Remembering the Beginning...

Yesterday, October 20th, one year ago: Day One in Japan. We arrived at the Narita Airport the evening of Friday the 19th and were met by our missionary host. We would spend the next few hours on a bus driving north to Sendai. It would take five hours to get to our destination. The first major thing I observed was that the driver's side of vehicles is on the right rather than the left. One person sat in the passenger seat, and whenever I looked ahead, I did a double take because it looked like she was driving the bus. It was such a strange feeling for the first week or so we were in Japan.

We drove for about three hours before stopping at a truck stop for a few hours to sleep. Yupp, a truck stop. The church we would be staying at was unable to receive us until 8:00am the following morning. So with the engine off, our attempt to sleep in small seats in upper-50's weather was quite hard. I was one of the first awake. I awoke at 2:30am. We weren't scheduled to leave the truck stop until 5:00am. One by one we all were awake before 5:00am, mostly due to the cold.

Our second observation of being in the East - eastern toilets, also known as "squatty potties." I'm sure you can imagine our reactions: "Ummm......sooooo.......how do you use these...?" Thank goodness there was an alternative 180 degrees different. There were also western toilets with extra features. Features such as having a heated seat, a "musical" button (I never tried it), the option to wash yourself, and others. I'm pretty sure all of us chose the second option. And we all LOVED the heated seat after being on the cold bus (it's the little things that make it all worth it). Oh, and don't forget to bring your own toilet paper!

Before arriving to Shiogama Bible Baptist Church (SBBC) we stopped for breakfast at McDonald's (super Japanese, I know) and a brief devotional through the use of tops. We arrived at SBBC at 8:00am and encountered another cultural difference - house slippers. Upon entering a building, you take your shoes off and place them in a shoe rack and slip into plastic "slippers." I really like the concept of this so as to not bring in any dirt from outside. We then went into a meeting where we learned a bit about the church and Hope Miyagi, the SBBC Disaster Relief Project, as well as some cultural tidbits and a 30 minute crash course on Japanese. We learned greetings, how to say our name and where we're from, as well as some words related to food (i.e. delicious and the equivalent to "bon apetite").

That evening we were going to be split into groups of two or three to have dinner in the homes of church families. We had the afternoon to practice our Japanese phrases and prepare for dinner. We were told most families wouldn't speak much English. We tried to use the little we barely knew as much as we could with each other during those few hours to really get the hang of it so as to not make fools out of ourselves later on.

In the afternoon we spent some time setting up our rooms. There were two rooms for the eighteen girls, nine girls to each room. The rooms were like a small studio apartment, with a small bathroom, kitchenette, and living area. Our beds were mats you spread out on the floor, with a sheet, thin comforter, and small pillow and pillow cover. Each night, you unfold your mat and set up your bed, and each morning you fold your mat into thirds, fold up your comforter, and line the mats along the walls to maximize floor space. With all nine beds spread out, we had maybe ten square feet of floor space total in the room, half in front of the bathroom and half in front of the kitchen sink.

I went with Maddie, Becca, John, and Tim down the hill to the supermarket that afternoon to get some food for our breakfasts. It was our first experience being along among the Japanese and we were able to put our hello's, pleases, and thank you's to the test. It was fun, though I had no idea what most of the foods were in the store. I remember buying the basics, bread and cheese, for warmed sandwiches.

Tim and I were assigned to have dinner with a couple from the church - Satoshi and Aya. We were told that since they speak nearly perfect English that we would speak only Japanese with them. Well, Sato and Aya told us they wanted to get to know us and have good conversation, so we mostly spoke English. Tim and I used the few phrases we had learned and Sato taught us a few others, but we were able to converse and get to know each other. Aya taught us how to make Gyoza (or potstickers) and we fried them up and ate them with some rice. Since I'm not very good at using chopsticks, they let me use a fork for my rice. We had a great time getting to know them, learn a little about what God was doing in their lives, and learn more about the Japanese culture.

In summary, our first day in Japan was full of culture shock, new experiences, and the beginnings of new friendships. I was excited for what was to come over the next two weeks we had in Sendai.

October 17th - Looking Back...

 

October 17th...a year ago today I said my goodbyes to family and this country to embark on a nine-week internship around the world - literally. It was a whole year ago that I got onto flight number one. Destination: Los Angeles, California. Around this time we were arriving in Los Angeles and being shuttled to our hotel, just blocks from the Right Light District. It was here we spent our first night and on our new journey in our new reality. Nineteen students, one professor, and one co-leader. Twenty-one of us beginning a new adventure together.

I remember the excitement I was feeling as we were in the Student Center of the dorms at Northwestern getting ready to depart for the airport. Saying goodbye to family and other loved ones, I wasn't really thinking about what exactly I was getting myself into. In the van heading to the airport I was too excited to think about the fact that I would soon be in Asia - in Japan.

But then we get to the airport. BOOM! Stress. Now, for those who don't know, I am not a fan of airports. I love to travel, but I do not like being in the airport. From the moment I arrive until I get to the gate, I am stressed. First, you stand in line to check in. You worry about saying the right thing and your luggage weighing below the maximum requirements. Then you must go through security. Waiting in line to take off shoes, belts, anything metal, pulling out liquids and electronics. All to watch them go through a machine and worry about whether or not they'll have to manually inspect your bags or worse - you. Then you must find the correct area in which your gate is located, and walk down a long hall to finally reach your gate. At this point I am able to relax. That is, until about thirty minutes before boarding time. Then I stress and worry again until I can make it safely to my seat with my bags properly stowed. I can enjoy the flight until the captain informs the passengers we are preparing to land.

Upon landing, I am making sure I don't leave anything behind, especially my passport. I don't know why, but I also don't like the process of exiting the airplane. And the fear that my luggage has been lost in transport doesn't disappear until my checked bag is accounted for. It is at thins point that I am able to almost fully able to enjoy the "travel" aspect of the airport experience. To give you an idea of the amount of stress I put myself through over the course of the nine weeks I was traveling, we had nine different flights, therefore I went through this whole ordeal on eleven different occasions.

All of this to say that we successfully made it to our hotel in Los Angeles that evening. We had a little time to "settle" into our room for the night. I shared my room with four other girls. We were split into three groups for dinner, each with one guy to accompany us gals - John, Tim, and Dr. Easterling (also known as Dr. E). My group went with Dr. E a few blocks from the hotel to a Taco Bell/KFC combo fast food restaurant. My favorite part about this place was the bullet proof glass and their way of getting money and food between the glass. There was a passageway with a door on each side. The employee would put the food through the door and then close his end. I would then open my side and grab the food. I was fascinated by this.

On our way back to the hotel, Dr. E pointed out to us five girls that most people on the street probably thought we were a couple of prostitutes and he was our "John." We actually got a kick out of this simply because Dr. E's first name is John. Despite being on the streets of LA just a few blocks from the Red Light District at ten o'clock at night, I wasn't fearful. I was aware of my surroundings and was cautious, but I was never afraid. Dr. E said that we had successfully made it through our first "culture shock."

I don't remember much after that about our short stay in Los Angeles. But I do remember the great excitement and anticipation we all felt as we were finally on our way west towards Japan and the official first leg of our trip.


I hope to post occasional blogs about my memories from my ICS Internship trip. It is crazy to think all of this happened a year ago. Yet I still don't feel fully debriefed. There is so much that has gone unsaid this past year about what I experienced, saw, and felt in each of the five countries I visited. I hope these blog posts I will be writing will help bring back memories from my travels. I don't want to forget and I want to be able to share as much as I can with others. I hope you enjoy what I will share!

Motorcycles and Public Transportation in Bangkok

I was driving into work today, and as I'm sitting in traffic, I saw three SouthWest Transit buses and a motorcycle gang of five. When I first saw the buses, I thought back to Thailand. Riding the public transportation in Bangkok was stressful yet fun. I've only ridden a public bus here in the US once, but that was about eight years ago. But what I know about the buses here is pay when you get on or you have a pass card to use. In Bangkok, the bus barely stops long enough for people to get off and on. The doors are usually open, making it slightly easier to jump in or out. If you don't hurry, you'll miss your chance. Then, a person comes walking around the bus, collecting your money in exchange for a little ticket. Depending on the bus (i.e. color, AC or not), the fee is different. I think the most I paid, that I remember, for a bus ride was eight baht (or about 27 cents). I'm not sure how much it costs here, but I think it's more than a quarter to ride. The more I rode the buses, the easier it became to know what to do. The hardest part was never knowing how much I needed to pay to ride. We relied on our Thai friends to help us with that :)

The motorcycle gang I saw also reminded me of Thailand. The motorcycles, usually the taxi motorcycles, would ride on the sidewalks rather than the busy streets. They would come flying down the already narrow sidewalks. If they were coming towards you, at least you were given a heads up. If they came from behind, they would often catch you off guard. We learned to listen for the sound of motorcycles, often looking over our shoulders to make sure there was no motorcycle needing to get through. At night, any light we saw from behind us we thought was a motorcycle coming our way. It humored me a bit that they would ride on the sidewalks and it seemed completely normal to everyone. I don't think I got used to it until 2-3 weeks of being there. It was definitely something unique to Bangkok I think.

I enjoy having these flashback moments that interrupt my usual routine to remind me of things I experienced while overseas. They're often things you can't just pick out off the top of your head at will. But sights, smells, and sounds all bring those memories to the forefront of my mind.

Help Me Find It

Music is such a powerful thing. It's amazing how certain types of music, musical elements, and lyrics can all have an effect on us. The latest song I've heard that has resonated with me is by Sidewalk Prophets called "Help Me Find It." When life seems to up in the air and uncertain to us, God has a plan. Though I may feel stuck, God isn't and He can help me through anything. The line in this song "You've never failed before, I will trust in You" reminds me yet again of how great God is, how steadfast, how reliable, how sovereign He is.

I don’t know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I’m finding I can’t do this on my own

I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I’m done fighting
I’m finally letting go

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before
I will trust in You

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I giving you doubt
You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone

Even when it hurts, You’ll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath
You’ve never let me go

I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

While I'm Waiting...

There's a song by John Waller that says, "While I'm waiting I will serve You. While I'm waiting I will worship. While I'm waiting I will not faint. I'll be running the race even while I wait." It has been three and a half months since I have returned home from my nine week internship around the world. To most people, that probably doesn't seem like a long time. Days seem to drag on, but weeks fly by, and before you know it, it's a new month. Time has gone by fast for me since returning home, but I feel like I have been home for longer. Most people who know me understand that my heart really longs to be elsewhere. My heart feels restless here. But one thing God has been teaching me for the past five years is patience.

I have been so eager to go that I have only really been looking forward to the future, not stopping to live my life in the present. I felt so certain that I was to apply to the EFCA and join their team in Lima. But when that door closed, I felt like I crashed. What now? Was the EFCA the wrong organization? Is Peru the wrong location?

But when I took a step back, what I saw was me trying to rush into missionary service in my own timing, not God's. I love to plan. I love to have all the answers. I plan out my days so precisely. But God has reminded me that my life is not my own. God has a plan for me that is far better than I could ever imagine (Jeremiah 29:11). And I need to stop running towards the future so much that I miss what God has planned for me right now. Right now I have a job in the secular world, I am involved in different areas of the Latino Ministry at church, I help out in the ARRIBA tutoring program at church, and I am still living at home with my family. These are all good things, and God has a purpose for me being where I am at. I can still make a difference and be God's instrument while I am here at home.

Whatever my future holds, whatever God has planned for me three months, six months, a year, five years down the road, I will embrace those as He reveals them to me. Until then, I must have the patience to wait. I must have joy in the present. Just because I am home in the States doesn't mean I can't make a difference. And I can use this time to grow closer to God, deepening my faith and love for Him, and preparing for what is to come.

While I had hoped to be a lot farther along in the process of becoming a missionary at this point, I don't want to go just to go. I have put a pause on applying for the EFCA. I am currently spending time in God's Word, praying, and seeking advice from family and pastors. Please continue to be praying for me as I keep adjusting to being back at home.

How My Experiences Drew Me Closer to God

It's amazing how much more worshipping God becomes once you have seen how people live without hope. In Japan, people lost everything. They lost loved ones. Many still have friends and family unaccounted for. Their homes are destroyed, their belongings washed away. Many people will die in temporary housing. And they don't know Jesus. They are so hopeless and lost. How can your heart not ache for them? In Thailand, people have never heard of Jesus. They are enslaved to Buddhism and all that the religion entails. Most can't even reject Jesus because they don't know who He is. I cried when I realized I may never see some of my Thai friends again...for all eternity. In Malaysia, the government controls the people. Racial tensions and prejudice prevents the Chinese and Indian Christians from telling the Majority (the Malay) about Jesus. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese Religions blind people to the truth. For those who want to turn away from Islam and accept Jesus, they face extreme persecution, punishment, rejection, and even death. In Jordan, mosques and calls to prayer are ever reminders of how lost the people are. In England, the church is dying.

I have a loving, God-centered family. We have freedom of religion. I can share my faith legally. I can worship God without fear of death or imprisonment. I don't say I'm lucky. I don't even want to say I'm blessed. Why should I stay here while so many people around the world are lost and suffering? Yes, there is need here, but I can't help but think of those people who I've met all over the world who don't know Jesus. Their salvation is the only thing that matters.

When I listen to music, I've always paid attention to the lyrics. But since being exposed to such depravity, lostness, and hopelessness, the words have come alive even more so. "Every tongue, every tribe, every people, every land giving glory, giving honor, giving praise unto the Lamb of God." "Purifícame..." "At the top of my lungs I will sing Hallelujah..." " We'll sing it out to let all the world know that Jesus saves..." "I wanna live with a fearless heart..." "God loves people more than anything..." When there are people you know and love who don't know Jesus, how can your heart not break for them? How can you not at the very least, pray for them if not share the love of Jesus with them?

We know that in the end, every person will bend a knee in worship of Jesus. We know that in the end, God wins and Satan is defeated. Satan has no hold on us. We are free in Christ. Our worship should not be something that brings us shame. People all over the world would love to be able to worship freely. Why are we so ashamed to be in love with Jesus? If Jesus saves people and brings them eternal life and a restoration, a life apart from sin, why don't we share it more? Why aren't we out there proclaiming it loudly on the streets? Are we so afraid to be laughed at or have people get offended? There are people out there being cut off from their families, going to jail, and even being killed for their faith. If we have the freedom here to share our faith, why don't we exercise that freedom?

Every stanza, every line, every word from songs I listen to are a reminder to me of the One that loves me. I have surrendered my life. I have given it over to God to use as He pleases. Worship has come alive even more so knowing that I am free, I am saved, and God is the one that frees the captives, no matter where they live, what they've done, who they are. Don't ever take Jesus for granted.

"I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams. Though the price to follow cost me everything, I surrender all my human soul desires. If all my kingdoms fall, I surrender all...Everything I am, all I've done and all I've known now belong to You, the life I live is not my own. Just as Abraham laid Isaac on a sacrificial fire, if all I have is all You desire, I surrender all..."

Upcoming Stories

Though it's now been a month and a half since returning home from my nine week internship around the world, I still feel like I have a lot to do to unwind, adjust, and debrief. I have so many stories from my trip that no one has heard yet. I went and re-read all of my blog posts during my trip. There was so much more I could have included had I had the time and internet access. What I would like to do, time permitting, is write out some of the stories that stood out to me from each country I visited. It may take awhile to do, but I feel like these stories need to be shared - especially those where God was at work (and there are plenty of those!). Be prepared to hear stories from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Jordan, and England. I am excited to share more of my experiences with you over the next several weeks or months it takes me write them all!

Recap

It has been a whole month since I returned from my internship around the world. It has been a long and crazy month back home. Adjusting to the time zone and catching up on sleep, processing everything that happened over the previous nine weeks, and fitting back in to normalcy have all been part of this past month. It was easier yet harder than I would have expected. I didn't experience some of the re-entry issues I was prepared for, but other things hit hard. My mind has been all over the place, from Japan to Thailand, to Peru, to home. My dreams are a jumbled mess of different experiences from everywhere I have been. Though life is starting to feel normal again, I am still very much adjusting.

I arrived back in Minneapolis the night of Tuesday, December 18th - one month ago from today. It was a whirlwind of activity. Three days after coming home, on December 21st, I graduated from Northwestern College and celebrated with some family and friends. Two days after that I was back at church and back at the Latino Ministry. The following day began the celebration of Christmas with extended family.

I would have liked to write a recap for everyone sooner than this, but life has gotten in the way from me being able to sit down and process everything I did. I want to preface by thanking everyone for your love, prayers, and encouragement from the very beginning of my journey to now. This internship wouldn't have been what it was if it wasn't for the great support base I had back home.

JAPAN
Japan was our first stop. Over the two weeks we were there, we participated in disaster relief with the Shiogama Bible Baptist Church. Five hours north of Tokyo, Sendai was hit the hardest by the tsunami and earthquake over a year ago. We spent a day driving around in a neighborhood where there was total devastation. Very few houses and many foundations of houses. Deserted beaches and mountains of rubble. It was very hard to take in. We spent the day praying for the country and the Japanese. Only about two percent of the entire Japanese population are Christians. Shinto and Buddhism permeate throughout the people and culture. To be Japanese is to be Shinto. To be Shinto is to be Japanese.

A couple praying to their ancestors at a Shinto shrine

Foundations of houses that once stood

One of many mountains of rubble that gets sorted through for recycling

 Two different days a small group from our team helped some oyster farmers get their crops back in the water. Scallop shells are placed between two strands of a twenty-foot rope. The baby oysters on the scallop shells will take two full years in the water to mature. After two years, the oyster farmers can harvest the oysters. The government will test the oysters for radiation, and then the farmers are able to sell the oysters for food. The oysters are the farmers' only source of income. The tsunami wiped out their entire crop. The farmers had to start from scratch after the tsunami hit. A tsunami warning in early December threatened their crops once again, but by the grace of God the tsunami subsided by the time it reached the shores of Japan.

Putting scallop shells into ropes which will be submerged in the ocean for three years

Our team also visited temporary housing for people whose homes were destroyed in the disaster. We heard many personal stories from the individuals we met. Family members reported dead, and some still missing. Insurance agencies have reported many neighborhoods unsafe to life in after the tsunami and/or earthquake hit the area; they would not provide insurance to the families who used to live there. As a result, many people will spend the rest of their lives in the temporary housing.

Some people we met in the temporary housing

A few other things we did during our stay in Japan included having dinner in Japanese homes (a unique experience), building large meeting tents for house churches, playing with children at parks, cleaning up a park, and singing gospel songs during church services. Leaving our new friends at the church was very hard for all of us. We enjoyed getting to know Jun, the oyster farmer; Hiromi and Julia, two of our translators from the church; and many of the missionaries there.

setting up a meeting tent for a future house church with Samaritan's Purse

cleaning up a park that hasn't been touched for over a year

L to R: Aya, Hiromi, me, Julia; women from Shiogama Bible Baptist Church

THAILAND
From Japan we flew through the Singapore airport to Bangkok, Thailand. We spent the entire month of November in the Bangkapi district. We taught conversational English at Santisuk English School. Teaching with one other person from our team, we would teach two two-hour classes each day, Monday-Thursday. When we were not in class, we were expected to spend time with our students. I did not know at first what I thought of teaching English. I was a bit nervous and unsure if I had the ability to, especially to university students and the working class. In all honesty, the first week to week and a half was very challenging to me. The heat and limitations of food I could eat was taking a toll on me. I struggled adjusting to the culture and learning the tonal Thai language. But one Saturday, some of our students took John and me out to the Crocodile Farm and Ancient Siam. My perspective changed as I was able to simply live life with my students. I could see beyond the language and cultural barriers, the Buddhism that is very much part of Thai life, and the age differences. My students became my friends and I enjoyed spending time with them.

my night class

at the Crocodile Farm with a real tiger

at the Crocodile Farm riding an elephant 

From an outside perspective, one might ask, "How is going on outings and sightseeing ministry?" Evangelism takes time and should not be rushed into. I learned this very early on. About one percent of the entire Thai population are born again Christians. Most people in Thailand have never heard the name of Jesus before, let alone know who He is. That fact blew my mind. Part of our curriculum at Santisuk included a reading comprehension where we read a passage from the New Testament. In Level 1, the class I taught, we simply introduce who Jesus is. We learned about Jesus healing a paralyzed man, feeding 5,000 people, casting out demons, and raising a boy from the dead. My students were amazed when we told them Jesus was a real person and these stories are real events in history that happened 2,000 years ago. However, there lies a challenge in differing worldviews. A Buddhist views the world very different than a Christian. As a short-term volunteer at Santisuk, we were to begin telling our students about Jesus and building relationships with them. The school and Peace Fellowship Church would continue the relationships and be able to share the Gospel with the students farther down the road.

All thanks to Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, some of our students grew curious of the things we were learning about and about Jesus, who had the power of God. With Christmas coming soon, one student asked about Christmas. Another came to our Thanksgiving church service. One student, after reading the story of Jesus raising a boy from the dead, wrote this question to us, "Do the Jesus can made everyone to have life?" When I read that, I got chills and wanted to cry. I thought, this is why we are here. We so desperately want everyone to know Jesus, but shoving it down their throats will only push them away. Seeing our students start to think in this way is enough for me to say that my time in Thailand was successful and rewarding.

The hardest part about leaving Thailand for me was knowing that I may not ever see some of my students again. Ever. For those who do not turn to Jesus, I will never see them again in all eternity. When that hit me a week before we left, my heart ached. I got a small glimpse of God's heart for His people. God so longs for us to repent from our sins and turn back to Him. In the New Testament, we often read that Jesus had compassion on people. The word compassion is splagcnizomai in Greek. It literally means to be moved as to one's bowels (sermon from Pastor Troy Dobbs). You feel for them and love them so much it hurts, essentially. I felt a physical pain in my heart for my students. And my ministry in Thailand didn't end when I left the country. It continues now through staying in touch and through prayer. I will not give up on my students.

On the ferry heading to Koh Lan beach

after "playing" a banana boat; L to R: Yana, me, John, Heng, Cartoon, Rachel,  Nammon

some students from our afternoon class; L to R: Nammon, Nann, John, Paang, me, Zan

Celebrating the Loy Kratong festival; L to R: Heng, Aod, David, Tong, John, Cartoon, me

with Eve and Heng on our last night

L to R: Phet, Nammon, Zan, me, Da, Val, Yo

SE ASIA
What a beautiful, tropical area! Because of the region and to protect the missionaries there, there is very little I can say about our five days in SE Asia. We spent most of our time doing prayer walks around different cities. There are three major people groups where we were. The nationals are required by the government to be Muslim. There is also a great presence of Buddhism and Hinduism. The hardest part of my internship was the five days we were in SE Asia. It was very spiritually dark and the devil has a very strong hold on this area. I experienced spiritual warfare, mostly in the physical sense with migraines. I had three bad migraines over the course of five days - the worst it's been in two years. Yet God used this time to remind me He is always with me. One day we spent some time at a waterfall. While most from my team went in the water, I chose to sit on the rocks and listen to the running water in hopes to calm my spirit and ease my headache-turn-migraine. That's when God showed up. God sent a butterfly to flutter near me. Butterflies rarely stay in one area for more than a minute tops. However, this beautiful yellow butterfly always stayed in my eyesight - usually within five feet of me - for an entire thirty minutes. I wouldn't have thought anything of it if I hadn't been so spiritually and physically weak at that moment. But I could almost hear God's voice whispering to me in the light breeze, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. I love you. You are mine." Not only was this little butterfly a reminder to me that God is always with me, it reminded me that God is omnipresent. Even in an area such as SE Asia where there are virtually no known Christians, God is there at work.

JORDAN
We left the tropics and went to the Middle East for a week. Jordan, unlike the rest of the Middle East, is quite peaceful. Many refugees from surrounding countries flee to Jordan for safety. The first two days we were there we visited Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Dead Sea, and Petra, learning a bit about the country and seeing biblical sites. We then made it farther north to Amman for the remainder of our time. Our focus in Amman was with refugees, primarily from Iraq. We had the chance to visit a few families in their homes. They warmly welcomed us in and offered us tea. They shared their stories with us. The two families I visited were Sabians, or followers of John the Baptist. Their stories included family members being murdered, their shops and homes being destroyed, and being told they had six hours to leave the country or they will be killed. "Return, and we'll kill you." They flee to Jordan, where they will be safe. However, they are not legal residents, so the adults are unable to work and the children cannot go to school. The families I visited told us that Iraq is behind them, Jordan is not their home, and they desire to move elsewhere. One family desires to move to Australia, but do not have the funds to do so. It was very heartbreaking to hear their stories. As we left the homes, we gave them a $30 gift card to a supermarket, enough for two-weeks worth of food. At the end of the week, we also gave each family a warm blanket.

Standing on Mt. Nebo, Moses' view of the Promised Land

floating in the Dead Sea

Treasury at the entrance of Petra

The church we worked with has established relationships with the refugees. They have several different meetings and programs each week and provide for some basic needs of the families. The women of our team prepared and led both a girls' meeting and a women's group. Some of the girls and women were Christians, others were Sabians or Muslims. The biggest thing the church was working on with the women as getting them to pray out loud. Kai, our team's co-leader, had the women stand in a circle holding hands. Each one of us in the meeting prayed one sentence out loud to God. We broke the sound barrier, as the missionaries called it! That was the first time the women had ever prayed out loud.

Amman

We ended our time in Jordan by visiting a missionary in his home on the other side of Amman. He told us of the work he and his wife are doing. He also explained to us the effects that tribalism has on the Middle East. It trickles down into every aspect of life. Remember back in Bible times, tribes were very important. People identified themselves with their tribe and tribes warred against other tribes. That still exists today in the Middle East. Learning about tribalism gave us a whole new perspective on the events that we hear about on the news, even when it comes to terrorism and the war in Iraq that's been going on.

We all have stereotypes and views of other people. Before going to Jordan and meeting Iraqis, I was a bit wary, but not overly concerned. I knew that the stereotypes of Iraqis is not an accurate one, and went into it with an open mind. I came to find that the more I talked to different people in Jordan, whether they be Jordanian, Palestinian, Iraqi, or Syrian, the more I knew that they were just like me - normal people - who happen to live in a dangerous part of the world. From the Iraqi families we met to the Egyptian sandwich maker down the street from the church, they are very friendly, nice, and hospitable to us and I found it very easy to love them.

ENGLAND
We ended our internship around the world in Buckinhamshire, England. We stayed at the British headquarters of WEC International, an old Victorian manor. The last five days were for us to debrief about the previous eight weeks. We had two to three meetings each day. The rest of the time was ours to relax, explore the manor grounds, or go into Gerrard's Cross, the little town we were in. We spent one full day exploring London, which happened to be the nicest day. We even had the privilege of having Northwestern's president, Dr. Cureton, with us for the first few days. We enjoyed the evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral in London and a kids' Christmas program at an Anglican church in Gerrard's Cross. It was a good few days to relax and rest up before returning home to Minnesota.

Bulstrode Manor, Buckinghamshire

Big Ben, London

the Tower Bridge

St. Paul's Cathedral 

Now that I am home and graduated, I am figuring out what is next. I want to be a missionar in Peru. I have been praying about how to make that happen. It may be through the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) as I was originally thinking, or it may be through a different organization. God will reveal that to me in His timing. "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

I want to thank everyone who supported me financially and prayerfully and who sent me encouragement along the way. This was not simply my trip, but one I hope people back home could experience a little through my blog as I traveled. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you did for me, known and unknown to me. I hope you can be blessed knowing you were a blessing to me.

63 days. 21 people. 5 countries. 1 God.