A Storm Outside and In

Friends,

We arrived yesterday afternoon all safe and sound. The trip itself took a little longer than usual due to some lovely construction and traffic on I-80, but oh well. The wonderful thing about experience and time is that in light of one experience such as the joy of reunion or arrival or some other such natured thing, those things that at the moment felt torturesome and difficult suddenly lose their weight. Seven hours of driving felt incredibly long after two minutes of prayer, then incredibly short again after forty-five seconds of reunion. This summer is looking like it will be much harder than I have anticipated. I am not certain if my heart is ready for it or not, in fact, I am most certain that it is indeed not. I want to know the next step in this journey. For those coming out here with me, I feel a great hope and longing for their experiences to be holy and transforming, not unlike my desire for myself, but somehow it is more painful for them.

If you know me well, you know my heart is for this generation and everything therein. I am learning very quickly just how messy we (this people from 15-30 years old) really are. The mess is deep, very sticky, and very, very, VERY personal. Pray for me to see how the truth will come to see us free. If there is anything right now that I personally need prayer in, it is that. I have for the last five months become more aware of our pain and wounds than I ever thought I could, and in light of the scars and pain I have seen and felt, I long to know the nature of the healing I know the Lord has promised. Yes, truth. Yes, pure relationships and transparency. Yes, holy community and honest communication, but how? If it is not begun and finished by Him, I want nothing to do with it. The answer is simply Jesus, of course, but there is something incomplete in peoples understanding to simply accept His name as the answer to their life's hardship. They must encounter Him. I do not know what all the summer will entail for me, but I hope for direction and understanding. I hope to see a glimpse of that healing and restoration for someone. I will keep you posted as I can, but I long for your prayers. I ask for them specifically and humbly. Tonight is no different than other nights. My heart is heavy and I am in sight of someone’s pain. So please pray for us. Today Isaiah 53 was laid on my heart, and I know the Lord will provide understanding and purpose to His word soon enough. Pray for my heart to hear Him. Thank you.

Itinerarily speaking, tomorrow starts our three days of training. We will be working through some of the sessions from the Keystone Projects manual. We know the Lord will be with us and that He is truly the Good Teacher, so pray for our understanding. Information is useless without an experience to solidify it and validate it. Information is the currency of our minds, but information is the currency of our hearts- so pray for experience over these next three days for us. Pray that our baggage be laid down in sight of His outstretched arms and pray that the light would overcome the darkness. Truth is powerful in itself and needs no credibility, but our hearts must be open and humble if there is to be any transformational fruit. We will be going into St. Louis City Sunday afternoon to work and serve among the community. Let His will be done in all things. I am thankful for your prayers and look forward to sharing with you the fruit of your intercession. Pray to His glory. Press on.

In Him,
Greg

The Wood Between Worlds...as it is...

So, we're now in Missouri. After taking a train several hours through several states, Drew, Jeff and I made it successfully to Missouri. Greg, Alicia and Ray drove ( sadly it took them 7 hours driving). Us three guys made it to our host family( a.k.a Eric Wilson)'s apartment. First we ate (White Castle, Drew's first experience...he thinks they're "legit") and then, upon the discovery of a pool, we swam. It was much needed after such a long day of travel. We all realized we were operating on less than 3 hours of sleep each, so around 10pm, we put a movie on and crashed. Then we woke up and helped Twan and Mark move out of their apartments. And now Greg is at the Goodwins and everyone else is swimming and I'm in the apartment. Tomorrow begins the training, though none of us ( with the exception of Greg and the people training us) know what to expect...and that's just how we like it. Tuesday morning at 6a.m we embark to Wyoming, the land flowing with elk and mountains. Eric had a conversation with his disciple last night that was pretty intense and I think Jeff and Drew got a hint of what's to come. This isn't all daisies and roses. There is work to be done. Pray that our hearts be open to what God has for us. Pray for new eyes and new ears and new perspectives for us to see and hear and feel what needs to be done in each of our own lives in preparation for living in Wyoming this summer. Pray our focus be on this summer.

Day 1

Today we finally left to begin....whatever it is God has planned for us. Travel took a little while and two separate sets of kids got on our train for field trips (such loud children) but we didn't miss any trains so can't complain. I'm so glad we've finally left, the planning for getting down to St. Louis and to our host family's house was pretty in depth but we're here at last. We've met a lot of challenges throughout the planning of the trip but I want to hope that it's because God has something really awesome planned for the 13 of us. Training begins Saturday so today and tomorrow are going to be a chance to catch up on some rest (which we really need cuz most of us are running on 3-6 hours of rest haha). Today I experienced white castle for the first time and it's pretty legit, and so unhealthy, yum sliders.