I woke up with LIFE on my mind...

like so many other times in the last few days, I woke up thinking about our trip next week, and especially our group of students. {they are never far from my mind...is that weird?} During my quiet time this morning I spent some time thinking about some of the relationships that our students have with each other, and that was the topic of my prayer time....I looked at my list of individuals and marveled at how awesome each of these kids are.  They are so unique!  Their personalities come flying out on and you don't have to spend too much time with any one of them but that you've got them pegged....and put them in a group together....they are hysterical!  But, sometimes personalities don't mesh easily and there becomes a division of groups among them. 

So, here's my thoughts on this this morning.  I'm praying for unity among these kids.  I'm praying that the LORD would begin a good work of connecting this group as one body.  Not just by appearance, but thoroughly through each heart. Freshman with seniors and girls with guys.  I'm praying that the guys would accept and encourage one another...that they would also have patience with the girls {even IF, dare I say, there may be a little drama throughout the week...it could happen}.  I'm praying that the girls would encourage and embrace each other...that they would appreciate the differences in personality and really love each other with a Christ-like love {AND not get totally annoyed with the crazy ways boys communicate and express themselves...it's going to happen...no doubt in my mind, I live with teenage boys.}  I'm praying that not only will there be an overhaul of individual hearts, but that there will also be an overhaul of the group collectively.  And that by the end of the week, after spending 24 hours together, each individual student will see the others the way God does.

Among these students is great potential.  There are musicians, artists, athletes, scholars, comedians and more...individually they are something else.  I pray that together they would be even more powerful for God.  I believe HE is working out some pretty awesome things for this youth group.  I see it happening and I'm anticipating that the week ahead of us will mesh personalities, cause them to see each other with God's eyes and begin to really unify them as ONE group, instead of several.  I know it can happen...because I believe it is God's heart for them.

As individual believers we can be strong in this world, but put an army of other believers behind us and our strength grows immeasurably.  That's what I want for each of these students...I want them to know that they always have a group that has their back and will walk beside them throughtout these difficult teenage years.  I believe in their ability to be that group...and I'm anticipating that GOD is in the process of working to make that happen even in the coming week. 

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity..."

Colossians 3:14

So, if you wake up with LIFE on your mind...please pray for us.  Pray that each student would come with open hearts and be moldable.  Please pray for the leaders to give wise counsel throughout the week...to give an atmosphere of openness so that the students will free to share and express themselves, if need be.  There's no doubt in my mind that there will be ALOT of laughter and fun throughout the week- we thoroughly enjoy this group- but more than anything, we hope that every single student will arrive home more in love with Jesus and each other than the day they stepped on the bus...

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

 give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus..."

Romans 15:5

8 days, people!

In 8 days and two hours we will be pulling out of the church driveway with a busload of 23 students, 23 suitcases, 23 carry-ons, and 5 leaders {and probably 5 cups of coffee}. 

 We're excited and ready to go! The students have been looking forward to LIFE for about a year...some of them for three years, since they attended the last LIFE Conference and spent an unforgettable week in Orlando, Fl.  I hear it's just about as hot in Kentucky these days, so for those who missed out on Orlando, you'll possibly get a taste of it when you walk out the hotel doors in KY.  It's funny, I think the leaders are just about as excited for the trip as the students are- I'm not exactly sure how to interpret that...either we are crazy or we really, really love spending time with these kids...or both.  

As an adult I know that it takes preparation to really get the most out of these conferences.  Scores of people have been working behind the scenes at Life Impact Ministries to set this conference into full swing.  And as far as conferences go, my experience has been that the LIFE conferences are done with excellence.  There is a permanent vision in my head of the last LIFE conference...it goes like this:

5,ooo teenagers

a dark arena

worship music

communion

glow sticks

 It was an unforgettable evening...

I'm also aware that it's not enough for all of the people behind the scenes to be preparing and working...all of us who are attending have a responsibility to prepare, too.  We can show up Tuesday afternoon ready to be entertained and taught, and I'm pretty sure that will happen.  But, if we really want to be changed and renewed, then we have a part to play, too.

To the students:

The time is almost here.  I know you're excited to start packing at the end of the week.  I know you can't wait to spend a week w/out your siblings {and dare I mention your parents?}.  I know you've been waiting all year for this trip- some of you have even mentioned to me that you are really looking forward to seeing what God wants to teach you during LIFE.  Some of you are hoping God is going to say something BIG to you that will help you change the direction you are going in.  I hear a desire to follow God...and alot of depending on the speakers and worship leaders to get you to listen to Him.

I couldn't help thinking of all these things this morning as Pastor Carl was teaching on Jonah.  I thought of many of you by name as he was retelling the story of a Prophet who ran away from God's voice.  Hear me clearly when I say this - I'm not saying that your questioning is ANY different than some of the questioning that comes from adults at times.  But, I've recently spoken to many of you who know what it is to be obedient to God, and who spend alot of time running in the other direction from Him.  I don't think it's an intentional running...I really don't...but I do think it's easier to run than it is to stay and take instructions. 

So, why bring this up? 

Here's the deal.  I KNOW you want to do what is right.  I KNOW you are attending LIFE not just because your friends are going and because it's great entertainment.  I KNOW that you are going because you want to be open to God's voice.  And because I know these things, I'm making one request of you this week:

Amidst the busyness of your week- the time spent on your ipods, computers, and with friends- set aside an allotted amount of time with God THIS week.  Ask Him to meet with you this week so that next week you can meet with him as friends....not strangers.  Ask Him to spend time with you as you prepare your hearts to be open to His whisperings.  Ask Him...I dare you!  I promise He will show up, be glad to join you, and will guide you as you ask Him to help you be faithful to Him.  I'm going to do the same this week - and I hope that you'll find it makes a difference in me as it also makes a difference in you.  {You can be assured that your leaders are praying for you all by name...we want nothing more than to see you fall in line with God's plan for your lives and your futures}

Rest up this week a little, too...I'm pretty you'll find you will need it!!!

Have a great week, you guys! 

 See you at the bonfire at the Herr's on Wednesday!

one month shy of a year...

...since I've posted on this blog!  I just looked at the date of the last posting - unbelievable how fast a year has gone by.  Last year at this time, a team of students and leaders were preparing for a two week trip to Gabon, Africa...and again this year, we are planning and preparing for a new trip together.  This one is a little closer to home- a 10 drive by bus instead of almost 24 hrs start to finish by plane.  Our destination - LIFE 2010 Conference.  One of the most amazing opportunities our students have to gather together with other teens of our denomination under one roof.  We're gearing up for a week of some awesome speakers, great times of worship and abundant opportunities to connect within our own student ministries.  Our kids {and, I might add, our five leaders} are excited and ready to begin our road trip and stand poised and ready to be challenged and changed during this week. 

In past LIFE conferences many of our students have gone forward to receive Christ for the first time, recommitted their lives to God and committed to fulltime ministry & missions. This week is all about growing and changing.  Our students will be stretched as they listen to deep speakers, worship in music with thousands of other teens and connect with the rest of the group {four teens to a room, folks, that's real connection!}.  There'll be lots of listening, learning and certainly ALOT of laughing!!!  {Seriously, if you have not taken the time to get to know our students, you are TRULY missing out on alot of laughing!} 

The theme of this year's conference is

 COLLIDE...what happens when your world meets God’s world?   

The LIFE 2010 website describes the conference like this, 

"Imagine thousands of students authentically experiencing God and being inspired to expand His Kingdom. Imagine worshipping and growing closer to Christ. Imagine connecting with new friends, serving together and helping church plants. Imagine tons of seminars and workshops, awesome concerts and incredible experiences. That’s what LIFE is all about."

We're excited to have Francis Chan back with us as our main speaker again this year. 

 Many of us have read his books "Crazy Love" and  "Forgotten God" and know that God is working with him to present some pretty challenging messages to our students.  We'll also have the opportunity to worship with some great musicians - some of which are playing in the background as you read this. 

Check out the LIFE website {click on the link above} and stop one of our students in the hallway - they're REALLY excited for this trip and would be glad to tell you about it!  We'll be blogging here throughout the week of LIFE to update with pictures, stories and prayer requests so stop by often.  PLEASE pray for our students as they prepare for this trip.  Pray that the LORD would grip each heart and transform each one of their lives to mirror HIS.  These are students with GREAT potential to change their worlds, pray that the pressures around them would diminsh so that they will choose to follow hard after Him with a radical faith.

Thank you, parents, for allowing us to accompany your children and love on them as they reshape their lives for Christ...each one of us take our jobs seriously and look forward to seeing what God has in store for each of them.  We do what we do because it is our desire to raise up a new generation of Christians who follow daily after Christ with total self-abandonment.  We're so privileged to be a part of their lives

Inside out...

So, I just found this little bit from Francis Chan about the song that seems to have become the "theme song" of our team....I LOVE Francis Chan so I downloaded the 8 minute clip for your enjoying pleasure, too! He's spoken at the last few LIFE Conferences and has blessed me each time. Apparently the song that has spoken to each of us also made an impact on him. Actually, I guess for me, the song continues to speak to me...each time I hear it I think it's message sinks deeper in me. It's encouraging and convicting all at the same time. Mostly it just makes me want to be more and more real....let the real me stand up and take notice.

I've been thinking alot about our time in Africa...now that I'm 10 days back in the states I think I'm beginning to have a better perspective! Strange, though, how these 10 days have gone by so quickly. The 10 days in Africa were so rich and filled with new discoveries that it honestly felt more like a couple of months for all the relationships we formed and the experiences we had. That's really hard to explain to someone who waited stateside for 10 days for us to return. 10 days here are so different than 10 days overseas. It's hard to explain that you could love something or someone so much after only knowing them for 10 days...but I think each of us would attest to such deep feelings for the love of the Country of Gabon and its' people. It's a surreal experience in a surreal amount of time.

But, really...now we're home...our families have eased back into the routine of having us home, and we have no choice but to fit back in, too. So how do we fit? How do we squeeze the piece of the puzzle that is our life into the same space it used to fit in...our piece has changed shape..it's been pulled and stretched and no longer takes on the same form. So how does it fit?

It brings me back to the song that is probably still playing in the background. How do I, as a resident of Lancaster County, live my life in a way that the things of Africa that I've tucked away inside me begin to flow out of my everyday life here? How do I let those most private workings that the Lord has whispered inside me pour out into my everyday life? What does it really look like to live "inside out"?

I guess that's the challenge we all must face when we come home from a mission's trip with our worlds rocked off their foundations...the challenge is not just to listen to what the Spirit is showing us, but to put it into action and live it out. Sometimes the listening is the easy part...it's the acting out 24/7 that is the challenge. It doesn't come easy for any of us...I don't think it's supposed to, though...our struggle to do and be what God calls us to is our reminder that we need Him every second, minute, and hour of our day. Were it too easy, we'd have no need to invite Him along.

The older I get the more I realize I can't do this life-thing alone. I stand at a place right now where I must make some big decisions on some things that will affect the rest of my life, and my family's lives. I can't make them alone...and I wasn't meant to. I'm learning that in order to live "inside out" in the way Christ calls us to, I'd better be intentional about putting the right things "in". So, I'm reading...and listening...and asking...and waiting.

Let's resolve to live Inside Out...not just to say it each time the song comes on the radio, but to allow it's message to consume us and control our every move. The message is God's call to arms for each of His children...so that the world may know Him.

really? are you sure???

So, we're scheduled to give an update about our trip tomorrow morning in church....and we're all thinking NOW??!! We met together last night to discuss what we'd be presenting, and we agreed that it's so soon to be able to process and even verbalize all that is going through our hearts and minds. How do we share the details when we're still trying to absorb them ourselves?!

I think we came up with a good plan of sharing a few individual thoughts, and we're trusting that the Lord will touch our lips to speak what we feel so inadequate to communicate. I, personally, am struggling to put the right words to the thoughts I want to share...I can't seem to get them down on paper. Can't seem to have a coherent thought much of the time! I decided that part of the reason is that I went back to work too soon...didn't give my head a chance to process and download.

So, I locked the doors and left work early today...didn't even care that it's not the proper thing to do! I stopped at Costco to develop my pictures, and while waiting for them to be processed I walked around. I had the strangest urgency to get out of there...and I can't really figure out why. I tried to explain it to my kids, but all I can think of is that the last time I walked into a store, it was in Ebel-abunga.....and it was SMALL, and DIRTY, and had only NECESSITIES. It was nothing like the mega warehouse I was wandering around in, and it just didn't seem right....it didn't seem right that we should have SO much in such a big space, when they had SO little in such a tiny space. Two weeks ago walking around Costco was normal....I never thought twice about it. I know better than to think that means I need to pack my bags, denounce my citizenship and head East...but it does get me thinking of what I call "normal". Who said the American "normal" is right, and who decides what the norm will be anyway?

I don't know, maybe I'm over-reacting and should just get a grip....or maybe I'm processing more than I thought I was. We are a stuff-loving nation...and we have WAY too much to choose from. And, yet, we don't even know it. We're on visual overload and all we want is more. What I wouldn't do to grab an armload of that "stuff" and shove it into Mr. UPS mans arms and ship it to that little shop owner in the village...he wouldn't know what to do with himself! His customers wouldn't know what to do with it. And, actually, it would never sell because they buy only what they need....there's no extra money for anything else.

We could learn a thing or two from our village friends....they have so much need, and yet they don't even seem to know it. I want to live like that. I know that today's reaction will lessen and I'll once again walk the aisles of Costco...and even buy a thing or two, but I hope I never again take for granted the magnitude of choice we have at our fingertips. I mean, who cares how many different kinds of blenders or microwaves there are??? We have so many choices that we waste half our life away trying to figure out which one will work best for us. If we had less choices we'd have more time to do the things that really matter.

I'm rambling now...and beginning to sound judgemental...not what I meant to do. So the best thing to do would be to slip into my comfortable bed with clean sheets and thank the Lord -He's been WAY too good to me.

Home...

We're here...still torn w/mixed emotions, but our bodies are back in the US, safely back in our own homes. Nick and I had a great night's sleep in our own beds. It wasn't as hard as I expected it might be to sleep INSIDE and in a QUIET room ALONE! Clean sheets have never felt so good! And the shower....the water bill may possibly be a little high this month!

I'm sitting here this morning with so much laundry to start and life to return to....just not sure where to begin. I know from past missions trips that this is a struggle for me...to somehow transition from life a world away to an immediate thrust back into my own reality of life. It's hard. I've got worship music playing through the house in an attempt to keep my mind where it needs to be and not allow frustration and a sense of sadness spread. As one of the team members said yesterday to me, it is almost as if we're dealing with a death.

It's really a hard emotion to explain...that you can be right in your own life and what was once familiar seems foreign....and what is foreign somehow feels like home. We were prepped for such emotions, but they're still surprising each time you feel them.

I'm sitting with the phone beside me right now...dialing and redialing AirFrance in an attempt to recover my journal that was left on our flight yesterday. I spent hours and hours writing and reflecting while we were gone....it is my way of connecting to my environment and writing down the things the Lord is showing me. I can't tell you the weight I felt yesterday when I discovered it was missing-I know right where it sits. I figured it was just gone and there was no use even trying to find it...until this morning I was going to just let it go. But, I figure I'll make one effort to recover it....then let it go. There's something comforting about that little book...it holds words and feelings that I can't seem to say outloud right now. It makes no sense to me that it should be left behind...it seems to hold a key to my remembering the things He's doing in me. SO, until I'm told it's impossible to find, I'll keep calling!

I'm not sure how many of my teamates will think to look back on here, but if you're reading, I want each of you to know how impressed I am with you! You made it through some of the toughest circumstances of your life...and made it through well! I saw in many of you a new spark...the beginning of something that God is planting in your lives. I know each of the leaders were blessed and privileged to join you on this trip...and we look on in anticipation as we watch what God is doing in your lives.

Settle in...be free to enjoy home. THIS is where God has you today...find joy in being where He has you. Take your time...before long the new you will mesh with the old you and home will be home again...

on our way...

The internet was down at the Brokopps before we left last night, so I didn't get a chance to let you know we were on our way. We left there last night around 7pm to catch our 9:55 flight out of Libreville.

There were MANY, MANY tears shed as we left. The students really bonded w/several of the African Christian teens...there were 2 young men who travelled w/us throughout the week that joined us at the airport to say goodbye. They were just as tearful as our kids. There is nothing more moving than teenage boys shedding tears over new friendships....but they unashamedly said their goodbyes. And then AGAIN when they all showed up around the corner while we waited in line....and AGAIN when they stood outside a window as we waited in another line!!! By the end, we were all BEGGING them to leave so the tears would stop!!! But some of the students entered the plane w/heavy hearts anyway.

Our flight was 6 hrs long and a few caught some sleep during that time...I did NOT! We're waiting in Paris right now for our flight to Dulles in about an 1 1/2hrs. (I was surprised to find a little internet cafe, and am enjoying a GREAT cup of coffee as I type! yay! Comfort of home!!!)

Just a heads up for all the parents and family members...your students are really torn about heading home. While they are so excited to see you, there is so much processing that still has to be done in the next days and weeks. They are hesitant about reacclimating...and even about all the questions that you will inevitably have for them. Please be patient with us all...we are struggling...torn between two worlds. Know that in time we will be able to spit out all that we've been through...but it may take a few days. Just keep praying for us as we are thrust back into our old lives starting first thing tomorrow morning....we are exhausted, and will need time to adjust both to the time and to the lives we've left behind.

To Alex and Emma...I'm sitting looking out of the window in Paris!! Wish you were here with me! Looking forward to seeing you in a few hours...I can't even figure out how MANY hours that is, but sometime today! Love you guys!

My time is running out...love to all, thanks for your continued prayers and support!!!