Hometown Visit!

I am finally making my way back to Michigan for a week (I have an early flight tomorrow!). It's been TOO LONG (since December just before New Year's!).

Looking forward to catching up with a few people and enjoying the lake.

Time with family is my first priority, but if you want to get together, TEXT ME!

I have a wedding I am in, which is most of Thursday-Saturday, so beginning of the week is best for me!

Because SL has Impact Sunday, I am going to church with my dad at Overflow.

Hope to see you! If I don't see you this time, maybe next time around Christmas! :)

Protege Made Me....

Uncomfortable....

Here's my TEDTalk video from 8/5.

There have been so many experiences this past year that have shaped who I have become. I am not the same person I was a year ago (thank God).

Today I had my exit interview with Heather and Emily, the two who have been over the protege program. It went well and I was able to share the impact this year has had on me. Likewise, it was really encouraging to hear them say what they have witnessed in my life this past year.

My challenge to you is: When was the last time you were uncomfortable?

We are coming to the End!

I'm two weeks away from the end of my protege year. It seems so unreal. As I talk to the girl who will be the next Events Protege, I am overcome with the same emotions I had when it was the beginning: nervousness about details and how it will all work out!

A few things to wrap up (although I hope to post in the next two weeks).

~ If you are contributing financially for the month of August, I will receive the money on August 29th. I'm not sure of the cutoff date, but it'd be nice to get it in by Aug 22nd to the office just to be sure! There are no words for how much you have blessed me this past year in supporting me. I could not be in DC without you. Thankful for each of you.

~ I am job hunting. I got accepted into the C. S. Lewis Institute (basically reading a bunch of books, attending lectures, and discussing life in a small group for a year), so I would really love to stay in DC. I had an interview on Friday with Americorps, a position tutoring kids in literacy. I have an interview on Monday with a job agency called Careers in Nonprofits. I am still applying to jobs in the area, so please keep me in prayer as I navigate that. Wisdom is needed.

~ I gave my last TEDTalk on Tuesday. I haven't posted it to Youtube yet. I was having an awful day (less than three weeks from the end of our program and I still don't have a job... just a little discouraged). I WILL post it soon!

Thanks for all the support this year. It has been a wild ride, and I'm looking forward to what God has for me next!

June + July

My protege year is quickly coming to a close.

I am job hunting now. Hoping to find something with middle school kids (whether that ends up being working a normal job + mentoring of some sort outside of work or if it means getting a paycheck while working with middle school kids, I'm not sure right now). I am applying to everything under the sun that interests me -- working in schools, coffeehouses with event planning, and student ministry positions.

I'm not set on living in DC. I plan to live here until God makes it clear that it is time to move.

Part of the beauty of my mission trip to Northern Ireland was that it was basically serving a week long VBS with kids. I LOVED IT! It was tiresome + required a lot of (dancing) energy, but it was so great to come to church the second Sunday we were there and be able to hang out with my four year old friend, Tilly, for half an hour while everyone ate lunch/shopped. There's something so sweet about that age.

So much excitement! 

I would appreciate your prayers as I navigate what to do next. Still blown away that my year with NCC is almost done. I met with the girl who is the next events protege and she had similar questions to where I was a year ago: Where will I live? How will this fundraising thing work out? What exactly do you do as the events protege?

God is good. He is faithful.

Thank you for supporting me on this crazy adventure in the Nation's Capitol. I cannot be here without you.

Beautiful You 2014

At the end of May, I attended a women's conference with 1400 women from around the DC area. 

It was a reminder to me that the Body of Christ is really beautiful.... and I'm thankful for the other half (MEN!). :)

But there's a power to get women together in unity... and that is what happened at BY14. 

I got to hang out with my roommate, Allie. Yea lunch on a park bench on a nice day!

Takeaways:

• Beautiful: the quality present that is evident when one understands their purpose.
• Priscilla Shirer. Dang. This woman. She can SPEAK TRUTH. Love her passion... and the fact that she is a mom to three boys. She's living my dream! 
• In the process of healing, you'll still have issues. ~Donna Pisani
• Christine Caine. I have heard her name so many times... in connection with anti-human trafficking/A21 Campaign. I was able to experience her as a speaker... What a fireball of passion! 
• Every time you are about to have a breakthrough, there will be a spirit of fear that will try to stop/immobilize you. ~Christine Caine
• The people who do what God wants are not fearless; they are just faithful. ~Christine Caine
• What a tragedy it would be if the Enemy realizes our potential more than we know it. ~Priscilla Shirer
• We need to switch off our technology and fill ourselves with God. ~Christine Caine

You can listen to Donna + Christine's messages here. Seriously good stuff! Make time for it! 

Musicians

Over the past nine months, I have heard a lot of music. It's never anyone I've heard of before, but there are some great artists that I've heard. Just wanted to share a few! FYI: Not all of these are Christian artists in case that's what you were expecting.

• Andy Suzuki and the Method (just plain awesomeness)
• Copperlily (husband/wife duo from Nashville; Tim is the frontman for House of Heroes)
• The Gray Havens (amazing husband/wife duo from Chicago)
• Brad Cole (coming to South Haven in June!)

Local DC artists:

• Tiffany Thompson (NCCer; super down to earth; well-known in the DC music scene; frequents Chicago)
• Don Kim (plays ukulele; amazing videographer; just got engaged this year!)
• Rachel Levitin (so energetic and fun!)
• Dave Farah (sickeningly talented)
• Zia Hassan (storytelling + humor)
• Louisa Hall (sings witty lyrics; also plays ukulele)
• Brittany Jean (gym teacher; rocks awesomely colorful shoes)

I saw Andy Suzuki and the Method at Jammin' Java, a local venue in VA. Their openers were Rachel and Don, Dave and Zia as a trio. One of the best concerts ever! So fun!

There are more, but just wanted to give you a sample of who I have been working with this year! Love them all!

I love life!

I'm not the same person I was a year ago (but who is, right?).
I've lived (survived?! thrived?!) in a big city for the past nine months.

I'm just a small town girl... on a journey (haha... see what I did there?).

Tonight I spent a few hours working on my resume. Luckily, I have friends who will double check to make sure I don't sound like an idiot on paper. I plan to apply anywhere and everywhere for positions in event management, student ministry, or administrative work in a non-profit, school, or church setting. If anyone has connections in any of these areas, please let me know.

I'm amazed that at this time last year, I had no idea I would be in DC. I had no idea that I could love a job as much as I do my current position.

The variety of people I get to interact with is awesome. Today at a rental I was working, I saw a powerful politician in person. It never ceases to amaze me that God brought to DC. I don't know what the future holds at the end of August when my protege year is done, but I DO know that God has blessed me immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine this year (hmm... sounds familiar).

I don't think I say it enough, but THANK YOU for all the prayers, packages, financial support, and encouragement throughout this year.

Prayer requests:

• I am going to N. Ireland this June! So soon! Please pray for me as I brush up on some C.S. Lewis reading (who was from Belfast), prepare to embark on a journey with team members (most of whom I don't know well), and support raising. 
• My resume will get in the right hands at the right time for the right position.
• Continuing relationships with local artists. There are some talented people here in DC. There's a core group I have gotten to know and hope to get to know better.
• Street Team Summer Small Group. For the past nine months I have led the Ebenezers Street team (basically people who help with promotion + hospitality to artists by hosting concerts). It's been a struggle to meet consistently, but I am leading a summer small group with hopes that we can gain a few more people. Right now my core group consists of four people. 

Thanks! Let me know how I can pray for you!