Missions Through Service! A trip to Minnesota!

I had the great privilege to go to Minnesota for a couple weeks to serve in a couple different capacities. The first way was to serve my boss's family, for 5 days helping them remodel a part of their property. Micheal and Susan Walther have been serving all other the world for more than 20 years, working with Ex and current Biker clubs using blues music to build relationships with those that not very many people can even come close too. They also taught on Indian Reservations in Rural Minnesota for over 20 years.  It was so rewarding to be able to come alongside and serve them. 

The main reason we went was to serve at WE Fest, a very large Country music festival. I had the privilege of joining my boss in working with the Facilities crew the week leading up to the festival. It was cool seeing the depth of relationship my boss has developed over the last 20 years. It was fun being able to work alongside people and be a light through living counterculture  through our work ethic, the language we used, and loving others well. 

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/e2e00e_57435f1a4056471480a0ccb6c3d50e24/720p/mp4/file.mp4

“Preach the Gospel at all time, when necessary use words”- Francis of Assisi

The core of why we went was to serve as chaplains during the festival. The festival welcomed over 20,000 people over the course of the three days of the festival. Most of them camped in one of the 6 campgrounds surrounding the concert bowl. When the concert goer came to get lost in the music and the beer flowing during the numerous parties going into the wee hours of the morning, little did they know that there was a small regime here for the sole purpose of praying for and serving them during some of their worst decisions. We gave rides by golf cart to over 300 people for a range of reasons. There were people with physical disabilities, single ladies walking to their camp site alone, and others barely able to walk straight. No matter who it was, their response was unanimously one of slight shock,and great appreciation when they found out we traveled hundreds of miles to serve them for free. One of my favorite memories of ministry from the trip was one night me and my partner were driving around around 2am in the morning, when we came across 2 young men physically carrying their friend between them, walking back to their camper. The look of relief when we pulled up and asked if they wanted a free ride back to their camper was amazing. They had accepted not only their decisions but of their friends, and were making their way back without grumbling or complaining. Being able to extend mercy to them, and giving them a ride half a mile back to their campsite cutting hours of walking. reminded me of all the times that the Lord has extended grace to me, when I should have been stuck up a creek.  

Overall it was a sweet time to serve others and get a break from juggling multiple positions, and just focus on the task and person in front of me at any given moment. It was also really nice to escape from the smokey weather of Montana and experience a different part of the states for a bit. 

Prayer Request.

Please be praying for vision and creativity. I am stepping into the role of head of marketing for the next nine months as our marketing director serves overseas. 

Please pray that the Lord would send me helpers to assist me in this next season, and beyond. I am feeling quite isolated at the moment. 

For focus. I am in a season of taking on more responsibility and require more focus than ever. Pray for strategies to focus and recharge.