We are all counting down the days until we depart for Estonia… our meetings are starting to get a little longer and more jam-packed with exciting information and details. Today we met at Calder’s house where we shared a few testimonies, brainstormed ideas for games, and discussed logistics of the two hour prayer walk. We also shared how to repel the potential giant mosquitoes and how quitting coffee should probably be done before going on the trip. We are putting into action all the fundraising ideas-a cookout, a dinner, personal training, and others that are in progress… we are about one month away and excited to have raised about 50% of the fundraising for our team.

Below there are pictures of the camp we will be staying at just to give you a better idea of what we will be doing over there in our amazing trip!

Pictures of the Camp

Fast and Furiously...

So, I had a chance to talk to Märt this morning.  Camp is coming - fast and furiously it is coming.  He sent me a bunch of pictures of where camp will be in July (I'll post later) and he let me know that there will be no running water at camp...thinking that we had better all pack lots of deodorant!  I've not yet asked about mosquitoes, but seeing as Estonia's latitude is about that of Alaska (Estonia is 59 N and Anchorage is 61.18) - I'm thinking that they must be fairly bad in the summer.  So, I'm hoping that Sara will remember to remind the rest of us to pack some deet!  

Anyway, I'm off topic.  Camp is going to be amazing....I'm getting more excited about it every day.  Camp will be for 5 days and 4 nights.  We will have morning and evening sessions each day and games/activities in the afternoons.  We'll be focusing on such topics as worship, prayer and the authority of God's word.  What a privilege it is to share on such amazing topics in a place where God is primarily an afterthought to so many....

Ok, so apparently I'm supposed to answer some questions.  To dig in, I will start with a pic from Tallinn in 2007:

                                                       

1) There are way too many situations that cause me to feel most alive; however, I'll boil it down to just 1 for now...maybe two.  One of the first env

ironments that come to mind is hiking in the Rockies in Autumn.  The combination of crystal blue skies, snow-white mountain tops, golden aspen leaves and 60 degree temperatures during the typical afternoon are, for me, an echo of heaven.  Here's a taste of what I'm talking about from the Maroon Bells...

  2.) Hmm...who would play me in a movie of my life??  Since I get to choose, then I'm going with Denzel Washington b/c I would love to be able to say "My Man" the way he does in American Gangster...

3.) Best song ever.  Seriously, there's no way to really answer this.  How to choose:  

- I could go with any number of praise songs (currently it would be Glory to God Forever by Fee)

- I could go with something Classical like Pachebel's Canon or Handel's Messiah

- If I were merely focusing on the two songs that ALWAYS put me in a good mood when they rotate through my ipod, I'd have to go with the first minute of Sweet Child O Mine or Paradise City.  Seriously, I can't believe I didn't like those songs when they first came out.

However, I think for now, I have to go with U2's Where the Streets Have No Name.  Unbelievable song that seems to never age.  As almost all other songs fade in and out of favor with me, this song is always in...

4.) There are so many things that I want to see happen in Estonia.  I want to see our team be a team that is focused on serving - even in the midst of no running water, language barriers, camp food and whatever other frustrations come our way.  I want to see a generation of teenagers in Estonia come to know the God of the Universe in a personal way.  To understand that they are loved without condition by the same God who died on a cross for them 2000 years ago.   I want to see everyone on our team get out of their comfort zones and realize a potential that can only be experienced when stretched beyond what is believed to be possible... 

Thank you for all your support and prayers! I am off for my summer break from teaching and very excited for the trip… here are my answers to the questions!

1) When do you feel most alive? Why?

I feel the most alive when I wake up after a good night sleep to a warm cup of coffee. Both of these are calming for me and usually happen on either less hectic Saturdays, school breaks, or my free summers (one of the many great benefits of being a teacher). Then, I’d go for a run with my ipod when it is a sunny, slightly breezy day. The fresh air and the beautiful nature remind me of amazing creative God is and how this is one of the many things He has made for us to enjoy.

2) If they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? Why?

I don’t really have a broad range of movies I watch nor do I really know who any actors are. I like to stick to watching Disney flicks, chick flicks, or comedies. So the ones I could think of were Cameron Diaz or Ellen Degeneres. They both can be goofy and light hearted.

3) Whats the greatest song ever written? By who?

Okay, so I love all types of music and my preference of music continues to change. For about a year now I have been a huge fan of Eddie Kirkland…my favorite song is “How He Loves”. This is one of my favorite songs because of how poetically it describes God’s love. Last summer, this song was one of my favorites when I was running barefoot on the white sand on the deserted beach of Destin Florida.

4) What do you hope to accomplish while in Estonia?

I have never been on a mission trip so I am extremely excited to show God’s love by pouring into the high schoolers. I know it will take a lot more than my own strength and abilities to accomplish this and I will need to fully rely on Him for that. I am hoping to spend less time focusing on myself and my everyday life and more on their needs. I know God will use this experience to help me grow as a person and my spiritual walk with Him.

my a's to the blog q's!

like calder, this is also my first blog post ever. i have had some time to think of my answers now, so here we go!

when do you feel most alive? why?

being a broke college student i am always looking for fun and inexpensive things to do. after dinner tonight, a friend and i spent the longest time trying to throw a deck of cards across a room without the cards flying everywhere. i found myself laughing harder than i had in a long time. the times spent with good friends doing the simplest of things is when i feel most alive.

if they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? why?

this was probably the easiest question for me to answer. i have been a huge owen wilson fan since i saw him playing roy o'bannon in shanghai noon. i have seen just about all of his movies and i always find him entertaining. i think his laid back personality and sense of humor is similar to mine, so i think he'd portray me well!

what is the greatest song ever written? by who?

back in january of this year i came across a musician on the internet by the name of noah gundersen. i was immediately drawn to his style of music and voice. i would say his song "moss on a rolling stone" is the greatest song ever written. i completely identify with everything he sings about in the song. it's almost as if we had a conversation then he set down and wrote the song.

what do you hope to accomplish while in estonia?

being a college student and just three years removed from high school, i would like to connect with the high school students and be relevant to them. i want to share with students how nothing is more satisfying in life than having a personal relationship with God. high school is a time of making difficult decisions, i pray that the team and i will be the inspiration they need to grow closer to God and maintain a relationship with him for the rest of their lives. i can't wait to encounter all of the great experiences God has waiting for the team in estonia.

My answers!

Hey friends! I am grateful for your prayer and support so far for this mission trip. Our team members (David and Grant) came up with some questions for us to answer. I hope that by answering some questions, you will get to know a little bit more about me.

1)When do you feel most alive? Why?

Definitely when I am doing activity outdoor like running in the park, throwing Frisbee, canoeing in the river. Also listening to praise and worship music also lift my spirit up.

2)If they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? Why?

Well, I never thought about that. I would like Jackie Chan to play me b/c he does have an accent kinda like me, LOL, and he can do some Karate kicking and Kung Fu fighting.

3)What is the greatest song ever written? By who?

Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. It is a beautiful song and I can relate to it.

4)What do you hope to accomplish while in Estonia?

I pray that God will use me for his purpose and not my own. I pray that by doing activities the Estonia students and getting to know them. I will be able to build an authentic friendship with some of the students and encourage them with their walk with Christ. I hope that my faith will grow as a result of spending time serving others.

Because I'm so interesting...

If your Memorial Day weekend was as great as mine, then you're probably not too excited about being back at work today either.
This morning I've:
Checked my e-mail on 3 different accounts.
Read 76 blog postings on Google Reader.
Read about the interesting lives of all of my friends on Facebook, and...now I'm posting on this blog.
Maybe by noon I'll be ready to do some work.

Anyway, here are the answers to my questions...

1. When do you feel most alive? Why?
If you've talked to me for more than 2 minutes I've probably mentioned East Asia in our conversation. My heart is there and my time spent there was probably the best time of my entire life. Living in East Asia changed me like nothing else I've ever experienced. There is just something special about learning to trust God for big things when you feel so small in a place with 1.3 billion people. Everything about East Asia makes me feel alive. I love the people, the food, the places, the experiences...yeah, pretty much everything.

2. If they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? Why?
Hmm...thats a hard one. I'm a big fan of both Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon. I like that they're both super southern, funny, charming, and yet down to earth. But if they're making a movie of my life...then I'd probably take pretty much whoever is available.

3. What is the greatest song ever written? By Who?
I LOVE music. I wish that I had been taught everything in school set to music. I would have remembered alot more. That being said, I can't think of one greatest song. Songs to me have so many memories. I associate them with good times, bad times, friends, events, and experiences. I am a big fan of hymns and can sing you at least the chorus of almost any song in the Baptist Hymnal...so the greatest song ever written would probably be a hymn.
I like How Great Thou Art and Be Thou My Vision. Final answer.

4. What do you hope to accomplish while in Estonia?
I hope that even if I can't offer anything on my own or do anything for my team or the people that I meet there, that God will still use me. I hope that I come home better than I went. That I learn something or grow in some way. I hope that my love for Christ will be evident in my actions and my attitude and that the people I come in contact with in Estonia will be impacted by Christ through me.

I hope everyone is having a great, short week!
Rachel

My answers to blog questions

My maiden voyage on a blog ever, and am just hoping this thing connects to the main page when I am done!

1. When do I feel most alive? Why?

Being outdoors, in a mountain range, really opens my heart, mind and spirit. I also love worship though, and by that I mean everything from singing worship songs to listening to great teachers, to small group meetings. That's great stuff!

2. If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you? Why?

I have sat here for a minute, trying to get an answer for this question, and honestly, I have no clue. A better question is why would anyone want to do a movie of my life? I am a desk jockey. Do you want to watch a movie about a guy sitting at his desk, talking on the phone and sometimes sending emails? All day? Case closed.

3. What's the greatest song ever written? By who?

This is easy. I think the greatest song ever written is Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, in late 1772. Only God would want to take a slave ship captain, change his heart, and give him the words to the greatest song in Christendom. That's love.

4. What would you hope to accomplish in Estonia?

We know there is a joy when we simply put Him First. The fruit of that joy is peace, gratitude, happiness, and love. I can't wait to get over there, and be a part of all that we share in that experience. I have never been on a mission trip which only focuses on Christ, and strengthening our walks, as well as those we go to serve. This trip is such a privilege and I really can't wait to see what He has in store for us!

Hi all! I thought I would get the ball rolling on the new questions...so here they are!

1)When do you feel most alive? Why?

I feel most alive when I am doing something outside. Growing up in Colorado, the mountains are a great place to feel alive, but anything from taking a walk, to biking, to camping or climbing. Snow skiing is probably one of my favorites!

2)If they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? Why?

This is a tough one since I am not too into the Hollywood scene and I am pretty sure I don't know who very many actresses are. But, if pressed I think I would say Keira Knightley. She does a great job with different roles and can be silly or serious. Plus, who won't want a girl that can pull of playing a pirate to play you in a movie!

3)Whats the greatest song ever written? By who?

This is such a hard call! I love music and pretty much love a very eclectic mix of artists and genres. I would probably have to go with U2's City of Blinding Lights.

4)What do you hope to accomplish while in Estonia?

My main goal for Estonia is to serve until I cannot physically serve any longer. I want to walk away knowing that I gave everything that I have to these students. I also want to dig deeper in my spiritual walk, further up and further in!

Questions for the Group!!

Here are some questions that are intended to shed some light on each of us so that our support team can know us better....

1)When do you feel most alive? Why?

2)If they made a movie of your life who would you want to play you? Why?

3)Whats the greatest song ever written? By who?

4)What do you hope to accomplish while in Estonia?

A Growing Heart

A couple of days ago we had a group meeting to spend some time together, share and to brainstorm more on what activities we will do with the teenagers in Estonia. Here's a tentative list of the events for the trip:

Tentative Schedule

Thu July 2: Depart Atlanta

Fri July 3: Arrive Tallin

Sat July 4: Get our bearings, finish up any last minute preparations and meet our hosts from Risttee.

Sun July 5: Worship at Risttee and final prep for camp.

Mon July 6 - Fri July 10: Adventure camp. 5 days, 4 nights of camping, hiking, games as we pour into the 45 teens signed up.

Sat July 11: Hanging out in Tallinn and final team dinner that night.

Sun July 12: Depart Tallinn and head back to Atlanta.

Perhaps the biggest part of the meeting was when a couple of us shared our stories. These life stories, or testimonies, consisted of hard times, good times, and times when life was so confusing and crazy that going forward was the hardest way to go. It seems to me that many of us go through stages in life where we do not know what the outcome will be, but given the resources at the time, it seems like the thing to do. Hearing the guys share that night enabled us to identify with them in a soul-filled manner and I could tell the group's heart as a whole is growing together and bigger. It is kind of funny how God can place people in you lives that you can identify with so clearly but, at the same time you might had never met them if you were not pursing your calling.

Team In Training

1 Corinthians 9:25 says, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."


If you're reading this blog, you may be asking yourself....How does one prepare or train for facilitating an Adventure Camp in Estonia?

Here's a sneak peek into our last "training" session...

Our team is lucky to have Stuart as our fearless leader. He's making sure that our team has very strict training. So glad that our training could be caught on camera.




We had a great time last weekend at a cookout at Calder's house. He's a great cook! It was fun to have a team social where we could just hang out and get to know each other better.

Here is our team. We're feeling a little outnumbered by the boys.

Support Letters!

By now most, if not all, of our support letters are out amongst the masses. I have to say, this being my first mission trip, it is a pretty awesome feeling knowing the group is out publicly professing our obedience to God's call. The uncertainty of whether we will meet our financial goal and the numerous amounts of prayer that are being lifted to God for guidance, support, courage, and strength (to name a few), have created a platform for personal growth and also have laid the framework for a solid group of friendships.
I remember when I first felt the desire to go out on a mission trip was about two years ago. I was in my small group and we started talking about how amazing it would be to go into another country and culture and not only help others but also develop our ability to be well-rounded Christians. In an area as diverse as Atlanta, I feel it is wise to be able to reach out to those who are different from you, especially new Christians and youths. The initial trip with my small group fell through for various reasons and since then I have still had that desire on my heart. I continued to wait for the right timing and environment to go on a mission trip and then back in January I met Jeremiah (who already was connected with this trip) and through him and Stuart (our fearless leader) I was able to hop on board for this trip. It has been an interesting journey so far and to think the biggest aspect of it, the actual trip, has not even happened yet!

Dinner at Calder's

Tonight was such a fun night at Calder's house! When we first got there, the grill was heating up and our group was slowly arriving. It was great to see everyone again. Our group is so dynamic, we really do not cross paths during the week. As everyone gathered inside, we told stories of traveling, work, Muddy Buddy races, and other activities that have filled our life since we last met. I went outside with Jeremiah, and Stuart where Calder was cooking up a grill full of chicken and veggies. We told him how good it smelled and looked and he humbly replied, "guys, this is an experiment, I rarely cook here, let alone use the grill. On top of that I just hope the propane lasts long enough to finish cooking!"
Well not to long after that the chicken was done and it was go time! Out on the kitchen counter was potatoes with butter and thyme (I think), corn and seasoning, watermelon and strawberries, a couple different kinds of bread and for the appetite teaser...chocolate cake. The "food experiment" as Calder called it turned out to be amazing! The chicken was cooked to perfection and the baste that it was cooked with soaked in just right.
During dinner we discussed a little football (go Tim Tebow and the Gators) and also some of our pasts and what we have learned from them. Our journeys all rang a familiar chord though, in that through our experiences, our passion to seek Christ has all led us to meet. After dinner we met and discussed some current events within each of our lives and also our favorite meal(s). My favorite meal was at this Japanese steakhouse up in Charlotte. Another interesting meal was that Grant actually ate a sushi roll that was named after him!
At the end of the night we took some group photos which will soon be posted. More great news to come. Thanks for reading and please pray for us as most of our support letters are in the mail and circulating! God Bless!