The Blurr: September

Frosh Week (First two weeks of Sept):
We set up tables in the residences with copies of the New Testament and 30 Sec Spiritual Interest Surveys. We surveyed over 1600 students between the two campuses, asking them what their biggest 'Soul Craving' is- Love, Justice, Power, Escape, or a Spiritual connection. We have had over 400 respond saying that they would like to meet with someone to talk more about their soul cravings, or were interested in receiving a magazine from us that unpacks these cravings. (The magazine was put together this summer by a team of staff, interns and students with our organization and each article on Love, Justice, Power, Escape, or Spiritual connection, explains how a personal relationship with God satisfies each of these cravings. It's really well written!) Our staff team, and student leaders have been working feverishly trying to connect with as many students as we can. IIt's been really encouraging to see the response of the non-Christian students on campus to this approach of evangelism. It's created such incredible dialogue and discussions. I've never met so many students with such soft hearts to the Gospel! So far we've seen 4 students accept Christ in their lives! Please pray that they will continue to grow in their relationship with God and find Christian families at their new churches to embrace and mentor them.

Kim Phuc (Third week of Sept)
We had a special guest speaker come in the third week of September to do a special presentation on the power of forgiveness. During the Vietnam War,at the age of nine, Kim's village of Trang Bang came under attack by South Vietnamese planes, which mistakenly dropped napalm on a Buddhist pagoda in an area where the North Vietnamese were infiltrating. While running for safety with other children, Kim was severely burned by the napalm. The famous photograph of Kim Phuc taken and spread all over the world. (I've attached a copy of it.. you'll probably recognize in). Kim moved to Canada in the 1980's and is now a very passionate born-again Christian. She did an incredible job sharing her story as well as sharing the Gospel. She was so transparent about her journey and her depth of healing that when she brought Jesus into her presentation, she had everyone sitting on the edge of their seat. I think she earned a lot of respect from the students. At both presentations the student erupted in a standing ovation after she finished her presentation! Between the two campuses we had just under 500 students attend. Please pray that her testimony will continue to have a lasting impact on all the students that attended. :)

Student Retreat: (This past Weekend)
Yesterday, I just arrived home from our annual weekend camping retreat that we have with our students every fall. This weekend I was overseeing all the main sessions. This was a new experience for me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun! A highlight for me this weekend was looking out over the sea of students and seeing faces of lives that have been transformed by the Gospel in the past year! Students that have come into our ministry and fallen in love with Christ! It brought tears to my eyes almost every worship session! Please pray for Matt, Kenny, Thomas, Deborah, Kate, and Sam. God is working in huge ways in their lives... !

Here are some quick prayer requests for me:

- I've been having a lot of back pain recently. I think it's a combination of stress, using my lap top in my lap as opposed to a desk, and not enough stretching after I exercise... (yeah, I know)... either way I've been in pain the last couple of weeks. :(

- This summer after I came back from Africa, I looked at my schedule and decided I wanted to be more rooted and plugged into my church. I called my Pastor and said I would be available to help out with whatever the greatest area of need is in our church... (thinking it would be something like greeting, setting up the coffee service, or helping out with the kids ministry once in a while)... he asked me if I would help out with the womens ministry at our church... It seemed like a good idea. He then asked me to oversee planning a womens retreat the end of Oct...not what I had in mind, but... I am actually really excited about this. I am excited to see the women in our church impacted and growing. The theme for the conference is Proverbs 31:25-26- "Strength and Dignity are her clothing. She will rejoice in the times to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness."

- This week I've cleared my schedule in order to do more evangelism with our students. We're calling this week "The Plunge"... the tag line is..."This week take the Plunge, and talk to your friends about Jesus..." Please pray for me as I anticipate I'll be meeting lots of new people. Please pray that I'll have Spirit Filled and Spirit directed Conversations.

- Lastly... It may seem like I am doing nothing with my life except ministry... That's not true. I work hard... but I play hard too. I'm planning on going to New York City with some friends the last week of Oct to get a week of vacation during the student's Fall Study Week. I don't have any urgent prayer requests for that except for safety and fun. I guess I'm just writing to tell you because I am really excited about it. :)

Alas!
I hope you're all doing well. Please send me little notes to tell me how I can pray for you!

God Bless!

Paid Vs. Aid National Contest...$1000...? What would you choose?

Hey Friends!

Introducing: The Frosh Week Media Campaign that we're using to get the student's attention this fall!

For more information and a video about Soul Cravings... and the Paid Vs.Aid Contest... check out:

Paid vs. Aid

___________________________________________________________________________

Imagine you're in University.

If you were given $1000, would you out it towards (a) your tuition?(b) water
wells in Benin?(c) taking care of orphans in Tanzania?(d) Shelter for families in Haiti?

This is an opportunity to change a life...change the world? How do you choose?... I guess the real question is...What do you CRAVE?

Paid vs. Aid is a contest running on campuses across Canada. Each winner will win a choice between WATER, SHELTER, ORPHANS or your TUITION. Presented before you is a choice; it’s not a simple choice of what to eat or what to wear. It’s a choice that has ramifications for your future and for the future of others. The choice between money for tuition, or money to go towards those living in underdeveloped nations isn’t cut and dry.

We know that the decision is hard. It's hard because the deeper question is not just "What should I choose... but how do I choose?"

Do you ever think about what drives you to make your decisions in life. Do you ever think about how your soul's cravings dictate you're life's decisions?

Do you crave success? Security? Meaning? Justice? These cravings all end up impacting decisions to pursue a certain type of career, choices to subscribe to a religion, or to enter a relationship.

Which craving ultimately wins out?

What choices are going satisfy these cravings?

When we’re presented with a choice, and brought to a place where both options have their merits and flaws, apathy is no longer possible. We’re forced to reevaluate life and those things that we crave.

Until we take note of our cravings, they may never be quenched.

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Wrenched.

Definition of "Wrenched":

1. A sudden sharp, forcible twist or turn.

2. An injury produced by twisting or straining.

3. A sudden tug at one's emotions; a surge of compassion, sorrow, or anguish.

....When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (Amplified)

Today we were handing out "Frosh Kits" to students. A Frosh kit includes:

i.) Copy of the New Testament.
ii.) A 60 page devotional type of book called "Soul Cravings"
iii.) A booklet explaining how a person can enter into a personal relationship with God
iv.) A flyer advertising our different events happening this week
vi.) A survey, asking them to tell us what they believe about the Spiritual component of their life.

Scene: We're standing around our information tables... it's raining... I'm cold...but happy- I have my coffee and I'm having some good conversations with students... so I'm in a good mood!

Student slowly lingers as he's walking past the table. He's wearing a baseball cap with some fraternity symbols on it.... (I'll call him "Calvin... he reminded me of Calvin from the Calvin and Hobbes comics)

Me: "Hey, did you hear about the survey we're doing today?"

Calvin: "No."

Me:" Are you interested in filling it out... ?If your name gets pulled out of a hat.. you can win $1000... and you have a choice to put towards your tuition, or to build a well in Benin, or to support Orphans in Tanzania, or to build a shelter for a family in Haiti..."

Calvin: "Sure, I'll fill it out"....(Fills it out, then stares at it for a minute or two before he hands it back to me.)

Me: I noticed you were mulling over it quite a bit... do you think about this aspect of your life a lot?

Calvin:"Yeah, I think about it all the time."

Me: "Oh, what's your story..."

Calvin: "My family never really talked about it growing up. I never had any friends that talked to me about God or Jesus... no one close to me at least...It's something I've wondered about for a long time... but I've kind of been on my own to figure it out."

Me: "Oh wow... that must be kind of hard... Can I share with you my story... and what the bible says about how we have a personal relationship with God?"

Calvin: "Sure."

Me: (I share the Gospel with him... and ask him what he thinks about it...)

Calvin: "I definitely know I need Jesus in my life. I know that He is, to some degree...but I guess I don't want to go any further with Him then where I am right now. All of this is very new, and to be honest a little overwhelming."

*Side Note... the whole time we're talking his body language totally changes... his eyes light up and he leaned into really read the booklet and engage with the information I was giving him. When I shared the bible verses with him... you could tell he was eating them up. I had a chance to share my testimony with him... and he asked me questions about it. .. I could almost sense his Soul crying out as we were talking...*

Me: "... are you interested in meeting up with someone to talk more about beginning a relationship with God... we have bible studies that we offer on campus."

Calvin: "To be honest.. this whole thing is still kind of overwhelming for me. Because my family never talked about it while I was growing up, for me to talk about it is still awkward for me. I know that I want God in my life. I know that He loves me. I know that I need Jesus. But I am still trying to figure out what the next step. I just need to process this on my own a little more before I start meeting with other Christians."

Me: "Okay... for sure. I totally understand. If you're interested in ever meeting up with anyone, feel free to look us up on facebook."

Calvin:"I will definitely!" (Walks away with a Frosh Kit in hand)

This is why I am working full time on the campus...this is why I'm not working in a church...or just focusing on discipling Christian university students... (although I think those ministries are so important!) I am here because I want to win the lost. I am here for the lost. God has placed me on campus to bring the Gospel to the lost. I know that there are students out there like Calvin... that are confused and not sure where to go or what to do about it...

"There was never really anyone that was close to me that talked to me about Jesus....!"

When he said this, I felt my heart wrench.

Please pray for "Calvin"... and the other students like him.

Answered.

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where you are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

- Hillsongs, Came to my Rescue-  

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In July... I prayed and asked God for something. 

Yesterday he answered.  I can't get the praise and worship to stop in my head!
I find myself singing all the time! 

Thank you Lord!

I pray that my eyes would be lifted this year. 

I pray that you would be lifted high in my life this year. 

I pray that you would be lifted high in my love this year. 

I pray that my heart would be alligned to your heart. 

I pray that I would be focused on your voice. 

I pray that I would have a heart of a servant. 

I pray that I would live simply and love extravagantly.

I pray that I would know you more. 

I pray that I would love you more. 

I pray that I would reflect you more. 

I love you Lord, Happy New School Year! 

Be lifted high!

-M

Journal Entry from Aug 30th- A meeting with 3 other missionaries!

This weekend I met 3 inspiring people. I met N***,T***, and M***. We went out for Chinese food and had a great conversation. I want to remember this afternoon!

N*** is an entrepreneur mobilizing young people to move into low income housing and to be missionaries in their own cities. He had some really cool stories. He's both visionary and encouraging. If any of you are feeling restless and not sure how to be a missionary, while, staying committed to your job, family, church..etc.., let me know and I'll connect you with his ministry. N**** said he wants to blur the line between 'missionaries' and 'lay people' in the church. I like that!

T*** has been a missionary in Africa and Pakistan for many years... her and her husband raised five kids on the field... (even before there was internet!!) Every now and then I meet hard core, old school missionaries and I can't help but wonder if our generation is just a completely different breed. She is very gentle and sweet. I wish I had longer to pick her brain.

M*** has been a missionary in Pakistan and Afghanistan for the last 33 years. He is also hard core. He referred to himself as a 'tea drinker'... meaning it's his full time job to drink tea with people, get into their lives, and share the love of Christ with them. I took it as a compliment when he called me a tea drinker.

At one point, T***, N****, M*** and I were discussing moving into slums in 'low risk' vs. 'high risk' environments. A low risk environment would be a low income neighborhood in Canada. A high risk environment would be moving into a slum in India or Africa. During this conversation, I said, "I don't understand how this works.. I know this sounds bad, but isn't sending a single, north American woman, to live in a slum in a high risk environment...isn't that a death wish for her?" To which N*** and M*** responded that one doesn't move in, until they have built enough of a relationship with the community and neighbors that they're surrounded by. Once you are "in" with them... the community becomes your protection. (This takes a while.. N***'s sister is living in a slum in Indonesia, and it took her 3 years to build enough of a relationship with the people in the slum to do that 'safely'.)The risk of danger, theft and harm, never dissipates, but when you're embraced as a part of the community, the people look after you.

This whole conversation fascinates me. I live in a completely different world than the world of the people that I had lunch with today.

I don't know too many people that are actually living out this concept of "love"...this radically and passionately...I don't know anyone right now that is testing this theory about "the community in the slum rising up to protect you..." like N***'s sister is doing right now... That takes guts for sure!

I feel so encouraged to meet 'average' folks who are putting it all on the line to serve God.

If there is anything I took away from that conversation, it's the when you give your life to God... He delivers. When I first became a Christian... I remember thinking... "I don't think I could do full time ministry"... my reason: I thought it would be too boring.

My conclusion now... the more you surrender different areas of your life to God... the more interesting your life gets!

TwoThings that Made Me Cry

Today, I was thinking about Afghanistan.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a book I read this week. It's incredible. Khaled Hosseini is an intriguing story teller. By the time I finished reading it, I wanted to go to Afghanistan because I was enraptured with the unique and beautiful culture that spills from the pages... but at the same time I was so thankful that I wasn't there because of the horrific ways women (and the Afghanistan people) are treated under the Taliban's regime. This is a whole other world that I am so far removed from...but is very much a reality... This book is one I would highly recommend... even though it's sad.. it's not as graphic as the Kite Runner... and it's ending is redemptive.

1.) I came across this link that my friend had attached to his facebook page and it made my heart so heavy. My instinct when I read about things like this is to have a unfiltered, raw conversation with God... "So, God... where were you on that one...? You said you came to seek and save the lost.... You said you didn't come to for the healthy, but for the sick... That seems pretty sick to me! WHERE WERE YOU?! Where are you?!"

2.) When I was driving home today... I heard a song on the radio by Rita Springer.... and it made me cry. I spent about 20 mins trying to look it up... but can't find it for you guys. Instead I'll post this one- it's similar... and also really good! This made me cry because I believe it's God's response to my raw question. I like Rita Springer's worship style because it sounds so unfiltered... it's just her crying out a response to God's love. If I were a worship leader, this is how I would want to lead people into worship. While I was driving in the car, I was so convicted and overcome with the awareness of God's presence and love. I started thinking about what it would look like if the people of Afghanistan felt His love. If there were hundreds of thousands of people that were engaged in worshiping Jesus...feeling what I felt in that moment... responding to God's love. Not oppressed by militant Islamic law... but freely and joyfully enjoying the love of God. I am undone. I long for that day. This is what made me cry.

My Conclusion:

I need to be more engaged with the current events happening in the world so that my vision for what I'm doing stays big. Our mission is that we want to change the world, by helping students discover Jesus. Simple mission statement. Not so simple mission.

Secondly, I need to engage my students with what is happening in the world. I think Christians should be the most informed and active people in politics. The apathy that is typical of Canadian youth is so frustrating. I want my students to be people that are inspired and motivated to be the flood gates of God's love in the spiritually darkest places in the world.

Will you pray with me this week for:
a.) Students at CU and OU that will come to know God this year, and become world changers!
b.) Students that will be a floodgate of God's love in Afghanistan!
c.) That God will raise my eyes and enlarge my heart with His vision for our campus ministry!
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Support Update:
-praise God for another $100 of monthly support and $175 of one time gifts!
-praise God for 25 contacts (people that said they would like to support me through their finances or prayers, but don't know how much they can commit to yet)
- Praise God, I only have $450/monthly support left to raise! Please pray with me that He will provide all I need and that I will be able to report by next week!

PS- I know I promised to tell you about our Frosh week... plans... It's coming!

Back from Vancouver!

Bonjour!

I'm back from Vancouver! It was a fantastic time! Thank you so much for your prayers and support! The majority of my time over the last 2.5 weeks have been spent in seminars and discussion groups, receiving training and brain storming better ways to reach students with the Gospel.

Here are a couple of memorable conversations I had:

Men with Accents
I met a couple of guys from the United Kingdom. What they told me about the ministry there really impacted me! They invited me to come to the UK for reading week (Feb 2011) to do some evangelism on their campuses and bring as many students there as possible. One of them told me that 'statistically speaking', the number of people that respond to the Gospel n China is 1 in 3. In the United States it's 1 in 10. In Canada it's 1 in 20. In most Western European countries (Such as England and Scotland) its 1 in 300. Despite these 'statistics', God is moving in the UK! I really want to be a part of it!!!! The fellas' names are Ross and Ben. Ben told me that the majority of ppl that are coming out to their discipleship groups are non-Christians...! What an opportunity to be a light in a dark place! My problem is that when people tell me they are in t tough situation... my immediate response is "what an opportunity!!!" I'll let you know in the next couple of posts, if I decide to take them up on their offer and head to the UK for a couple of weeks in Feb. Regardless of whether or not I go, let's pray that Ottawa U and Carleton will send some strong student leaders to help these men bring Jesus to the lost students in Europe!

Will you take a minute right now and pray for them and their ministries in Glasgow, Scotland and Bristol, England? Both of them are pretty much pioneering their ministries from scratch..and I don't think either of them have a staff team... Brave men!

Pioneering ....I had a chance to catch up with some friends who just spent the last year ministering in my old city in EA! They told me that this past summer, nine... yes nine... NINE students were sent on mission's projects all over their country and in a couple of nearby closed countries! They have a weekly worship meeting that has roughly 50 students involved. I am in awe of what God has done with our 11 months on that campus 5 years ago...and what He has continued to do over the past 5 years!

When we arrived in our closed country in EA five years ago, we were 5 recently graduated students with no real "experience in full time ministry"... we were given a name of a University written down on a piece of paper (in a different language)... and someone pointed us in the direction of the buses we should catch to get to our city... ha ha! That was pretty much what we started with. We were so naive! There are so many things that should have gone wrong that year but didn't! I have no idea how it didn't end in catastrophe....(honestly speaking!) Five years later lives are still being impacted on that campus and students are taking the Gospel to the world!!!!! Honestly... if you fog a mirror..God can use you in astounding ways!

What I've reflected on this week:
Training is so important and it's such a blessing to get insight and ideas from people who have been doing what I do for the last 30+ years. And gaining experience is so important when it comes to growing in character and developing as a strong leader. That being said, training and experience are nothing compared to the power of straight up prayer and obedience. Sometimes God asks us to do something and those are our only two options.

Some of you might be wondering... so what came out of this training and discussion time..? I have more to share about some exciting initiatives that we'll be using in the fall during Frosh Week to bring more students to Jesus.... .

These initiatives involve:
a.) Orphans in Tanzania
b.) Drilling a well in Benin
c.) Grilling 200+ hamburgers in one afternoon while playing Ultimate Frisbee outside the residences...
d.) Bringing this woman to speak on our campuses about Jesus and how she learned to forgive the people that bombed her village...
d.) All of the above and more...

I know... I know.. I have you intrigued... now I will leave you with that... I'll explain it all i a few days.. but for now... I am tired from my plane ride home and I need to rest.

The Game Plan for the coming week... Please pray for me:

a.) I an trying to meet with as many new and old supporters as possible for the month of Aug. Right now I have 11 appointments set up and 4 'maybes' for the month. Please pray with me that over the month of Aug, I will be able to meet with 30 individuals or couples... This is a very crucial aspect of our ministry... and August is a limited window of opportunity to meet with new supporters and old friends.

b.) I am praying that I'll see $570/month raised by the end of August so that I'll be fully funded for another year by Sept 1st.

c.) I am praying that God will connect me with more people that will want to pray for the students in Ottawa and for our staff team. Prayer partners are key. We need them!

Love you all very much! Thank you for your support and prayers!

Here is my music recommendation for the week:
A Great Song by Erwin McManus' Daughter- Mariah McManus

God Bless!
M