Week #1.

9/13/09
Hey Everyone-
I just finished my first week of lectures and boy was it long! As I wrote before the schedule is pretty tight and you’re constantly doing things. This week was orientation week so the lectures were pretty ‘basic’ according to the staff. However, I found them very challenging and can’t wait to find out what is coming my way!

This last week Etienne (director) spoke on intercession, prayer, and fasting. In the past these three topics have confused me… especially fasting. I never really saw the point (that sounds ignorant of me and it kinda was). I always thought, “I can pray and eat all in one day… has been workin’ for me so far.” However, I never knew that it’s something that God has asked of us while Christ is in heaven. Every Wednesday at our base we fast breakfast and dinner. We specifically lift up our ministry and this nation during our times of prayer. This coming Wednesday will be the first time I’ve ever done it so I’m praying that God’ll teach me through it and that I’ll be able to set aside my past interpretations and ideas about fasting.

The teachings on intercession and prayer blew my mind! Etienne would randomly stop and just start praying. He’d lead us or just go for it and it was so powerful! It was a real illustration of what it would look like physically if we were “constantly talking with God” as Christians claim we should do… It was convicting and I love the times of prayer that we’re having as a group.

Yesterday (Saturday) was an absolutely crazy day! Our whole team got up at 6 a.m. to be ready by 7 to set up a street market that ran from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.(pictures should be on facebook in the next couple of days =). We each signed up for different “booths” (a.k.a. food, books, clothes, jewelry, ect.) and helped run them for the four hrs. People from the community came and set up booths as well. It was fun but super hot out. I was exhausted by clean-up at 1 p.m. but the day was not yet over. From to 2-7 p.m. is youth street... every Saturday. This is another ministry that the base runs. It's specifically set up for kids from ages 11-17. There are different “crews” (dance, drama, music, skate, and art) that you join. From 2-5 is a workshop (learn a dance, practice guitar, go skate boarding at a near by skate park, ect.) that the leaders here run for the kids in the community. I signed up for music (not because I’m musically gifted but because they were doing a workshop on drumming and I really wanna learn the bongo drum :D) I practiced for about 2 hrs. straight (just listening and playing along with the crew) and I apparently “wasn’t doing anything fancy but wasn’t doing anything wrong” so I think that’s… good. Once the drama team starts up (it's new) I will be helping run that one. At 5 we had dinner and then went upstairs to “youth live” which is basically just youth group. We played games, had worship, listened to a short (5 mins. Max) teaching on trust, and broke up into small groups.

Yesterday was a challenge for me. The base here is going through some staffing adjustments and so everyone is still in the learning stage… not just us students. I learned a lot and am looking forward to next week…and hopefully I’ll be able to give more.

This morning at 8:15 a.m. the students and staff left for HillSong church (about a 40 min. drive). It was huge. It was the biggest church service I’ve ever been to and the worship was outstanding! I loved it! I just finished some homework and cleaning and am going to head to watch a movie with Janine soon. I love you all!

Prayer Request: Please pray for unity for our group. We’re all coming from different walks of life, different cultures, and even languages. Please pray that the fact that we have Christ in common will unite us in spirit and that we’ll be able to put aside the many other barriers that get in the way. Please pray that I’ll be open to opening up and sharing with others. Thanks you guys!

God Bless,
-Shanna