I'm back in the states! My best friend got married last weekend... So now I have pretty pictures, funny memories of line dancing, and a lonely feeling. It's so good to be with family and have some time to rest but I think I'm getting tired of the resting part. It's good for a while but then I start to get lazy. Tomorrow I get to share at my church and my dad and I are going to team preach on Sunday, it's fun to be able to teach without a translator although it's kind of scary too. Having that other person standing by me is kind of like a security blanket. My family is going to back to Colombia with in a week for a visit which should mainly be fun, possibly a little challenging for them with the language. I’m so excited to share my world with them and to spend some more time talking and being goofy.
I'm really excited about the next semester. I'm doing the counseling school... which doesn't exactly teach you how to be a good counselor. We do have classes on family systems and counseling but most of the time is really spent crying... which I'm a pro at. In the three months we spend at the base, we learn about counseling by working through things in our own lives and healing, then we use the classes as well as the personal experience to teach and counsel on outreach. I think I’m ready for it even though I expect to be an emotional roller coaster some weeks.
Thank you for all of the prayers during outreach. It has been amazing to see how God has taken care of us in little and big ways. One thing’s for sure, we were never alone! But more than just being with us, God really empowered us with courage, creativity, opportunities, and unity that couldn’t have come from us. But even the little things we needed, like a mother’s hug when we were sick or money for medicine, God provided too. I guess that’s what makes the Christian life so exciting, you never know where or how you’ll see God, but you know it’s going to be something extravagant and perfect.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Ending of Outreach
My outreach is over. I got dengue and it all went down from there. Dengue is a mosquito transmitted disease that makes your blood really thin, gives you a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and makes food disgusting. For more fun facts please refer to Desteni's site desteni.blogspot.com/ I was getting weak enough that I had to return to Medellin by airplane. That left one leader with four students, and then our last leader got dengue too. We must have been the sickest team in the history of YWAM Medellin! I'm getting better, I even ate some crackers and jello today. But please keep Lorena in your prayers because she is too sick to travel home just yet.
It has been pretty crushing to have to cancel our last church and come home early. Our students will finish the last week working in our houses for displaced kids and the leaders will rest and recuperate in the base. But even though the end was a downer, we loved our time on outreach. We did a lot more work than in my outreach. We did a variety of things: camps for the youth, mini-schools, classes for new Christians, VBS for the kids, started a town wide youth group with three different congregations, and lots of teaching. It was a wonderful time and I think we did some good things in places as well as saw our students grow up a lot.
The countdown until I'll be in the states has started! 6 days!!!!! And my best friend gets married in only 10! Life just keeps flying by!
It has been pretty crushing to have to cancel our last church and come home early. Our students will finish the last week working in our houses for displaced kids and the leaders will rest and recuperate in the base. But even though the end was a downer, we loved our time on outreach. We did a lot more work than in my outreach. We did a variety of things: camps for the youth, mini-schools, classes for new Christians, VBS for the kids, started a town wide youth group with three different congregations, and lots of teaching. It was a wonderful time and I think we did some good things in places as well as saw our students grow up a lot.
The countdown until I'll be in the states has started! 6 days!!!!! And my best friend gets married in only 10! Life just keeps flying by!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Crazy Leaders
Changes have happened in our team. Now Lorena, my best friend who is my age, and me are the team leaders! Our original leader, Desteni, got really sick from a misquito transmitted disease and had to return to Medellin. Another one of the students had malaria, and even though she got better it was too high a risk for her to go to the next location that is known for having malaria as well. So now we are a team of 5 people.
Lorena and I are so excited! God must have a lot of faith in us to let us be responsible for three weeks of outreach! It's going to be a good challenge for us. But we also need a lot of prayer so that we make good decisions and pastor our students well.
Last week and this week we have been in the same church. We are working with all age groups, but a lot with the youth. This week we're starting a city-wide youth group that the youth pastors of three different churches want to continue with after we leave. It's really exciting to start something that has so much potential and to get different churches working together!
God has been so faithful with us! Even though we've had some big challenges we've also really seen God do some cool things with us. One night we were suppose to have a church meeting, but we really didn't want to have it because Desteni was leaving and I was suppose to preach but hadn't practiced with the other girl who knows a bit of English. Maybe it wasn't the most missional minded thing to do, but we prayed for rain so that people wouldn't come and we would have more time to prepare. And it started raining, but then stopped and we were all frustrated and scrambling. Then it poured for a good two hours and only about 10 people came to the church, so we had a good time of worship and a devotional and that was all. God has been so good to give us rest when we need rest and strength when we need strength, creativity when we need creativity and always a lot of work for us to do. God is good.
Lorena and I are so excited! God must have a lot of faith in us to let us be responsible for three weeks of outreach! It's going to be a good challenge for us. But we also need a lot of prayer so that we make good decisions and pastor our students well.
Last week and this week we have been in the same church. We are working with all age groups, but a lot with the youth. This week we're starting a city-wide youth group that the youth pastors of three different churches want to continue with after we leave. It's really exciting to start something that has so much potential and to get different churches working together!
God has been so faithful with us! Even though we've had some big challenges we've also really seen God do some cool things with us. One night we were suppose to have a church meeting, but we really didn't want to have it because Desteni was leaving and I was suppose to preach but hadn't practiced with the other girl who knows a bit of English. Maybe it wasn't the most missional minded thing to do, but we prayed for rain so that people wouldn't come and we would have more time to prepare. And it started raining, but then stopped and we were all frustrated and scrambling. Then it poured for a good two hours and only about 10 people came to the church, so we had a good time of worship and a devotional and that was all. God has been so good to give us rest when we need rest and strength when we need strength, creativity when we need creativity and always a lot of work for us to do. God is good.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Middle of Nowhere
First of all, praise God that we have had coffee! It seems funny, but it really was like a gift from heaven these last two weeks. And, Des and I discovered that everyone of our teammates likes coffee... why we we made to work together!
BRIGADE: Our time at the brigade went better than I could have dreamed. We had so much impact in that community the three days we were there, it was so hard to leave. My evangelism team worked with many people in the community and left a lot of youth who had made the decision to live for Christ. There is a young pastor there who is conintuing to disciple them. Members from our team also worked in physical therapy, counseling and worship and all were equally pleased with their results.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for protection for us! We were more than protected, our first day there the military and the police ask how we were doing. The police added a special watch so someone was on duty 24-7 where we were working and they even let us use the police station bathrooms so we could shower. God was really looking out for us!
CHURCH 1: Though the first week was wonderful it was even better to be united working together as our team. The first week we did a "mini-campo escuela" for the youth and the second week we worked with families. Again, there was a community-wide response in both youth and families. Time at this church was also a good stretching for Desteni and I. We were both adjusting to our new positions as leaders after being students the last semester. And we both had more speaking responsibilities than we've ever had before (me with the youth and her with counseling families). But now we can say we've personally seen that God is faithful to do more in us than we can do ourselves.
This place we were in, it really is the middle-of-nowhere, otherwise known as El Palmar in Cordoba,Colombia. In this place they peal their own rice, kill their own meat, and take big homemade hats and machettes with them when walking more than 5 minutes out of town. They have more mangos than you can imagine; there are even different kinds of mangos, if you didn't know: cow mangos, heart mangos, sandle mangos, ect. There is no running water and electricity is sporatic. Where we stayed had a dirt floor and we slept in hammocks. I learned to rope cows (although it's easier to aim at the 8-year-olds teaching us), milk a cow, and ride a horse. I called my mom for mother's day/dad for his birthday from a cell phone hooked up to an antena and repeatedly had to interrupt them to chase the pigs out of the house. It was the experience of a life time! I can't help but smile at the memories and thank God that I get to live a life of adventure, it's the best kind!
Right now we're in a "city" for two weeks. Our first week will be working a lot with youth. The second week we'll be with a church plant that has a lot of new Christians. Please continue to pray for unity in our team and that we will bless the churches and communities.
Everyone who has prayed for us, thank you so much! So far on outreach we have been in awe at how God has been answering our prayers with much more than we even ask. We prayed for protection and we had the military and police as personal body guards. We've even asked God for little things we miss, like coffee and salad, and gotten them not just once, but every day afterwards. Please keep praying because, trust me, God hears!
BRIGADE: Our time at the brigade went better than I could have dreamed. We had so much impact in that community the three days we were there, it was so hard to leave. My evangelism team worked with many people in the community and left a lot of youth who had made the decision to live for Christ. There is a young pastor there who is conintuing to disciple them. Members from our team also worked in physical therapy, counseling and worship and all were equally pleased with their results.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for protection for us! We were more than protected, our first day there the military and the police ask how we were doing. The police added a special watch so someone was on duty 24-7 where we were working and they even let us use the police station bathrooms so we could shower. God was really looking out for us!
CHURCH 1: Though the first week was wonderful it was even better to be united working together as our team. The first week we did a "mini-campo escuela" for the youth and the second week we worked with families. Again, there was a community-wide response in both youth and families. Time at this church was also a good stretching for Desteni and I. We were both adjusting to our new positions as leaders after being students the last semester. And we both had more speaking responsibilities than we've ever had before (me with the youth and her with counseling families). But now we can say we've personally seen that God is faithful to do more in us than we can do ourselves.
This place we were in, it really is the middle-of-nowhere, otherwise known as El Palmar in Cordoba,Colombia. In this place they peal their own rice, kill their own meat, and take big homemade hats and machettes with them when walking more than 5 minutes out of town. They have more mangos than you can imagine; there are even different kinds of mangos, if you didn't know: cow mangos, heart mangos, sandle mangos, ect. There is no running water and electricity is sporatic. Where we stayed had a dirt floor and we slept in hammocks. I learned to rope cows (although it's easier to aim at the 8-year-olds teaching us), milk a cow, and ride a horse. I called my mom for mother's day/dad for his birthday from a cell phone hooked up to an antena and repeatedly had to interrupt them to chase the pigs out of the house. It was the experience of a life time! I can't help but smile at the memories and thank God that I get to live a life of adventure, it's the best kind!
Right now we're in a "city" for two weeks. Our first week will be working a lot with youth. The second week we'll be with a church plant that has a lot of new Christians. Please continue to pray for unity in our team and that we will bless the churches and communities.
Everyone who has prayed for us, thank you so much! So far on outreach we have been in awe at how God has been answering our prayers with much more than we even ask. We prayed for protection and we had the military and police as personal body guards. We've even asked God for little things we miss, like coffee and salad, and gotten them not just once, but every day afterwards. Please keep praying because, trust me, God hears!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Curtain's Up
Next Tuesday morning we're leaving for outreach in Cordaba. I'm so excited for outreach! It's so wonderful to have time just for evangelizing and blessing churches. The first week will be spent getting ready for the medical brigade and the first weekend having the medical brigade. After that we'll be spending about two weeks in each church. I don't know where we'll be for sure yet, hopefully it will all get finalized this weekend. Please pray for safety during the brigade and that God would help me lead evangelism and impacts.
And here's a little blurb about the people on my team, please be praying for all of us:
Desteni: our fearless, brave, strong leader! It'll be a bit of a stretch for her to lead, but it’s not her first time and she'll be great at it! The two of us have started a support group for our fellow coffee addicts (joking). She will also be my translator when it’s my turn to teach. And I’m her side kick for crazy, caffeinated escapades.
Lorena: my best friend who did her DTS with me. The two of us are assistant leaders for the outreach. She is a great teacher and leader but doesn't have a whole lot of confidence in her own abilities. When Desteni can’t be found Lorena is my side kick for crazy, nighttime drama!
Paula: professional student. She has many healthy problems: like in her knees and wrists. She's a bit shy, but hopefully she'll feel free to be her funny self with us. She’s the oldest, but doesn’t have much experience teaching or in front of people.
Claudia: professional student. At first we thought there might be problems having a leadership team younger than her, but she will be so helpful in counseling and teaching. She's also our resident physical therapist :)
Ingrid: 18-year old. Great girl who has shown she's willing to try to change when called out on things. Usually she’s up for a challenge, but she was really disappointed to be on our team because she had her heart set on a different place. I hope she clicks with our team even though they are no other girls her age, and that her attitude will change when we begin.
Juan Daniel: 19-year old. He's the best guy at drama and dance; he’s also a great worship leader and plays about 5 instruments, so I'm excited to have him. He's also got experience working with youth and will be great to help out and protect us girls. Pray that he doesn't get distracted by girls in the churches, a weak area for him, and that he can get the pastoring he needs from us three crazy, female leaders.
Pictures and updates coming when possible....
And here's a little blurb about the people on my team, please be praying for all of us:
Desteni: our fearless, brave, strong leader! It'll be a bit of a stretch for her to lead, but it’s not her first time and she'll be great at it! The two of us have started a support group for our fellow coffee addicts (joking). She will also be my translator when it’s my turn to teach. And I’m her side kick for crazy, caffeinated escapades.
Lorena: my best friend who did her DTS with me. The two of us are assistant leaders for the outreach. She is a great teacher and leader but doesn't have a whole lot of confidence in her own abilities. When Desteni can’t be found Lorena is my side kick for crazy, nighttime drama!
Paula: professional student. She has many healthy problems: like in her knees and wrists. She's a bit shy, but hopefully she'll feel free to be her funny self with us. She’s the oldest, but doesn’t have much experience teaching or in front of people.
Claudia: professional student. At first we thought there might be problems having a leadership team younger than her, but she will be so helpful in counseling and teaching. She's also our resident physical therapist :)
Ingrid: 18-year old. Great girl who has shown she's willing to try to change when called out on things. Usually she’s up for a challenge, but she was really disappointed to be on our team because she had her heart set on a different place. I hope she clicks with our team even though they are no other girls her age, and that her attitude will change when we begin.
Juan Daniel: 19-year old. He's the best guy at drama and dance; he’s also a great worship leader and plays about 5 instruments, so I'm excited to have him. He's also got experience working with youth and will be great to help out and protect us girls. Pray that he doesn't get distracted by girls in the churches, a weak area for him, and that he can get the pastoring he needs from us three crazy, female leaders.
Pictures and updates coming when possible....
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Outreach
Instead of rewriting the information here, please read what Desteni wrote about our time at the medical brigade and pray for us. And yes, we do ride in those canoes to get to the brigade:) What an adventure!
desteni.blogspot.com/
desteni.blogspot.com/
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