So I have wanted to let you all see the awesome pictures of Alaska but I have forgot to post this link for awhile now. SO here you go. These are everybody's pictures from up here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deltasummerproject/show
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
God's unfailing awesome-ness for those who step out in faith
Have you ever just took a step out in faith and had no clue what was going to happen and even better yet didn't even know what that step of faith looked like? Our God is the most awesome God!
Last night I found myself praying for God to use me. I prayed that today would be completely his and that I would not get in the way of anything at all. That the Lord would open up Haines, Alaska for us to move in and bring Christ where he is needed. As Craig Johring put it, we were pioneering.
So the day started off pretty early. At least for me it did. I woke up at 6:40am and got ready. I met up with one of my staff partners, Craig, and we headed to the ferry terminal. While we were going there we prayed for divine appointments, because we had no clue whatsoever what God was going to do. All we knew is that we wanted to go to Haines and find contacts to get in to this Tlingit(pronounced Klink-it) village called Klukwan(cluck-wan). We knew where it was but we wanted to hopefully team up with some ministry that was already there so it wouldn't be like we were doing whatever we wanted and bypassing whatever was going on there.
Okay, back to where I left off. Ferry terminal and divine appointments. So, Craig and I get there and we are waiting in line to get tickets and there are these two guys in front of me speaking in some language I can't make out. I thought probably spanish but didn't really know. Now a little about Craig, he works full time as staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and lives in Mexico City for the year and does the Juneau Project in the summer. So, he starts busting out some of his spanish and talks to the dudes. I have no clue what about, other than I hear that he says Mexico and university. I figured he was just talking about where he lived and stuff. After the conversations the guys were like nice to meet you and walked towards the ferry boarding area. Craig and I got our tickets and started to head over to board the ferry. Then Craig got on his cell to order plane tickets for or flight back. About the time that I headed out the door one of the Mexico guys ran up to me and told me that he left his bag back at the hotel and asked if we could drive him back to get it. The boat was leaving in twenty minutes and I was worried that they wouldn't make it back to the terminal. But God rocks and he got them back with only a minute to spare. So that's how he decided to start the day!
We get on the boat and the Mexicans, there were about 15 of them, came over and flocked around Craig. The Lord really blessed Craig with this huge ability to captivate a crowd. It was really awesome to see. We soon came to find out that all the Mexicans were very wealthy and all heads of companies in Mexico City. Where does Craig live again? Mexico City! And where did one of the guys live?(I didn't tell you this before so don't worry,haha) One of the guys lives no more than two minutes away from Craigs house in Mexico City. The Lord really opened up some huge doors for the Mexico City ministry today!! But he didn't stop there. Not even close!!
When we came to the port at Haines, we were on the boat and had no way to get to town. Then some guy came up to us and he thought that Craig was a tour guide. Probably because all those people that were flocked around him. We asked him for a ride to town and he was like yeah! Jim, thats his name, and his wife, Virgina, are on a month long road trip through Alaska and just got done with Juneau. They let us off in town and we were now there, completely clueless, and wondering where to start. But we went in faith. We walked around and we new that there was a Salvation Army there and that we needed to talk to some guy named Kevin but we didn't know what to do with that or where it was. We started walking and praying. Then we walked into a store and got some directions. We went there and talked about Klukwan but there really wasn't anything he could do for us. Then we called this pastor named Gary and set up a meeting with him for one o'clock. Before that meeting we headed over to the Presbyterian church and tried to talk to the pastor there but he was busy with vacation bible school.
So we didn't know what to do or where to go till one o'clock so we went to the docks and prayed and walked around some more. Then it came time to head up to the diner because we wanted to get there before Pastor Gary (he had already ate and we hadn't.) But Craig was like lets find Jim and his wife,"we didn't share the gospel with them! We might not ever get to see them again." So we turned around and guess who we see walking down towards us. Jim and Virginia! So we ask them to lunch.We get there, order our food, and talk. Craig gets up to go to the restroom or something and I was there by myself with Jim and his wife. So we just small talked. Then Craig came back and asked Jim about his spirtual background. Jim just opened right up. Then right as Jim was getting to the meat of his story on his faith, Pastor Gary came up and introduced himself to Criag and Jim stopped talking. I was like noooo! His story put me on the edge of my seat and I was interested to hear more. But the pastor didn't have a clue what was going on and kept talking and stuff. Soon after that Jim and his wife left. That was a bummer. But then we talked to Pastor Gary and he gave us a little bit of the history of the town and the Tlingit people of the town but really didn't help us out at all.
So when Craig had left at the beginning of the meal he was talking to this lady who runs the Christian camp in Haines. She just happened to be at the diner as well. Haha awesome huh.
Also at that time Craig and I had to make a decision to fly out at five or sign up for the later flight. So we signed up for the later flight. After that we met up with Amy, Christain camp person, and talked with her at the coffee shop in town. I am not going to go into huge detail here but God is rockin' in that little camp and he has filled Amy with and aweosme passion to reach kids for Christ. Also, it just so happens that Amy had and extra vehical just newly donated to the camp that she so awesomly let us borrow to go to the village. The place we came for.
So, we head out of the town on the road towards Canada. It was a beautiful drive. Snow capped mountains and an awesome river to the left of the road. Twenty miles later we arrive to the turn off for the village of Klukwan. The village felt kinda weird. First, there were no people anywhere. I mean, there are homes there and there was cars and stuff. No kids out playing, no one walking around or anything. So we went to the Church. Nobody was there and the doors were locked. What are we gonna do now. I had no clue but I didn't want to go till we talked to someone. So we drove around and found a lady walking her dog and asked if she knew where this guy was or if he even lived in town. He did and she knew where he lived. Sweet. But he told us to go to his sister's house. So we went there and she let us in. We talked to her and she had no clue about what we could do. But then she started to tell us of her life and the town and of her faith in Christ. My heart really went out to these people. Then she gave us an idea for a work project in the town. Putting in a sprinkler system. So we have a contact in Klukwan and my action group and I are going out there next friday and gonna work with a few people of the town. God is gonna do some crazy stuff there! I know he is and I have total faith that he will. Especially after what I saw him do today! PRAY FOR THIS!!!!
Last night I found myself praying for God to use me. I prayed that today would be completely his and that I would not get in the way of anything at all. That the Lord would open up Haines, Alaska for us to move in and bring Christ where he is needed. As Craig Johring put it, we were pioneering.
So the day started off pretty early. At least for me it did. I woke up at 6:40am and got ready. I met up with one of my staff partners, Craig, and we headed to the ferry terminal. While we were going there we prayed for divine appointments, because we had no clue whatsoever what God was going to do. All we knew is that we wanted to go to Haines and find contacts to get in to this Tlingit(pronounced Klink-it) village called Klukwan(cluck-wan). We knew where it was but we wanted to hopefully team up with some ministry that was already there so it wouldn't be like we were doing whatever we wanted and bypassing whatever was going on there.
Okay, back to where I left off. Ferry terminal and divine appointments. So, Craig and I get there and we are waiting in line to get tickets and there are these two guys in front of me speaking in some language I can't make out. I thought probably spanish but didn't really know. Now a little about Craig, he works full time as staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and lives in Mexico City for the year and does the Juneau Project in the summer. So, he starts busting out some of his spanish and talks to the dudes. I have no clue what about, other than I hear that he says Mexico and university. I figured he was just talking about where he lived and stuff. After the conversations the guys were like nice to meet you and walked towards the ferry boarding area. Craig and I got our tickets and started to head over to board the ferry. Then Craig got on his cell to order plane tickets for or flight back. About the time that I headed out the door one of the Mexico guys ran up to me and told me that he left his bag back at the hotel and asked if we could drive him back to get it. The boat was leaving in twenty minutes and I was worried that they wouldn't make it back to the terminal. But God rocks and he got them back with only a minute to spare. So that's how he decided to start the day!
We get on the boat and the Mexicans, there were about 15 of them, came over and flocked around Craig. The Lord really blessed Craig with this huge ability to captivate a crowd. It was really awesome to see. We soon came to find out that all the Mexicans were very wealthy and all heads of companies in Mexico City. Where does Craig live again? Mexico City! And where did one of the guys live?(I didn't tell you this before so don't worry,haha) One of the guys lives no more than two minutes away from Craigs house in Mexico City. The Lord really opened up some huge doors for the Mexico City ministry today!! But he didn't stop there. Not even close!!
When we came to the port at Haines, we were on the boat and had no way to get to town. Then some guy came up to us and he thought that Craig was a tour guide. Probably because all those people that were flocked around him. We asked him for a ride to town and he was like yeah! Jim, thats his name, and his wife, Virgina, are on a month long road trip through Alaska and just got done with Juneau. They let us off in town and we were now there, completely clueless, and wondering where to start. But we went in faith. We walked around and we new that there was a Salvation Army there and that we needed to talk to some guy named Kevin but we didn't know what to do with that or where it was. We started walking and praying. Then we walked into a store and got some directions. We went there and talked about Klukwan but there really wasn't anything he could do for us. Then we called this pastor named Gary and set up a meeting with him for one o'clock. Before that meeting we headed over to the Presbyterian church and tried to talk to the pastor there but he was busy with vacation bible school.
So we didn't know what to do or where to go till one o'clock so we went to the docks and prayed and walked around some more. Then it came time to head up to the diner because we wanted to get there before Pastor Gary (he had already ate and we hadn't.) But Craig was like lets find Jim and his wife,"we didn't share the gospel with them! We might not ever get to see them again." So we turned around and guess who we see walking down towards us. Jim and Virginia! So we ask them to lunch.We get there, order our food, and talk. Craig gets up to go to the restroom or something and I was there by myself with Jim and his wife. So we just small talked. Then Craig came back and asked Jim about his spirtual background. Jim just opened right up. Then right as Jim was getting to the meat of his story on his faith, Pastor Gary came up and introduced himself to Criag and Jim stopped talking. I was like noooo! His story put me on the edge of my seat and I was interested to hear more. But the pastor didn't have a clue what was going on and kept talking and stuff. Soon after that Jim and his wife left. That was a bummer. But then we talked to Pastor Gary and he gave us a little bit of the history of the town and the Tlingit people of the town but really didn't help us out at all.
So when Craig had left at the beginning of the meal he was talking to this lady who runs the Christian camp in Haines. She just happened to be at the diner as well. Haha awesome huh.
Also at that time Craig and I had to make a decision to fly out at five or sign up for the later flight. So we signed up for the later flight. After that we met up with Amy, Christain camp person, and talked with her at the coffee shop in town. I am not going to go into huge detail here but God is rockin' in that little camp and he has filled Amy with and aweosme passion to reach kids for Christ. Also, it just so happens that Amy had and extra vehical just newly donated to the camp that she so awesomly let us borrow to go to the village. The place we came for.
So, we head out of the town on the road towards Canada. It was a beautiful drive. Snow capped mountains and an awesome river to the left of the road. Twenty miles later we arrive to the turn off for the village of Klukwan. The village felt kinda weird. First, there were no people anywhere. I mean, there are homes there and there was cars and stuff. No kids out playing, no one walking around or anything. So we went to the Church. Nobody was there and the doors were locked. What are we gonna do now. I had no clue but I didn't want to go till we talked to someone. So we drove around and found a lady walking her dog and asked if she knew where this guy was or if he even lived in town. He did and she knew where he lived. Sweet. But he told us to go to his sister's house. So we went there and she let us in. We talked to her and she had no clue about what we could do. But then she started to tell us of her life and the town and of her faith in Christ. My heart really went out to these people. Then she gave us an idea for a work project in the town. Putting in a sprinkler system. So we have a contact in Klukwan and my action group and I are going out there next friday and gonna work with a few people of the town. God is gonna do some crazy stuff there! I know he is and I have total faith that he will. Especially after what I saw him do today! PRAY FOR THIS!!!!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Juneau, AK
I have so much to say to you all. So many things have happened while I have been here. I don't even know where to start at all. First, I had a talk with one of my friends this past week. Her and I have been close friends her since I have came back from Alaska in 2005. That was a tough conversation. Lots of praying and talking to my fellow staff after that one.
Then on last Saturday we all went out to Echo Ranch Camp with at risk children. The Lord really provided for that day. First off, some of the guys went out to raise money for it last on Monday last week and we got $900 more than we even needed for it. Then a couple of radio stations decided to make free public service announcements all week for us! It was so awesome.
Then we went out to the camp and just loved on the kids. We played games and just talked to them about stuff. It was so cool.
Then, on Sunday, I went to Kristine's graduation party. Kristine is one of my many adopted sisters that I have in various parts of the world. It was a cool party. I was the only white person there for like and hour as well as I was the tallest one as well. They were all Filipino. Then afterwards, I went and got a chance to hang out with Billie. She is Kristine's younger sister. She is an awesome woman. I know that she is only 15 but has been through so much and really had to grow up ahead of her time. She is another little sister to me. I got a chance to talk to her a lot last night and get to know her a lot more. I would ask that you would be praying for her a lot. Pray she would find a female to really open up to and that she would be able to trust others.
Today is big meeting day. All the staff meet today and go over the whole week's agenda. I am really excited about this stuff. We talked about the movements that we are praying by faith that God will launch through us. Also we talked about our core values of the Project this summer. Relationships, Evangelism, Prayer, and meeting new people. These are huge. Because we are doing something so different than what we have done in the past and its weird but awesome at the same time. Another sweet tidbit for this week, I think I might get to go to some native village this Thursday to be a pioneer. That means that I get to go with Craig to make contacts with a kind of closed community and this will lead to spreading the Gospel of Christ!!! Wow! PRAY FOR THAT!!
Then on last Saturday we all went out to Echo Ranch Camp with at risk children. The Lord really provided for that day. First off, some of the guys went out to raise money for it last on Monday last week and we got $900 more than we even needed for it. Then a couple of radio stations decided to make free public service announcements all week for us! It was so awesome.
Then we went out to the camp and just loved on the kids. We played games and just talked to them about stuff. It was so cool.
Then, on Sunday, I went to Kristine's graduation party. Kristine is one of my many adopted sisters that I have in various parts of the world. It was a cool party. I was the only white person there for like and hour as well as I was the tallest one as well. They were all Filipino. Then afterwards, I went and got a chance to hang out with Billie. She is Kristine's younger sister. She is an awesome woman. I know that she is only 15 but has been through so much and really had to grow up ahead of her time. She is another little sister to me. I got a chance to talk to her a lot last night and get to know her a lot more. I would ask that you would be praying for her a lot. Pray she would find a female to really open up to and that she would be able to trust others.
Today is big meeting day. All the staff meet today and go over the whole week's agenda. I am really excited about this stuff. We talked about the movements that we are praying by faith that God will launch through us. Also we talked about our core values of the Project this summer. Relationships, Evangelism, Prayer, and meeting new people. These are huge. Because we are doing something so different than what we have done in the past and its weird but awesome at the same time. Another sweet tidbit for this week, I think I might get to go to some native village this Thursday to be a pioneer. That means that I get to go with Craig to make contacts with a kind of closed community and this will lead to spreading the Gospel of Christ!!! Wow! PRAY FOR THAT!!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Alaska 2
This past week has been pretty amazing. I have been blessed to get an oppertunity to lead three men this summer. Josh, Matt, and Andrew. The whole team went out to Echo Ranch this past weekend and did some work for the camp. Then on Friday night Matt, Josh, Andrew and I sat down and told each other our life stories. I just want to say that those guys are so amazing and I am excited to see God grow them this summer.
I have been hearing a lot of lies recently from satan and I have been having to pray a lot about them a lot. Also, it seems that every part of my day I should be doing something and I am not to sure that that is true. I always feel that I am not doing something and it has been hard for me to relax. I just spent the last hour journaling, reading, and praying about all these things but I would love to have your prayers on this stuff too.
Other than that, Alaska is beautiful and there is still so much snow. I am pretty sure that there probably won't be any hiking of mountains in the near future, which is pretty sad. I wanted to do some of that. And I still have to raise some more support to aquire a fishing license so I might not be doing any of that either. Welp, there you have it. Now I must go get my laundry. Later everybody!!
I have been hearing a lot of lies recently from satan and I have been having to pray a lot about them a lot. Also, it seems that every part of my day I should be doing something and I am not to sure that that is true. I always feel that I am not doing something and it has been hard for me to relax. I just spent the last hour journaling, reading, and praying about all these things but I would love to have your prayers on this stuff too.
Other than that, Alaska is beautiful and there is still so much snow. I am pretty sure that there probably won't be any hiking of mountains in the near future, which is pretty sad. I wanted to do some of that. And I still have to raise some more support to aquire a fishing license so I might not be doing any of that either. Welp, there you have it. Now I must go get my laundry. Later everybody!!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
ALASKA
I am here. I have made the trip to the beautiful state of Alaska. It was long and worth every second of it. I got to see some of the most beautiful scenery that I have ever laid eyes on. We all drove through the Northern Rockies. It was one of Canada's National Forests called Banff. I even walked on a melting ice lake. Don't ask me why I did this I still am trying to figure out why I did that.
When we all made it up here I was in awe. I have missed this place since I rode the ferry out in 2005. I am part of a 14 member staff and four of which are women. I feel so blessed to be along side of these people. The Lord has really been showing me so much these last few days. I have been pretty much overwhelmed and I have been appointed so many duties that I don't know where to start. I am in charge of all the supplies of this Project. You might be thinking, "Oh that doesn't sound that bad." But think about managing stuff for 4o people and then on top of that growing men and doing ministry. It's crazy and all I can do is completely give myself up to the Lord and let him work through me and delegate tasks to others. Its pretty crazy.
Also, I found out that I forgot to budget support for my food this summer so I am about $1000 short of what I need for this summer. I am not going to lie but it is hard for me to have faith that the Lord will provide and at the same time take an initiative in raising more support.
Well, I need to go and get going on some more stuff today. I love you all and I hope to be able to inform you all more on what God is doing here this summer!
When we all made it up here I was in awe. I have missed this place since I rode the ferry out in 2005. I am part of a 14 member staff and four of which are women. I feel so blessed to be along side of these people. The Lord has really been showing me so much these last few days. I have been pretty much overwhelmed and I have been appointed so many duties that I don't know where to start. I am in charge of all the supplies of this Project. You might be thinking, "Oh that doesn't sound that bad." But think about managing stuff for 4o people and then on top of that growing men and doing ministry. It's crazy and all I can do is completely give myself up to the Lord and let him work through me and delegate tasks to others. Its pretty crazy.
Also, I found out that I forgot to budget support for my food this summer so I am about $1000 short of what I need for this summer. I am not going to lie but it is hard for me to have faith that the Lord will provide and at the same time take an initiative in raising more support.
Well, I need to go and get going on some more stuff today. I love you all and I hope to be able to inform you all more on what God is doing here this summer!
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Love
I have been a little confused lately about things that have been going on. I sat down last night with a person who was my first ever best friend in Christ. I never really ever got a chance to tell him that. I always thought that I was just a good friend to him, but not really one his best friends. I told him about how much I looked up to him my freshman year, how much I desired to have a heart for the Lord as he did. I could come to him about all the hard things in life and he would just listen and not judge me but still correct me out of love. I really haven't talked to him in three years. It was like I knew him but only as an acquaintance. As we sat there last night and early this morning, I heard of his desire to know the Lord and to be used by him every second of his life. He admitted his faults and his weaknesses and stated that he was nothing without Christ. I sat there in awe over his humility and desire to know God.
I guess this is where I am confused. I sat there and listened to him all night and looked in to his eyes and saw his desire to know and be used by God. His heart told the story. As it says in Proverbs 27:19, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." That was his reflection. So, to get back to my confusion. (the next few things I am going to say are quite emotional and at no point am I trying to say that I am anything because it is not me that did this but Christ) I could have easily pointed out every flaw of my friend and told him how he doesn't measure up. How what he has done in his life didn't help out ministries or his image in Christ and that what he did a lot of the times were wrong. I could have pointed at his sin and gave him nowhere to run, and rammed it in his face. But I didn't, he was already convicted of these sins in his life. He knew, better than I, of what he has done. There would have been no reason for that. I listened to him and told him of the strength that I see in him, the kind of strength that comes from his weakness. Which leads me to a point that I need to see myself. Why do some want to point out the flaws of others? Is it to make them hurt more than they already do? Do they really want to help? Or just tell you that you are broken? Do they really love you or are they disgusted by your struggles and can't stand to be around a person who fails? (especially if that person "knows better")
When we bring things into the light are we doing it out of love or do we want to make a person so aware of their failures that they run from ever wanting to open up to that person again?
I guess this is where I am confused. I sat there and listened to him all night and looked in to his eyes and saw his desire to know and be used by God. His heart told the story. As it says in Proverbs 27:19, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." That was his reflection. So, to get back to my confusion. (the next few things I am going to say are quite emotional and at no point am I trying to say that I am anything because it is not me that did this but Christ) I could have easily pointed out every flaw of my friend and told him how he doesn't measure up. How what he has done in his life didn't help out ministries or his image in Christ and that what he did a lot of the times were wrong. I could have pointed at his sin and gave him nowhere to run, and rammed it in his face. But I didn't, he was already convicted of these sins in his life. He knew, better than I, of what he has done. There would have been no reason for that. I listened to him and told him of the strength that I see in him, the kind of strength that comes from his weakness. Which leads me to a point that I need to see myself. Why do some want to point out the flaws of others? Is it to make them hurt more than they already do? Do they really want to help? Or just tell you that you are broken? Do they really love you or are they disgusted by your struggles and can't stand to be around a person who fails? (especially if that person "knows better")
When we bring things into the light are we doing it out of love or do we want to make a person so aware of their failures that they run from ever wanting to open up to that person again?
Monday, April 23, 2007
Closer and Closer
Wow! I can't believe that it is April twenty forth and as of May thirteenth I will embark on the crazy 3500+ mile drive to Juneau, Alaska. I am both excited and overwhelmed. Excited at the fact that I am going to be in one of the most beautiful places in the world in less than a month but overwhelmed at the fact that there is still a ton of stuff to do here. I have my classes/homework/tests, end of the year evaluation meetings, banquets(one of which I get a chance to speak at), bible study readings, CHECKOUT duties for my residents. Checkout is probably the aspect of this semester that is the most overwhelming. I have to get my residents out of their rooms during finals week in a timely manner as well as take my finals and do all the paper work that my job entails, and lastly my boss has to go to every room with me and make sure that I did my job correctly. All this has to be done by some time on Saturday because the road up to AK is gonna be screaming my name that next day. Oh man. What a crazy semester. Honestly, I would have never thought that as a freshman that I would have ever been in this position ever in my life. I probably would have looked at the list of things that I have to do and passed out. But God is good and I know for a fact that he is the one thing that gets me by everyday. I couldn't do this without him. Well family and friends, I had better get some sleep. I am pretty sure that tomorrow is gonna be a busy day, as always, haha. I you would pray for that talk that I am giving at Campus Crusade for Christ's Fellowship Banquet. I get to tell them a short blip of my college years and how I would love to trust God with my last year at KSU. Its going to be pretty sweet. Thanks!
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