Chicago - Day #3

Today we went to church for the first time in downtown Chicago. Afterwards, we walked around for a little bit in the city. It was beautiful! I think I'm really going to enjoy my time exploring the city - it's one of my favorite things to do, discovering new places, and finding things that I like to do. Plus, in Chicago, there is always something going on! After church as we were walking along Michigan Avenue, people were giving a free piano concert. So naturally, we had to go in to watch. Here's a couple clips from the concert:

The guy playing in the clips above was incredible. He arranged Paginini's Caprice No. 24 for the piano -  which is one of the most difficult pieces originally for the violin. It was an awesome performance!

Chicago - Day #2

I'm getting settled in and my room is starting to have a little taste of home (away from home). Today I went grocery shopping and got some food with my roommates. (I have three other people that I'm living with this summer). Here's a picture of my room where I'll be staying for the next six weeks.

Chicago - day #1

I realize I have MIA and haven't been great at writing in this blog. I think it's been almost a year since the last time I have written in here. In fact the ironic thing is, the last time I wrote in here I was on the Berlin summer project, and now, I'm actually in Chicago helping to staff the summer project here for the next six weeks. Crazy how much time flies.

Anyway, since I'm going to be here for a while, and there are so many things to see and discover, and I will for sure be taking lots of pictures as I see new things, I thought it might be cool to post a photo each day that I'm here in this blog. Since I'm so bad at actually writing in here, maybe I can switch it up a bit, and post pictures & videos in here instead.

So, here is my first picture. It was taken as we were driving into the city to move into my apartment today.

Glory

Right now we are on our last leg of our trip. In a few days we'll be heading home and each person will go their separate ways. Right now we are in Wengen, Switzerland to debrief our trip as a summer project. We have been spending time together resting, and  processing through some of the things the Lord has done these last five weeks.

It is so incredibly beautiful here - probably the most beautiful place I have ever been to. God's creation is incredible, and being here in the Swiss Alps in Wengen is just a glimpse of His glory, which is incredible to me - almost unfathomable. Yesterday we all climbed about 20,000 feet into the Alps, and the view was breathtaking. Something I've been thinking about is, it's easy to give the Lord glory here, seeing such a huge, beautiful, magnificent creation right before my eyes. But as I go home, my prayer is that I would still give Jesus the same glory, even with the everyday life stuff. . . He's still the same God, and He still deserves the same glory and praise regardless of my circumstances and environment.   

Take a look at some of the photos of Wengen below...

"Jesus Blessings" in Berlin. . .

*I'm thankful that the Lord has brought me to this place - for allowing me to come to Berlin (a place I've been wanting to come to for a while), and allowing me to see how He is working here.

*I'm renewed and have a fresh sense of how broken people are after just being here for 5 weeks. I'm thankful that the Lord has broken my heart even deeper for the lost, and He's shown me an even bigger sense of urgency that the world needs to know Him.

*I'm thankful for one particular conversation I had - thankful that the Lord led another student and myself to her, and I'm so thankful for her searching heart. The fact that she is so willing and so open is evidence that He is the one at work in her.

Jesus, thanks for revealing to me that your grace is abounding, and really helping me to believe that you do have enough to cover me. You are incredibly loving, and I don't think I'll ever fully comprehend your love and character. Thank you for your infinite love and grace.

Beautiful City. Berlin.

Here are a few pictures from the last week or so... enjoy!

:) 

 On top of the Berliner Dom

Liz & I in front of the Berliner Dom

 TV Tower

 Trying to be artsy...

Women of Berlin SP '11!! 

Berliner Dom and TV Tower 

Holocaust Memorial 

 Brandenburg Gate

 Brandenburg Gate 

 Coffee date with a good friend by the river :)

 This is Ampelmännchen (traffic light man). He is all over Berlin.

Outside of the Berliner Dom

There are bears all over the city, and I am on a mission in the next 5 weeks to find as many as possible!!

Berlin-bound

Many of you know that I'll be heading to Berlin soon. (Tomorrow actually!) Right now I'm in Chicago staying with a friend, and in less than an hour, I'll be heading to a different part of the city to meet my entire team, (about 30 students, and 10 staff) where we'll prepare for the trip, and then fly out tomorrow afternoon on two different flights.

While there, our goal will be to to engage with and share Christ with students at the different universities there. In Berlin there aren't just German students, but students from all over the world that attend the universities there. So we really have a great opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with people from all over the world while we are there!

I'm both excited and a little nervous to go to Berlin. I know this is going to be a time that the Lord is going to stretch me. I know I will be completely out of my element and comfort zone, but I know that it will all be for His glory, and His name is going to be spread. I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to move.

One thing that really breaks my heart is the spiritual reality of this place. When asked "“What do you think happens when you die?” they answer “it’s just black. it’s just over.” And when asked, “Do you know anyone that believes that Jesus rose from the dead?”… they say, “I don’t know anyone who believes that!” Some also say: "I wish I could believe what you do, but I just can't..." A lot of the history that has happened in this city and in this country has shaped a lot of how people think and believe some of the things that they do.

Below is a video I've attached to give you more of a picture of some of the spiritual realities in Germany. Please join me in praying for some of the hearts of those students that we will meet. Please also pray for my team in the next few days as we travel, and as we arrive in Berlin, and that we would adjust quickly.