Denver, Immeasurably More

To write about what happened in Denver would be to somehow see my whole life before my eyes coming together, immeasurably more than I asked or imagined.

Full circle.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3

 

In my own city I was on the Race, a missionary. In my own home, with my entire immediate family we worshipped, Spirit falling. There’s nothing like race worship – young adults desperate and hungry for the Lord alone, giving up all to follow Him.

*We visited our friends Stephanie and Hannah in CO Springs, beautiful fellowship

My two worlds collided, two families that I love deeply together in one place. worth it. It was good-emotional for me, including having my friend Laney there.

I saw that God‘s ways are higher. I saw the answer to hundreds of prayers. The love of my family ministered to my race family, and the love of my race family ministered to my family. None of which could have happened if I was still international. 

 

 

Dream Center

My friends that I have been around the world with, in the most transforming year of my life, received free merchandize from the organization that means the most to me. They were clothed in Red Rocks Church hats, vests, and shirts.

Red Rocks Church is largely responsible for the entire course of my salvation, of where my life has gone. Surreal and full circle to say the least that Red Rocks Church is the main sponsor of Dream Center (DC), our last ministry stop of 2020. 

Red Rocks is where I fell on fire and in love with Jesus, my best friend, back in high school. This is the church that led my family deeper into the Peace, Mercy, Grace, Refuge, and Goodness of our Lord and Savior.

Pastor B, the founder of DC, moved to Colorado to help start Red Rocks Church. His heart burned more for the inner city of Denver however.

He drove through a neighborhood waiting on the Word of the Lord. The Word of the Lord was a tug to play basketball with the youth. The next day one of the kids he was playing basketball with was shot and killed. He decided from then on he wouldn’t let another person from the inner city go without knowing just how valued and loved they are by their Creator.

I heard this story passing out food in this neighborhood. I couldn’t help but tear up hearing it next to the wonderful girl below who lives there (she reminds me of the girls I volunteered with in Portland – the heart that led to my first international missions trip in Nicaragua).

Simple faithfulness to the call of God by ordinary people equals thousands upon thousands of souls changed (Red Rocks Church and Dream Center combined have had immeasurable impact).

Looking into the watery eyes of incarcerated men as they share their testimony from death to life in Jesus, is something I can’t forget. Danny described DC as his new family. Below is Vick hugging Danny after he shared his story.

We stood in one neighborhood by the remains of a bloody fight. Jose felt that moment, recalling all he had been through. He stepped away for a minute crying in gratitude how God had turned his life around. I spent the hour before watching Jose extravagantly give to and bless this neighborhood. I mean this man overflows joy and love, yet he still lives in an apartment with meth addicts surrounding him. Talk about God placing the body of Christ where light is needed. I was compelled to pray for him in encouragement and power, he felt that too. 

DC wants to help more people like Jose and Danny, in addition to needing more resources to continue adopting the neighborhoods most in need in our city. Check out how you can help on their website.

I can’t shake that I once didn‘t like volunteering, and now my current path is committed to doing so.

The shift started at Red Rocks Youth City Camp in high school. I experienced the supernatural love, peace, and acceptance of Jesus unlike ever before and found passion for serving in the inner city. Come to find out on World Race America that City Camp was partnering with DC for all the service we did that trip years ago! 
*We got close to the DC staff who pour themselves out to these communities. We had an incredible moment of prayer with Jen who said we were the encouragement she needed. And guess who took the above picture? A man just getting off meth who had experienced evil presences in his house. A volunteer was led to text him a verse exactly when he needed it. We got pray for him as we were leaving a work day at DC for the last time. Lauren had a vision of him playing with a balloon like God’s child.

At Dream Center’s Halloween event, I spent my time with this family.

The youngest girl shy, with medical issues, was the one for which God had me there – to give her undivided attention, to see her. I got to pray with all of them after all the fun, and share with them how much Jesus loves them. Also that day a Muslim woman was highlighted to me and ended up thanking me for being so kind (I have a huge spot in my heart for Muslims after Indonesia).

*DC adopts neighborhoods, and we got to play sports with these amazing kids (I love sports ministry, loved it in Indonesia, and will probably get to do it in Nicaragua as well!)

We served at food Fridays where hundreds of families are fed at the Pepsi Center parking lot. Not only physical food, but spiritual.

The presence of the Lord entered into the spaces of the cars as we prayed for many people, people of my own city who are in need.

 *I was praying for this couple that went through the food line, and as I did, they rose their hands in enthusiasm and praise. I got to pray for a woman that just lost her friend. She was picking up food for a man now taking care of 10 kids. I told her Jesus comforts even when it doesn’t make sense, as her sweet soul teared. 

 

And in a year like 2020, boy am I ready to feel this all? I said goodbye to my world race family weeks ago, and part of me is still waiting to wake up with all 6 of us in the morning ready to do the next thing. 

*My team at my childhood dinner table at my childhood cabin in Utah!

 * At this table, we spent hours with our wonderful hosts and two world race alumni, men who love the Lord. We played many a games, had dinners, and worshipped our Lord. Mike made us coffee and offered laughter. Charlene counseled us and shared the Lord’s wisdom. And as a team sleeping all in one room together downstairs, we laughed, cried, stomped on the enemy, prayed in the Spirit – you know all those Race community things 🙂

I miss them and still can’t fathom the weight and eternal glory of all we walked through together.

 

I cannot even fathom that I’ve been out of school for a year – that the dear friends I left from childhood and from Portland somehow are now in their careers or engaged – that my brother has a baby – that my sister is getting married. 

And I’m about to leave it all again for 6 months more than I ever imagined for myself – saying bye to my loving family for the biggest, most stretching thing, I’ve ever said yes to. It is a large ask I’m about to encounter so soon. 

But God’s taught me something in this transition time:

Just because it isn’t what I would have planned for myself,

Just because a worldwide pandemic stole so much from the world, including the 11 country 11 month missions trip I thought I signed up for,

Just because society seems to become more and more divided and more and more harsh towards Christians,

Just because I’ve never had a serious boyfriend and am giving up dating and drinking for 6 more months,

Just because I’m missing out on things at home,

Just because I don’t see the answer I want to some of the prayers I’ve prayed,

Just because I’m going to be transformed all over again and could not know how to handle reentry, how to explain what I’ve experienced nor how I’ve changed,

Just because I’m not pursuing a career like my friends are, like I thought I would be,

Just because I’m entering the uncharted, the uncomfortable, the vulnerable, my fears (like giving teachings in front of the whole squad), sacrificing, being in the spotlight, being misunderstood, 

Just because I’m facing the darkness, poverty especially after covid in Nicaragua, and suffering souls that God breaks my heart for,

 

doesn’t mean it’s ok to grumble, despair, fear, isolate, look back at better days, doubt, shrink back, compare, nor long for something different (though I have done/felt – still do sometimes – all of this)

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 ACTUALLY GOD IN ALL THESE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE ABUNDANTLY MORE THAN I COULD ASK OR IMAGINE!

THROUGH ALL THE EVIL AT WORK, YOU HAVE GIVEN US VICTORY AND HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. AND I WILL NOT FEAR, FOR I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME – THE SAME POWER THAT ROSE JESUS FROM THE DEAD. I WILL NOT FEAR LEADERSHIP, FOR I KNOW YOU HAVE CALLED AND EQUIPPED ME. I WILL NOT FEAR MAN, FOR LORD YOU HAVE SHOWN ME HOW BEAUTIFUL AND ACCESIBLE IT IS TO FIND MY CONFIDENCE IN YOU. IF I FALL SHORT AND REPENT, YOU MAKE ME WHITE AS SNOW. IF I FEEL ASHAMED, YOU CLOTHE ME WITH HONOR AND CROWN ME.

IF I STRAY, HE IS THE GOD THAT WELCOMES THE PRODIGAL WITH OPEN ARMS AND GOES AFTER THE LOST SHEEP. IF I FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS AND PERSEVERE, I WILL GROW CHARACTER AND HOPE. IF IM ANXIOUS AND COME TO HIM, FOLLOW HIM, HIS PROMISE IS TRUE PEACE. FOR IF I MOURN, I WILL BE COMFORTED. AND IF IM HATED BECAUSE OF YOUR NAME, GREAT IS MY REWARD. IF I‘M IN THE IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION, I‘LL LEARN TO DEPEND ON YOU HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE WORDS, STRENGTH, AND POWER.

IF MY HEART IS BROKEN, HE MENDS IT. IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. IF I HOLD ONTO MY LIFE, I WILL LOSE IT; BUT IF I GIVE IT UP FOR HIS SAKE, I WILL FIND IT. IF I DON’T WALK BY THE FLESH, I WALK BY SPIRIT. AND IF BY THE SPIRIT, THEN BY LIFE AND PEACE AND ORDER AND LOVE. IF I SHOW MERCY AND SPEND MY LIFE ON THE LEAST IN THE WORLD AND THE POOR SPIRITUALLY, I GET TO PARTNER WITH GOD ON THE HEALING OF ALL THINGS, JUSTICE, AND THE HEART OF LOVE HIMSELF!

If I leave “houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my (Jesus’) sake (I) will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” – Matthew 19:29

AND IF MY WILL IS NOT DONE (and I don’t give into the enemy’s will), THAN HIS IS!!! (Thank goodness!). HE HAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST WAY.

ETERNAL LIFE IS IN KNOWING HIM. 

(all of this is pulled from Scripture that came to mind as I was writing this…as in, it’s His promises that never fail!) 

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I am so grateful I get to do this, to be called for such a time as this. Even the little things, like getting to be the squad leader that helps the storytelling leaders of my squad!

You can partner with me to disciple young racers and serve the least of these (bringing Kingdom of Peace, meeting physical needs, and sharing the immaculate love of Christ).

The first 3 months will be in Nicaragua (click here for the ministry). The second three months are TBD. Please help me to reach my fundraising goal of $5000! (which includes flights and all expenses for the 6 months)

Donate here / click the orange donate button at the top of this page!

All prayers greatly impact my squad, Gap 23 (all 35 of us), and God’s impact through us, so please pray as well! 

*on the rock I have climbed oh so many times with family and friends growing up

As always you are so so loved just as you are, and I pray God bless this season and help you to see all the goodness even in hardship <3