Blast from the Past

Whew! After a six day road trip with some awesome friends I am back home in Idaho. We drove through eight states, stopping along the way to visit friends and family. These visits were a real highlight of the whole trip. Getting to fellowship with so many brothers and sisters for brief moments in time was a beautiful example of the Family we have spread all over the globe. The short amounts of time we spent with each person did nothing to put a damper on the openness and generosity...far from it! I am so grateful to each friend who met with us, allowed us to stay in their home, and fed us. You are appreciated! 

My favorite day on that trip brought with it a really cool opportunity. We spent most of Friday in Estes Park, CO, one of my favorite places on earth. This time of year is perfect to visit Estes Park, because the yellow leaves of the aspens glow against the dark hills, and the breeze is at once comforting and lively! Much of the day was spent wandering about the shops and perusing all manner of souvenirs, but as Hannah and I left the town we drove through Glenhaven, a little community which has played an important part in bringing me to right where I am in life today. 

Glenhaven 2013

If you have followed my adventures and know my story you might recall that I was first involved in crisis response ministry and Reachglobal in Estes Park, CO on a week trip with classmates from Ellerslie in October 2013. One of our days was spent serving the community of Glenhaven by walking up washed out roads and canyons, marking power poles and taking photos of damaged homes, culverts, etc. Almost exactly three years later I got to drive through the main street of this tiny community that has so beautifully recovered from the floodwaters! The homes, buildings, and roads that were reduced to rubble have been completely removed and a smooth, black road runs where it should, leading you down a winding canyon beyond Glenhaven. 

Glenhaven 2016

It was so cool to be back in the place where it all started and connect the dots of my past, seeing how God has led me from one thing to another and brought me to the current point. It is humbling to look back and realize that He had a big purpose for things that in the moment seemed awful and painful or just plain confusing. Doesn't it boost your faith to know that our Heavenly Father is always working in your life, especially in the daily details? 

He cares...and He notices. He doesn't look away from your pain and heartache. He doesn't huff in frustration when you mess up (yet again) and need to be picked up out of the rubble. He doesn't forget about you when you are lonely, afraid, and very much in need. He is right there with you, always. He reaches out, picks you up, and says, "Hey, you're a sinner and you are going to get things wrong. But it's okay, because I am God and I've made all things right. Step back onto my Path, take my hand, and let me turn it around for good." 

He is a Saviour, folks. Redemption is what He does best. How have you seen His redemptive power at work in your life? 

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Update: As I've said, I'm home now, and plan on being here through the winter. My focus now is on raising support for my return to Louisiana with Reachglobal Crisis Response, and connecting with potential interns for next summer. I am also praying and watching for opportunities to show the love of Christ right here at home and in my community. Please pray for me, let me know if you have any questions or comments, and if you wish to support me financially see the directions below. Also, please continue to pray for those affected by the floods in Denham Springs, LA and those in the path of Hurricane Matthew. Thank you all SO, SO much for being on my team! 

Road in Glenhaven 2013

 To give towards my time with Reachglobal Crisis Response you have a few options. You can give a one-time gift or support me monthly, and donate by mailing a check or giving online.

To send a check, put " #2815-Victoria Davis" in the memo and mail to:
Evangelical Free Church of America
901 E 78th St
Minneapolis, MN, 55420

To donate online:

www.efca.org/give-now
Under "other" designate "Account #2815-Victoria Davis"
There you can also choose one-time or monthly gift.

Denham Springs, LA

I had the honor of attending Grace Community Bible Church (in Denham Springs) today for worship. Each person in that church was weary and hurting, heavy with loss and exhausted by stress and physical labor, but they gathered in a sanctuary of peace to worship our great God and show each other the love of Jesus. It was beautiful. As I sat and listened to Pastor Tim and his church family express their thankfulness and appreciation for ReachGlobal Crisis Response (among many other churches and organizations) and the love displayed through us, I was humbled. I was reminded of why we come alongside those in the midst of crisis, and why we are here on this earth: to shine forth as light in the darkness with the Love of Jesus Christ. It was refreshing and I rejoice to have played a small part in it.

The response to the flooding in Baton Rouge/Denham Springs continues with volunteers helping residents to gut their homes. We worked in roughly 6-8 different homes this week, plus the church building at Grace. We also worked with the church to put together and distribute care boxes to homeowners that contained food, cleaning and household supplies, while checking to see how else we can come alongside them in prayer and service. 

I spent several days out at Grace Community Bible Church, and a home in a nearby neighborhood, pulling out insulation from under the house. Grace Church has two buildings: one that they currently use to worship in, and another older building that wasn't currently being used. The one they use was not flooded, the older one was. In that building we worked to gut the little bit of wall that had gotten wet, scrape old tiles and carpet off the floors and generally clean up/repair the damaged areas. The goal is to come alongside Grace and use that building to house volunteer teams in the coming months and years. The central location of Grace Community Bible Church in Denham Springs makes it a perfect base of operation to reach out to the surrounding neighborhoods. And almost all the them need help. 

Driving anywhere in Denham Springs you see the streets lined with piles of household belongings, old carpet, drywall, flooring, appliances, and furniture. All this came from the homes that sit behind them. The piles vary depending on how much damage the home sustained, or how far the homeowner has come in cleaning it out.  Many people have lost everything. It is sad to see and the extent of it boggles the mind. It really has to be seen in person to get the full impact.


 







That being said, here are the top three ways you can help out and be involved with what God is doing in Denham Springs, LA. 

1. Pray 

Prayer is what will drive this response and keep us focused upon the Lord. People are hurting, grieving the loss of their homes, and growing tired as the restoration process continues. Pastor Tim and his wife, Linda, at Grace Community Bible Church are exhausted from orchestrating the relief response, but are realizing that this a marathon, not a sprint! Pray for them. Our staff are working incredibly hard to get the response up and running, building a partnership with Grace. People are asking questions and wondering why...only Jesus can fill that void and answer those questions; may we have the wisdom to know what to say. 

2. Be a helping hand

Come! Come on down for a weekend, a week, a few weeks...we'll take you. :) Click here for details.

3. Give

If you feel led to give donations you can give in two different ways. 1. Give towards the ministry account for this specific response. 2. Send gift cards for Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. Click here for those details...scroll down near the bottom. 

I will be in Louisiana for three more weeks, splitting my time between serving in Denham Springs and working on my transition home and preparing for future involvement with the ministry. I personally appreciate your prayers as I trust God in this slightly stressful and busy time. :) Can't wait to meet with y'all in person and share stories of how God has been working around and through me! Shoot me a message/email/text if you have ANY questions or just want to chat. 

From Summer Interns to Southern Louisiana Flooding

Two weeks ago, I said goodbye to our summer interns and spent a week serving in Columbia, SC. I'll be honest, I was looking forward to getting back to New Orleans and taking a break! Something along the lines of quiet afternoons with a book and a cuppa tea, or checking out a new coffee shop with my brother who was visiting me, and definitely a schedule not packed full every week.

Then we arrived in Covington amidst news reports of record flooding and phone calls from worried parents who thought we were in danger.

By now I am sure many of you have heard about the widespread, historic flooding in Southern Louisiana that occurred last weekend. It has caught residents by surprise because the areas that flooded haven't flooded in our lifetimes. Crazy stuff. Here are some facts about the flood: 

*40,000-60,000 Louisiana homes affected/damaged
*20 parishes (Louisiana's version of a county) declared disaster areas
*85% of Livingston Parish was flooded
*90% of Denham Springs (near Baton Rouge) was under water
*12% of Louisiana residents HAVE flood insurance

 Reachglobal Crisis Response has begun an official response, centering in the area between Baton Rouge and Covington (where our warehouse/office is based). Our staff and local church members have been working all week to assess the damage, meet homeowners, and begin gutting houses. Churches in our Mobilize Initiative network are beginning to put together teams to come help. Friends, family members and ministry adjunct staff are volunteering their time to come work beside us. God is moving and showing us one person at a time, one house at a time, that we can reach with His love.

 I have been sharing photos, blogs, and updates on this disaster on my Facebook page, but I hope this information gives you a broader look at the great need in Louisiana right now. If you are pressed to serve those in need in Louisiana here are a few ways you can directly be involved. 

PRAY
*The people of Louisiana are in need of prayer as they literally sort through their lives and decide on the next step/rebuild their homes and businesses. 
*Reachglobal Crisis Response needs prayer for the wisdom of God as we respond, the strength and resources to meet people's needs, and direction as a staff to work well as a team in the face of this new response. 
*Pray for volunteers/servants to be raised up to come help. We can't do it alone! 

GIVE
*You can give towards our ministry in Baton Rouge by following the link below and following the instructions under "give". These donations enable us to buy supplies for ministry needs, fuel out to the jobsites, and meet other ministry needs.
*You can also send donations in the form of gift cards to Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc which we use to buy tools and supplies for our jobsites.

GO
*Come volunteer with us! 
*We will take you alone or with a team. See the link below for information on how to send a team to Louisiana, or contact me directly and I am happy to help you through that. 

Please pray about being involved with the needs here in Louisiana. They are many, but our God is so very great and I have no doubt that He will continue to faithfully provide what is needed. 

PRAY/GIVE/GO: Link to give and send a team

 
Oh...and in case you were wondering... I did get a week of vacation time. :) Cozy, book reading afternoon, coffee shop exploring and all! And yes, our homes are safely out of danger of flooding. But now I am transitioning into another busy season as I join the flood response. I would appreciate your prayers as I seek to balance my time with God and going out to serve. There is a lot on my plate and I am quite at the end of my own strength. I have faith that God is moving and teaching me to rely on Him and watch Him pour out His strength and mercy while I stand in awe. 

Thanks, y'all!!

Crazy and Blessed: The Fulfullment of a Dream

Hey y'all! 

Intern crew plus family in Lancaster, PA

In the past 11 days I have:

-Driven through 12 states (10 of them new to me)
-Camped outside of Knoxville, TN
-Swam in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time (Jersey Shore)
-Cooked lunch on my car engine
-Lived and worked on Staten Island, NY for a week
-Visited Manhattan and did the tourist thing (Brooklyn Tabernacle, Times Square, 911 Memorial, subway, Wall Street, and the ferry)
-Cliff jumping in Lancaster, PA
-More driving

Times Square!

Currently, I am in Columbia, South Carolina with Mark & Katie Manning and Paula and Jessica (fellow staff/interns), helping with teams who are here in response to the Oct 2015 flooding. The past two weeks have been crazy, amazing, blessed, and full. You may be thinking.."wow, she gets to do so many cool things!" And yes, I do! But it boggles my mind! I did not plan any of this or see it coming. The plans to take the intern team to Staten Island fell into place almost last minute and led right into my original plan to visit South Carolina. I have had so much fun traveling and seeing new things. But as I look back, it's not just the cool new experiences that I remember. It's God and the people. 

One morning as I was driving through Maryland I just sat in awe of where I was and what I was doing. I am living in the fulfillment of a dream that God planted in my heart years ago. I have never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life, but I did know that I wanted to A) travel, and B) serve people. Guess what I'm doing now? :) I am so humbled by the fact that I am in this place; right in the center of God's faithfulness and goodness. It reminds me of one of my favorite portions of the Bible:

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

~Isaiah 55:10-13 

 

Lunchtime in Staten Island

These are a few of the ways I saw God work: We had a four car caravan on the way to Staten Island and not one broke down. We worked for a week in Staten Island and no one was seriously hurt. Meals, fuel, rest, projects to work on, ways to serve the folks around us...all were provided in due time. We only left one person behind (sorry, Shelby!). The myriad travel plans for 14 or so people worked out perfectly. People blossomed and opened up. Healing was seen. All of this was a blessing. God was working all around us. 

Traveling with the interns and staff this summer has become one of my favorite things. All that driving would have been seriously boring and I would not have done half the fun things on the list above without them. I am blessed by the laughter, the tears, the deep conversations, the stories, the adventures, the crazy ideas, and the service of everyone I encountered. Serving them and being served in return has been a privilege and an honor. 

Cliffjump in PA

This weekend we said goodbye and went our separate ways. We ended on a beautiful note with a family picnic in Lancaster, PA. Several of the interns lived within three or so hours of Lancaster so we held a picnic and invited family and friends to join us in celebration of the summer. We shared stories and ways we have seen God working over the course of the summer, encouraging each other to "take it home". I could see the testimonies of each intern having a powerful effect on their families. Stories are meant to be shared and it was cool to see that happen! 

As I continue to look back, process, and share what happened this summer I will update y'all with further blog posts and photos. I appreciate your patience with my lovely full schedule and your continued prayers for what God is doing through me and the team of ReachGlobal Crisis Response.

Cooking lunch on the car engines.

Manhattan, NYC

 

Hindsight is 20/20

 I love the end of the week. Especially the end of this week. It has been a difficult week, even though it was very good. While I was in the midst of the week I couldn't see a clear purpose for everything that happened. Now, looking back, I do. But as the saying goes...

We had a team of 17 from Hawaii working with us this week at Pastor Darryl's church. However, I didn't go to the jobsite a single day this week. Not even once. It's not what I had planned for this week, but that's ok. Instead I was at the warehouse catching up with plans for the summer, communicating with possible future interns, and a myriad of random tasks. In between all this there were pockets of time that I used to process and muse over what had happened during last week at Challenge and consider and plan for the rest of the summer. I was also fighting a cold. 

Unfortunately I spent much of my time stressing out over the details of what was going on this week and what needs to happen next week. I got caught up in stuff and tasks. I worried. I fretted. I tried to stuff it down and push it out of my mind. But that's all I could think about. Until Mallory made me stop what I was doing and prayed with me. Until I wrote down everything I had to do and everything that was worrying me, surrendering it at the feet of Jesus. Until I voiced my concerns and Mallory helped me shift things around so they are manageable. Until heard how God is working in the other interns, reminding me how big my God is. Until I just stopped and breathed, listening to the rhythm of the waves and the dripping of the rain. 

The problems haven't changed. The list of things to do only gets longer. BUT... I rest in the knowledge that God has provided ample opportunities for us to lean on Him in complete dependence. I rest knowing that God is our provider and He will equip us for every task. I rest knowing that HE IS GOD. And that is what changes everything. 

Looking back I see that this week was a gift. If I had been on the jobsite, interacting with the team and working on the church, I would still be trying to process everything that happened last week AND plan for next week AND catch up on the other stuff. I would be a wreck. Because my Father knows me best and knows what I need, I had time to get where I am now. Thank you, Jesus. 

Hindsight is 20/20. 

If you are experiencing something similar I encourage you to pause and pray. Seek God and His priorities. 

Prayer Requests: 

*Unity among the intern team.
*I get to lead a job site next week! Prayer for energy, wisdom, and focus is needed.
*My brother and sister are visiting me this week! 
*Continue deep relationships with the intern team and the volunteers. 

 

Brokenness Made Beautiful by the TRUTH

The past two weeks have whirled by so quickly because they were full and crazy, but oh, so good. It's hard to put all of it into words so I will share some of the main points and things that God showed me. 

Two weeks ago, Kirsten arrived from Canada, completing out New Orleans intern crew for this summer, and Charissa and Adam (interns in South Carolina) came for a weeklong visit. We spent the week working together and preparing supplies and props for the Challenge conference the following week. Last week we all drove up to Louisville, KY with most of our staff for the Evangelical Free Church national youth conference, Challenge. Around 4500 high school students and youth leaders attended this weeklong conference.

Our job at Challenge was to build and run an exhibit called Love Moves Brasil. We worked side by side with a team from Hershey, PA and forty something Brazilians who were there for the same purpose. Love Moves Brasil had two parts: the first was a coffee shop where students could buy coffee to support Brazilian ministries, and just hang out and fellowship with other students, the second was a walk-through track where students could experience Brasil, learn about the culture, hear about some of the difficulties that the Brazilian people face, and consider their own lives in light of what they learned. (I have posted photos of the track with a description on my Facebook page)

I split my time between the coffee shop and the track. Most of the day I had the opportunity to connect with the students as I sold coffee either in the mobile coffee stands or at the shop itself. Some really great conversations came out of that time. In the afternoons and into the evening I would work in the Freedom Room in the track. This was the last room of the track where students brought in ceramic tiles upon which they had written a lie they believed was true about themselves. By this time they had been confronted with the realities of Brasil (how the government is trying to cover up the slums and poor parts of the country and show off the shiny, new Olympic face of Brasil) and asked to compare their lives to it. How are they putting up a front for others to see? What are they hiding? What lies are they holding on to in their life? Once the lies were exposed (because honestly, we all know what lies we believe), the truth of Scripture and prayer was spoken over the students. So once they got to the Freedom Room, where I was, they were ready for an act of faith. They were given the opportunity to write a truth about who they are on the wall and then invited to smash the lie-covered tile with a hammer. The beautiful thing? Through the week, Kelly and Mauricio (from Brasil) put together a painting combined with a mosaic made of the broken tiles. Taking broken things and making them beautiful. It was a very powerful visual.

I got to walk through the track myself and experience the writing and smashing of lies with truth. In the process I was able to let go of something that was holding me back. Going through the track really helped me to understand the process and connect with the students when they came to smash their tiles.

As I watched hundreds of students wield a hammer against a ceramic tile, representing the Truth of Christ destroying the lies and sin, I got to look them in the eye and speak truth into them. "Christ has set you free from believing these lies. He has destroyed them and given you the victory and power to live in His reality." What a privilege. I have never had such an opportunity before to openly and freely speak the truth of the Gospel into people like this. It humbled me and taught me to lean in dependence upon God moment by moment. When I let Him lead, His words came out, not mine. And it was beautiful. 

New brother, Vitor

I have so many specific stories from this week that I could share, but then this post would be incredibly long, and besides...I am learning that I enjoy sharing them by speaking of them rather than writing them! So if you want to hear more, just let me know. I'd be happy to oblige you. :) 

However, this post would be incomplete if I failed to mention the many new friends, brothers, and sisters I gained while at Challenge, specifically the dear folks from Brasil. It was a new challenge for me to work with people who either don't know English very well or don't speak it at all! But I can say now that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Brasilian people are warm, open, bold to speak what they see, and bless with their words and actions. They eagerly jumped in to help and learn what they could of our culture. In return I loved hearing them talk about their culture and share the beauty of their country. I also tried to learn as many Portuguese words and phrases as I could. To say I was blessed by them seems so small in comparison to what they really did, but I don't have the words to fully express it. So I say I am blessed. 

I saw a clear picture this week of how the Body of Christ is supposed to work. We are all standing arm in arm, an army lined up behind our glorious Saviour, our shields covering one another and our lives arranged to benefit our brothers and sisters. It was a blessing to see this lived out last week amidst everyone involved with Love Moves Brasil. 

As I move forward with everything God taught and showed me this week, I pray that I continue to be open to His leading in each day. I do not want this to be a conference "high" that starts to wear off as life becomes difficult or mundane or busy. I know that the truth I experienced and saw is real. I also know that God will honor the obedience I show to Him when I surrender myself to His control. He is faithful and I trust Him. 

I really cannot thank my supporters enough. Without you, I would not be here. Without you, I would not have experienced such a week of seeing and being a part of God's work in the lives of thousands of people. Without you, I would not be in New Orleans, pouring into the lives of the interns, staff, and volunteers. Without you, I would not be considering a longer time with the ministry. So thank you. (Once again... words are not enough)

The mosaic/painting made with broken tiles.

 

Keep Walking and Keep Smiling

  You know, I thought coming to New Orleans this summer would be easy. Now, this was an unconscious thought. On the outside I knew it would be challenging and full of new experiences, but somewhere deep inside I think my thoughts were something like this: "I've already done this, so I must know what I'm doing." " It's the same place as last year, with a few of the same people, so that won't be hard to adjust to again." "Comfort zone? What's that?" 

  I know, I know... You must think I'm crazy. What on earth was I thinking? Obviously I am now realizing how wrong I was. Relationships are hard; they take work and energy to grow and maintain them. It takes consistency. I am learning that I being consistent is very important. When I am consistent, I show I care. Being consistent shows that I am paying attention, it displays love. Christ is consistent. He never changes, there is no shadow of turning in Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

  I have this little Snoopy the dog figurine in my car, stuck on the dashboard. He is quietly smiling as he walks his merry way. He never changes (for obvious reasons...) and it reminds me to do the same. Keep walking. Keep smiling. Say hi to that person more than one time. Take the time to connect with the same volunteer several days in a row. Stay in the Word of God every day. Do what you said you would do. Keep smiling... Keep walking... 

  

Medical Lake, WA team

   I spent a lot of time at Pastor Darrell's church in the Lower Ninth Ward this week. I helped Ryan K. lead the jobsite, and worked with a team from Medical Lake, WA (near Spokane). It was fascinating to see the team immerse themselves in a totally new environment and seek to learn as much as they could. They were challenged to work in the hot/humid environment, to pray out loud, to share their stories with the group at lunch, and to see a culture far different than they were accustomed to living in. I pray and further challenge them to take all of it home and apply it there. Keep praying out loud, pray with people, seek God as He is in Truth and cast aside the weights that keep you from living fully for Him. 

  On Wednesday, Ryan K. organized a cookout and short Kid's Story training at Pastor Darrell's church. Both volunteer teams, many of the Reach Global Crisis Response staff members, and several members of the church gathered in the yet to be finished church. Ryan walked us through a type of training that takes a Bible story/passage of Scripture, breaks it down and repeats it through telling, acting, including it in a game, and engaging the audience in discussion. The training was great and I learned quite a bit, but what I enjoyed the most was just seeing the church used for its intended purpose. People from different parts of the city, even different parts of the world gathered in one place to praise God and have fellowship with each other. It was beautiful.

  This week brought lots of new experiences:

 -Learned how to replace a tensioner pulley in my CRV so I now finally have air conditioning in my car (Thanks Ryan!).

- On the jobsite I learned lots of new little skills like taping/mudding drywall, patching drywall, shooting the texture onto the walls and ceiling, how to use various tools, backing up a trailer, and most importantly...teach volunteers a skill when I barely (if at all) know how to do it. :) 

- I had coffee for the first time ( an actual full drink, not just a sip). For the record.. I enjoyed it. 

- We went on a swamp tour yesterday and I held a baby alligator. Not super fun, but they are interesting little creatures.

- On one of our prayer walks this week the team and I walked to a little grocery store in the Lower Ninth Ward where we met Miss Lily. She and her son run the grocery store/barber shop/snowball stand/convenience store, and she taught Mikayla (one of the volunteers) and I how to make snowballs! I'm not very good at it...but it was a fun experience!  

It has been a very good week. I continue to see God at work in me, the staff/interns around me, and in the volunteers. He is Lord, He is very good, and He is forever faithful. 

Prayer requests: 

*May I have clarity for the future: what the end of the summer looks like and also after the summer is over.

*For the interns to all draw close to each other and not be afraid to be open and honest with each other as we grow in our faith. 

*Time and wisdom as we prepare for the Challenge Conference. 

If you want to hear more stories (trust me I have plenty that I didn't share here) or just say hi, or pray with me, contact me! Phone, email, text, video chat, snail mail, or heck, just come visit! :)