Down and Out

Sunday night we gathered at the Hyatt Place Hotel near the Indy airport. If only I could explain the excitement in the room as we received our resources and books that we will be utilizing this summer.  Our theme for the summer is Down and Out. Which means this summer we are focusing on the Gospel going DOWN deep into our hearts in order that it may go OUT from us to the nations. As a team, we will be accomplishing Down and Out by studying the book of Mark which is one of the four Gospels of Jesus Christ.  As Kyle Wallace put it, “This summer is so much more what God does in us than what he does through us.”  Kyle is who is leading our trip; you can call him the ring leader of the 18 of us students. Hearing what he was saying was much easier than visualizing how that actually will play out in my heart. So often I am like Martha. Fooled by my own pride, thinking I contribute to my salvation, that my marvelous self is actually needed by the God of the universe! It isn’t, but by his grace he wants to use me, his daughter, for his kingdom. I am so excited (and nervous) for this theme because it is something I know I struggle with.

Arriving last night, well it was night time here; we got into our rooms at our bed and breakfast. I am rooming with Caroline, Abby, and Kayla. Three women that know and love God deeply, and in ways differently than me so I am excited and blessed to have this next 8 weeks with them as roomies!

This morning I work up around 7:30am which is 1:30am in Indiana. I hadn’t yet made it to a store to buy an alarm clock so my cell phone had to suffice (which I set for 1:30am because I have no service here for it to change to this time zone). Today has been a tour of Johannesburg, grocery shopping, and oh yah… finding out I am the girl that is driving while we are here! Just image me driving a 10 passenger Toyota Quantum on the LEFT side of the road, with my steering wheel on the RIGHT, and this beast of a “boot” as they say here is a stick shift. I hope it is funny to you all because honestly I was most worried about the stick shift component, but God gave me rest and the guys teaching me were all very gracious. Now we are about to head to the campus for dinner with some of the Witz students that are involved in the ministry. I am not sure when I will be time on Skype, but I promise when I find out I will be posting that on here J remember I am 6 hours ahead of you, but I will be sure to put the time it is for me and all of you.

I love all of you and am excited for my time here. I challenge all of you if you are not studying anything currently is to read through Mark. It has been such a treat for me to see God’s word reveled to me through learning about the life of Jesus. The scripture I am memorizing this week is Mark 1:15! I totally had no idea that I would be studying the Book of Mark and already God has showed me that verse as I planned to write this blog and call it The Good News.  A verse I want to leave you with today is one I found when reading during my layover in Atlanta. It is Mark 16:15; He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Jesus has called us to the whole world, but that world could just be your next door neighbor, or the lady in the grocery store line right behind you. I have been sent by God to JoBurg for a short time, but this verse applies to my life even when I am living in my home town of Liberty, Indiana.