My first month or so...

First off, I would like to thank all of you who have supported me over the last month through prayer and friendship. I know that the first leg of my journey wouldn’t have been the same without your kindness and God’s provision. Secondly, I want to thank you for looking at my new blog. I haven’t written a blog in years…not since they were super popular…aka pre-facebook. I have decided to write this blog in response to a request by a friend, but also as a way to keep in touch with friends and family at home. Rather than send numerous emails, which are infinitely more personal, but results in forgetting who I told what, I figured a blog is the easiest way to get inform people of what the Lord is doing in my life. (Not that I dislike personal emails or facebook messages, please keep sending those to me!! I love hearing from you! J ) I also realize that a number of the people who have supported me through prayer are friends of my mom, so as a way to thank you, I thought I would give you a more direct link to the goings on of my life.

Okay, my thoughts on JAMM (Justice, Arts, Media, and Music) DTS thus far… I am loving every minute. Everyday, it seems like the Lord is opening my eyes to something new, and yes, it can be tiring, emotionally draining, and physically exhausting, but I know in the long run that I was made for more. The Lord asks us to take up our cross everyday, but do we really? I know that I haven’t in the past. I know that it is so easy for me to get wrapped up in my own world and forget those who are hurting all around me. This DTS is definitely not allowing me to get comfortable.

I know you are all dying to know… I have only 3 roommates right now (it is a long story of swapping rooms and ‘Survivor’ like voting off of the island, but we made it to the room upstairs.) The girl I share a room with, Jessie, is awesome. She is such a sweetheart, and I don’t think the Lord could have chosen a roommate for me that would have been more similar…she doesn’t even hear my alarm clock go off in the morning anymore! We’ve had some interesting bonding experiences, such as our apple peeling parties and bagel making exploits! Yes, when we are bored, we invite people over and bake….it should be interesting to see what else this girl comes up with to make. However, I am learning a lot!

There are 15 other DTSers here from various countries around the world, I believe we have 2 Germans, 5 Canadians, 3 Americans (including me), 2 Koreans, an Australian, a New Zealander, and a guy from Papua New Guinea…please don’t do the math, I think I forgot someone… It seems like a very interesting group, and I have been told that we are one of the strangest groups that has ever come. However, thus far, we have all been very honest about our own personal struggles, and bonding is definitely happening, even if that means that we walk to the nearest McDonald’s, which is a good 20 minute walk. We walk everywhere, including school.

We have had some interesting experiences, such as touring downtown Toronto (I live just outside of Toronto) with Wes, one of our staffers. We were asked to look at Toronto and specifically talk to the homeless men and women in the area. I have never noticed how many men and women live in poverty or homelessness within a downtown area, and it makes me realize how many more people must live in every metropolitan area without a roof over their heads. Wes emphasized the fact that the men and women who are homeless are not some subgroup of humans, they are human beings just like you or me. They appreciate when anyone says ‘Hello’ to them and cares enough to stop by. It made me aware of how many time I have walked past a homeless person and didn’t give them a second thought. So, Wes asked us to walk up to homeless people, talk to them, engage them in conversation and genuinely care about them.

Even yesterday, we were working at Greenhaven Farm, which is owned and operated as a non-profit for individuals in need of housing and love. I was most definitely not comfortable…15 DTSers, plus 5 staff, plus the 3 people who live there on a regular basis, results in a lot of togetherness! In addition, we only had 2 bathrooms (I have been told this is great practice for outreach…yikes!!). We were asked to do various chores, such as move wood, till the garden, weed, and spread manure in the field…do you want to guess which one I ended up doing? If you guessed ‘spreading manure in the field,’ you were correct! I think I mainly volunteered because I got to have the opportunity to drive a tractor, where else are you going to get the opportunity to drive a tractor?! I realize that I live in Minnesota, but I am a city girl, not a cow girl. Anyway, we were told to shovel the manure into a trailer; then, we had to climb into the trailer (manure and all) and shovel it onto the field. Thank the Lord for gloves and rubber boots! I will never complain about changing a diaper ever again! Still, I think our team had the most fun. We were singing songs and laughing the entire time. I don’t think anyone has ever had that much fun with that much dirt EVER! My point is, I wasn’t comfortable at all, especially the day after. It was gross, but I knew that God wasn’t asking me to do something that I felt comfortable doing. He was asking me to step outside my little bubble and do something that no one else wanted to do. Then, the Lord made it fun. I would do it again….maybe. J

I guess my point in this post is the fact that I feel like the Lord is calling me to live a life that is less ‘comfortable.’ A life that spurs me toward getting to know more people, doing the jobs that aren’t preferable, and creating friendships with people I wouldn’t ever talk to normally. Safety is awesome, but when it comes between me and His Kingdom, it is a serious waste of my time.

Anyway, let me know what questions you may have for me, and always remember, I love hearing from you! Blessings to all of you!