True Blessing

This past week has be so awesome! The Lord has answered prayers!!

One of my housemates, Rigsbee, works at a school called Logan Hope and on Monday, June 24th, I had the blessing to be apart of their summer day camp! I will be helping serve there this summer, or for the next 3 weeks of work that we have in Mission Year. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am to have this opportunity! Even though I just started this past week, I already LOVE it! Being able to be around the kids all day every day is a blessing in itself, but also being able to pour God's love into them is the cherry on top of an awesome ice cream sunday! I know I am not the most outgoing person, but when it comes to those kids, you just have to let go of all shyness and act crazy and have fun.

On Tuesday, I was wearing a shirt that said Saved With Amazing Grace and at the bottom it said #jcluforever. One of the kids came up to me and started reading my shirt. When he got to the part that said jclu forever, he asked what that meant. So, I went on to tell him that it meant Jesus Christ loves you. It felt really amazing just to say to a little kid that Jesus loved him, even if I was just telling him what my shirt meant!

These kids are already making an impact in my life and I've only been there for 3 days! I can't wait to see where God will bring me in these next 3 weeks working at the day camp!! I know that it will help me grow more as a person and help to expand my knowledge and pour into these beautiful children.

I just wanted to let all of you know what has been happening and how God is answering prayers and working in my life! I can't even explain how grateful I am for opportunities like this!!! God has blessed me. (:

The Logan Hope website says this about their summer day camp:
"The Relevance of a Summer Day Camp
LOGAN Hope Summer Day Camp fills the summer void for neighborhood children by giving them positive and challenging activities such as sports and competitions, swimming, educational field trips, brain-strengthening activities, and mentoring relationships. In the same way that staying in school has been shown to reduce gang involvement, teenage pregnancy, drug use, and violence in our community, our summer day camp accomplishes the same things when school is out of session."

Help Me Finish Strong!

Amazing. Meaningful. Challenging. Inspiring.

There are so many ways to describe this last year, I don't think I can choose just one word to capture the entire experience.  But one thing I do know is that this year has changed my life. 

Thanks to your support, I have been able to live and serve in North Philadelphia in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.  It has given me a new perspective on what being a neighbor means. I've seen God working in ways in which I didn't expect.  

My year is coming to an end and I'd like to ask for your support so my team and I can finish strong this year.  Your gift will allow me to be the hands and feet of Jesus by extending love to my neighbors.

Without you, I would not have been able to experience this amazingly, wonderful, challenging year.  If you are able to donate and help me finish strong, I would be deeply grateful!

Thank you so so much!

https://missionyear.thankyou4caring.org/2013-finish-strong-donation-page?srctid=1&erid=125822&trid=af1732ba-717c-4225-b330-0540841bf395

The designation says Mission Year at default. If you want to donate to me personally, click the arrow and scroll to find my name! (Emily Nichols) (:

(These are not my own words but they do fit oh so perfectly!)

Follow Jesus!

Some people think that only the "poor" need help. Only the "broken" need help. Only the "less wealthy" need help. Only the "struggling" need help. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with any of this. People say they've noticed that mission trips normally take place in "bad" or "poor" or "rough" areas. This is mostly true, because we all believe that they are the ones who need the most help.

The way I see it is just because someone looks "unclean" or "less wealthy" doesn't mean they automatically need our help over someone who looks like they have everything together. Sometimes the people who seem to be put together are the people we should be focusing on too. Yes, everyone can use help, every one needs to be shown kindness, but I think it's unfair to automatically assume that people in an "urban" area are the only ones who need help. I know that you can make a difference to people in suburban areas or any areas. I've been thinking about this a lot. Sometimes I've been treated as a some big hero because I'm doing this big mission trip for a year. Yes, it is awesome, but just because I have a title over my name doesn't mean I'm better than anyone else. You are living for Jesus too and you don't have to go to another place to show that! You too can get outside and love on your neighbors and show them God! Love God and love people? You can do that anywhere! Just because I happen to live in a broken neighborhood doesn't mean I'm more high and mighty than others. You can be doing the exact same thing as I am, just in your neighborhood! And yes, it is easier when you are 100% devoted and don't have distractions of school or friends or family and your whole purpose is to love The Lord and love your neighbors. If you follow Jesus and love Him, you can spread His love to people and help people in need no matter where you are!

People tell me they don't want me to worry about things back home because they don't want me to have any distractions and want me to focus everything I have on being here and loving God and people and yes I understand that. Some may say I could be spending more time with my housemates, neighbors, or Jesus instead of being on the Internet. I believe everyone can spend less time on the Internet and more time doing other important things, such as focusing all your time on loving God and loving people. Sometimes I feel like I get punished for being on Facebook or wanting to have a conversation with someone back home, but I know they are doing it out of love. And yes, I understand that they want me to get the most out of this experience because it probably won't come around again. I also believe that anyone could make the decision to get off the Internet and get outside and spread God's unconditional love! You don't have to be on a mission trip to impact people. You don't have to be a leader to impact people. You don't have to leave your city to impact people. You can impact anyone right where you are.

Now that it's summer time, I want to encourage you to get out there show some people Jesus!(:

One Year

Today, May 31, 2013, marks ONE YEAR since I got accepted into Mission Year!

[The picture above was my status update on Facebook on May 31, 2012!]

I can't even begin to express everything that has happened in the last 9 months. Living in Philadelphia has been the best experience of my life. Not only have I grown as a person, but I've grown incredibly in my relationship with the Lord! "I've found a love that's greater than life itself." My roommates/housemates have made this the best 9 months of my life. They are so awesome and their love for God shines through their actions. I love being able to be a part of a community that prays together and who constantly encourages one another! If you know me, my favorite thing is encouragement. "A family that prays together stays together." Yes, family. I consider every one of my housemates family and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything!

I never would have thought that over a year ago I would be where I am now ; physically, mentally and emotionally. I don't think I would have ever pictured myself living not only in a different city, but a different state. I didn't even want to go to the gas station by myself let alone a different state where I didn't know anyone. I am probably one of the most shy people I know, or I used to be. I can now walk down the street by myself and go to the mailbox to send out my newsletters! [WHOA DREAM BIG!] But for real, I think that is a pretty big first step into facing my fears. I also don't think I could have pictured myself to have such a burning passion for the Lord! God has shown my so many things that I don't think I would have experienced if I wasn't doing what I am. Devoting every single hour of every single day with NO distractions of hanging out with friends, spending time with family, or school has helped me grow in my relationship with Christ incredibly. I can't even begin to express how grateful and blessed I feel to have had this opportunity. I will admit, I am scared of people. Living in my neighborhood and being afraid of people don't really go together. There are people everywhere and almost everyone you walk past talks to you, which I think is really neat [most of the time] because I'm not very used to that. A simple "Hello" can change a person's whole day and make them smile! Sometimes I do feel discouraged by what some people comment as you walk past them, but I know that God is always with me and He will protect me from any harm. "Don't let the world change your smile, let your smile change the world."

I have been looking for another service site to help/serve at along with my service site now. I've struggled a lot with finding my purpose at my service site now, Teen Haven, and wondering if I really am making any difference. I don't believe that God brought me to Philadelphia to just clean a building, but who knows, He can do some pretty crazy things! Two of my roommates work at schools with kids pre-k through 8th grade. I am hoping to help out at one of those places, if not both, this summer for summer camps. I would love to have the opportunity to work with kids and help them grow closer with Christ. While doing that, I would still be helping out at my service site now and continuing to keep the building squeaky clean. Please pray that I will figure out where God wants me!

It has been a marvelous, awesome and sometimes hard first 9 months, and I am so greatly excited for these last 2! I feel so blessed having all the support I've had the last year with everything dealing with Mission Year! I can't even begin to thank my friends and family enough for their support, prayers and encouragement! Like I said earlier, I would have never seen myself doing this over a year ago, but thank the Lord that God gives me confidence! My year wouldn't have been possible without my support and my God!

Now we have 2 months left, exactly. I'm tremendously excited to see how much more I can grow, even in just 2 months. I know that God has a great plan for me and He is going to do magnificent things in me and through me! (:

NOWWWW, with there only being 2 months of my Mission Year left, I need ALL of your support prayerfully AND financially! I am not even 50% of the way done with my fundraising, and I only have 2 of my 11 months left. I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me out and donated to my Mission Year fund, but I would LOVE to see some new names on there! If you haven't donated to my Mission Year fund, please please please prayerfully consider helping me out! I wouldn't be able to eat or live in the house that I do if it wasn't for you donating! A lot of the time, I do feel as though I am holding my team and city back because I don't have even most of my money raised. Maybe I will buy you an ice cream cone if I see your name show up on my donation list!(: Please, help me out by donating to my Mission Year fund! (www.missionyear.org/donate [click the arrow where it says Mission Year for the designation and scroll down and find my name, Emily Nichols]) THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D

Encourage

I read this today and wanted to share it as an encouragement to everyone!

Right now at this very minute, someone is very proud of you. Someone is thinking of you. Someone cares about you. Someone misses you. Someone wants to talk to you. Someone wants to be with you. Someone hopes you aren’t in trouble. Someone wants to hold your hand. Someone wants you to be happy just for you. Someone thinks you are a gift. Someone wants to hug you. Someone loves you. Someone admires your strength. Someone is thinking of you and smiling. Someone wants to be on your shoulder to cry on. Someone thinks the world of you. Someone wants to protect you. Someone would do anything for you. Someone wants to be forgiven. Someone is grateful for your forgiveness. Someone wants to laugh with you about old times. Someone remembers you and wishes you were there. Someone needs to know that your love is unconditional. Someone wants to tell you how much they care. Someone wants to share their dreams with you. Someone wants to hold you in their arms. Someone wants YOU to hold them in your arms. Someone treasures your spirit. Someone wishes she/he could STOP time because of you. Someone loves you for who you are. Someone wants to be with you. Someone hears a song that reminds her/him of you. Someone is glad that you’re her/his only true love. Someone wants to be your friend. Someone stayed up all night thinking about you. Someone is alive because of you. Someone believes that you are their soul mate. Someone wants to be near you. Someone misses your guidance and advice. Someone values your guidance and advice. Someone has faith in you. Someone trusts you. Someone needs you to send them this letter. Someone needs your support. Someone needs you to have faith in them. Someone needs you to let them be your friend. Someone will cry when they read this. Cause that’s what life’s all about. Its about the times where you lay in the grass next to someone you love. Its about the color of the sky, its about a roaring fire on a winter night. Everybody hurts, everyone bleeds, everyone laughs and smiles and loves. And that’s all that is. There’s no meaning of life, its nothing that can be defined, it’s a matter of writing your own definition.

I love to encourage people and I hope you found this encouraging!(:

Mission Year

I was recently asked by my youth pastor at my church back home to write a little thing about what I've learned in Mission Year and how is has changed me for people considering doing it. So, I decided I would share with you all that!

Mission Year has been the best experience of my life. I used to be scared to do anything, such as go to the gas station or the store by myself. Now I've gone to Philadelphia by myself! Being in Mission Year, I've learned to step out of my comfort zone and do things that make me “comfortably uncomfortable”. Everyone here is a great support system and they push me to do things to help me grow. Living a lifestyle that 100% focuses on loving God and loving people every day has made me grow tremendously in my relationship with Christ. Taking a year off of school and devoting it to spend with God takes a lot of trust and faith. I've never had so much faith in my life and it’s so awesome seeing how God is working and moving in my life. I wasn't in the best place with God when I started Mission Year; failing to read my bible, being “too busy” to pray, and just plain ignoring God. Mission Year has changed me in that way so much and I’m SO grateful. I now find any way I can to pray for people and encourage people with bible verses. God has shown me so many things in the past 7ish months since being in Mission Year that I don’t know how I could have possibly ignored Him before. I’m saying it because it’s all truth and from my heart not just to make Mission Year look like it is better than anything else. This has been THE BEST experience I have EVER had and I’m so excited to see where God is going to lead me in these last 4 months of being in Philadelphia!

Sharing My Experience

I just finished talking to a group of middle schoolers about my Mission Year journey. I wanted to share with you what I shared with them! It is a little lengthy.

On August 31, about 7 months ago, I became a part of Mission Year which is a yearlong program where Christian young people live in an urban neighborhood volunteering, worshiping, and loving their neighbors. (An urban neighborhood is usually found in the downtown core of a city and will always be found in the heart of a major metro area (or like the public transportation). The area will typically be ethnically diverse and inclusive of all age ranges. Many usually have higher rates of crime.) Mission Year is an opportunity for anyone 18-29, single or married, to spend a year following Jesus’ command to “Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.” By partnering with a local church, volunteering at a service site, and spending time with neighbors, Mission Year Team Members effectively impact their communities while catching a deeper vision for what the Kingdom of God is like.

Mission Year values relationships, community living, community service, discipleship, church partnership, social justice, and simplicity. Our focus each day is: In this moment, how can I best love both God and people. But you may be wondering what that looks like exactly. Team Members engage in their home and in the community through several concrete ways: Intentional community (getting to know the people you live with), professional service (our service sites where we volunteer during the week), discipleship, neighborhood outreach (intentionally building relationships with neighbors), church partnership, and education and training (reading the weekly curriculum).

Also, each Mission Year team member has a goal to raise $12,000 throughout the year. Mission Year team members live as a volunteer, depending on friends and family and those of our teammates to financially and prayerfully help us get through the year.

My service site that I volunteer at Monday through Thursday is Teen Haven. Philadelphia Teen Haven Center offers programs to help teens grow in their walk with Christ and become leaders in their communities. The mission statement is to advance the kingdom of God by reaching urban youth with the gospel, discipling them to maturity, and equipping them to be leaders in their communities.

Teen Haven has two bible studies, Monday and Tuesday nights; which I attend the Tuesday night girls bible study. Teen Haven also has other activities besides bible studies; such as youth rallies, scavenger hunts throughout the city, and they also have camp on weekends (to spend a weekend with others and God).

We have Fridays off for our Sabbath, where we can go pretty much anywhere in the city, taking Septa (public transportation).  Saturday’s are spent with our neighbors and just being out in the community. Sunday’s we attend church, do laundry and grocery shopping and end the day with a family night where we play games, watch movies, and just do things to bring us closer together and spend time together

I realize that was a lot of information, but now I’ll go into my personal experience.

I just want to start off by saying that right now, in my life, is the closest I’ve ever been with God and it is awesome just seeing His good works and how He is working in my life and it’s been a constantly growing relationship. So far, I’ve had a great journey being a part of Mission Year. I have experienced many things in Philadelphia, with the neighborhood, my church, and my Mission Year family that I would not have experienced in other situations. I remember the very first day just like it was yesterday. I walked in with my parents and my bags and took everything to the 3^rd floor apartment where I would be living for the next 11 months. It was a hot day! Not really knowing anyone around me, I sort of just followed my parents and finished taking everything upstairs. I remember standing outside the door saying goodbye to my parents and my dad saying, “Now, you know you’re going to have to go back in there and actually talk to people right?” I decided right then that I would have to face my fears and go back into the building I dreaded walking into and talk to people I had never met before.

The first couple of weeks, living with 6 other people that you don’t know is quite awkward and uncomfortable. But, as we say in North Philly, “Embrace the awkwardness.” We’ve come a long way since then and I absolutely love my Mission Year team.

I’ve come to realize that since I’ve been in Philadelphia, I’ve learned a lot about myself. A lot of the time, people would ask me “what has God been saying to you lately”, or “what has God been teaching you?” and I never knew how to answer because I wasn’t listening for Him. Now, I feel like all I ever do is sit and listen to what God has to say to me because He has marvelous things to teach me and He has taught me so many things from my just listening to Him in these past 7 months. I’ve learned to face my fears and do things that make me “comfortably uncomfortable”, as one of my friends here says.

I’ve done a lot of things that I wouldn’t normally like to do or want to do, but do anyways because I know it will help me grow. This connects with confidence, which I lack most of the time, but God’s love gives us confidence. To be confident does not mean we never feel fear; it simply means that no matter how we feel, we magnify God above all else and step out in faith to do whatever He asks us to do. The Bible tells us to come “fearlessly and confidently and boldly” to the thrown of grace and make our requests known (Heb. 4:16). We cannot operate in boldness and fear at the same time. We may “feel” fear, but we must not bow down or give in to it; we can approach God with confidence. The world is full of people who lack confidence and our confidence is to be placed in Christ alone and in His love for us.

Another big thing that God has been speaking to me about is Surrender; to give oneself up completely, as into the power of another; or submit. This meaning, letting go of what I want; my worldly desires. Giving up those things to let God handle them takes a lot of trust. I’ve learned that when you fully surrender everything, taking delight in the Lord, He will give you what you what, the desires of your heart. My favorite and most evident verse in my life right now is Psalm 37:4 - “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Sometimes it takes a while to realize what you need to do in order to grow closer to God. I’ve come to realize that letting go of what I want is one of the hardest, but most important priorities to be able to grow. I know it is going to be an everyday struggle, but I also know how strong of a person God has made me to be. “Once we surrender our self to God completely, He will take care of us in every way.” Proverbs 23:26 says - My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways. Do you want everything God has for you? Be willing to do everything He asks of you. And a quote I like to remind myself of is; “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us”

Seeing how God has been answering my prayers and just really experiencing God moving and working in every aspect of my life these past couple months has been amazing and motivating to get to know Him even more everyday. I’ve had many experiences in Philadelphia that I probably wouldn’t have had other places; experiences that help me grow as a person and in my walk with Christ daily. It’s so awesome to have a lifestyle that completely focuses on God all of the time and seeing how He works.  I encourage you to lean on God and ask Him to help you with all kinds of things, little things as well as big things.

Everything is not always perfect; there are bad days, as well as good days. Some days you don’t want to do anything, and some days you feel like you can conquer the world. There are many struggles and pain, as well as successes and happiness, but you learn how to overcome those and trust God. You have to trust that God will be with you everyday and guide you and take control of your life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart - Proverbs 3:5. Philadelphia is a big city filled with a lot of people, and I’m just one trying to make an impact.