looking to tomorrow

Another chapter is beginning before the ink is even dried on the last- I am flying to Asia in about nine hours, and i haven't even finished packing. I don't think sleep is going to play a very large role in my night tonight...

Departing early Saturday morning, I will arrive at my destination late Sunday evening. Haha. You know you are exhausted when you are looking forward to nineteen hours of flights and layovers. Honestly, I just want to sit there and think. I think i really need the time to downshift and change gears...

The last chapter is already passing and i am trying not to smudge the ink as i go looking into tomorrow- already reading the opening lines of the next chapter...

we made it!

An amazing month (and a lot of hard work) with an amazing staff- i loved it! Obviously, having things all wrapped up made us just a little giddy...

Finishing well

Today was the last official day of the Reformation Generation Seminar, 2011. After our final morning lecture session, we had our small groups- and mine was particularly special today. I led the girls in a time of affirmation for one another- just encouraging each other and speaking truth. It was a really sweet time, hearing each of these young women articulate all they have learned from one another, all they have loved, and all they appreciate. When the girls affirmed me, i was just wildly blessed, hearing how the lord had used me in their lives... i felt so rewarded knowing that God had impacted them through my interaction with them. It was a wonderful last small group time with my four girls.

Graduation was a special dinner, with all the staff attending to show their support and love for the girls. The food was fantastic and spirits were high. Our program director shared a few final words with the class and we announced the official closing of the seminar.

Our "after party" consisted of driving down to my house (since it was raining, our plan for sunset on the beach was spoiled) and playing games and eating ice cream. It was a nice last time together. Can't believe its really over- it was a remarkable month, pioneering this new program and seeing the Lord transform eight young women's lives in outstanding ways. Now everyone will be leaving over the weekend...so I gave them all hugs and said goodbye- because i am getting on a plane myself in less than ten hours...

Lecture with our base director: the final session!

My lovely small group!!

Going to miss these girls when i get the time...

They are so precious!

Eight girls, four staff= the first ever Reformation Generation Seminar!

maybe it was the coffee

The lecture hall was especially abuzz this morning. Maybe it was the coffee. Knowing there is just a couple sessions left, the class was excited to be present and giddy with one another's company. It was a great morning. By the time we had waded through the topic of Postmodernism and its effects on culture and faith, however, they were considerably more subdued... maybe the coffee failed us in the long run after all.

Love this class! Going to miss them come Saturday when i leave for Asia and they all head back to their home towns... :(

last lectures

The daily lectures that have shaped the RefGen Seminar schedule as in their final days- just three morning sessions before we talk about the course in past tense. Crazy. Its been such an exciting month with each of these young women- mentoring them as they walk through the material and examine their beliefs has been a privilege. I love seeing the Lord reshaping and reforming their worldviews and changing their whole outlook on faith and life. Its hard to believe July is quickly winding to a close and we'll be saying goodbye this weekend.

Lecture today dealt with the inevitable outcomes when different entities (ourselves, human philosophies) are enthroned in our life- addressing ultimately how only having God at the center of our life and truly knowing Him can produce the Christian life and ethics. Some of the content we waded through in the morning was a bit thick, but the class stuck it out for a great resolve in a later session which I personally really enjoyed. Some moments in the curriculum are like that- they kind of make you go cross eyed for an hour or two, but then come around and make sense of something you have always wondered about:)

Only three days left before we have a course closing dinner on Friday night...and i fly out early the following morning for my teaching trip to Asia! The countdown is underway!

the joys of sand, sun and sea

Today was the last official weekend outing of the Reformation Generation Seminar- crazy how our month with these girls has flown by! We made it a memorable Saturday, renting snorkel sets for each participant and heading to Kaanapali on the west side, to Black Rock Beach, for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. The weather was perfect, the ocean conditions were ideal for snorkeling, and the girls were reveling in the experience. Their ocean immersion adventure along the colorful coral reefs was memorable for each of them, all enthusiastically coming ashore with tales of plentiful sightings of tropical fish, sea turtles, and large spotted rays. It was rewarding for me to see the activities we planned for them be embraced with such giddiness and appreciation... they simply loved the day. It was great. I had a good time as well- though i spent a great deal of my time stationary on the sand with everyone's towels and backpacks:) I managed a bit of swimming and a little walk to take some pictures... and definitely got some sun. In fact, i think we all did. Despite constant reminders to reapply sunscreen, i think we're all a little on the pink side. It was my last chance for a tan before my trip anyhow, so no worries. From here on out its about going hard to make the most of last opportunities to invest in these girls while wrapping up our final week!

Arriving at the beach- pristine until the hundreds of vacationers join us:)

Soaking it up while it lasts

Our little snorkeling darlings prepare to take to the seas

On a walk with Jennifer

And winding down as shadows lengthen and the effects of sand, sun and sea set in!

tomorrow marks one week and counting...

I leave the morning after we have our last session for the summer seminar- not a lot of slack in my schedule these days:) Can't believe I am heading out in just a week. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as i continue to handle seminar logistics and closing functions, as well as press into these last opportunities to invest in the girls ...and prep for my trip, including the week of lecture i will be teaching within hours of arrival on location in Asia.

clearing the view

This week in the Reformation Generation Seminar, we have been looking at Apologetics- defenses or arguments for our Faith that appeal to reason. To borrow a metaphor from others on the topic, we are trying to help clear obstructions from people's view so they may see Christ clearly. This clearing of the obstacles is the work of conversational apologetics: we seek by the guidance and power of God's Spirit to compassionately address and dismantle the ideas that hinder people from seriously considering Jesus Christ.

We have taken the participants though a survey of classical apologetic arguments for the existence of God: the argument from the universe, from the existence of morality, and from design... as well as cases for the validity of Scripture, and the Deity of Jesus Christ. We even spent an afternoon at a local aquarium to get up close and personal with subjects like design in the created order. Regardless, its quite a lot of moderately academic material to take in within just a week's time, so we ended the week on an easier note: an afternoon in the pool having an orientation on using snorkels.

Why the snorkels? Because for the girls' last weekend (tomorrow!) we are renting them all snorkel gear and heading for west Maui, to a nice beach with good snorkeling prospects! They got to observe sea life at the ocean center aquarium... now they are really getting immersed in the big picture of God's creativity and design. Besides, after pushing through all the week's content, a day at the beach is probably in order for these girls. They are such gems and we have been stoked to have them with us for this exciting month of growth and equipping. Praise God for the impact He is having on their hearts and lives! Can't believe we are coming up on the final week of the seminar!!

this morning marked two weeks and counting...

Two weeks from this today I will be on a plane to Oriental Asia! Time is flying! Thank you for continuing to remember me in your prayers, praying that God would continue to pave the way which He has opened before me to share with Him in His purposes.

Da Kitchen, da best

Voted best local food yet again, Da Kitchen is an island institution. Some of my staff friends and I took a bunch of the girls over to have lunch so they could experience firsthand what we all love so much!

Most were wise enough to heed our advice: no matter how big your appetite, share. If you get a plate lunch to yourself, you are doomed. Portions are unreasonably large. A few of the guys really thought they were up to it today; they went home with an excess of leftovers and a deepened awe of Da Kitchen's portions:)

The girls enjoyed the taste of local culture and I enjoyed the often pined for taste of kalua pork. We all returned to the beach delighted and full- our weekend outing now crowned with success.

a day to hit the beach

Its surprisingly rare that i spend a Saturday hiking or (to a lesser extent) at the beach- but despite my schedule's clipping pace these days... i am found doing exactly those things these past weekends! Why? Its in the schedule. We wanted to make the seminar schedule allow for the participants to have fun and enjoy their time on the island... and not be wholly confined to the classroom:) For many, its their summer break from college. Besides, teaching apart, much of mentorship and teaching others to be disciples of Christ happens in daily life and conversation- outside the classroom. So Saturday activities are planned to bring together fun, fellowship and the opportunity to enjoy our unique location. Thus, for this month, my Saturdays are directed by RefGen activities- laundry and other loose ends from the week be darned. So even with an exceptionally full week and lots to do when i typically get home at 9/10pm, i have a day to hit the beach! I think i am actually sustaining a bit of a tan this summer...

It wasn't windy till later in the afternoon, so we had a great beach day

Me and Emmiline soaked up the sun

And Justin provided a little music for atmosphere:)

happy trails

This last weekend we hiked high up the Waihee Ridgeline- a hike that totals five miles and includes beautiful views of ravine creased valleys and broad ocean horizons. The girls were troopers- pressing through the trek with endurance and enthusiasm. Not exactly a relaxing weekend activity- but it was a memorable adventure with the class...and probably really good for toning my legs...haha. Yay.

summer momentum

With the Reformation Generation Seminar rocking through its second week (only two and a half weeks left- crazy!) the summer is in full swing and the momentum is flinging me toward my next step.

A few weeks ago, I accepted an invitation from a friend to teach in our SBFM course branch in Oriental Asia for a week. I will be teaching a mixed class of local believers and western students on how to study the bible effectively.

This subject is close to my heart as I know firsthand what its like for a Christian that loves God to feel unsure of how to properly engage God's Word. We all desire to hear God speak to us, but we tend to miss or discount hearing the voice of God in Scripture. I love helping people engage with the Lord though His Word.

In addition, I will have the opportunity to travel with this class to another region that is considered restricted- especially in regards to the Gospel. God has opened a door for us to access this region and we pray that it remains open so we can carry the Light of Christ into this place.

Deciding to accept this opportunity was a step of faith. I tend to commit carefully. By and large, this is a good thing. But I felt challenged to just accept this invitation and not let concerns over finances in particular dictate my decision. Knowing that the trip will begin the day after Reformation Generation ends and that i will be living at a sprint between now and then...it gave me pause. I think if I would have looked at airfares before saying yes, I would have struggled with overcoming some fear in my commitment process. The fares were high and the trip soon. But it was one of those opportunities that i immediately knew was an answer and not a question. I had asked the Lord for this opportunity relatively recently. The door swung open before me and I jumped in with both feet.

I thank God there is an amazing team of friends and family that partner with me to make these outreaches possible. If I am wild for charging into this challenge on short notice with an already packed out summer- these inconspicuous people are just as wild. They have families and jobs and can't just run out to Asia at the drop of a hat, but demonstrate radical support for God's Work on that same short notice. Their heart is out there in the nations, out there with those that God is calling into His household from every tribe, nation, people and language. So we serve the Lord together, and I have the privilege of going on our behalf.

After some amount of drama (there was a mishap with the online purchase process that resulted in my spending a morning on the phone) i have good news: my ticket is finally purchased! The airfares have been downright disheartening but the Lord has provided- not according to my budget but according to my actual need. This rapid provision of my needs for this trip awes me and encourages me- He continues to confirm my steps and make a way for me to run through the door He has opened!

sharing around the campfire

The other night as the sun set we gathered around a bonfire to share our testimonies. It was a great bonding activity and a memorable time for all the girls. I was so stoked to hear their stories- it made me anticipate so much growth in their lives. Besides the course content, being in this encouraging and loving atmosphere is already bringing healing to some of them and I just love that the Lord brought them here with all of this in His generous heart.

We passed on kumbaya, but we did go in for a whole lot of s'mores!

Seminar Staff :)

hello, classroom!

Our first day of RefGen (as we call it for short) was mostly an introductory sort of session- just articulating the need for foundations for our faith if we are to effective witnesses for Christ- especially on a campus. It was great to hear the girls begin to share about challenges they have already faced and to hear about all that they are looking forward to growing in this month. I am so stoked to have the prep work over and be engaged in the fruit of those labors: the actual course with these precious young women desiring to know God and be equipped to make Him known amongst their families, peers, and the areas of influence in society to which they are called. Its so exciting!! I love it!

The Reformation Generation Seminar has begun!

After a couple months of administrative groundwork, my staff team and I's efforts have finally materialized- the Reformation Generation Seminar kicked off tonight with a brief welcome speech, a fantastic bbq, and an overdose of brownies. This weekend we have been busy picking up eight young women from the airport, shuttling them to the base, getting them settled, and making sure they have on sunscreen:) These eight girls are our seminar participants- and I am already just overwhelmed at the goodness and wisdom of God in bringing each of these ladies out for the summer. We had our qualms about the class being small, and the apparent absence of the male gender...but I kept saying to people that surely the Lord had something in it, and that the dynamic was not by mistake. Now as the girls arrive, each of them has expressed how because of where they are in life at present, this intimate and small arrangement is perfect for them, and that they are pleased at the prospect of being just girls in the class. I just love how carefully God orchestrated this summer for each person participating! I anticipate an outstanding month... and we're off to a good start already. Tomorrow starts with a base wide worship time, then some introduction to the seminar material, followed by myself and other staff facilitating further orientation and registration formalities. Woohoo! At long last, RefGen is underway!

The Reformation Generation Seminar participants, with me and Rebecca (staff)