Seth Simonson - :: Adventures in Missions

Back from Puerto Rico

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm back in Gainesville! Unfortunately, when I got home, I became super ill and have been on meds for the last week. Thankfully I am back to feeling a bit better and will be able to resume my normal life again. Thank you for your prayers. Puerto Rico was so beautiful! We had some great days of ministry and some days at the beach that were unforgettable. A few of us even got to swim in an underwater cave with the fish and coral around us! I had a team of 20 wonderful young women, 5 amazing dudes, and 2 other great co-leaders. Like always, the Lord really showed up and did some amazing things in the lives of the participants! There are so many stories, but the articles from the kids are the best. To read through them, check out the blog page.

Puerto Rico

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On the 3^rd of July, I will begin my adventure to Puerto Rico. Like last year, I am going to be leading a team on a mission trip. Instead of being a one-month trip though, it will be two weeks, or technically, 10 days. Although it's not as long, I know God has amazing things in store for the high school students. The students will be arriving in Gainesville, GA for a 4-day training camp. Please pray that these kids will come with a heart ready to be used by God. That they will be ready to get real with their team, to be open and vulnerable with each other. You can follow our team blog here: http://09pr0630yi.myadventures.org/

On another note, life is going great! I am continuing to learn so much about website design and HTML. The new blog look is a small taste of some of the things I am learning to do.

I am also looking into some changes in the upcoming future, but we can wait to talk about that later, when things are set in stone a bit better. :) Love you all!

Skydiving Video!

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Yo! I know this is a random post, seeing that I haven't updated in a couple of months, but this is a fun one! Yesterday I went skydiving with my buddy Don Rock for his birthday. It was unreal! Check out the video!

Going to Guatemala!

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey friends and supporters! Sorry for the lack of blogging lately, I am alive and well. So much has happened since I blogged last, but I'll just give you what is going on now. Since Thursday, I have been helping with the Real Life: College (1 to 3 month trips for college-aged participants) training camp, by filling in as the leader for the Swaziland team. Their leaders are in the process of moving from India to Swaziland, so they couldn't make it back here to be the team. It has been a sweet time and God has really been moving in the lives of the kids here. The Swazi team is just great, and their hearts for each other and the Lord is huge! They were originally signed up to go to India, but because of the recent bombing in India, they were asked if they were willing to go to Swaziland instead. The team, of only 5, decided that they would all go to Swaziland. They are sold out for the team and continue to go deep and be vulnerable with each other. God always floors me during these training camps! I just love watching broken people come together and minister to each other through their own brokenness. It will be hard to see the team leave tomorrow without me, but I will be waiting for them at the hotel when they fly back home in 3 months to help with their team debrief.

Immediately after they leave, I will be heading down to Guatemala with Ashley, Don & Connie Rock, and a couple other people to help with a 10 day setup trip for future teams going to Guatemala through AIM. We will also be helping local doctors and loving on children and the people of Guatemala while there. Being able to go is actually quite a story in itself. The Rocks, who have become very good friends of Ashley and me, told us about this trip to Guatemala in October and asked us to come along. The cost was at $1,300, so it was pretty apparent that we were not going to be able to raise that much more. In December, we were asked again and it felt right that maybe we should try to raise the amount and go. It was clear that God was going to have to do something amazing for us to go, so that is what I prayed. I pretty much told God that if I was supposed to go, he was going to have to supply the money. Over Christmas, I got a phone call telling me that $1000 was put into each of our accounts by an anonymous donor for my trip to Guatemala! God is good! Please pray for our team as we head to Guatemala.

Just a quick update of Brodie! He is about 24 weeks old and is a huge blessing to have around. He is still adorable and super smart. But he is still a puppy...so he has a lot of energy.

Thank you for your constant prayer and support! It allows me to keep doing what I love!

My New Puppy!

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ashley and I drove 3 hours to Byron, Georgia to pick up this little guy. It is a 8 week old, pure bread Shih Tzu and his name is Brodie. We got it because Ashley has really been wanting a small dog for awhile now. We gave him his first bath today...I don't think he liked it :-)

Enjoy the pictures...

On the Verge of a New Season

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New people come in and close friends leave. This seems to be the cycle of things around AIM. Driver, who has been a spiritual role model for me over this last year, is heading off to Kenya today. My intern team from last year, three of the girls are here in Georgia, getting ready to leave for Africa for 9 months. Others are heading off on The World Race, and some are finding the Lord is calling them to other places around the world. It has been such a blessing to get to know all these new people over the last year, and being accepted into this community. It's a total change of lifestyle, and I would be lying to you if I said it was an easy adjustment for me, I think I am still working out some of it. It really only works too if your all in. If your confused at where I am going with this, let me back up a bit and catch you up.

After last year working at AIM as an intern, I had the feeling that God really wanted me to stay here and work on staff. It was a great opportunity and I would get to work on web development and marketing, two things I have a passion for. After leading a trip to Swaziland, I came back to live with my new roomie Jimmy. He is a World Race alumnus and is now the main setup guy for the World Race. He is an awesome dude and is really a great role model to have around the house. After thinking it was just going to be him and I, one of the new "interns" needed a place to stay and we offered our house for the year. His name is Barton and has turned out to be a great guy as well. We all live really well together and complement each other a lot.

Back to my original point, after last year, living with 3 guys, I really was ready to not share a room and kind of live on my own-as much as I could. So, when hearing that I was going to be doing this again, I was put off a little bit. Every day that I came home after work, the apartment was full of people all hanging out and sometimes I just wanted my time to myself. After praying a lot about it, I realized that this was much more than hanging out, it was community. People that come and just live out life together, whatever way they can. I get the opportunity to have people over, with two other God loving men, and just love on people. It's was a hard adjustment at times, but once I put my selfishness to the side; it really is a beautiful thing. I think it is so hard because society doesn't really express this community as a good thing. I've always felt that once I get on my own, I don't need community as much. Turns out, I do. They keep me accountable in my walk with the Lord and challenge me daily with new things. Jimmy and I have started the book "The Shack," which if you haven't read this, I strongly recommend it. It is about a grief-stricken father in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His great sadness began four years ago on a weekend camping trip, when his 6-year-old daughter, Missy, was murdered. What he couldn't know then, but is about to learn, was God's purpose for Missy's death. I am only 80 pages in, but already it has hit me hard. I am planning to do a little recap of this later on.

A new season begins at AIM, with new people coming and close friends leaving. I am excited about the chance I have to get to know these new people and grow more in community with them. This is so much more than just a job; it is becoming a way of life. I am so grateful that I get to be a part of their lives, and they can be a part of mine. Thank you for your prayers and support, it allows me to be where I am and experience all that is happening around me.

Settling Back In

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The past 2 weeks I have been home in Minnesota getting ready for my move down to Gainesville, Georgia for another year! While I was home, I got to see some friends, spend time with family, and relax from my trip from Africa. I miss Africa a lot and hope that I will be able to go back again someday. I learned so much and built lasting relationships with my team. I miss them a lot and wish that I could be back, being a leader and watching them grow in the Lord. It was a blessing to be able to be apart of that. Here are some pictures that I took from Africa:

Swinging around a Swazi kid

Sitting under a tree on a hot day

Sabelo put stickers all over me, so I returned the favor

The guys eating out at a nice restaurant our last night

An awesome zebra walking in front of us

Chris & I with our two boys

All of the guys with Swazi boys on our shoulders

On Thursday, Ashley, my sister, my mom, and I drove down to Indiana, and then finished our trip to Georgia on Friday. Over the weekend, we put together my apartment that I am staying in and actually made it look like a nice place. My roomie Jimmy will be moving in after the World Race training camp in a week and then we will get another room mate, Joshua, a new intern (what I did last year) who will be here in September. It will be good to be on my own but still have people in the house to build me up and be there for me. All of a sudden it is all real though, life on my own. I went out and bought groceries with my own money and everything...just weird to be totally on my own. Sunday morning we went to church and I got to see all of the boys at the youth group! It was great to get a bunch of hugs and just get to chill with them! I can't wait to continue to pour into them and have them pour into others!

Today is my "first" on AIM staff day, even though I have been working here for the last 10 months as an intern. Right now they are renovating AIM, so I am sitting at a desk in the middle of now where. I am ready for the office to be completed so I can settle in and know exactly what I will be doing. But I am open to everything and really enjoying life! I feel like this is where God wants me right now, which is why I am here. I am excited to see what God has in store for me here and all the awesome things I am going to be learning. Just a reminder, I am working as the Web Design/IT & Marketing guy around here. I am really excited about getting to redesign the AIM website completely this time, not just pieces here and there, but the entire deal! Plus, I can learn about marketing and continue to grow my strengths in that. Like I said before, I am just really excited about what I am getting into! Also, I quick support update; I have $1,500 in my support account, which means I have 3 months already taken care of. My support goal is $500 a month, the rest of my expenses are subsidized by AIM. If you can find in your budget, please prayerfully consider partnering with me. Thank you!

Fun in Swazi

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update because I have no time but really want to share the last couple days with you. On Thursday we got a tour of Swaziland and what all AIM is doing here. We got to see 5 of the 19 "care points" that AIM operates in Swazi. Care points are places set up around Swazi that feed children and allow them to get basic education. Right now, the care points feed around 3000 children a day. It was awesome getting to stop at them and just having these beautiful children jump up in my arms and want to feel affection. It breaks my heart to see the condition they live in. After, we got to go to go to a market and then out to a really nice restaurant and eat pizza, I forgot how good it was :-)

Yesterday, we got to go to a 4th of July party, which was super fun. All the AIM teams got to meet up there so I saw a bunch of people that I work with! It was a great time to relax and they actually had fireworks as well! Not gonna lie, it was really weird celebrating it is Swaziland but it was fun. It was hard being away from family though, I really have never not been with them. But, on Saturday we go to the airport and fly out that evening. I can't believe I am at the final week! Can't wait to see everyone back home and show you pictures! Love ya!

Continue Reading: Settling Back In

Creating Relationships

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The last couple days in Africa have been absolutely amazing! Every morning before we start our day, I like to walk by myself down the road to spend time with the Lord. While on my walks, it has become normal that I talk to the security guards that work on our road. At first it was just normal conversation, but now it's real stuff. It has been fun to watch them understand more about our culture, while I learn so much more about theirs. The last couple days, I have walked down to the supermarket and picked up some coca cola for the guys, which they go crazy over. Last night, Gosnati, a 20 year old guard who I have become close with, had to work the night shift. To them, it is very cold at night so I made him some tea and walked it out to him. It was awesome to just talk to him for about his dreams and ambitions and he got to see that I cared a lot about it. Before I left, I prayed for him and gave him a big old bear hug. He thought it was funny.

Our trip is starting to come to a close now. Today, all the kids are with me in the internet caf checking their email and such. Tomorrow, our team is going on a tour of Swaziland, which should be so cool! Friday, the really nice hotel down the street from us in holding a Fourth of July party for all the Americans. It should be a great time because another team that is here is going to be meeting us there! Then next week we do our last days of ministry and then our all day safari as a surprise! I can't wait for that either, I will be taking lots of pictures!

Thank you so much for praying for us, and please continue to! The team has really come together and it has been fun watching them make the ministry their own, and not just something they are forced to do. I'm dreading the day when I have to say goodbye to Sabelo at the orphanage. I absolutely love that kid and am really going to miss him. It is crazy how attached you can get to people in only 2 weeks!

By the way, I would love to post pictures, but the internet is sooo slow! I will post them when I get back :-)

Continue Reading: Fun in Swazi

Visiting the Homesteads

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have so much to tell you and so little time! I am sitting in an internet cafe which is pretty cool, but the internet is very slow and not sure how I feel about everyone looking at my computer screen :-) Now on to what the team has been up to; One of our biggest ministries that we do is our Homestead ministries. It is when we head up the mountain and just build relationships with the people who live up there. My team goes all the way up the mountain and have been really blessed by the people we have met. The family that really means a lot to our team are the ones who live close to the top. They have 30 people who live on one homestead. They asked us if we wanted to climb the mountain and help them carry fire wood back down for them. We jumped on the opportunity and woke up early to help them. They were so happy to see us that after we helped them, they took us on a tour of the wildlife reserve and we saw some monkeys. When we arrived back at their home, very tired and sweaty, they invited us to eat dinner with them. It was definitely an interesting meal, but I ate all of it. As if that wasn't enough, they gave me the Swazi name Sabelo, which mean Chosen One. So now everyone I meet yells "Sabelo!" (Word travels fast in the neighborhood when you are the only Americans haha) I am loving every second of being here and God is revealing more and more about Himself everyday! The team is really coming together as well. We went to the Mbabane Hospital today and visited the children's ward which totally broke my heart. They say that that is the hospital where people go to die and to see all of these children, some of them disabled and abandoned, makes me wish I could do more. We shared the hope of Christ with them and prayed for healing. Please keep the team and the people in Swazi in your prayers. They are beautiful people and have accepted me as one of their own in only 2 weeks. Thank you for your prayers so far and for the encouraging comments! Love you and miss you all so much!

Continue Reading: Creating Relationships

First Real Day

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday was really our first day of true ministry. 10 of us went to an orphange for abandoned babies, and the rest of us went on prayer walk around our neighborhood. I went on the prayer walk, and the Lord revealed to us what He had planned right away! As soon as we walked down our road, we ran into a preschool that just got out. They were all sitting in the yard waiting for their parents to pick them up. As soon as they saw us, the started yelling "How are you?" repeatedly! We couldn't resist but laugh and we played with them for like and hour and a half! They would yell "Shoot Me" which meant they wanted us to take a picture of them, and we could then show them the picture we took...thanks to digital. As soon as they saw the picture, they would laugh and yell, That's me! My camera also flips the picture automatically from horizontal to vertical, and the kids would stare is awe and laugh. The kids are so open and just want to be held and loved. My heart completely is wrecked by these children and I just want to take like 3 of them home with me :-) After that, we walked around the neighborhood talking to people, trying our hardest to speak Swati. They laugh at us when we speak to them in Swati, but it's a good laugh, they really respect us. We met a pastor on Sunday that has lived here 7 years and still doesn't know how to say thank you...it's really sad and disappointing.

We are still coming together as a team, and though there is so drama, we are continuing forward. It has been fun watching the team grow as one and jump into ministry together. In an hour, we will be jumping right back into the Homestead ministry (which is the ministry where we walk around the neighborhood and talk to people.) The Lord is carrying me through a lot of this, because I know I couldn't do this on my own. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, we really appreciate it.

Continue Reading: Visiting the Homesteads

Team Swazi

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We are on our way to the airport now and will leave Atlanta around 4pm.

Please keep us in your prayers! Be back in a month!

Continue Reading: First Real Day

Becoming a Team

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taken from our Swaziland Team Blog page. I will be posting on that blog twice a week, and trying my hardest to blog on here as well.

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During one of our team builders yesterday called the Spiders Web, we had to crawl through a course with wires that cannot be touched. We are only given so many touches as a team and certain metal objects on the course sends the whole team back to the beginning. The cool part was watching the team set their goals and expectations for going through the web, everyone was heard and everyone was allowed to give input. Our team goal was to complete the course in 2 hours, which is almost impossible for a team the size that we are. The expectations that we decided on were no sarcasm, positive attitudes, encouragement for each other, and if we were sent back to the beginning...we all cheered and clapped rather than angry and frustrated.

Our whole team battled through the web, trying to get to the first "safe room." They cheered each other on, looked out for one another by pointing on wires and metal objects. Twice we were sent all the way back to the beginning of the course. Both times, almost our entire team was in the safe room, but the way they handled it was amazing. Without a single groan or mutter, they all started clapping and cheering each other on. They smiled and laughed it off and rushed back to the beginning to do it again. After the two times, never again. Our entire team became just that, a team. We never got a arms length away from one another and we guided and helped everyone through to the finish. When we got to the finish, we were told that we finished under 2 hours, and that it was a record set by a team of our size. Not a single person wasn't smiling! We finished as a team and told one another how we saw a trait of Jesus in them during the web.

We walked into the web as strangers, but out of it as a family. The Holy Spirit is working in our team and preparing us for the mission field. They are building one another up and pushing for greatness. Being open and vulnerable by sharing some deep hurts. Yesterday evening we talked about freedom. Letting go of some things that come in the way of a complete relationship with Jesus. It was so powerful and uplifting. After the message, we shared about what was holding us back and what walls we were putting up. As they shared, the entire team gathered around them and prayed for each other. By the end of the night, walls were broken down and they all felt safe with their team mates. Please continue to pray for us and we come closer as a team and get ready to fly out for Swaziland on the 19th!

Team Debrief

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We headed up to North Georgia in the mountains on Sunday for our team debrief. Basically a time for us to talk about our year and reflect on the good memories and just thank God for doing so much in us and through us. It was a great time of fellowship and fun. We got to play a 5-hour game of Risk, hike up a mountain to a waterfall, worship lead by Josh Gross, Bible study, and community. It was a great way of finishing off this internship. On that note, I also finalized everything about next year. I will be working in the office starting August 1^st in Technology/Marketing. It will be such an amazing opportunity! I will get to be mentored by experts in the field of marketing and web design, still get to work with the youth group, and continue to be discipled. I will be on AIM staff as a paid employee but will still have to raise some support. I will be sending out newsletters when I get back from Africa, but please consider partnering with me again.

I have started leader training as well for my preparation to go to Swaziland. Leader training will go until tomorrow and then the kids fly in on Saturday! I am so excited to meet all of them. The Lord has really just been speaking life into me and settling my nerves for this trip. I keep telling Him, "I can't do this without you Lord" and He keeps replying, "That's exactly where I want you to be." It's so typical of my flesh to want to have it all together and all worked out, but when I am like that, I tend not to need Him as much. But nowI need Him every step of the way and I know that He desires for me to feel that way. Please continue to pray as this training camp is about to start and we prepare to head for Swaziland on the 19^th. I will be updating my blog at least once a week from the Africa, but don't know how well the internet will work there, so I might have to wait to post pictures until I get back. Love all of you!

Next Month

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As this month wraps up, so does my internship here at AIM. On the 8th of June, we will be having our team debrief for the weekend. Not sure exactly where it will be yet, but it should be an awesome time. Then on the 11th, I start leader training and on the 14th, all of the Ambassador kids fly into to Georgia for the training camp. If you have been following my blog, you remember my feelings toward training camp...not great, and this time I will be participating in all of it! Yikes! Pray for strength that I am a good example for my team. Then I leave for Africa on the 19th for a month! Seriously, this is so unbelievable! None of it has sunk it yet, but I can't wait. I know that God has so much in store for me and my team! Pray for the 21 high school students, 7 of which are guys, that will be looking to me for guidance in their walk with the Lord. Pray for safety as we go to Swaziland and that we have a time that we will see God in amazing ways! I will be posting updates as often as I can to let you know everything that is going on.

As for after Africa, it's up in the air. I have been given an opportunity to stay here for another year and work on staff. I would be mentored on marketing as well as computer graphics from people who are really talented at it. It would be an amazing experience that I would love to do. I have prayed a lot about it and really believe that God wants me to be apart of this ministry. Please pray that I am able do this. Thank you all for your prayers, I know I usually wrap up with that, but it means so much to me.

Also, I forgot to put on here an update from when I went home to Minnesota. It was an awesome time to spend with my family and see some friends. My Dad totally blew me away by surprising me with a new car! He is totally awesome and has really helped with preparations for next year! Love ya Dad!

Happy Mother's Day

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you and miss you.

Thank you for being so awesome and supportive. I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you have done for me. I love you so much!

I know you will probably hate the pictures that I put up here, but your the mom, and the mom is never in any pictures.

My First Image

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday I got an email from my boss, or one of my bosses, telling me that he would like me to create an image for the world race homepage. Naturally, I was totally excited and couldn't wait to get started. I thought after the first one, that I nailed it. I knew that he was going to love it and it would be up in no time...not the case. After about 20 more tries, not exaggerating, we found the one and I submitted it for review. This one got the approval. I know this isn't anything huge, but for me it is. I put a lot of work into this and it is awesome to see it up where everyone can see! Just thought I would let you know about that. The image is the top left, the banner that says "First Year Missionary."

Speaking Truth

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Something that I have been trying to do is speak truth into my life everyday. Rather than focusing on the negative in my life, I am realizing the positives. It might sound pretty corny, but speaking truth and positives really goes a long way! To help me, I wrote Bible verses and positive things and posted them all over the house. Ever since the amazing experience with the Holy Spirit, the enemy has been trying to speak lies. He tries to tell me that what happened was just me making it into something that it wasn't and is trying to steal the glory from the Lord. So every time that I start feeling negative or feel like the enemy is trying to pull me down, I just look at the things that I have written and get filled with truth. As I keep learning more about what the Lord has in store for me, the more the enemy tries to get in the way. Please pray for clarity as I continue to listen for what the Lord has for me.

Recently life has been really excellent. Ashley's friend Lindsay came to visit and it was great! Ashley, Lindsay, Caleb, and I just spent the weekend together and chilled. It was nice to just relax and have someone new in our community. Unfortunately, Caleb ended up getting ANOTHER infection in his mouththat creates infection number 3 in about a month and a half. Keep him in your prayers because he definitely needs it. Love you all!

The Holy Spirit Lives In Me

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time in a long time, I am speechless. I cannot figure out the right words to say, the perfect way of saying it. Without being there, I don't know if words are enough...

The last couple days have been the most life changing of my life. It started like every other Monday, sitting down for dinner and a Bible study after. Driver lead us, but just stopped and told us about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I had never heard of such a thing, and I was really nervous. It all seemed so foreign to me and I didn't want to do it. Driver went next door and got Kayla (who will be my leader in Swaziland) and Connie (a FYM from last year) and had them pray over us. Right then, I knew that I wanted more of the Holy Spirit...I didn't know what it looked like but I wanted it. God was good and the Holy Spirit was in the room. Some laughed, some cried, some had peace for the very first time. As for me, I laughed for an hour. I had nothing to fear, no worries about my future because the Lord had taken that away.

As if that wasn't enough, on Wednesday we went to Unicoi State Park for the night because the World Racers were staying there for part of their training. I really didn't want to go but Driver made me go. When we got there, they were doing an exercise where they said what was holding them back, and then threw it into the fire pit. Even sitting here in my bedroom, I can still feel what I felt around that fire pit. The Lord was there! For the very first time, I actually felt God, His presence was thick and it was absolutely amazing. It was then that Driver had us get together and one by one we went in the middle and did they same thing. We exclaimed what was holding us back and everyone was praying for it. The words that came out of my mouth while I was praying over people were not mine, but were God's! He held us in His arms and let us know that there was no shame, no pride, and no fear. I have never felt anything like that before in my life and it makes me cry when I think about it now. I stayed up almost all night just processing what had just happened. In front of tons of people, my hands were up in the air, I was praising Jesus as loud as I could (that is just not me!) God used me even though I have all of my own junk. My Savior, the Lord of the entire universe, used ME! I don't know how to not get emotional over something like that.

The next day, I sat with Driver and talked to him about what happened. He told me that the Holy Spirit is not only with me anymore; the Holy Spirit is in me. I know it is true, because I feel different. Not just a "roller coaster" feeling. This time it is real...I don't know how to go back to who I was. To be honest though, I was a little angry. My whole life growing up, I was never told about this "second" Holy Spirit. It's like we skipped over Romans 6-8 in church. Driver put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a smile; "The Lord knew you weren't ready for this until now."

I know this doesn't do justice to what really happened but it's the best I could do. The Lord has revealed Himself to me in the most real way. I pray that everyone can feel the way that I feel now, that they can be without fear and know that the Lord just wants a real and personal relationship. Thank you for all of your prayers.

The Bronx & NYC

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sorry this is a little late, I had to get pictures off of everyones camera before I could post this blog! But I believe in the phrase, "Better late than never." It basically got me through high school :-)

House we stayed at in the Bronx

I am the kind of person that hates doing new things, but once I do them, I usually love it (my Mom can vouch for that.) Yet going to the Bronx was one of the best moments in my life. Even though it was only for two days, God used us! The enemy put so much doubt in my mind about being able to connect with people, but the Lord empowered me and allowed me to be connected through Him. A prime example of this is when we went to an after school program for kids. We were there to help kids with their homework and just to love on them. To tell you the truth though, I'm not a huge fan of kids...and they definitely are not a fan of me. I was so nervous about being able to find the right kid, but God stepped in and allowed her to find me. I sat next to the most obnoxious girl and I totally fell in love. We just sat there and we talked about each other, telling about our lives and what we enjoy. It gave me so much confidence and allowed me to really flourish.

After the after school program, we went to a gathering called "Holy Hood." It was basically a Wednesday night, but with a couple twists. They had rap going, people gave "floetry" which is basically poetry but in a "rap" kind of fashion, and people doing graffiti. It was really amazing seeing how other people worship and I really enjoyed being apart of it. Caleb also gave a message and let me tell you, God totally spoke through him. When we asked him about it, he said he had no idea what he said...a total God thing!

We left and spent the rest of our time in New York City, just walking around the most enormous city. New York City really might be the heart of civilization...everything moves at such a fast pace. New York was such a great trip for me as well as my team. We finally got to experience ministry together. It's amazing the connection that grows when you are serving the Lord. I will never forget this trip, thank you so much for praying for me and my team! Here are just some pictures:

Our Group at the Bronx

Caleb & I at the Seinfeld Restaurant! Literally Sweet!

Guys at M&M World

A little side note: I leave for Minnesota on Thursday for a week. It will be a great time to see my family and friends! Please pray for safe travels!

New York City

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update for all of you who read my blogs! I am leaving with my team tomorrow morning at 4am and will be heading up to NYC! It is a 15 hour car ride and we rented a 7 passenger van (we have 7 people in our group.) For you who don't know Caleb, he is a 300 pound man, and I will have the pleasure of sitting next to him the whole ride! Please pray that we don't kill each other! :-)

(Picture of me in Time Square last year)

When we arrive, we will heading straight to the Bronx and spending two days ministering. I have no idea what it will look like, we plan on being lead by the Holy Spirit. He will decide what we will be doing. I'm kind of nervous, inner-city ministry has never really been my strong point, but I am just going to continue to pray that God gives me the strength. After 2 days in the Bronx, we will be heading up to Montvale, New Jersey and going to the Evangelical Church there. We will be attending the Sunday service and then going to the play "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" that the church is putting on.

Monday we will be spending the day in New York City, touring the city and enjoying our time there. At some point, we will be making our way to watch Josh Gross march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. After that, we will be eating at some restaurant in New York City, I want to go to the ESPN Zone...hopefully that will be were we go! Then on Tuesday we make the trip back down!

I plan on taking a ton of pictures and posting them. I realized today that our group doesn't have any pictures, so this weekend it will change! Please pray for our trip, that the Lord will watch over and be with us! Thank you!

Disciple Now Weekend

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I arrived at the church on Friday to find out that the number of middle school kids went from 8-9 middle school kids to 15. To say the least, I was a little nervous. Afraid that I wouldn't be able to connect with such a large group, and that when it came time to give lessons, they wouldn't listen. When I sat down the first night with them for a lesson, it went how I expected...they listened but we really didn't connect. I was frustrated with the students that they didn't want to go deeper in the lesson and started doubting myself. It got to the point where I dreaded doing the lessons with them and I just wanted to stop. When I told Vicki about how I felt discouraged, she told me that it was the enemy trying to make me give up and that she had heard how much fun the kids were having. Then I started thinking of how I was when I was a middle school; A rowdy kid that just wanted to have fun and connect with the leader by seeing how much they cared for me.

That was the plan I set in motion, I was going to show them God's love by loving on them. After that, we had an amazing weekend! As a group, we became so close and I know we all saw God move! We played capture the flag in the pitch dark, watched movies in a sweet house theater, played pool, played halo (which I tied into a few of my lessons. They loved it!) I also had the pleasure of playing paint ball for the first time, which was super awesome!

At Sunday school this morning, we were all exhausted and ready to go home. Us interns were asked to come up and talk about the weekend and just how we felt it went. I basically told them exactly what I am saying in my post. Then Garrett (the wildest kid there, the one who I had to "battle" with the most) went on stage and just thanked me for the weekend and the awesome experience he had. I was blown away! This started the trend of every group going on stage and thanking us, it just really meant a lot. It confirmed that what I did was pleasing to God and that, even though I didn't think I connected, I really did and the kids will remember it. Fruit was made from this weekend and I thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement!

(Pictures were taken, but I don't have them. I will try to add some later.)

God's Answer To Prayer

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about an opportunity of going to Swaziland as a support leader. I knew that I personally really wanted to do it, but there was the matter of raising another $4000 that made it less appealing. I had been praying about it constantly, and wasn't really hearing a whole lot back. I decided that I wouldn't get frustrated, but put it in His hands instead. Last week, during our Monday night, Dave told said that he had news for us. He told us that because of all the hard work we have been doing in the office, that if we wanted to go to our trips, it would be completely free!

Now I'm not sure, but if that isn't a kick from God, then I don't know what is. I have no reason to turn my back and say no. I will follow what He has for me during this once in a lifetime opportunity. Please continue to pray for me and my future teammates on this Swaziland trip.

Also, this weekend I am being a leader for Disciple Now. That consists of me spending the entire weekend with the middle school boys at a host home from the church. It is an intense weekend of discipleship. Getting to bond and grow in the Lord together. An entire weekend, day and night, with middle school boys...prayer would be appreciated. Thank you!

The Awakening: Discipleship & Missions

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Awaken to the Adventure

Disciples aren't born; they're made. It's a process that takes time, discipline, and God. In reality, it looks more like waking up than attending a class.

As part of The Awakening, you can undergo a discipleship program like no other, experiencing four months of intense training in another country to prepare you for the ministry that awaits you for the rest of the year.

Join The Awakening

Your mornings will be spent in training and your afternoons ministering in local communities, activating what you've learned. In the context of experiential learning, you will be discipled by mentors who want to see you grow deeply in your faith.

You will be part of a community of other individuals who share your passion and desire to come alive in Christ. This time will challenge and stretch you in new ways, and you will never be the same.

Become a part of The Awakening in either Latin America or Africa and discover your role in the kingdom of God.

You were made for greatness, to experience the abundant life and freedom that Jesus promised. As they awaken, current participants are saying:

I don't think that I will ever have such an opportunity to give up all of myself and all of my expectations as I do here. (Emily Tissot, Latin America)

The Bible study has... turned into a church. So, we have church at noon Tuesday-Friday under the tree in front of the market. I love watching as people just bring their stool/chair/water container... and join in the singing. We are going through the book of Galatians, and it is cool to see how freedom is effecting their hearts. (Denise Eckert, Africa)

For more on The Awakening, visit the First-Year Missionary website.

Being Open & Vulnerable

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday we decided to change things up a bit. Usually we would go over to the Gross's and do a Bible study, but they are in Africa. Instead, we decided to go to Cici's pizza and then do a Bible study back at our apartment. After we ate, Driver felt like we just needed to prayer for each other. He asked if we would go around and tell what we have been struggling with. So one by one, our team started opening up and letting each other in. We explained the struggles and the pain. We let each other in on the secrets and the depression. We then put our hands on the person and prayed for them. The words that came out of my mouth were not my own, but of the Holy Spirit. We spent like 4 hours in prayer for one another, just praying through the stuff in our lives that was keeping us from a close relationship with Him. It was amazing to feel Him in the room and to experience a time of such closeness with our team. I saw that the people on my team were just like me, struggling daily with the same things that I struggle with. That night we became more than a team of interns, but close friends that actually got each other.

When we first started praying, I told myself that I wasn't going to open up to my team because of the way the team might look at me. The guilt that it would bring on me...i didn't want to feel that and I just felt like it was easier to keep inside. But then I realized that those feelings are definitely not from God. He would never make me feel guilty or ashamed. How dare the enemy hinder me from opening up and seeking help from the people around me.

Yesterday, Seth Barnes wrote a blog about not just sitting around when the enemy comes at us, but to get angry about it. It really made me think about what the enemy is doing to us, to my family here in Georgia. They are picking us off one by one and even though we know their tricks, how blindsided we get when they attack. It is time to make God the one focus in my life, so for the next two weeks, I am cutting out my personal computer. It is turned off and every time I think about using it, I pray for strength. I thank God for who He is and what He has done for me. I sit in the presence of my creator and talk with Him like a friend. Because if I have that much free time, I think I can use that time for God instead of on the computer.

Hearing God

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"God will deliver me from whatever trap the devil lays for me." In my last post, I wrote about how I have been down and depressed. The root of my depression came from feeling that God didn't want me down here anymore. My student loans were due every month and I felt like I should go home and work to pay them off. It was a burden that I couldn't get off my shoulders. I couldn't be happy, and the glass was always half empty. Thanks to your prayers, my student loans were deferred and it was confirmation that God wants me here! God delivered me from the trap of doubt that the devil laid in my path. The shadow is no longer hanging over my head and I am able to be the man and team player that God has planned for me to be.

Last Thursday, Driver asked if he could pray for me as I make my decision on whether or not I should go to Swaziland or not. It was a time where we asked God for confirmation on if I should go or not. Ever since I have been down here, that's the one place that I have wanted to go! But I didn't want to get to eager and let my emotions get in the way of Gods will. Over the next few days, God pointed me into the right direction. I was given support from people who I wouldn't have thought would support me. I was given an email by a supporter telling me that I should definitely go to Swaziland and that they would help anyway that they could. Driver had the strongest feeling in his quiet time that I should definitely go and a leader in the youth group told me that anywhere I go, even if it's Africa, that I could be used by God (he didn't even know about my decision to go to Swaziland.)

I am just going to see what God does with it. I feel like I should go to Swaziland and if He wants me to go, He will pave a way for me to go. I recently read a blog article that really touched me and made me think even more about going. I just want to do what God has for me and I am going to submit and give it to God. I am content with what the Lord has for me and trust Him with my life. Please continue to pray for me as I start taking the necessary steps on going on this trip. Thank you so much for your prayers in this decision, I have heard God and I feel so close to Him right now! I wouldn't want it any other way!

Trusting God

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

    It's so easy to for me to say, "I trust God with my life." Yet when decisions need to be made, all I can do is stress about it. Our group was recently given the opportunity to be servant leaders for a one month trip starting in June. Which means we have the chance to go to places like Peru, Philippines, New York, Swaziland, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Kenya, India, or Thailand. Since I have been down here, the place that I have wanted to go to is Swaziland. It's an amazing place and an amazing opportunity. I mean, when again in my life am I going to be able to go to Africa. The only down side is, I would have to raise more support...a lot more. I have been praying about it really hard, yet I haven't heard anything from God. It's really difficult to decipher between God's will for our lives, and our own will sometimes. So much of me wants to go on this trip, yet so much of me tells me I shouldn't. I think it would be a once in a lifetime chance to not only get to visit Africa, but to also disciple and grow with the team of high school kids going out on the field. If you could pray for wisdom and clarity for this decision would be greatly appreciated.

    In other news, the youth group all nighter was a huge success. I got really sick in the beginning, but after that it was excellent. We did some group activities that held everyone's attention and Caleb gave a great devotional in front of everyone. The guys and girls split up around 1am and that's when the Halo began. We set up the youth room with 4 t.v.'s and 4 xboxs, all connected and ready for a tournament. For the guys, it was the highlight of the night. We made the teams fair and everyone got a turn to play. Caleb and I didn't play because, lets face it, the teams couldn't be fair. :-)

    To be real with you though, I have been really depressed lately. I feel that I have been really attacked by the enemy and felt inadequate before God. I felt like I was a failure in the eyes of this world and that I am doing nothing with my life. Thankfully, God is good and sticks with me through the dark times. I got to talk to someone who is going through the same thing, and to just realize that Satan has no control over who I am or how I feel. I have to wake up each day and give the day to the Lord and know that I am not a failure in the eyes of Him. So thats what I have been doing, everyday I wake up and give the day to Him, knowing that He has full control over me and remember that I can't go wrong in life by following Him. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement over the last month and throughout my whole trip. I know that it has played a huge part in the way that I deal with the enemies schemes and taking the steps to trusting God completely.

Food For Thought

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday during our prayer time, we were shown this article. It shows how much an average family buys a week in food, and what the diet consists of. It also shows how much they spend. I couldn't believe it when I read it:

Take a good look at the food that is eaten in one week and how much is spent...

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

United States: The Revis Family of North Carolina
Food for one week $341.98

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

If the family in Germany didn't eat for ONE week, the family in Chad could eat for 6 years....

--For the full article visit "What is Eaten in One Week"--

Wow, how fortunate we are to live in a country like this. God has blessed us more than we deserve. The last line really got me thinking...just one week without buying food could feed a family for months. So, thats what I plan on doing. This week when we get our $100 for our food, we aren't going to use it. We have plenty of food in the house that we can fix up and eat. It is unbelievable how we have "back up" food, or food that just sits around. Instead of using it for ourselves, we are going to be giving it to a church in Kenya. Right now, Kenya is going through a very dark time and they aren't sending food into the slums of Kenya. People have to leave the slums, and most cannot. The pastors give out food vouchers to the people, and our $100 will go to feed families in Kenya. For me, it almost seems like the easiest decision I've ever made. I know I can go without my "favorite" foods for a week! Please pray that this works out the way I see it working out and that God can use the money and feed families in need.

Also, this Friday, we our in charge of the youth group "All Nighter!" It will be a great night of fellowship and fun...but without any sleep! I would be all for it, except this week we are having another Training Camp. If you have been reading my blog from the beginning, you know how crazy a training camp can be. Thankfully we are not doing serve team this time, but we will be attending seminars and helping out where we can. On Friday morning we have a seminar, then work all day, then the all nighter...so please pray for strength and endurance. I want it to be a great experience for the kids and I want them to see how much they mean to me...and I also want to be awake for it! :-)

Thank you so much for all of you who have been supporting me, praying for me, and reading my blogs! God has been working in my life so much. Gods new project for me is having a positive attitude, even when I know I am not going to like it. It has definitely been something that I have struggled with it the past. Hopefully I will relay good news in a future post! Please keep me in your prayers and the rest of my team!

A City Shuts Down Due To...Flurries?

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Now believe me when I say that I understand that there are few states out there that can compete with Minnesota for snow. I understand that when other states get snow, they might not be used to it and freak out a little bit...but for snow flurries?

Last night right before we head out for church, it starts to sleet. Caleb says jokingly "Wouldn't it be funny if they cancelled church because of this?" Not but a minute after he says that, Driver gets a phone call saying that church is cancelled. Then later that night, we found out that school is cancelled for tomorrow, which means that work is shut down. Doesn't really matter though because every Thursday is our "Flex Day" and I choose to do work from home. I couldn't believe it. Granted, the snow did start falling pretty good and sticking, but not to the roads. Caleb and I decided to drive around a little bit and stopped at McDonald's because we both had a gift card. It was funny watching the people stare at us getting out of the car, Caleb with shorts on and me with a t-shirt on. I'm pretty sure they thought we were crazy. I think my night was complete when Ashley King (a.k.a. Florida) came downstairs knocking on our door yelling, "The snow makes a crunching noise under my feet!" Gotta love the South.

So today is our Flex Day, or a day where we choose what we do, work wise. People can get really worked up about it and get all nervous that we aren't doing anything. It doesn't bother me too much though, because really it should be between God and I, and I shouldn't really have to prove anything to anyone...at least I don't think. I really have been digging into Romans and reading about how amazing our God really is! It is a phrase that is used a lot and sometimes overlooked. As a kid who has gone to church my whole life, it has been great just to re-read and evaluate it from a more mature point of view. He has been so faithful to me and I know as long as I keep my eyes on Him, who can stand in my way?

Lanier Hills Youth Group

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just thought I would post some pictures of our youth group. This was our Christmas party that was a couple weeks ago...so Caleb isn't in the pictures. We had a great time and dressed one of the leaders up as Santa, it was pretty funny.

The youth group band & Us with Dave & Vicki

The Lanier Hills Youth Group

(To see these pictures in better quality: Click "Check Photos" on the left hand side)

It has been a blessing to get to know these kids! This church has been through a rough patch and are now seeing God work and grow the youth group! Tomorrow, Caleb and I will be getting together with the guys. Please pray for good conversations as we have a time of fellowship.

My support is coming along great and I am almost to $5000 so thank you so much!

As for me, you can pray for my money situation. I am worried about being able to pay my bills and I know that I have to put my trust in God and pray that He will provide for me. Thank you for your prayers!