the journey

An emblem of the Holocaust

The tattoo
Originally uploaded by Insane Zamboni.

[Click on photo for larger view.]

Earlier today, I received an e-mail from National Geographic Videos asking permission to use one of our youth group mission trip photos, in an upcoming video about a Holocaust survivor.

The photo (right) was taken in Washington, DC by one our youth ministry teams who took free groceries to a Holocaust survivor's apartment.

I remember very vividly how she "loved on us" & lavished appreciation on us--as Americans who had helped liberate her from the horrors of the Holocaust

It was an amazing day & an experience I won't soon forget.

Technorati Tags : Holocaust, National+Geographic

Sending letters to DC

Some of you have asked about sending letters/packages to The Glorious Church in Washington, D.C. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could send cards, letters & a Texas goodie package? Just a wild idea...

HOW TO SEND MAIL TO THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

The Glorious Church
c/o Elder Gyden Camp, Jr., Pastor
314 Randolph Place, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.529.1822

Their motto: "Meeting the needs of the people where they are."

An e-mail from D.C.

The following e-mail comes from our CSM host, Brooke (via Drew):

Hey! I have only emailed a few of you, because I lost the rest of the email addresses, so Drew you can email this to everyone else or put it up on the website! Anyway - I was just thinking about all of you and wanted to say hello. It's been about a month since you were here, and don't worry I have not forgot about you! I've had several other groups since you left, and actually next week is my last group to host for the summer and then I'm back in the great state of Texas! I pray that since you have been home for a while, God has used your experiences in D.C. to make a lasting impact on your life and your journey with Him. I pray that you have not forgotten about the people you served, and that you are seeking the Lord with all of your heart each day. I also pray for return back to school in a few weeks, that you might seek out the lonely, friendless, and forgotten peers and share Christ with them. I wanted to thank you all for a wonderful week, and letting me be a part of your group. I had an amazing time with you all, and I hope that you will all keep in touch. Email me back and let me know how things are going and share any cool God stories! Pray for the wrap up of the summer of CSM Washington D.C. God is doing amazing things here, walls are being broken, hearts are burdened, and love is being shared. I love you all and miss you.

Be Blessed!
Brooke Barber
(Hidden)@hotmail.com

A paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13

During an evening debriefing session in downtown DC, one of our hosts read the following paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13 (the famous passage on God’s Love). And Brooke was kind enough go give us a copy so we could share it with others.

Unfortunately, the document bears no name so I can only assume it was written anonymously.

“If I talk a lot about God and the Bible and the Church, but I fail to ask about your needs and help you, then I’m simply making a lot of empty religious noise.

If I graduate from a theological seminary and know all the answers to questions you’ll never even think of asking, and if I have all the degrees to prove it, and if I say I believe in God with all my heart, and soul and strength, and claim to have incredible answers to my prayers to show it, but if I fail to take the time to find out where you’re at and what makes you laugh and why you cry, I’m nothing.

If I sell an extra car and some of my books to raise money for some poor starving kids somewhere, and if I give my life for God’s serve and burn out after pouring everything I have into the work, but do it all without ever once thinking about the people, the real hurting people– the moms and dads and sons and daughters and orphans and widows and the lonely and hurting– if I pour my life into the Kingdom but forget to make it relevant to those here on earth, my energy is wasted, and so is my life.

Here is what love is like, genuine love; God’s kind of love. It’s patient. It can wait. It helps others, even if they never find out who did it. Love doesn’t look for greener pastures or dream of how things could be better if I just god rid of all my current commitments. Love doesn’t boast. It doesn’t try to build itself up to be something it isn’t.

Love doesn’t act in loose, immoral ways. It doesn’t seek to take, but it willingly gives. Love doesn’t lose it’s cool. It doesn’t turn on and off.

Love doesn’t think about how bad the other person is, and certainly doesn’t think of how it could get back at someone. Love is grieved deeply (as God is) over the evil in this work, but it rejoices over truth.

Love comes and sits with you when you’re feeling down and finds out what’s wrong. It empathizes with you and believes in you. Love knows you’ll come through just as God planned, and love sticks right beside you all the way.

Love doesn’t give up, or quit, or diminish, or go home. Love keeps on keeping on, even when everything goes wrong and the feelings leave and the other person doesn’t seem as special anymore. Love exceeds 100 percent of the time. That, my friend, is what REAL love is!"

Mission Report Night

I hope you will be present on Wednesday the 21st when we hear some amazing faith-stories from our DC missionaries. BTW, we have a ton of great memories & stories to share with you!

Also, please stick around for DreamTeam. At DreamTeam our dreams are transformed into teams! We not only dream new dreams, we also re-visit old dreams, work on existing/new projects & provide much-needed support and encouragement. It's a brand-new (hear *fun*) stream-lined way of planning & organizing for ministry! I think you'll really enjoy it!

DC reflections

For that past week or so, 19 missioners from our church were sent to serve in downtown Washington, D.C. with the Center for Student Missions. They served in senior adult centers, homeless shelters and kitchens & helped run a day camp WITH the Glorious Church, a small, struggling, all-black congregation (just to name a few of the places). So, here's YOUR opportunity to share reflections, comments, stories, etc. BTW, this is open to everyone, not merely our missioners. If you have something to say, please feel free to jot down your thoughts. Therefore, please reflect, write & read what others are saying about the trip. Your comments could encourage some, and help others grow in their faith.

How to leave a comment: Click on the word "comments" below, complete the blanks and leave your message, and click on "post" once you're finished. Your comment will be posted immediately on the Net.

Thursday thots

I was reminded today (again) what it's all about. It's not about predictability, it's not about easy or fun (necessarily) and it's definately not about fixed rules, inflexible attitudes or entrenched methods. It's all about the mission Christ has given us--no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how far it moves us outside our comfort zone or how unfriendly (or difficult) the one served may be.

I hope the following words ring true to you. Because they speak volumes to me about you, our family of faith and the journey God has in store for us.

Mission: Transforming the world, with God’s love, one heart at a time.

Vision: "Imagine a ragtag collection of surrendered and transformed people who love God and others. They are mesmerized by the idea that this is not about them, but all about Jesus. They are transfixed by His story and His heart for their city. They are seed-throwers and fire-starters, hope-peddlers and grace-givers, risk-takers and dreamers, young and old. They link arms with anyone who tells the story of Jesus. They empower the poor, strengthen the weak, embrace the outcast, seek the lost. They serve together, play together, worship together, live life together. Their city will change because God sent them. We are they. We believe that small things done with God's love will change the world. With God's Spirit to empower and guide us, we're transforming the world, with God's love, one heart at a time."

And may we never waver, never grow weary or lose our sense of this calling. Because a wonderful journey with God awaits us.

Wednesday evening reminders

Wow. Are most of us tired! Busy schedule! Lots of walking (which is good for me)! And lots of cool ministry sites and debriefing locations to visit. FYI: The photos you see on this web site are just a sample of what we have on the hard drive of my computer. CSM's internet connection has been so slow that you're just seeing a portion of what we really have for you! Once the trip is complete, and DSL connections are available, Drew will add all of the photos (with captions). You might want to check out a new fourth (4th) category of photos called "Museums & Monuments." In this section you will find photos of builidings & places that do NOT include people.

We've met a lot of interesting people already (including a little boy to day who prayed a very powerful prayer after our group led a Bible story on the Good Samaritan), and we've been blessed as much (if not more than) we've been a blessings to others.

Pray hard. Serve hard.

The first day with CSM

Well, here we are & it's another great year already! We have TONS of stories & experience and it's just he first "official" day with CSM. Keep in mind that we had a travel day on Friday, some sightseeing on Saturday (in Washington DC & Baltimore), a 2.5 hour blended service at 3rd Street Church of God (all black, well-educated, really cool!) and fireworks at the Washington Monument. Yikes. If this gets more fun I don't think I can stand it! LOL

Seriously, lives are already being touched, friendships are being forged & God is using teenagers and chaperones "to transform the world, with God's love, one heart at a time."

Continue to pray for us. And thanks for your love & encouragment! It really means a lot to me & the rest of the adults, and the kiddos.

Bless you all!

Getting ready for Washington, D.C.

In just a few days, 19 of our friends will be flying to Washington, D.C. to help a small, struggling, all-black, inner-city congregation provide a Day Camp for their community. In addition, we will be helping five (5) other ministries. In light of that, keep this in mind:

1) Prayer will make a world of difference. Please pray for us: our safety, our ministry settings, our attitudies, our flexibility, and, of course, our willingness to try new things and to be open to God's Spirit. And pray, specifically, for the Glorious Church Day Camp.

2) If you would like to know more about CSM's Washington, DC ministry site, please click on this link. Here, you will find information about the city, an on-line video, photos of the summer staff, etc.

3) Drop by often and visit this site. Drew will be posting photographs of both groups (they're dividing us into two ministry teams) on a daily basis, if possible. Hopefully, we won't have ISP, phone line or other problems.

4) If you would like to send an e-mail message to your "missioner", simply mail it to Justin at: justin@csm.org and I'm sure he'd be glad to "hand-deliver" it for you. Remember, however, that he/she will NOT be able to respond. Sorry. :-(

Keep this in mind: Delivery may not be prompt (so, send e-mails early in the week) because we're not certain how frequently Justin checks his e-mail.

5) Should an emergency arise, please contact someone on the HUB. They are poised and ready to serve. And if a FAMILY emergency should arise & you need to contact US. Please call me on my cell phone or call Justin (the Associate Director of CSM in D.C) at any of the numbers listed below:

Justin Hormel
Associate City Director, Washington, D.C.
Justin@csm.org
(202) 829-7016 (office)
(202) 829-5982 (fax)
(202) 438-6974 (cell)

Preparing for inner-city D.C.

In just a few days, 19 of our friends will be sharing God's love in downtown Washington, D.C. The following words of advice, encouragement and instruction come from another friend on "the journey."

"HI! I'm not really sure who all this goes to since I hit reply but who ever gets it it's just advice, encouragement, and suggestions for the best CSM experience you can have! So pass it along to those who are going and even those who can just be praying for the trip....Also while I'm writing just an update. CSM Houston is off to a full blast, we are 5 weeks into summer and have had full weeks every time! I was at alternate housing this week, and had a group of 10 from California. They were fun, but it was a ROUGH week with scheduling and all sorts of exciting surprises...just to name a few MOUSE In the HOUSE and at a warehouse SICK SICK SICK! Anyways thanks for your prayers...God pulled through this week and is still blessing me here. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. I put together some helpful hints for a positive week.

First of all start praying right now (I mean right now for yourselves, your host, your schedule, the ministries, and those that you will serve and enconter). So now that you finished praying keep doing that! Seriously, it will totally surprise you. You never know what God has planned for you, just pray he prepares your heart.

Second of all throw your expectations out the window. God has more planned than you can ever imagine. If YOU have had a CSM experience, God does not care! I'm not being mean, just honest. I have seen how little we sometimes make God by putting limits on what he did on our last trip. Let God out of our boxes and into our hearts...He will do great things.

Third of all have fun, but don't forget you are going to serve! Whatever you are asked to do, do it with all your heart. I know that sometimes it can stink ( I REALLY KNOW). I also know you can get tired. But hey God will provide strength. Please serve with all you have, you will be amazed! And don't always ask to be going to get icecream, treats, and what not from the store...it's only one week. You can do without!

Fourth, please be kind to your host! Don't be asking a thousand questions, that they have already answered or will answer in the future! Don't expect a previous host that you have had, and don't compare them to past trips/host/experiences. Let them be themselves so that you can learn the most from them that week! If you love them and take care of them they will take care of you.

Please, please, please have fun serving in the city. Say hi to Brooke from CSM Houston (she was here last summer and has been sending us lots of fun postcards and prayers). Enjoy your time, and experiences. They will go fast! Thanks for all your prayers for us here. They are needed more and more everyday! I love you guys, know you will do amazing things, and have a blessed trip! I am praying for YOU!"

Love, Robyn ><>