Jesus' Purpose

The past 4 days that I have been here I have already grown more than I can say. Today has been the best day yet! We watched a video by Gary Haugen, the CEO of International Justice Mission. This organization works to help those trapped in sex slavery. His speech was grounded in faith and it was the most affirming thing I have heard yet. Throughout this experience I KNEW God was calling me to this and that I am helping people. I have felt peace being here, but I was also searching for the purpose that this experience would serve for God's Kingdom.

In Gary's speech he talked about 5 qualities that one must focus on in order to work for and attain peace. These 5 characteristics are:

1. Moral Clarity

2. Extravagant Compassion

3. Sacrificial Courage

4. Tenacious Hope

5. Refreshing Joy

This speech ROCKED me! Jesus spoke to me through this. All 5 of these characteristics are ones that Jesus stood for. By working with IC and trying my best to attain these characteristics, I will be directly showing people the type of love Christ meant for us to give. 

We were asked to answer a few questions about this speech

-What is the legacy our generation will leave behind?

-What 2 values do you wish to focus on this semester?

After hearing this speech I was so overwhelmed by God's joy and peace that the only way I could think to respond was through prayer. I want to share this prayer with all of you because I think that the level at which God is consuming my heart here can be an encouragement to those that have a call on their life, by God, but may be too scared to follow it. It was tough for me to be here, but I knew it was God's call for me and it is definitely paying off!

Here is my prayer

"God, you are so good! Give me the gentle, yet strong, courage that faith in YOU supplies. Make me bold enough to share your message and love through advocating peace. This war must end. LORD, give me and show me purpose. Gift me with extravagant compassion- let me sympathize and empathize selflessly and recklessly. God let our generation leave a legacy of hope, faith, peace, and love. YOUR spirit resides in this world LORD. Let this generation be ambassadors of this. Let us fight with tenacious hope for the souls of our brothers and sisters. 

"The Children of Adam are limbs of each other

Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time afflicts one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others
Thou art unworthy to be called by the name of a man."
-Anthony Painter


LORD, help us to fight as one unit, one body, one church.
AMEN"

Awe

Very seldom am I truly impressed. The last 3 days being here at Invisible Children I am genuinely impressed by every aspect. The first day I got here I basically just got settled and met everyone. Walking into the house I was overwhelmed with the spirit of all the other roadies. I felt immediately a part of the IC family. The second day was our 1st time at the office! It was a long day, about 9am to 6pm and then a movie screening at Balboa park until 10pm. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. At the office the past 2 days we have been in and out of training sessions all day learning more about the intricate details of IC. Not only have these sessions grown my love for the organization incredibly, but they have put me into a state of sheer awe. I am most in awe of the humility that every worker at IC exuberates.

Ben Keesey.

Ben Keesey is the CEO of Invisible Children and led a training session on the mission statement and values of IC. I was already impressed that he treasures the core values of IC so highly that he is willing to come in, while he is sick, and speak to a bunch of 20somethingyearolds. The reason Keesey stuck out to me so much is because of his humility. Through his speaking it is apparent that the life he leads is an incredibly genuine and modest one. Keesey emphasized that we must transform our view of charity into compassion, superiority into humility and always remain in the mindset that our cause comes before the company.

In my few days here I can see God's hand on everything- the company, my role as a roadie, the roadies and interns around me. God is moving here! I am so alive with His presence and I feel so much peace. God's presence has shown up most the past few days in the people He has placed in my life. I have incredible teammates that I will actually be going on the road with, and other amazing people that I will get to know over the next 6 weeks. The creativity and innovative minds that these people possess captivate me- and the thing that captivates me more is the complete absence of pride.

I am in a place right now where I can see Jesus' love in so many ways. It is incredible and through the things that He has placed right in front of me to be in awe of creates a distinct and overwhelming awe for the King.

And it Begins

About to get on the plane to leave for San Diego. I am so excited for this journey to begin! I have been overwhelmed with the love that all of my friends and family have shown for me the last few days. I am so blessed! As I leave this community for a while, I know that I am going to meet such lovely people on this trip. God's blessings have been showering me non stop with the arrival of this trip- knowing this I can't wait to see what He has planned for me in the upcoming 5 months. Please be praying for me that I am in sync with the Holy Spirit and that I grow immensely in my walk with God through this experience. Please also pray for my team and all of the roadies that will be stretched in so many ways throughout these next few months. Lastly, the reason we are all gathering together, please pray for those in Africa that are being affected by the LRA- pray that they may know peace and learn of God's mercy, grace, and unfathomable love.

Next time I post I will be going full throttle, learning so much about Invisible Children and the conflict, and will be immersed in another amazing community of people!