February 3, 2011
During morning Devos at Dream Center, one of the pastors prayed over everyone individually. He prayed for whatever was laid on his heart for that person and for them to have God's blessing. When he came to pray for me he said that he saw that God sees me as a precious diamond, and I need to use the gifts he has given me. It was something that I needed to hear! Today was focused on taking care of the homeless and needy. We set up the Dream Center for an early dinner to be handed out to the homeless, and we prepared a short service for them. One of our adult leaders, Randy, spoke about Jeremiah 29:11 and a group of us did a short human video about worship. We fed the homeless and gave them the compassion bags that we had previously made. We also handed out hot chocolate because the weather has been colder than they are used to. I got a chance to talk to some of the people and the best part was seeing them laugh, and be joyful even though they have nothing. It was very humbling. After it got dark, we separated into our groups and went to different "sites" where we would go TO the homeless instead of them coming to us. I didn't experience as much as the others in my team did, but one story that was shared was that there was a woman there who was possessed by three demons. Our people couldn't pray over her, because she refused, and so they walked across the street and prayed for her from a distance. One student said that it really made him angry to see this woman being possessed and not wanting to let go, and letting Satan ruin her life. He then realized that that is how God sees us when we don't let go of our sins or our fears. We let those things ruin our lives! There wasn't a lot of big spiritual things that happened to me today, but I felt God was telling me I needed to let others stand up, and I needed to rest in his peace and comfort. It was a very good day for me. I am really glad I am on this trip! Praying for people at home! I feel so much support here in my team but also at home! Love all of you guys!!!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What happens in Vegas...doesn't stay in Vegas: Day #3 and #4
Sorry that I was unable to write a blog yesterday, I know you all are anxious to hear what happened, so...here it is.
February 1, 2011
During the morning alone time with God, I wasn't feeling a word from God as strongly as the night before, but there was a song playing in the background, called Hosanna, and the line that stuck out to me the most was "I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith, with selfless faith." I flipped through my Bible and kept seeing words like selfless and hope (Lamentations 3:19-27 stuck out the most). We went to devotionals and then talked about humility, which really tied into what I kept hearing from God. Matthew 5:5 says that "Blessed are the humble for they will inherit the whole earth." Luke 14:11 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Afterwards we talked about Boldness...which seems to be the theme of our trip. One thing that stuck out to me was "God has called us to be heroes for our generation! Our decision to not be bold will rob them of something special-we rob them of God's love." ~Coach Lou. After lunch my team went to the Dream Center warehouse and the girls all put together "compassion bags" which are gallon size bags filled with neccessary toiletries like deodarant and shampoo. The compassion bags are later handed out to people in need. At the warehouse, they have tons of furniture and stuff that is given out for free to the needy. People fill out paperwork (to make sure they are legitimately in need) and they get to come in and have a free-for-all. All of the furniture was disorganized, so we rearranged it, and also got to help someone pick out things for their home. It was a very cool experience to physically hand someone neccessities and have them be genuinely greatful. We went to the hotel and got extra rest time because one of our teammates was very sick and needed rest. So, some of us decided it would be a good time to take advantage of the hottub! haha, it was relaxing! Then we went to dinner and back to the Dream Center. At the Dream Center, we had the youth service, and I was prayed over for boldness. The girl praying for me said she could feel the Holy Spirit in me and that I have what it takes to be a true leader, but I have been hiding that. So, God gave me more confidence in who I am and also he gave me peace.
February 2, 2011
In morning devotions we talked about worship. Worship isn't something you do every once in a while, or just on Sundays, It's a lifestyle. We are supposed to be living like God's kingdom is here right now! The object and intensity of your worship will define your life! One question that we talked about that really hit me was: How is your presense making an impact? After devos, the rest of the day was preparing for what's called "Metro kids" which is where we go to these different sites and get as many local kids together and do a Bible service for them. Even though the whole team went together, we took turns running the service in our two separate groups. My group was the first to go. We each had a job. My job was to welcome everyone, and that was interesting to try to accomplish in the freezing weather. We were in a really bad neighborhood, but a lot of kids actually came! Afterwards we went back to the Dream Center and we talked about what happened. That's when they told us that we actually were just in the third worst neighborhood in the US! I realized that I shouldn't be in one of the worst streets to want to reach out to others, I should want that all the time! We ended up having the second Metro kids be at the Dream Center because it was so cold. They needed help in the nursery at the church, so I volunteered! It was really cool to do, since that is something I do regularly at my home church! After the service, they prayed over all of our team. The pastor there told me that he can see God's presense in me and that I can help others feel his presense just by my presense. He also told me that I have a gift from God of seeing people with God's heart and being able to feel their pain, even though I don't go through it. He said that I can use that to help people get over wounds and for them to have God's joy instead! It was a really emotional night for everyone! Can't wait to see what else is coming!
February 1, 2011
During the morning alone time with God, I wasn't feeling a word from God as strongly as the night before, but there was a song playing in the background, called Hosanna, and the line that stuck out to me the most was "I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith, with selfless faith." I flipped through my Bible and kept seeing words like selfless and hope (Lamentations 3:19-27 stuck out the most). We went to devotionals and then talked about humility, which really tied into what I kept hearing from God. Matthew 5:5 says that "Blessed are the humble for they will inherit the whole earth." Luke 14:11 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Afterwards we talked about Boldness...which seems to be the theme of our trip. One thing that stuck out to me was "God has called us to be heroes for our generation! Our decision to not be bold will rob them of something special-we rob them of God's love." ~Coach Lou. After lunch my team went to the Dream Center warehouse and the girls all put together "compassion bags" which are gallon size bags filled with neccessary toiletries like deodarant and shampoo. The compassion bags are later handed out to people in need. At the warehouse, they have tons of furniture and stuff that is given out for free to the needy. People fill out paperwork (to make sure they are legitimately in need) and they get to come in and have a free-for-all. All of the furniture was disorganized, so we rearranged it, and also got to help someone pick out things for their home. It was a very cool experience to physically hand someone neccessities and have them be genuinely greatful. We went to the hotel and got extra rest time because one of our teammates was very sick and needed rest. So, some of us decided it would be a good time to take advantage of the hottub! haha, it was relaxing! Then we went to dinner and back to the Dream Center. At the Dream Center, we had the youth service, and I was prayed over for boldness. The girl praying for me said she could feel the Holy Spirit in me and that I have what it takes to be a true leader, but I have been hiding that. So, God gave me more confidence in who I am and also he gave me peace.
February 2, 2011
In morning devotions we talked about worship. Worship isn't something you do every once in a while, or just on Sundays, It's a lifestyle. We are supposed to be living like God's kingdom is here right now! The object and intensity of your worship will define your life! One question that we talked about that really hit me was: How is your presense making an impact? After devos, the rest of the day was preparing for what's called "Metro kids" which is where we go to these different sites and get as many local kids together and do a Bible service for them. Even though the whole team went together, we took turns running the service in our two separate groups. My group was the first to go. We each had a job. My job was to welcome everyone, and that was interesting to try to accomplish in the freezing weather. We were in a really bad neighborhood, but a lot of kids actually came! Afterwards we went back to the Dream Center and we talked about what happened. That's when they told us that we actually were just in the third worst neighborhood in the US! I realized that I shouldn't be in one of the worst streets to want to reach out to others, I should want that all the time! We ended up having the second Metro kids be at the Dream Center because it was so cold. They needed help in the nursery at the church, so I volunteered! It was really cool to do, since that is something I do regularly at my home church! After the service, they prayed over all of our team. The pastor there told me that he can see God's presense in me and that I can help others feel his presense just by my presense. He also told me that I have a gift from God of seeing people with God's heart and being able to feel their pain, even though I don't go through it. He said that I can use that to help people get over wounds and for them to have God's joy instead! It was a really emotional night for everyone! Can't wait to see what else is coming!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What happens in Vegas...doesn't stay in Vegas: Day #2
January 31,2011
We started out the day with our lovely continental breakfast, and many people wondering what was in store for us for the day. We had no idea what to expect. Around 9am we got into "the crack van" and went to The Dream Center. We started out with a sermon and prayer. We talked about our destiny and how we have to choose to follow God's plan in God's timing-not our own. The pastor had us go to our own areas and have alone time with God. I really enjoyed this. I was able to listen to what God had to say to me, instead of doing all the talking. I was happy with that, but I felt that God wanted to say something to me to say to the team. I was having some doubts about how much of an impact that we could make in such a bad place. God answered me by telling me Jeremiah 33, which talks about the promise of Restoration! One of the verses says "And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants....I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me and they will never leave me." (verses 36-41) God promises that He will be the desire of the people, no matter what city, or nation. Then I STILL felt that there was something more. I opened up my heart and the Holy Spirit started pouring more into me to tell the others, so I wrote it all down in the form of a letter. I was too nervous to tell anyone though, so I kept it to myself.
We ended the alone time and split into two groups. One group went to a warehouse that used to be a furniture factory, that is a part of the Dream Center. The other group stayed at the Dream Center and painted the kitchen/foyer area. (I was a part of the painting group, so, I won't have stories about the warehouse until tomorrow.) We had a lot of fun painting, and bonding with each other. There was only one roll of tape so we had to be careful painting in some areas that couldn't be taped off. It was a lot of work, but we got it done, and we had a lot of fun! The other team came back and we loaded up in the van and decided it would be a cool experience to go to the pawn shop that is on the TV show "Pawn Stars". We went BACK to in-n-out burger AGAIN! Then we had some down time at the hotel before we went to Fremont. It is similar to the main strip, just a little more clean. It was a...neat experience for us first timers. They were VERY careful since there are more girls than guys, so, Mrs. Lidyard made the guys our "body guards". It was an eye opening experience seeing the more gruesome stuff, but it was also cool to see people using their talents. We saw this guy who used spray paint to make art, but it didn't look like the spray paint we are used to seeing on the side of buildings, it was actual art! I couldn't have painted anything as nearly as beautiful as he did, even with regular paints!
After that we went back to the hotel and had our nightly meeting. I still kept thinking about the letter from God to our team that I had in my journal. I finally decided to share that and Jeremiah 33 with the group and people were really touched! It was definitely God, not me! Everyone felt so encouraged, and we had only been here for 24 hours! We all know now that this trip is going to be even greater than we imagined! A lot more people shared with the group, and it was one of the best experiences I have had in a group setting like that! I feel like this letter isn't just for our team out in Vegas, but also our team at home!!! So, here it is (and remember, it has nothing to do with me, this is God!) :
"My sons and daughters,
You are here for a purpose! You are not here to be silent! I have already given you this city! Some of you doubt what I have already begun doing. Remove all doubt in my name only! Some of you are struggling, but know that you are not alone. Remember that I have gone before you. I am beside you always! You are my people, why would I leave you empty handed? I have given you my word, why would I take it back? Let Satan have nothing! Don't let him take anything that I have given to you! Do not fight against me for I am not smaller than this city, I am not smaller than this nation, I am not smaller than this universe! I AM, and you are mine!"
We started out the day with our lovely continental breakfast, and many people wondering what was in store for us for the day. We had no idea what to expect. Around 9am we got into "the crack van" and went to The Dream Center. We started out with a sermon and prayer. We talked about our destiny and how we have to choose to follow God's plan in God's timing-not our own. The pastor had us go to our own areas and have alone time with God. I really enjoyed this. I was able to listen to what God had to say to me, instead of doing all the talking. I was happy with that, but I felt that God wanted to say something to me to say to the team. I was having some doubts about how much of an impact that we could make in such a bad place. God answered me by telling me Jeremiah 33, which talks about the promise of Restoration! One of the verses says "And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants....I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me and they will never leave me." (verses 36-41) God promises that He will be the desire of the people, no matter what city, or nation. Then I STILL felt that there was something more. I opened up my heart and the Holy Spirit started pouring more into me to tell the others, so I wrote it all down in the form of a letter. I was too nervous to tell anyone though, so I kept it to myself.
We ended the alone time and split into two groups. One group went to a warehouse that used to be a furniture factory, that is a part of the Dream Center. The other group stayed at the Dream Center and painted the kitchen/foyer area. (I was a part of the painting group, so, I won't have stories about the warehouse until tomorrow.) We had a lot of fun painting, and bonding with each other. There was only one roll of tape so we had to be careful painting in some areas that couldn't be taped off. It was a lot of work, but we got it done, and we had a lot of fun! The other team came back and we loaded up in the van and decided it would be a cool experience to go to the pawn shop that is on the TV show "Pawn Stars". We went BACK to in-n-out burger AGAIN! Then we had some down time at the hotel before we went to Fremont. It is similar to the main strip, just a little more clean. It was a...neat experience for us first timers. They were VERY careful since there are more girls than guys, so, Mrs. Lidyard made the guys our "body guards". It was an eye opening experience seeing the more gruesome stuff, but it was also cool to see people using their talents. We saw this guy who used spray paint to make art, but it didn't look like the spray paint we are used to seeing on the side of buildings, it was actual art! I couldn't have painted anything as nearly as beautiful as he did, even with regular paints!
After that we went back to the hotel and had our nightly meeting. I still kept thinking about the letter from God to our team that I had in my journal. I finally decided to share that and Jeremiah 33 with the group and people were really touched! It was definitely God, not me! Everyone felt so encouraged, and we had only been here for 24 hours! We all know now that this trip is going to be even greater than we imagined! A lot more people shared with the group, and it was one of the best experiences I have had in a group setting like that! I feel like this letter isn't just for our team out in Vegas, but also our team at home!!! So, here it is (and remember, it has nothing to do with me, this is God!) :
"My sons and daughters,
You are here for a purpose! You are not here to be silent! I have already given you this city! Some of you doubt what I have already begun doing. Remove all doubt in my name only! Some of you are struggling, but know that you are not alone. Remember that I have gone before you. I am beside you always! You are my people, why would I leave you empty handed? I have given you my word, why would I take it back? Let Satan have nothing! Don't let him take anything that I have given to you! Do not fight against me for I am not smaller than this city, I am not smaller than this nation, I am not smaller than this universe! I AM, and you are mine!"
Monday, January 31, 2011
What happens in Vegas...doesn't stay in Vegas:Day #1
January 30, 2011
Started off the day really nice and early. Well...maybe not the nice part, but you get the point. The whole missions trip team met at Sea-Tac around 7:30am, went through security and all that "fun" stuff. Around 10am we boarded the plane. That was when it really hit me. I thought Am I seriously going to Las Vegas without my parents?! Did I actually raise all of this money only two weeks prior?! I have to admit that I was very nervous about going. Everyone else had months to plan and let it "settle in" while I had about two weeks total. I felt so unprepared, stressed out, anxious, excited, worried, etc. I got on that plane feeling like I was two inches tall. I realized what a big world we live in and how small I really am. The plane ride wasn't so bad. We had to take a scheduled pit stop in San Jose, which made the flight about 4-5 hours long. Everyone was glad to get off the plane in the end, but we all knew it is going to be worth it. We got all our stuff safely to the hotel after riding in what we call "the crack van". It's a huge blue van (that recently got some tlc) that looks like it belongs in the ghetto, other than the church name on the sides.
After we dropped off our luggage, we went out to a very late lunch to In-n-out burger! The food was amazing! From there we went back to the hotel, got ready and went to the "mother church" of the Dream Center, called, International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV). The sermon was really cool! For the alter call the leaders gave everyone a towel that they called a "mantle", they would pray over you and figure out a word that showed what you really need from God, and they wrote that word on your mantle as a reminder of what God can and will do in your life. I was standing there thinking about what word I would pick and the word PEACE kept coming in my mind. A girl from the church came up to me and told me that she felt the holy spirit was telling her to pray for peace for me! She didn't even know my name yet! It was really moving! After the alter call we went to the grocery store to get junk food, haha. Then we went back to the hotel, had a team meeting, and went back to our rooms!
I am really excited for what God has in store for tomorrow! My story wasn't the only moving one, and it's only the first day! Hopefully I will post pictures tomorrow!
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes."
Started off the day really nice and early. Well...maybe not the nice part, but you get the point. The whole missions trip team met at Sea-Tac around 7:30am, went through security and all that "fun" stuff. Around 10am we boarded the plane. That was when it really hit me. I thought Am I seriously going to Las Vegas without my parents?! Did I actually raise all of this money only two weeks prior?! I have to admit that I was very nervous about going. Everyone else had months to plan and let it "settle in" while I had about two weeks total. I felt so unprepared, stressed out, anxious, excited, worried, etc. I got on that plane feeling like I was two inches tall. I realized what a big world we live in and how small I really am. The plane ride wasn't so bad. We had to take a scheduled pit stop in San Jose, which made the flight about 4-5 hours long. Everyone was glad to get off the plane in the end, but we all knew it is going to be worth it. We got all our stuff safely to the hotel after riding in what we call "the crack van". It's a huge blue van (that recently got some tlc) that looks like it belongs in the ghetto, other than the church name on the sides.
After we dropped off our luggage, we went out to a very late lunch to In-n-out burger! The food was amazing! From there we went back to the hotel, got ready and went to the "mother church" of the Dream Center, called, International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV). The sermon was really cool! For the alter call the leaders gave everyone a towel that they called a "mantle", they would pray over you and figure out a word that showed what you really need from God, and they wrote that word on your mantle as a reminder of what God can and will do in your life. I was standing there thinking about what word I would pick and the word PEACE kept coming in my mind. A girl from the church came up to me and told me that she felt the holy spirit was telling her to pray for peace for me! She didn't even know my name yet! It was really moving! After the alter call we went to the grocery store to get junk food, haha. Then we went back to the hotel, had a team meeting, and went back to our rooms!
I am really excited for what God has in store for tomorrow! My story wasn't the only moving one, and it's only the first day! Hopefully I will post pictures tomorrow!
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes."
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