Eight Weeks Stronger

I have officially completed the couch to 5k portion of my marathon training. Eight weeks have flown by (sort of), and I not only feel physically stronger, but mentally prepared to tackle the next few months of serious marathon training.

The most wonderful blessing running at home provides is the beautiful, long stretch of trail in our town. Miles and miles in each direction. Where one trail ends, another begins, ensuring that I don't become too terribly bored while going the distance.

This past weekend I coerced my family (and friends) to help me pitch a garage sale to raise money for World Vision. Every World Vision marathoner's fundraising goal is 1,310 - $50 per mile. With 26.2 miles, it adds up fast!

We are so blessed! I was hoping to raise X amount of money through this garage sale, but was convinced to lower my expectations a little. However, through the generosity of friends we were able to raise twice as much as we could on our own.

Donations of antiques, unique odds and ends, and the "one person's junk is another person's treasure" items helped us fundraise beyond all expectations. My mother, sister, and I sat at our kitchen table counting our profit Thursday night, completely blown away by the amount in front of us. Day one and we had already raised what I had originally hoped to raise for the entire sale.

May I just stop and say thank you? To everyone who donated items, money, and time, you rock!

I would appreciate your continued prayer and support this long summer. It's going to be a hot one and running in the heat is going to be a challenge. But it's one I am looking forward to facing! (Even though I may still be a tad anxious.)

To donate to World Vision click here.

Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matthew 17:20

Team World Vision discusses mission

“You can do these races to change the lives of those kids in Haiti,” founder of Team World Vision, Michael Chitwood said at the Chicago Marathon Leaders Conference on Mar. 29.

Marathon runners gathered together in Chicago to listen to motivational speakers like Anthony Halpin and Wendy Ploegstra, who ran the Comrades Marathon, and Steve Spear, who ran from Los Angeles to New York last summer. Leaders for Team World Vision also discussed with how to encourage their teams to stay strong and connect other runners.

Rusty Funk, Team World Vision coordinator, opened the eight-hour conference explaining that World Vision’s role as the leading provider of clean water in the developing world.

Chitwood spoke next. He explained how running for wells can change lives by providing access to safe water in places like Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, and Rwanda.

“Team World Vision is for everybody from every walk of life,” Chitwood said to the group that will lead a team of runners through training and raising funds for the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12.

The mission of Team World Vision is to give people the opportunity of life changing experience, a physical, spiritual, and community experience, and radically change the lives of children on the other side of the planet, Chitwood said.

People then broke up into small groups to discuss the importance of team captains for Team World Vision, the characteristics of a good team captain, and to come up with a mission statement.

“Keeping people focused on the goal, the purpose, the reason,” said Ryan Criss, team captain of Missio Dei Church in Chicago. “I think it’s difficult in the midst of the training. It gets discouraging and tiring, but if you have someone to remind you why we’re running, why we’re doing this, it sort of reenergizes people.”

Wesley Sproul, leader of Olivet’s team, said to his group discussion that it’s important for team captains to inspire unity, create a welcoming environment, and have a heart of service.

At the end of the conference, leaders received an iron-on “C” for their World Vision jerseys. The “C” stands for captain, Funk said. “It’s about being vulnerable to the people you are leading.” 

He said the “C” also opens up communication between leaders and team members by saying, “You can ask me questions. I’m here for you.”

Later that afternoon, leaders were encouraged to discuss fundraising goals and opportunities. Marathon runner Stephen Rexroth said, “Running didn’t bother me. Fund raising terrified me. But you’re not begging people to give you money, you’re inviting them to join your mission.”

A lot of people go from running nothing to running a marathon, which is an amazing experience, but add raising $5,000 and “it’s something like you’ve never felt before,” Haplin said. “Let your life be changed because of the fundraising,” he said.

Spear, keynote speaker, then described the seemingly impossible obstacles he overcame during his 3,081 miles across the country.

The most discouraging week was in Illinois last July. Having gotten over the flu the week before and trying to make up for lost time, Spear ran the equivalent of seven marathons in seven days with a heat index of more than 115 degrees.

“We serve a God who makes the invisible visible,” Spear said. “It’s not really how many miles we run or the speed in which we cover them, but it’s the fact that we move, and we keep moving one faithful step in front of the other.”

I am running 26.2 miles for clean water in Africa.

It's time to resurrect this blog. No, I am not leaving the country. There is no faraway trip scheduled in the near future. However, I do have an announcement.

I am running 26.2 miles.

Do I have you hooked? Good. Now I would like to tell you a little story.

I began college last fall. Quite the change of venue. During one of those crazy missions fairs we have here at good ol' Olivet Nazarene University, I signed up for the "I'm interested in running a marathon for Team World Vision." Thinking it would never come back to haunt me, I pushed the marathon business out of my mind.

And that was when I received an email from some stranger asking if anyone would like to join the Captain Team for Team World Vision Olivet. "Why not?" I thought to myself. "I can just run the half marathon. I've done it before! It'll be easy."

With that mindset I began talking with the experienced marathoners on campus, learned a little more about World Vision, and was told time and time again to "just run the full marathon. It's only 13.1 miles longer than the half!"

Peer pressure. Gets you erry time.

Long story short, yesterday, I began training for my first-ever marathon. I didn't realize how crazy this sounded until I paid the $185 race fee last night. Why would anyone run 26.2 miles of their own accord?

That's the thing. I probably wouldn't be doing this unless I felt God calling me to be a part of something bigger than myself.

I am running for wells in Africa because I believe no one should ever go without clean water.

World Vision is an international Christian organization that focuses on child sponsorship, builds wells in countries in Africa, and spreads God's love and His Word. One of the ways World Vision affords to build these wells is by people like you and me fundraising by training and running races like the Chicago Marathon.

My university became the first to have a Team World Vision made up of college students. Experienced runners and beginners come together to run for a cause bigger than themselves. I am honored to announce that with God's strength I will be running the Chicago Marathon for Team World Vision on Oct. 12, 2014.

I am signed up for the race, began couch to 5k training YESTERDAY!, and gave myself the first donation.

Will you help me reach my goal of $1,310? Just $50 equals clean water for ONE person.

Together we can help change lives in Africa across Ghana, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia.

You can donate here. Thank you for your prayers and your support!

I am looking forward to what the next few months have to offer. God bless!

Identity

There’s something about gifts and talents and abilities that give us a sense of pride. We belong to those things; we become what we are able to do. Our whole sense of being surrounds our ability to sing or dance or speak, dare I say preach?

I am a writer. Why do I call myself that? Because I find my identity in my writing.

It is who I am! I have learned and grown and become a “better” person because of the experiences my writing has given me. There’s a certain cliché to all practices. Writers are flighty and opinionated and passionate, and so that’s what I’ve become.

Likewise, singers are strong and outgoing and perhaps loud. That’s who they become. And anything you’re good at, you look at the best of the best and mirror the examples, good or bad. Why not? They must have become the best of the best for a reason. Talent and cliché go hand in hand.

This is how we form our identities.

I was reading a book by Charles Stanley titled The Source of My Strength. (Can I just say that is a man who has some opinion! All God-based, of course.) I came to the section of “Words of Comfort and Healing to Those who are Frustrated.” I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a very frustrated person, but a part of that chapter was dedicated to obeying God’s will and being joyful in Him rather than in the things of this world.

You see, the Lord required Mr. Stanley to give up his dear and beloved cameras in order to give more money to the church. Begrudgingly, he obeyed… and was blessed.

Matthew 6:20-21 says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When we place stock in our talents, we sometimes forget to thank God for giving us those talents in the first place. Maybe I’m talking to myself here. I thought I had given God what was rightfully His, but I’m realizing that I’m still hoarding a lot of what I think is rightfully mine.

It’s time to give it up. 

Place your identity in the God who gives you life and strength and the talents that you now possess.

I firmly believe that once you give Jesus your all, He will do so much more through You.

What do you have to give up today?

Getting Personal (guest post)

It’s time to get personal…

Many of you know that this past trip to El Salvador was the second time our church has participated in a mission trip there. One of the advantages I experienced of going to the same place a second time is that I had a better idea of what to expect which helped calm a lot of my uncertainties and anxieties. Instead of being worried about some of the culture differences, it seemed to give me more confidence, more boldness, and more of a focus on the hearts of the people we were going to serve.

One thing I noticed on this trip was how much more our team seemed to have the opportunity to hear many Salvadorans personal stories. I’d like to highlight just one of the many personal stories that I learned about on this trip.

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a precious two-year old boy named Stanley. I remembered him because he had light hair and light eyes (amongst Salvadorans) and he was just so beautiful to me. His mother and older brother were regulars at the church. When I saw him this past March I immediately recognized him. His smile captured my heart and we began sitting next to each other each time we worshipped together at church. After speaking with their pastor, I learned some things that give me a greater understanding of why his mother so faithfully attends the church what seems like every chance she gets.

Stanley has three older brothers. His next older brother is several years older than him, and also attends church every chance he gets. I never met the oldest two (that I remember) but they are both teenagers. According to Pastor Martinez, the oldest one is very strong. Their family lives in Buena Vista, one of the poorer neighborhoods near Chalchuapa. Stanley’s father is an alcoholic, and gets into fights with his oldest brother. Yet rather than seeming depressed or hard-hearted, Stanley’s mother struck me as a kind and faithful woman. You could tell her church family obviously meant a lot to her and to her boys.

Since we’ve returned, I think of Stanley often. I pray for his safety and wonder if he gets scared when his father has been drinking. I wonder if he will someday be teased because his appearance makes him stand out. I think of his mother and wonder if she ever feels lonely. I’m sure it is hard living in a home with all males, let alone having your husband struggle with alcohol, and knowing that he gets into fistfights with his son. I try to put myself in her shoes and think of what I would do if I were in her situation. Her story inspires me and fills my heart with compassion. If I’m blessed to be able to return to Chalchuapa again, I hope to learn more about her and ask her more questions about what life is like for her. I pray for her often.

You see, I’ve realized something very powerful since we have gotten back home. Whether we are trying to win someone for Christ, or whether we are trying to help another Christian grow in his or her faith, we often have to hear their personal story, and we have to be ready to share ours. If you look through the Bible, it is filled with personal stories—good, bad, ugly, redemptive—all of them powerful testimonies of how God and His Son, Jesus, work in the lives of others and how They can work in ours. These stories seem to draw people toward God. Your story may help someone with no faith to believe in Him, and his or her story may inspire and teach you something new as well.

I’ve decided I’m pretty terrible at hearing others’ stories. It’s not that I don’t care (I really do—I’ve got a heart that tends to break easily for others). However, either I don’t take the time needed to really hear their story, or worse yet, I make assumptions about them without hearing their story, and neither of these are good traits. But thankfully, God’s not finished with me yet!

Hopefully, this revelation will be a lifelong lesson for me. And hopefully, if I put this lesson into practice, I can make an impact on those whom I cross paths with, and they can leave an impact on me.

It says in 1 Peter 3:15b: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.” My interpretation: Always be prepared to share your story. But perhaps even more importantly, always be prepared to listen to someone else’s—whether they are a fellow Christian or not. There will probably be a blessing in store for you. God used this trip and Stanley’s family to reveal this to me. Gloria a Dios!

Jackie

God's Guiding Presence

I have more to say about the Indianapolis One Heart Many Hands trip later, but for now I want to address a Britt Nicole song from her new album Gold.

As a whole, I didn't really like the album at first. It just all seemed the same to me, and I grew impatient.  I think that always happens to me when I get a new CD though, so I gave it another try. After another couple of listens, a few of the songs really impacted me, but one in particular spoke to my heart.

"Seeing for the First Time" talks about feeling God's presence in a new and exciting way. Every time you can feel God near and working is exhilarating, of course, but Nicole talks about God planning every moment, Him knowing when she would really need to feel Him by her side.

We know that God has a plan for our life if we choose to accept His free gift of salvation, but I guess I never really thought about the little things. I can trust God to lead me in the right direction. I know He has lead me this far, and He will continue to guide my path throughout college and when it comes time to choosing a career, but I never thought about the little things.

You know? I mean, what about the moments that I have to stop and ask myself "Okay, will this matter in five years?" He is still in control of those times of my life... if I let Him.

Wouldn't it make sense, then, that God has those crazy, out of this world, supernatural moments, when there is no denying He exists moments planned out for us? 

Nicole puts herself "under the stars" and I think that's exactly right. Both the care-free and worry-some nights when you look up at the stars and pause to wonder at their beauty, there is a clear and definite Presence.

You can just breathe and say "God is here."

I realize now those moments are in His beautiful hands also. Because through everything, if you put your trust in God, if you give your all to the Creator of the Universe, He will be there for you. He's been there for me even when I didn't realize I needed Him, and even when I wished He couldn't see me, He was holding out His hands, knowing that His Presence was all I needed to get me through.

"How many years did You plan this moment here to show me how You love me?"

One Heart Many Hands

One Heart Many Hands was born out of Dr Gary Morsch's passion to serve and give back to the community. The Church of the Nazarene gatthers together every four years for a General Assembly, and since the community of Indianapolis was giving so much to them, they decided it was time to do something to benefit the people of this city.

Our youth group had the opportunity to participate in One Heart Many Hands this year. On Sunday morning, we all made the long drive to Indianapolis and sat down together as a community of Believers. People of all ages and all different kinds of skill levels brought together by one purpose. Plans have been being made for almost two years - where to serve, how to serve, and who will serve.

Our youth group was divided into three teams with three different houses. The house I was assigned to didn't sound like a whole lot of work, but the big tasks took longer than everyone allotted time for. We put up new gutters, which involved putting up wood for the gutters to rest on, and painted all the wood white, new boards were put into the deck, the faucet was fixed inside the house, and new doors were put on the front and the back.

We were also blessed to be working right beside another group of ours, which allowed us to help on both houses when needed. The other house needed a lot of TLC. All the windows were scrubbed and re-caulked, I think there were twelve in all, on the front of the house all the paint was scraped off and then they of course painted it again, there was a fence that was paint-scraped and repainted, and then people were up on the roof doing who knows what to fix it.

This wasn't on our itinerary, but when the other group arrived they realized the basement was just a hole in the ground with no supporting beams. Big problem there! (I mean, I don't really know. I know nothing about fixing houses.) So there were a bunch of guys stuck in the basement all week solving the problem of the sinking floor.

Our plan for the week was very straightforward, but when we got there we found a lot of twists and turns that challenged us in ways we were ready to be challenged. You don't expect to see any "miracles" on a trip where you fix houses, but miracles we saw. It was a week of questioning and a week of blessings,

and God provided.