HSM San Francisco 09

airport fun

2010-06-21T06:48:00.001-07:00

chillin in the airport with double bubble and the dew just waitin to board THE MOTHER PLANE and we're on our way to cali baby:) WOOT WOOT…........alli:)

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2009-06-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

We are all on the plane getting ready to head to Columbus. See you all soon.

2009-06-27T05:49:00.001-07:00

Flight info. Flt 46 SFO to ATL arrive at 2:40. Flt 534 ATL to CMH arrive at 7:00

2009-06-27T05:46:00.001-07:00

At the gate, ready to board. All is well.

Faces from today "I'm good! Will be home soon"

2009-06-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

Pics from touring San Francisco

2009-06-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

The post cross the bridge wind blown look. My hair looks much better than Erinn's.

Cassie and Taylor are taking cover from the cold wind.

Kristin's wind blown look.

Melissa and Sarah are trying to stay warm.

Sarah

Joe is REALLY cold.

Julie was in the back, guttin it out.

The new Cassie look!

Sausalito, cheap houses.

A view of the bridge from the north side of the bay. A little foggy.

Julie and Katie think they are riding a roller coaster. This is on the way across the first time, it didn't seem as cold as on the way back.

On the bridge, looking back.

During the afternoon tour, such cute faces.

The team on the "open top" bus before the Golden Gate Bridge trip.

The street performer that sang with Julie then got mad at me because I didn't give him money. I should have told him he should have paid Julie for making him sound so good.

The Rock!

Famous Lombard Street

I finally got Marnie to let me take her picture.

I just had to take a picture of this sign.

Getting directions. We did get there.

Danny, up a creek, "with" a paddle. Actually, two paddles. Not if he can just get to the water.

Team HSM SanFran 09 central command post. We ate there twice in two days.

Street performer.

The three musketeers, I mean leaders. This was Marnie's normal pose.

2009-06-26T19:40:00.001-07:00

Great day touring. We are all ready to come home. All is good.

2009-06-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

Off to our San Fran tour today. Golden Gate bridge, here we come. All is great. Continue to pray for the team unity and team time, it has been awesome.

Prayer Station

2009-06-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Also on Wednesday, we went to Powell station and walked around the area engaging in conversations with people and asking for areas that we can pray for them.

Dennis was one of the most interesting individuals that I had met all week. He is an ordained minister that lives on the street. He sees himself as doing what God has asked him to do, ministering to those on the street by being with them. I kind of viewed him as a modern day Paul. I spent time talking to him about how to share the Word with people on the street and biblically address many of the habits that they have. He had scripture references for all of them. It was great.

Jared, Melissa, and Sarah talked to a guy who was a literalist. They had to defend their faith as he tried to use science to rationalize everything. He was a really good debater making things sound good, but he would get into crazy things like UFO’s and people having tails. They didn’t exactly change his view point on life, but he got to hear the truth.

Steph, Julianne, and Danny spent a lot of time talking to these two people but they wouldn't join them in prayer at the end.

Not much conversation here. This person basically ignored everthing Jared said to him.

2009-06-25T21:53:00.001-07:00

Got to the hotel fine, all is good. Sorry no blogs, it has been hard to get connected to the internet.

2009-06-25T08:46:00.001-07:00

Packing up getting ready to transfer all our stuff to hotel.

2009-06-24T19:41:00.001-07:00

Marnie is doing much better.

Packed lunch sharing

2009-06-24T16:33:00.001-07:00

Wednesday afternoon, we took the prayer stand to Powell Station and sent teams to different areas of the plaza striking up conversations with people. Here are some pictures.

Jared, Melissa, and Sarah talking to Brett. Jared was educated by Brett in that he to be an expert on UFO's.

Steph, Danny, and Julianne talking to Pepper and Tim.

Jared, Sarah and Melissa

Joe made a new friend.

Erin, Taylor, and Danny met Julie during lunch.

Erinn, Taylor, and Danny had a very intellectual conversation with that seemed to last forever. The students said that after all that deep conversation and somewhat disagreement about who Gor really is, he had tears running down his face as they prayed for him prior to departing. God was definately moving.

Steph's lunch friend.

2009-06-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

Please pray for Marnie. She is not feeling well.

Today's plan and prayer needs

2009-06-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

It is 6:00am and I am looking at the schedule for today. Please pray specifically for us leaders, we aren’t as resilient as the students are, at least I am not anyways. I have many aches from all of the walking and being on my feet. God has provided the strength each day as I have asked for it.

Today is a really busy schedule, we have a prayer walk this morning called Skyscraper Safari. Interacting and praying for people we meet in the financial district. At noon we take two sack lunches to the Civic Center area and find a homeless person to share lunch with, eating ours with them. At 2:00 we setup prayer stations throughout the Tenderloin engaging and praying for people as they come by. Tonight at 7:30 we have Hot Chocolate Evangelism again, taking a thermos of Hot Chocolate out to share with people on the street and engage in conversation.

Our last full day, please pray for changed lives in our kids. God has worked in them in many ways already, I don’t think He is finished. Every single one of them is looking to seek God’s face and what He has in store for them. Pray for that to continue today. Thanks parents, for giving me the opportunity to serve with your kids.

Misc Pics

2009-06-23T20:42:00.001-07:00

This is actually prep time for the Love Feast greeters.

Steph and Julianne, they love each other.

The girls were being very cute. This is during our bus trip Monday night.

A view from the hill. (Senior picture)

Those eyes!

Spider man...aka Jared

Friends forever.

Funsies!

awwwwwwwwww

The Love Feast

2009-06-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

The love feast was exciting. We served 85 people and our students filled many roles during the lunch. Some were greeters and not only said hello to them when they arrived, but helped them find a seat at a table. Some were table hosts, responsible for setting at the table and engaging in conversation with all at their assigned table. There were servers that brought the food to the tables. Entertainers, singing and playing instruments during lunch. And food prep folks, dishing out the food as the servers brought the orders back.

There were many great conversations. I saw Joe, Erinn, Melissa, and Steph, all have good conversations with people at their assigned tables. (see pictures) I am hoping to get them to write some info about those conversation, but it will have to be later tonight.

All is well, everything is going very good, all the kids are engaged and being stretched by God during this week. Everyone is tired but God is providing strength.

Melissa having a good conversation with one of our guests.

Steph at her table with a few guys that was excited to get their picture taken.

Joe was very engaged with a couple of the guys setting at his table. I think he was really enjoying it.

Erinn talked with this guy for the whole time. They were still talking when we tore down the tables. Stay tuned, she is planning on sharing her story on the blog later tonight. (Morning for you)

Katie was a server.

This was a picture of the room setup about 5 minutes after we opened the door.

Sorry these are out of order, this is prep time as the YWAM leaders spend time with each group telling them what they are suppose to do. These are the table hosts.

Steph setting up.

Kristen doing decorating. Hi Malachi, I miss you!

Our famous artist, Taylor.

Love Feast Today!

2009-06-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Thought I would send a quick note on how you can pray. I feel like we have been trained and experienced a number of ways to share God’s love to the homeless. Today, at 11:00, we open the doors to the YWAM facility and serve a spaghetti lunch to our homeless friends. This is not only a time to serve them but to set down and engage in deeper conversation.

Please pray at 11:00, 2:00 EST, for all of us to be open to sharing and engaging in conversation.

Hopefully, I will able to take some pictures today of the activities. Come back tonight.

Homeless Plunge

2009-06-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

After our time serving at the Glide, we were immediately briefed and "kicked" out of the WYAM facility onto the street with $1.50 for the adults, $.50 for the students. (bus fare) We were not allowed back until 4:00. The objective of this day was to experience what it was like to be homeless and learn to share Christ’s living on the street. So, we set out with our list of places to get food, a little bit of money, no map, and Christ as our strength. Each of our teams went to different places, Kristin’s and Marnie’s teams decided to head toward “Hippie park” and my team went more into the downtown area.

Speaking personally from my experience, I was really challenged as lunch time came. Satan was really working hard on me trying to convince me that I would stick out like a sore thumb standing in the 1-2 block line to get food. I was afraid that either the people would be mad that we were taking their food or that they would just keep asking what we were doing there. But, I did it anyways, that is what we were there to do. (suck it up Jim!)

Upon arrival at the St. Anthony’s Dining Room, we saw a line that went from the entrance at mid block all the way to the corner and half way down the other block. Oh MY! I can’t do this!

Thanks to my brave team that had no fear, we got in line. The first thing I noticed was how many people were in line that looked like me. (I already noticed those that didn’t) Dressed like they were going to work in an office. The line moved relatively quick and soon we were in the door. All through that process my fears just slowly went away. Once inside, we walked through the line, got our food and saw smiles on every single persons face that was there serving….us!

They were showing God’s love to me now and I was challenged to return that love to others.
We sat down and I immediately met John, a guy that had a horrible life growing up. His mother passed away 3 months ago and his father didn’t even let him know. In the last 9 months he lost his job, his wife, his car, and his home. His struggle with alcohol had destroyed everything he had. He said he didn’t have a single family member that would give him the time of day. What he did have was Christ in his heart and hope through Christ’s strength. John and I talk through our whole meal and as he started to get up I asked him if he could take a few more minutes so I could pray for him. He agreed and after I finished praying, I looked up to a sad face and tears running down his cheek. He said “thanks brother, I may not have a family that loves me but at least I have a brother in Christ that does.” I spent the next minute fighting back the tears myself. Oh, how selfish I had become again thinking only of my fears and not thinking about why God had me here at this time at this place. Thank you Lord for teaching me, again.

The rest of the day, we walked the streets, talked to people, hung out at a park and took a nap or two. I realized how bored a homeless person must get. Most of us would dream of having a totally down day, no todo’s, no responsibilities, no phones, no schedule, no anything. OK, I had my day like that and I am now looking for a good in between. Overall, I think we met the objective for the day and have a new view of a homeless persons typical day.

Soup Kitchen work

2009-06-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today, we were up and out the door by 6:50 to go to The Glide soup kitchen and help them serve breakfast to close approximately 750 people. Sorry, no pictures for this one. We are not allowed to take pictures of anyone outside of YWAM without getting their permission first and many times it is very cumbersome to do that. Talked with the guy that runs the kitchen, they run on a $1MM capital budget all from large donors.

When we got there, they divided us up into many different areas. Food prep, tray prep, greeting, handing out the trays, cleaning tables, refilling coffee/milk, serving to families and the disabled. There was a constant flow of people for a good 2 hours and it was very tiring. Editorial….This was one of my favorite things I have done so far, really enjoyed interacting with the people.

2009-06-22T10:00:00.001-07:00

E hours serving at a food kitchen this morning. Now comes homeless plunge. 8 hours on the street living as the homeless do, no money and no food.

Hot Chocolate Brigade

2009-06-21T22:25:00.001-07:00

Tonight, we all went out with a thermos full of hot chocolate and Styrofoam cups offering a cup to those on the streets. Many great conversations were had and many prayer requests heard.

Julie and Katie spent time with Rosemary, 55, who loves the Lord and has been through a lot of hardship. She has lost both of her sons, killed on the same street and one of them while his wife was expecting. She has had many things happen to her including when she surprised a robber one day coming home and he almost killed her. Today she is confined to a wheel chair and has no place to live. Her prayer requests where that her grandchild would see the grave of the father (her son) they have never seen, a place to live, and a vehicle. Please pray for Rosemary.

Bucket Brigade

2009-06-21T19:02:00.001-07:00

Our first task of the day happened right after lunch and it was called Bucket Brigade. We went out in our groups with buckets of cleaning supplies and brooms to bless the community. We went to various businesses throughout the Tenderloin and asked if we could clean their windows, floors and bathrooms! We also picked up trash along the sidewalks and were able to engage people in conversation. It was a fun spin on evangelism and our students are getting out of their comfort zones more and more each day.

Washing windows with our new friends from a Sacramento.

Danny sweepin out a lobby.

Melissa cleaning the windows of a refrig case.

More Cleaning

Katie picking up trash

Danny loves to sweep.

Alexis and Curtis from Sac. St. John's

Julie ready to go.

Church Service this morning

2009-06-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

This was a small church and when we walked in we almost doubled their attendance. The pastor took a picture with us after this mornings service.

Picture from the outside. This was about 45 minutes via train from the YWAM facility.

We were able to attend a culturally diverse church this morning, New Home Missionary Baptist Church. Our students were able to see that even though a church body my worship different than us we all serve the same God! They were very welcoming and thankful that we came and took part in their worship service. One of the highlights was the singing! New Home sings mostly acapella and our students enjoyed themselves and clapped right along. It was a great time and we are blessed to have had the opportunity to worship at New Home today!

Airport pictures

2009-06-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

In line at CMH and 4:30am to check bags. Cassie is obvioiusly still asleep.

Team picture prior to going thought security.

The utlimate uchre game. Katie and me won!

Is Melissa debating about airport food?

Ozzie?

2009-06-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

We are at YWAM getting settled in. All has been great with no issues. Hope to post some pics later tonight. .

2009-06-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

We have landed safely in San Francisco.

2009-06-20T04:27:00.001-07:00

We landed in Atlanta safely and we are eating breakfast in the international terminal watching people from all over the world. We don't fly out until 10.

2009-06-20T02:41:00.001-07:00

We are all on the plane and ready to go.

Training Night in the Short North

2009-06-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I forgot my camera, so no pictures. I promise pictures next week. But, first I want to say that I feel so blessed to be going on this trip with such a great group of Godly young men and women. Everything went so well tonight. They went out in groups of 2-3 and had conversations with people in the Short North area. Already some stories starting to be logged as they meet people with different views on religion and God. I gave them some tools (thanks Dan and Alicia) to use to help them get into conversations and allow the Holy Spirit to work through them. They all seemed to like them and will use them in SF.

The groups seemed to be working well together already. I had so much fun on the way home and Danny sang to us while Julianne and Steph sang a completely different song. Katie just sat in the back and tried to figure out what was going on. I am so excited to see God already developing new relationships in my (and the other) groups.

Prayer request - just that God shows himself to each of us and we have our eyes open to see it.

Preparing for our trip

2009-06-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Top 5 things you MUST know before we leave!

Must be at the Air Tran ticket counter by 4:30am on Saturday ready to check in.
Bring Drivers License.
Bring money for meals in the airports and any souvenirs you may want.
Pack for cool days – the wind is VERY cold in SF. Jeans and sweatshirts will be common morning and evening.
Be careful what you pack, follow the security guidelines.