Exhibitions, Christmas, and Deni Leah!
The morning was crisp, cool, and exceptionally clear compared to the period of rain and gloom that had settled over Selçuk the previous week. We had prayed for good weather so that the project we had been preparing wouldn’t be dampened.
One of the first days that we had been here, we had gone on a prayer walk, asking for God’s heart for this community. Morgan had gone to a government building and had asked for an appointment to meet what she thought was the governor of the area who turned out to be a regional governor. She got the meeting and subsequent meetings after that. In the course of our 3 weeks, we asked if we could have a photo exhibition in Selçuk and we were awarded the opportunity. Planning and preparations were undertaken and we decided to use the title “Exposing Beauty” and take photos accordingly. We broke up and covered all the different aspects of life in Selçuk and the surrounding areas and came up with 38 printed images to present back to the community.
The venue was a quadrant of concrete in the middle of the city where, in the summertime it is a tea garden outfitted with a pool and fountain. In the winter, it is deserted, the water gone; but there was a river of life on Friday as we composed our photos over the provided easels. We saw the square come to life, some people attracted by the foreigners, some attracted by the crowd that was gathering. We stood around and talked to people as they came around, getting into some great conversations. Some people invited a few of us over tea and dinner, taking us to their families and friends, and opening doors for us to share with them our stories. We love
The Christmas Party that April Joy planned for last Wednesday night was a great time for all of us to get together as a family and enjoy each others company. We had a gift exchange game, food and soda, and even watched “Elf’!
It is less than a week until the group will disperse for Christmas. Some will be going home, some will continue to travel the world, but we will all get back together soon when we resume classes in
Sniffles and sneezes are also a prominent sound among the group. Pray that we will all be feeling better because it is no fun being sick while traveling.
Spotlight: Deni Leah
The Christmas bulbs blinked overhead as Deni and I sat down to finally have a spotlight conversation. I had put it off for far too long, but now was the time. Deni is one of the four staff members that are accompanying the students for the next year and a half.
She was originally introduced to YWAM by people that she knew from her church in
What I like most about Deni’s stories aren’t the actual stories themselves, but to see how God has worked in her life, and her joy for experiencing more of Him and His love. She feels like she has just started to understand more about God’s love and wants to be His catalyst to bring that love to all people. She is a firm believer that if people experience God’s love, they will get to know Him. She also hopes to be a bridge between her world and the rest of the world, to get people connected and involved with what is going on and the Father’s love for all of His children. To show that there is beauty and aspects of God that we don’t often see in our limited views.
She wants to love passionately and to bring change creatively, which is something that she is learning more about being on the track. She believes that this program has an anointing to challenge people; by our presence out here, and the creative result of our experiences that we will bring home and show our world.
When asked about lessons she is learning from God, there were too many to say or even write, but here are a couple of them. She is discovering that God meets us where we are; that every person, at an individual level, can say that God loves them. He cares for his corporate body, but also for every individual that makes up that body. She is also learning about commitment to God, how we as His followers should be willing and ready to undertake any tasks he asks us to do, whether we fully understand them or not. Sometimes we can follow God’s plan if it glamorous for us, but are hesitant if it is unknown or risky.
Deni has some great words of Wisdom for us as well… “Love is a choice. It’s choosing to put the others’ hopes, dreams, and desires above our own.” Learning to serve is chasing after Jesus. He came not so be served, but to serve. Our love for God is what pushes us to serve, not because we can do anything, but it naturally flows from our experience of His love. As we receive God’s love we give it away, but continue to receive it… “It’s a beautiful dance.”
Until He returns
John Paul
posted by PhotogenX Round the World @ 1:36 AM
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