Mission: St. Louis

Day Three (Monday, March 16, 2009)

From here on out we will be serving God in an extremely hands on approach. Long days are taking a toll on a lot of us already, and for whoever is reading this post I pray that God will give you the strength to make it through the rest of the day/week and that He will meet all your needs and continue to sustain you throughout our time here in St. Louis.

As always, we started off the day with 8 a.m. devotionals which today was led by Ryan. Devotionals provide a way for the team to prepare our hearts and minds for the rest of the day and to give us a reminder of who should be at the center of our lives. After devotional we then got a chance to meet Pastor Josh and some other members of Mission St. Louis who went through the history of MStL and what being missional actually looks like. James Amos was the director of Empowerment who talked about relocating to the neighborhood in which you're actually trying to reach. At Hill Country being able to reach out to our dorm and to our people group is a sure fire way to drawing people into your life, and more relevantly who you live for.

After talking for a little bit about relating what MStL is doing in their community back to our community our team split up and half of us got a chance to get some more free time and make dinner with one another and the other half of us were actually able to go into the community in which we toured earlier and talk to individuals who were hanging out on their porches.

Personally, I will be the first to admit that I was practically in tears when I was told that I had to go out and engage people and actually talk to them. I was scared senseless and had a complete loss of confidence. However, good 'ole Daniel was able to stick close to me and reassure me that they're just people. Just like you and me, and we all have similar needs that can be met both immediately (with physical food) and in the long term spiritually by accepting the ultimate sacrifice, our daily bread, Jesus Christ.

Being able to just get involved with these people and hearing their stories was definitely one of the highlights of the trip so far. I can't believe I lived my entire life in such ignorance of the divisions within our own cities. I can't imagine living in a world where I can't cross the street into another part of town because I might get shot. The need for a sense of security is definitely a huge part of this town, but we constantly need to reevaluate what the needs of our city looks like. Just off the top of my head I can think about depravity, loneliness, self-confidence, and acceptance as needs which some UT students live every day of their life.

What will it take for us to get off our butts and engage in our own community? What will it take for us to take the first step in talking to someone we don't even know and dealing with the awkwardness of the situation? How can we best serve God and what does that look like on campus? By learning from these people in St. Louis and by serving their basic needs we can begin to assess what it is students put their worth in, and what it is, as believers and as a church, we can meet for our fellow students.

Change is coming. We're called to be at the forefront of change, living a life that makes people wonder and ask "What is it that they have, that I don't?" As students, our daily actions and the way we reach out to the communities we find ourselves in is a public expression of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us, while we were still sinners. We are all in need of a Savior.

Your sister in Him,

Joanna


Verse of the Day: Ephesians 4: 1-7

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

The Journey

Day Two (Sunday, March 15, 2009)

Back in the early days, Christians before they were actually called "Christians" were referred to in the Greek as "the way, or the path, or the journey." Today we had the opportunity to actually go to two amazing services at the church we're partnering with called "The Journey" and listen to both Pastor Darrin and Pastor John preach about giving and being called to sacrifice and what it looks like to live at a level that God provides.

What would this world look like if we were all a little bit less self-centered? If for once in our lives it wasn't all about us? If we had a whole body of people acting in the best interests of others and not themselves, what would change look like? Both pastors at The Journey related this change back to our pocketbooks. So often we either spend too much, or save too much, and we give too little to the things in life that matter. Essentially, the things that matter is our church and our community.

If, as college students, we can learn to live generously with our money, then other people will start to take notice. If we are able to say tithing to the church is something I can easily spend a hundred dollars on, then we are assigning value and worth to things not necessarily of this world but of things that further God's kingdom. If through our actions we can portray the love we have for Christ by the love we have for the church, then good things will come of it. Revival and growth are two things that are rarely used to describe the modern day church. In America especially students need to extend their generosity to the church and to others around them in an authentic way that says "I'm here to serve you."

So basically that's what we learned both at the morning service and the evening service. We did get to have some free time toward mid-afternoon and we had the opportunity to spend time together as a group in the park just posing in front of the Arch and playing random games that gave people like myself really large bruises on their ankles (calling out Dani on this one!) But I'd have to say just being able to enjoy the evening eating at Chipotle and ending with some deliciously smooth gelato was the perfect end to Day Two.

Until tomorrow, yours in Him,

Joanna Lynn. (ha, that rhymed)


Verse of the Day: Malachi 3:10

"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."

Party Van v. Sleeper Van

Day One (Saturday, March 14, 2009)

What it do. It's yo girl, Jhttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=32953132&postID=870557779661590492.D. from the hood hollerin' atcha from StL. Today was crazy. Picture this, 16 hours of driving from the ATX all the way to StL (aka St. Louis). Two vans. As we all know, I was in the crazy van, or shall I say the party/movie van.

We decided to do some team bonding by getting out Ms. Kelly's laptop and starting the day off right with a lil bit of V for Vendetta. After that most inspiring and saddening of films we decided some comedy was in order and popped in Pineapple Express. Now you might ask: Aren't you supposed to be on a mission trip? Well my friend, we had 16 hours to kill, what would you do with that much time? After a quick bite to eat at Quiznos we decided to take the drive home with good 'ole 300.

Meanwhile in Van #2, they were having a ball just sleeping the day away. Naturally, Day One was spent mostly in the van and I have to say I definitely saw some interesting relationships pop up. There was most assuredly some Daniel and Eric love. Now you gotta understand, Daniel likes to sing, get down, and drop it like it's hot. Eric on the other hand is chill. I mean real chill. Literally... the guy is from Alaska. Eric is the type of guy who in a van full of people singing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is sitting in the corner shaking his head asking why God would put him in a van with such crazy people. Of course, Daniel would consistently tell Eric to break it down with the boys and get dirty... but unfortunately for this story, he never did. One day though, it will happen.

Finally, we get to our hotel, and are able to chill and have some quite time. Everyone is exhausted and yet every night we have these things called "devo's" or basically devotionals where as a group we get together and just go over what has happened throughout the day and how we can apply it to our lives. At the end of all this, as a group, we hope to take what we learn here, from Mission St. Louis to UT Austin and reach out to other students and friends in an authentic, God-centered way, that touches the hearts of people around us. This is our mission, this is our goal, and throughout the week I'll be filling you guys in on what's the latest scoop and how we're applying it to our lives. Peace out kids.

-J.D.


Quote of the day: (ducks flying in V formation across the sky...)

Amelia: "Wow, that's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Daniel: (pulling out imaginary shotgun) "You know (Nathan) if you go 65 I think I might be able to get a head shot."

good morning

I HATE POP-UPS.

Lately, I've been getting A LOT of them, and I feel bad for my poor computer because it was probably me that gave it to him. :(

Anyway, school's out and I'm having fun being bored... alright maybe that was a lie. I have fun relaxing and watching movies and not even thinking about the final I have on Friday :/. Although I really should get started on that. There are loads of good movies on tonight... or throughout the day, I don't know how I'll possibly choose between them all.

In other news, I've been cleaning my room, so hopefully by the end of this week it'll look somewhat decent. Other than that there's not much going on... until next time...

Artist: Nate Sallie
Song: Ruined For Ordinary

pirates

So today was the end of my last Psychology class, I actually CRIED! Seriously, Professor Gosling and Pennebaker are the most amazing professors I've ever had... I was so blessed to be in that class. I can only hope that next semester will be just as touching.

So here I am in the Millenium Lab of the Business School and I should really be studying, as always... but writing can be really relaxing you know? Anyways, tomorrow is Wednesday, that means there's going to be Poetry on the Plaza, my last CMS class, AND my Phl 304 FINAL TEST (eek)... wish me luck!!

Love: Joanna

Music: Soundtracks to Grease and Pirates of the Caribbean and Sound of Music and Phantom of the Opera

just goin' on's.

So I have three tests comin' up this week. Only one final though, so that makes me happy. I really should be studying, but you know how that can go ):

Anywhoo, Facebook is acting up, I can't seem to connect tonight, which makes me a wee bit sad. However, that means I'll probably spend a good less 30 minutes doing whatever online, which is a good thing. Tonight I'm going to a PaRTAY! At my workplace... we're DECORATING! Yuppers... it should be fun. Righteo mate, I think that's all for tonight.

Song: Speechless
Artist: The Veronicas

Dear Ms. Martinez

If you want to see a creative writing sample that I did in high school I encourage you to either read my piece titled "I Want" that you can find if you scroll down the page. OR to read a portion of my fictional piece titled "Signed With Love," that I consider to be my best piece from that class. That post can be found when you click the September 2006 link on the left hand side of the page under "Archives."

Both are relatively long, so unless you are so engrossed into the piece, any section of the pieces should be able to show my love for writing. Hope you enjoy!

Sincerely: Joanna

Blogging from a UT perspective

So, I went to a blogger info. session at UT today, and it was very informative and pretty awesome. It feels GREAT to get back into the swing of things on the lines of blogging (I can't believe my last post was so many months ago o_O). So here I am at PCL thinking about my first semester of college and realizing that everything in life, even something as amazing as college, has it's ups and downs.

I don't think high school students fully realize the change that will occur when they go to a university. College, is nothing like high school. The atmosphere is different, expectations are higher, classes are informal, and in actual reality you're pretty much on your own for the first couple weeks of college. It's pretty awkward the first time you call one of your new college friends to get together for lunch because it's at that 'in-between' stages where y'all are kind of friends, but not really. Change in college is a huge factor, and it's not easy.

That's why I'm so looking forward to going to Alumni Day in January. It'll be great to see all my old teachers and my junior (now senior) friends again. I want to be able to share to all my senior buddies that it's nothing like you expect. I graduated second in class and yet I'm making a C and three B's, that's NOTHING like what I anticipated. You think it's gonna be easy, and that you're going to have a jolly good time but once you start getting those test grades back, it's like a slap in the face. The most important lesson you will learn your first semester in college is how to manage your time. This is an essential skill that I urge all my fellow high schoolers to master now, instead of having to weasel your way toward a B the last couple weeks of the semester.

Also, your social life changes too. I had about twenty to thirty other Akins graduates come with me to UT, but DAYS go by when I don't see a single one. It's a definite relief when you can see a familiar person in a "Sea of Faces". Unless you're dorming with a friend, your interests really do expand in the social world. As a last note, a fair warning to those who want to jump into all the exciting student organizations. Please, please, please know your limits. Your first semester is NOT the time to experiment with a 12-15 hour class load and 2-3 organizations. At most, have one organization that you are committed to and a level amount of class hours that you personally feel as if you can handle. You'll quickly learn how to balance work and play in the college scene, and if you don't, then it's "Si-Ya-Nara" (i think that means goodbye... right?)

Anywhoo: it's goodbye for now... I have to do an assignment for my Psychology class (which I HIGHLY recommend... take Profs. Gosling & Pennebaker)... hopefully this post will be the first in a line of more consistent ones. Take Care Readers!

Many Hugs:
Joanna.

Artist: Kutless
Song: Sea of Faces

Writing Exercise #4 (photo inspiration)

The concrete felt cool against his hot body.

"I must be a sore sight to see," thought Jacob. The obviously curious glances and at times hostile ones confirmed Jacob's thoughts.

"Oh Well, he muttered, I don't care any more. Let them stare, they don't know what they're missing."

Jacob stared up at the cloudy blue sky and laid with his arms wide open, palms up, feet splayed sideways to think about the events that had played out over the course of the day. His briefcase laid strewn open with its contents fluttering lightly in the breeze, and his three piece suit was indeed in three pieces, just not on him. The enormous buildings towered over him taunting his underachievements, laughing at what they saw.

"Oh shut up. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm not good enough. Well you know what? Maybe you're right. I Quit. I quit you and your stupid elevators that start and stop at every freaking floor while I'm trying to rush to my internship. I quit you and your idiotic receptionist that obviously doesn't know how to do her job considering the fact that a receptionist is someone who recieves visitors and what does she do when she sees me? Nothing! I don't even get a good morning! I quit you and your ridiculous mirror windows that probably kill a good amount of birds a day considering they reflect the trees across the street. I Quit. Good Riddance."

Jacob continued to mutter these thoughts angrily to himself as he stared up at the obstacles weighing him down. What had before inspired him to pursue his internship at the broker's office now towered over him reminding him of how little he truly was.

"Damn You."

He closed his eyes and his thoughts took him back to the days of his youth, when cutthroat competition was a game he mastered, and easy acces to the top was like taking candy from a baby...

Writing Exercise #3 (adjective: juicy)

As she slowly sat peeling the skin of her juicy Reb Ruby grapefruit Angela contemplated on how different college was from high school. The atmosphere, professors, relationships, scheduling, dress, people, and priorities were radically different from what she had expected. Being a senior in high school and taking college classes alongside her regular classes made those differences stick out even more than normal. But Angela enjoyed the freedom she had in her college classes and embraced those differences with an open mind and joyful heart.

On a particular stormy class day, Professor Collis dissmissed the class early so that everyone could arrive safetly home before the big storm hit.

"Oh that sucks," thought Angela. "Now I'll have to wait here for another hour before my mom can pick me up from work." She gathered her things with a sour look on her face and made her way out of class. "Stupid weather," she muttered bitterly, "always manages to screw me over somehow."

"Oh Yeah? How's that?"

Angela was startled out of her gloom as she turned to see who had overheard her. A young man she had not seen before, not much older than her was looking at her curiously awaiting an answer.

"Oh, I didn't know you heard that. Well, I mean I'll have to wait here for an hour while the storm hits before my mom can come pick me up."

"Is that right? Well, you won't have to wait alone. I ride the city bus, you know, to save gas and all and it won't be here for another hour as well. Suppose we brave this storm together?"

"Uh, sure. But my mom told me never to talk to strangers so i don't know how this is going to work really."

"Hm, let me think. Oh I got it, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Gabe. There, now you know who I am."

Despite the obvious cliche of the statement Angela couldn't help but smile and shake his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Gabe, I'm Angela."

"So, where to now? Definitely not outside right? How about the library? I'm not much of a reader but I find comfort in the silence of a library, I don't know why, I just do... weird huh?"

"Not really," she responded, "I can see where you're coming from, and I'd love to go to the library. Unlike you, I can lose myself in between pages, maybe I can show you my favorite book."

"Oh yeah? And that would be what?"

"Well, you'll just have to see now won't you," she says with a grin.

As Angela and Gabe enter the library a crack of thunder is heard and the lights flicker.

"Wow, Gabe says, now that one was juicy, wouldn't you agree?"

"Are you crazy? You sure got a wacked up sense of adjectives. That was a loud awakening, it was most certainly not juicy, now hurry up before these lights go completely out, I want to show you my book!"

Writing Exercise #2 (Sentence Starter)

"It was Sunday, and there shouldn't have been a letter in the mailbox, but there was."

Sandy slipped her fingers over the mail, feeling the grains within, she had never before checked the mail on Sunday’s, but today she woke up feeling different, and as she set her feet on the hardwood floor she automatically headed over to the mailbox. Feeling her way past the doorway and seeing with her hands and feet was she able to make it to the front of her home. Slowly she slipped her fingers underneath the flap and gently lifted out the letter, the raised bumps on the page surprised her more than the actual letter had.

Her fingers flew over the bumps and they said: “Hello, my name is Michael, and I am your guardian angel. I left a gift for you at your doorstep, go see what it is, I know you’ll like what I got for you. His name is Swann by the way.”

For some reason Sandy didn’t disregard this as a phony letter and as she arrived at her doorstep she found a wet nose, fuzzy face, and wriggling body awaiting her.

Writing Exercise #1 (5 W's)

It was a normal day like any other, Johnny was so excited because today was the day. The day little Johnny had been waiting for his whole itty bitty life. The day of the science fair… dun dun dun. He had been working on his volcano for over a month now and I know what you’re probably thinking, a volcano?, but no, this wasn’t any ordinary volcano it was the biggest, baddest, and most explosive volcano in third grade history. As Johnny prepared to take his volcano to school, across the street, Danny boy was preparing his too.

Unbeknownst to these two little boys was the fact that they both had chose to make the volcano as their science project, and at the exact moment Danny walked out his front door, Johnny across the street did too, each holding their own volcano.

“Oh no he didn’t,” Johnny gasped. His eyes narrow to little slits and his breathing gets faster. Their eyes meet and the immediate hatred felt towards each other for both having created the same thing almost caused the volcanoes to blow. You must know, Johnny and Danny, living across from each other their whole lives had always competed against each other to be the better of the two. But today Johnny wasn’t gonna let little Danny take away his thunder. Oh no, Johnny felt it was time to put little Danny in his place.

Three hours later at school, the clever police officer tripped over the body in the broom closet right before the science fair. It was the body of little Danny.