So... I leave to head back to Michigan on Thursday!
And I realized over the weekend, that I hadn't blogged in a long time! Sorry!! The moments I wanted to come in my room and blog about an experience were usually the same moments I had to spend time with the students or do some random spontaneous activity!! And both of those options always won out over blogging!!
But I plan to blog about a lot of what God has done in Chi-town even after I return to Michigan. I actually think that may be better, because as God helps me process all He has taken me through, I will be able to share more of what I learned and how I grew! And that was the real purpose for this blog from the beginning!! :)
So, if you want, stay tuned!! My desire is to continue this blog into what God does in Michigan as well! Because sometimes we hype up so much one experience God blesses us with and we forget about all the great day-to-day experiences He blesses us with as well. Or at least, I know I do that! And I want to grow to see God more in the day-to-day stuff too!! So, all that being said, I am going to try my best to continue to blog!
I pray you are all doing well and feeling/seeing God's presence in your day-to-day experiences!!
Looking forward to coming home - but not so much looking forward to leaving Chi-town! But trusting God has a plan for the days ahead... can't wait to see what that is!! :)
Much love!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Let me attempt a recap
Hey y'all!
So, in thinking about what has happened since the last time I blogged... I don't know where to start to try and express all God has done!
The three days I was referring to last week was a poverty simulation we did Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There are so many details to explain that it's hard to know what to say. But to give you a small idea of what took place... we were invited to take part in a poverty simulation to help us better understand what it's like to live in poverty. And what we experienced is only a papercut of what it must really feel like to live in poverty or be homeless!! We had very clear, strict boundaries to make this experience as real as possible! Some of these boundaries included sleeping on cement without anything but what we may have found during the day to sleep with (boxes and newspapers), 1-3 items we carried with us everywhere, no money, so at many times no food, dumpster diving for dinner, trying to stay warm (because those days were cool), no facilities to shower or clean up, eventually all personal items taken away, very limited hours of sleep if any, being asked to leave businesses or denied service because of the way we looked... Those are some of the details of our poverty simulation.
One other staff and I decided to participate. All but two of the students chose to participate. But by the end, only half of us remained (because you had the option of dropping out at any time).
Intense doesn't even begin to touch that experience!! I haven't even begin to process my feelings, thoughts, the way God revealed Himself, the ways in which He stretched me....
So thankful, though, that God pushed me to do it and so thankful for ways He revealed Himself to me through it!! Sorry this is all so vague! God revealed to me this week that I need to allow Him to process this within me in HIS time, not mine! And my heart's desire is that this all takes root deep inside me - so I am not going to mess that up by rushing what God is doing!!
Isn't it amazing when God deepens your heart for what breaks His heart, it hurts and feels freeing at the same time?? If that makes any sense!!
I am excited to come home next week - I miss my friends and family! But I am struggling leaving all of this! Having such an intense, intimate experience led by the Holy Spirit... you just want more and you don't want it to end!! So, the challenge is how do I bring that home with me!?!? That's my prayer!
I wish I could write more - but trying to make sense of all I am feeling and all God is doing is proving to be quite difficult!
Stay tuned though! I pray God puts some of my feelings into words as the days go on!
Thanks again for all of your support, encouragement, prayer, and love!! I know that is one of the reasons I have been so blessed this summer!!
Much love!
So, in thinking about what has happened since the last time I blogged... I don't know where to start to try and express all God has done!
The three days I was referring to last week was a poverty simulation we did Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There are so many details to explain that it's hard to know what to say. But to give you a small idea of what took place... we were invited to take part in a poverty simulation to help us better understand what it's like to live in poverty. And what we experienced is only a papercut of what it must really feel like to live in poverty or be homeless!! We had very clear, strict boundaries to make this experience as real as possible! Some of these boundaries included sleeping on cement without anything but what we may have found during the day to sleep with (boxes and newspapers), 1-3 items we carried with us everywhere, no money, so at many times no food, dumpster diving for dinner, trying to stay warm (because those days were cool), no facilities to shower or clean up, eventually all personal items taken away, very limited hours of sleep if any, being asked to leave businesses or denied service because of the way we looked... Those are some of the details of our poverty simulation.
One other staff and I decided to participate. All but two of the students chose to participate. But by the end, only half of us remained (because you had the option of dropping out at any time).
Intense doesn't even begin to touch that experience!! I haven't even begin to process my feelings, thoughts, the way God revealed Himself, the ways in which He stretched me....
So thankful, though, that God pushed me to do it and so thankful for ways He revealed Himself to me through it!! Sorry this is all so vague! God revealed to me this week that I need to allow Him to process this within me in HIS time, not mine! And my heart's desire is that this all takes root deep inside me - so I am not going to mess that up by rushing what God is doing!!
Isn't it amazing when God deepens your heart for what breaks His heart, it hurts and feels freeing at the same time?? If that makes any sense!!
I am excited to come home next week - I miss my friends and family! But I am struggling leaving all of this! Having such an intense, intimate experience led by the Holy Spirit... you just want more and you don't want it to end!! So, the challenge is how do I bring that home with me!?!? That's my prayer!
I wish I could write more - but trying to make sense of all I am feeling and all God is doing is proving to be quite difficult!
Stay tuned though! I pray God puts some of my feelings into words as the days go on!
Thanks again for all of your support, encouragement, prayer, and love!! I know that is one of the reasons I have been so blessed this summer!!
Much love!
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