"I am early in my story.."

Internship : Round 2

2008-10-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. I'm just going to update you all about what I'm doing this year and some of the things that have happened in between. Last year I completed the 9 month program here in Vancouver. I went home for the summer to rest and work, spend time with my family and continue building relationships back at home. I spent the summer praying about what to do this year and seeking God for what I should do this fall. By the end of my internship last year I had a number of opportunities in front of me and I wasn't sure which one God was directing me to pursue.

After praying about it and receiving a number of dreams, I decided to come back to Vancouver to be part of the 2nd year program that Streams Canada is developing. God is teaching me and stretching me more this year than I thought was possible. I have a lot of peace about my decision to come back and I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be. This year I'm stepping into a greater trust in God as my provider and to be the One who is my everything.

I've been here for a month and a few days over and I'm already seeing in me the growth that's happened in a one year time span. I'm really excited about where God is taking me now and where I'll be at the end of my time here this year.

The end.. or the beginning?

2008-03-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

The good news: The internship is over and I survived.
The bad news: The internship is over.

In truth, the end of the internship really is good news, the better part is that not only did I survive but I made it through and I conquered things that normally would have knocked me down. And though there were times where things took me off guard and I felt like I had been knocked down, I always got back up again and it was always because one of my brothers or sisters was there to help me up. I love them so much. This was a bittersweet chapter of my life. So much happened and maybe only 2% did I expect. At times dealing with everything hurts, but it hurts so good. I'm a huge fan of the internship. By dealing with things and different issues, whether I was aware of them or not, I was able to learn to walk in way more freedom in so many areas. The only reason I say that the end of the internship being over is bad news is because I'm a little sad to see this chapter of my life end, I loved it so much. Sometimes it's hard to see things while you're in the situation, but once I stepped back from the term I realized how much I really did enjoy the internship.

I'm pretty confident that without all of us being there for each other as much as we were, a number of us would have just quit. We need each other, and I'll take the intern program as a perfect example. But the thing is, we don't just need each other during times like the internship, but we need each other for life. We can't live this life on our own and I'm so thankful that people stepped up to the plate and put themselves out there and learned to be a family.

So....

Special thanks to: (in no particular order)

Christine Schiedel: for being the best big sister anyone could have. Thanks for always supporting me and loving me, for listening to me and always making me smile. For being open and honest, even when I'm completely ridiculous.

Danielle Wallander: for setting good examples for me. For being a great roommate. Seriously.

Erin Plester: for reassuring me that I'm not completely crazy. For being a good friend and knowing my secrets.. and keeping them! For letting me rant in the cave and knowing that I just need to be over-dramatic for a an hour or two and then relaxing and seeing things for what they are.

Anthony Acevedo: for always being there. For sincerely caring and being one of the best friends a girl could have. For looking out for me and making me smile. For all the things I've thanked you for and all the things I've wanted to, but just couldn't figure out how to explain. For being willing to teach me things, even if I'm still working on them.

Josh Hoffert: for pushing all of my redhead buttons and challenging me in ways that I need to be challenged. For making me think about things and not just accept big things as being small. For making me "get over it."

Justin Menzies: for keeping things real.. all the time. For never being fake and for loving me like a little sister. For being a big brother when I need one and for telling me like it is.

I'm home for the break and it feels so good to be home, to relax and rest and be filled up again. A few weeks ago I was thinking about how hard it was going to be to come back for the last trimester, the leadership training phase, but now I'm starting to think it won't be so bad and that if I've made it this far I can keep going.

I love all y'all.

Japanese Technology

2008-02-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

What the heck is that? A question many have asked as soon as they spotted this inside our microwave or on our kitchen counter. The answer - Japanese technology, as some may put it. Some of us went over to the Aberdeen mall one night. This mall is primarily an Asian mall selling everything from the most sophisticated and definitely the most advanced toilets to authentic Asian teas, foods and clothing. I know it looks crazy, but its coffee flavored cake that you can cook in the microwave. Based on the little pictures on the back of the box you add the mix, one egg and cook it in the microwave for 2 minutes. And tada!

Christine playing in the snow one day when we drove up to the mountains.

I thought I'd share something fun first. So, I realize that it's been quite a while. And for the most part, I wasn't really writing much because I didn't really think people were actually looking here. But I've recently learned that people actually do. So, yes, here we meet.

Anthony playing with a big stick at White Rock.

The internship part 2 is about halfway over and that's kind of a sad realization. Time is moving forward so fast. Sometimes I want to step outside of time just so I can get a better look at what's actually happening around me and other times I want life to just be put on pause entirely for even just a moment. But that's the main thing about the internship, things that would normally take years to go through, can happen in moments.

For a little while I was thinking about what I've been through in the internship and I was really asking myself if I had really changed and wondering what I had actually learned. But God's funny and sometimes He puts questions in our minds to make us think. We recently had a "pop quiz" and our final question was "What have you learned in the internship thus far?" And to answer the question was definitely encouraging. I also realized that most of my change has been all the ways I think in my head and all the ways I react to things. I find myself in situations all for the sake of seeing how I'm handling them. It's definitely interesting to see how much everything has changed, and I really mean everything. We're not the same people who came here in September, or even the same people who came in January.

I think I might have more fun pictures coming.... soon...ish.

Hey Steve.

2007-11-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

There was a hole in the rock! This is Noah.

It's like my camera's been healed or something.
It was dying, but now maybe it came back to life.
So yes, one of my favorite places out here.

All I have to say is that there are times in the internship where I have no idea what's going on, with me, with God, with everyone around me. I just know He's good and He's for me not against me. I just know He loves me.

"Of all the beings on or off this planet, the one who knows you the best is the one who loves you the most."

He's the perfect best friend. My one and only.

The Best Outreach Ever!

2007-11-26T21:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend all 26 of us packed our bags and crossed the water over to Victoria! We left early Friday morning and returned home four days later on Monday night. It was a great weekend, so much happened that it's hard to remember it all! Not only was it the best outreach to read about, but this time I finally have pictures! WOW! I've been having some camera problems, but it takes ok pictures if you give the camera a little love.

Crossing the water to the island

We got to spend some time with Bruce Friesen on Friday after we arrived that afternoon. We spent most of our time with Bruce and serving the church he pastors, Lion of Judah. It's a great church, there's a lot of freedom and a lot of room for God to move how He wants to. It's a different atmosphere than most are used to and I really liked it. I was really able to see Bruce's heart this weekend and that was one of my favorite things about the weekend. On Friday we also spent some time cleaning up and doing whatever the church needed us to do to get ready for a womens conference they were having the next day. With all of us working, everything got done really fast.

On Saturday all the girls attended the womens conference at Lion of Judah. Heather Clark was the speaker and she gave a lot of insight on the the many roles women have and how she sees our ability to "do it all." Some of the girls stayed at the conference and a few worked in the nursery and child care just serving and helping out as we could. It was a good day. While all the girls were at the conference all the guys were out in Victoria doing an outreach ministering to homeless teenagers and children. They had a number of really good encounters there and it was great to see how they were a light to those kids.

Sunday we helped out with Lion of Judah's morning services. After the services we did prophetic teams and were able to encourage people, it went over really well. That night Heather Clark did a worship night and spoke again. I really enjoy ministry so Sunday was great!

all of us spending some time with Bruce

Monday was our free day in Victoria! In the morning we spent some time with Bruce and that was another one of my favorite parts of the weekend, that's when I could see Bruce's heart the most. He's a great guy, he's one of my favorites. After spending some time with Bruce we went downtown and shopped a bit and walked around and got a chance to see the city. I spend the day with Anthony and Chris, it was a fun day. I love Victoria!

Ronny and some of the guys enjoying yet another great meal at the Steepers!
God bless the Steepers for their great hospitality!

Not only did we have a great time in Victoria, but an engagement came out of it! Cameron proposed to Julie and of course she said yes! We're so excited for them. Just thought I might throw that in at the end of this wonderful update.

Thanks to Anthony Acevedo for some of the pictures.

Busy, busy, busy.

2007-11-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

We've been doing a lot recently, more than usual. Our schedules are always so packed that I haven't had a lot of time to update you all that often. Actually, I don't have a lot of time to talk to anyone at home, with the combination of the time change and a busy schedule.

So since the last time I've posted anything, we've taken the 102 with John Thomas. It was really good and I got more out of the the second time around than I did the first time. I like John Thomas, he's a great guy and he's really after the very different and very unique things of God. A number of the things he had to share with us that weekend were eye opening.

Last weekend all of our guys went to help some friends of ours unload boxes for a thrift store in North Vancouver. The profit from the store all goes to help SOS ministry that reaches out to homeless children in other countries as well as people in Canada. The guys had a great time and they worked really hard.

Since the guys were there last weekend, all of the girls went this weekend to help set up the store and give them a hand with sorting and whatnot. It was a good day and it was nice to know that we were a blessing to the store and SOS. After a long day we came home to the blue house to find that the guys had prepared a spectacular evening for us. We were escorted from the car with flowers! They washed our feet and served us dinner at a wonderful table setting in the studio as Noah played his violin. They did this all just to honor us girls and it was really wonderful. I felt really blessed and loved by them all. I love my brothers! It was a great time for all of us to just be together.

Tomorrow some of us are going to an art gallery with Joni Cooper and some of us are going on a hike in Vancouver. I'm going on the hike and I'm pretty excited about it. I'm sure I'll have pictures for you all!

At this point of the internship and this particular time in my life, I'm really weighing my options as to what the next step for me is. Something John Thomas shared when he was here really got me thinking about what was next to come. So, if you're wondering how to pray for me, please pray that God would show me where I should go and what the next step is. Pray that I might be encouraged and that I would have peace.

John Paul Jackson said this, "God will move Heaven and Earth to get you to where you need to be." Nothing is impossible for Him.

Dang!

2007-10-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't updated in a while, things in the internship get pretty busy pretty fast. Things have been a little tough, but I'm finding everything to be so much more worthwhile. We took some time off to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving or Columbus Day for the Americans. We had a nice weekend and a few days off to rest up and to get ready as God was shifting and preparing to move through us even more.

We've been learning the art of spiritual listening and how to really hear and listen to each other. It's really surprising when you stop and think about how well you really listen. I think a lot of us have been surprised in that we thought we were better listeners than we really are. It's been really good to work on that and see us all changing in that way.

This week there's been a serious step up in the way that God is moving in all of us. I'm so happy to see everyone changing so much and to see how God is molding us and shaping us differently. Some of us look brighter, physically brighter and its really cool to watch the change. God's really having us focus on dealing with ourselves and laying down our own ways and chasing after his ways. It's been a little intense at times and God is really healing a lot of us up.

God has really pointed out that I need to focus on what Psalm 46:10a says, to "Be still, and know that I am God." I need to step back from myself and know that God is for me and just really see all that God is - faithful, unconditional, and always fighting on my behalf.

On Wednesday we had Bruce Day! Bruce Friesen come to share and impart to us. Everything Bruce and his son Caleb had to say was so timely and were things that all of us needed to hear at that time. Bruce spoke on a number of different things, but one of my favorite things he touched on was seeing the purpose in what you are going through right now and how to not lose heart in the midst of challenging times.

Soon we're going to finish up the 101 and then next weekend we'll start the 102. I'm doing well, and things are always changing but things are really good right now. Even when things are hard they're really good. I really am enjoying all of my time here.

Impartation Nation

2007-10-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Yet another eventful week at the internship! God's really been working on drawing us all together as a unit, as a group, as a family. The theme for this week, and this month for that matter, has been worship and impartation.

During September we went to a lot of worship events and had a number of good worship times at the house. Although all of us in the internship are at different places, it's been great to come together and just have some great worship times.

Early in the week we had Trevor Haug, a worship leader from Victoria, come and impart to us. Trevor used to be the worship leader for the New London Bridge in New Hampshire where my family lives, it was great to see him again and hear from again. After he played some good worship music for us he imparted and prayed over each and every one of us.

On Saturday we went to an event in Abbotsford called Worship Invasion. It's put on once a month and young people from all over come together for a great night of worship. It was a really free atmosphere. It was the first time that we had really come together to just be really silly and open at the same time, to dance like crazy, to go after God and have fun together. It was a great night.

Sunday night we went to see Graham Ord, another worship event. Graham is an awesome worship leader. Their music is so freeing and so open to move however God is moving in the moment. We had a great time and it was a really good worship time. Some of us were sore the next morning from so much dancing in one weekend!

Today we did some really cool exercises during spiritual alignment. Spiritual alignment is when we all come together and spend time aligning ourselves to what God wants us to do with this week or come into alignment with what God wants to do this week. Anthony and Jamie lead it this morning and we did some cool exercises that really brought us together and got us to know one another. We all stood outside and stared into each others' eyes and just asked God to show us how He sees them and where He is taking them and imparting to each other and seeing destiny and life in each other. After the exercise we were really feeling like we could see each other the way God sees them and where God is taking them. I'm looking forward to doing the exercise at the end of the year and really seeing how much everyone has changed.

Continuing with the impartation theme, Monday night was intern impartation night. On these nights two interns impart something to the group, sharing life experiences, something they love, something they're passionate about or something that they feel God wants to bring to the group that He has placed in them. Lucky us, Cameron and I got to go first for the year! Cameron shared some of what he felt like God was teaching him right now, and shared how we're called to live our lives for Jesus as a living sacrifice. My impartation was a little different. I shared how God has always been so faithful to me and my family. It was really something that was close to my heart and it was a little hard at first to be open and vulnerable with the group but everyone had nothing but love and acceptance for me and what I had to say.

I honestly just have to say how grateful I am that I'm here. I'm really loving my time here, even though God brings me through some difficult things and is constantly changing what's inside of me. I love that everyone is so for each other and that a lot of us are at similar places in life. I know that this is where God wants me to be and I feel good about that.

That's all for now, maybe, perhaps, there will be pictures... eventually. Seriously, next semester I'll be so much better with pictures and everything because I'll hopefully have a new camera by then.

Week one!

2007-09-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hooray! We have survived the first week! As much fun as it has been, there was a lot of change to get used to. At the beginning of the week we were strangers, waiting to get to know one another and now that it's the end of the week, we're starting to feel like a family. We have only been here one week and God has already done so much in us. We're getting prepared for the times ahead, and God is giving us a lot of grace.

We really are so early in our stories... I can't wait for what's to come.

On Saturday we went on a lovely tour of Vancouver. We walked all along the water and really got a feel for the area. We also drove around downtown to see what Vancouver is really like. It was a beautiful day.

David (Canada) playing some good music.

Sorry I don't have good pictures for you all. I'm having a lot of camera issues. My Canon has been my good companion for the past 4 years, but I think it may just need to be replaced. I don't really know what happened to it. I'm praying that by Christmas I'll have enough financial freedom to buy myself a new one!

Thus Far

2007-09-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

I thought I would give you all a look at what we've been up to recently. Although the program has just started, we've been up to quite a bit everyday. Everything can be a little difficult at times, and once in a while I find myself feeling really overwhelmed, but at the end of the day I really value my time here. God is really just working through a number of things as we go through the 101: The Art of Hearing God. We also started reading one of John Paul's books, Breaking Free of Rejection. It's quite a powerful book and honestly, I really didn't think I had an issue with that. But I've found it to be really good and helpful. I really think its worth the read, even if you think you have no issues in that area, you'd be surprised.

Tonight we had a guest speaker all the way from Africa! Samuel is a pastor in Kenya and his message was so good. I really loved Samuel's passion for not only Jesus, but for the word of God. I'm not sure I've ever met someone who loved the Bible and God's word as much as Samuel. It was really good to hear a lot of what he was saying. Most if it was things that I had already head before but for some reason I saw it in a new light. It's like I had finally gotten it, finally believed it. I took notes like crazy so maybe after going over them a few times I might add some tidbits of what Samuel shared tonight.

Tomorrow we have morning prayer (which I actually really like) and then we start up again with the 101 class. We started on Tuesday and we'll be having it 2 days a week until we finish up with it. Joni Cooper has been teaching it and its been interesting. I hadn't heard her teach before and she's a good teacher. I took the 101 quite a long time ago, almost 4 years ago so I'm pretty familiar with the material, but now that I'm older and I've experienced so much more as far as ministry goes, I'm really able to understand it and get so much more out of it. When I was younger it built a good foundation but now its so much more than that.

It feels really good to be here, knowing that this is where God wants me. Although I still might struggle with things, God has grace for us because we've been obedient in coming. The process of getting here wasn't easy, but if this is what God really wants for me, than there's no place I'd rather be. Although sometimes I feel all out of sorts as God totally rearranges everything in me, I'm happy and just so thankful.

The Arrival

2007-09-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here we are! We've finally made it. Early in the morning Hannah and I set out to Boston airport to fly to Chicago, change planes, and fly to Vancouver. The day was a little stressful and we were definitely nervous about running into problems and just the overall experience of doing things that we've never had to do before. The first leg of the journey went over quite smoothly and we had high hopes that the rest of the day would go just as well. When we got to Chicago, it was a little rocky while trying to find out if we were going to be able to get on our scheduled flight or not. We definitely had some favor at the airport when Hannah, Ashley and I got bumped and were each offered a free round trip ticket on United!! How could we pass that up? Sure we had to wait around at the airport for another couple of hours while awaiting the next flight but it was worth it!

The flight from Chicago to Vancouver was the longest part of the trip. It wasn't until this part that I had begun to really feel just how tired and exhausted I was from the traveling and probably the lack of good sleep over the past few days. I was starting to realize just how far from home I really was. But it wasn't long before the excitement and curiosity about what's going to happen this year got to us and our spirits were lifted!

Hannah and I on the plane, feeling pretty fabulous.

When we landed in Vancouver we got through customs and everything quite quickly and easily. After customs we made a number of silly mistakes and stood in lines that we didn't need to. But it all worked out in the end and needless to say we were all more than relieved.

Bethany and Tyler Schiedel (Vancouver) picked us up at the airport and it was wonderful to see them again!! Jamie Bower (Canada) and Rebecca Wallander (Sweden) also met us at the airport in Jamie's truck to take all of our luggage and whatnot to the house. At the house we met up with the rest of the second year interns and we were reunited!

After such a long day we did a little bit of unpacking and went to bed. Rebecca Wallander's sister, Danielle, will be my roommate when she arrives from Sweden, but as for now I'm flying solo in our room!

I still have a lot of mixed feelings about everything, but as more things fall into place and I get more used to the house and the time zone, I'll be feeling much more settled.

When I have more time and patience, pictures will be added!!! Sorry, for now.

Tomorrow

2007-09-11T00:55:00.000-07:00

As of 33 minutes ago, it's Tuesday, not just any Tuesday, but my last day in New Hampshire, and the United States for that matter, until I come home for a short break in December. I find myself sitting on my bedroom floor trying to sort out my feelings about leaving as I pack all of my favorite belongings into a big blue suitcase. For the past 2 years that we've lived here, this place hasn't completely felt like home. But now that I'm leaving, there's no other place I'd rather rest my head.

"And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."- Kahlil Gilbran

Sums it all up.

For Jon, I think I'll miss him the most. Who said brothers and sisters couldn't be best friends too?

The Countdown

2007-08-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

The tickets are booked and the paperwork has been sent. It's official. In just about 20 days, I'll be making my journey from our home in little old, mostly unheard of, New Hampshire to the famous city Vancouver, British Columbia. I'm really excited and maybe even a little bit nervous. My feelings about leaving are slightly bittersweet. Although I'm very excited about the internship, living away from home and all that's about to happen, I'm a little sad to part with my family for such a long time, as this will be the farthest I've ever been from home. This is a big step for me, but it's the right step forward. I know this is what God wants for me and I know this is what I'm supposed to do.

I guess you could say that I'm beginning to feel the distance between home and Vancouver.

Blue Like Jazz

2007-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

"I am early in my story, but I believe I will stretch out into eternity, and in heaven I will reflect upon these early days, these days when it seemed God was down a dirt road, walking toward me. Years ago he was a swinging speck in the distance; now He is close enough I can hear His singing. Soon I will see the lines of His face."

-Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz.

And that's the way I'm going into this new chapter of my life.

Pursue, push forward. Canada bound.

Hooray.

2007-04-23T19:59:00.001-07:00

Hooray!

Let the blogging begin!

Jenny