He Equips Those He Calls

So I was sick again this week! Crazy how working at daycare makes you sick...over and over and OVER again. Nonetheless, I still love my little babies more than life. Anyway, in the hassle of being sick I happened to remember about my invite to a house church tonight. It's called Communitas--that is, fellowship in the Holy Spirit. It's church. In a home. It's a wonderful place of fellowship, charisma, you name it. It's very eclectic and encouraging. It gives you the chance to delve into worship any way you want. That's something I've been thinking about lately. The last time I found myself completely surrounded in worship was when I was helping lead it back in Colorado. I was in Bible study, going to two church services a week, doing Bible studies on my own and in group, discipleship, it was quite wonderful--and overwhelming. I continued to do those things for a long time, even when I moved back to Minnesota. But it started to feel more like a routine. I knew my "way" to worship-- that is, the form in which worship is just Home-- is when my arms are wrapped around myself and I'm swaying to good worship music. Home is where I can close my eyes and get lost in the lyrics--when no one is looking at each other, or thinking about anything other than God's presence. But how could I incorporate that into each day? Sure, I'm always singing and whenever I'm in my car I'm trying to sing to six different stations at the same time. That's my tendency. But how can I make it...better? It's still a struggle. All I can do is pray to be shown--to be awakened--how God wants. I know He will answer. I just have to listen. It was just great to be back in a place where the atmosphere was filled with voices of people doing different things. I felt welcomed. It brought back memories of ministry in Colorado. We talked about marketplace ministry--being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we go. We dove into some of the paradigms of what it means to be a "priest" in everyday life. Yes, there are pulpit priests--but we are ALL priests. We are all called by God to fulfill the Great Commission. We are all called by God to bring light to the dark places. It's not just something people did back then. It's here and now. We discussed why Jesus was such a great evangelist--because He immersed Himself in the sea of people around Him. He equips the called! I felt like a small piece of me that's been missing was put back in place. I'm excited to continue going here to see what things God has in store!

I pray out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. -Ephesians 3:16-20

Who I Am

"The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

I continue to be amazed at all the things God shows me in a day; even if I don't leave my house (which I haven't today, since I'm sick). Nonetheless, God has still created me to be an internal and thoughtful person; sometimes so much that I just brood over things like poverty, blessings, people, the meaning of life, where I see myself in the future, how I want to help people, etc. The list goes on and on. I keep a running bucket list in the back of my mind yet not on paper; and I am slowly finding myself completing this bucket list. 

I keep singing this song in my head: "Who I Am" by Jason Gray. It's just a miraculous song that lets me know that I belong to God. Even when I have days when I'm happy and content, I must never forget that my good deeds, if any, are still like rags to the Lord. I'm still NOTHING without Him. I must never be above anything. The Lord must always be above. The lyrics just strike me as humble. Sometimes we all need a reminder of whose we are...and we are ALWAYS God's.

Every line of this song speaks to me in a way that brings my life experiences--past and present--to where I am now in my life. I've gone through countless "dry spells," if that's what you call it--and I'm not ashamed to say that I've endlessly failed in all my attempts to follow the Lord. I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and don't like what or who I see more days than not; I forget what grace is. I forget what mercy is. Then I realize I'm living in it. Every breath I breathe is one that I don't deserve, yet here I am being given a chance! Perhaps the most important line in this song to me is this: "Afraid I'll never be enough/Remind me who I am/If I'm Your beloved/Can You help me believe it." I know, just like so many of you, what it's like to feel you're the only person walking Earth despite the fact that there are millions of people roaming the planet. We just need to be reminded that we need God--that even if there really were NO people on Earth, God is enough. Learn to be fully content--consumed--in His crazy love for YOU!

When I lose my way,
And I forget my name,
Remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see,
Is who I don't wanna be,
Remind me who I am.
In the loneliest places,
When I can't remember what grace is.

Tell me once again who I am to You,
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You.
To You.

When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home,
Remind me who I am.
When I can't receive Your love,
Afraid I'll never be enough,
Remind me who I am.
If I'm Your beloved,
Can You help me believe it.

Tell me once again who I am to You,
Who I am to You, whoa.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You.
That I belong to You.
To You.

I'm the one you love,
I'm the one you love,
That will be enough,
I'm the one you love.

Tell me once again who I am to You.
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You, oh.

Tell me once again who I am to You.
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You.
To You.  

Haiti and Other Life Changes!

Well, things for Haiti are underway. I've sent in my application and first deposit already, as well as sent out 17 support letters. I feel so blessed. I still can't put my excitement into words. Once the excitement becomes tangible (i.e. I'm actually IN Haiti) I think I might explode! I am so encouraged by people and can't wait to see what happens next.

In other areas of life, I've made some pretty big decisions about the next few years. I was planning to move to Phoenix to work and start my Master's. However, things have changed and I have decided to go back to Colorado, my beloved second home. I am so excited to be back in a place where I felt welcomed; where I knew my way around; and had developed my own system. I am excited to be back with people who became my family while I was completing my undergrad. I'm also excited that there is a wonderful facility I am dying to work at in Denver! After a year of work I hope to start my Master of Public Health in Global Health Nutrition & Health Disparities. This is a program I've been looking at since the Colorado School of Public Health opened in 2010. I feel encouraged by the things I will be able to learn at this program, which align with the goals God has blessed me to accomplish in my life. Stay tuned!

HAITI...HERE I COME!

Well, it's official! Mum, Daddy, and I sat down tonight and I gave them details about the trip to Haiti. After a lot of prayer about how to approach the topic, they agreed to let me go! PRAISE! Now the hard part is waiting until June! In the meantime, I've filled out my application, made a list of the vaccinations to talk to my doctor about, written a check for the deposit, and looked over my passport. Although I've traveled many places in my short life; although I've been to other countries, this is the first time I will provide care in a third world country. I am ecstatic to learn and to bring God's love to the people and culture who can teach us so much more than we know. I am excited to escape from technology and everything that we "know" according to materialism. I want to thrive on developing this passion that I am finally able to live out. It has always been a dream of mine to do God's work this way. I have always wanted to do mission and medical work in a third world country. This will just open up a new cave full of exploration and opportunities for the future! I just know that one week...one week in Haiti will open my eyes. Break my heart for what breaks Yours....

Haiti On My Mind

Hello! Happy New Year to everyone! It was a crazy end to 2012 with getting back from Alaska, getting organized to finish out the semester successfully, and my father's retirement from Delta Airlines. Things have all gone smoothly. Over this break I am taking the time to be prayerful and resourceful, be healthy, and rest and prepare for a busy spring (but last) semester. I am also considering going to Haiti in the middle of June to serve. Below is the support letter I have drafted. Please be praying as I contemplate this opportunity to serve!

Happy New Year! I wish I had enough paper to write about all the things I have been up to lately. I finished my degree in Human Services, Community health, and Nutrition at the University of Northern Colorado in December of 2010. I then worked at Minnesota Teen Challenge for three months, writing and teaching a new fitness and nutrition curriculum for the women’s program. Following my time there I completed the pre-requisite courses I needed to begin a nursing program, and started at Gustavus Adolphus College last September. I will be finished this upcoming May and take my boards to become a Registered Nurse! Throughout this journey I have developed many passions. I love learning about the body, health and disease, and how environmental factors and social factors affect health of populations. I have had the opportunity to teach many different groups of people about nursing and other various health topics like the essentials of community health, health careers, stress reduction and relaxation, and epidemiology. Last summer I conducted research at a pilot Summer Institute of Nursing camp, and will be presenting that research this spring at two different conferences in Wisconsin and Chicago. I also spent a month and a half providing nursing care and education projects in Fairbanks and Barrow, Alaska. I feel so blessed to be able to participate in what I am passionate about.

This year I have the wonderful opportunity to participate in my first mission trip to Haiti in June. For so long I have desired to travel outside the States to see what healthcare is like in other countries. There will be a small team of us partnering with Healing Haiti, a nonprofit organization founded in 2006, to serve the poorest of the poor in and near Port au Prince. This organization is doing incredible humanitarian work for the poor, orphaned, and widowed. God is doing great things in Haiti as well! It is exciting to know that I can be a part of it. We will be flying from Minneapolis to Port-au-Prince on June 17 and returning June 24. This will allow us a week to serve and care for the poor. During the week we anticipate serving in several ways, such as delivering water to Cite Soleil, the largest slum in the Western Hemisphere. We will also be caring for children at orphanage sites, Grace Village and OrphanCare. We will also work with the elderly through the ElderCare program and Meals on Wheels. We will stay at a local site and get firsthand experience of the culture. 

Our team will be meeting in preparation for this trip. I will learn how to share the news of God’s love and will be trained in servant hood, teamwork, and effective ministry. I am excited to learn more about Haiti and how God will use my gifts to serve Him. As God has made so many opportunities to me thus far, I believe that God has called me to be part of this mission trip, and I am inviting you to be part of this adventure with me. My desire is to enlist as many people as I can who will pray with me faithfully through my training and time there. There is also an opportunity to be a part of my personal financial support team. The trip cost is estimated at $1,650, and I will pay this through contributing myself and through donations. I am trusting that God will provide me with the money I need to go! I’ve enclosed a response card and a return envelope. If you would be interested in supporting me through prayer and/or financial donation, I would love to hear from you! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to read about this opportunity and for prayerfully considering your involvement in my support team!