Awesome News and More of the Haps

Well, it's official: I have a place to live!!!!! If you are at all confused about this, let me explain. For the last few months I have been trying to find housing in the Wheaton area, but have not really had much luck because I've wanted to live with a family so I could save my money. Several people have helped a ton, specifically Matt and Kelly Erickson and Mickie Keil, for they had contacts in the area. I am grateful for your help. I got an email on Wednesday morning from an amazing woman named Maggie Rowe, telling me she had found a place. Her husband is the pastor of a church called First Baptist in Wheaton and they are long time friends of the Keil family. Maggie had asked a couple, Rich and Barb Kolton, about a month and a half ago if they would be interested in housing me, but they told her it would be too soon after their son's death, who would be about my age. However, on Wednesday morning, Barb she called Wednesday morning to say that God has been at work, and they want to have me if I didn't yet have a place.

Amazing!!!! I, and so many others, have been praying for months in confidence that God would provide a place and He has. And not just a place, but a family. They have a college aged daughter who attend Northwestern in Minnesota who knows Lauren quite well, and the best part, they have a DOG!!!! I am excited. Thank you so much for all of you that were so diligently praying. God is so good.

On a different note, yesterday was my day off, which was great to have. Lauren and Cherilyn took the day and spent it at the mall, getting pedicures, shopping, and refueling their girly styles. I'm glad they got to spend it together and have such a fun time. They invited me to join them, but I had to decline. Tempting, but no. I had other plans. I hopped back in the van after dropping them off and headed to the National Civil Rights Museum, located several blocks away from Beale St. in downtown Memphis. The museum is actually on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was a moving experience to say the least. I stood in front of the motel, quietly conversing with God, wondering why it was that He allowed a man like this to die so young. I know his death helped to spread the movement, but is a martyr always needed to further the cause? Is blood always a requirement for change? Yes. It was. But I wish I could have seen Dr. King speak, stood there as he spread his words of love to a hate filled world, or marched through the streets with him as sweat poured down my face and voices of death screamed obscenities at us. I wish I could have done these acts of great love, for in that man, through his actions, the presence of Christ was so clear. Dr. King truly understood Christ's call for us to love our enemies, for he knew that in a response filled with violence and hate, nothing good would be accomplished. The streets of Memphis and every other large urban space in America is filled with gangs like the Bloods and the Crips, direct descendants of movements like the Black Panthers. They are polluting our youth and tearing our society apart from within. It is always easier to hate. It is always easier to throw a punch than lend a hand. But it is never better. Dr. King knew this. He payed for it with his life. But so did Jesus. Dr. King knew this as well. And someday I'll get to stand alongside him and we will share meals and laugh and love. And that is better than anything.

Louisiana Missions Part 2

Well, the week in Louisiana is over and I'm back in Memphis now, but that week is still very much in my mind. I had such a dynamic time with those students and I grew a lot. I was forced to question myself on a regular basis, sometimes for the good and at times, for the bad. In the end, it confirmed what I already knew: I have a ton to learn about myself and about God too. My fraility spoke so loudly to me this week, screaming messages that pierced my heart with deadly arrows, yet it pointed me to Christ in a very real way and I'm glad it did. I know I don't know much, for I am still very young, yet I still need to have a confidence that can not shatter easily just because one person may not appreciate my leading style. I know God has placed me in this role for a reason and plans on using me in big ways, that is, if I move out of the way and let Him lead for me.
On a lighter note, the week ended with a ton of fun. My team was able to accomplish much in John Paul's kitchen and we grew quite close to him. I can honestly say I love that man. I never heard him complain. Sure, he shared his struggles with me, but it was never in a cursing tongue. Everything I saw come out of him brought glory to God and I admired him greatly for it. On Thursday night JP celebrated all the volunteer teams by having a shrimp boil in his backyard. It was amazing! Fresh shrimp, fresh crab, gumbo, jambalaya, potatoes, soup, and more. The food was spectacular, and a truly southern experience. My kitchen team also celebrated JP as well. Towards the end, we surrounded him and presented him with his very own encouragement bead necklace. For encouragement beads, LeaderTreks uses four colors for different traits seen in a person: green is for compassion, blue is for risk taking, red is for leadership, and white is for service. Each person can give one bead and when they do it, they must speak to the person receiving it and tell them why they are giving them that bead. We gave JP a necklace with all four colors on it and spoke about why he got each one. It touched him deeply, for he had tears welling up in his eyes. As we walked out, one of the students saw JP turn towards his kitchen and in a slow movement, tie the cord around his neck. Meaningful indeed.

On Friday night we drove into New Orleans for a little fun and to look at the lasting effects of the hurricane on this city. After almost two years trash heaps still cover street corners with pieces of houses and articles of clothing long forgotten. It is depressing to see, but there is still hope. We went for dinner at Bubba Gump Steakhouse and there met two women from the city who have having dinner as well. When several girls in our trip told them why we were down here, they started crying and simply hugged the girls, thanking them over and over again for what we were doing. It was a truly touching moment. And then we had a ton of fun eating. And it was good. More to come.
On Saturday, Lauren, Cherilyn, and I drove back to Memphis. Two more weeks here. All for now.

Louisiana Missions

Wow! What a crazy time it's been. The first trip in Memphis ended on Saturday morning as I watched the slightly dazed middle schoolers climb into their vans and head back to Houston. They were an awesome group to start off with and had an absolutely amazing youth leader, Eric Hill. I'm hoping I get to work with him again some time. I enjoyed his extreme depth and focus, and at the same time held an amazing sense of humor that meshed so well with me. He kept a blog of the week that students could write on, so if you want to check it out, it's http://web.mac.com/fsmstudents

It has some amazing comments from students and the staff about personal growth and challenges from God in their lives.

As soon as the vans pulled away, Lauren, Cherilyn, and I packed up our belongings, loaded into our own van, and then drove down to Lousiana to get ready for a new team. We hooked up with three other LeaderTreks staff members: Amy, a full time staff member; Evan, a summer intern from Cedarville college; and Morgan Jane, a summer intern from Rhodes college. Amy is the official leader, but her and Lauren have been sharing teaching times. This trip kicked off it's start on Sunday night as our high school team from Bloominton, IL pulled into our basecamp. Frank, their youth pastor, is a former staff member from LT and knew his team would grow and prosper from these trips. His students have already been challenged to step up a lot and have pulled together more and more.

The last two days I've been leading a small team as we remodel a kitchen in an apartment unit used by our main contact in the area, John Paul. Not real sure of JP's last name, but that's okay, because everyone in the area just knows him as John Paul. This man is amazing! I've been so impressed with his knowledge of the area, his wit, and his unending grace when it comes to working with the teams and the people in the area. JP works with the United Methodist Church's Disaster Relief team and is the sole staff member here in Dulac, Louisiana. He's running on more cylinders than he has and will not stop. I'm a bit concerned for him as he's nearing the point of burn out. They have him coordinating all the volunteer teams in the area, working 7 days a week, cooking for the teams, cleaning their bunk houses, and he's away from his wife, who lives in South Carolina. I have never gained so much respect for one man in so short a time period. He loves these people with a passionate heart of service that is only from God, for no mere man can give this much on his own. I have been burdened by his story and hurt for him today. I know his treasure in heaven will be great, for he is a true example of a man who is forsaking all earthly riches for the good of the kingdom.

I'll leave it here for now and try to update it again this week. I love you all.

JP took us for a ride in his 64' Ford Galaxy.

Awesome ride, but we ran into a little trouble.

Faithbridge Methodist Church, Memphis

Well, we've been in Memphis since last Friday and it has already taught me a lot. Going into the trip I knew sort of what to expect, yet I have found myself surprised around every turn. I've been amazed with how tired I am throughout the day. I suppose part of this is me being out of shape, but a big part is due to the constant stimulation going through me throughout the day. We're constantly moving and working to make sure not only the students on our trip are doing well, but also the children we are working with in the Vacation Bible School program. Working with City Builders has been awesome. Victoria, the director, has a heart of gold for these kids and has put her life into them for 14 years. So many of these kids owe their lives to her, as she has pulled them off the streets, tutored them, helped them graduate and go onto college, and most importantly, pointed them to God. She's so well respected in the community that she has received multiple grants and has provided an amazing center for these kids. They moved into an old elementary school a year ago and now they have their own gym, craft room, big screen tv's, a computer lab with top of the line computers, a cafeteria, and more. It's amazinig to be a part of this.

Since Sunday of this last week, we've had a junior high youth group from Faithbridge Methodist Church in Houston, Texas with us. 18 students and 4 adults brought with them a passion for serving not commonly seen in junior high kids. And we needed it. The first night our group was faced with the challenge of planning an entire VBS for over 40 children for the entire week. Normally, a Level 1 trip, which this is, is not in charge of VBS, but instead works alongside a ministry. But due to miscommunication from some of our hosts here, we were told we needed to run the entire thing. Instead of complaining or wondering how we would get it all done, the students stepped up right away and ran into the challenge. They immediately began planning the whole program, with a theme of Heroes. They came up with Bible heros for each day, stories to go with it, games, songs to sing with the kids, and even crafts. Each kid that comes this week will walk away with a complete set of the armor of God to protect them from the evil one. Amazing!!

Each day the students have been doing work projects in the afternoon to help City Builders continue to refurbish their building. The students have puts their whole hearts into everything, whether it's painting, organizing, or building shelves in a supply room. Today we went over to build a deck for a woman whose children have all come through City Builders. It's rained pretty hard here the last two days, so we haven't gone outside much, but we got to work on the deck and accomplished much. Working with junior high students can at times be agonizing, for their speed at such things as pounding a nail is slightly slower than that of a high schooler. But that's all part of the process of absorbing wisdom and knowledge, so I step back and let the kids run the site. So while we weren't able to get as much done on the deck as I may have hoped in the beginning of the week, these students kicked some butt and accomplished much. I was really proud of them, and we had some fun while we were at it.

I've been blessed so much to work with these unbelievable students, their leaders, and my fellow LeaderTreks staff. They've been encouraging, challenging, and supportive as I've been introduced to this awesome program I'm now a part of. I couldn't be happier right now. Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming. I love you all.

Dan