There is a guy, Zach, at project that says "What up (everything)". What up Harry Potter, what up project meal, what up shorts, what up microphone. So we are all saying that. Speaking of Harry Potter, we went to see it on our day off and really enjoyed it (photos on facebook!). But anyways, one week tomorrow I will be jumping on a plane and flying across the pond again! Craaaazy times. It has been really cool, even though we miss the other girls and we all realize how quiet the room is, Jo, Kelli and I have developed deeper friendships as we open up and share more. There are issues going on and very hard times at the moment for one of them, pray that the truth of the gospel would be clear, very very clear and wouldn't just be head knowledge but trickle down to her hearts in a more complete belief of the truth.
One thing that was cool at leadership training was how we are to be replaceable. We have to disciple in a way that will enable the disciples to disciple other people! If we are not reproducing and being replaced, it'll cause stagnation. So to stay in a role of leadership is not at all strategic, there'll be no growth but it would be because of pride you do it. Zach (project director) said that this was how people grow... in the end, if they wanted the BEST people that KNOW the most and are the WISEST and more EXPERIENCED, there would be a staff member in each of the rooms and not room leaders and it would do alot of good to the disciples in those rooms... but that's the beauty of it, we grow as we lead others and are lead by others... God doesn't seem to work in "efficient" ways, as it were, but uses our failures and lack of experience to bring himself glory. It's kind of crazy really, but I have just been in awe of the fact that I am a room leader not because of my great wisdom and knowledge and spirituality (note the sarcasm in here please) but for my growth as well as their growth. It's something I kind of knew, but it was great to be reminded about that. And as Colin in Navs said, you are not a "leader who serves", you are a "servant who leads" so that when you are not leading and that is taken away, you remain a servant. If you identity is being a leader then when that is taken away, what are you left with? But we are servants of Jesus Christ.
So thats just a wee thought for now. The social tomorrow night is a dance party with both Projects and we are to dress up as what we wanted to be when we were younger. I can't really remember if I wanted to be anything weird (like Lucy who wanted to be a dustbin collector) but I always wanted to be an actress so we went to a thrift store (aka charity shop) and there were like no clothes and we found a lone rail and the guy shouted over that everything cost one dollar! So I found a lovely red dress that a movie star would wear and got it for a pound! And I broke my shoe before getting in the car to go to that shop so now I am wearing lovely blue and white polka dot flip flips for a dollar. So that was a financial WIN. Its been amazing to see God's provision as I have been here, with the job and support I have been able to cover the rent for Project and thought still need to put back money in my normal account that I have used for expenses here (for my rent), I am just in wonder of how God has provided and I'm sure will continue to - even though we had to pay 200 dollars for the car to be fixed (now it is running again, thank goodness! - it was the fuel pump. Lesson learnt!). He is faithful in my faithlessness.
Last 3 days of work coming up and then the schedule breaks down. Monday we will be going to Charleston for the day and we have lots of "return training" going on as we all prepare to head back. So pray for us through that and I will be blogging again before the end...
With lots and lots of love,
Kat
Ps. The title is because it has been raining since Monday. Rain, please leave us for one week? =D
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Saturday 23 July 2011
Less than 2 weeks to go?
I can't believe how fast time has gone, but even though there are less than two weeks but this is by no means the end. And we have gone down in number again, Rachel left a while back and Libby just left us to go back to Missouri on Thursday. She was homesick earlier on and almost left like two weeks in but then it went away and she was fine! But decided a while back she would probably leave Project early to decide what courses to do next year and spend time with the family. So now the room feels really empty! But Kelli, Jo and I had some bonding time this morning as we realized that the gas (petrol) in Matt Harsh's car (he leant us it for the summer) was completely out (because it was like empty when we drove to the airport and back but other people drove it so we didn't notice!) and then on the way to Bible Study Training it really did die. So today for like 3 hours (10.30am till like 1.15pm) in the heat of the day (100 degress f.) we ran back and forth from the petrol station with our wee galloon bucket buying petrol and trying to get it to start up again. It's not the oil and we looked at the petrol pump fuse thingy and it was fine - what can I say, I'm learning a ton about cars! We let Matt know what happened and felt really bad we let it get that low, he said he wasn't mad, just a bit frustrated because he knows its an old car but its his old girl... so, a lot of lessons being learnt. Apparently there is a cylinder??? thing inside the petrol thing (Yep, I am car ignorant) that is supposed to sit in petrol to keep it cool and if the tank (thats it, tank!) was empty it could overheat so we will try again tonight when it is cooler. So that was today - I work at 5-11.30pm in Fire and Ice... I can't express how much I love it here, and I like working with coffee and ice-cream but honestly, its about the people I am working with. James and Caroline (Papi and Mammy!) grandparents, Sarah and her 3 nephews Josh, William and Jack... I love them all =). So now I have my real family, my Kenyan family, my Arequipa-German family, my Lima-Australian family and now my South Carolinian family :). I am so blessed.
I am still grasping how loved I am and how I am to just REST in the good news of the gospel, it's not me changing anyone. We had a Job Social (where we put on skits and songs and invited all our employers and co-workers to watch and Greg gave a gospel presentation talk) and Josh and William came along and got to hear it =)! But I loved when Greg explained how this king of all, while we were still in sin, gave Jesus to die for us. If, when still in sin, Jesus DIED for me, how much more, when I fail at praying, or fail at depending on Him will he not love me and teach me and heal me and change me!? Its like.. when I was hostile and an enemy he sent his son to DIE for us, and for me... then as his beloved, holy daughter (by Jesus' blood) will he not change me to be more like Him, for his glory?. That was extremely encouraging and has had me drawing closer in prayer (so so so slowly.. its clear its not my decision to pray that has me doing it, its only a teeny bit by a teeny bit as I see his love...) and enjoy Him.
So it has been super busy, with working 40 hours this past week on top of everything else (haha welcome to everyone else's experience of Project Katherine Heron) which is why it may seem I am not online a ton... but I am still alive and well and kicking :). Pray for Kelli and Jo and myself, we still have things to talk and work through, and pray for unity and honesty between the three of us in the last time we have together. I really am growing to love the girls in the room more and more and miss Rachel and now Libby, but everything happens for a reason. :)
Also, I know I said I would NOT be coming back next summer and I am not saying I've changed my mind, but the folks here are Fire and Ice keep asking me if I am and that I would be able to work here for the summer, etc. etc. so yeah, I am just thinkign about it at the mo.. next summer is a while away yet but, just to let you know that thought is on my mind :).
Thanks for your love and support and prayers in the midst of the little communication going on at the moment.
Ok, so this is the song that comes on one trillion times a day in Fire and Ice:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9q1ScC4cg
Just for a feel for the music I listen too haha and it is totally growing on me. :)
Love from beautiful Garden City,
Kat =)
I am still grasping how loved I am and how I am to just REST in the good news of the gospel, it's not me changing anyone. We had a Job Social (where we put on skits and songs and invited all our employers and co-workers to watch and Greg gave a gospel presentation talk) and Josh and William came along and got to hear it =)! But I loved when Greg explained how this king of all, while we were still in sin, gave Jesus to die for us. If, when still in sin, Jesus DIED for me, how much more, when I fail at praying, or fail at depending on Him will he not love me and teach me and heal me and change me!? Its like.. when I was hostile and an enemy he sent his son to DIE for us, and for me... then as his beloved, holy daughter (by Jesus' blood) will he not change me to be more like Him, for his glory?. That was extremely encouraging and has had me drawing closer in prayer (so so so slowly.. its clear its not my decision to pray that has me doing it, its only a teeny bit by a teeny bit as I see his love...) and enjoy Him.
So it has been super busy, with working 40 hours this past week on top of everything else (haha welcome to everyone else's experience of Project Katherine Heron) which is why it may seem I am not online a ton... but I am still alive and well and kicking :). Pray for Kelli and Jo and myself, we still have things to talk and work through, and pray for unity and honesty between the three of us in the last time we have together. I really am growing to love the girls in the room more and more and miss Rachel and now Libby, but everything happens for a reason. :)
Also, I know I said I would NOT be coming back next summer and I am not saying I've changed my mind, but the folks here are Fire and Ice keep asking me if I am and that I would be able to work here for the summer, etc. etc. so yeah, I am just thinkign about it at the mo.. next summer is a while away yet but, just to let you know that thought is on my mind :).
Thanks for your love and support and prayers in the midst of the little communication going on at the moment.
Ok, so this is the song that comes on one trillion times a day in Fire and Ice:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9q1ScC4cg
Just for a feel for the music I listen too haha and it is totally growing on me. :)
Love from beautiful Garden City,
Kat =)
Tuesday 12 July 2011
He is commited to renewing us.
I don't even know where to start. This summer looks like a constant battle of me trying to control everything, trying to control the growth of the girls in my room. Trying to not be sinful and be impressive to God. Because I often see God as a taskmaster and I am a performer and when I fail, he is disappointed with me and I have to try harder (this is not the way it is btw, but the way I see it). Because I really can't change anyone's life. And even when I see that, it takes a while before I come to God to pray about it (I don't trust he is good), I just try to ignore my failures or try harder. I want to see fruit, I want to see progress and it is just so tangled up and messy that I can't see anything happening, though I trust it is. I want order, I want to be able to see what is going on and where I am.
But I forget that God is committed to my renewal as well as the girls in my room. And he changes me and makes me dependant on him by showing me that it's not about me seeing their growth so I can congratulate myself on doing a good job. It's about me being faithful and abiding in Him and trusting him - he produces the fruit. On Sunday the pastor talked about how wrestling with sin is something we do as Christians, it's a constant cycle of repentance. So that was encouraging. It's not about eventually getting it all together and understanding it all - because God is glorified by weakness. And "religion" (performance, trying to please God) is a very hard taskmaster for imperfect people. If I believed God is a God of love and grace and IT IS FINISHED I would stop trying so hard to impress and just rest. Slumped on the floor, unable to control anything but singing and rejoicing that it is not all about me, it's about God and he is doing this because he is committed to HIS GLORY. And as I rest and enjoy that love, there'll be a natural overflow pouring out others.
1 Cor 4:7 "For who makes you different from anyone else? [God] What do you have that you did not receive? [Nothing] And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? [I want to be the centre]"
1 Cor 3:6-7 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow"
So even as I finish planning for our small group tonight where I am praying we will be open to confess sin and confront each other... it's not me that does anything, no matter how things turn out. This has been on my heart and I am slowly starting to see the joy of letting go.
That's all for now :)
Kat
But I forget that God is committed to my renewal as well as the girls in my room. And he changes me and makes me dependant on him by showing me that it's not about me seeing their growth so I can congratulate myself on doing a good job. It's about me being faithful and abiding in Him and trusting him - he produces the fruit. On Sunday the pastor talked about how wrestling with sin is something we do as Christians, it's a constant cycle of repentance. So that was encouraging. It's not about eventually getting it all together and understanding it all - because God is glorified by weakness. And "religion" (performance, trying to please God) is a very hard taskmaster for imperfect people. If I believed God is a God of love and grace and IT IS FINISHED I would stop trying so hard to impress and just rest. Slumped on the floor, unable to control anything but singing and rejoicing that it is not all about me, it's about God and he is doing this because he is committed to HIS GLORY. And as I rest and enjoy that love, there'll be a natural overflow pouring out others.
1 Cor 4:7 "For who makes you different from anyone else? [God] What do you have that you did not receive? [Nothing] And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? [I want to be the centre]"
1 Cor 3:6-7 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow"
So even as I finish planning for our small group tonight where I am praying we will be open to confess sin and confront each other... it's not me that does anything, no matter how things turn out. This has been on my heart and I am slowly starting to see the joy of letting go.
That's all for now :)
Kat
Sunday 3 July 2011
Gesundheit
Wow. I just wanted to say THANKYOU. That you for your encouragement, from writing to me when I take ages to reply, for updating me on the BIG things that are going on and also the smaller details that I love to hear about. It is so encouraging to know that the girls here have so much more than me and my prayers but there are prayers of so many people for them and for myself! I feel really loved and just, thankful for the support. Today at Life Training we were talking about God's will for our life: basically, to grow (our santification) and to go (out to the world, making disciples) and it suddenly hit me. (What?) That if I want to disciple, want to make disciples, this is like the best opportunity to do it, the conditions are perfect. No, I don't work at Walmart but I live, eat, sleep, learn and play with these girls. Normal discipleship probably looks like meeting up once a week and seeing each other semi-routinely but this is like, intensely intentional. I sort of knew it, but I am encouraged to really pour myself into this more and to not just want to make disciples, but that the girls would be discipled to be disciple-makers. So that at the end of the summer they are not just encouraged to look towards Christ and the gospel but encouraged to point others towards Christ and the gospel! Thus they will grow and go at the same time!
On a sad note, Rachel went home on Wednesday just because of hard stuff going on at home that she needed to go back for, and she won't be coming back. It was hard to get through last week but by the start of this week I was more mentally prepared for it. We woke up at 4.30am, dropped her off and went to bed at 6am (till 8am). We miss her and for some reason one person less makes the room seem alot emptier. But we were confident this is where God wants her and it's not like she hated Project, she wanted to stay.
That night, the first night after staff left there was "no curfew (11pm) until you get wet". So basically, we had to stay on the grounds and run about and hide until the team leaders/project directors hit us with a water balloon/super soaker/bowl/cup of water. Last year I decided I would get in a bin bag (with a breathing hole of course) and just lie in the pile of bags that is usually beside the dumpster (coz it is always full) (dumpster = like a massive bin) but when I went to scan out the area there were no bags and the dumpster was only 1/4 full. So after thinking about it, I got armed with lots of Walmart bags, my mp3 player and phone and at 10.45pm I subtly went over by the dumpster "talking on my phone" and when no one was looking, opened up the lid and climbed in. I made space in the back corner and sat on bags and put bags over my legs and a big one over me and listened to music. 11pm came and went and there were screams and shouting and I kept expecting someone to come and open the dumpster (last year I hid behind it and they opened it and then found me after) (hence the bags with me to disguise myself) and then the leaders went round the front to get more people. So I waited. Midnight came and went and I still heard voices. 12.15. 12.25. I heard footsteps and thought this was the hardcore searching time (couple of years ago a guy was hiding on the roof and the leaders pulled everyone out their rooms to look for him at 12.30). So I aimed to stay there at 12.30. No one. So I then, everytime a car went past (and made noise), moved to a standing position (bags make a lot of noise) and at 12.35 climbed out. Everyone was asleep, lights off, the game was over. So I was technically free to not go to bed since I was dry so I sat out on the deck and watched the sea for 10 mins. And then was tired so had a shower (necessary) and went to bed just after 1am. 5.30am was the prayer team for the India team (a team going to India next Thursday that all went to Project last year and came for a week to encourage us for our missions themed week and be encouraged). So prayed for them (and met other people who had been hiding till 12 and then gave up coz no one was looking and went to bed) and then went back to bed at like 6.30am slept in till almost 11am!! NICE. So that was my lie-in day. That's my fun event of the week. =). And kids in shanty towns can spend hours in rubbish so I wouldn't die doing it for 2 hours.
On a GREAT, EXCELLENT, AMAZING note - I am working at Fire and Ice!!! I went in on Thursday to do some banking and James called me over to the back explaining they wanted to give me a job and Sarah (his daughter, who runs the place) wanted me to be there! Instead of getting a job for the 3 of us, they just wanted one person who could learn everything so Sarah could get some time off! So that'll be me! And they are looking at another job for Ben and Zara and hopefully by Tuesday it'll be sorted out! So it'll be me volunteering, and then giving donations to Campus Outreach. Basically, I love it. It's a coffee/ice-cream shop so I have been learning the coffee trade (one caramel macchiato? of course!) and I feel like scooping ice-cream for people would make me happy so I am happy to scoop ice-cream for people =D. I am the first person working them outside the family (James and Caroline; parents, their daughter, Sarah and their grandson, William) so they keep saying I am adopted and I am to make myself at home and help myself to whatever, and James even said that if I was ever in need, to ask for whatever I needed. They are the nicest people ever. I don't know how I'll ever work anywhere else after this. So I am getting 30 hours a week. And absolutely loving it. I'm going to take my camera in to get photos so they'll be up on facebook soon.Pray for them, they would call themselves Christians but I don't know if they have a relationship with Jesus. May I be wise and loving and make the most of every opportunity there.
So happy days for that! At the moment I am in Atlanta Bread and Allie and I have been here for almost 3 hours. I had a bread bowl with soup (sooo good) and we talked for ages and are now just chilling. =). Day of rest! There has been a cold going round and Jo had it, Kelli had it and now I have got it (this explains the blog title). Libby is fine up till now. Silly me for not bringing Lemsip but this day of rest is helping. Will still be taking Perspectives with Ben and Zara and now we are on the history of missions which is really exciting to read about. I am getting more time around the girls for one-on-one's and it' s such a joy to see them grasp another truth of the gospel, or get excited about studying the Bible or just hang out with them and get to know them as people. So compared to last week's distress/rest, the end of this week has been good. Although now I have work as well so am more busy and have to plan ahead to make sure I meet up with them.
Time is flying, it is already July... oh boy, don't let me get onto how patriotic church was today (no I did not pledge allegiance to the American flag but I do desire that God would bless America so sang along with them) and there'll be some good fireworks tomorrow!
Thanks for reading, and may you be encouraged!
Kat
On a sad note, Rachel went home on Wednesday just because of hard stuff going on at home that she needed to go back for, and she won't be coming back. It was hard to get through last week but by the start of this week I was more mentally prepared for it. We woke up at 4.30am, dropped her off and went to bed at 6am (till 8am). We miss her and for some reason one person less makes the room seem alot emptier. But we were confident this is where God wants her and it's not like she hated Project, she wanted to stay.
That night, the first night after staff left there was "no curfew (11pm) until you get wet". So basically, we had to stay on the grounds and run about and hide until the team leaders/project directors hit us with a water balloon/super soaker/bowl/cup of water. Last year I decided I would get in a bin bag (with a breathing hole of course) and just lie in the pile of bags that is usually beside the dumpster (coz it is always full) (dumpster = like a massive bin) but when I went to scan out the area there were no bags and the dumpster was only 1/4 full. So after thinking about it, I got armed with lots of Walmart bags, my mp3 player and phone and at 10.45pm I subtly went over by the dumpster "talking on my phone" and when no one was looking, opened up the lid and climbed in. I made space in the back corner and sat on bags and put bags over my legs and a big one over me and listened to music. 11pm came and went and there were screams and shouting and I kept expecting someone to come and open the dumpster (last year I hid behind it and they opened it and then found me after) (hence the bags with me to disguise myself) and then the leaders went round the front to get more people. So I waited. Midnight came and went and I still heard voices. 12.15. 12.25. I heard footsteps and thought this was the hardcore searching time (couple of years ago a guy was hiding on the roof and the leaders pulled everyone out their rooms to look for him at 12.30). So I aimed to stay there at 12.30. No one. So I then, everytime a car went past (and made noise), moved to a standing position (bags make a lot of noise) and at 12.35 climbed out. Everyone was asleep, lights off, the game was over. So I was technically free to not go to bed since I was dry so I sat out on the deck and watched the sea for 10 mins. And then was tired so had a shower (necessary) and went to bed just after 1am. 5.30am was the prayer team for the India team (a team going to India next Thursday that all went to Project last year and came for a week to encourage us for our missions themed week and be encouraged). So prayed for them (and met other people who had been hiding till 12 and then gave up coz no one was looking and went to bed) and then went back to bed at like 6.30am slept in till almost 11am!! NICE. So that was my lie-in day. That's my fun event of the week. =). And kids in shanty towns can spend hours in rubbish so I wouldn't die doing it for 2 hours.
On a GREAT, EXCELLENT, AMAZING note - I am working at Fire and Ice!!! I went in on Thursday to do some banking and James called me over to the back explaining they wanted to give me a job and Sarah (his daughter, who runs the place) wanted me to be there! Instead of getting a job for the 3 of us, they just wanted one person who could learn everything so Sarah could get some time off! So that'll be me! And they are looking at another job for Ben and Zara and hopefully by Tuesday it'll be sorted out! So it'll be me volunteering, and then giving donations to Campus Outreach. Basically, I love it. It's a coffee/ice-cream shop so I have been learning the coffee trade (one caramel macchiato? of course!) and I feel like scooping ice-cream for people would make me happy so I am happy to scoop ice-cream for people =D. I am the first person working them outside the family (James and Caroline; parents, their daughter, Sarah and their grandson, William) so they keep saying I am adopted and I am to make myself at home and help myself to whatever, and James even said that if I was ever in need, to ask for whatever I needed. They are the nicest people ever. I don't know how I'll ever work anywhere else after this. So I am getting 30 hours a week. And absolutely loving it. I'm going to take my camera in to get photos so they'll be up on facebook soon.Pray for them, they would call themselves Christians but I don't know if they have a relationship with Jesus. May I be wise and loving and make the most of every opportunity there.
So happy days for that! At the moment I am in Atlanta Bread and Allie and I have been here for almost 3 hours. I had a bread bowl with soup (sooo good) and we talked for ages and are now just chilling. =). Day of rest! There has been a cold going round and Jo had it, Kelli had it and now I have got it (this explains the blog title). Libby is fine up till now. Silly me for not bringing Lemsip but this day of rest is helping. Will still be taking Perspectives with Ben and Zara and now we are on the history of missions which is really exciting to read about. I am getting more time around the girls for one-on-one's and it' s such a joy to see them grasp another truth of the gospel, or get excited about studying the Bible or just hang out with them and get to know them as people. So compared to last week's distress/rest, the end of this week has been good. Although now I have work as well so am more busy and have to plan ahead to make sure I meet up with them.
Time is flying, it is already July... oh boy, don't let me get onto how patriotic church was today (no I did not pledge allegiance to the American flag but I do desire that God would bless America so sang along with them) and there'll be some good fireworks tomorrow!
Thanks for reading, and may you be encouraged!
Kat
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