Erin Winget : The Journey of His Embrace - The World Race October 2008

Life lesson: the process of quilting

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I felt another womanly graduation moment this weekend as I celebrated finishing the top of my first quilt (pictured below- feel free to "ohh" and "ahh" in the comment section)! Laura, Janina and I spent about 40 hours since our first lesson on Superbowl Sunday working on our individual quilts. We picked out fabrics, patterns and began the long process of learning to measure, cut and sew all while our amazing sewing "rabbi" as we came to dub her, made us laugh and encouraged us even when we majorly messed up. "Rabbi Joey" opened up her home to us for our six to eight hour sewing sessions, rewarded us for our accomplishments, and even let us stay 'til 3am when the end of our quilt was in sight! In short, we have all had an amazing time making our quilts and its probably not the last one considering I went a little crazy buying fabric and I have a cute little pile of about 20 fabrics waiting to be crafted into something beautiful.

I loved the process of quilt making. Not just because something beautiful and functional was the result but because the process is part of what gives the quilt its value. I love that God likes to remind me of simple truths like this. Lord knows I feel like I'm always in the middle of a process. Thanks, Jesus, for metaphors that remind me of the purpose, beauty and value in what can seem like the mundane. All these choices I make daily, prayers I pray and ultimately the decisions I walk in are going to add up to something of worth. I need that reminder. Sometimes I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Really it just takes time for it to all come together.

***Editor's note: I promise I haven't turned completely into "Becky Home-Ec-y" as some of my roommates like to tease. I just enjoy the fact that I can not just embrace but embody what some people consider to be the dichotomy of a strong, powerful, fire-breathing woman who can do anything she wants but also loves to bake bread and make a quilt. Don't fence me in!

My next project awaits:

life lesson: bread = love

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cooking is not just a hobby for the women in my family; it is a tangible form of love. When I was a little girl my Grandmother Winget would make homemade sourdough bread a couple times a week. Three loaf pans sitting side by side on the stove held delicious treasure that she would share with me. I remember that her whole house would smell of the goodness baking in the oven and even after coming home from spending the afternoon on her back porch I could sometimes catch a whiff of it on my shirt. My brothers and I would fight over who got to eat the coveted heels of the bread that were coated in butter with crispy edges all the way around. My Grandmother Winget is now 92 and lives in a nursing home but If you talked to her today about baking she will perk up in her chair and say with a glean in her eye that she'd give anything to get her hands in some bread dough. I believe this is not just because the woman loves to cook: she misses the feeling of giving something that she knew only she could give.

I think I can relate to that.

I love to cook. i love the feeling of my hands in bread dough, too. I learned to make my Grandmother's famous sourdough bread this past Christmas from a woman in my home community who bakes like my Grandmother used to. She tutored me during the 2 day process of bread making and then sent me on my way with some starter that shes kept for about 30 years. I felt like I'd graduated from something. And I knew my Grandmother was proud. There's something powerful about tradition, isnt there? About holding and valuing something that has been passed down to you. I feel like baking bread like my Grandmother is one way for me to pass on the affection that I felt standing on my tiptoes in her kitchen peeking over the top of the stove and eying those three loaf pans. I knew she loved me. She spent time baking her love into something edible. (And who doesn't like to receive that kind of love?)

I took communion at a Lutheran church this past Sunday and as I was kneeling at the altar I couldn't help but think that this was a familiar feeling: this being loved through bread. The affection, mercy and love that it symbolized; the sacrifice that made it possible and the fruit of energy and service that would be a result. Jesus gave us something that only He could give.

The authors of the Gospels don't mention who made the meal at the last supper, who set the table and made sure the wine pitchers were full and that everyone had a chair. In my mind I see the women who were Jesus' followers being busy about all these things knowing it was important for the Passover to be celebrated with certain traditions. Women like my Grandmother. Their service showed their love. That's how I want to be.

Stories from the Field- Australia

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A great thrill that I get from being a logistics person is seeing World Racers invest in the places that I got to see with my own eyes. Places I only get to touch they get to dig in. My trip in November to Australia was just plowing the soil for the teams that were to arrive this month. And now its happening! The people I got to meet are now being blessed by my World Race family. The Kingdom of God is being advanced in the very places where I got to see the needs.

Hannah Vitkus wrote this week about a little Aboriginal girl she befriended in Mossman, a small Aboriginal community I got to visit where Mark and I prayed for the team that was to serve there. We stood in the church that the team was going to minister in and prayed for Kingdom fruit and God's will to come to that little community embedded in the rainforest.

Krissy Whaley and her team are ministering in an Aboriginal community with an amazing couple outside of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Krissy shares about the situation of the community:

"The aboriginal people battle with generational addictions that have been passed down through time.
Alcoholism and drug addiction is rampant - resulting in an extremely high level domestic violence and suicide.

There is no sense of pride or ownership over there possessions...

Having no sense of ownership makes it easy for people to borrow, steal, or abide by the payback system.

The payback system often results in stabbings and ultimately death for many."

Megan Rouse recounts a very World Race style travel day as she and her team tried to get to their first ministry location for the month in an old "Troopie" or Toyota Landcruiser.

As I sit behind my desk in cold Port Huron, Michigan I am encouraged as I read the blogs of Racers who are not only living lives of adventure but learning how to walk through the stages of abandonment to grasp the Kingdom of God in deeper ways. I love that my job is to empower them to break for the nations, to pour themselves out so that our Creator is glorified. Even though its not me holding an Aboriginal child today or preaching a sermon, I am celebrating because the Kingdom is coming and I get to be a part of it.

its not what you do but who you do it with

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Moving into the World Race house has been a great experience in many ways. My roommate (and former teammate on Hephzibah) Laura Meyers and I have been busy doing some fixin'. Who doesn't love a little Do It Yourself work? Its cheaper and its a chance to learn a new skill! Also we realize as missionaries that our skills are constantly broadening because when there is an issue or problem or just an opportunity to do something we become "yes" people. Instead of saying "no" our response is "well, we can figure out a way to do that!" We learned this attitude on the mission field but it comes in pretty handy almost anywhere. So whether its preaching, teaching, putting on a kids program or like in the past week, doing some basic plumbing and housekeeping we are willing to take on a challenge. We realize we need to be the answer rather than waiting on someone else to be.

So when our downstairs sink was leaking and looking pretty bad we decided to replace it.

The old one we took out

The new one we put in!

Laura and me under the sink.

And when our kitchen chairs were weakening and threatening to dump us we got some wood glue and nails and reinforced them.

And then our toilet started acting up...so we went to Lowes and bought a new one and replaced it. Well...roommate Mark Stratmann stepped in to help us do that one...

FIVE STAR FLUSHING POWER* as advertised on the box! If you've spent anytime without one of these then its a precious sight to behold a brand new one of your very own!

I did try the toilet seat on for size...

Overall it has been a blessing to be here, living in community and sharing our time, work and lives is a refining process but it has been a joy and even through our projects this week I am beginning to testify to the saying "its not what you do but who you do it with."

Haiti - Our Response

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The earthquake in Haiti has been heartbreaking especially with more recent news of aftershocks after the initial disaster. The World Race sent teams to Haiti for the first time early last year and a lot of my brothers and sisters have spent the last week eager to hear news of their Haitian family and friends. The Adventures in Missions community has been responding over the past week with planning, prayer and mobilization. Today and tomorrow teams will be flying down to the Dominican Republic with plans to assess the situation, bring food, water and medical supplies as well as minister to the people at the border. The group of six World Race Alumni that are going down are Spirit-led and captivated by the love of the Father so intensely that they are eager to put their hands on the broken and the hurting. We are not all called to go in this way, but they are now. They will come home changed by what their eyes have seen and what their ears have heard. They will come home telling the stories of the people there and they will come home with an even more intense desire to see God's face in it all. I am proud to be part of a community that rushes to the broken and hurting people of the world. I am proud to be supporting those that can physically go and I am proud to be one that supports the efforts of the Kingdom in being light and salt in the desolation and destruction. This is what I am doing and I invite you to join me:

PRAY and believe in the power of prayer. For Haiti, the relief efforts and for God to move in powerful ways.

Give. You can through this website set up by AIM:

Go to this direct link to give: https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=&tuid=1370381 (this is also accessible by going to www.theworldrace.org and clicking on the "Donate" tab on the homepage. Hit the button that says, "click here to give!")
Once you're on this page, change the program on the drop-down menu to a "World Race Project." A new box will appear, for a description of the project. Please have supporters put WR HAITI as the name of the Project.

CONTINUE the vigilance. Even after the media has moved on. Even after its not in our face every day. Remember. One way to do that is following the blogs of the WR alumni that is going. People like Ashely Musick, Sara Choe, Sarah Diederick, Jacob Hoyer, Stephanie Tyrna and Aaron Bruner.

Adventures in Missions is planning three waves of response. Maybe you're hooked. Maybe your DNA is like ours in figuring out a way to get there or support those that are going. Maybe God is calling you to sacrifice your time and comfort for something bigger than yourself.

Welcome to "The Manor"

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Well, it is official. I am moved into the "World Race Manor" as we have affectionately dubbed our little gingerbread-esque house on Military Street in Port Huron, Michigan. There is snow on the ground and a definite chill in the air which is something for this North Carolina girl to get used to. I have yet to fall on the driveway but every time I make it to my truck without busting on the permanent layer of snow and ice I say a prayer of thanksgiving!

I am trying to settle into not just a new work schedule and pattern but really a new rhythm to my life of constant community and outpouring. I am still grieving this life change. I see how the timing of this move is so good and so right and I see God's hand in it, but that doesn't mean I get to skip the grief. It doesn't mean I don't get to mourn the great things that I have to let go of because of my new geography. I no longer will be rising early to feed horses and cats, or visiting my Grandmother and all the people I've come to know well at Sharon Towers. I won't be eating dinners with my parents and brothers frequently and sharing in their daily lives. I won't be falling asleep at night to pillow talk with Nikki, or spend my weekends fixing fences and moving hay. But I will get to live life next to a different group of people and learn new things about myself and my community as I figure out what God is calling me to HERE and NOW. I will get a chance to grow as my comfort zone is again rendered and my expectations put to death. And so, even though my heart breaks at leaving my North Carolina home and farm, my heart is joyful at once again embracing the new, the unknown and whatever is to come.

More on life and the adventures of planning and executing the World Race to come!

miracles

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have a talented group of people working hard not only to make the World Race happen but to spread the Kingdom of God wherever they are. I am proud to be part of a community of believers that is not just producing videos like this one but that are living out the reality of redeemed lives. I hope this motivates you to do something today.

caviar on monday, crusts on tuesday

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have been asked a lot recently if this Christmas is different because of my time overseas. Am I just overwhelmed at my country's consumerism? I've been taken out to eat and spent more money on one meal than an entire month of food overseas. How do I handle it? The truth is that this Christmas is different because my heart is different. I have not struggled so much with feeling contempt for this culture of consumption as much as I have just felt my heart breaking with every attitude that is implying that THIS is all there is. All you have to look forward to is STUFF when really the lie just leaves you wanting more of something else. My heart breaks for this nation that largely thinks this is it.

I am more grounded because I can relate to Paul when he wrote in Philippians 4:12 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." The idea that I could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesdays and be content in every bite. Last year I experienced a Christmas with a different family, with hardly any gifts and a meal of freshly slaughtered goat and found contentment, satisfaction and even pleasure. I believe this polarity is to be embraced and probably will be the rhythm of my life as I strive to straddle this gap of ministry to an impoverished world while living in the midst of splendor. I see that as part of the adventure of following Jesus; to be comfortable among the poor but also to have the favor of kings. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here is a silly little video that was made my my squadmate Tangi Holmes last Christmas when we were in Eldoret, Kenya.

a few silly things you shouldn't miss when you're in the outback

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A few silly things you shouldn't miss when you're in the outback:

#1. Don't just see a kangaroo. Eat a kangaroo. Its not endangered, turns out and actually is for sale in the form of steaks and sausage in your local grocery store. Delicious!

#2. Hold a koala bear. If you cant afford to hold a koala bear just get close to them and then take your picture with the stuffed one in the gift shop. Its free.

#3. Learn to say a few local phrases. "Sweet as" is a personal favorite of mine but "G'day" is an oldie but a goodie.

#4. Dudes in short shorts. Its totally acceptable and never ceases to amaze.

How did I get to Australia?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This whole World Race lifestyle looks a bit ridiculous from the outside, and really sometimes from the inside. It is a little crazy to have a ten day logistical planning trip to Australia where you need set up for over 100 people and you're going a few months before them but you only start thinking about your trip about eight or nine days ahead of time. So you should jump on an airplane and expect God to go before you and line stuff up? That is a little absurd but that is pretty much what we do.

The whole thing starts with a simple conversation in a basement in Michigan where the logistics team is looking ahead to January and February. 18 teams are launching in New Zealand. Do we have anything confirmed? No. Who can leave next week? How about Australia? Do we know anyone there yet? No. Who can go next week? Now there is a lot of prayer. A lot of emailing, internet research, talking among the staff, searching out possibilities along with some more prayer. And then some plane tickets are purchased.

And before I know it I am standing in Brisbane, Australia with Mark Schandel wondering "what now, God?" I had one Skype conversation and swapped emails with a few people...this should get interesting.

And so our week unraveled with us not really ever being sure where we were going to lay our heads that night but receiving the blessing of hospitality wherever we went. We never went hungry and we weren't even that uncomfortable. But the best part was that wherever we went we were wrapped in the grace of God. He showed up. He gave us favor. And He surely is greatly blessing those that blessed us.

The real outback

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I want to introduce you to Carl. I learned to say his name with an Aussie accent. Listen: "Caaal". Long a. Otherwise with my American accent his name sounds like Carol and believe me, Carl is no Carol.

Carl was a guy that we had contacted because someone stumbled on his website. He seemed like he was doing good stuff with Aboriginal communities so I was lucky to get a hold of him via Skype and he invited me and Mark to join him on visiting some of the communities that he ministers to on a regular basis in the outback of the Northern Territory. Sweet! Mark and I flew to Cairns to meet up with Carl and meet his family and then the next day the three of us flew to Darwin to take care of some business and then head out into the outback on Saturday. On Saturday we packed up Carl's LandCruiser with all the essentials including extra diesel (because where we were going there was no filling stations), water, canned goods and some perishables that we kept in a little fridge and good old camping gear.

About two hours into our journey we made our final stop to fill up the Cruiser and the road turned from blacktop to smooth red dirt. Then it turned from smooth red dirt to rigid, bumpy red dirt and then to occasional deep sand where Carl had to get out and lock the hubs. We crossed riverbeds and looked for crocodiles (for real) and buffalo. As we drove the cadence of Carl's voice was steady as he told of the Aboriginal people, their history, their stories, customs and as he talked his dedication and passion for these people to know and understand the Gospel was obvious. If you ever meet Carl you won't have to ask him about his heart for these people. You'll see it.

We arrived in Owenpele around 6:30pm and met a group of people hanging around one of the first houses you see as you drive into "town". I immediately joined three women sitting in the "yard". There were two long necked turtles lying in the dirt, their necks obviously broken. They were on the menu for dinner and we got to stay long enough to see Edna (pictured at the right) partially cook them over an open fire. As curious as I was to taste the turtle, I am a little glad we decided to try and make it to another village, Manmoyi, before it got too late and before the turtle was done.

We reached Manmoyi about two hours later under the cloak of darkness but were greeted at the first house we saw by a group of people sitting out under the blanket of stars. They were happy to see Carl and plan a fellowship for the next day. We were given the key to the three room school house to sleep in and I sure was grateful to lay down that night and get some rest. Even though we had only traveled a few hundred kilometers that day, being in Manmoyi felt like the middle of Africa.

The Aboriginal communities are very isolated and most are not even reachable by car between December and June because of the wet season bringing the rivers over their banks and making large sections of road impassable. The people can live their whole lives cut off from the world with no jobs and just sustenance from the government. Being in Aboriginal communities feels a million miles away from the bustle of the coastal cities, even though you're only a half a day's drive.

Pictured Left: a house and kitchen in Manmoyi.

the next step

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is crazy to think that my World Race experience has lasted over a year now. I spent the last week in October up in Port Huron, Michigan sitting behind a desk for hours a day along with some really dedicated individuals that are World Race Alumni who are working diligently to make the race possible for the squads that are launching in 2010 as well as giving support to the 200+ individuals that are spread out around the globe right now.

You wouldn't believe all the things that have to happen for teams to make it successfully around the world. Finances and budgets, routes and plane tickets, visas, trainings and teachings and all of this fueled by an attitude and atmosphere of prayer. God sure does use a lot of people to bring this whole pilgrimage process to life and it requires humble hearts to approach the throne room of the King and seek His plans above anything else.

My time working in Michigan was a confirmation of an idea that had been gradually taking root in my heart. I am committing to spend at least the next six months in the service of the World Race as an apprentice in the area of logistics. This means that any and all of the details required to get around the world from ATM cards to lodging arrangements that racers face all over the globe will be part of my daily life. This job will require some travel on occasion and I'll be jetting around seeking God's will for areas and locations as well as cultivating contacts for future race teams to partner with. Really, its not so much the job that has captured my heart as much as it is that I really believe in what the World Race is doing. I really believe that this program is doing a great job in cultivating a group of people that are really doing radical things for the Kingdom of God. I believe that there are lots of people who have been sitting on the dreams that the Lord has seeded deep inside of them and because of their experiences on the race they have the courage to begin new lives of boldness. I told a friend of mine recently who is considering the Race, "this is not the answer, its just the beginning of God awakening his deeper desires for you." I've watched for over a year as this World Race community has been used by God to wreck individuals for lives of mediocrity. It is not so much churning out missionaries as it is a generation who is mission-minded and Kingdom focused. I am excited to be serving God in this way in the next six months, and maybe longer...until He sees fit to call me somewhere else.

For my apprentice position I need to raise $9,000 for the six months as well as cultivate the invaluable support of prayer warriors. Is God calling you to be a part of this with me? Would you be willing to stand with me and prayer and see what God is going to unfold? If you feel led to give financially, click the "Support this Mission!" tab at the left or send me a message and we can talk about it in greater detail. God is doing great things and the next step for me looks like serving the organization that has greatly impacted my life for the Kingdom. With your help, many more people will be blessed!

THANK YOU! + final video

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There is no way words could express my gratitude to all of you who supported me this year financially, through prayer, and by following me on my blog. Because of you orphans were fed, widows cared for and the destitute were given hope. I recognize that the World Race was not something I did on my own but in fact it was the Body of Christ operating together. I am so grateful to have taken this pilgrimage and to have my heart and life forever impacted. Please know from the depths of my soul I am grateful to all of you who commissioned me and sent me out this past year. I will never be the same.

I wanted to make a little video for you to watch to see a snapshot version of what I got to experience this year. The song "Come Awake" by David Crowder is particularly meaningful to me because this year was about God waking up my soul and my heart to who I really am and who I'm created to be in Christ. Beginning to step into my identity as a daughter of the King brought me freedom like never before and allowed me to shed some of the crap I had gotten used to carrying around in my heart. The beginning of the video is from one of my favorite places, Uganda. Laura and I made friends with a woman that we called "Momma" and she taught us how to cook and grind cassava flour and basically how to be good, African women even though we didn't speak any Achole and she didn't speak any English. Spending time in her hut was one of the sweetest places I got to be all year.

MORE Transition

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One would think that after changing countries every month for the past year I would be ready to slow down a bit but in reality I can't seem to slow down! It has been a long time since I have updated and my world has completely changed in these past two months. Let me give you a brief rundown of events...

I flew into the States in early September and was privileged to attend the wedding of my dear friend Megan and her beau, Joel in Texas. It was a crazy transition but I could not have asked for better people to spend my first week in the US with. It was a joyous occasion where I got to see my best friends from college and celebrate in Houston fashion. And I really enjoyed "getting pretty" for the first time in eleven months. I was excited to use a hair dryer and curling iron and I felt like I took the LONGEST hot showers although they were really only about 6 minutes long!
I flew home from the wedding and immediately went to spend some much needed time with my parents at their new place down at Bray's Island, South Carolina. We took two of our horses (see photo of me and Gusto reunited at last!!!) and it was ten days pretty close to heaven. I got to ride Gusto for at least two hours every day and I spent a lot of time just talking and debriefing the year with my parents. We shed some tears and enjoyed one another thoroughly. I truly am blessed to have an amazing, loving and supportive family.
I got an impromptu invitation to join my squad-mate Jacob Hoyer on a road trip so I spent a weekend in Chicago at the end of September. That was an adventure!
I spent a string of days in Charlotte that was full of visits with friends and family as well as a few bridal showers for my dear friends who are approaching the end of their days as single women.
Then it was off to training camp for the two squads of about 120 racers that will be leaving in January of 2010. It was a great chance to see a few of my squad-mates as well as serve those who are going to come after us in this World Race legacy. I loved being with my new "family" as we ushered in the Spirit to "wreck" the lives of these unsuspecting people. What great works God is doing in and through the World Race. I am still amazed that I get to be a part of this.
Then it was home for my friend Robin's wedding. A sacred, gorgeous, low-key, outdoor affair. She married Matthew Harrell and God's presence was obvious.
The morning after Robin's wedding I boarded a plane to Michigan to help out with some logistics work for the World Race and here I currently sit in a desk in Port Huron. I have been working on some administrative tasks to help get information straight so that the future race routs can be planned and finances set accordingly. A lot of work goes into making this whole process happen and my behind the scenes knowledge is growing by leaps and bounds!
I am planning on being back in Charlotte on November 4th to hit the ground running again! My life has been so completely UN-normal since coming back to the U.S. but it has worked out well that I don't really know what "normal" is supposed to look like anymore! I can honestly say that I can't see what the future holds from here but I am finding that the growth that my faith has made in the last year on the field is helping me weather this transition.

Thank you all for following me this year. Despite my blogging absence for the last two months I don't expect my writing to curtail just yet. There are no doubt interesting adventures still around the corner you may want to know about!

what i want to leave behind

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Granada, Nicaragua. The morning was cool and breezy and the church here at the AIM base where we are staying called El Puente (the Bridge) had a combined service at 10am with another church down the road called Total Fuente. The praise and worship was lead by Carlos, one of the guys that lives here with us and Heather, a staff member. After church we had a little carnival of sorts for the people. This past weekend has been a big party weekend in Granada. I'm not sure exactly why but there was a parade and all sorts of things but the most prominent feature of the weekend was the number of people who where drunk. We drove through the square one night late on the way home from Managua and there were people passed out all over the stairs of patios and laying all over the park. The streets were littered with bottles and trash. It was eerie. So the churches wanted to have an alternative fun option for families so the Holy Banditz and our team put together some games and stations around outside. We had face painting, fingernail painting, a piata, slingshot target contest, various relay races, foot washing and hair washing stations. The women loved having their hair washed and Heather even picked up some scissors and began a hair cutting station in the ladies side of the bathroom.

Ben and I were in charge of the foot washing station. Now this may sound a little awkward, a station where people come to get their feet washed but really it was beautiful. The women were not ashamed to come and sit before us and have us try and talk to them in our broken Spanish. One of them kept pointing to Ben as he washed her feet and saying "como Jesus!" over and over which meant "like Jesus". "Yes," he replied and then he tried to say something to the effect of "because of Jesus we do this. Jesus loves you." She smiled.

Later in the afternoon Ben and I had taken a seat across from our foot washing chairs so that we could rest our backs. We had washed the feet of a group of about 4 young girls and they continued to hang around us chattering quickly in Spanish. They asked if they could have their feet washed again and I said no because other people needed to have their feet washed and then they started to pick up my feet and remove my shoes. One of them stuck her hands in the bucket with my left foot while the other brushed my shoes off with her hands. Another one supervised and told the one washing my feet that she still needed to get between my toes. When the little girl began running her fingers through my toes I couldn't suppress my laughter and that delighted her. I smiled from ear to ear as they all took turns washing and drying my feet and intentionally tickling the bottoms. Then they insisted on painting my nails until lunch was ready. I proudly wear my blotchy pink nails with purple tips still today.

This is what I want to leave behind this year. These girls can't even say my name (Erin is not a Spanish name and most of them find it terribly difficult to say anyway) but they wanted to serve because they had been served. Even in the most simple ways we can make a path for others to follow.

The chief end of man

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

My team was asked last month while we were still in Guatemala to join in a crusade while we were down here in Nicaragua. We never really committed to it or heard much more from the pastor that was in charge so when we got down here to Nicaragua we weren't sure if plans had changed or not. A few days before the crusade was supposed to start our team leader, Neil got a phone call and confirmed that we were going to take part so on Thursday night and Friday night my team sent four people to Managua, one to preach and the rest to pray and minister to people.

I got to go on Friday night. "Crusade" is a new word to me this year but it basically means open air evangelism. I didn't really know what to expect of this crusade but when we were picked up by four men in nice suits in a Chevy suburban I became sure that we were a little out of our league. We pulled up to an empty parking lot in a poor suburb of Managua where a large stage was set up. After further inspection I could tell this stage was a tractor-trailer truck bed that was fabricated to fold open. There were lights and even cameras recording, a full band with five back up singers and enough chairs for about 200 people. This was the big time. As worship began the four of us were promptly ushered up onto the stage for our VIP seats with all the other pastors. I worshipped with my eyes open that night because I found if I closed my eyes I might miss something! Things would switch quickly. One moment we would be singing and then there would be a brief drama or youth performing a, Christian rap song in Spanish. A Mexican cowboy sang two songs and scooted around the stage. One woman sang a slower song and the lights turned off and fireworks shot into the air and the whole time this was going on the crowd was growing. There must have been at least 350 people there. The chairs were full and people were seated all around a wall at the back of the parking lot. I turned around and there were people standing on a hill behind the stage worshiping and dancing some of which were out of view because of the darkness. Some people along the outskirts stood still just watching the organized chaos of the crusade, probably thinking how crazy it was. But I loved it and soaked it all in because we were having fun and it was all about Jesus. I couldn't muffle my laughter as one of the pastors on stage got caught up in the Spirit of worship during one of the songs and began spinning around shaking the whole stage. He jumped higher than I knew a man his size could and whooped and yelled. He was definitely enjoying himself to the point he could barely contain his excitement. At one point I turned to Neil and shouted over the music, "Is this a party or a crusade? I can't tell the difference!"

As my eyes scanned the audience my mind kept returning to the first question my grandmother used to ask from my catechism when I was young.

"what is the chief end of man?
To glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

It was a pleasure to be with so many people who knew what it was to enjoy God. I will never forget that party...I mean, Crusade.

Photos:

Top Right- rapper before the audience

Bottom Left- Dennis sitting on the stage with the pastors

New Promo Video

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Take a minute and watch the new WR promo video. It gives you a glimpse of the heart of what it is we're all doing out here on the Race. It also just might inspire you.

Goodbye Guate, Hello Nica

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our month in Guatemala ended way too quickly for our team. We left Panajachel and Mi Reto church after a particularly sweet Thursday evening church service that greatly blessed my team. We bid our goodbyes and went back to our house for a couple of hours of sleep before we boarded our bus to Antigua at 4am. We arrived in Antigua with team Crux just before 7am on Friday morning and our large bus that would hold the entire squad was due around 8am to transport us through El Salvador, Hondouras and then onto Nicaragua. Our original plan was to spend the night in El Salvador near the capital and then on Saturday make a final 12 hour push through to Managua where the teams would separate and find transportation to their own ministry locations. This plan was canned by the bus drivers (there are two- one to drive and one to sit on a wooden stool beside him) who seemed confident that we could go the whole way in just shy of 16 hours if we didn't stop at all so Kelly and I got on Skype outside of Pollo Campero, the fastfood chicken restaurant with free wifi and quickly arranged some last minute lodging for the night with one of our contacts in Nicaragua who owns a hotel. The Lord was already providing. Outlook positive.

Our bus ride began pretty routine with the whole squad pretty excited to be together and even more excited to have a bathroom on our private bus so that the trip would go faster without constant stops. I dozed contentedly as the bus rolled through Guatemala. Then right around noon our airconditioning system on the bus went out. No big deal. We're used to being hot. The windows get popped open and all seems well. We cross border number one into El Salvador but no passport stamps which we always secretly look forward to. Oh well. I eat amazing pupusas at the border for one American Dollar. Surprisingly the dollar is the currency of choice in El Salvador. That makes our evening meal stop at Burger King easier. I eat icecream for dinner because I can and its only 50 cents. A lot of us have forgotten what American money looks like. That is a weird feeling.

Around the time it starts getting dark our bus drivers begin to change their minds about going all the way in just one night and ask us if we want to find somewhere to sleep or if we want to sleep on the bus. Sleeping on the bus is a tempting option just because its free but we know it would make for a rough night. The other option is to try and cross border #2 into Honduras before 9pm and then see if we can make it through to Guatemala. The only risk with that is a national curfew in the country of Honduras because of some political upheaval and we're not so keen on the idea of spending the night in Honduras. So Kelly, Kyla and I go with the bus drivers on a hunt for a location to house 48 people plus 2 bus drivers. The first place doesn't have enough water for us to use the bathroom. Bummer. We have no internet access and no SIM cards to call and cancel our reservation in Nicaragua. Double bummer. Bright spot: Around 10pm we find the perfect location just a few blocks from the Honduran border. A cozy little hotel with room to sleep 24 comfortably and just a few cockroaches on the walls but seems relatively safe. Sounds great. We squeeze 48 people in with classic World Race style and plan on leaving the next day at 5:15am. Just a few hours later we're all right back on our sweaty bus crossing the border into Honduras. Around 7:30am we are approaching the Guatemalan border but there are miles and miles of tractor trailer trucks backed up along the side of the road. We find out the border is closed and we don't have a way to exit the country. The option to turn around and go back to El Salvador is quickly eliminated after learning that ALL borders in the country have been closed. There is no way out. What now? Because we are a bus full of "tourists" we are given permission to cut to the front of the line and talk to someone at the border. When we get to the border we get the same answers. No way out. Our response: LET THE PRAYER BEGIN! A few of us leave the sweaty bus to find a SIM card to get on the phone to AIM and let them know the situation and try and call the US Embassy in Honduras and Mark and I split off because there is a rumor of someone near the border having internet. We find the internet in some random house down the road and begin emailing and downloading Skype. Awhile later Mark thinks he hears his name being called and we see Kyla and Jeff running down the road looking for us. "They're opening the border for us!" Kyla says. We take off running back to the bus not knowing the full story of "how?" and "when?" but knowing we aren't going to let that bus leave without us.

After only 4 hours of waiting at the border we crossed over to the other side singing worship songs and thanking God for hearing our prayers. We only had to wait 2 more hours to get our passports processed to enter Nicaragua and then we were on our way to Managua. Around 8pm we got to Managua. One team had lodging arranged, 2 teams had transport to their ministry location and the other 4 teams (mine included) were still trying to figure out where we were going to stay the night. A hostel had offered a large room but no bathrooms. Rumors started spreading of the Hilton afew blocks away. No way was that going to happen on our budget. But two men on our teams MAJORLY surprised us all and agreed to pay for our rooms at the Hilton from their personal money. It wasn't exactly World Race style but after about 40 hours on a sweaty bus we loaded our pack onto a dolly to be carted up to our top floor room at the Hilton. That night we all slept on beds that looked like clouds and enjoyed air conditioning and thanked God for bringing us into the country He promised- not just the Hilton- but the safe passage to Nicaragua.

I'm not in the Hilton anymore. That was just one night. My team is with team Holy Banditz this month in Granada, Nicaragua. We are staying at the AIM Base here and working with a variety of great ministries. We've recovered from our travel days and are in full swing working at a dump, nursing home and some children's schools in the area of Granada.

Please be in prayer for our squad as we minister this final month together in Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Panajachel - Video

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Neil made this video of some of the photos we had from our time here in Panajachel. We are leaving at 4am tomorrow morning to go to Nicaragua. Please pray for us as we cross through the Honduran borders as there has been some political upheaval there as of late.

Our time in Panajachel has flown by! I am definitely going to miss the people and the environment. God richly blessed us this month with the fellowship and teaching we got to sit under. We will miss you, Pana!

messy

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Your love is deep
Your love is high
Your love is long
Your love is wide

Your love is deeper than my view of grace
Higher than this worldly place
Longer than this road I've traveled
Wider than the gap you've filled

Who shall separate us from your love?

Nothing can separate us from your love.

Jess and I were at a house church on Friday night and got the chance to minister to a woman named Magda. House church happens once a week where about 10 leaders from the church hold small conversations and teachings over coffee and dessert (or bean sandwiches as we have grown to love) in their homes. House church is for church members as well as an outreach to neighbors and family that may not come to church but are willing to come for coffee and fellowship. Magda was a new face at house church this week but I had noticed her at church before holding her beautiful baby Lilly. Marvin, the leader, began to tell Jess and me a little bit of Magda's story recently of trouble with her husband who had gone back to drugs and drinking after walking away from that lifestyle for awhile. As Jess and I knelt on the floor beside Magda to pray strength and perseverance over the tears fell hard and I wished from the bottom of my heart that I had more to give her. She mentioned not having enough food because her husband was using all the money for himself and so as Magda held baby Lilly and ate a bean sandwich, Alijandra, Marvin's wife grabbed a plastic bag and began stealthily moving around the kitchen gathering up food while still keeping an eye on Magda as she talked and cooed to the baby. Marvin was attentive to Magda and at the end of the evening insisted on walking her home and making sure the house was safe before he agreed to let her stay there.

One thing that has been greatly apparent to me this year is that when you are really bringing kingdom to people's lives in a personal way things get messy quickly because you have to deal with people and all of their flesh and problems. Often this is what I'm most paralyzed by and what has kept me from being really effective. I think, "What can I possibly do in this? What influence do I have?" But we are called to boldly walk into the murky waters of life with people. When you invite someone like Magda to house church you are responsible for being a part of her story. You've agreed to step inside her life and bring God's light and salt. And the "right way" to be salt and light is not always very apparent. As Jess and I walked home that night in the quiet darkness we kept a spirit of prayer for Magda and also asked what more could we do? As short termers we don't have the ability to sustain much on our own but we concluded that God put us there to minister to those who are getting their hands dirty like Marvin and Alijandra and to bless them with our time and efforts.

Please pray for Magda and for Marvin and Alijandra as they stand with her in this time. Pastor Benjamin's church Mi Reto (My Challenge) is walking out life together in Panajachel, Guatemala. Want to learn more? Visit: http://www.mi-reto.comze.com/

I love Central America

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I love Central America. That might be somewhat of a blanket statement seeing as how I've currently only spent time in Mexico and Guatemala which is not even 30% of the countries in this subcontinent but I really like it here.

Guatemala has been an opposite world than Europe. The climate, culture, people and environment are so different. Our work and the way we minister here is certainly different. We are in Panajachel, Guatemala which is on Lake Atitlan. This month we have spent a lot of our time doing construction on an old run down "hospidaje" or hostel. The hostel belongs to Marvin and his wife Alijandra. They recently acquired ownership of the property from Marvin's father and so we got to begin the renovation process which started with tearing the roof off and cleaning out the rooms and organizing what was salvageable and what was not. The hostel is not located on a road rather it is off of a back pedestrian alley that is sometimes used by motorcyclists and tuk-tuks (three wheeled motorcycle taxis). A lot of the houses here in Panajachel are off of small alleys like this but it poses a major obstacle when trying to do construction (or destruction). We've had to use wheelbarrows to cart load after load of trash out to the main street to be picked up by trucks after people have gone through and collected the small treasures they want from what we have discarded. One woman was so excited to find a piece of metal shaped like the end of a hoe to use in her garden from a wheelbarrow load that I took to the road. We also got to tear down one of the rooms that was really old and needed complete demolition. It was an interesting process to tear down a building made of mud bricks because with each swing of the sledgehammer came a huge plume of dust! We then had to cart all of the dirt out to the road in wheelbarrows. I am excited to be getting my "farm arms" and calluses back on my hands from all of this manual labor. Alijandra and Marvin have also been working along side of us and even though Alijandra does not speak much English and we don't speak much Spanish we have been developing quite a friendship. We know how to make each other laugh and enjoy singing worship songs as we work. Another great blessing has been the children that congregate near our worksite. Jefferson, Augusto, and Alex are a few of the regulars that come peering in the windows and in the gate in the afternoon.

This week we had 800 cement cinderblocks delivered to our work site. We got to unload the truck and then bring the blocks to the work site by hand and by wheelbarrow. The next day we got 3 pick up truck loads of sand and 2 loads of rock dumped in the street that we then carted to our work site. An orange juice street vendor who goes to the church was kind enough to let us dump the rock and sand in his small wooden cover on the street so we didn't block traffic for too long or upset the other vendors. Even little efforts like that are huge blessings to us.

This week we are painting the rooms that we didn't tear down because another mission team will come the week after we leave and some of them will stay in the rooms. Sweating every day for a good cause gives me great pleasure and it is also fun to watch as things get accomplished.

the lime tree in our front yard

view of one of the three volcanoes on Lake Atitlan from our roof

Dennis taking down a wall with the sledgehammer. We love construction (and destruction).

Hard work: me standing on an old chair using a circular saw to cut down what used to be ceiling beams joined by (from left) Marvin, Mario and Dennis.

Some of the crew (minus Michelle and Bev) and their GUNS

More of the crew with our guns- standing on our dirt pile that we moved to the road.

Our friends come to visit! Alex (far left) and his little cousin Augusto (far right with stripes) are some of our regulars. Carly taught them to clap when we pass by with a wheelbarrow. It helps motivate us!

How you celebrate a job well done: Me and Bev enjoy our frozen chocolate covered bananas for just 1.5 Quetzales (roughly 20 cents). A habit i can afford!

A Tiny Window (Part 2)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cara playing with her food. If you've ever been to East Africa you'd recognize that snowman made of Ugali.

Water fight in China: its all fun and games until someone gets really wet! Hephzibah teammate Laura and Jake Rodriguez

View of the Great Rift Valley in Kijabe, Kenya

View of the skyline in Hong Kong from the peak.

Yes, that is an iguana on my nose. My Squad-mate Dan found him on a bush in Kenya.

Hugging the Taj

Hands down the most memorable manicure ever.

A Tiny Window (Part 1)

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I was talking to my teammate Carly today as we were kayaking across crystal clear Lake Atitlan here in central Guatemala how impossible it seems to blog about all of our experiences. I can't tell you what our Sabbath day was like. I can't sum up or experiences working with Pastor Benjamin here in Panajachel or how we get to see lives change everyday. Sometimes blogging seems to turn life into a story and I try to draw conclusions that sometimes are unfair to draw. I can't condense God's work into words or tell you enough about what has happened and is happening. My team for example has been the influence on the Race that has been the best and the hardest but I find writing about all of that very difficult because it is messy and full of emotion and there are still lots of loose ends. I trust it will come out in in anecdotes and unexpected things as my memories of the past ten months take on words and as I begin to live life next to people that haven't experienced all this with me. I fear taking the next five weeks for granted but I don't really know how to fully soak them up. I can't dig my heels in and make them go any slower but I can let the awareness of their sweetness make every moment more real.

On a sort of side note, I was talking to a dear friend awhile back on Skype and she asked about my pictures from the Race. I have not posted too many on my blog because there is an experience behind every one that is so dear to me I fear they won't be understood or appreciated on their own. I would rather sit down next to you and tell you about that moment and whether or not the picture accurately captures the essence of what it was. But I probably won't get to do that with too many people realistically. But I realize it would be a shame to keep them all to myself. So here instead are a few of my favorites with small explanations so that you have a tiny window into my life over the past ten months incase we don't get to sit down on the couch and share coffee soon.

Bubbles: Carly and I decided that one of the best ways of getting attention in Europe is to be really joyful and give people a reason to smile so we began a "bubble ministry" in our spare time basically meaning we blew bubbles in public places at random times to make people smile and bless them. It proved to be a big outreach to the young as well as the young at heart. We also decided to incorporate bubbles into our worship as pictured above.

My little pony: so I have this pony that was sent to me upon request of a horse to keep me company. She has been traveling with me since India and her name is Manny. She was recently kidnapped by some teammates of mine and taken to Pizza Hut but because of my great detective skills as well as my ability to intimidate a she was recovered and is safe and sound.

Our Lock: A new tradition in Cologne is to put a lock on the bridge behind the cathedral to symbolize a commitment and to "leave your heart in Cologne". Our contacts surprised our team with a special engraved lock to sign and put on the bridge! We all locked the lock and threw the keys in the Rhine to prove our commitment to one another and our love for the people and city of Cologne.

Up in the sky: Parasailing in Romania- an awesome experience.

Gypsy girls: Some of the most beautiful in the world. Near Targu Mures, Romania.

Frog: this one turned out not to be a prince. But we'll keep trying won't we Michelle?

Indian Children: my dear friend, Brooke, with some of the kids in India that stole our hearts.

Mbagala: a view of our village outside of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Icecream: we rarely get it but when we do we get really excited!

African Sunbeams: Africa is beautiful like no other beauty. You need to see it for yourself.

Peking Duck is great in China. But not after midnight. Also, you should make sure the friends you intend to share it with are hungry or else you end up eating almost all of it and that is not good when you are about to board a plane to Africa in 5 hours.

Great Wall: two thumbs way up.

Why do Chinese microwaves have a setting for baby?

Steph sharing her camera with a little Kenyan girl.

Christmas Nativity: Our G Squad men reenacting the birth of our Savior.

Santa: He didn't forget us! He knows how to find us even when we're in Eldoret, Kenya!

Our ride: to church everyday in Kenya. Pretty sweet, huh?

African Sunbeams 2: seriously.

Painted Hands: it's a dirty job...but somebody's gotta do it! After painting Latter Glory Church in Eldoret, Kenya.

Philippines: our first day out with Hephzibah.

Baby Deandrea: how can you resist that? At ChidVoiceInt in Uganda.

One of my favorites: she was so sassy and loved to dress up. At ChildVoiceInt in Uganda.

Staring back at you: life in Uganda

Part 2 to follow...

Wrapping up Germany

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our last few days in Germany were spent cleaning our living area for the month and tallying the data from our surveys. My team collected data from about 200 university students and had many interesting conversations that cannot be quantified in a pie chart. Overall, people were very open to hear what we were doing and why we were there but most were content to just know about Jesus rather than to know him themselves. As one young man said to me as he walked away, "I'll have plenty of time for Jesus when I'm old and my life is over. Right now I'm doing fine on my own."

This month was largely focused on apologetics for us, a drastic change from most of the ministries on the Race. It was a great chance for us to begin to articulate not only what we believe about God but also what we have seen Him do this year. One of the most powerful times we had in Germany was a night where we just invited people to hear our stories. Each person on my team talked about a country and an experience that was dear to their heart and we met later and talked with people one on one about how they can experience the God who has done such powerful things. The Race is already a powerful testimony and it isn't even over yet!

As we boarded the plane and departed for new lands, I was overcome with the desire to pray for this nation. Germany's history is full of innovation in the Kingdom: the Protestant Reformation's roots with the printing press churning out copies of the Word for every man to read. I know God is working in Germany. Please join me in praying for the harvest there and for the strength and endurance of those who are dedicating their lives to see the Kingdom come.

Carly made a video inspired by the book of Esther that chronicles some of our times in Germany. I hope you enjoy it!

The Secrets the Germans don't want you to know

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Germans are known for their innovative engineering and their fast highways but that is not all they are good at. You probably aren't aware of this but there are several culinary secrets that the Germans are conspiring to keep to themselves. I was fortunate enough to be allowed in the "inner circle" while I was there and was introduced to three things that I am now going to share with you, my worthy, faithful blog readers.

#1: Spaetzle.

This is like the German version of Macaroni and Cheese but more delicious (gasp! I know!) and sometimes served with meat. I was introduced to this delicious treat by my native German friend Ramona (pictured left) who was kind enough to give me a first-hand spaetzle making lesson. Hopefully I can re-create Spaetzle at home in the States and do Ramona proud!

#2: Gummy Bears

Now I realize that Gummy Bears are an international sensation already. Almost the whole world is aware of their goodness. BUT in Bonn, Germany fortunately situated just an hour outside of Cologne is the HOME of the original Gummy bear and the location of the maufacture of all Haribo gummy products like the elusive gummy smurf that I thought went extinct in the early 90's. I was able to go visit this LARGE grocery store of cheap gummy delectables and purchase for just shy of 15 Euros about 9 pounds of candy. I managed to eat about 4 pounds on my own in about 6 days.

#3: Spaghetti Eis

Spaghetti Eis is icecream that is put through a noodle maker to make it well, look like noodles. Then it is topped with any topping of your choice but most commonly it is a strawberry sauce so it looks like marinara sauce. You can add other things like berries for a splash of color and flavor on your tongue. Some restaurants other other icecream food interpretations like pizza and lasagna.Throw on some shaved white chocolate and you've got the perfect topping impersonating parmesan cheese!

All in all Germany was an amazing culinary experience. The next time you're there be sure not to miss these as well as other foods!

Mike Rowe

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you know me at all you are probably aware of my raging crush on a certain television host. Mike Rowe is the host of "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel and has committed himself to finding the most disgusting and also under-appreciated jobs all over the US. Almost anyone could do a dirty job so it seems, but Mike undertakes such opportunities with humility and humor. I stumbled upon this clip through my friend and teammate, Neil who was of course aware of my affection for Mike and it just illustrates his unique flare for entertainment and insight all twisted together. I hope you can spare the 20 minutes and really watch it in its entirety. Pay attention and you might even learn something.

*CAUTION: the video may be considered crude by some standards. You just have to persevere.

the dom

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We've been in Cologne for awhile now and have gotten a little bit of a feel for the city. The history of this city is weighty and deep. The center of the city is the "Dom" or Cathedral that looms large and dark over you as you exit the underground station. Don't be confused though because "Dom" is just the German word for cathedral and you wont see an actual "dome". The Cathedral itself is humbling. The facade is one of the largest in the world in terms of square meters because of its double spires and according to Wikipedia "It is renowned as a monument of Christianity, of German Catholicism in particular, of Gothic architecture, and of the faith and perseverance of the people of the city in which it stands. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary." It took over 600 years to complete the massive project (with interruptions) beginning in 1248 and lasting until 1880. Thinking of the building that was completed in my home church shortly before I left I have to laugh and wonder how many people wanted to chair THAT building project?

Carly and I spent some time just sitting in the Cathedral on our Sabbath day last Friday. We watched the tourists come in with their cameras and pose for photos in Cologne's most famous landmark. No one comes to Cologne and misses the "Dom". Even businessmen that are probably just jetting in and out of the city will roll their carry-on sized suitcases through the cathedral so they don't miss out on seeing it. Carly and I sat quietly in the pews letting our minds wander and pray despite the muffled chaos around us.

"God, what do you think of all of this?" I asked. "What does it mean to keep holy places holy?" I can't help but be a little distracted as I see elaborate displays of jewelry that have been given as sacrifices to the Virgin Mary or gaze down the center of the Cathedral and see the relics of the remains of the three kings who came to worship baby Jesus encased in a gilded chest. I can't seem to wrap my mind around standing here and worshiping God when just a few months ago I was having church on a dirt floor in Kenya or in the sand in Tanzania under a palm tree. Part of me says that if the presence of God is the only thing that makes things holy then why don't we all have church outside in the dirt? Why do we labor at all on things like buildings that will fade away or turn black from pollution? But then I know there is something to this, too. There is something remarkable about a symbol of faith that takes centuries to build and is maintained by those that find significant value in its history and what it offers those in the present. What about all those men and women that gave money, time and their physical labor to see this cathedral completed? They believed they were laboring for something didn't they? Even if it was penance for their sins.

So what is it I am laboring for? Am I working to build the church? Maybe not a cathedral like that but I do desire to give my life to the body of Christ. I want to be caught up in something bigger than myself and labor knowing that what I am doing will last for eternity. I think I can do that. I think that dream is within my grasp if I choose to stick with it and commit myself to it fully. I have been inspired by so many of my brothers and sisters on the World Race who are already so devoted to bringing Kindom to earth. We may be young and a little foolish but crazy dreams start with crazy people. I bet the guy who suggested building the largest cathedral in the world in Cologne got a few laughs like Noah did when he started cutting down those trees to build that silly ark when no one had even seen it rain. I believe God is asking us today to join Him in dreaming for this earth some big, crazy dreams. Will you join us?

If I wander 'til I die

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I've been missing home lately but I find that even the concept of home seems elusive now. I've been gone for nine months and home is different now. The lives of the people I love have changed. Our coaches have told me that part of the race is realizing that our world goes on spinning no matter where we are on this big old globe and I'm finding that is true. The lives of my family and friends are not on pause just because I'm not there to witness the excitement or share in the sorrows. Just in the past few months I have had to mourn the unexpected death of a dear friend and mentor along with her young daughter in a car accident. Being away from my home and community during this was hard not just because it was a personal loss but because so many people I love were (and still are) hurting and I couldn't be there to hold them while they wept. Despite living in a very supportive community here on the race, I still wanted the support and wanted to give support to my community at home. I have also had dear friends begin new relationships and be engaged while I am away and ones that have had babies and that is a different challenge in trying not to believe that I am missing out on something. I am confident that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now because I believe God has called me here but it is hard to confront the idea of not being around for once in a lifetime events in the lives of my dearest friends.

Last night I was having dinner with a group of Americans and Germans and one of the Americans was trying to explain the phrase "you can't have your cake and eat it too" to a German who did not understand the concept at all. "You can't have everything you want," is what it boiled down to and that is exactly where I am right now. I want the life of a world-traveling missionary but I want the full life of richness in community with consistency. I want to be there for all of the joys and the sorrows, but I don't want to miss out on what God is doing outside of the US because it too has a richness and a depth and a mystery that I can't fully appreciate unless I'm living it.

I knew the World Race was going to wreck me and I think this is part of it. We're supposed to be unsatisfied to some degree, aren't we? Isn't that what keeps us searching for more? Part of my motivation in going on the race was the desire for MORE and I wasn't even sure what that meant.

MORE GOD.
MORE COMMUNITY.
MORE MYSTERY.
MORE JOY.
MORE TRUTH.

I got what I was looking for but it only fueled the desire. So here I sit in the mixture of it all, laughing and crying and feeling the highs and lows of every moment; it is an interesting tension wanting to be there but knowing I belong here.

Tell my brother please not to look for me
I ain't the man that I used to be
But if my Savior comes could you let him know
I've gone away to save my soul
And if I wander til I die
May I know whose hand I'm in
If my home I never find
Then let me live again

-Peter Bradley Adams "The Longer I Run" from the album "Leavetaking"

"What kind of Christians are you?"

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the past week my team and I have been making our selves at home in Cologne, Germany with an American missionary family. We are part of a church that has made reaching out to college students a priority so we have spent our days getting acclimated to the German culture and talking with college students about their views of God and the church. Last weekend we celebrated Pentecost by going on a retreat with our new church family to the Netherlands where we spent some great time in prayer and worship and learning more about each other.

Back in Cologne, we are finding that the university students are largely atheistic in their beliefs and since being a member of a church means extra taxes a lot of Germans are no longer affiliated with churches. The church we are working with is a "Wohnzimmer Gottesdienst" or a "living room church" meaning that it meets in a home and is a free church that is unaffiliated with the government. The problem is that because it is small and unaffiliated it seems suspicious to a lot of Germans who are used to institutions. "What kind of Christians are you?" the students ask us and we find the question hard to answer because we aren't the kind of Christians they are used to. We aren't Jehovah's Witnesses. We aren't Mormons or Catholics. The beauty is we just explain that we are people in love with a living Savior, a man named Jesus who was brutally killed and rose from the dead to give us an eternal relationship with a God who is passionate about bringing this world back to Himself. We confront a lot of questions about the pain and suffering in the world and a lot of questions we just ask along with people. We aren't trying to provide answers, we just want to point to God.

Doing a different kind of ministry has been refreshing and being in a western country while on the Race has been a completely different experience. For example, for the first time in a long time I am allowed to flush my toilet paper down the toilet! Almost everywhere else that has had indoor plumbing we have not been able to perform this simple luxury! God has really blessed us this month financially because normally on our budget we would not be able to survive in a country like Germany but we have been provided FREE housing by a German woman who is in the process of moving out of her apartment and since her stuff is still here we are able to help her load her car every time she comes by and stay in an amazingly nice apartment without any cost! God has also provided us with the missionary family, the Goerings who have done more than host us but really open up their home and care deeply for us. It is a blessing to serve along side them and be under their authority.

I am excited about the month and what God has in store. Please be praying for a fruitful harvest for our ministry and that we would be able to plant more seeds here in the lives of university students.

Here are a few pictures from our time so far, mostly from our long weekend in the Netherlands.

Driving on the Autobahn! Whoo hoo!

Our guys Dennis and Neil jammin' on our weekend camping trip to the Netherlands.

Me and Carly on the square in Amsterdam during our day trip.

Complete makeover from a second hand store in Amsterdam!?! YES please! For less than 30 Euros you too can look this good!

God in All Things

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since Tuesday our whole squad has been together for debrief which is a time when we get to rest a little, relax a little, minister to one another and chew on some teaching brought to us by our coaches. Debrief as the logistical coordinator can be a little stressful and require a lot of juggling and sometimes it can be hard to pay attention to multiple things at once but I am reminded over and over again that God's hand is in everything, even the details.

This month we are debriefing in a beautiful little city in Romania called Brasov. The city is quaint, cozy and the epitome of Europe for me with outdoor restaurants, cobblestone streets, abundant and accessible historical sights and intriguing people. The city also happens to feature a BRASOV sign up on a mountain above the city...like HOLLYWOOD!

Dennis, my logistics partner-in-crime and I arrived in Brasov over a week ago to prepare for the rest of the squad to arrive four days later. We found affordable lodging. We managed to find a resaurant to feed 53 people every night for only about $3 per person and then bought some bread and meat, tomatoes and cucumbers to feed everyone lunch for around $0.33 per person per day. Breakfast is included with lodging. Hallelujah. God's hand of provision is clear. Then a slight hiccup. Where can we all gather together and meet to have worship and teaching? We elicit the help of the woman who works at the hostel where we are staying. She gladly offers her services and says she'll make some phone calls. Even on Monday, the day before the squad arrives the only place we have to meet is the terrace at the hostel which will fit us outside conspicuously over the street and without any privacy or extra room. It looks like a gamble. Then a breakthrough! The restaurant owner where we are going to eat dinner has agreed to allow us to stay until they close at 10pm and agrees to let us worship with singing and a guitar and says the noise is not a problem. Dennis and I are relieved and thank God for his provision. We see that He has come through for us again.

Then Wednesday night arrives- our first night together as a squad for worship during debrief and I make the announcement that we will be staying at the restaurant and ask some people to coordinate shifting the tables and chairs around. I overhear a few comments that were probably meant just as honest feedback about the space not really being the best. Did you consider the acustics? And how will we all see each other? I agreed with them and just said it was the best we had available but in my heart I began to question God's provision. All of a sudden what God had provided wasn't enough because someone questioned it. As we began to worship I was overwhelmed with the concept that I had not done enough and what we had was not enough.

Why would you set me up for this, God? Why didn't you come through for us?

I sat in my pitty party of judgement and condemnation for a moment then let out a sigh and agreed to open my ears to hear what God had to say. "What I provide is always enough for you," I heard him say calmly and confidently. He didn't seem to be the slightest bit offended that I was accusing him of not coming through, he was just waiting for me to be ready to repent again and come back to the sweetness and confidence of his presence. As I began to return to him I heard, "I move where I choose to move. No space however ideal you deem it to be the factor that ushers in my presence. I am after your heart. Don't look at what you lack. Open your eyes and see what you have."

So I did. I opened my eyes and looked around me and saw my brothers and sisters sold out in worship to their king. I didn't see the cramped, hot basement of an autoserve restaurant. I saw the Kingdom.

God comes through. He always does. I need to align my vision with that truth and live from it rather than letting every little opinion or opposition sway me.

Your Kingdom come, Lord. Your will be done.