Update #1
Wow wow wow wow WOW! So, I've been in Europe now about 2 weeks, in Poland for one week, and so much has happened already that I hardly know where to start.
The first 3 days of the Josiah Venture internship consists of a team-building exercize modeled after the scavenger hunt tv show, The Amazing Race. Without using smartphones, we had to decipher clues, find locations, solve puzzles, complete physical challenges, all competing against 28 other teams of interns who would be serving in various countries this summer. Our team hit a few bumps in the road and ended up finishing in 25th place, but right off the bat we we able to see how we cope with stress, problem solving, and working together as a team to use all of our different strengths and weaknesses towards a common goal. Aside from seeing some pretty incredible sights, my favorite moments were the ones where we prayed together as a team and were able to refocus our attention on why we were there in the first place, and I think that really set a precedent for how we approach the rest of the summer and different challenges come up. I had NO IDEA how intense the race would be, but 3 days and 3 countries later, our little Fusion Poland intern team felt like family.
Once the race was finished, all the interns went to a few days of JV intern training in the beautiful mountains of Malenovice, Czech Republic. It was a refreshing time to focus on the practicals of getting ready to lead camps and workshops throughout the summer, and also re-centering ourselves spiritually to be ready to lead and show Christ, remembering that His strengh is made perfect in our weakness. There are so many areas I want to be able to grow in this summer, and the main one God showed me at Malenovice was that I need to learn to be secure in my identity in Christ, not in my accomplishments and what I can do. Please pray that I will keep my pride in check and keep my focus on being secure in the knowledge that I am loved, chosen, blameless, and safe because of who Jesus is, and that through that security I would be able to serve my teammates and our students and point them to Christ.
Since we've been in Poland, wifi has been a little spotty, so I haven't been able to update and post pictures as much as I'd like. I can only get wifi in our apartment on my iPad, and most of my pictures are on my phone, so please be patient and I'll try and upload more photos when I get the chance.
Other than that, Poland has been fantastic so far! Most of our time here has been spent in rehearsal. I played bass for 6 hours one day, sang and played violin another day, and we've been able to visit two local year-round Fusion ministires and get to know some of the kids that could be at our camps in a few weeks. The Fusion music ministry provides a unique environment for these kids. Our leaders are constantly reminding us how important it is for us to be authentic. These kids don't need to see a bunch of flawless musicians, they need to see grace, and be provided with a space where they can feel free to be creative, try new things, explore, make mistakes, and be able to grow from them without being shamed or made to look like a failure. If they can do that in music, that will open the door for that same kind of growth in their spiritual lives as well. Pray that their hearts, and the hearts of myself and my teammates, would be open to taking new steps.
I can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the summer.
The first 3 days of the Josiah Venture internship consists of a team-building exercize modeled after the scavenger hunt tv show, The Amazing Race. Without using smartphones, we had to decipher clues, find locations, solve puzzles, complete physical challenges, all competing against 28 other teams of interns who would be serving in various countries this summer. Our team hit a few bumps in the road and ended up finishing in 25th place, but right off the bat we we able to see how we cope with stress, problem solving, and working together as a team to use all of our different strengths and weaknesses towards a common goal. Aside from seeing some pretty incredible sights, my favorite moments were the ones where we prayed together as a team and were able to refocus our attention on why we were there in the first place, and I think that really set a precedent for how we approach the rest of the summer and different challenges come up. I had NO IDEA how intense the race would be, but 3 days and 3 countries later, our little Fusion Poland intern team felt like family.
Once the race was finished, all the interns went to a few days of JV intern training in the beautiful mountains of Malenovice, Czech Republic. It was a refreshing time to focus on the practicals of getting ready to lead camps and workshops throughout the summer, and also re-centering ourselves spiritually to be ready to lead and show Christ, remembering that His strengh is made perfect in our weakness. There are so many areas I want to be able to grow in this summer, and the main one God showed me at Malenovice was that I need to learn to be secure in my identity in Christ, not in my accomplishments and what I can do. Please pray that I will keep my pride in check and keep my focus on being secure in the knowledge that I am loved, chosen, blameless, and safe because of who Jesus is, and that through that security I would be able to serve my teammates and our students and point them to Christ.
Since we've been in Poland, wifi has been a little spotty, so I haven't been able to update and post pictures as much as I'd like. I can only get wifi in our apartment on my iPad, and most of my pictures are on my phone, so please be patient and I'll try and upload more photos when I get the chance.
Other than that, Poland has been fantastic so far! Most of our time here has been spent in rehearsal. I played bass for 6 hours one day, sang and played violin another day, and we've been able to visit two local year-round Fusion ministires and get to know some of the kids that could be at our camps in a few weeks. The Fusion music ministry provides a unique environment for these kids. Our leaders are constantly reminding us how important it is for us to be authentic. These kids don't need to see a bunch of flawless musicians, they need to see grace, and be provided with a space where they can feel free to be creative, try new things, explore, make mistakes, and be able to grow from them without being shamed or made to look like a failure. If they can do that in music, that will open the door for that same kind of growth in their spiritual lives as well. Pray that their hearts, and the hearts of myself and my teammates, would be open to taking new steps.
I can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the summer.
Neither can we wait to hear! Enjoy and go with God!
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