Why are we "here"?

I love giving others compliments, encouragement, any words of affirmation. I also enjoy getting them, I'm not the best at receiving them because I feel like I need to turn right back around and compliment them but I do like them. I also can't except them very well, I like get weird and the words thank you just don't come out. 

This week I thought a lot about purpose. Why am I here, what is my purpose. What am I good at. This thought came from a conversation me and my best friend had. Everyone struggles with saying positive things about themselves, and from a conversation that was typical for the two of us, Britt said "That's what I'm here for...well that and obviously many other reasons." I love knowing what others see in themselves, that way I can feed into areas maybe they don't see. Maybe it's the counselor in me. I don't know, but it was fun to challenge her to make a list of reasons she's "here". In return to her list I made a list of my own, because I like to challenge myself if I challenge someone else. 

So here's what I got...

Encouraging -- Everyone is capable of doing what they set their minds to. I don't want to hold anyone back, but move them forward.

Hugs -- Physical touch is not something I've been comfortable with but I get told that my hugs are great and I know that hugs show love and compassion.

Optimism -- With encouraging others I know that sometimes others won't see the possibility of a better outcome. I like to place that outcome as a possibility.

Forgiving -- I have been hated and I never liked the feeling of it. Holding a grudge or hating someone is to much work and forgiveness is a new freedom and a new possibility of a relationship. 

Intentionality -- I like to know I that others know I care so if I can go out of my way to remember something or put someone above me then I feel one step closer in that relationship. Remembering even the little things, others take notice of that. 

Sensitive -- I never thought it would be okay to cry. I never thought I would be able to show others sensitivity. But going through sensitive things and cry with other is an important relationship goal. 

Selfless -- I will go above and beyond to put you above myself. To give you what you need. To always help you and love you. 

It took me a good chunk of a time to write these out, but it's felt great to see the gifts that I've been given to share. To remind myself of my purpose and why I'm "here".

-Holly

DWM...week one

Last Sunday my summer adventure started, and about 1 am Monday morning I finally made it to Diamond Willow. Nothing has been slow around here, I swear we are constantly moving to do something. So I figured I would try to do a day by day break down of the week.

But first I guess you need a break down of the people I' might mention.  

Dave: He's my boss, but he's super cool. He has been at DWM for 6 years with his family; his wife Vicky, and their kids Jacob, Andrew, Nathan, Vicka and Ellana. 

Annie: Who I guess is also my boss who is under Dave and they tag team camp operations. She's from North Carolina and has the greatest accent! 

Rod: Who is the man behind the scenes, and behind the pulpit on Sunday Mornings. He's been here from the beginning with his family: wife Val, and their kids Aaron and his wife Cricket, Hannah, Timothy, and Rachel.

Gale: She feeds me. :) 

Shannon: She helps feed us.

Jac, Bethany, and Hannah May. These are the other interns that I get the pleasure of living with this summer in an 8 foot wide camper. 

Our first week was 6th and 7th grade girls camp, and let me tell you...these girls are awesome! Camp doesn't officially start until Wednesday, but we have things happening all week around here. 

This weeks break down: 

Monday:
Monday morning we were up at 9 am, and in the office ready for whatever was going to happen. Jac, Andrew and I started cleaning the church from all the weekend ruckus that had went on. About 3 o'clock that afternoon a work group from Kingsway Indiana got here. There was 4 of them, which made for an exciting week. We walked through what the camp week was going to look like, and broke up the lessons, activities, and those sort of things. It was a super easy breezy day.

Tuesday: 

Tuesday was an 8 am morning, and this morning we did worship. Which I really enjoy because I get to play guitar (I don't like singing and I feel like I can connect with worship more through playing). Chris from Kingsway did a devotion over God's promises, which is our theme for the summer camps. It was a nice way to get us pumped up for whatever this week was to bring! We also went to the museum this day. It was awesome! If you don't know this about me, I LOVE museums and things like them! There is so much history that is available for us, and it was just awesome. (I'm working on a blog post with this information in it, so look forward to that!) That night we went out to The Fort to find girls interested in coming to camp. This is always an adventure, especially with groups because you really get to see things and I think it's my favorite part of the week. 

Wednesday:
Wednesday I was up at 7:30 to run through the worship music for that day. We had breakfast, worship and did another devotion (we do this everyday so I probably will just say routine). We then had some free time to get our lessons prepared for camp, and then following lunch we went out to pick up girls for camp! So this summer I'll get to drive a little for pick ups and drop offs, but this week I rode with Annie to do them to learn the town a little bit better. As we were driving through Central Annie goes "Look there are some girls are the park...oh never mind that's Pierce." Pierce is a boy that I had for camp last summer, and I adore him. I hadn't seen him yet since I came up for the summer, so Annie stopped to let me say hello. Made my day! 

After we finished pick ups we came back to the church and broke up into teams. My team ended up with three girls, but we were the A Team, because their names all ended with an A. Our lesson this day was about Noah and the promise of the rainbow. It was an awesome way to kick off the week of God's promises.

Thursday:
After our routine morning and picking the girls up, we broke up into our groups again to go over the lesson of God's promise to Abraham. God promised Abraham all these descendants and that one of them would be a savior. This day was tough, because the girls were really pushing Jac and I. They wanted to test us, and see how real we were. It took me a little while to understand that this is what they were doing, and that it was actually an awesome thing, because it also meant that there may be trust growing with them. We took time to memorize bible verses today, and one of our girls knocked it out of the park in getting down to business and getting a lot of memorization done. We had a rock star group!

Friday:
We talked about two promises on Friday. The first one was Jesus Christ and the promise of the cross, the second one was the feast and the promise of heaven. It was really cool to experience theses lessons with the girls, and see what their thoughts and how much they knew about these promises.
Friday was also our hike day. We went out to the bad lands, which is about two hours from where we are and we went on a 4 mile easy prairie hike. Our girls were awesome with staying with us as a group and we got to have some great Jesus conversations out there. At the very end of our hike there is a "hill" that's more like a mountain for me from Kansas, that we had to get down. There was a leader here from Kingsway who is terrified of heights. Me being the patient person that I am, took an hour to help this lady down the hill. It was one giant rock of crappy terrain that the girls could make it down in 7 minutes. It was actually a lot of fun for me to help her down. I love those sort of situations, and this lady reminded me a lot of my mom. It was enjoyable for me to be a helping hand, plus she paid me in dark chocolate m&m's!
Friday night was also our sleepover...I'll leave out a lot of the details on that because well...I can. It was an interesting night though, and I enjoyed that as well.

Saturday:
Waking the girls up the next morning was a mediocre task. Some of them weren't having it, and some of them thought...yeah, I'm hungry so I'll get up. It was a fantastic day finishing up camp, and such. We announced the team that had the most points that week, and we announced who had the most points in memorization points. It was fun to reflect back on all their hard work.

Sunday:
Church! I love church up here. Obviously the atmosphere is different than UCC, and not just size. Worship is not as contemporary, we sing some songs in the native language, and I always get the chance to meet someone new. That and Pierce was here. It's always good to see that little rascal, and there were camps girls here too, who now feel comfortable around me. It was a good day! :)



Sorry my post isn't super in depth, but this is what routinely my weeks will look like. As the summer goes on I hope to write more about experiences and culture things, but this is a good week one and what I'm sort of doing.
Again I appreciate everyone's support through prayer, financially, or just reading these blogs. I appreciate you.

I do want to leave you with a verse that was my comfort verse this week and that's Isaiah 41:10...go look it up ;)

-Holly 

New adventures

First of all thank you to everyone who has been reading and praying for me as this week has come to an end. Today I head off to South Dakota. Hopefully leaving Manhattan in the next hour and will be there by 11 tonight. 

This is a huge step for me. My first adventure alone, and I mean like outside of my family and friend group alone. I have an 8 hour drive by myself, and I'm kind of excited for that. I feel grown up and responsible. It's awesome.

At the same time, I have hated saying see ya laters. As exciting as it is to leave and come back, I hate missing out onwhat everyone is doing this summer. I also know people are jealous of my adventure, so it's even. :P 

As I head out I just wanted to ask for prayers over safety, and my car...if you've ever seen it, you know why. I'm lucky to have a vehicle. It's a nice luxury. It makes it from point A to B. Also prayers that I'll get settled in quickly. Our first work group and camp starts this coming week! Woohoo! 

Thanks friends, I'll report back soon about the trip :) 

God Bless,

 -Holly 

Pray Day Monday...Take 3

It's the final count down!

Thankful for:
So this week my positivity game is having to go strong. I have 5 days until I leave Manhattan and head for Fort Thompson. I'm really excited for what my two months there are going to bring, but Satan still has me thinking that I'm still going to lose things here. Whether that be status, relationships, jobs whatever. Satan is up to some mean tricks. Not only in my life though, but also in lives around me. Satan is picking on friends with their own insecurities, but I think Satan's an idiot because God has let us team up and share those insecurities with each other to help build each other up. It's great how God has brought me two awesome women into my life for such a time as this, and it's great bond has me sure in the fact that our relationships will not dwindle.

Over the weekend I graduated from Manhattan Christian College with 2 degrees. Bible and Leadership, and Christian Education with an Emphasis in Youth Ministry and Counseling. This is an overwhelming blessing that God has giving me, because I never thought I would make it. He's raised me from nothing and into something to strengthen His Kingdom. God's game is strong!

Last week my prayer request was prayer for financial support as I head to South Dakota. God did some pretty great things, and gave me some pretty huge support. I'm thankful for what he has given me, but please continue prayer because I'm still not there. God is good!

I'm thankful for my family. As they all gathered Saturday to help me celebrate graduation, I was stressed and quite ready for them to leave. But after they left I missed them. They did so much to make this weekend special. Mom cooked 140 burritos, Dad saved the day with ice and soda, Michael and Laura were helping in anyway they could to keep my stress down, and Morgan was trying so hard to help also. I appreciate them all. But most of all I was thankful that God let Tre be a part of that day. That he was able to come and celebrate with me.

Prayers for others:
The high school girls that want this summer to be a great one. That they'll find new adventures, and they'll have a million stories to share with me. I can't wait to see how God uses them right here in Manhattan, and on the trips they are taking.

For two friends who are kind of struggling the same emotional battle and insecurities. These ladies are absolutely stunning in personality, and I think they're like the raddest girls around. Satan's game is strong, but they are beautiful women of God, and eventually when the time is right He will win.

My friend DJ who is just striving for Jesus. She is a huge light on others, but she asked to be lifted up and that God would draw her near. Also praise God, because she now has three awesome incredible job opportunities this summer.

For my youngest brother. He is at a group home and doing great, but the medicine that they put him on is jacking up his diet to where he can't eat. Over the weekend he had a bowl of fruit, and as bad as he was feeling he couldn't eat. It was awful to watch and not be able to help. Also please be praying that God will strengthen him to be an overcomer. Tre is a great young man, but his guidance is mislead. He has a huge heart and I want so badly to see him use that for the Kingdom.

Prayers for me:
I have two finals this week, that I'm not super stressed about. But I need motivation to get the crap done.

I also still have packing to do, and see ya laters to say. So many people I want to spend time with and I know that they're all not going to happen, but that I can get in the important ones.

For safe travels as  I leave Saturday morning.

Finances, and that I'll continue trusting God with them.

I appreciate everyone who reads this and joins in for prayer with me on Mondays. Please if there is anything that I can be praying for you about, at the top left of this page you can email me any request. If you want other prayer support I can share them on the blog, if not I won't, just write it down :)

Love Holly

Journey...Step 1

Tomorrow is a huge step in on my journey of life. I beat a lot of odds, and proved a lot of people wrong. I'm graduating college. This was no easy step. It was a constant up hill battle, but I wouldn't exchange it. Congrats to all graduates! May you beat all the odds, ever against you. 

Pray Day...Take 2

This is my vulnerability and personal request this week.

This past Sunday at church our pastor was hitting the topic of money hard, and said this:

“If you are struggling financially, more than likely God is not number one in your heart.” He used Matthew 6:21 “where your treasure is, there your heart is also.”

 I firmly believe that my heart is fully aligned with God, but I have never trusted him fully with my finances. Today as I was driving home to visit my family I was thinking over my financial struggles, and over what Barry had said. I started just talking with God, and I surrendered. The conversations that followed that afternoon with my family was undeniably God working through their words to confirm in me that I was ready to trust him with my finances.

As my older brother: who is a dad of three kids and has taken on the task of raising my two youngest siblings, and I were sitting on the couch we started talking about financial struggles. I wasn’t sharing anything at the time he made this comment “Holly you and I have gone through hell to support ourselves, and we don’t get recognized for how far we’ve come.” This got me on three different thoughts: 1. It sucks that we don’t get recognized, 2. I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for anything, and 3. I don’t think I share often the struggles I’ve come through to get to where I am. 

As most of you know I am getting ready to take off for the summer to South Dakota, and well there is a lot I have to take care of financially. My internship is unpaid, and I am just graduating college. I have been living paycheck to paycheck for most of the five years I’ve been in school. I also pay my own bills: phone, rent, etc. Leaving and not having a firm cushion under me is a terrifying feeling, but my mom’s comment today got to my heart. As we were talking about all these things I had to take care of and the total cost that we were looking at ($1200ish) I got frustrated and over anxious. She looked at me and asked, is this what God has called you too? My response “…yes. I’ve never been so sure!” She said “then God wouldn’t send you if he didn’t trust you. Where is your trust in him?”

So, on my drive back to Manhattan I was so upset and sick to my stomach because I wasn’t sure if I could really do this. As I was frustrated and asking God if he really trusted me, I got a tweet sent to my phone from a good friend. She wasn’t talking to me or about me, but it made so much since in the situation. “Will you stop complaining and recognize that you’re not in control of everything?” (@brittanirshank) My thought was “OKAY GOD. FINE, YOU’RE IN CONTROL. WHAT NOW!?”

This is how this post has come about. God has hit me hard with being transparent, and the number one thing I hate admitting is that I need financial support. I have a do it myself mindset, and attitude. But God is showing me that The Body of Christ works as one. I’m not asking for your money so I can go off and live care free, I’m asking for prayer support. I’m asking that you’ll pray for God to open doors for me. I’m asking that you’ll pray blessings over my summer, and the ministry that’ll I’ll be working with. That’s what God has asked me to ask for, and to let him open doors for financial support or opportunities.

I thought God was crazy at 2:30 this afternoon for asking me to write about this and I had that thought for two different reasons. 1. No one reads my blog, and 2. No one wants to read another financial need. I want to just finish with this; Barry said on Sunday that “We grow by making a commitment. We need to say I’m in. Growing involves being stretched.” I love knowing who is praying for me, so please once you read this and if you decide to add me to your prayer list, I just ask that you email me and if you want even type up a prayer so I can have it. J Ya’ll rock and I appreciate your support in all the things God is doing in me.