Photo Update: June and July

This is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Sometime when I was in elementary school we took a vacation to Florida and we drove over this bridge. My dad got so excited about it (and does about most anything involving water as well) that he ended up with a magnet of it on the refrigerator. Yesterday I called to tell him a mysterious riddle about something big and yellow in Florida that I'd seen that day that he really loves. He thought it was a banana. "Think bigger! Bigger than a car!" There were quite a few clues given before I mentioned that he owned a magnet of it, but then he got it! I must have talked to him and mom for a good hour and a half. It was a really nice conversation---I felt supported and loved. I've been missing a lot of people from back home lately. I think it is because the summer COAT session ends next week and I was in summer COAT last year...it feels like I should be headed home, too.

The reason that was driving over the cool bridge mentioned above is that I was meeting up with Derek and Ashley in Clearwater. It was my first solo roadtrip in Florida! Derek and Ashley were in my COAT class last summer and have been finishing up school and support raising in Illinois and Indiana, where thier families are from. Now they're based in Orlando, where Derek worked a church for some time. We met in the middle at this beach/park. It's amazing how beautiful beaches and parks can be! And confusing how the sun always seems hotter there...

This is me...I was going for a group shot, but didn't think of it until post-swimming, to which Ashley suggested that we do it a different day. They'll be up in Fort Myers for a week in August to attend a support raising seminar. Maybe I'll get a shot of them then. They're really sweet people!

Friday was "Cow Appreciation Day" at Chic-fil-a. A bunch of us dressed up like cows and got a free meal! That's right a whole entire meal free....sandwich, fries, even a milkshake! Quality company, dressing up in silly costumes, free food, ice cream, and fun dipping sauces...can't get much better than that!

This is a close up of my costume. I have some thoughts about how to do it better next time, but didn't have a whole lot of time to make it between work and when I left. The main part is a trash bag with Sharpie spots drawn on. There is a cowbell on my neck made out of a paper plate. The tail is a trash bag with a coffee filter at the end. I had a mask made out of a paper plate, too, but it looked more like a mean pig when I got done with it, so I left it in the car.

This is my upline/boss for Media, Jen. She recently had another knee surgery (she had one this winter, too). Pray for her complete healing and a joyful spirit. She is a huge blessing!

I was feeling particularly silly on the way home from bowling with the COAT group one day. Shane (left) is now married to Helen. Rabecca (yellow shirt) and Beth (middle in the backseat) are two of my favorite COAT people! That was definitely the most high fives I've ever given anyone during a bowling game...an encourager's dream!

This is the bowling group. Megan B. is in the middle back wearing a blue shirt; she's my other favorite COATer and one of my housemates.

This is us with our tough bowling faces. Grrr!!

This is me at Helen's wedding. I went up early with Sarah on Wednesday to hang out and help get a few last minute things done. The wedding was Saturday (June 27). I got to design a really cool prayer card for them to hand out that the reception, which was one of my first (mostly) solo designing something from scratch experiences.

This is Helen at Helen's wedding. Ironically, I didn't take very many pictures that day. I did, however, end up being the one to video the ceremony. I have not had frequent practice as a videographer, but I think it turned out okay. A few weeks later, Ryan S. moved back, who is our resident (and only) videographer and most recent addition to the staff in the Media Department. I'm excited to see what videos he makes about NMSI as a whole, specific countries or projects, etc.

Praises From June

At the end of my monthly update I mentioned that there was not enough room to write all the praises that I have from the month of June. Here are a few!

*My roommate Helen is got married on June 27, 2009! We met about a year and a half ago through the COAT program and have been growing in our depth of love for one another since.

*Helen’s husband Shane, recently returned from serving in Kenya and has joined the Media Division. Thanks largely to him and Josh, I am learning more about graphic design and am starting to be able to use a little more creativity in my job/contribute to designing pieces from scratch. I am blessed by the increasing unity in our division.

*My Division Leader, Jen D., blesses me regularly and says that I bring out the best in her. Praise that this relationship has grown tremendously since I arrived in January. Praise for all the people here in the NMSI community who speak up and tell me good that they see in me.

*Megan, one of my roommates going through the COAT program right now, blesses me with her boldness and honesty. Praise for several awesome girls in the COAT program that I have been able to start building relationships with (Megan, Rabecca, and Beth). This session of COAT ends at the end of July--pray for their transformation and guidance with future ministry plans.

*This month the college/young adult group at my church in Fort Myers started to feel like home (ironically it is called “The House”). Specific praise for my friends Crystal, Steph S., and Emily N. there and our deepening relationships.

*Praise for my mentor at NMSI, Kylee, a godly woman full of wisdom who loves people deeply. Praise for a deepening relationship and even greater appreciation for her and her family. Pray for her to have a restful summer with them (the twins are four and her youngest is one).


*Praise for Anne’s availability and willingness to mentor me during the summer.


*Praise for an opportunity to do a Beth Moore Bible study (Daniel) with my church and a recent opportunity to do one (Patriarchs) with some girls from the office. Specifically, praise for an opportunity to get to know the leader, Danielle, and her family better!

*A renewed excitement about prayer, specifically induced by incredibly powerful pre-service prayer experiences at “The House.” As Pastor Alex says, “No one should out-pray us for our ministry.” I have noticed a shift from praying mostly for my supporters back home, to praying mostly for those I am in regular contact with here, those I desire to minister to. I think this is a healthy shift that signifies that I am enculturating here and fully investing in the lives of those around me.


*Praise for Pastor Alex and his wife Angie as both have encouraged me through their passion for God as well as their commitment to following up with people in the college/young adult ministry.


*Praise for a road trip this weekend to Clearwater to reconnect with Derek and Ashley, two incredible people who went through the COAT program with me last summer. Pray for successful support raising so they can move back here to work in the Short-Term Projects Division (Derek) and with HIV Hope (Ashley).


*Praise that even though it has been a sadder, harder month compared to the last few, there are still TONS of reasons to praise God!!!