Race for Hope

One of Vision of Hope's biggest fundraisers is Race for Hope. This race is a 10k run or 5k run/walk around Lafayette. The money raised from Race for Hope will be used to keep the VOH program free and living expenses for the residents affordable. Each staff, intern, and resident will be a team captain. Each of us has a goal of raising $1000.

I would like to invite you to join my Race for Hope Team: The Mercy Empowered Givers. The way you can help me the most is to join my team.  You can come here for the fun event on June 13th, you can walk or run in your area any day or time, or you can even be a “virtual walker” and just ask friends and family to sponsor you online.  The cost to join my team is $25 and you will receive a T-shirt. I would love to have your support.  You can join my team by clicking here.

If you are unable to join my team but would rather sponsor me by giving a donation you can also do that here, or you can mail a check to Vision of Hope, 5652 Mercy Way, Lafayette, IN  47923.  Please make checks payable to Faith Ministries and include my name in the memo. 

The start of the journey

The other interns are great! We have been discovering each others' passions and interests. It has been incredible to have people who are going through the same new situations as me and others who remember what it was like when they first got here and can help guide us. 

We have had fun exploring Lafayette together; going to art in the park one night and another time just walking around downtown. We have gone to different small groups together and met new people at Faith. And sometimes we spend a night together just watching Netflix.

I have been thinking through many ways to try and explain what my experiences here have been like so far. At times being on-shift vs. being off-shift can seem like a completely separate life, but I am here to guide the residents through their day and learn about biblical counseling. I guess I can explain it by saying in every situation I am reminded of God's Truth and His love for us.

More stories to come...but I wanted to check in with you and say thank you for your prayers towards this next year!

Sisters in Christ and fun times

Anna came to visit me! For those of you who don’t know Anna, we became two of four best friends our freshman year of college. Anna and I took our first trip to Haiti together…and 2^nd…and 3^rd. Well the third, she was here for two months and I visited her.

It was such an encouragement to have her here. I got to introduce her to all my new friends and family and share with her what life is like here. It was good to have another American who loves Haiti to talk with and process through some things with.

She brought some things for me with her. I thought it was just going to be a few things from my parents but I also got two very encouraging notes from two amazing sisters in Christ. I have been overwhelmed recently with the amount of love you all, brothers and sisters, have been pouring out on me. I know you are faithfully praying for me and I thank you so much!

Anna is visiting some other missionaries in Port-de-Paix now and will be back with me for a couple days next week before heading back to America.

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Ronika is the little girl I live with and sometimes her friend, Gonies, comes over with her mom. The last time she came over the two girls handed me paper, a pencil, and some crayons. They first pointed to the placemats and asked me to draw the picture of the wine bottle, grapes, and cheese.  I did and they were impressed. Then they started pointing to things around the room for me to draw. Each time I was finished they would say, “Bravo.” That’s what we tell the kids at school when they do something well.

After the page was full of drawings they would erase a couple so I could draw something else. It was fun to be creative without the pressure of approval or permanency and they got to have fun just being silly with me.

Leadership Team Retreat

Last week we took our leadership team on a retreat to prepare for the year. This was the first year we planned our own retreat. It went wonderfully. Of course there were things that we will be changing for next year but for the most part we accomplished what we set out to do. We grew in closer relationship with each other, we set out the vision for the year, and we had fun! I am so excited for the group of students we have this year. They are ready and willing to help new students feel welcome, get connected, and grow in a deeper relationship with God.


During some free time a night we played some games



We went to the City Museum in St. Louis

There were things to climb on and slide down



There was a ball pit to play in

Some of us played softball with a paper ball at the church we stayed at



The girls were excited when they made it around the bases!



We spent one night in St. Charles looking at the shops
and eating a meal out

Spring Break part 2

We are home and back to work and school.

In Tennessee, God's creation was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The most repeated things students keep saying is how awesome it was that they could be themselves on this trip and were accepted. So many friendships were made this past week. I pray they continue and spread to others in our community.

At the beginning of our trip on Sunday morning we went to Crossings in Knoxville. Caleb taught on the book of Luke. Mark and Caleb came during the week and taught through the book of Nehemiah. I learned a lot and thought I would share a thought from my notes with you.

On Sunday I heard a parable I have heard probably a hundred times (and you probably have too), but this time I heard something differently. Luke 19:11- 24 says,
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

By investing the money, the first and second servant were telling their master, the nobleman, they believe he will become king and they want him to become king. Because if he hadn't become king the servants would have lost the money. This isn't just a story about how to invest what God has given you. Jesus wants to know if you will risk everything and bet on him. Do you have the courage to risk what God has given you?

Here are a few picture from the trip...


Hiking to Chimny Tops



Just Dance



Knoxville

Spring Break

Last Saturday a group of 33 students and staff  left Warrensburg, MO headed for the a cabin in the Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, TN. In the past three days we have gone shopping in Knoxville, taken a four mile hike to the top of Chimney Tops, white water rafted down Pigeon River, and played Just Dance. It has been a great trip of building community.

 Mark Nelson from Crossings Knoxville has come up each night to take us through the book of Nehemiah.  He has asked us some challenging questions requiring more than a one-word easy answer. Students are processing trough and asking each other to share their thoughts.

Pictures and more posts to come…

SURPRISE!!!

This past weekend Anna, one of my best friends, and I went to Wyoming. We went to surprise Nadine, another friend, on her wedding day. God brought Nadine here for grad school last year. She met Daylen, the other staff intern, and now they are happily married!

The ceremony was in a small church so when the doors were opened for Nadine and her dad to walk down the aisle Anna and my faces were the first ones she saw. She was shocked! It was the perfect reaction. Nadine looked beautiful! The whole wedding was perfect. There wasn’t too much “show off” of every wedding has to have this or that. It was simple and lovely. Everything that was done pointed to God.  It was in the most beautiful setting too!

Daylen and Nadine left the church in a one horse open sleigh.

The reception was wonderful. It was very relaxed. Even though Anna and I didn’t know anyone else but Brad and Cailyn, Nadine’s parents and Daylen’s parents were very happy that we could be there. It was so much fun dancing with Nadine and her friends from undergrad.