December 15, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• an amazing semester of learning, challenges, and time with students.*
• friendships being formed with the KCF students
• the opportunity to meet with family in Ottawa over Christmas
• the close relationships being built within our own house community.*
• His amazing gift Jesus Christ*

Please pray for...

• diligence in doing my exercises for my knee.
• the students as they head off into their final week of finals.*
• that God will continue to humble me.
• that I will continue to be dependent on the Lord in every aspect of my life*
• the upcoming Urbana conference*
• good health for my housemates and I*
• rest over this Christmas holiday.*
• the expansion of my own vision of the kingdom of God.*

December 7, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students
• an amazing 4 months of challenges and ministry*
• friendships being formed with the KCF students
• the opportunity to meet with family in Ottawa over Christmas*
• the amazing re-energizing weekend retreat with the other interns.*

Please pray for...

• diligence in doing my exercises for my knee.
• a sooner surgery date.*
• the KCF students that they will have the courage to take more risks.
• that God will continue to humble me.
• the students as they head into final exams (some for the first time)*
• my understanding on looking to Jesus as a little child. (Mark 10:13-16)*
• discernment for the future.*
• vision for the upcoming semester.*

November 29, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group.
• friendships being formed with the KCF students
• His Grace.*

Please pray for...

• diligence in doing my exercises for my knee.
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students.
• the KCF students that they will have the courage to take more risks
• my understanding on cultural differences.
• me remembering to encourage my students
• that God will continue to humble me.*
• the students as they head into final exams (some of the first time)*

November 16, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group.
• two new additions to our small group.
• friendships being formed with the KCF students
• the great turnout at the IVCF Photo Shoot.

Please pray for...

• diligence in doing my exercises for my knee.*
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students.
• the KCF students that they will have the courage to take more risks*
• my understanding on cultural differences.
• me remembering to encourage my students(1)*

(1) I do a lot of asking of my students. Ex. Weekly small groups, large groups, manuscript study, etc. I want to continue to encourage them through all this asking.

November 9, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students*
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group.
• two new additions to our small group.
• an awesome and successful IVCF & KCF Games Night.*
• His perfect timing and provision for funding for my knee. I am now fully funded.*
• friendships being formed with the KCF students*

Please pray for...

• positive results for my MRI.*
• diligence in doing my exercises for my knee.*
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students.
• the new vision for the KCF team and myself that we may continue to stay encouraged through this new experience.
• my understanding on cultural differences.
• the new Korean Church I am attending.*
• KCF students to participate in the upcoming photo shoot.*
• the upcoming movie discussion night Mel and I will be leading (Thursday).*

October 31, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• the growth I have been experiencing over this last week.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students*
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group
• His perfect timing and provision in regards to my knee*

Please pray for...

• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.
• an early surgery date (hopefully early November).
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students.
• the students that I will be mentoring.
• the new vision for the KCF team and myself that we may continue to stay encouraged through this new experience.
• my own understanding that God loves me for who I am and not what I do.
• my understanding on cultural differences.*

October 25, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• the growth I have been experiencing over this last week.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the immediate attention for my knee.
• the new relationships being built with the KCF Students*
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group

Please pray for...

• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.
• support to help off-set the costs of my ACL Brace and Physiotherapy.
• an early surgery date (hopefully early November).
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students.
• the students that I will be mentoring.
• the KCF leadership team and their renewed vision on building community and investing in people instead of programs.
• my own understanding that God loves me for who I am and not what I do.
• my understanding on cultural differences.*

October 17, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• the growth I have been experiencing over this last week.*
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the immediate attention for my knee.*
• the renewed desire and heart to serve the KCF students.
• the vision He has placed on the KCF student leaders during the retreat.
• a great group of committed individuals to the small group*

Please pray for...

• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.
• support to help off-set the costs of my ACL Brace and Physiotherapy.(1)
• an early surgery date (hopefully early November).
• continued growth in that I may not be proud of what I do but that I may do it all for God's Glory.
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students. (2)*
• the KCF leadership team and their renewed vision on building community and investing in people instead of programs.
• my own understanding in what it means to invest in people vs programs.*
• my own understanding that God loves me for who I am and not what I do.*

(1) I can now officially expense the medical costs that involve my knee injury.

(2) This will most likely be the focal point of my ministry is this small group.

October 10, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• the growth I have been experiencing over this last week.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the immediate attention for my knee (1).
• the renewed desire and heart to serve the KCF students.*
• the support from friends, family, and housemates this past week.*
• the vision He has placed on the KCF student leaders during the retreat.*

Please pray for...

• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.
• those who do not have the opportunity to go home for thanksgiving.*
• support to help off-set the costs of my ACL Brace and Physiotherapy.*
• an early surgery date (hopefully early November).*
• continued growth in that I may not be proud of what I do but that I may do it all for God's Glory.*
• the small group that I am co-leading with one of the students. (2)*
• the KCF leadership team and their renewed vision on building community and investing in people instead of programs.*
• my own understanding in what it means to invest in people vs programs.*

(1) My MRI date has been set for Friday, October 16. Surgery pending.

(2) This will most likely be the focal point of my ministry is this small group.

Need Prayers

Over these last couple of weeks, God has really been placing and revealing a lot of things. It actually got to the point where there was so much happening that I was at a complete lost for words. I have even reverted to being an Introvert. It has only been now that I have been able to find some words to describe what has been going on in my life. Please pray for me.

Physically

• My knee giving out has really changed a lot of things about how I do ministry with KCF. In a way, it's a good thing because I don't feel that I need to prove anything to anyone anymore. This has been pretty draining on me because of all the physio, Dr. appointments, and hospital trips. Also, I am not able to do a lot of the things I normally can do.
• I am not one to blame things on my Tourettes but this one particular tick has been really bothering me. For some reason, it is my tongue that I can't control and it's actually causing a lot of pain and discomfort. This is a new motor tick that happened last year and I have yet to figure out a way to deal with it.
• My own physical health isn't doing all that good either. I am constantly feeling drained and a bit more tired these days.

Emotionally

• I feel that I've been useless in my ministry with KCF. I just don't feel I have been able to really connect with anyone right now. Although, I have thought and prayed about this and I think it is because I am actually comparing myself to my staff worker and the other interns. The progress they have had so far has been amazing and I guess I have been comparing what I have accomplished to what they have accomplished. Something I know I have to stop doing.
• Not only am I physically drained, I just haven't been myself lately. I have actually reverted to being an Introvert these past couple of weeks. It has been tough not being able to speak both physically (Tourettes) and emotionally (being overwhelmed) about these issues.
• My mind has been racing so much that I haven't been able to really sleep properly which could have an effect on my actual physical health.

Spiritually

• The best way to describe my spiritual life is like walking in a desert. I feel thirsty, tired, dry, weak, and overheated.
• As I said before, I don't feel like I am accomplishing anything in my ministry with KCF right now. Even though the KCF Retreat went really well, I just don't feel that my heart is in it... Where has my passion gone?
• One thing that I realized when I was doing my devotions was that I came into this internship with a lot of pride. I felt like I was ahead of everyone when really, I didn't know anything at all. I have just come to realize that this pride is one of many things that have been holding me back. Currently, I still don't know the other things but at least I can start here. I just don't know what I can do about it...
• I feel that my heart has been calloused with something. Something that is preventing God from coming into my heart to take control of my life again...

October 2, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with an amazing home and housemates.
• the placement with the Korean Christian Fellowship (KCF) Group.
• the growth I have already been experiencing.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the immediate attention for my knee.

Please pray for...

• a church family here in Hamilton.
• Melody and myself as we focus on building trust and relationships with the KCF group.
• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.*
• the KCF Retreat happening this weekend*.
• the students Melody and I will be mentoring.
• my knee*(1)
• being able to learn how to learn again.
• my Tourettes*(2)

(1) It looks like I tore my ACL and damaged my Meniscus and the likelihood of me getting surgery is very high.

(2) Lately, my Tourettes have been acting up a lot lately and it has been taking a lot of energy and focus to stop doing it. Please pray to rest in this.

September 26, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with an amazing home and housemates.
• the placement with the Korean Christian Fellowship (KCF) Group.
• the growth I have already been experiencing.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.

Please pray for...

• a church family here in Hamilton.
• Melody and myself as we focus on building trust and relationships with the KCF group.
• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.*
• the KCF Leadership Team.
• the students Melody and I will be mentoring.*(1)
• my knee*(2)
• being able to learn how to learn again.*

(1) Both Melody and I will most likely be mentoring 4-6 students. Please pray for strength and energy as we continue to build trust and relationships with these students.

(2) I just hurt my knee really badly today. I have not gotten it checked out yet but from the looks of it, I won't be doing any sports for the rest of the semester or even the rest of the year.

September 20, 2009

Please give thanks to God for...

• providing me with an amazing home and housemates.
• the placement with the Korean Christian Fellowship (KCF) Group.
• the growth I have already been experiencing.
• providing me with mentors that encourage and challenge me.
• the times of campus strategy with Melody.*

Please pray for...

• my own personal relationship with God that I will be doing this all for His Glory.
• the rest of the interns and staff that God will continue to provide for their financial needs.
• a church family here in Hamilton.
• Melody and myself as we focus on building trust and relationships with the KCF group.
• the partnership between IVCF and KCF.*
• the KCF Leadership Team.
• the students Melody and I will be mentoring.*(1)
• building trust with the KCF leadership team and students.

(1) Both Melody and I will most likely be mentoring 4-6 students. Please pray for strength and energy as we continue to build trust and relationships with these students.