Much Over Due Update

I cannot even begin to put into words what has been happening the past two weeks. God has been doing such great and mighty things that my words do not seem to be enough. I hope that I can give a good picture of what has been going on, not only physically in Memphis, but also in me. Getting to welcome teams into a place that stills feels somewhat foreign is a very interesting feeling but an exciting one. I know that the students who come are here to serve, just like I am, but they ask questions like I know everything… which I don’t. At times it feels as though I know very little because everyday something new happens or we have to go to a different site for VBS or the schedule changes. I guess you can say God has been working on my ability to be flexible and to just rely on Him. 

Let me start of by explaining what our worksite has been these weeks. We are working on a house for Erin who is going to be teaching 8^th grade math at a nearby school. She has decided to live intentionally in the neighborhood that her students live in. The house was in terrible condition, since it was abandoned for many years and squatters decided it would be a good place to live. The first day I went to the house there was trash and clothes everywhere. The paint was all chipped and it was just in really sad shape. Our first team was able to get all of the ugly green carpet out, knock down a wall, peel the paint off of walls and from the front porch and knock down the chimney. While working the ceiling decided to cave in, it was unreal. I felt like I was in a movie and was thankful that no one was under it. Since part of the ceiling fell we decided to take out more than we had originally planned, so they knocked out 2 rooms worth of ceiling. This first team was also able to tame the jungle in the back yard and to start breaking out the concrete that was in the back yard. Our second team jumped right in and finished peeling paint around the foundation of the house and then got it painted, busted out more concrete, tore down all the dry wall in the house, and cleaned out under the house. Both teams blew me away at how much work they were able to get done. The house is looking amazing and Erin is very pleased. 

We have done a Vacation Bible School both weeks and both have been very successful. The first week we were at a park, and just invited kids to come to the park to play and do some crafts. The kids loved having so many older people loving on them. That week we probably had about 15 kids at the park playing. We did give a Bible and the book Crazy Love to one of the older boys there. He showed great interest in them and had conversations with the students about God and who He is. The second week we were at the community center where there is a day camp going on. They welcomed us in with open arms and grateful hearts. We played with kids, taught lessons, and did crafts. The last day they were having a dance for the kids, so we got to hang out with them and just show them attention. So far there have been 19 kids to come to know Christ through the VBS that the teams have put on. Praise God!

Through all of these great things I have gotten the chance to get to see how people in Memphis live. To watch a little six year old dance like the girls in music videos breaks my heart. I know that these girls have to see it somewhere and that’s heart wrenching. Young children should not be listening to rap music and moving their hips in suggestive ways. Also, walking around in some of the neighborhoods has given me a small taste of what dangers they face. We have been told by a few of the kids at VBS that some people here don’t like white people and we need to be safe. So far though, I have not felt like my life is in danger. 

A really cool opportunity we have had was to really get to know our missionary partners, Steve and Victoria. They have decided to live intentionally in the community and for many years have been helping the youth. They have teenagers living at their home, and some who just come and go. We got to meet 6 of their boys and they are amazing! Hearing their stories of what life has been like for them just blows me away. They have dealt with things that no one should ever go through, but unfortunately it is a reality for them and others in the world. They thank God all the time for safety, and they mean it 100% and it makes me so grateful for all that I have. It also breaks my heart though. Why are so many Christians leaving the areas that need light the most? I think of Phoenix, there is such a need there, yet we all stay in our suburbs and go to serve for a bit. Why not jump in and as Steve would say “ing” with the people of the area. This means like shopping, eating, playing, talking any activity that ends in ing. That is what living intentionally means.

I hope that everyone can begin to understand what it means to love others as God loves us. I know for me that was the biggest things I have learned and it continues to challenge me daily. Please continue to pray for our team that we can stay energized and continue to challenge students. Also, pray for the areas around you that are less fortunate, pray that God will send light to that area and that those people can get to know Him. Thanks for all the support you all have given me, I am so blessed to be in Memphis this summer, and I cannot wait to share all my experiences with others. 

Also, as of today, Julie and I could not handle feeling like bums all the time and bought a cheap blow dryer and straightener. I think I forgot how long my hair is, and also how to straighten it. I did feel better at church not having my hair up in a pony tail. :) 

Walking in Memphis

Finally made it to Memphis on Thursday! It was a long day in the car for me... i cant handle longer than 6 hours at a time so 9.5 was a lot! We had great conversations so that made the time go by much faster. We did see some of the water that flooded from the terrible storms. That blew my mind away to see water that did not belong there. Thankfully a lot of the water has receded but people have lost houses. We are staying in a nice Church and we have a whole upstairs area. We have been able to explore a bit and really get ready for the teams to come. Yesterday we got to see our worksite, let me just say that I am so pumped for what is going to happen this summer. The lady who's house we are working on is amazing! She is a school teacher who is moving into a poorer neighborhood to build community with those around her. I cannot wait to get to know her better, because she is doing what I would love to do one day! Today we went food shopping. I have a new found respect for people who have to buy food for more than 5 people. Shopping for 25 is not an easy task! Also, putting all the food away is not easy either.

We have everything ready now for our first team to get here, which is soon!!!!! Needless to say i'm very excited. Keep us in your prayers as we begin pouring into students and really building relationships. Pray for strength and boldness to make it through the day. I know God is doing great things and I cannot wait to share those things with everyone else.

Training Weekend

Wow! That is the only word that comes to mind when I think about the last week. So much has happened and I can already feel myself learning and growing. To bring everyone up to speed I got to Chicago on Thursday and got to tour the city with two other interns for a bit. Then we had a picnic with all the interns and LeaderTreks staff. It was just a great time of fellowship and getting to know each other through playing games and just acting goofy together. The next day we started training weekend. Since it was a 3 hour drive we had great conversations but also got to endure what they call "Blue Stew" a nice big blue van with no air conditioning. Needless to say it was uncomfortable but a great time of getting to know each other.

Once we got to the camp we were able to just start digging into what LeaderTreks is and learning what our role is as interns. While these meetings were sometimes a little boring it was great to learn about each other and just sharing our hearts with one another. One part of training that we all knew was coming was challenge day and this was one of the days that we all wondered about and tried asking as many questions to the leaders that we could. Unfortunately, they would not tell us much but instead just told us to remember everything we read in our manuals and to get to know one another. We did the latter one very well. We would walk together as a team over to the lake and all the conversations would be so deep and encouraging to hear how everyone was so willing to open up and share their lives with one another. God really revealed to us what community should look like, and I know that I long for that community constantly now. After 2 1/2 days of learning what LeaderTreks is and our roles, it was time for challenge day!

The day was just as hard as it sounds, it was a huge challenge! We had to learn how to work together as a team and how to use our strengths and how to lead. The day consisted of memorizing verses and doing some intense team builders. We were able to persevere through struggles and learn how to handle failure. Through these failures though we grew together and were constantly reminded that we cannot do anything on our own strength but instead with God's strength we can handle the failures and learn how to grow. I was blown away at how close we came out of the day. Instead of taking it as a bad day we looked at the positives and looked at how much closer we were as a team. It was unbelievable. I am almost speechless thinking back on it.

This brings us pretty much up to today. We got back to Chicago yesterday, yes another long ride in "Blue Stew" but it was filled with great conversations and funny jokes. We sent off three of the teams this morning and more leave tomorrow. It is very sad to say goodbye to everyone because we feel like a family now. But to watch everyone exchange numbers and add each other on facebook is so fun! I leave tomorrow to head to Memphis and I am so pumped! I know God is going to do great things in Memphis but also in me. What I have learned so far is unbelievable and I know more is to come. Our theme for the summer is prayer and I am going to make a prayer journal and just record how God answer's prayer. I cannot wait to look back and just see all the miracles that happen in just one summer.

I am praying for you all and ask that you do the same for me and all the other inters and staff members. Pray for the sites that we will be at and the students that will be on the trips. I will try to update this once a week during my down time between trips, but no promises. But I will do my best! Hope everyone is having an awesome summer!