Friday, October 29, 2010

the teddy bear

we stayed at a Salvation Army community center in downtown Denver this week, having class in the morning and doing ministry in the afternoon/evening.  (Mriss – LoDo means “Lower Downtown”, it’s just a term that caught on for downtown Denver)

wednesday night we went down again to the main street downtown (16th St. Mall).  we were each give $1 and put in groups of 3 or 4.  we could do whatever we wanted with our dollars, but we couldn’t just give them away.  we were supposed to buy something with them (and we could pool together with everyone in our group and also add our own personal money if we wanted to).  so before we went out, each group prayed together to see if God gave anyone “pictures” of what we were to buy.

now, I’m not all into the “pray and see what images God brings to mind” game.  honestly, I feel like a lot of times it’s just people’s own imaginations.  and I’ve never really prayed with people who were praying with the sole intent to get pictures from God until I came here.  sometimes friends in the past have said God randomly gave them a vision or whatever and I don’t question those – that seems more legit.

ANYWAY – I’m not here to argue whether or not God speaks to us thru giving us pictures.  Smile  so – back to the story (this is a true story, by the way – just thought I’d thought that in).  so our group prayed (3 of us in our group) and 2 of them saw a teddy bear, and 1 of them also saw the color pink, a stroller, and little kid toys.  the only thing I had to add was that I felt like it didn’t necessarily have to be a homeless person that we gave this something to (a lot of the outreach this week was geared toward the homeless).  I just felt like even though it could be a homeless person we blessed, we should be open to blessing anyone we may come across no matter of their social/economic status.

so we go downtown and hit up Walgreens and end up buying a teddy bear.  then we walked around, looking for a little kid and/or someone pushing a kid in a stroller.  it was about 8:30/9pm so the chances of seeing little kids was kinda getting slim.  we came to an ice cream shop and saw 2 little girls inside, 1 wearing a pink coat.  so we stood outside, debating whether or not we should give them the bear.  they came out and started walking away and no one felt like we should give them the bear (it was kinda weird to give the 1 bear to 2 girls and be like…”here, you’re wearing pink, so you get it – haha).  so we held on to the bear but realized it was time to meet our group and head back to our place.  so we got on one of the busses that runs up and down the street, hoping to find a little kid on the bus.  no such luck.  we got off the bus near our meeting place and stood outside a couple shops, trying to decide what to do with the bear.

we saw an older man in a store so we decided we’d just give it to him when he came out.  so we stood there waiting and waiting and he kept getting distracted by things in the little store.  then we saw a husband and wife walk by, swinging their little girl.  we all looked at each other and go “…let’s just do it!” so we walk up and Davidson (in my group) goes “excuse me…we bought this teddy bear tonight to give to someone and we saw your little girl and wondered if she’d like to have it?” a little bit of an awkward silence.  then the mom goes “I can’t believe this…I had told my little girl we’d get her a teddy bear tonight and I had just realized the store was closed so we weren’t going to be able to get one tonight…!”  wow.  crazy.  so they accepted the bear and we asked if we could pray for them about anything.  they paused and then the husband goes, “Yeah, actually…you could pray for our marriage…”  he was SO honest to just out right say that to us, strangers.  so we prayed for them and when we were done, the woman had tears in her eyes.  they asked what church we went to, and told us they used to go to this certain church but it kinda sounded like they didn’t go regularly anymore (hard to tell).  and the woman then said she had been struggling lately and really felt like this moment was for her – that God had given her this moment.

stoked.  I couldn’t believe how the night had ended.  it definitely gave some validity to the picture the 2 people in my group had both gotten.  growing my faith.  I cannot put God in a box.  all glory to Him for what He did that night!!

I like to think that whenever that husband and wife see their little girl’s teddy bear, it will remind them of God’s goodness and His intimacy.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Hittin the Streets

Last night we spent a couple hours walking the streets downtown, handing out water bottles, granola bars, and hand warmers to the homeless. We are just like them, lost and in need of Jesus. It was a good night, I really enjoyed talking to two different girls.

It was 38 deg and wind chill was 28. 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, a tank top, long sleeve thermal, 2 hoodies, winter coat (inner and outer shell), scarf, beanie, and 2 pairs of gloves (I ended up letting someone borrow one pair).






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Takin on LoDo

We are in downtown Denver this week (aka LoDo), staying at a church/community center, doing various ministries and having class in the morning. Last night we hung out for 2 chapel services at the Denver Rescue Mission - it was mainly homeless men there. One drunk man came up to me afterwards, held my hand, kept moving in closer. I kept trying to make conversation but he wouldnt talk - he just kept making noises and moving in. Then he pulled the hood off my head and started moving in even more. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't giving out free kisses last night ;) thankfully, people stepped in and rescued me.

All updates will be from my phone this week - I didn't bring my laptop down here.

This is Becca and Jessie! Becca is my small group leader :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, October 22, 2010

if this stuff was bottle-able, i would make a fortune

dang, gina – this week of teaching was a-mazing.

Jeff Pratt was our speaker and taught us about the Father Heart of God. i’m going to try to recap from my notes.

first we talked about passion.  passionate people change the world.  our hearts need to be completely His.  not only is it the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37-38), but Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Jeff told a story of man who was enthralled with his adopted daughter.  absolutely adored her. they were sitting on a dock in Cape Cod and his daughter had a fishing pole (and…she was fishing…needless to say).  the man’s sitting there next to her, just gazing at her and overwhelmed with love for her.  out of no where, a shark comes up out of the water and rips the girl’s arm off.  immediately, the father jumped in the water and pried open the shark’s jaws to retrieve the his daughter’s arm.  long story short, the surgeons were able to reattach her arm.  Jeff used this story to back up 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”  i liked the illustration (it was a true story) because it made that verse come alive to me with a real life example of what it looks like.

we all have 3 needs:
1 – to be loved
2 – to be needed/wanted
3 – to have significance

when we look to others to fulfill these needs, we easily become insecure and dependent on other’s affirmations.  the beautiful thing is – all of these needs can be fully met by God.  to be loved and to have significance can definitely be proved by Jesus’ death on the cross to save us from eternity apart from Him.  there are so many verses that prove it as well.  Psalm 139:13-16, for one.  and as far as being needed/wanted by God – how about Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 28:19-20 for starters.

unfortunately, and i am guilty of this, we are too often more affected by the affirmation of others than we are by what God says about us.

Jeff talked about 5 love types.  Husband, Friend, Lover, Mother, Father.  i have explanations for all of them, but i’m trying to keep this concise (HA – yeah right – like i’m capable of that).  so if you want any explanations, let me know.  but unless we learn to receive these types of love from God, we’ll manipulate others to meet our need to be loved - when God is the only perfect Lover.

one thing i will mention, in regards to receiving love from God the Father, is that “Father” is used as a metaphor for God over 178 times in the Bible.  i love the Truth that no matter how i fail, God loves me because I am His daughter.  He loves me with unconditional love. He loves me as I am, not as I should be.  and His love is for you too!!

ahhh – so that recaps all week.  PSYCH! (yeah, i just pulled that word out – goin’ old school)  that was just day 1.  but in order to keep things interesting and not uberly long, i’m going to leave this as it’s own post.

oh how God loves us!!!  i feel so loved, so beautiful, so full of worth, so…joyful!  i wish i could bottle how i feel and sell it – i would make a fortune.  i’d have my trip to Norway paid in no time!  ;)

keep it real.
~jen

OH – PS!  yesterday i got my first financial support for Norway!  i got 3 checks in the mail, totaling $400! Praise God! 

Alphie

Meet Alphie. I made him! For outreach prep this week they taught us how to make a dog, sword, flower, fishing pole, and fish. I didn't get past the dog though. Did I mention I hate balloons? Haha :) the sudden loud popping...ahhhhhhh no me gusta! So I at least tried to put that aside and managed to get Alphie created. I held the balloon as far away from me and looked away as I twisted it.




I tried moving on to the sword but while I was cautiously blowing up my next balloon, every time someone would pop one I'd jump and let go and my balloon would shoot off the air pump and lose all the air. So eventually I ended the torture and just watched. With my ears covered. Waiting for my heart to stop racing. Haha :)

But the point is - I still did it! The dog, at least.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, October 18, 2010

little random things

the very first day i was in Denver (Monday) i went for a walk early that morning for lack of anything better to do (i had been up since 4:30am).  this was my first venture out as a carless human being in like over 10 years.  i started out by crossing small neighborhood streets.  no big deal.  then i moved to crossing the BIG streets.  pushing the “cross” buttons and waiting for the walking man symbol to light up.  all by myself.  while waiting to see the walking man at 1 light, i randomly broke out and sang “the lion sleeps tonight…”.  i had sung the beginning of it in my head and for some reason, that part escaped and became vocal.  no clue why.  i kind of giggled there at the stop light, realizing how random that was.  kinda glad no one was around.

the first couple times i walked back from the gym in the early morning, i saw the same goose in the same exact spot on the sidewalk.  granted, it may not have been the same goose.  but i like to think it was.  i started telling him good morning when i saw him.  i named him Henry.  since then, i have come across large groups of goosen at that spot and now i can’t tell which one is Henry.  so they’re all Henry.  and i saw hi to them and ask them what’s up.  i’ve yet to hear a response though.

yesterday a guy in one of the other schools here walked by behind me and pulled my hair and said “BOING!  …i couldn’t help it, it’s so fun!”.  for a second i thought i was back in 1st grade.  then i remembered i had straight hair still when i was in 1st grade.  it was really funny.  i’m glad my curly hair can create fun for other people!

speaking of hair, tonight for outreach i went to the elderly/disabled people’s home.  this one man i talked to told me (twice) that he loved my hair, it was beautiful, and that it looked good on me.  ha :)

i think i have found my favorite Starbucks.  it’s right by our school (there are 2 right by our school…actually).  but the part i love is that when i went early one morning to do some work before breakfast, the 2 women working there were older and just…well…fun/motherly/grandma-y!  SO not your typical “hi i’m really cool and dress emo and have my own unique style which isn’t really unique because i look just like everyone else trying to look unique” Starbucks baristas.  i quite enjoyed it.

i NEED to recap what i’m learning!!  ugh..i need to just start making lists of things i need to do so i actually do them and don’t just talk about doing them.

keep it real.
~jen

This is me quickly soaking up 20 minutes of down time between lunch and class :) my bed is right next to the window. I planned it that way.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This 1980's Toyota corolla rust bucket was our vessel to freedom on Sunday. We kept the a/c off to save gas. (giggling)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, October 15, 2010

typical week

here's what a typical week looks like for me:

MONDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8:00am-8:50am Quiet Time
9:00am - 10:30am Worship & Intercession
11:00am - 1pm Class (1 speaker comes each week and teaches the whole week on 1 topic)
1pm Lunch
2:00pm-3:30pm Class
3:45pm-5:25pm Work Duties
5:30pm-6pm Dinner
6:15pm-9pm Community Outreaches

TUESDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8:00-8:50am Quiet Time
9:00am-10:30am Class
10:30am-11am Snack Time!!! (one of the highlights - they make us food!!)
11:00am-1pm Class
1pm Lunch
2pm-3:30pm Director's Docket (like a pow-wow with our DTS and DTS director, recapping things, getting info, whatever)
3:45pm-5:25pm Work Duties
5:30pm-6pm Dinner
7pm-8:30pm "Create Night" (it's like an activity that everyone in the DTS has to do - this past week they brought in guitar teachers and put us in groups based on our guitar playing abilities and gave us all lessons! they gathered extra acoustics for those us who didn't bring one!)

WEDNESDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8am-8:50am Quiet Time
9am-10:30am Worship & Intercession
11am-1pm Class
1pm Lunch
2pm-3:30pm Creative Presentations/Outreach Prep
3:45pm-5:25pm Work Duties
5:30pm Dinner

THURSDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8am-8:50am Quiet Time
9am-10:30am Class
10:30am-11am Snack Time again!!!!!
11am-1pm Class (last class session of the week)
1pm Lunch
2pm-3:30pm Reflection (our DTS gets together and one of the staff leads discussion about the week's teaching)
3:45pm-5:25pm Work Duties
5:30pm Dinner

FRIDAY
7:30am Breakfast
8am-8:50am Quiet Time
9am-10:30am Worship & Intercession
11am-1pm Small Groups
1pm Lunch
2pm-3:30pm Outreach Prep
3:45pm-5:25pm Work Duties
5:30pm Dinner
6:15pm-10:30pm Kingdom Night Outreach (optional, outreach in LoDo - Lower Downtown Denver)

SATURDAY & SUNDAY
RELAX!!!!!!!!! HIKE!!!! CHURCH (wherever we want to go, we're just supposed to go somewhere)!!!! catch up on missed phone calls :) there are usually things going on that you can do if you want, like hiking trips.

my job for work duties is housekeeping/kitchen clean up. 1 week i do housekeeping and the next week i do lunch and dinner clean up. for housekeeping i clean as many bathrooms as i can with 3 other people. when it's a week where i'm doing lunch/dinner clean up, that means i get from 3:45pm-5:30pm OFF! I LOVE THESE WEEKS! when i have housekeeping, i have to get up around 5:30am to get a workout in at the Y (about a 15-20 minute walk away). but the weeks that i have kitchen clean up, i use that 3:45pm-5:30pm to get my workout in!! ahh those are great weeks :)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Rainy Tuesdays




Days like these make me wonder if I can mentally survive 7 weeks in cold, dark Norway.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Tasty little treat

I was cold. I was hungry. So I put on my winter coat and my beanie and walked over to the grocery store. I found this big piece of carrot cake on sale for $1! Mmm :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, October 09, 2010

the reoccurring theme

when shane drove me to the airport to fly to Denver, he kept telling me that this was a chance to start fresh.  coming to denver, nobody has pre-conceived notions of who jen is.  nobody knows me.  i can become the person God created me to be and not who people expect me to be.  i liked that concept.

tuesday morning last week (week 1) we had worship.  during worship, i felt God was showing me that i’ve let sin/satan dictate who i believe that i am.  i had always kind of just accepted that i am a person who lets fear hold her back, a person who lets anxiety overtake sometimes, etc.  that’s “just who i am”.  but that’s not true.  just because people expect me to be a certain way doesn’t make it right and doesn’t mean that’s how God’s created me to be.

friday morning during quiet time, i meditated on Psalm 139 where i am told that i am wonderfully and complexly made by the Creator of the universe (God).  He knew me before i was born, He knit me together in my mother’s womb.  i love that passage – i often have to remind myself of it when i’m feeling insecure or worthless.

during Friday’s worship time, a guy from another school here that i didn’t know came up to me and said, “i keep getting a ‘word’ for you – is it ok if i pray for you?” skeptical but curious, i nodded my head “yes” (it was pretty loud, the worship was still going on).  he said the word he kept getting was “transformation” and that he felt God telling him He wanted to transform me during this time.  being the skeptic that i often am when it comes to that type of stuff (i’m working on being open…), i thought it was cool but i also kinda thought “that is so vague – obviously anyone here for DTS is anticipating to be changed”.  but i still thought it was cool, and it was biblical, so i believe it was the Holy Spirit prompting him.  he also felt like God wanted to remind me i was beautiful to Him – which was cool too because just that morning i had meditated on Psalm 139.

anyway, this monday, in the first teaching session (this week’s speaker spoke on the Character of God), the first point the speaker made was that the goal of Christianity is – wait for it -- transformation. 

just seems to be a reoccurring theme that God keeps bringing up for me.

living in great anticipation of what He wants to do…

keep it real.
-jen

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Smiling's my favorite

2 people told me (at different times) today that I'm always smiling.

At first I apologized. Then they told me not to apologize, that it was a great thing.

And so...

I continue smiling.

:D


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, October 01, 2010

confession.

i got to the YWAM base Sunday night.  it’s Thursday night.  i haven’t taken a single shower at the base yet.

everybody gasp in disgust.

are you finished?

ok now are you finished?

:)

ok now i’ll tell the rest of the truth –  i’ve been showering at the YMCA (yes, mom, i’m taking showers.  tell andy i’m using body wash, too).  :)  dude – the Y has brought such sweet excitement to me!  i found an indoor volleyball court there and found a ball and played against the wall the first morning after my workout!  so stoked that i have access to it!  hoping to be able to play if there is a league or anything going on there.  also – the showers are so great!  at the base, 2 showers are shared by at least 10+ girls.  so not only is it chaos to get a shower in the morning, the hot water also probably runs out.  there’s so much more space to get ready at the Y and they have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash – oh and towels!  it’s sweeeet!

so this week has been a lot of class time of introduction-type stuff.  learning about fundraising, going over the rules/guidelines/assignments/etc.  last night we watched a video of a message Loren Cunningham gave back in like…1968 or something.  it was really good, all about relinquishing our rights, our life, for the sake of the Gospel.

we’ve also had “bonding” time, where everyone in our DTS shared their testimony with the group.  and guess what.  :)  by the grace of God, i was able to give my testimony!  i was one of the first people to go – i knew if i put it off ‘til the next session, i wouldn’t be able to each much and i would be fighting anxiety.  so i did it!  definite props to God on that one – it was cool.  the first of many opportunities to rely on God’s strength in my weakness!

DSC02907this is the park we went to this afternoon for the rest of our “bonding” time – people gave their testimonies.  it was beautiful :)  it was called majestic park or something.

i found out a little more about the norway and mexico city trips.  the biggest thing i learned is that norway is geared more toward friendship-evangelism – building relationships with people over the 7 week period and evangelizing thru those relationships. mexico city is more street evangelism, reaching people on street corners and such.  i’m leaning more toward norway right now – my heart is geared toward relationship evangelism.  i’ve done the street evangelism stuff before and personally…i just haven’t seen much fruit from it.  it works, God can definitely use it.  but i personally prefer to build relationship first.

the internet has been out most of the week.  so i’m writing this offline and will upload it when i get access (which…you don’t really care, because if you’re reading this, that means i got access…).  :)

i’m doing a lot better than i was monday (day 1 post).  praise God the nauseous feeling, headache, and lack of appetite lasted mainly just the 1 day.

someone should probably go to bed soon.  oh ok, fine – i’ll be that person.  i’ll sacrifice.  you can stay up – don’t worry – i’ll go to bed for you.

OH!  1 more thing.  tomorrow night some of us at the base are going to play ultimate frisbee!  so stoked!  so excited to just be active with people.

ok for real – i’m ending this.

keep it real.
~jen~