My teacher filmed this video to market for more students. I hope you enjoy it, and if you go to IUB, I hope you're swayed to join Finnish classes! ** author's note: It was an awesome experience to be part of the making of this video and be able to talk about how fantastic the structure and professors of the Finnish department here at IUB are. Everything said about the class is totally true and I am blessed to be a part of something so rich :)
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Lord, You stand actively, covering me with Your blood, forgiving and forgiving my sins. My mission is to further Your kingdom and spreading Your truth in all ways: action and words. To share, unashamedly. To love, patiently. To make decisions in light of what You have said, and to put Your relationship with me, and YOU- first.
Below are the people that I talked to during this week, if you could add them to your prayer list if would be great. The conversations we had we're good, but the Lord is still pursuing their hearts to give complete control of their lives over to Him, and it's going to be a journey for them to be convinced to surrender.
1. preacher's son : who knew the Lord was His savior but was not ready to give the control of his life over 2. jet ski worker: believed Jesus was a good man and that God was the creator, but does not relate them to himself, so that he doesn't have to be accountable to it 3. Julie and Molly: Julie left early but is a cultural Catholic and didn't want to talk about a personal relationship with God at all, Molly is searching for the truth but doesn't know what is right, I gave her a Gospel tract for her to study on. 4. Julie and Jen: Two who understand God exists, but don't have him as control over their lives. They do want a deeper relationship with Him. 5. Joe and Scott: Two young men who left too quickly for us to share the Gospel with. Joe was just confused about what He wanted to do, and Scott wanted a more personal relationship but ran away, we left a Gospel tract with him. 6. Dennis and Anthony: These two grew up Baptist but both felt it was only good works. Both were interested in being closer to God and giving up control of their life. Anthony was more interested, Dennis was more reluctant but still did go through the Gospel and pray with us. 7. Josie and friend: These two senior citizens were only wanting to speak bluntly. Neither wanted more of a relationship or more of a conversation than surface. They seemed very stuck in what they believed was the "good" Catholic and what they didn't want part of. 8. John and Sue; Dan and Evon: These four retired ones were all Catholic, Dan and Evon more in a personal relationship than John and Sue. We gave them tracts about letting the Holy Spirit control their lives and decisions instead of themselves... in order to give to their children (but I really gave it for them to read later!). They all felt a personal relationship always was to grow closer. 9. Edita: She was Catholic but did not give her control up. We prayed through the Holy Spirit tract, so that He would be in charge of her life. 10. Gennessa and Anne: These two were Catholic but just thought it was about works. We talked to them about the Holy Spirit tract to and helped both of them realize it's not about them, but about moving closer and loving God and letting Him do things through them. But that their life was going to change, because God was going to pursue them moreso after they prayed for the Holy Spirit to take control. The Lord is just and righteous, all His ways are fair, whether or not we understand it at the time. Alan and I have really been learning, on this last day of sessions, that the Gospel is simpler than anything we've really thought before. We've also been learning that we are a great team :) Both yesterday and today we were able to really spread the Gospel with each of us bouncing off the other and praying when we weren't talking. Today we walked to the mall, where instead of young people, there were families and older generations... which is harder to speak and spend time listening to since people are usually on their way out. It was more similar to situations I would run into at home in college and in Mishawaka, so it was (a) more challenging and, (b) more closed off. The individuals generally did not want to speak, but after simple conversation, each started to open up more and we're interested in just conversing about God. The beautiful sounds of Jesus' name being called out before and after us in the morning, solidified and confirmed that no matter where He was taking us today, it was going to be safe. Henceforth, we went to the United States largest nightclub, La Vela. With women dancing, drunkards stumbling, and laughter peeling through the mobs, one would not necessarily think that the love of Jesus could do in this place, let alone that His still Voice would even be heard. But with the strength of tons of prayer beforehand, Alan and I actually went out to those who were in groups of two and had spiritual conversations with them. We even spoke the Gospel to two individuals named Dennis and Anthony, if you would pray that the angels are strengthened around them, their hearts softened, and that they continue down the path the Lord is directing them to go. We finish out the long day (I had to sit down during worship tonight because of leg exhaustion) with a hot tub run... and awaiting us we do not know. At least 10 of those from our campus who came with us will be down there... among the mess of the beach outside our hotel. It is no La Vela, but spiritual conversations can definitely pop up where we may not have expected. I thank you for your prayers and thank the Lord for the strength and words this afternoon! watch this video quietly. embrace. email me if you want to talk more orBeauty of the CityWe got here on Saturday around 5pm. Driving through Alabama was the most interesting and desolate place I've seen in America. The porches were so large and the humidity so deep. We jumped into registration line, exposing ourselves to sweat and the plastered faces of people who had been on the road for hours. We shopped for our week's food and ran down to the beach, basking in the light of the hotel rooms all lit up like floating lights from Enchanted. On Sunday morning, time jumped ahead and we slept 11 hours. It was beautiful to sleep for such a long time and wake up to comfort of new friends and Jesus. We shot out to the beach after a nice morning, and Alan and I decided to walk down to a fisher's pier, since we are walkers and not sitters! It was beautiful and the picture opportunities were beyond imagination. Unfortunately, I do not have internet in my room, so next time I write a blog-i'll post the photos I've been taking! Through this day, the Lord changed my stereotype of those who drink. I now understand that all sin is sin. Whether or not it is drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, or lying- it is the same to the Lord. And He loves us through it, wanting to bring us back and close to Him. So to realize this and emit this atmosphere, relaxed and calmed me- allowing me to prepare for the week ahead. Sharky'sToday, in the morning, we had a session in order to worship God, hear a great sermon about who we are, and start some training to use for beach ministry.
We learned that we are the salt of the world and light of the earth: we bring life and are to guide! No matter whether we spend time with the Lord that day, or don't know how to do things- this is who we are. Present Tense. We were given some tools to take out to the beaches and have spiritual conversations with people- and they let us go. Our IU team went to a club named Sharky's, but since it was about to rain, many people were inside hotels, making it impossible for us to meet with them. So we went to talk to those who were on the beaches, far and few between. A friend and I walked through and after one commented on who he thought we were, we got into a conversation about his beliefs [vs] what religion is perceived to be for him. It was a great conversation and I pray his heart was softened a bit. The best part of it was that I had asked *Thank you holy spirit!* "What is our purpose in life?" - The person said it was to be happy, but another piped up and said he was wrong and it was to love others. This moment, the Spirit really nudged me to decipher and say that whether it was to love or to make others happy, if there was nothing for your spirit, you would still go home and be by yourself- unsatisfied and unhappy. It was great. This evening we had another session because it was raining, about tough questions like "Why is there evil in the world?" and "Is it true that religion is just culturally based? Like if I was living in India For those who haven't seen the movie yet, I highly recommend it. With only three hours left to spare until I am whisked away to a culture that I have yet to understand, I asked Camille to watch Les Mis with me at the free movie theater at IU. The movie swayed me back and forth, was worth every minute, and really got me back on my feet. I have harbored a stereotype towards the people who I will be facing this coming week. I was not ready for it and had started questioning the Lord quickly for the past two days. He has been helping me understand that each person has a background story, and the reasons for actions are varied. But this movie made it much more clear to me. Life is dark. The majority of those in the world do not live as we in the United States do. The Lord has given us this life to make clear to our points in the world that there is hope, and that God is here. Check out the movie, and let me know if you see the desperation, sacrifice, grace, mercy, and true hope that only Jesus Christ can give. Incredible :) A Video from the mega church I will be interning for this summer :)
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