Austin's Service Trip

Austin, who became a Christian partially through the ministry of InterVarsity earlier this semester, shared at the first official meeting about his experience during the Winter Service Trip.
Watch the video here

Simple Things = Big Impact

After hearing of the service trip during our Friday night large group announcements, Andrew decided it might be a good idea to come and give back to the community, even though as a freshman he hasn’t lived here long.  The encouragement from the upperclassman and staff helped him desire to go, especially after he missed the fall mini service trip. 

As he reflected on the trip so far, he shared that it’s been a great experience, despite the fact that exhaustion has set in.  “I have seen the impacts at the places where we have gone and it’s been a true blessing.  We go out and serve people, serving the servants who do this every day and giving them a bit of a break.”  For example, at Willow Mission, students have been painting, hanging drywall, and tiling as they work to turn the parsonage into a home for homeless women with children.  Andrew learned he is semi decent at carpentry, at least better than he thought.  The water damage from the pipes that froze and broke last winter had left the staff unsure of how long it would take for them to be able to open the place up.  After three days of workers there, the pastor and other staff were so happy to see the progress over the time. 

Even simple things, such as playing Uno with the elderly or dropping off a hot and cold meal with the normal volunteer from Meals on Wheels, resulted in uplifting smiles.  It was almost like these simple actions helped to light up their worlds. 

Community service is only a part of what happens during the trip, many other memories are built inside of the church building during meals and the evening program.  The morning devotions help to set the mindset for what to think about during the day while the evening program includes time talking in a family group about where we saw God during the day.  Prayer, worship, fun, and fellowship are also included at the church.  Andrew has been one of the regulars on the breakfast cooking crew as he gets pleasure out of making food and it allows him to serve other servants and fellow InterVarsity members.  “It’s a way of saying thank you for what you’re doing in the community and for me.”  Most impactful so far for Andrew was yesterday’s devotional from 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 which was shared during a multiple generation dinner at First Baptist.  Despite the fact that we are all different, each part of the body does have a job to do.  We sat at tables with 3-4 church members, typically 50+, 2-3 college students, and even had three 8^th graders join.  Andrew specifically loved talking to the older members and seeing that God’s love can cross generations as we share the common ground of our faith in Christ.  The conversations were wonderful as we crossed the age gap and enjoyed delicious food as well as a discussion on the diversity of squirrels. 

Overall, the most surprising part of the trip was seeing the impact of such a small thing on someone else.  How all of the small things add up, although Andrew figured people would be appreciative, their appreciation level was so much deeper.  It was wonderful to see people’s passion for serving others and their dedication.  Everyone has worked really hard on the trip and it has opened the door to see how passionate people are about their faith and helping out around the community.  As Andrew returns to the campus to start the semester, he wants to find some way to get more involved in the community and spend time helping out somewhere.  Some places have already been planned for follow-up trips. 

Winter Service Trip 2014...pt 1

          The 6^th annual Winter Service Trip has begun and 18 students moved into a local church to spend their days serving the Fredonia/Dunkirk community.  Evenings are filled with prayer, worship, devotionals, and plenty of time to build the friendship bonds with each other.  Unique this year, we partnered with the International Education Center to invite the new students to join us for games each night.  Our t-shirts, see below, include on the back the word SERVANT printed on it, where STAFF, SECURITY, or our last names usually go.  The goal is to have the shirts be a constant reminder of how our attitude should be, both this week and always for Christ.  

            The first day the students got grounded in scripture, learned the ropes of how to live at the church in an authentic community, spent time praying for God to work this week, and learned how to Cross the Line and get over the Xenophobia.  Xenophobia also set up the verse around the theme of Matthew 25:40 “And the King will reply, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me.”  As I gave that message, I was reminded that we are not called to serve the poor as a prescription for how to be in a right relationship with God, but instead that we should serve the poor to show that we are followers of Jesus.  It’s not that we are reaching the poor, but that God is using us as a channel of blessing for them, and in the meantime we are being changed and blessed. 

            Day two: After serving in six different locations in groups we took time to think about what we had learned, heard, and did during the day.  One student mentioned the importance of finding God in what we were doing.  You see, many of our tasks are not glamorous, but they are necessary.  From painting and cleaning to help out churches and non-profits better accomplish their mission, to playing bingo with elderly.  But if you start singing a hymn while vacuuming, or you put yourself in the mindset of a SERVANT, it can make a difference.  The conversations students have while painting, cleaning, or peeling potatoes are a reminder that others are listening to us and the depth of conversation can draw people closer together.  One gentleman even stated that while eating lunch and chatting that the students helped restore his faith in our generation.  Dinner gave a chance to hear from one of the local pastors about his Acts 2 church, not that he was the speaker for the night, but everyone ended up listening into that conversation as we ate.  Then our faculty advisor reminded us that humility doesn’t come when we classify people, by their attitude, job, or attire.  God loves us regardless of our circumstances and nothing we can do can change that.  So if he doesn’t classify us or judge us, why should we think some people are better than others?

            Day Three: My favorite comment was a story of how one student used her time painting a bedroom to pray for the women and children who would class that room home.  This homeless shelter needed to be prepared before it could open and an extra four people a day helps that goal be achieved.  Another student had her schedule adjusted so she could return to the same nursing home to see one of the residents she had really connected with…her excitement was contagious as she asked the head coordinator for a switch. 

             My favorite parts of the service trip are watching the students step up in leadership to plan and run the trip, to see their comfort zones growing through the new experiences, and also to see the connections being made between the community members and the students.  Yesterday at a potluck dinner hosted by my home church, I was able to listen in on some of the conversations as the students sat with 3-4 church members and with the core of the youth group teens.  These chances for the important parts of my own life to meet each other and share their stories is what the partnership with InterVarsity means.  This trip could not be done without the gracious partners we have in the ministry who financially and prayerfully provide support and who help by providing dinners and other in-kind donations for us. 

Day four is just beginning and students took some time before their service locations to write prison letters, read their morning devotional from Luke 10, and to write in each other’s Appreciation journals. 

Stay tuned for stories from the students.

Tutoring->Service Trip

On Monday, InterVarsity at Fredonia will begin the 6th annual Service Trip in the Dunkirk/Fredonia area.  This year 20 students are participating and the goal is to challenge students to go outside their comfort zones and live out Matthew 25:36-45... all of it, not just the easy parts.  As I finished up my opening talk on this subject, entitled Xenophobia and also prepared a short talk to give to the sophomore education majors before they begin tutoring, I realized what a role tutoring for college had to do with the start of the trip.  It was there that my eyes were opened to the needs of the community, but I've grown so much from where I was then.  Next week stay tuned for testimonies from the trip.  Below is what I plan to share with the tutors:

When I started working with the kids in Dunkirk through tutoring with Fredonia, I thought I could go there and teach them an important skill, how to read.  And as the semester progressed I watched my two students continue to improve in their reading.  I went there with the mindset that they needed me to help them and that I could make a difference in their lives.  Which yes is possible, but later, as I got out of my comfort zone and started working with some of the same students outside of school on a constant basis, I still wanted to do it because I thought I had something to teach them.  

I knew many of them came from broken families, but I never knew how or what that actually meant for them.  Even meeting and getting to know the parents a little has given me an inside look as to how their families weren't like me, but that they weren't some group of people just to be seen as people who needed help, but also as people who needed someone to care about them.  To care about their academic progress, but also them as individuals.  Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows true and some of the students can't focus for a variety of reasons while others really value and benefit from that 2 on 1 time that they get with the tutors.  It might be the only time they get that much individual adult attention, especially positive attention.  Many of them live in a world where racism and prejudices come up on a regular basis and although the elementary students are less likely to bring it up at school, don't be surprised if it happens.  I've had students many times say "You're only doing that cause I'm_____."  Doesn't matter what race they are or the fact that I just gave the entire class the exact same direction before repeating it to them individually.  It might take some time to learn how to curb our own prejudices (cause all of us do have them at some level) to learn how to connect with the students better.  

Now as I spend 6-10 hours a week with some of the students, plus time in the classroom, I've learned they have much to teach me.  Building a relationship with them where they can talk about what they like to do, what's happening in their lives, and then connecting your lessons to them is worth the effort.   They've taught me about the importance of the bonds of family and friends, the impact of racism and prejudice on how I view the world that I never knew was in me, and how to connect with parts of my city that aren't like me. They are teaching me and I hope you enter into tutoring knowing that the reading skills you teach them in school is important, but they also are learning from you as you are a positive role model while you are there.  Maybe you'll even get to experience the joy of bumping into them in Walmart and having them excitedly great you.  It might not be easy at all times, but it's a great experience to have. 

My love for Dunkirk that started through tutoring and serving those who lived there even grew to the point where the next January I organized a group of twenty students to spend a week serving in the community.  This Winter Service Trip for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship now is in it's sixth year running and provides even more college students from all majors the chance to impact the community that we live in and has helped shape my life now.  Use the tutoring to it's full potential, entering with an open mind and be willing to continue to serve the students after tutoring ends as many other doors exists.  

January Prayer Requests

It's a new year and this year we want to cover what we do in prayer... here's how you can specifically be praying for us this January.  

1. Pray for the 3,000 full-time staff with Kathryn in St. Louis this week as they learn how to develop world changers during Staff Conference 2014.  This triennial meeting refreshes staff while providing training and vision for the future.  

2. Pray for the 20-25 Fredonia IV students who will be participating in the Winter Service Trip January 20-25th.  Erin S is coordinating the trip this year with the outreach team and many others taking a role in the planning.  It is intense planning preparing all of the details for the missions trip.  

3. Pray for God to work and move during the trip.  The changes this year are designed to challenge and teach the participants to rely on God, praying and trusting that He is moving on campus and in the community. 

4. Pray for all the new international students to have open hearts to God working in our lives through game time every night of their orientation and our trip.  Pray for genuine friendships to begin between the IV and international students and for opportunities to share the gospel to exist, both during the trip and throughout the semester.  

5. Pray for students to be motivated to continue to live out Matthew 25:36-26:1 when the semester begins and to be on fire to reach the campus. 

6. Pray for new small groups to begin (goal is 10 total this semester) and for students to begin reading the Bible with their nonChristian friends.  

7. Pray for many new contacts during the first three weeks of school to help grow the chapter to more effectively see students and faculty transformed and the campus renewed. 

8. Pray for the Price of Life as Erin and her team, supervised by staff Greg Bacon, prepare to share the gospel through the lens of human trafficking and raise awareness on campus. 

9. Pray for the Winter Summit, a one day training in leadership and evangelism being held at Fredonia February 8th this year for the WNY area chapters.  Pray that Kathryn will finalize all of the logistical details, for a large turnout, and to find open hearts during the practical evangelism piece. 

10. Lastly, please pray for Kathryn's support raising as she invites people to partner with her to reach the final 28% of her goal.

Visual Reminders

I was reading today a devotional about how the houses of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe reflected what was important to them.  College students have the wonderful opportunity every year to move into a new place and decorate it to reflect them.  The dorm rooms and apartments start off like a blank canvas, but I love to see the changes after a student has moved in.  You can learn so much from someone from what is in their apartment or room.  So here's a glimpse my life, captured through my camera and placed on the wall.  

Everyday, I find myself looking at these pictures.  They are on the wall in my living room, directly above the tv and across from my favorite place to sit.  As I sit leaning against the couch so the heat blows directly onto my legs, I gaze at each of these pictures and get transported back to where they were taken and what each picture reminds me of. 

My eye is quickly drawn to the largest and only canvas picture: of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean colliding above the coast of New Zealand.  (Note: There is a small chance that this was actually taken on the tip of the Great Keppel Island in the Coral Sea, but I forget where I took the picture).  When the two bodies of water send waves and collide, it makes such a wonderful plume.  There is beauty in the conflict as each wave tries to get their way, before joining forces to hit land.  Life is often like that when two people get into a conflict and it blows up.  But, after time, it can turn into calm waters and move in the same direction. 

Then I go up to the top right: The sky is completely dark, except where the sun shines through and reflects lightly onto the water.  The world we live in is very dark and the only light comes from God.  It breaks through the darkness and shines onto where we live.  Are we allowing the light of God to shine through our lives and reflecting his Glory back to Him?  Or are we just absorbing that light and blocking others from seeing it?

Directly below, there is a view of Great Keppel Island with rocks, sand, water, and sky.  God created each of these things and they are very different from each other, with important purposes.  The sand gives us a safe place to walk, while the rocks provide a more treacherous path, but also provide the needed support for the sand to not be washed away.  The water provides renewal as it is constantly moving.  The sky, just reminds me that God is bigger than everything.

Moving clockwise, the bottom left picture, is taken from Cape Reinga (the northern most part of the country) looking south onto NZ.  Sometimes even when we’re at the “top of the world,” It’s important to look back on where we came from to see the beauty in the journey.  Each journey includes some combination of peaceful time walking on the sand and rough times as the waves cone and hit us.  There are mountains to climb, and paths we have to travel.  But through it all, God is with us. 

The last of the big pictures in the main formation is of little towers that look like they form a city.  This depth of sand (about 4-6 inches), has been worn down by the waves and formed into the current shape, while the top part is still sand.  However, sand is easy to be wiped away, just like our lives which are beautiful in community now, can quickly change shape or be taken away as life is temporary.  It’s important to love and cherish what you have now, for you never know when it will disappear. 

The two small pictures on the top, remind me first that sometimes when we run into obstacles in life (like how to get the big boat to the other side of the first picture), we need to move on in trust of God.  Instead of turning away and running from our fears, courage is facing them head on and figuring out a way to get through, over, or around them.  It turns out that the hole in the rock, is actually big enough to fit the boat, but without faith we would have never gotten close enough to the problem to see if for truth.  The dolphin in the right picture reminds me that surprises are all around us, if we keep our eyes open.  God created this world beautifully and desires for us to enjoy his creation. 

Finally, the pictures on the door are of the sun rising on ANZAC Day (Think Memorial Day) and the final morning of my time in Australia.  Even through conflict and change, God grants us with a sunrise to give us a reminder of the fresh new day He’s given us.  Each day is a blessing that we can use to serve Him. 

Take a moment to look around your room or your house.  Do the things on the wall remind you of God and what He’s doing in the world?  Do they inspire you to live your life for Him and give you comfort in the hard times?  If not, maybe it’s time to adjust the decorations to give you the visual reminder you need of God’s love to challenge you to continue on.  What you see affects who you are?  Do your walls reflect who you want to become?

Testimony Night

Tonight a few students (some new, some old) to share stories of how God has worked in our life.  After a story of God showing up repeatedly during a cross country trip, and a few other testimonies, we started talking about how we picked the major we did.  Not only has God blessed us with amazing abilities, which are unique, but he's put desires into our minds for where/how we can use them.  It was very encouraging to hear stories of how people chose to follow Christ and now how they're relying on God for their everyday decisions.
At large group last night, Pastor Sixto Rosario shared the importance of staying strong in our faith over break and really praying.  As in praying for things to happen, with the faith that God will provide when we ask Him.  Tonight, we heard the story of dry bones becoming flesh (in Ezekiel) and were reminded that God is bigger than everything if we trust Him.
Would you join us in prayer... prayer for big things to happen on campus and for our faith to trust that God will provide.  He's moving, we just need to be able to recognize it and to step out in faith (like Peter did on the water) to go new places.