Inspiration... where are you? #grace

(Press play and listen while you read!)

  

Sheesh almost 2 months since I last wrote.

My blog currently doesn't exactly have a purpose. Will it ever really? Life is always changing - including my passions and experiences. And I think I write about those things most!

I started my blog 4 years ago when I moved to France. I wrote about new experiences, ministry stories, culture differences...

Over the years, this blog has since morphed into things God has been teaching me, random thoughts on various things, yet still interwoven with my ministry life.

And it probably still will.

One thing I feel God has recently taught me - rather is teaching me - is to : "be a learner, not a figure-it-outer". There is grace to be extended in that. I tend to hold myself to a high standard, expecting a lot of myself. Rarely had I considered myself to be the hardest on myself. Yet, it's true. I was - have been - mentally beating myself up for the "failures" in my life. Not extending the grace God extends to me.

No one should be requiring me to be perfect.
No one should assume I will get it right the first time.
No one should demand a polished Hannah.
No one, including myself.

So there is grace. His grace. And it abounds.

I got to help lead singing today at my church in Orlando. One of the songs we sang is called "How He Loves" (if you haven't started listening to it yet, just press play in the video on this post!).

There is a lyric that reads:

"... and I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way .... He loves us!"

Exactly. Why reminisce on the failures, the mistakes, the regrets? He has forgiven us of them, and loves us despite them! As long as we maintain an attitude of being a learner, leaning into God's Holy Spirit that dwells within those who have a personal relationship with Him.

Thank you God for Your grace!

Do you have questions on what having a personal relationship with God looks like? Check out this video called "#FallingPlates"  or email me - I'd love to share with you.

Enjoying Christmas and Preparing for Upcoming Transitions

So it's been a little while since I've blogged. Mainly because life has been so busy, full and preparing for transitioning to Orlando!

Christmas was good to see family, buy presents for people (I love gifts! Giving and receiving) and snow! It's been a while since I've experienced a "White Christmas". It was different this year as many cousins are now married with kids and live far away.

New Years was so fun (I also completed my 2012 picture a day album on Facebook)! It was my first time spending New Years Eve in Grand Rapids. The four years of college (2006-2009) were spent at Indy Christmas Conference as a student with Campus Crusade.  2010 was spent overseas while on STINT and last year in 2011, I rang in the New Year again at the Indy Christmas Conference, this time as an intern.

New Years 2010 - Interlaken, Switzerland

I was able to introduce my boyfriend, JP, to many close friends from Grand Valley (though several were also out of town), go snowboarding and show him around Grand Rapids. It's a great city with much to offer. Eventually, we headed back to Northville and spent some time with my family, watching movies, sledding, exchanging Christmas presents and sharing good conversation.

After he headed back to Chicago, I started the packing process for Orlando. And it's quite a process! I've decided against installing a trailer hitch to my little Mazda3, to instead ship a few boxes to my new place in Orlando. I'm really not bringing much, as my new housing is furnished and I am borrowing a bed and dresser for a while. All my other belongings just won't fit in my car :)

Packing up my clothing was kind of exhausting.

I LEAVE EARLY MONDAY MORNING, January 7th and begin the trek to Orlando. My sister, Gracie - who recently graduated from Central Michigan University, will be helping me make the drive! Our goal is to be in Orlando at least by Wednesday, with some stops on the way.

For the first week, I will be staying with friends, as my new roommate's current roommate doesn't leave till AFTER I head out for MidYear Conferences. Logistics of moving my things into my room will be tricky, but I am thankful for helpful friends to make the move happen.

It really won't be until February 1st that I really get to start settling in to my new abode. BUT I would still love getting mail! I feel like that always helps make the new location seem more like home. I will be sending out my new address in an email very soon.

As early January brings fresh and new beginnings, I thought I'd share some New Years Resolutions or Goals.

1. Floss my teeth - I think this has been a resolution for the last 6 years... one I've yet to accomplish.

2. Stretch each night before going to bed. It helps the body relax and be more flexible!

3. No pop. Not that I drank much anyways, but water is always the best choice.

4. Read at least one chapter of the Bible a day and take time to meditate on it. It's the active WORD of God. I totally take it and my freedom to own a copy of it, for granted.

5. Just try to smile more often. 

Happy New Year!

Quick Trip to Orlando

This week, I flew down to Orlando in search of housing. I knew God would give me some direction and lead me to where He wants me to be – even if that meant not finding something right away! But I did!

I really wanted to find something close to downtown so I can invest in the people of Orlando, live near the church I will be apart of and get out of the “Cru Bubble” a bit. As a missionary, it’s easy to see your work as your ministry – but that should not be so! Work is work, even though I happen to be a missionary. I want to get involved with the community and church once I get life set up in Orlando.

I will be living with a woman who also works with Crusade so she understands the workload and perspective of the job! I’d met her before, but learned about her need for a roommate through some co-workers. I will be living real close to downtown, the airport and my gym. Overall, I think it will be great!

It was also great to see friends I’ve made from the past year. It’s nice to know I have a solid group of people in my line of work and in my season of life to do life with when I move there in January.

What’s next on the agenda? Finishing my seminary class that I have been taking simultaneously while raising support. It’s been challenging and educational, as I’ve learned about the New Testament. While I am thankful to be taught these biblical foundations, I will be relieved when the final exam is over! I would love some prayers for finishing, and finishing well.

Until next week…

Thankfulness, Prayer and Hope: September

Things I am thankful for...

• A supportive family who believes in what I am doing with my life
• Reaching 50% of my support raising goal
• The season of fall: changing color of leaves, apple cider, football games
• Dark chocolate and it's wonderful flavor
• The ability to laugh at myself

Things I am praying and trusting the Lord for...

• Connecting with the other 50% of my support team
• Searching, budgeting and buying a "new" car
• Relationships - a lot of my genuine community is at a distance and I want to use this 'solo' time to draw closer to Him
• The official release of the Jesus Film Media app for Apple products (sooooo soon - check my blog again this week maybe!!!) 
• Daily surrender to trust Him and His leading

Things I am hopeful and looking forward to...

• Eventually buying my own, first, nice car
• Reporting to my job with Jesus Film Media in Orlando
• The New Staff Follow Up conference in October
• Hopefully running the Turkey Trot in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day parade
• Snow... can I say that? It's almost been 2 years!!! I want to snowboard so baddd

Marketing with Jesus Film

Hindsight is always 20/20 right?

As I have continued to process and reflect on my STINT year, I have remembered specific situations and life events which have led me to applying to join staff with Campus Crusade for Christ.

In high school, I had heard of Cru and considered trying it out once I was in college.

Once in college, I tried it out and heard about Christmas Conference, Big Break and Summer Project. Check, check, check.

At Christmas Conference, I learned about STINT - working internationally for one year.

Last year on STINT, I served the 40/10 Window, resourcing Christian minorities in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. In May 2011, I helped administer a conference for Virtual Ministry in North Africa. It was probably one of my favorite conferences all year. Leaders from 30+ countries were represented, sharing their strategies and plans for using the media in ministry.

During one of the main meetings, (through random events), I ended up sharing a 10 minute presentation on Search Engine Optimization Marketing. The summer of 2009, I had a marketing internship where I learned lots of new ideas and concepts, which I was able to share with these national leadership teams.

Among those attending, leaders from Jesus Film, based in Orlando, Florida, were at this conference also. After my presentation, they pursued me to talk about working with Jesus Film in the fall. Their dream was to start up a new marketing department, focused on digital media. As interested as I was, I had already committed to my current internship, Year One, and felt I needed to fulfill my commitment to them.

Fast forward to November 2011. My friend, Nifer - who had recently joined the newly formed Digital Media Distribution team with Jesus Film, gave me a call. After a meeting with her supervisor, Matt (whom I met back in May), they wanted to meet with me to share their new vision for this newly established department. This being my second and final year of interning (you can only intern twice), I was considering my options for the future.

During our lunch meeting, the vision they shared with me sounded so exciting and right up my alley. I would be able to use my Marketing degree, utilize social media (I like social media :) ) and share the gospel with the nations. Basically what it boils down to: Jesus Film is creating a digital platform anyone can easily access. On this platform, they have the capacity to upload the Jesus Film in 1,100+ languages, Magdelena - a women's focused film, Rivka - a women's bible study, Jesus Film for kids and short films. People from every nation will have the ability to hear the gospel with the click of a button!

Around this time, God also was orchestrating other conversations in my life to relieve my fears and doubts about joining staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. Talking about the eternal perspective, receiving financial support for the Mid Year Conference and prayer -- God seemed to make it clear to me this is where He was leading me. When my mom said "This is a great organization and a great opportunity - you should do it", I started thinking more seriously about this offer.

It wasn't until Christmas Conference, at a breakfast appointment, that I said it out loud "I'm joining staff." It started sinking in! What am I doing?! Is this real life? (I felt a little like David Goes To The Dentist).

So, now it is March 15th at 1:52 p.m. and I am sitting in the "Tech Cave" at Big Break, realizing in a few short months, I will officially be on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. It's nuts!

But as my pastor back home often says, "If you can explain it, God didn't do it."

French Friends

A few weeks ago, I missed a Disney friday due to an event at headquarters. A week or so later, I had a Disney "make-up" day on a Wednesday with a teammate, Evangeline and her daughter Annada. Usually, I never go on Wednesdays!

I ate lunch at the Paris pavilion and ended up meeting a french girl named Pauline. She studied at a university near by and came back to American for the Disney intern program. I mentioned to her I had just moved back from France and wanted to practice my french! Sort of hinting at the idea of hanging out :) I think she caught on because she said "If I wanted to hang out with French people, I would move back to France. I want to meet more Americans!"

We ended up exchanging phone numbers and I invited her to the Halloween party. Unfortunately, she was working late that night and couldn't come. A few days after the party, she texted me and invited me to hang out! I was pretty excited because this was the first intern I've met who has shown an interest in hanging out OUTSIDE of when I see them at Disney. I drove to Disney, picked her up at her apartment and we went out to a restaurant to chat about life. She is a honest person and not afraid to share her views. She speaks English really well! We talked about fun things to do in Orlando, making friends, dating - which lead to what qualities we look for in guys, and eventually the topic of marriage! She told me about her job and asked about mine. It was interesting for me to explain to her about support raising and that my job wants me to stay. On my way home, after I dropped her off at her place, Pauline sent me a text thanking me for hanging and hoping to again soon!

Pauline is also kind of an answer to prayer because when I found out I was accepted to YearOne, I prayed I would meet a French girl who would want to be my friend. I am excited to spend more time with her as the year continues.

Ministry at Epcot

Each Friday is our "campus ministry" day. It is unique to other interns experiences because the "students" we talk with are interning at Epcot. There are over 5,000 international interns working at Disney - all starting at various times of the year, so the turn over is relatively quick.

We start in the morning, most importantly in the word together for a devotion. This gets our hearts and minds ready and focused on what's most important - obeying God and bringing Him glory - specifically in our soon-to-follow-ministry. We then have a training time on ways to approach Disney interns, road blocks we may face, creative conversation starters, etc. We then branch out in to our teams: Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

We then head to the park to eat lunch as a team and pray for each country before walking around and talking with interns about their specific countries. The strategic part is figuring out how to bridge natural conversation to spiritual content. I am SO EXCITED to be focused on the French interns. I feel I can relate to them as I just got back from France, learning a new culture, making new friends, not having a car and even being new to Orlando. I've become facebook friends with several of them and I am hoping to practice French/English with them. I am hoping God will soften their hearts toward Him in the process.

This Friday, after our day of ministry, my roommates and I decided to walk around Epcot. One of my roommates, who is on team Africa, made a friend with a girl from Morocco. It was great to spend time with her and learn more about her life in Morocco, her culture, how she likes her internship and her experience here in America. Spending time with her was so great! It got me excited for the future friendships I know God has in store for this year.

Fall

Fall here in Orlando is very different than the traditional Falls of Michigan I have grown up with. In fact, it's more like August weather daily - with the addition to daily showers at 4:30 p.m. When flying home last weekend (I was in on of my closest friends wedding) I took this picture:

Cool huh?

Anyways, recently, I have found myself "grieving" a little for the "normal" falls I have grown accustom to. The reds, oranges, yellows and browns of the changing leaves;

a glass of cold apple cider and a spice donut after a day of picking apples at Erwin's Orchard;

raking and jumping into the big piles of crunchy, fallen leaves;

even going to a football game or 10.

I hope you appreciate these things even more just for my sake! :)

Je manque la France

Today, some of my previous team, Chelsea, Eric and Nalani, along with their new team, landed in France today to begin their second year. I am a little sad I am not with them, but I know God has me here in Orlando for a bigger reason.

Today in my part of the office, we are having SMOOTHIE DAY! Smoothie King is coming in to make smoothies for those who work in the National Campus Office. My department, the conference and event team, helps plan days like this. Our goal is to make the office an enjoyable place to work and build community within the whole office - there are over 1,000 employees who work here at head quarters!

Prayer requests:

- I would find a church to get plugged into

- Meet some French girls at Epcot to practice French

- Getting officially settled into my new housing

ORLANDO!

Hi Friends!

Last Friday, I began my journey down to Campus Crusade headquarters. I got to stay with some friends along the way. Splitting up the drive made it bearable. I was excited to get down to Orlando, meet my team and start my job!

I arrived Sunday evening, meeting all of my roommates (Sara, Erin and Sharon). I unloaded, freshened up, and with my new roommates, headed to the guy interns house for our celebration dinner. It was great to meet my new team and hear a little bit about how God lead them to this unique internship.

The next morning started our 3 day retreat filled with, planning, vision casting, games and team norms. I think we gelled pretty well. During the tail end of our retreat, we met the ministry team serving at Disney (YES, there is a team of people who's focus is Disney. Think about it, over 5,000 international employee's cycling through each year? It's the nations coming to us!). They were every enthusiastic and excited for us to be joining them every Friday. I am looking forward to this too because I am hoping to meet several French girls who I can practice French with, but more importantly show them God's overwhelming love for them.

The days following the retreat have been "unpack and set up life" time. I spent some time at the local DMV yesterday getting my Florida Driver's license (defiantly not as nice looking as Michigan, but I may be biased) :) .

I am looking forward to going to church tomorrow and meeting some of the locals and getting plugged in. We'll see what this new week will bring, cause this last one was jam packed with many new experiences!

Here are a few photos:

Some of my family the morning I left.

The Cline Family - I stayed with them in Atlanta, Georgia.

FLORIDA!

My new bike which I plan on riding to work which is about half a mile away.

Home Stretch

Well friends, as of yesterday, I have one month left overseas. Of those two weeks, I only have 2 more weeks in the office! Last week especially, I kept having bursts of emotion: Excited - to be home with family and friends! Sad - knowing I may never see my French friends again. Curious - what "culture shock" will I experience. Stoked - for new experience in Orlando!

I am amazed at how fast this year has flown by. Seriously. I was just telling a co-worker, when I was a little girl, the drive from Michigan to Ontario, Canada felt like the same distance to Sarasota, Florida. Just a reminder of how short our time here on earth is. MAKE IT COUNT!

It's weird, it doesn't get dark here until around 10pm. Crazy right? I guess, this is as far north, as I have ever lived. During the winter, I'd walk to work at dusk, and walk home in the dark (with my roommates. Don't worry mom, I was safe!) Now it's quite the opposite! That's just a recent observation ... :)

As I start to prepare for this summer, there is lots to do! I'll be working at a conference in Colorado during late July, attending a couple weddings, meeting with supporters to share about my time here in France and what God has in store for Orlando, and just spending time with family and friends. I hope to see you soon!