Itinerary
Medellin, Colombia: (October 10-November 9th)
Open Arms Foundation
After staying with a close friend for two nights in San Francisco and a forced stopover in Miami, we will arrive on October 13 and stay through November 9th. If you are interested in checking out a video from Open Arms, click here.
In Medellin I’ll be serving with an organization called The Open Arms Foundation and have the privilege of working with boys and girls on the streets. Many of the little girls we’ll be building relationship with are in prostitution. Many kids are entirely disconnected from their families. Kids are addicted to drugs. Many don’t know basic hygiene, but all know a side of this world that I’ve never experienced. They are hungry for love, but they can also bounce from loving embraces to hardness and hostility.
Michelle and I on a mission trip to New Orleans on spring break 2008
It is with these precious kids that my friend Michelle and I will be working for the month in a downtown day center. The center is the first access point for the program that open arms offers for kids to get off the streets. There are showers etc. for basic hygiene needs, tutors for academic development, counselors and social workers for healing and recovery, biblical teaching, a swimming pool and more!
Michelle and I will be available to fill any needs that arise–from bible teaching to cleaning–even possibly taking night shifts so that the staff can go home and be with their families. We’ll be staying with one of the female short-term missionaries there in a couple’s huge apartment that is downtown right next to the center. The couple will be back in the States so we’ll really have the feel of what it would be like to live in the city and work in the center. I cannot express how excited I am! Out of all of my experiences this summer, this one is particularly close to my heart because of my passion for inner city ministry and social justice. While I know that this will be very difficult emotionally and spiritually, I also feel very privileged for the opportunity to love on these kids and learn from them.
LAND ALREADY COVERED:
Israel (June 14-July 7th)
June 15- July 5th
Jerusalem University College
Historical & Geographical Studies
www.juc.edu/short/historicalgeographyprogram.asp
I will be taking a course entitled Historical and Geographical studies where we’ll be studying sites relevant to Old and New Testament events. I have about 25 hours of map work to complete before my arrival!! While taking the course I plan to spend my free-time at the markets with the people, specifically inquiring as to the Palestinian and Jewish conflict. I hope to have a video camera in order to do spontaneous interviews and use them for teaching on conflict and reconciliation.
July 5-7th:
Musalaha
http://www.musalaha.org/
Musalaha is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as demonstrated in the life and teaching of Jesus. They endeavor to be an encouragement and advocate of reconciliation, first among Palestinian and Israeli believers and then beyond to our respective communities. Musalaha also aims at facilitating bridge building among different segments of Israeli and Palestinian societies according to biblical reconciliation principles. Musalaha runs women’s conferences, works with youth and also leads desert sojourns toward this end. I will be meeting with the Director on July 6th to hear more about their work and consider opportunities for partnership in the future.
International Christian Embassy of Jersusalem (ICEJ)
http://www.icej.org/article.php?type_id=sap
For more than 25 years the ICEJ has been reaching out in practical ways to the people of Israel, while seeking to inform, educate and inspire Christians round the world to stand against the rising tide of hostility and anti-Semitism directed against the Jewish State. Our Ministry spans four distinct areas, to Comfort Israel, Educate the Church, Celebrate God’s faithfulness, and Confront anti-Semitism. I’ll be meeting with the Director of ICEJ Aid– the humanitarian aid department.
Turkey (July 7-30th)
People International
http://www.gopeople.org/
The vision of People International is to see churches established that proclaim the Good News among the Muslim peoples of Central Asia and model true Christian living on the example of Jesus Christ.
July 7-11th: Istanbul: Training
July 12-21st: Outside of Istanbul: Community Service Outreach
My destination is a city a few hours outside of Istanbul that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. There are ZERO Christian churches in this city of over 30K. Kim (who is one of the women I’ve mentored and a good friend) and I will be part of a small team living in Turkish homes, doing physical labor, teaching English, building relationships, etc.
This is a fun little pic of Kim and I...we just happened to be twins that day!
July 22-27th: Tour of the 7 Churches of Revelation
July 27th-30th: Istanbul
We’ll be partnering with workers in Istanbul, work in a bookstore and check out possibilities for University ministry and ministry to those with HIV/AIDS. I am also hoping to connect up with multiple workers from different organization that friends have referred me to.
Spain & Beyond (July 30th-August 25th)
July 30th-August 9th: Mosaic Choir in Toral, Spain
http://www.mosaicartsnw.org/
Mosaic Arts NW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the presentation of the Word of God through the arts. Mosaic Choir is comprised of singers from all over Western Washington, with over 28 churches represented by its members.
I’ll be flying into Madrid on the 30th to meet up with my mom and a few others from a choir called Mosaic based in the Seattle area. We will join a camp where believers and unbelievers from Spain, Germany and France will be coming for nourishment in community, study of the Word and practice as an orchestra and choir for three days of performances in the public square at the end of the camp. I’ll be working with children in child care, interceding, using photography to capture the experience and building relationship with the many 20 and 30 something’s who will be attending the camp.
August 10th-26th: Traveling in Spain and France
My sister-in-law will fly in and meet my mom and I to join us for 2 1/2 weeks of travel. We hope to connect with missionaries and ministries and we also hope to simply travel and have a blast together!
Seattle & Portland, USA: (August 25th-October 9th)
Sabbath
I’ll be coming home after the time in Europe to rest, process and decompress the 2 1/2 months of ministry. I am renting my condo through the end of August so I will stay in the Seattle area for a few days before returning to Portland. I will also use the time to look for a job that I can begin when I return from Colombia in November.
