Latvia Outreach part 2

Latvia, the continuation...

Day 4: All of us went out into the community to deliver food bags to those in need (we got lists of needy people from Social Service Office from the city).  We got to bless, encourage, pray for those we met.  It was really great and humbling to bless people in this way

Day 5: We broke into groups, some continued to hand out bags of food, some did a local children's program, some went to a local prison, some helped with give away clothing. I helped with the clothing.
Clothing giveaway.  We used a local community center and had all the clothes donated from Denmark, Sweden and Norway set up on different tables.  There were home items, clothes (for all sizes babies, kids, women and men), bedding, personal items.  We let 30-40 people in at a time for 15-20 minutes they could take all they needed and could carry out.  It was exhausting and crazy.  We ran out of bedding the fastest, people mostly wanting blankets (wool) and comforters and pillows.

Day 6: Clothing giveaway. God broke my heart for the needy.  We had so many clothes we were trying to hand it out to people to take.  I came across one man who looked dirty and disheveled.  He was picking through the kids section and I tried to encourage him in English to take as much as he wanted.  When I talked to him he got a scared look in his face and backed up and walked away.  I was surprised, but I also knew he didn't have much more time and was eager to see him get as much as he could.  I walked to where he was and tried to hand him a few things showing him it was okay to take, he did take an item or two.  After he left, I cried and prayed.  What could have happened that left a man skittish and afraid? It was a reminder of the woundedness of the world and it broke my heart.

Day 7: Celebration party.  On days 5 & 6 in the evenings we had a church service events.  Kings Kids performed skits and dances, a local pastor spoke one night, the next night Tjebbo, the outreach organizer, spoke.  Many people who had been given food or met along the way had come to know God in a personal way.  In fact, our translator from Day 4 had accepted Jesus into her heart (she was from the city, a translator through Social Services).  We invited all to celebrate what God had done throughout the week. God did so much.

Below is a local news report on the outreach (I am in the video briefly).  It is in Latvian, but if you watch it all you will get a good picture of what we gave away.  Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for all who prayed for our trip.  It was amazing! I also want to invite you to come next year, it is a great outreach to be part of - think about it.

Latvia outreach part 1

We, the DTS, are here in Latvia, working alongside a ministry from Sweden. They come every year to a different city in Latvia to bless the people and tell them of God's love.

Day 1: we got here a day early so we helped unload two semi trailers of donated food an clothing from Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. 5 hours of very hard labor (the sore muscles to come).

Day 2: All 340 of the volunteers join together to get an overview of the program and bond together to become a team. Yes, 340 people can work together in unity, an amazing feat.

Day 3: we unload food and clothing and organize it so we can give it away the next days - it's called "sweat day". Below is a picture of the food bags. We made 1400 of these to hand out.

We are here 7 days, the rest is to be continued...

A week in Skjærgårdsheimen

A week by the sea.  I had some time off of in my very busy schedule and wanted to get away.  Britt, a friend of mine, suggested I stay at Skjærgårdsheimen, the YWAM base in south Norway near Kristiansand.  The idea was brilliant - a gift from God. (Thank you Britt for the excellent suggestion.)


It all began Monday - a three hour train ride south.  I sat by a man with whom I talked with the whole trip there, he initiated most of the conversation.  I wasn't feeling so great, but didn't want to appear rude, so I continued to converse and besides it was nice to chat.  But about 10 minutes before our arrival to our destination, the "not so feeling well" feeling increased and to my dismay - I threw up! Yes, on the train in one of those little bags, so embarrassing. For the next day or so, my stomach would react every time I ate, bad and unwelcome stomach bug.  


So here I am a little ill, trying to rest and relax.  I've discovered that I have a challenging time relaxing, I always think I"m being irresponsible if I do non productive things like read, watch movies, sleep in, etc.... It's sad, so my goal this week was to learn how to rest - truly rest.  I think I did okay.  I've prayed a lot this trip about if I was being irresponsible or not.  It's been a battle to relax.  Why are we so silly?


I've been counting blessings while here, like: I had a stomach bug, but I wasn't "down and out".  The base here is beautiful and full of blessings: The view, the showers (very powerful and private), napkins (all I want and need), personal bathroom, there are no schools running here and it is very quiet, Nutella not just on the weekends, and can I mention once again - the view! (it truly is beautiful here).  In fact, here are some pictures that I took.  Some I edited, but most I did not.  

I head back tomorrow, a 7 hour train ride, I purposely kept a book for this day.  I am grateful for my time here and what I've learned about resting, about me.  I pray that the next time I get a break I will find it easier to rest.

Goodbye again

Yesterday, I found out a friend from Denver died of cancer - it hurts.  At firs,t I was just stunned thinking it was surreal, a dream, but reality is we suffered a loss.  I think I realize how far away I am from my closest friends in a time like this.  It's true I want to mourn, cry alongside of them.  I worked with Cary for nearly 8 years and although I wasn't in his closest circle, I knew him, appreciated him and valued him.  He was a man with a beautiful heart.  Today is just a day of tears.  I'm not sad he's with Jesus, I'd be more jealous if I thought about it.  I'm sad that I'm not with friends who are hurting and I'm sad I have to say goodbye to one more quality person in my life.  Saying goodbye just isn't fun.  I'll be grateful when goodbyes cease and I get to say hello to all who got to heaven before me.  Until then...hugs are nice.

PRAHA!

Prague...is the most beautiful city I've ever been to.  I was blessed to be able to go there with 5 others on a short 2 week outreach.  We got to work alongside teen challenge as they encourage and develop gypsy kids at an after school program.  We got to teach English, this was an adventure for us all, as well as go to a couple different English clubs to encourage the teens with testimonies, games and conversations.  There was also time for prayer & evangelism in the city center and worship with local IHOP team.  It was a busy time, but so blessed.  


My favorite memory: My team, how we bonded together even though we hadn't really had time to do that prior to our leaving.  It was such a blessing to go with people you realized were quality, something discovered during our two weeks there.


My favorite ministry time: Prayer walks.  Saturating the city with prayer, many times it felt very significant.  When I got home I was speaking to a student named Emily who had been in Prague a couple months earlier.  She said Prague was like a bridge from Western Europe to Eastern Europe.  It is as if this is the place where the two meet.  The city also seemed very empty of hope and joy - in need of prayer and a touch from God.  Even though I can't tell you what happened when we prayed, it made a difference, I believe that.  I believe when you talk to God about the people he loves and ask him to move in their lives it is significant.  


There are many great people and organizations in Prague wanting to make a difference and love on the unloved - be the hands and feet of God.  Please pray for them and the city they are in.  Thanks.

On the train...homeward bound

I'm on the train back from London and a lovely Christmas break. I have a great friend who pretty much gave me Christmas. Claire asked me over for the holiday, then she flew me over and blessed me with a English Christmas, a wonderful holiday.

Currently I am sitting on the train, I'm on the way back and I'm looking out the window being reminded I live in a beautiful country. I am trying to switch my mind back to being in Norway (the language is a clear indication). ;)

I get to ring in the New Year in Norway. Not sure of what lies in front of me, but i am grateful. I can think of MANY blessings over this last year. I, also, hope there are more to come.

Home! Norway! Grateful! Thinking!

The Secret of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving...a time to recall all you are thankful for.  This is exactly what my Thanksgiving was this year, but it began a week or two before.  I watched a podcast from my church in Colorado (http://vimeo.com/30391841).  This was a reminder that a thankful heart can battle the negative thoughts in my life.  Gratitude and worry/stress/frustration are at opposite ends.  I'm not saying it is easy to choose gratitude, but I am beginning to think this might be one of the best weapons to stress and the poop life throws at you. 

Also, in my reading I've come across Philippians 3:1 "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith" and Colossians 2:7 "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."  Okay, these verses say that being thankful is safeguards your heart and is a result of your roots being strong in God.  Thankfulness is like a ninja secret weapon.  Serious! 

Some of you may know of the "airport game", it's inception was when I was leading a team to Ukraine, when we arrived one of the students entry visa had problems and they chose to deport her.  It was after 36 hours of travel (of which I had slept only 4) and the time was 1 am when we arrived in the airport.  So I'm tired, a student is being deported (meaning they took her away and wouldn't let us have any contact whatsoever with her).  We (my wonderful assistant Derrick) and I sent the rest of the team to the place we were staying to sleep and the two of us waited at the airport as the contact (who I knew from a previous outreach) went to get someone who spoke better Russian.  During our wait time, I started telling Derrick how grateful I was that: I was awake, I had a clear head, I knew our contact, our contact was an American and could understand all I said, that I wasn't stressed, etc...Derrick and I "played" this game until the contact arrived with the translator.  (Long story short, it all worked out I flew Derrick back to Germany on the same flight as the student they were deporting and they arrived to meet us back a couple days later)  So the "airport game" is just going back and forth with the people you are around and saying what you are thankful for.  It is amazing that from gratitude flows...well more gratitude. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that God really has been showing me the power of thankfulness.  It's actually quite funny because I'm typing this as I have been sick for 3 days and I've actually been quite frustrated at the fact that I am sick.  So maybe, yes maybe I should play a little of the airport game now:

I'm thankful for...it does take a moment after you've been sitting in frustration for a few days, but I do have a lot to be thankful for.  Okay...

• The clothes I've gotten out of the boutique (give away) here at the base, I could not have afforded to buy all those things. 
• The winter boots my aunt gave me, they are toasty warm. 
• I have really wonderful friends, I realize even more so now that I have left the country, blessed I am - I really am grateful for all my friends. 
• I have this laptop to write this blog and keep in touch. 
• Skype, I'm thankful that people aren't as far away as they truly are. 
• Bubbles, I really am grateful for bubbly water, it really does make my heart happy (and zero calories, so I can save the calories to eat GOOD dark chocolate instead).
•  I am grateful for warm floors, the person who invented floor warmers is GENIUS (we have warm floors in the shower room here).
• I am grateful for creativity as seen in art/photos/writing/paintings and I know so many people who are wonderfully creative
• I'm grateful God loves me and that I know he loves me and can say that aloud - GOD LOVES ME!
• I'm grateful for painted toenails, there is just something FUN about them AND
• I'm grateful that simple delights really truly do delight my heart.  Therefore, I could go on and on, but I want you to want to read my blog, so I'll stop here.

My challenge to you.  For a whole week write (not just say) what you are grateful for.  Play the "airport game" and include others when possible.  See how God's secret weapon really does conquer so much. 

I'm Thankful!