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.