Wow, I haven't written on here for 2 & 1/2 months!!! Guess life has been pretty busy. First of all, guess those "coming soon" posts will never be written, but if you want to hear any of those stories or life lessons- I'd love to talk and tell ya! Let's see, my fourth semester of college is now over, I am hopefully over 1/2 way done with my college career!!! This semester really took it's toll, and I have never been so excited to not be writing papers and studying!!! I realize the work will not get any easier, but I am very grateful for a break from it all. My studies become consuming when so many things are constantly hanging over me; I hate the pressure. I hope that my mental power this summer will be used to read and study things not of this world. Reading daily planned passages of Scripture is a great thing, but I want to go way above and beyond that level or reading to truly learning and studying the Word. [don't have a particular direction, so any suggestions would be sweet!] Memorization is also a part of my goal; my summer plan is to memorize Matthew chapters 5 & 6. Please anybody who reads this, keep me accountable and check with me to make sure I am making progress in this goal. In the past I have only done around 20 vs, this is close to 80 verses-definitely won't be doing this by my own strength!
Also, outside books have been a part of my agenda; part of preparing for Kenya included reading a few books about missionaries to Kenya and to Zambia. The first book was about Ernie Steury who was the first doctor at Tenwek Hospital (the compound I will be living on) and a lot of the history of Tenwek, as well as the Steury family and live story. This book definitely made me fall in love with the vision and actions of this ministry. Christ and the Gospel are always in the proper place of supremacy. Every patient who enters the hospital will be prayed with and will hear the Gospel in their stay. Many proper actions in reguard to educating the community and reaching anyone in need has led to a ton of ministries and programs stemming from Tenwek. For example, they have a nursing school, a chaplain training school, and community health programs. Anyway, I will write more on here with pictures and real explainations when I am actually there in a little over one month from now. :)
Well, just for sakes of a life update- like I said, finished my sophomore year of college and now off for summer break. I am working at Bair Lake Bible Camp again this summer; I stayed out there this past week just to help out along with the company of Natalie and had a great week. We worked hard but also were able to enjoy things like bottling homemade root beer, the game of Life, Pig Pong, fishing, volleyball, and other fun "camp" things like Bag-o. I am very excited for our staff this summer and cannot wait will everyone moves in on June 5th! Also, the Retreat Center has had a makeover! It's sooo sweet; Lori Wickes (and family & friends) has total repainted and decorated and the whole building is starting to have so much more potential. I am soo excited to see returning staffers' reactions when they move in!!! But yup, camp, uhh basically working in the kitchen and then like one week of counselling in August this summer. I am missing most of the bulk of true camp time though with my trip to Kenya-which of course will be totally worth it!
I fly out June 27th and will be back, I believe, August 2nd!
Other things in life include seeing lots of transition in life for many people I know, and mostly all of it is exciting but sometimes change can be really hard. Sometimes change isn't even as hard for the people experiencing it as it is for those around them who must adjust to the new normal.
oh & random but I got rid of facebook since I have last written; such a good choice! I will probably get back on in not too long, but not having the need to spend time on it or use it in class or who knows-I was just on it all the time! Now, I will write people on it, occasionally look at pictures, ect but the whole perspective has changed after not being on facebook and also being at camp away from tv and easily accessible internet. Basically, as Christians we are to strive to be people of excellence and the time spend on facebook was not doing what was best with the time given to me. Also, I want to really stop focusing soo much on things of this world! Entertainment of all sorts is so bad for me, and I can say that something isn't bad (necesarily sinful) but what is it hindering me from doing instead? I love country music, but I am really trying to not listen to secular music right now because if I am thinking about the things in the songs or humming/singing country songs-than my mind is consumed by things of this world, not by prayer or worship or a potentially uplifting conversation. In Hebrews 12, talking about throwing off everything that hinders-these are the things that hinder, things like facebook or country music that aren't evil but are not spurring me on to grow in Christ or accomplishing anything valuable in my life. Just working through a lot of similar thoughts, sorry for rambling rather than saying anything to intelligent sounding or having a good conclusion to this update.
Life is good. I am enjoying lots of summer outtings like rock climbing and Lake Michigan!
Peace and Love in Christ!!!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Lessons Learned
Last semester was a tough one for me. Not living at home for the summer brought tension with my parents, a WHOLE bunch of stuff happened with my church back home, many of those circumstances led my parents and other people I love to hurt like I have never seen before. While being at school, I did not know how to handle the situation. Also during this time I was confused with myself on a lot of things and just needed a time to clear my head and not view myself as a burden to everyone around me.
During this time, I did not enjoy who I was all that much, but I was able to experience Christ's faithfulness. He will never change or leave or disappoint. I guess that was a theme for fall 08 in my life > God's faithfulness.
Anyway, over winter break I was able to have a time of great renewal and feeling like myself again. I want to radiate His glory, but I often stuggle with socially finding time amid my studies. I hope that I will be able to find small ways to bless those around me, for His glory.
I am reading through the Bible again this year, it is good and bad for my devotional life. It means I take in a small amount of the Word each and every day, but this also means that for some reason I am less apt to jump into my small random studies about things that really change me. I need to continue spontaneous topical studies amid these readings.
Probably so far the one thing that has impacted me most this semester though is the idea of Christ VICTORIOUS! We sing all the time about "Jesus conquered the grave" but man, do we know what we are saying?!?
I read Mark 5 a while back and am still being impacted by the reality of this story. Verses 2-8 tell of a man possessed by a legion of demons so powerful that this man could not be contained! He could tear lose from iron chains!!! Satan and his demons are very very powerful, this cannot be forgotten.
Now, Jesus enters the scene, He steps out of a boat and the man sees Him from a distance...the man ran and fell at Jesus' feet and shouted "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't tortue me!"
First of all, these demons know who Jesus is--- & if that isn't enough, they immediately make the man fall at Christ's feet, declare His Lordship, and plead for His mercy!!!
This is utterly incredible.
During this time, I did not enjoy who I was all that much, but I was able to experience Christ's faithfulness. He will never change or leave or disappoint. I guess that was a theme for fall 08 in my life > God's faithfulness.
Anyway, over winter break I was able to have a time of great renewal and feeling like myself again. I want to radiate His glory, but I often stuggle with socially finding time amid my studies. I hope that I will be able to find small ways to bless those around me, for His glory.
I am reading through the Bible again this year, it is good and bad for my devotional life. It means I take in a small amount of the Word each and every day, but this also means that for some reason I am less apt to jump into my small random studies about things that really change me. I need to continue spontaneous topical studies amid these readings.
Probably so far the one thing that has impacted me most this semester though is the idea of Christ VICTORIOUS! We sing all the time about "Jesus conquered the grave" but man, do we know what we are saying?!?
I read Mark 5 a while back and am still being impacted by the reality of this story. Verses 2-8 tell of a man possessed by a legion of demons so powerful that this man could not be contained! He could tear lose from iron chains!!! Satan and his demons are very very powerful, this cannot be forgotten.
Now, Jesus enters the scene, He steps out of a boat and the man sees Him from a distance...the man ran and fell at Jesus' feet and shouted "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't tortue me!"
First of all, these demons know who Jesus is--- & if that isn't enough, they immediately make the man fall at Christ's feet, declare His Lordship, and plead for His mercy!!!
This is utterly incredible.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Coming Soon!
I wanna write about some things lately, this is basically a memo to self.
"The Silver Spoon"
"Change on the Street"
"Giving it my all"
"The Silver Spoon"
"Change on the Street"
"Giving it my all"
Just an update
Well at the moment I am enjoying thinking about Kenya. I read a few pages from Miracle at Tenwek when I had a moment in [pause for firedrill, now i'm back] btween -that's purdy sweet, firedrill right the middle of typing the word inbetween- ok anyway, today I read a bit about Tenwek, spent some time on the website looking at the community development stuff and also just researching Kenya. I love having the resources to just look things up and learn; hopefully the more I learn about the customs and culture now, the more I will understand and be impacted by my experiences in Kenya. I am doing a HUGE project on the Dominican Republic right now for Intermational Marketing, and the website everyculture.com was one of my best sources for my culture paper...so I went back there for starters on Kenya.
http://www.tenwek.org/tchd/what.htm
http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Kenya.html
I like being able to read about a culture and feel like I somewhat have a foundation to build off of from my international classes here at school.
My next endeavor is to learn more about the Kipsigis tribes and people, because they are the main group served by Tenwek and that live near Bomet. These people do not represent a large portion of the people of Kenya; the primary ethnic groups include the Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin and others, but near Tenwek are many Kipsigis people.
New subject:
I have so many great things to be excited about coming up! This weekend Jenna, Jenn, Liz, Brenda, and I are going to Indy to have a weekend away with Tamar!!! This will be the first time our everyday group of friends from last year will have all seen each other in almost a whole year. It will be so much fun & just great to catch up on life with everyone. I know a few ppl are really struggling right now, so it will be a great time of community -at least that is my hope.
Then the next weekend starts spring break :) I am going to visit Mike and Janet and Caleb!!! I am soo excited to see all of them! Caleb is going to be completely different and more capable of everything than when I saw him in October; the first year, kids change so dramatically soo fast! Reconnecting and catching up is something I am longing for right now and can't wait to spend time with Mike and Janet so soon!
other quick closer:
well I was gonna add the link to the chapel recording from today, but it's not up yet. Today Christine spoke in chapel, and it was a really good reminder for everyone. Often, people either work really hard to live a good life (mentally earning salvation) or think that they could never deserve salvation- either we ask: Am I enough? or Am I too much? (could God ever really love me? ect) She had a chart that basically showed how we for some reason thing that saving us is God's job and then making us complete in glory someday is God's job...but this time inbetween is somehow our responsibility.
This parallelled thoughts I had the night before when reading Mark 7:6-8. I am one of the "do it yourselfers" who want to live a good life and honor Christ in my actions, which can be great, as long as it doesn't turn into mere works done out of self-righteousness. In Mark 7, Jesus calls the Pharisees out about doing good deeds but having their hearts be far from Him. This reminds me of the danger of the way I am attempting to live. I need to repent and rely fully on Christ each and every day, doing acts of service out of gratitude for who He is and all He has given.
well I really need to go. Dinna w/ Sashi then tutoring. Can't wait to see the kids, we didn't get to go last week
http://www.tenwek.org/tchd/what.htm
http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Kenya.html
I like being able to read about a culture and feel like I somewhat have a foundation to build off of from my international classes here at school.
My next endeavor is to learn more about the Kipsigis tribes and people, because they are the main group served by Tenwek and that live near Bomet. These people do not represent a large portion of the people of Kenya; the primary ethnic groups include the Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin and others, but near Tenwek are many Kipsigis people.
New subject:
I have so many great things to be excited about coming up! This weekend Jenna, Jenn, Liz, Brenda, and I are going to Indy to have a weekend away with Tamar!!! This will be the first time our everyday group of friends from last year will have all seen each other in almost a whole year. It will be so much fun & just great to catch up on life with everyone. I know a few ppl are really struggling right now, so it will be a great time of community -at least that is my hope.
Then the next weekend starts spring break :) I am going to visit Mike and Janet and Caleb!!! I am soo excited to see all of them! Caleb is going to be completely different and more capable of everything than when I saw him in October; the first year, kids change so dramatically soo fast! Reconnecting and catching up is something I am longing for right now and can't wait to spend time with Mike and Janet so soon!
other quick closer:
well I was gonna add the link to the chapel recording from today, but it's not up yet. Today Christine spoke in chapel, and it was a really good reminder for everyone. Often, people either work really hard to live a good life (mentally earning salvation) or think that they could never deserve salvation- either we ask: Am I enough? or Am I too much? (could God ever really love me? ect) She had a chart that basically showed how we for some reason thing that saving us is God's job and then making us complete in glory someday is God's job...but this time inbetween is somehow our responsibility.
This parallelled thoughts I had the night before when reading Mark 7:6-8. I am one of the "do it yourselfers" who want to live a good life and honor Christ in my actions, which can be great, as long as it doesn't turn into mere works done out of self-righteousness. In Mark 7, Jesus calls the Pharisees out about doing good deeds but having their hearts be far from Him. This reminds me of the danger of the way I am attempting to live. I need to repent and rely fully on Christ each and every day, doing acts of service out of gratitude for who He is and all He has given.
well I really need to go. Dinna w/ Sashi then tutoring. Can't wait to see the kids, we didn't get to go last week
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Things I have done in the past year...
Tonight I was thinking about how thankful I am for my car and that it runs. Many of my friends are not so fortunate right now. I was also thankful for safety while driving on the roads, so much traffic would not be my first choice. Anyway somehow this led me to looking at pictures and thinking about how blessed I am and decided to make a list of things I think are purdy cool that I have done in the past year.
I have seen...
Skillet
Thousand Foot Krutch
Spoken
Beautiful Republic
Falling Up
Family Force 5
The Mines
Israel and New Breed
and Chris Tomlin
.... IN CONCERT!
I...
made a snowman
made a snowwoman
shopped at Salvation Army
rode a fourwheeler
held a racoon
watched a game of rugby
watched the Highland games
played volleyball
went ice skating
went on a picture scavenger hunt around GR
went on the GIANT button downtown GR
swung on the big tire swing downtown GR
climbed a GIANT tire
climbed sandunes
climbed trees
climbed the CU big metal sign in front of the Hansen Center
went on the big swing on my brother's ropes course
went rock climbing at Grand Ledge
climbed BLBC rock walls many a time
walked on frozen lake Michigan
watched a sunset over Lake Michigan & Lake Huron
swam in Lake Michigan & Lake Huron
saw one of my best friends leave for the Air Force & then Italy!
saw many Many MANY shooting stars
went on a crazy dress up day
saw a LLAMA
was with Michelle when she saw her FIRST SHOOTING STAR!
took TONS of pictures
went to a Detroit Tiger's game (almost went to Canada)
WENT TO DRUMMOND ISLAND
took Stacy's senior pictures
went to Lizzy's first ever band concert [tonight!]
chatted with many people with interesting and sad stories downtown
worked at Bair Lake Bible Camp
became a lifeguard
WENT TO THE BAHAMAS!!!
went snorkling in the ocean
saw a sea urchin, anemone, sting ray, squid and many other amazing creatures in the wild!
saw the Atlantis
said "see ya later" to Mike, Janet, and Caleb
went to Purgatory [it's state land in Jones, no worries]
hmm well i dk random and i'm sure i'll think of tonz more things that i'm like- oh yeah-that was sweet! but I think I got a purdy good list going :)
I have seen...
Skillet
Thousand Foot Krutch
Spoken
Beautiful Republic
Falling Up
Family Force 5
The Mines
Israel and New Breed
and Chris Tomlin
.... IN CONCERT!
I...
made a snowman
made a snowwoman
shopped at Salvation Army
rode a fourwheeler
held a racoon
watched a game of rugby
watched the Highland games
played volleyball
went ice skating
went on a picture scavenger hunt around GR
went on the GIANT button downtown GR
swung on the big tire swing downtown GR
climbed a GIANT tire
climbed sandunes
climbed trees
climbed the CU big metal sign in front of the Hansen Center
went on the big swing on my brother's ropes course
went rock climbing at Grand Ledge
climbed BLBC rock walls many a time
walked on frozen lake Michigan
watched a sunset over Lake Michigan & Lake Huron
swam in Lake Michigan & Lake Huron
saw one of my best friends leave for the Air Force & then Italy!
saw many Many MANY shooting stars
went on a crazy dress up day
saw a LLAMA
was with Michelle when she saw her FIRST SHOOTING STAR!
took TONS of pictures
went to a Detroit Tiger's game (almost went to Canada)
WENT TO DRUMMOND ISLAND
took Stacy's senior pictures
went to Lizzy's first ever band concert [tonight!]
chatted with many people with interesting and sad stories downtown
worked at Bair Lake Bible Camp
became a lifeguard
WENT TO THE BAHAMAS!!!
went snorkling in the ocean
saw a sea urchin, anemone, sting ray, squid and many other amazing creatures in the wild!
saw the Atlantis
said "see ya later" to Mike, Janet, and Caleb
went to Purgatory [it's state land in Jones, no worries]
hmm well i dk random and i'm sure i'll think of tonz more things that i'm like- oh yeah-that was sweet! but I think I got a purdy good list going :)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
KENYA KENYA KENYA!!!
I will write more about this soon, but I haven't mentioned at all that I am going to Africa for the month of July!!!
I am going with my uncle's family to Tenwek hospital that is 3-4 hour drive outside of Nairobi, Kenya. We will be spending a couple days in Nairobi at a women's home that helps former prostitutes to learn skills to support themselves and an orphanage there too. Our time at Tenwek, my uncle will be serving as a doctor there, but I will be helping out in a number of different areas, basically where they need help on any particular day. My opportunities will be helping in an orphanage, local schools, nearby villages[community help], hopefully administrative shadowing -like business experience type work- and random things around the compound. I'm not going as an intern, so I don't have a specific role, but thankfully I have the chance of seeing how the business end runs and also working with people.
I am so so so excited but will have to write about this later.
I gotta get up in a few hours for 8:00 International Marketing :)
I am going with my uncle's family to Tenwek hospital that is 3-4 hour drive outside of Nairobi, Kenya. We will be spending a couple days in Nairobi at a women's home that helps former prostitutes to learn skills to support themselves and an orphanage there too. Our time at Tenwek, my uncle will be serving as a doctor there, but I will be helping out in a number of different areas, basically where they need help on any particular day. My opportunities will be helping in an orphanage, local schools, nearby villages[community help], hopefully administrative shadowing -like business experience type work- and random things around the compound. I'm not going as an intern, so I don't have a specific role, but thankfully I have the chance of seeing how the business end runs and also working with people.
I am so so so excited but will have to write about this later.
I gotta get up in a few hours for 8:00 International Marketing :)
Gifts?
Tonight I went with Courtney's family to a Chris Tomlin concert; it was a really good time but made me realize how much I take forgranted. In Grand Rapids and at Cornerstone, I experience such amazing worship opportunities, bands, services... that they have become commonplace in my life. I don't stop and realize how special these times are and that I must take advantage of them now. Evensong here at Cornerstone is a great example; the talent, passion, atmosphere is amazing!
The concert tonight was fun, and I am glad I was there- but something inside me was not impressed. It seemed just like I was at chapel; so many other people's lives are drastically impacted by experiences like a Christian event- guess I just don't want to take things forgranted anymore. So many of the adults tonight were so invigorated to have the experience; I felt ungrateful.
Guess I just want to work on looking at my life from a different perspective in order to take every chance to see an opportunities or a blessing.
The concert tonight was fun, and I am glad I was there- but something inside me was not impressed. It seemed just like I was at chapel; so many other people's lives are drastically impacted by experiences like a Christian event- guess I just don't want to take things forgranted anymore. So many of the adults tonight were so invigorated to have the experience; I felt ungrateful.
Guess I just want to work on looking at my life from a different perspective in order to take every chance to see an opportunities or a blessing.
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