Brokenness of Roma

In the online course I am taking we are discussing the poor, what it means to be poor in light of scripture and who are the poor in the cities we are going to. My heart is once again beginning to break as I look afresh and anew at the poverty both spiritually and physically in Roma.

In my research I came across this blog Here is a small section that I think really highlights why I am desiring to go and be used by God...

The eternal city of Rome is a city full of life, a city rich in culture and history. Tourists flood the city every day huddling around the great triumphs of history: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Vatican city to name a few. Behind the glamor of fashion and the awe of ages past lies a city in poverty and spiritual emptiness. Latest estimates say that 25% of Italians are in poverty, and the government has few social programs and no long term answers. Spiritually the reality is worse. Much less than .01% are evangelical Christian. On the other hand immigrants see Italy as the land of opportunity, a place to start over, a place to raise a family and find work. When they arrive after risking everything they are met with the reality of a nation without jobs and severe discrimination. Because of this reality many turn to crime and prostitution to survive.


Though they are prejudiced against the immigrant population that streams into Italy from Eastern Europe and Bangladesh, they share the common struggle of poverty and hopelessness. We believe that the hope and love of Jesus is a cool drink of water that these people need. But at the same time they don't need just words, they need physical help.click here to see more images taken by a fantasic photographer that capture the other side of Roma

Friends it is so clear that the need is great in this city. Please continue to join me in prayer for the hearts of those living on the streets and in the hard parts of Roma.

October

In just two weeks I will be finishing up with my official work at Felton Bible Church and I will have 100% of my time to dedicate towards going to Rome! It is hard to say farewell to the students as their leader, but I trust that I am leaving them in God's hands and I can already see Him providing for them in big ways as He is also providing for me.

Many of you have been joining me in prayer regarding an upcoming training in Minnesota this October, praying that I might get to attend and not have to wait until the next time it is offered in April. Thank you for your prayers! God has seen fit to answer and I do get to attend the Pre-field Training Live Event from October 7th-15th! This is exciting news because it means I am one huge step closer to leaving for Rome and joining my team!

Speaking of my City Team, there is exciting news there as well! I just got word a week or two ago that I have two almost three new teammates joining the team. Brian and Sarah my Team Leaders, just got the opportunity to host Zach and Naomi as they came for their Vision Trip to Rome a few weeks ago! After the trip I found out that they have accepted the call to join our team in Rome, and that Naomi is pregnant! So really it will be Zach, Naomi and the new baby joining us in the Eternal City!

God is doing some pretty amazing things and I am getting more and more anxious to get to Rome and start serving along side my new teammates! Thank you all for your ongoing support and prayers! My monthly support is continuing to come in and with each new donor I am that much closer to starting this new life in Rome that God has invited me to! SO THANK YOU!!!

Boulder Creek Fire

Hello friends there is yet another fire in CA and this time it is even closer to my home, so please join me in praying that they get it out quickly! Right now all I know is that it is a wildland fire about an acre and near Boulder Creek, right up past my home. There are air tankers, bulldozers and fire crews there along with helicopters so it seems like they will get things taken care of, but praying is always a good thing.

While you are at it you can join me in praying for the people in Burkina Faso, Africa where my sister was and is heading back to live. They are experiencing a a pretty intense flood in the capital city of Ouagadougou.

Image by jcolman via Flickr

There was also a major Earthquake in Indonesia today a 7.0 which has left at least 32 people dead. So we can be praying for the people there as well.

Friends there is also a lot of good in the world, so I do not want you to think I am saying the world is falling apart around us, but I do think it is important for us to be lifting the concerns of our hearts up to God in prayer. And when He answers give Him all the praise and glory. God is Good all the time! Even in the midst of chaos.

producers needed

ReachGlobal is putting together a team of Video Producers to help capture the desperate need that exists in Europe as well as God Sightings in Europe. So since I know I have a lot of friends that are video producers I thought I would pass along the information. Here is a radio broadcast that talks about the project in more detail.

Also for the application you can click here

Just one more way for you to be actively involved in what God is doing in Europe!

Enjoy. I am gone for the week to serve at the Los Angeles Dream Center with my students and some people from my church, so I thought I would leave you with something to enjoy

Stress Release

Cover via Amazon

So maybe you are not like me and you do not get stressed out by details and deadlines, but I am not a fan of either...so you may have picked up in my last few posts a tension. My apologies. Finally the overwhelming amount of stuff on my plate, good and bad and the facts of raising support and keeping track of numbers for ReachGlobal and youth group and taking an online course and two summer trips, well it got to me.

There you have it friends I am human and I do have a breaking point. That point came yesterday. Yesterday all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole and curl up and cry. But this morning I took time and met with God.

Thankfully God showed up in big ways. As I opened up my book Eugene Peterson's, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. I opened to the chapter I was on and low and behold it was on Perseverance. Gee God is good at this stuff.

There is so much in this chapter which is all based on Psalm 129, that could not have applied to my life more in the moment than it did today.


I took a break from writing...Youth Ministry showed up in my office :)

Like I was saying I just love when God reveals himself to me, when he meets me in my moodiest moments and say's "hello, I am still here. I am still in control. I knew you were going to get overwhelmed, and I have prepared you for this moment." Don't you love when God is there to comfort you and remind you of his hand at work.

Since Tuesday I have been more relaxed, not because money started pouring in, but because I was able to sit down with God and be reminded that He is God, he is in control. He is preparing me even now for the work he has called me to. Right now I am learning what it means to persevere. I am being equipped for a long on going journey with Christ. I don't pretend to have God's timing all figured out, or even his plan for my life, but it is encouraging to know there is a plan and he is not only with me here and now but is walking with me, beside me and before me preparing not only the way but also this servant for the ministry he has asked me to do.

Friends, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support, and thank you for journeying with me. For putting up with my highs and lows and offering help along the way. You are such a vital resource and a huge blessing.

Super Simple

ReachGlobal being the up to date and efficient organization that they are have created an even easier way for you to get involved financially in my ministry in Rome! Gotta love that! Now all you have to do is click this HERE and you will be zipped over to a page ready to set you up for online giving! All my account info and name stuff is already entered for you so all you have to know is your info. Super simple and just in time!

For those of you who do not know I am needing to be at 50% of my monthly financial support by the end of August if I am going to get to attend the next training in October. If I do not make that training then I will not get to leave for Rome in Dec. I will have to wait until Spring. So, if you have been planning on giving or thinking about giving but have not signed up yet can I greatly encourage you that now would be a fantastic time to start giving! IF you cannot give now but would like to start giving in Dec, then please let me know what plan on doing so that I can count that in my pledges.

Thanks again for following and joining me on my Road to Rome! I love having you involved in the ministry that God has invited me into. I cannot wait to start serving along side my team in Rome! God is already at work there and I long to join Him in that work!