goodbyes and reminisce on the year behind me, I am filled with so much joy but I can't shake the feeling of nostalgia. There is no way to clearly sum up the experiences I've had and the work that God has done in me, through me and around me, but all I can say is that it has been absolutely life changing. I have seen lives of my youth girls, campers on retreats, and families at the church in Él Papalote changed because of Christ's redeeming work! I am so blessed and honored to be a part of these miraculous works of God these past eight months. God used me to develop close knit relationships, share about his love, power and glory, and ultimately further his kingdom because I am obedient to him. He has also changed my attitudes in so many ways, highlighting my hidden pride, given me an appreciation for his body, the church, in whatever way it takes form and shown me the power that only he alone has in his world.
Over my wide ministry experience, I was challenged and stretched by being put into situations that required less of me and more of God. In the first Juniors Fall Retreat at Qwanoes, I was on the games team for the weekend, but one of the counselors had a tragedy in her family, so I was asked to take over her cabin for the remaining part of the weekend. Feeling totally unprepared, I embarked on the journey with these girls, completely relying on God and I saw him work through me as I shared with them the truth and treasure of the gospel that night. I was also challenged by my youth kids at Warmland quite substantially. Living in a small community, these kids do not have much exposure to Christianity, the gospel or Jesus and it was so difficult to communicate truth about God in a way that they would grasp it. There were constant distractions such as friend groups, phones and ipods as well as goofing off during the night that made it extremely difficult to communicate the message to these youth. The only consolation I had was that ultimately, God held them in his hands and that he was working in them, no matter how distracted they were. All I had to do was love them, show them that I care and model a godly life in hopes of those seeds falling on fertile soil.
I found myself growing immensely in my leadership, boldness, tact as well as love for God, his people and ministry, desiring his name to be glorified all over the world. During the missions trip in Mexico, I grew immensely as I was relying God to speak through me in this foreign language and culture and I saw that my gifts came from him and only him. On the missions trip, and in camp and church ministry I had to step out and just love when I was completely frustrated and see God in every situation. I learned to listen to his voice instead of trusting my own instincts and impulses and in the midst of that, I found myself making relationships that I will treasure for a lifetime. I will never forget my friends in Mexico, the youth and leaders at Warmland as well as the campers and staff at Qwanoes. God has shown me the riches of his kingdom in his people and I will forever keep them in my heart as evidences of his grace towards me.
The hardest part of leaving is who you leave behind. Although she will be in my heart forever, I will miss my thirteen-year-old youth girl Hannah from Warmland running up to see me each week and showing me her latest skateboard trick, her scraped hand from falling off her bike at the boardwalk. I will always miss standing with her in the worship service, arm around her, our fingers interlocked and listening to her singing God's promises and praises. Last night I said goodbye to her for the last time at youth group and as I sat there with her in the corner of the church, both of us caught in a tearful embrace, I knew that this was what the kingdom was about. God brings people together transcending ages, races, countries and experiences. As I remember my wonderful campers that I counseled this past year, all my kids at youth group, the families of Warmland that welcomed us into their homes and hearts and the wonderful relationships I formed with Mexicans from the church in Él Papalote, I know that one day I will be together with them in heaven and that brings me great joy.
God has richly blessed me over this year in the Kaléo Program in ways that I don't even deserve. I only have him to give the glory and the praise for allowing me to be his hands and feet, participating in this wonderful ministry to his people, tying hearts together, lives together and ultimately eternities together. As I go to carry on this ministry back in my city of Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland, this same God goes with me and ahead of me as I partake in the good works he has prepared for me in advance. "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:21
"It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." -John 3:29-30
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Little Ones of the Kingdom
Ask a typical teen what his favorite memory was growing up and more often than not, the response will be "summer camp!" No matter where you are, the country, city, Prairies, Westcoast, farms or townhouses, there are a myriad of summer camps dedicated to giving kids the best week of their lives. Camp is a place away from home, away from rush, business and stress where kids can just be kids. There are adventure camps, but most camps are Bible or Christian based, reaching out to every child that comes through their gates with Christ's love.
As I took my final class in the Kaléo Program this past week, Camp & Youth Ministry, my eyes were really opened to all that camps and retreats entail, and what the realities are of the children that camps are reaching out to. Children in modern society are constantly surrounded and bombarded with media pressuring them to live a certain way. Many come from broken families dealing with deaths, divorce, abuse and diseases. These children are struggling to discover their identity, who they were made to be and are starting to form their perceptions on how they view the world.
I have grown a huge appreciation for the way in which the leadership of summer camps, especially Camp Qwanoes has understood these realities about children and have done everything they possibly can to make a child feel loved and accepted, hear about God and his love for them, and ways that they can shape their worldview around that. There is so much intentionality put into the planning of each activity, into the placement of cabin villages, into the theme of the summer and so much more. The staff at Qwanoes see the ways in which young people are searching for God and they don't pretend to hide the truth about God and life lived with him, but instead make it as readily available as possible.
This past weekend Qwanoes hosted a Juniors Spring Retreat for kids aged 7-11 with the theme of "Wired." Something that really stood out to me was how perceptive these children were to hearing about God and listening to his truth. I had read a book for the Camp & Youth Ministry class by George Barna called "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions." Through this book I learned a lot about how children develop their worldview by age eight, and they are constantly using their surroundings to add to their perceptions on reality. These campers at the retreat really were searching. I was working in the kitchen over the weekend, cooking meals for the retreat, as well as actioneering for the chapel songs, but I was still able to see the way they searched for truth. Despite their young age, they were taking everything in, the words in the song, the activities and games, the way the staff interacted with them and what the speaker was talking about. Because of Qwanoes, their worldview is in the process of being formed to reflect that of the life and truth in Jesus Christ.
During the retreat, I really saw God at work. This past fall of 2012 I had the privilege of taking over a cabin for one of the other staff members just for the last day of the retreat for a family emergency. On that last night, still getting to know the girls, I was able to have a really deep conversation with them about sin, God's truth and what it means to have faith in Jesus. Three of these same girls returned last weekend for the spring retreat, Brandi, Kristen and Katie. I really saw God working through me as I was able to reconnect with them, watching their faces overjoyed to see me again. I only knew them for one day in October, but God used that connection to bring them back here again and show them more of the plan that he has for their lives.
My perception towards summer camp, retreats and children's ministry is constantly being changed and corrected to accurately perceive the work that God is doing in young lives. I know that God was doing something special this past weekend with these children who were at Qwanoes, and he is not with any of them, especially Brandi, Kristen and Katie! As I continue to pray for them, I know that God has put summer camp in place for the purpose of revealing his truth and drawing young ones to himself.
"But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left." -Matthew 19:14-15
As I took my final class in the Kaléo Program this past week, Camp & Youth Ministry, my eyes were really opened to all that camps and retreats entail, and what the realities are of the children that camps are reaching out to. Children in modern society are constantly surrounded and bombarded with media pressuring them to live a certain way. Many come from broken families dealing with deaths, divorce, abuse and diseases. These children are struggling to discover their identity, who they were made to be and are starting to form their perceptions on how they view the world.
I have grown a huge appreciation for the way in which the leadership of summer camps, especially Camp Qwanoes has understood these realities about children and have done everything they possibly can to make a child feel loved and accepted, hear about God and his love for them, and ways that they can shape their worldview around that. There is so much intentionality put into the planning of each activity, into the placement of cabin villages, into the theme of the summer and so much more. The staff at Qwanoes see the ways in which young people are searching for God and they don't pretend to hide the truth about God and life lived with him, but instead make it as readily available as possible.
This past weekend Qwanoes hosted a Juniors Spring Retreat for kids aged 7-11 with the theme of "Wired." Something that really stood out to me was how perceptive these children were to hearing about God and listening to his truth. I had read a book for the Camp & Youth Ministry class by George Barna called "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions." Through this book I learned a lot about how children develop their worldview by age eight, and they are constantly using their surroundings to add to their perceptions on reality. These campers at the retreat really were searching. I was working in the kitchen over the weekend, cooking meals for the retreat, as well as actioneering for the chapel songs, but I was still able to see the way they searched for truth. Despite their young age, they were taking everything in, the words in the song, the activities and games, the way the staff interacted with them and what the speaker was talking about. Because of Qwanoes, their worldview is in the process of being formed to reflect that of the life and truth in Jesus Christ.
During the retreat, I really saw God at work. This past fall of 2012 I had the privilege of taking over a cabin for one of the other staff members just for the last day of the retreat for a family emergency. On that last night, still getting to know the girls, I was able to have a really deep conversation with them about sin, God's truth and what it means to have faith in Jesus. Three of these same girls returned last weekend for the spring retreat, Brandi, Kristen and Katie. I really saw God working through me as I was able to reconnect with them, watching their faces overjoyed to see me again. I only knew them for one day in October, but God used that connection to bring them back here again and show them more of the plan that he has for their lives.
My perception towards summer camp, retreats and children's ministry is constantly being changed and corrected to accurately perceive the work that God is doing in young lives. I know that God was doing something special this past weekend with these children who were at Qwanoes, and he is not with any of them, especially Brandi, Kristen and Katie! As I continue to pray for them, I know that God has put summer camp in place for the purpose of revealing his truth and drawing young ones to himself.
"But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left." -Matthew 19:14-15
Saturday, March 16, 2013
We Have Seen His Glory
A wise Pooh Bear once said, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” I don't know if I could sum up my missions trip to Mexico better than that. When God promises in John 10:10 that he has come to give us life, and life to the full, he was not joking!
The start of our adventure was driving down to Seattle and flying down to San Diego with a layover in Salt Lake City, Utah. From San Diego, a missionary to Mexico, Dwight Hires and his wife Sarah drove us down across the border into Mexico, about a six hour drive. The minute we crossed over the border, I fell in love with Mexico! The countryside and the houses, cemeteries and shops were a totally different world, but one that I longed to get to know. Sitting up near the front, I was able to listen to Dwight talk about the culture, history and people of this area of Mexico, the Baja California. We finally arrived at the church in El Papalote later that night and after almost 24 hrs of traveling, there was nothing else we wanted to do more than crash in our beds. Over the next two weeks, getting to know the community, the churches and the surrounding area, we had the opportunity of serving God in so many ways! Our team was involved in different building projects including filling in potholes on the public dirt roads, leveling out a parking lot at a church in Nueva Era, dry walling and forming the foundation for some new apartments for future missionary teams and finished a brick wall (fence) for the church. We were also involved in leading and planning three different events, a youth event at the beach, a family event after church with a dinner and a children's event at a local church. Our group had the privilege of visiting a child daycare sound for children whose parents work in the fields during the day. Years ago, parents had to go to work and they had no way of taking care of their children while they were out, so they left their children at home. Toddlers were caring for babies and children ran rampant in the streets. Due to the huge mortality rate of children in this part of Mexico, daycare centers were put in place to protect the next generation. Three of my teammates and I also were able to visit a local elementary school for indigenous children and bring them lunch. Most of these children come from poorer families and don't bring any lunch to school. This was a really practical way to be serving. We were also given the extreme privilege of visiting the town's dump. The special situation with this dump was that people lived, worked and made a living there. These were the lowest of the low, usually homeless, unemployed and drug addicts who did not have a livelihood anywhere else. We were able to visit them, bring them garbage we had collected and bring them some food so that they didn't have to dig through the garbage for food. The practical ways we outreached to the community was being able to perform our DRIME skit in a public park and do a prayer walk in a community very resistant to the gospel. Through that we saw some local pastors bring a man to faith in the Lord and establish relationships with some gang members that were watching!
One of the funniest things that happened to me while on the trip was probably the most embarrassing moment I have ever had...I was playing kickball with a neighbourhood boy, Poncho, and his siblings, having the greatest time bonding with them. The ball flew up towards me in outfield and I slid dove to grab it and...I heard a ripping sound. Immediately, just to be safe I sat down and examined the damage. To my horror, I realized that I had indeed ripped my pants completely on the crotch. Oh yes, and I was sitting in the middle of the parking lot of the church with a new pair of pants up in my room while Poncho and his siblings were staring at me. I explained to Poncho that my pants were good-bye, "adios" and he almost fell over he was laughing so hard. I managed to plead with him to go get my leader Ashley and she came out and once she realized what happened, she started laughing too. I couldn't move because that would just be awkward, but I manage to grab a sweater of mine to tie around my front, and borrowed Poncho's sweater to tie behind me. Once I hobbled to my room and examined my pants, I saw that they had split directly up the front and around the back as well. So long, pantalones! I came out in a new pair of shorts to play kickball again and Poncho just kept saying..."You ripped your pants...ahahahah!" The only thing to do in a situation like that is to laugh at yourself, too.
What was really hard for me being in Mexico was not the poverty, per say. The standard of living there was different, yes, but I actually embraced their culture, realizing that they valued so many things that North America is missing. The thing that was hard for me was being helpless in very broken situations. When we went to the garbage dump for the second time, I started reaching out and showing people that they had value and that I cared. I shook hands that had sifted through trash, asked names and smiled to raise them up with dignity. What really broke me was when I met Carlos. He was eight years old. I was handing out food and he asked me for a bag of food, but I had already handed three bags to his sister and mother. He asked for food and I said to him, "Isn't that your mom? I just gave some to her..." He told me that that wasn't his mom. He didn't have any family in the dump and he only had an orange that he was eating. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces; we didn't have any food left for him. Eight-year-olds are not supposed to be living in the garbage dump, they are supposed to be with a family who loves and cares for them. They are supposed to be in school, playing soccer with their friends. They are not supposed to be hungry. I rubbed his head and then I had to go. It was the worst truck ride heading down away from the dump...I could do nothing but pray.
Despite heartbreaking situations, I also saw God doing incredible work around me! The boy, Poncho, who I was playing kickball with really impacted me during my time there. He was fourteen years old, but had such a joy for life, for soccer and for God. I heard him singing worship songs as he was running around the bases in kickball, and later a few guys from my team were able to teach him How Great is Our God "Cuan Grande es Dios" on guitar! Throughout the week, I learned his story. He started attending the church when he was little and kept asking his parents to come. They refused, but finally his mom did, and she accepted the Lord. Bit by bit, they got his dad to come to church, and now every week I saw his entire family there, praising God together. On the last night before our team left, we wanted to give rice, beans, flour and a card to families who had blessed us during our time in El Papalote. We told Poncho, who was hanging out at the church with us that we wanted to give something to him and his family, so he took us back to his house and let us in. Fourteen of us squished into their 2 bedroom cardboard house, feeling like we were largely intruding. We were able to thank his mother and say hi to Poncho's four siblings, including Lupe, the six year old girl who was sick in her bed. As I looked around at this tiny shack of a house, and at the seven people who lived there, I was filled with such conviction. This family literally has nothing, but yet they have so much! They have such a strong love for God despite having little and they take joy in being together as a family. This blessed me so much to see God working in them.
God was also working in me during our two-week stay in Mexico. Despite being in a different culture, I was actually having the time of my life because I remembered almost all of my high school Spanish. I was basically the only one on the team who spoke enough Spanish to have conversations with people and I found that I was primarily the one translating, bridging the gaps between Mexican and Canadian culture and developing relationships with the locals, especially with the Mexican Bible School students who were staying in the dorms with us. One morning I was spending time with God outside in the sun and I just felt him telling me to be still and know that He was God. That whole day I saw him working not through me, but around me. That was quite a wake-up call for me, seeing that God didn't need me to accomplish his purposes. I realized that I had become proud with being able to speak so much Spanish, but really, just like God told Moses in Exodus, who makes mouths? Is it not I, the Lord? God used me during my time in Mexico, but only by his grace and providence, and I was forever at his mercy. Praise be to him that he used me in this way and was also able to point out my pride.
Saying good-bye was the hardest thing to do that last morning, surrounded by all the Mexican students, pastors and families that had been a huge part of our time and service there. I saw him being worshiped, served and praised in Spanish, and it was amazing seeing that there is One God in many different cultures. We came there to bless them and reveal God's glory, but he revealed his glory to us by blessing us with our Mexican brothers and sisters. I know that if I never see them again in this lifetime, I will praising our God together in heaven.
"Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care." -Psalm 95:6-7
"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:10-11
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Ponderings of a Mission
Leaving for Mexico in less than 2 days now...oh my goodness, this really snuck up on me! After I took "Perspectives in Mission" last week with Tim Stabell, I was anticipating going on this trip and now it is finally upon me! In my last post I talked about my Mexico trip with 13 other Kaléo students and what we will be doing there and the challenges and opportunities that we will be facing. Now that the days are coming to an end and the time of departure accelerates towards me, I am trying to prepare myself.
To be honest, I am feeling quite good about the trip. Since I have lived in Russia for four years, I know what it is like to be overseas in another culture, I am fairly confident with my high school level of Spanish, I love meeting new people and I have faith that God will work in powerful ways. I am a bit apprehensive, however, about how everything is going to be falling into place. There are numerous things that us as students were supposed to have ready for the time we leave, and that is not quite completed yet. Currently, seven of us working on a DRIME to present in one of the towns more resistant to the gospel. If you have not heard of a DRIME before, it is a hybrid of a drama and a mime, so basically a short skit with no talking to music. The DRIME we are doing is to the song "Everything" by a band called Lifehouse, which happens to be one of my favourite songs. The DRIME is going to be really powerful, telling the story of God creating humanity, and all the real and cultural distractions and temptations that occur in our every day lives. The main character struggles to understand what her purpose is in life and ends up running back to God in the end despite the attempts of the devil keeping her from Him. We are not quite ready with the DRIME but it is coming along nicely, so I am just worried about presenting this message clearly to the village. I mentioned in my other post that three of my teammates and I are involved in running a youth event at the beach, and right now we need to learn a few worship songs in Spanish which we have not done yet. I know that above all, God is in control and he will prepare us for his work in Mexico.
I am so excited for this trip and I am anticipating meeting a new people and a new culture who have the same love for Jesus that I do! Mostly all I know about other cultures' faith is my time in Russia, and the many immigrant communities here in Vancouver. I know immersing myself in the Mexican culture is going to be such a joy and a wonderful growing experience. I am anticipating being stretched in new and different ways as I am used by God to do his ministry. There are many things on this trip that I have never done before and I will be able to learn to use the leadership skills and ministry/missions knowledge to be bold and step out. I am so excited to make relationships with the Mexican people! I love people and have such a heart from them, and I know one of the main things about this trip that I will remember forever is the people I will meet and the friendships I will make. God is so good, and I am excited to see how he shows his mighty power and love in Él Papalote!
I think my greatest challenges and struggles are going to be focusing on Christ and giving all the credit to him, whether it turns out like I want it to or not. In the DRIME production I am worried that we will not present this message clearly enough, and that I will mess up on my role because I don't have any form of acting in my blood. Please pray that I would be glorifying God in everything and not working about my presentation. I like to do the best job that I can in everything and I think one of the hardest thing for me going to be not seeing solid results. Most of the impact we are going to have on the community is going to be through Northern Light Ministries far after we are gone. Pray that I would trust God to work in people's hearts and I might only be tilling the ground or sowing the seed. God has a wonderful plan for our team and the indigenous people of Mexico. I know I will be completely blown away with his plans which are far above any of mine.
"The Lord replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't even believe even if someone told you about it." -Habakkuk 1:5
"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:9
To be honest, I am feeling quite good about the trip. Since I have lived in Russia for four years, I know what it is like to be overseas in another culture, I am fairly confident with my high school level of Spanish, I love meeting new people and I have faith that God will work in powerful ways. I am a bit apprehensive, however, about how everything is going to be falling into place. There are numerous things that us as students were supposed to have ready for the time we leave, and that is not quite completed yet. Currently, seven of us working on a DRIME to present in one of the towns more resistant to the gospel. If you have not heard of a DRIME before, it is a hybrid of a drama and a mime, so basically a short skit with no talking to music. The DRIME we are doing is to the song "Everything" by a band called Lifehouse, which happens to be one of my favourite songs. The DRIME is going to be really powerful, telling the story of God creating humanity, and all the real and cultural distractions and temptations that occur in our every day lives. The main character struggles to understand what her purpose is in life and ends up running back to God in the end despite the attempts of the devil keeping her from Him. We are not quite ready with the DRIME but it is coming along nicely, so I am just worried about presenting this message clearly to the village. I mentioned in my other post that three of my teammates and I are involved in running a youth event at the beach, and right now we need to learn a few worship songs in Spanish which we have not done yet. I know that above all, God is in control and he will prepare us for his work in Mexico.
I am so excited for this trip and I am anticipating meeting a new people and a new culture who have the same love for Jesus that I do! Mostly all I know about other cultures' faith is my time in Russia, and the many immigrant communities here in Vancouver. I know immersing myself in the Mexican culture is going to be such a joy and a wonderful growing experience. I am anticipating being stretched in new and different ways as I am used by God to do his ministry. There are many things on this trip that I have never done before and I will be able to learn to use the leadership skills and ministry/missions knowledge to be bold and step out. I am so excited to make relationships with the Mexican people! I love people and have such a heart from them, and I know one of the main things about this trip that I will remember forever is the people I will meet and the friendships I will make. God is so good, and I am excited to see how he shows his mighty power and love in Él Papalote!
I think my greatest challenges and struggles are going to be focusing on Christ and giving all the credit to him, whether it turns out like I want it to or not. In the DRIME production I am worried that we will not present this message clearly enough, and that I will mess up on my role because I don't have any form of acting in my blood. Please pray that I would be glorifying God in everything and not working about my presentation. I like to do the best job that I can in everything and I think one of the hardest thing for me going to be not seeing solid results. Most of the impact we are going to have on the community is going to be through Northern Light Ministries far after we are gone. Pray that I would trust God to work in people's hearts and I might only be tilling the ground or sowing the seed. God has a wonderful plan for our team and the indigenous people of Mexico. I know I will be completely blown away with his plans which are far above any of mine.
"The Lord replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't even believe even if someone told you about it." -Habakkuk 1:5
"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:9
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Escapades of Mexico
Missions has always been very real to me, ever since my family and I moved to Russia for four years to do missions work. It has been almost ten years since we came back, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. The years, however, have faded those realities into the back of my memory and have only been recently extracted. The recent trip to MissionsFest Vancouver and our Perspectives in Mission class has really sharpened these memories and made me miss what it was like living in a different land, sharing the gospel with the people we lived amongst. Our class has ended now, and am I excitedly anticipating our missions trip to the Baja in Mexico. Our missions team of 14 people have been having frequent meetings over the past few days and I am getting more excited and also nervous for the trip.
Some of you have probably heard, but for those who have not, I am going on a missions trip with half the Kaléo group to Él Papalote, Mexico for 16 days from Feb 12-28. We will be partnering with an existing Christian ministry called Northern Light Ministries who are reaching out to the many indigenous peoples who live on the Baja. Over the time we are there, we will be doing outreach doing repair projects such as building a stone walkway for the church, filling in potholes on the highway and renovating the community park by painting and landscaping. I am one of the four students on our team who is organizing and leading an event for the youth there, a night filled with games, music, a message and food. Our team will be sharing our testimonies of God's grace in the church and helping at a child care center at a farm for the workers there which we have heard is going to be very hard to see. We will also be giving out lunches at some of the schools, and distributing blankets to local homes, giving us a chance to see the real need in the community. Our team has also been asked to take a prayer walk in one of the more resistant towns to the gospel and go door-to-door collecting information about the languages they speak, enabling the missionaries to print more Bibles in their languages.
I've never been on a missions trip before except for when I was in Russia, and I am so excited to reach out in justice and for the work of God! I think this trip will really stretch me to see others' needs, especially being able to communicate with them with the little Spanish I know and building meaningful relationships. It's so exciting for me to see believers who love the Lord in other countries and be a part of God's work in Mexico.
Some things to pray for for this trip would be protection and safety especially as we are traveling through US and Mexico. Pray for God's hand to be over us, protecting us from injuries and sickness which would prevent us from doing his work there. Ask God to give us as students wisdom as we plan these events for the community and we would be able to make meaningful connections with the people there, even though there is the language barrier. Pray that our team would be able to stay humble as we work alongside the missionaries and Northern Light Ministries, and know that the work we are doing there is not our own, it is a part of God's bigger plan for Mexico. Ask God to open our eyes and hearts to the brokenness and poverty in Él Papalote, and we would be moved to be more involved with God's work around the world. Pray that our team would really be conscious of the culture and the barriers that separate "us westerners" from them in Mexico. Ask God to give us wisdom on how to handle difficult situations, especially since most men's perception of North American women is what they see in Hollywood movies. Pray that God would keep our focus on him and his ministry, and that through our struggles, we would be able to grow and give him praise and glory through it all.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support for funds to come in for this trip - they did! All the extra money we are now receiving is going to the people of Él Papalote, which we are very excited about! God is good, and his ministry in the world is far from over.
"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me." - Matthew 25:40
Some of you have probably heard, but for those who have not, I am going on a missions trip with half the Kaléo group to Él Papalote, Mexico for 16 days from Feb 12-28. We will be partnering with an existing Christian ministry called Northern Light Ministries who are reaching out to the many indigenous peoples who live on the Baja. Over the time we are there, we will be doing outreach doing repair projects such as building a stone walkway for the church, filling in potholes on the highway and renovating the community park by painting and landscaping. I am one of the four students on our team who is organizing and leading an event for the youth there, a night filled with games, music, a message and food. Our team will be sharing our testimonies of God's grace in the church and helping at a child care center at a farm for the workers there which we have heard is going to be very hard to see. We will also be giving out lunches at some of the schools, and distributing blankets to local homes, giving us a chance to see the real need in the community. Our team has also been asked to take a prayer walk in one of the more resistant towns to the gospel and go door-to-door collecting information about the languages they speak, enabling the missionaries to print more Bibles in their languages.
I've never been on a missions trip before except for when I was in Russia, and I am so excited to reach out in justice and for the work of God! I think this trip will really stretch me to see others' needs, especially being able to communicate with them with the little Spanish I know and building meaningful relationships. It's so exciting for me to see believers who love the Lord in other countries and be a part of God's work in Mexico.
Some things to pray for for this trip would be protection and safety especially as we are traveling through US and Mexico. Pray for God's hand to be over us, protecting us from injuries and sickness which would prevent us from doing his work there. Ask God to give us as students wisdom as we plan these events for the community and we would be able to make meaningful connections with the people there, even though there is the language barrier. Pray that our team would be able to stay humble as we work alongside the missionaries and Northern Light Ministries, and know that the work we are doing there is not our own, it is a part of God's bigger plan for Mexico. Ask God to open our eyes and hearts to the brokenness and poverty in Él Papalote, and we would be moved to be more involved with God's work around the world. Pray that our team would really be conscious of the culture and the barriers that separate "us westerners" from them in Mexico. Ask God to give us wisdom on how to handle difficult situations, especially since most men's perception of North American women is what they see in Hollywood movies. Pray that God would keep our focus on him and his ministry, and that through our struggles, we would be able to grow and give him praise and glory through it all.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support for funds to come in for this trip - they did! All the extra money we are now receiving is going to the people of Él Papalote, which we are very excited about! God is good, and his ministry in the world is far from over.
"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me." - Matthew 25:40
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A Chosen Priesthood, A Holy Nation
There is no better place, there is no better time to experience excitement, joy, unity and friendship than when believers are gathered in Christ's name for the sake of the call of missions. There is something in my heart that stirs every time that missions is mentioned, or I get together with other believers, celebrating what God has done. For the Christian, I think there is no greater joy to know that the name of Christ is being glorified around the globe. In this pluralistic and secular society, it can be very disheartening to see the blatant rejection of faith or religion around us. It is vital, then, for believers to gather together, strengthen each other, and remind ourselves of what God is accomplishing in his world.
Missions Fest in Vancouver is one of the prime examples I have seen of believers gathering together for the sake of the gospel. A city-wide conference, Missions Fest displays God's work on earth through organizations, ministries, camps, speakers and films being highlighted of God's name going into all the earth through individuals who love him. I've personally been going to Missions Fest every year for almost a decade now, and each year I am touched with the power that is in the name of Jesus. Video clips of believers singing praises in Egypt, trafficked girls being rehabilitated in Cambodia, a husband and wife praising God in their captivity in the Philippines and three teenage boys who started a tie-dyeing company to support Rwanda are only a few examples of how God is using his people. I absolutely love the goals and vision of Missions Fest, to show believers the work God is doing and to get them involved, especially because these are the same goals and vision that God has shown throughout the entire Bible. There was a general session where they told the people who had gathered that although Missions Fest had started in British Columbia, Canada, this was not the only location of Missions Fest for this year! There have been countless Missions Fests in the United States and all over Africa, especially the Congo. Next year, many more countries are planning on getting on board such as New Zealand and Brazil, just to name a few. God is really softening the hearts of believers around the world as they catch his vision for missions and the importance of reaching out to the lost. I support Missions Fest 100% and I am just so excited to be involved with it ever single year!
A huge highlight this year for me was being able to have some amazing Christian fellowship and community while I was there. Since I am from the Lower Mainland, I had the opportunity to be able to see many of my friends and family at the conference. My entire family actually came on either the Friday night or the Saturday and although they were disappointed that I was unable to spend the nights at home, they were really happy to see me! I got to give my brother a big hug and realized how tall he had gotten and how talented he was getting as he showed me a song on his iPod that he had recently recorded. I am so proud of him :) I got to sit in Tim Hortons after one of the sessions and have a long chat with my dad and my sister about how life is going here at Kaléo, and what God had placed on my heart that weekend. My sister talked to me about how life was going on at home and the struggles she was having with friends and schoolwork. I was also able to have some dinner and talk to my mom about how things were going with her, and just catch up. It was so encouraging to remember that my family was the one who introduced me to Missions Fest in the first place, and how truly blessed I am to have a family who loves God so much. I also got to catch up with a few friends while I was there, and even meet a few new friends from Capenwray Bible School and from the Make a Difference or Die Tieing Organization! It is such a blessing to see how God brings believers together in unity, no matter where they are from. The love of Christ unites us all, and we are all together for the common purpose of glorifying God's name wherever we go. Praise be to His name!
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, "Salvation comes from our God who sits in the throne and from the Lamb!" And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God." - Revelation 7:9-11
"I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." - John 17:23
Missions Fest in Vancouver is one of the prime examples I have seen of believers gathering together for the sake of the gospel. A city-wide conference, Missions Fest displays God's work on earth through organizations, ministries, camps, speakers and films being highlighted of God's name going into all the earth through individuals who love him. I've personally been going to Missions Fest every year for almost a decade now, and each year I am touched with the power that is in the name of Jesus. Video clips of believers singing praises in Egypt, trafficked girls being rehabilitated in Cambodia, a husband and wife praising God in their captivity in the Philippines and three teenage boys who started a tie-dyeing company to support Rwanda are only a few examples of how God is using his people. I absolutely love the goals and vision of Missions Fest, to show believers the work God is doing and to get them involved, especially because these are the same goals and vision that God has shown throughout the entire Bible. There was a general session where they told the people who had gathered that although Missions Fest had started in British Columbia, Canada, this was not the only location of Missions Fest for this year! There have been countless Missions Fests in the United States and all over Africa, especially the Congo. Next year, many more countries are planning on getting on board such as New Zealand and Brazil, just to name a few. God is really softening the hearts of believers around the world as they catch his vision for missions and the importance of reaching out to the lost. I support Missions Fest 100% and I am just so excited to be involved with it ever single year!
A huge highlight this year for me was being able to have some amazing Christian fellowship and community while I was there. Since I am from the Lower Mainland, I had the opportunity to be able to see many of my friends and family at the conference. My entire family actually came on either the Friday night or the Saturday and although they were disappointed that I was unable to spend the nights at home, they were really happy to see me! I got to give my brother a big hug and realized how tall he had gotten and how talented he was getting as he showed me a song on his iPod that he had recently recorded. I am so proud of him :) I got to sit in Tim Hortons after one of the sessions and have a long chat with my dad and my sister about how life is going here at Kaléo, and what God had placed on my heart that weekend. My sister talked to me about how life was going on at home and the struggles she was having with friends and schoolwork. I was also able to have some dinner and talk to my mom about how things were going with her, and just catch up. It was so encouraging to remember that my family was the one who introduced me to Missions Fest in the first place, and how truly blessed I am to have a family who loves God so much. I also got to catch up with a few friends while I was there, and even meet a few new friends from Capenwray Bible School and from the Make a Difference or Die Tieing Organization! It is such a blessing to see how God brings believers together in unity, no matter where they are from. The love of Christ unites us all, and we are all together for the common purpose of glorifying God's name wherever we go. Praise be to His name!
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, "Salvation comes from our God who sits in the throne and from the Lamb!" And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God." - Revelation 7:9-11
"I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." - John 17:23
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