Sunday, June 27, 2010

Controlled Chaos

The past two weeks have been nothing but controlled chaos in the best of ways.  Two weeks ago I spent in preparation to last weeks mission trip.  There were many devotions to be planned out and activities (community builders) to organize.  God truly had his hand on the situation.

Last week we went to the inner city of Denver, Colorado in the Sun Valley Projects.  Our team was nothing but incredible, the leaders were everything and more that we needed that week, and I know that everyone who was on that trip was supposed to and was called to be there.  We did some community clean up, church clean up, created our own vbs and sports camp, went to another part of the city to play basketball with the locals, and we served in anyway we felt God calling us to serve.

No doubt did we get tired both mentally and physically but without that feeling we would not have gotten the same experience.  God worked in amazing ways last week in myself, as well as everyone else.  We all have a story and God did something special in each of our hearts to add to that story and to mold us a little bit more.  I am still in the processing stage from this past week and I feel like it might take a while but I know that God is showing me something.

A few prayer requests:  Pray for the leaders and youth who attended 'Tha Myx' mission trip this past week, for the youth in the youth group who are battling many challenges, for the church congregation who is going through many changes, for me as I am listening for Gods voice in all of this.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Week 1-Getting organized

It has been a week and a day in Denver and I am loving it all.  But let me back up to the drive here.  The place where I broke down last year was the detour route off the highway due to construction, I found this pretty ironic and was hoping that my car wouldn't break down again on the same off ramp.  The only thing I could do was laugh.  There were some pretty amazing things that I saw on my way, a bus which transports people who are serving time in prison, a baby lamb running to its mother, the badlands with a guy hiking through them (it took me an hour to drive through, i wonder how long it will take to walk), I saw Mt. Rushmore from a close up angle which technically would have given me the chance to look up George Washington's nose but seeing there was only concrete that didn't happen, and I also saw the most beautiful sunset as I drove south through the Wyoming Hills.

My first Sunday back was incredible.  I was able to reconnect with so many people and felt like I was back home.  I jumped in right away and we have a lot in store for this summer.  The elevation only kicked my butt for a day and it wasn't that terrible, I only noticed it when I went for my run.  Ruth's dog is the cutest thing ever, imagine walking around the house and having this little thing constantly following you and attempting to jump on your calves and then falling, it's great.  As far as youth group goes, we have a brand new room from last year and we are able to really amp up the evening with the different effects and the overall mood that the room offers. We played 2-step dodge ball and it went on for about an hour.  It was everyone for themselves with 3 balls and 20-some people, just awesome.

But the really neat thing is that God has been laying a lot on my heart for this summer.  He has led me to a couple different books which I read right after graduation and they really convicted me.  I couldn't stop thinking about how I felt like the youth group and even adult leaders need to hear this.  We have our mission trip coming up in 2 weeks to the inner city Denver area again this summer and I have been creating a series for the adults (morning devo's) and youth (afternoon devo's).  It is coming together so well and I really think that this is going to be a great week for us to build community and to grow together.

It is so hard to make yourself vulnerable and that can be categorized in so many ways.  Part of it results in being uncomfortable, but through that feeling I truly know that God is going to open our eyes to more of Him. The two pastors here are leaving, one took a call and the other is retiring, I feel that not only is the youth group going to be challenged but the congregation as well.  This is going to be such an amazing summer, we all really are encouraging each other to know that God has a plan and we need to trust Him and let the Holy Spirit lead us all together.