rainy day!

since i've been here, it has only rained on Thursday! (now it's sprinkled a few days). otherwise, the temps are similar to spring in WI. nights get in the 50's and days don't exceed 77 degrees. the campus we are staying at reminds me a lot of Marquette. the buildings are older and there is a lot of grassy space. it's really quiet at night though. no Milwaukee sirens and there aren't screens on the windows so we have to sleep with the windows closed.

the wheels on the bus go round and round

we ride the bus about 30 mins to Seattle and 30 mins back. when we go to Tacoma it takes about an hour and a half. despite which location, we pass through the city and  see the water, mountains, an  city scape. everything is so beautiful, it almost doesn't feel real. the clouds are unbelievable! they are so large and as you look out the bus windows the sky just goes on forever! even when it is raining, it is so beautiful!! the bus is seafoam green, btw! so we get some interesting looks!

Worship is more than a song!

Wednesday night after a long day i was exhausted but i knew that i needed to praise God through worship. when i worship God, i feel closest to Him. a group of us wen  outside with a guitar and sang with our hearts and eyes fixed on Christ. what stood out the most to me was that this summer project is a mission trip, but it should be looked at like a vision trip for the rest of our lives. when we pray we are praying for all the people who will cross our paths along the way in our lifetime.

ready, set, GO!

preface: i wrote these posts Friday but you will soon learn why they weren't posted then. this first week has been so exhausting and yet i have learned so many valuable lessons about the sinful nature of humanity and  redemptive power of God!

our days have been jam-packed! we have been going from 7am until about 10pm most days! i've been challenged beyond belief to find strength in Him and not myself! i feel like i just got here, and at the same time as i feel like it's almost over. it's a zy balancing out activity!

by the power of God, i was able to find peace when i was feeling homesick on Day Two. this allowed me to have freedom in starting friendships in Seattle and being present with everyone. i've been exposed to so many people from so many different places around the world. it is so fascinating to see all of our lives crossing for this brief period of time. it's amazing and i'm in awe of how God answers prayers, revives, and restores! we all have a story and all of our stories are part of God's story, the great story of Jesus!

thankfully, i made time each day to at least journal a little bit about the day so that i would be able to update it later with the details.

HERE!

so much is going on in Seattle and so fast! i arrived in Seattle on day afternoon! we were welcomed by the staff and the other students that were here already! we enjoyed a BBQ out on the patio at picnic tables! the temperature was beautiful and the sun was shining! thank you to everyone who helped me get here!

The Great Unknown - You've never failed and You won't start now

The new Hillsong United song, Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), has been such a wonderful blessing to me lately! I only have 16 days until I leave for Seattle!! crazy! With much anticipation, I have been acquiring the last of my donations and starting to pack!

Surely, I have a one-page description of what I will be doing in Seattle, but I have no idea what GOD IS GOING TO DO! My prayer, not only for myself, but for the rest of my team, is these lyrics:

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior!"

This trip will be the longest time I have been out of the Midwest, my first flight without my family, my first time being to Washington, my first time leaving everyone that I know, and the first time talking to others about God with people I haven't even met yet (in person)! However fear-inducing these things may seem, I will not fear because I know that although I will be physically alone on the plane, God is always with His people. I will not fear because I know that His will is going to be done! My fears are so much smaller than the power of God! I am in His hands and this trip is more about bringing all the glory back to Him, not myself!

I cannot wait to share with you all what God is doing in Seattle this summer!

Lord, bless those who have been a blessing to me! Give them more than they have given me! Bless them in a way that they will know it could have only come from You! Prepare our ministry team with open hearts, obedient minds, and bless us with safe travels to Seattle. Prepare those hearts you have ready in Seattle to hear the Gospel and have a restored relationship with You. I want to pray for my friends on their mission trips, as well! Protect them and teach them more about depending on You and You alone! Let Your will be done in Seattle and in the hearts of many throughout the world! I pray these things in Your Son's holy and righteous name, Amen! 

The little things!

I finished school last week and spent a lot of this past week reflecting on the semester and looking at all the things God has brought me through.  I realized quickly that instead of focusing on all the things I didn't have and all the friends that were no longer in the city with me, I could focus on the people who were around me.  I recognized this transitional time period is to be used to love people!

I spent my morning with a bunch of awesome one to four-year olds, playing, singing, and teaching them about Jesus!

Our story this week was about Nehemiah and building the wall to protect the town and the people.  Nehemiah not only wanted to help build the wall, but he lead other people to want to help build the wall too.

The children love love love knocking things down, so building a wall with blocks was extremely difficult.  However, overtime each child learned how to add a block to the top of the wall without knocking it down.  It was the little act of handing a block to their neighbor that demonstrated their cooperation and sharing capacity.

Each small block is necessary to complete the giant wall to protect the town.  It continually reminds me that each one of these children are important to God.  Each one was created just the way they are because God "knit them together before they were born" (Psalm 139:13).  Each one of them deserves to be told about God's love and shown God's love.  Jesus said to the people, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14).

I love being able to work with the children at my church because their wide-eyed smiles and laughter show the joy that God instills in each of us.  God uses so many people in the Bible who were considered poor, young, or unwise to show us that He accepts everyone just the way they are! And that true fullness of life comes from having a relationship with Him!

As the little ones said this morning, "I can help you, and you can help too!" We are all on this journey of life together, so slow yourself down for a minute and be like a child, eager to learn, excited about life, and willing to help others and accept help from others! We can help each other, just like Nehemiah and his friends!  It's the little things we do for each other that help build one another up and show how much we care about their presence in our lives.

I pray that you would be reminded of the people who have helped you along the way (including God) and that you would be able to see the people in your life who need you to show them your love and God's love! Shine His light and "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). All prayers in Jesus' name, Amen!