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!

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!

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!