Monday, July 30, 2012

In Cologne

Or should I say... "Köln". I made it here Friday in a van full of luggage and Students For Christ leaders. We are here in Cologne for a SfC conference for 8 days. Over 13 different countries are here. It's so cool to interact with so many different cultures and hear so many different languages! It just reveals to me how god is so present all over Europe! It's opened my eyes to how blind I was to how God is working beyond America! He is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, never changing, powerful God with a heart that longs for EVERY nation.

I have been here on the service team for the conference. Serving as well as participating. Yesterday Jeanette and I spent 3 hours washing dishes from cake and coffee...needless to say we had some PRUNY hands. I also get to help with worship while I'm here, as well as participate in the classes and workshops. I'm learning so much, it's great!

Last night I helped with worship, and before the service, I opened up to psalms. I read this verse which was so prophetic over my life NOW, and the days to come:

"I will sing your praises among the nations.." -Psalm 57:9

Not only does this verse speak to my heart to go to all the world, but the fact that as we do worship at this conference, we are in the presence of 13 different nations! So awesome.

Throughout the course of this week, I am in a class called "Reaching Today's Student". It's especially awesome because i feel like I'm in bible college, but without the ridiculous tuition! Ha :) I am learning SO much for this next year at my University that I cannot wait to bring home. Jesus has used this trip so much for preparation for reaching the students on my campus. It makes me so thankful that I get the opportunity to do school at a secular public university!

One of the coolest things about this conference is the amount of young, TEXAN missionaries that are here! There are about 15 of them, all from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville TX. They are in their 20's, and have been sent all over the world from their Chi Alpha chapter. It has over 1200 students! Their focus is very heavy on "sending to the nations". They have gone in groups of 2-6 to different parts of the world: Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Norway, etc. its so cool to be able to see their love for god and their community. They are so focused on reaching the nations! The best part is that they get to do it together. It's really hard to do this kind of work alone! It's also SUCH an encouragement to see these people so after gods heart and His global purpose coming from a secular university! Just the encouragement I needed!!!

We still have 6 more days here at the conference and I'm super excited to see what else God has in store! Pray for god to speak clearly at this conference and to touch each nation!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tonight I've been packing because we are leaving tomorrow morning for the Connect conference with Students for Christ in Cologne Germany. Ive heard great things about Cologne and even better things about this conference. There will be students from all over Europe! It will definitely be another culture shock! I am working the conference, as well as participating in the conference! So I'm kinda volunteer/participant. It will be a good time to serve but also get filled up! Super excited!

Love you all. I'm heading to bed, we are leaving at 730am tomorrow morning! Love!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Reading List

While I've been here, Aaron has assigned a couple books for me to read. I love that I actually have time set aside to read these books! My schedule is usually so busy that I dont have the time to sit and enjoy a good book. Both of the books have taught me ALOT, and I reccomend them both.

Radical by David Platt

This book challenges the man-made gospel of the American church and encourages Christians to live an authentic life based around the gospel of Jesus. It leads us towards true discipleship. Everything in this book was GOOD, though very convicting. Its worth the read. 

Love Does by Bob Goff

I'm about halfway into this book and I LOVE IT. I love the style of writing. His personality definitely comes through in it and it has made me laugh and cry in every chapter. He just focuses on the simplicity of who Jesus is and who He is to us.


I highly reccomend both of them :)

Halfway


HELLO from Berlin! 
Yes, halfway into my month. Its gone by fairly fast, looking back, and the last couple weeks here are going to fly by. The first week I was here it rained everyday. No sun! I enjoyed the 50 degree weather, but I didnt know how much I missed the sun until it came out yesterday! Its perfect. The weather here is amazing, & I'm so glad I got to skip out on that miserable Texas heat. While you guys endure over 100 degrees, I'm here enjoying a high of 70 :). 

I must appologize again for my lack of consistancy here on this blog. I guess I just dont think about the few that actually do look forward to my updates. Please forgive me, and I'll try my best to post more frequently. Unfortunately, my phone camera is NOT working at all, so I'm unable to take pictures :( I have a big cannon camera, but its just heavy to carry around the city! Plus it kinda makes me feel too much like a tourist. 

Last friday night I went to something called BURN Berlin. It was a worship service that is put on I think once a month or so. Its run by the worhsip leader at Reset. It goes from 6pm to 6am in a more dangerous part of town...I say dangerous...its not really DANGEROUS. Its just not a place that I would go alone. It was so cool. Such a melting pot of people, just doing their own thing in this little room. 

Saturday was Serve The City Berlin, which is just an outreach that goes and does good things for the city! There was a group of about 20 of us. Half went to give thank you cards to the local police and firemen, and have of us went to go pick up trash in Mauer Park. It was great. There were alot of people from the US, alot from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and it was cool to be with people I'm familiar with. We got to meet locals too while out in the park. We got weird looks as well as 'thank you's". One group of people actually gave us CAKE to show their gratitude! It was great.

This week, we are looking at starting a project called "schön bis du". (Beautiful are you). Its a blog site that we direct people to through random acts of kindness or just conversation, celebrating the beauty in everyone, the good, the bad, the poor, the old, the young, etc. Its a 'just because' way to show the love of Jesus. For example, this week, we are going to be passing out chocolate, flowers, water, etc, and telling people "schon bis du". When they ask why, we will be SIMPLE with our love. No strings attached, we just want to love you! We will direct them towards the website, talking about this movement. In a section of the site will be the straight up gospel! Its a good, non threatening way to invite people to hear the gospel through pure LOVE! I'm really excited for this week!

Continue to pray for God to move. I've been seeing alot of hurt and brokeness. I want Jesus to touch the people here. They need him. And he wants them! I know though, that regardless of the dark people and places here, this is still God's country. These people are HIS, its just a matter of time until they realize it! He is relevant and still longing to be one with the hearts in Germany.


Photos in Berlin


Here are pictures that I have yet to post here...they are about a week old now. Sorry :)
THIS is the Berliner Dome. Its a lutheran church here in Berlin. Seriously, one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The inside was even more incredible, so detailed! There was a prayer night here that we went to...very different than what I'm used to. But cool experience!


^Pictures from the concert the first Saturday I was here. Reset Live. It was so awesome! I got to play about 5 of my own songs, and 5 covers! A really fun experience.

The buildings here are so fun! Different colors and styles, and although you cant see in this picture, theres almost always flowers hanging infront of the windows!! I love it!


Worship! It was acoustic with violin and bells :) Really cool. Sundays at reset are great. We have people from all over. Young & old, well off and people on the street, and people from all backgrounds! Its a coffee shop, so everyone sits at tables....free coffee, lattes, expresso, and breakfast! So cool.





Sundays here in Berlin, at a place called Mauer Park, there is a big flea market! Its AWESOME. Theres a ton of tents set up, food, drinks, people playing music, playing with their dogs, napping in the park, kids playing, and also a huge karaoke thing set up on a hill! Its so awesome! Not to mention, pretty much everyone there looks like they popped out of a Urban Outfitters catalogue! Definitely one of my favorite parts of Berlin so far!

Unfortunately thats the last of my pictures before my phone stopped working :( I'll try to take out the big camera and post more!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Updates...

Hello all! I'm sorry for my lack of posting during this trip. My days are busy and I hardly ever have a chance to get in wifi so I can post! I love Berlin but I miss everyone! I wish you could all be here alongside me. The reality of the darkness in Berlin is hitting me day by day. Its a tough place for ministry, but so worth it! The most effective way to evangelize here is relationally...and this takes TIME. Especially with Germans. Relationships in itself are hard to make with Germans, they are very reserved. But, to bring faith into the equation is a whole other battlefeild. By time, I mean months and years. Unfortunately, since I am only here for a month, its been really hard to find my place in the ministry here. I recognize the need for Jesus here, but I'm not sure how I fit into that equation when really the only way to make a lasting impact on someone is to build trust. I just dont have that time. Not only that, but the language barrier is taking a HUGE toll on me. Its really hard to feel the need to talk to people and not be able to.

For the past week or so, I've been just really asking God...WHY am I here? For what purpose have you brought me all the way to Berlin if I am not able to do what I THINK ministry should look like. He's teaching me...day by day. Its taking a while to understand, but I guess I'll just have to trust. In the mean time, I've been doing tasks & cleaning around the church I'm working with, and various outreaches.

-RESET Church put on something called "Reset Live" last Saturday. It was simply a concert, featuring three songwriters. Not worship, just music and people. Very casual. We brought people into a church without actually having church! It was a great way to get people in and comfortable with Reset. I played along with 2 other artists. Such a weird experience! I'm not used to "preforming" my music. But it was a great experience and I got to meet so many nice people.

-Coffee To Go: Tuesday some Students for Christ students went out to a university here in berlin to pass out free coffee, make conversation, and invite people to "The Living Room" (SfC's tuesday night gathering). It was an interesting experience because I couldnt really interact with people since I dont speak german...I mostly just observed, smiled, and poured some coffee, ha!

-A few days ago Aaron had an idea to bake for some of our elderly neighbors. Jeanette made brownies and we went and passed them out. Such a special way to make friendships.

-Monday night I went to a lifegroup with some girls from Students for Christ. They were So welcoming. We talked about the holy spirit. But, like I said before, I dont speak German, so I literally understood none of it :) hhaha. Its great to be around these girls though and see the way Jesus moves in different countries. They have the same questions, same concerns, same hardships that I face. Its so cool.

-Yesterday the other intern (Bart from New York) and I went to a place called Der Garden (The Garden). Its a local ministry here in Berlin. We met up with other people from a group called European Initiative. There were about 20 of us total. ALOT of us from Texas, which was so refreshing to hear our accent :). We did worship and prayer together for a while which was AWESOME. Then we went out and did worship in the city.

Tonight Aaron is having about 9 people over for dinner from his language class. This is a vital way that him and Jeanette do ministry: inviting people IN and building relationships. None of these people know Jesus. I'm really excited to meet all of them!

What I have noticed so far with this trip...is that it is nothing like what I had expected. It is a very humbling experience to be in a place that you dont speak the language. You really just have to observe, and thats exactly what I've been doing. Observing the way this ministry thing works as a lifestyle, observing the way Aaron & Jeanette treat those around them, observing the gospel and what it truly means to be "a disciple" and not just a "believer", observing myself in the fact that my way of ministry is not always gods way....I'm learning so much. SO much. Its hard but so good. And I've never felt so called to my home, to my city, to my university. I cant wait to apply all the things I'm observing and learning in a place where I can actually COMMUNICATE! Jesus is working in a way I've never seen him work. Pray with me that I can understand and be obedient to the things hes teaching me! Pray that the seeds I plant, though small and seemingly insignificant sometimes, would reap a harvest and would add to Aaron & Jeanettes ministry here.


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Day 3 in Berlin

Hello family & friends!

The reality that none of you are near is finally hitting me. Not a sad feeling, because I am used to independence, but its just a WEIRD feeling knowing that I am on the other side of the world from everyone. While we are getting ready for dinner, most of you are finishing up your breakfast! Such a weird thing. My mind & body were taking the toll on this jetlag thing. This morning, Jeanette & I went to the grocery store and I just could not stop yawning. On our way home, I started feeling a little queezy so I went to lay down but ended up taking a two hour nap! I guess its from my lack of sleep, but my body is feeling a little more under the weather than usual, & i've been waking up with a headache and jaw pain! So please pray for that! I want my health to stay the best that it can while I'm here!


Today I finally got back in the swing of things with my jesus time! You have no idea how great it felt to get back into that routine! It was so refreshing. It was also the first time I ventured out into Berlin on my own. Granted, the bakery I went to was a 5 minute walk from the apartment, it was still cool to go out on my own! Unfortunately, the lady at the bakery spoke zero English so I had to put a little of my german into practice, as well as ALOT of my body language & hand gestures, haha.

Jesus taught me alot today that I would love for you guys to pray over with me!

1. Germany NEEDS the Holy Spirit. Desperately. Theyve heard the whole Jesus thing, they know the "church", and dont really want anything to do with it. What we are missing here is a MOVE of the holy spirit, both supernaturally, and through the actions of the servants of Christ here. The church needs to BE the bride, through the empowering of the holy spirit.

2. Legalism is dead, grace is alive and inviting.

3. I've been so frustrated these past few days that I am unable to communicate when the german speaking people. I want so badly to be able to make conversation with the people I come in contact with as I take the bus or train, in coffee shops, on the streets, etc. Today I kinda realized that maybe this language block is so that I am able to actively be the hands and feet of Jesus, rather than through my words. People here acknowledge the fact that talk is cheap. They want to SEE that you live out the things that you believe-especially in the church. So just pray that I can find ways to show love instead of just talking about it!

Tonight we are going to a place called the Berliner Dom for a prayer night. Not really sure what to expect but I'm super excited!!! Here's
what it looks like:


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Finally in GERMANY!

Well, its so crazy that I'm FINALLY in Berlin! It feels like I've been waiting forever for this day to come and my adventure in Germany has finally begun! I will be updating daily (hopefully; or-as often as possible) here on my blog. Pictures, text updates, prayer requests, etc.

I had about a 11 hour flight from DFW to Frankfurt, Germany on Monday. You can imagine how uncomfortable I was! I had a 2 hour layover in Frankfurt. While I was there, I had to get my passport approved by some police ("politzi"), and they had some fun with me. They tried to tell me I need a visa (which I dont have to have one to stay 30 days), and that I couldnt enter the country without it. You have no idea how shaken up I was! NOT FUNNY! Trying to find my gate in a German airport was scary enough! Ha. But I found it and travelled one more hour into Berlin where Aaron, Jeanette, & their precious kids: Luke & Anna met me!

The first day (yesterday) I was  awake a total of like 30 hours! I was EXHAUSTED. That night, I got to visit RESET Church, which is the church I will be working with while I'm here. The college Students For Christ group met as well. I loved it! There was about 30 college students there. The night started up with a home cooked meal (sausage, potatoes, salad, & coffee), worship, a message, and then hang out time. Everyone was SO nice. I was amazed at how welcoming this group was! So many of them spoke fluent english. And not many people are actually from Berlin. Almost everyone is from somewhere around the world. In this college group alone I met people from Madagascar, Ukraine, England, etc. It sure did make me feel SMALL!

Today Jeanette took me out to see the tourist-y parts of Berlin: The Brandeburg Gate, The Reichstag, Potzdamer Platz (the 'timesquare' of Berlin: built 1990 & after), etc, and a Holocaust Memorial Museam.



 ^Berlin has lots of flower shops!

 ^There are also alot of street musicians! Today I saw quite a few in the train station.




^^ These horizontal stones trails all along the city to show where the Berlin wall used to be! So much history here!
 ^The Reichstag: the current, rebuilt parliament building. Formerly, it was where the German Parliament was housed. To gain power, Hitler burned it down in 1933. Only the 4 pillars remained.


^Brandenburg Gate: It is the only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered. So beautiful in person! 
Memorial to the Murdered Jews...very somber piece but I loved it. 


After our day's events, we had Bart (another polish intern @ SfC from New York) over for dinner, and then went out for gelato. I had kiwi :). We came home and all talked for a while about Jesus and what he's wanting to do with not only the Christ followers and church in Berlin, but back at home. 

I am so excited about whats going on here & cant wait to continue to update here on my blog. 
Its 11:30pm here so I should probably get ready for bed.
Pray for this ministry & for the city of Berlin!!! Love to all x

Monday, June 4, 2012

Thought: More of them..

Its been a while since my last post. My minds racing so I just thought I'd document some thoughts

1. God is so good. So so so good. I'm super thankful his ways are so much different than ours. What a hopeless place the world would be if he was like us. Its amazing to think that he literally does everything. If I try to take over, i just mess it up. Thankful that he works through us and for us.

2. I leave for camp tomorrow. I am a cabin leader for 7th grade girls. over 250 kids are attending this camp and I'm SUPER expectant for Jesus to heal people, break chains, bring his presence, and flood the place with heaven. Please be praying for these kids to EXPERIENCE Jesus...that faith would become real in their lives.

3. Ladies....you deserve so much more than a "good guy". So much more than a "good guy" who goes to church. You deserve a servant, a slave of Christ, a MAN completely sold out to Gods calling. You deserve a guy thats NOT always going to give you what you want because he's in tune enough with the holy spirit to know whats glorifying and whats not. You deserve a leader. Stop settling. Stop "waiting" for him to change. Not your job to change him, to be his crutch, to "keep him accountable in the faith". Be patient. Be focused.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

A Very Exciting Day

Today is a very exciting day because my ONE EP finally released on iTunes! You can purchase it by clicking HERE. I'm super excited about this album. This whole process has been SUCH a testimony of Gods faithfulness. I would have NEVER dreamed that anything I wrote or sang would be on iTunes. Its surreal, and I seriously still feel so inadequate! Such a humbling process to go through and its been so awesome the way Jesus has truly used the BODY to be his hands and feet. So great. ANYWAYS, I'd love it if you bought my EP and helped me get to Germany this summer to do mission work! All the songs (minus one hymn) are originals! Let me know what you think and please spread the word!

:)

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Lets Be Real Here....




Lets be real: trying to raise money for my mission trip to Germany this summer has to be one of the most stressful things I've ever had to do. Not stressful in the since that I have ALOT of things to do, stressful in the sense that everything is completely out of my hands.

I sent out over 30 support letters this past week, and have only heard back from two people. It scares me. It really does.

I distributed my EP a couple weeks ago, and I am not told when it will be up on itunes. They said it could be anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. So I have to check back every day. What if it doesnt get up in time for me to raise enough money?

I set my EP at $10, or so I thought. On my CDbaby account, it sells for $10. But it just released on amazon today....selling for $4.95. WHAT? Seriously....WHAT???? Its one of those things that theres literally nothing I can do. This means I'll get half the profit I thought I would from my EPs.

I literally have been worrying about finances over the past few weeks. Where is this money gonna come from? Will I have enough? WHY DOES EVERYTHING SEEM TO BE GOING WRONG? All these worries, dominating my thoughts. I dont want money to dominate my thoughts. Its so frustrating because I KNOW Jesus is gonna come through. I've seen him be faithful way too many times to expect him not to be. Besides, his faithfulness in MY life doesnt determine the FACT that hes faithful.

Ah, all in all. I just need some prayer. Honestly, just pray for provision and for my trust in him to grow exponentially in this season.


My EP is out on Amazon  and CDbaby now. It will be up on iTunes in the next few days (hopefully).


Sunday, May 13, 2012

A Belated Birthday

My best friend Kristie's birthday was this past monday, but unfortunately, I wasnt home to celebrate. So this past friday, we had a little belated birthday outing. Me Han & K went to Starbucks happy hour (non fat white chocolate mocha frap with one pump raspberry...I die) and gave her gifts. Then we headed over to downtown frisco to do some thrifting. We went to a place called the Frisco Mercantile, which I had NEVER even heard of but its seriously like an indoor trade days! Its awesome & we found some steals. Then we went to chilis and had a little surprise dinner for her with a bunch of our friends. It was a fun day.






My finds: 
Pretty little book: $2
Hand Embroidered Pillow: $8



Thursday, May 10, 2012

Film//


About a month ago, I was given a Holga 135mm camera from my friend and talented photographer/ videographer/media-guru/sometimes drummer, Jacob Norris. I had some fun with a roll of film for the past few weeks and just got the photos developed tonight. I didnt really know what to expect with these, but I definitely was not amazed with the results. I'm hoping the more I use it and learn what works best, the better the photos will come out. Some of the pictures were just SO blurry, I cant imagine thats how they are supposed to look. All in all though, theyre a fun mix up from a digital camera. Here are a few:









Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Last minute cramming...

Please excuse the lack of blog posts this week! Its FINALS week and I'm getting in some last minute studying tonight before my last final tomorrow morning. And guess what....its my LAST math test EVER! Great feeling...although I kinda enjoyed math. So, tomorrow I'll be heading home to the great state of Texas! I'm super excited, but I must say, I'm gonna miss Fayetteville this summer. (It kinda makes me want to jump for joy that I am able to say that...its been a tough year here). Having an apartment and living with awesome girls is making everything so FUN! Anyways, just wanted to post SOMETHING since my blog has been a little dead lately. Next time I post I will offically be a sophomore in college! When did I grow up?


P.S. If you noticed, I have added a "donate" button on the top left hand corner of my page. This is for my month long mission trip to Germany this summer. You can read more about it here. I have to raise $2500 so anything and everything is appreiciated!!!!


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Anticipation//

Ever had one of those moments where your just too excited to do ANYTHING but be excited?! I just now had one of those moments. I was just sent a few of the final mixes off my upcoming "ONE" EP! Um, can you say GREAT DAY? I'm just so excited. I cant believe how this is all coming together.

For those of you who dont know, I am going to Germany this summer to serve alongside missionary Aaron Alexander (my very first youth pastor!) through an organization called Students For Christ in Berlin. We will be working with University students, sharing Christ, showing love. Additionally, we will be helping local church, RESET. I'm going for a month to serve in whatever way I can. Small groups, bible studies, loving people in the city, worship, or even just babysitting Aaron's kids. WHATEVER I can do. When I considered going about 6 months ago, the Lord put on my heart to use my music to get me there. I didnt really know how I'd do that. But then, after some prayer I knew he was calling me to use my original music, my voice, my guitar, and record and sell an album. WHAT?? God!! No! I'm such an amateur! Ah, we all know he uses the least likely. I'm so humbled. And its amazing to see the Lords faithfulness come to pass. He has put this whole thing together before my eyes through the hands of his people. Its so awesome.

The EP is called "ONE". I heard that word when Jesus lead me to do this EP. It represents the gospel and how we are ONE, we are his bride, we are the same spirit, we are His. No more division, no more rituals or law to make us 'clean' and 'worthy' to be in his presence, we are ONE. Always, constantly in him, he in us. This is a truth that Germany NEEDS to hear. That legalism is DEAD and MERCY is alive!

This EP will be releasing on iTunes in the next week, so keep your eyes open as I update here on my blog! All funds raised through this EP will go directly to sending me to Germany, and any extra will go to supporting Aaron & his family. Stay posted for more information on this EP, as well as what I'll be doing there, details of the trip, background and process of the songs, and ways you can help!


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Hannahs Sr Pictures- Sneak Peak!

A few months ago, Hannah had asked me to take her senior pictures! Uh..YES? So, this past weekend when she came up to visit, we put a couple outfits together and went out to shoot! Living on campus, I hardly get to see all the natural beauty Arkansas has to offer. So, we went out into the countryside of Arkansas and found some pretty beautiful spots. It was so much fun shooting with one of my very best friends. I enjoyed every moment! Here are some of my favorite shots:






Taking pictures is such a fun thing. I love it. If any of you are into this stuff too, feel free to give me some tips or constructive criticism!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

ON MY PLAYLIST//06

ASCEND THE HILL//
Truly an incredible band. Their music transforms the classics, transforms hearts, and seriously transforms the atmosphere & brings you to the throne. I love their simplicity and their sound. 


my life is not my own, its yours.



Addicted To Grace


Saw these words today and fell in love. Yes. Beautifully said.