A Dream Fulfilled

 Some of the most defining and memorable moments in life happen in the most random and unexpected places. For me this was in Panera Bread a few years back. It was a sunny spring Sunday afternoon, and I had set up encampment at a corner table to eat a delicious lunch and spend a few hours studying. As I sat going over notes from class and listening to 311's Amber on repeat, a boisterous and lively group of about ten or twelve people walked in. They all seemed a few years older than me, in their twenties and thirties, and I watched them closely as they pulled some tables together next to me and gathered around to enjoy their Sunday afternoon meal.

I don't know what it was about this group that stood out so much to me. In fact, I still can't really pinpoint exactly what it was that enthralled me so much, but I must admit, I was captivated.

Just some pictures of our group at the beginning of Graduation night

They were nicely dressed, and I could have guessed that they had just come from church. Not only that, but they all seemed to be attractive and well-kept people. But I don't think it was their clothes or looks that intrigued me. I couldn't help but watch out of the corner of my eye and notice how lively this bunch was. The calm and peacefulness that had permeated the restaurant earlier in the morning while I sat in my lonely little corner was now invaded by joyful eruptions of laughter and an excitement and enthusiasm that victoriously dominated the atmosphere.

The Amber song I was listening to seemed to be the perfect score to accompany the scene that was set before me: good friends, enjoying a meal together, enjoying each others' company, laughing,

celebrating and cherishing life.

Playing a game at the dinner table. Guess who won that one! ;-)

My words lack in describing what I saw. But maybe it's not my words, maybe it was just as simple as that - a group of great friends that lived life together and ate together. What I can't explain though is how it affected me so much. For years, I have remembered this brief experience. I have pondered it, dreamt about it, and continually find it being brought back up in my mind at the most unexpected moments. Why such an impacting moment from such a simple encounter? I think something in my heart deeply yearned for what I witnessed that day. Somewhere deep inside me, I knew that this was what life was all about; it's what life was meant for, and everything in me wanted nothing more than to experience the vibrancy and abundance of having a thrilling loving, and exciting community to be a part of one day, just like the one that crossed my path.

I can say with incredible awe and amazement that that dream was finally fulfilled for me recently. And was it ever so unexpected!

All the G42 interns from October-December 2011

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. We had our last week of classes, winding down our lessons and summing up all that we have learned. Many of us scheduled one on one dates to spend time together as our departures neared, on top of planning several group hang outs just for fun. We cleaned, packed, moved out, and all the while prepared for our graduation on Thursday afternoon. It's not a formal ceremony or anything, but simply a chance to get dressed up and celebrate together the change that had happened in each of our lives since we’ve been at G42 and to send off the graduates into the exciting future they have ahead of them. For my graduation I was fortunate enough to be able to have my dad and sister come visit Spain for a few days and participate in my community at G42 during our last week, as well as attend our graduation dinner.

We began the celebrations at Andrew's house for drinks and appetizers. As the sun was setting off the coast of the azul Mediterranean, we snapped some photos of everyone all dolled up in their shnazzy outfits and then relocated inside where it was warm and toasty. People grouped up and began their conversations. I walked around on my own for a bit, capturing some precious moments through my camera lens and feeling revitalized and joyful at the sight of so many of my good friends together, alongside my family, enjoying a beautiful Christmassy night.

December 2011 G42 Graduates!

After everyone was sufficiently full from the appetizers and snacks, we set out for the restaurant where we had a delicious three course dinner awaiting us. Upon walking into the restaurant, I encountered a large square table, beautifully set up for all 20-something of us. It was ironically reminiscent of the romantic Italian dinner table set up in Castagnola, Italy where I celebrated Christmas and several other holidays last year. We took our seats at the table, and the feast began.

Throughout the dinner, we talked, joked, told stories, and played games. We even had a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself, who looked strangely like one of our teachers at G42... ;-)

 

After the main course, we began the handing out of our "diplomas" and the delivery of the graduates' speeches, basically just sharing our heart about what we've experienced and learned in G42 and what we are now walking away with. I am not usually one to be shaky or apprehensive speaking in front of groups, but it took me a few minutes of nervously fumbling through words before I finally settled in the flow of what I was trying to communicate. I think that's what happens when you have something of great value (and great emotion) to share with people you greatly love and respect.

The atmosphere was glamorous and joyful, and filled with a peace that flowed freely between these wonderful people sitting around me.  As my eyes panned around the square table, my heart was warmed at the bright smiling faces of my laughing friends - faces wet with hot sticky tears of overwhelming laughter and sentiments for the special moments we were sharing from our hearts. In a moment, my heart was suddenly aware, and the revelation snuck up on me before I was even prepared to bear it.

This was it. This was the scene I had been dreaming about and hoping for for years... the same magical scene I had seen in those lively people in Panera that Sunday afternoon four years ago – A table of good friends, dressed to their finest and looking sharp as ever, laughing, eating, reminiscing, sharing their hearts,
 Living.

Another simple moment. A special occasion, to be sure, but nothing extraordinary besides a group of loving and joyful friends.

And yet my heart found fulfillment in that moment like it never has before.

 
To be sure, that night will long be a night that I cherish close to my heart for many years to come. One can never forget the feeling of a dream fulfilled.

The Music Man

If you guys remember from my Meet the Interns blog, last term (July - September) we had a young married couple as part of our group - Chris and Jenny Telfer. In the blog, I nicknamed Chris as the Music Man for his obvious talent and skill within the music realm. Over the course of the semester, we got the privilege to hear Chris' musical genius on a regular basis, whether it was strumming quietly for fun while we were all studying, singing out over someone in prayer, practicing a new song, or leading a worship night for our house.

Before I came to G42, Jenny had posted on their blog a video (below) of Chris singing a worship song that I know quite well. I remember listening to it and thinking about what an awesome voice he has and how exciting it was going to be to have him lead worship for us (which it certainly was!). I even briefly considered for a minute that it would be really cool to be able to sing back up for him sometime, but with no expectation of that ever happening.

 

Chris spent a lot of time throughout the semester writing new songs, recording them in a back room in his apartment with his recording equipment, and even making some music videos for the songs with the help of other interns. One day, he approached me and told me about a new song he was working on. He had planned to have Grant film a music video for him, but unfortunately circumstances changed when Grant had to leave early because of his mom. Much to my surprise, Chris asked if I would consider filming the music video for him. 

Let me tell you - I have never made a video in my life, let alone a music video for an artist who is diligently working to boost his music career. I had no idea why Chris would ask me of all people (I have photography experience... not video!), but I was thrilled at the idea and thought it would be a great learning experience for me, plus I loved the thought of being able to help him out.

I happily agreed, with a warning that I would definitely need some help and instruction along the way, which Chris and Jenny were fully able to give as Jenny is an experienced photographer and Chris has a secret skill of editing in Final Cut Pro. That meant all I had to do was film, and Chris would take care of editing it and putting it all together. 

Plus.... Chris wanted some backup vocals for the song, which even more surprisingly he asked me to do as well. And I must say, it is certainly a privilege and an honor to sing with a musician as talented as him! 

So we recorded our parts and headed up one afternoon to the top of our street to spend an hour or so filming the music video. It's simple, but it was a great experience and we had lots of fun! I really had no clue what I was doing, but Chris and Jenny did a great job helping me, and I learned tons of new techniques about filming. 

Here it is. Hope you enjoy! :

Chris and Jenny graduated from G42 in September and are now back at home in Texas trying to work and save up money before they come back to serve as leaders at G42 for a few years. Chris is in the process of starting his own recording studio, with the hope of using the money to fund his and his wife's dream of starting orphanages in India someday. Like the sign in the video says, Big Dreams - Need Support.

If you like the song, you can buy it here, along with other original songs by Chris Telfer.

Also, don't forget to check out ChrisTelferMusic.com!

The 42nd Generation

As you all know, I'm in a leadership program with an non-profit organization called G42 Leadership Academy. For three months now, I've been wanting to explain what exactly G42 means and where the name came from, but I could never figure out how to communicate it clearly and concisely.

Lucky for me, one of our staff members and teachers, Dave Hearn (The Warrior Shepherd) wrote a blog perfectly explaining G42 and the concept of the 42nd Generation. Since he explained it way better than I'd ever be able to, I figured I'd just let you read what he wrote! If you want to read more of his thoughts, check out his blog.

The 42nd Generation

The concept of the 42nd Generation is initially taken from Matthew chapter 1, the genealogy of Jesus Christ. If you’re like me, you’ve probably skimmed that genealogy to get to the good stuff like the birth of Jesus.

But I’ll give you a second to pull up the genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17. Then another 15 seconds to actually count the men in that genealogy. (hint: there are 41.)

But then verse 17 says:

there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah

14+14+14= (drumroll please) 42.

Okay... So either Matthew couldn't count, or he was trying to make a point about the generations leading to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. 

 
Photo Credit: Wolfgang Staudt 

Jesus, Son of Man, is the 41st Generation

Jesus, son of Mary, born in Bethlehem, was completely human. He went through the same growing process as we all did: learning, making friends, scraping his knee, and becoming initiated as a man into the Jewish culture. He has the same temptations we did and basically lived a "normal life." 

Christ, Son of God, is the 42nd Generation 

Now, the mysterious part - Jesus was also completely God. Introduced by the Holy Spirit and the Father's voice from heaven, his baptism kickstarted his ministry. His resurrection from the dead, defeating sin, confirmed his Messiah-ness.

So, Jesus, 100% human, is also Christ, 100% God. And man. At the same time. This was his destiny, this was the plan, for him to step into his authority as the Son of God and bring a Message of love and redemption to Earth. Same. as. you.

Christ, formed in you. 

Jump to Galatians 4. Paul is talking about heirs, sons, inheritance, and how Christ can be formed in us. Christ = 42nd Generation = Us. 

Therefore, we can also be the 42nd Generation. The generation that accepts our inheritance. The generation that accepts our son-ship as "joint-heirs" to bring redemption to broken lives, light to dark places, and life to dead things. 

All the power, all of the authority, all of the inheritance of the Kingdom of God is ours through Christ and his sacrifice and defeat of sin and evil. That is the essence of the 42nd Generation. 
Easy, right?

Lessons from the Warrior Shepherd

A few weeks ago, we had a week with Dave Hearn as our teacher, current G42 staff and former officer of the United States Air Force. I haven’t had a chance to blog about it yet, but I wanted to make sure I highlighted it because Dave brought a fresh facet to our curriculum and schedule. We spent the morning class periods talking about tribes, networking, goal setting, and our vision projects. In the afternoon, however, instead of returning to the classroom, Dave took us on several hikes and walks in the mountains surrounding Mijas. It was hot. We hiked a lot. We got sweaty. And it was fantastic. Dave told us it was a lesson in hard work, which was true, but it was so much more than that. It was an opportunity for us to use every part of our being to grow, learn, be challenged, and love God. At the peak of each hike, we would take a break and use our resting time as an opportunity to do a group activity or assignment.

One of the days, Dave instructed us to design a logo and come up with a name for our hypothetical business or non-profit organization. We also had to write out our own mantra of who we are. Another day we had to do a team building exercise where we had to carry out a task written on paper without verbally communicating with the rest of our group. On another hike, we played a crazy version of Telephone, alternatively using charades and story-telling to pass the story along. Each game or activity had an intentional purpose and taught us a new lesson or opened our eyes to the importance of a principle or idea. I found them to be quite helpful and impacting!

Essentially, I really enjoyed our week of physical labor (ok maybe it wasn’t that intensive) and exercise. It was a great chance to start putting into practice healthy living habits and remembering the importance of taking care of the bodies that God has given us. Plus, it was nice to have a break from being in a classroom and taking notes :)

I figured I’d post some of the pictures from our hikes so you can see what our class experience was like that week, plus enjoy the beautiful views we got to see in Mijas.

 

 

New Realities

The G42 House on Calle San Sebastian is always bustling and teeming with interns and guests who are running around the house, laughing, cooking, working, and talking. It's rare that the house is ever empty or left alone to one person, but right now that's where I've found myself. The whole group, including some of the G42 staff members, has gone to hang out at a local pub, something I would normally love to do. All the G42 interns here are well aware of my enthusiasm for social events and have quickly learned how keen I am on getting out of the house, going new places, and meeting new people. However, tonight I had to decline the invitation to go be a social butterfly and be a part of all the excitement and interaction. Instead I decided to stay home and have some alone time.

So the house is quiet. And I'm enjoying sitting here and having the chance to reflect.

A lot has gone on in the last couple weeks. I think I've experienced a little bit of every emotion possible. After I got back from London, we had an incredible and intense week with a teacher from the U.S. named Ted Hanson. Ted is from Bellingham, Washington where he has founded House of Bread Ministry and a training school called the School of Eagles, both ministries in which he is currently involved. In addition, Ted is an apostle and a prophet and does much international travel and public speaking in order to train, activate, and release people into the future God has planned for them.

While he was here, he taught on New Covenant Realities - basically the differences between the old covenant God made with the Israelites and the new covenant that has been established through Jesus Christ. The way he taught was innovative and offered a brand new interpretation on things that I had never considered before. As a result, I found myself mentally and spiritually challenged every moment we were in class. Most of the interns left class every day overwhelmed by the amount of new information that we heard and exhausted by trying to keep up with Ted and understand it all, yet we still felt full and satisfied because we knew that we were retaining and understanding exactly what we needed to for the time being. Throughout that week, I frequently heard phrases along these things: "I have no idea what's going on, but my spirit is getting it and I'm feeling really good about what I am catching onto!"

Basically, we knew we were hearing truth and being changed, but our minds were being blown beyond our comprehension. All that to say, I can't really explain yet what I learned that week. I'm still processing it all, still trying to make sense of it, and still recognizing places that it has hit me in my life and seeing the changes it has caused in my mindset and actions. The good thing is, Ted is coming back next semester and we get another chance to soak up the wisdom and passion that are dripping off of him. That's gonna be another intense, but insanely good week.

The whole week that Ted was here, we had a group of seven people from England visiting to check out G42. I was also cooking dinner that week, so my afternoons were spent cooking and my evenings were spent making new friends :) 

cooking dinner

While cooking, I realized these important things:

              1. I like cooking (even when it's for 22 people!)

              2. I'm not that bad at cooking

              3. Cooking can actually be kind of fun

I know... not all that novel of thoughts, but they were quite revolutionary for me! I always hated cooking and thought I was never capable of doing it, but I actually found last week that not only can I do it, but I can do it without anxiety and stress and can actually have a decent result! Of course, it helps a whole bunch having AnnieRose, my cooking partner, working alongside me in the kitchen with her easygoing and peaceful demeanor, because we always figured out a way to deal with whatever went wrong... and it was never a big deal! 

setting out the yummy food!

I also had a ton of fun with all the English folks visiting, and spent lots of time discussing different English dialects, accents, and odd phrases. It was also really nice having some extra people to hang out with throughout the week. On Friday night after tapas, we all headed down to the local pub (the one where everyone is at now) and hung out there for a bit. When they kicked us out at closing time, we then relocated to the terrace at home where we could sit in the cool night air and look up at the stars. It was brilliant.

dinner with our English friends

Dave Hearn

In the midst of all the fun and excitement with visitors and the thought provoking times with Ted, we were assigned a vision project. I've known about this project since before I even arrived at G42, and I knew that it was going to be a lot of work and a big deal, but I was really looking forward to the day when I actually created it and completed it.

Basically, our vision projects are an opportunity for us to communicate to others what our passion is and what we want to do about it. As I've explained before, this can be anything from a business to a non-profit organization to a ministry - essentially something that we want to start and put into effect in order to share God's love with people around the world. 

Bec Hearn

We haven't presented our projects to each other yet, so I haven't seen or heard about everyone's vision specifics yet, although I know that there are some really cool ideas that have been thought up. During the moments when I wasn't racking my brain to make sense of Ted's life-changing wisdom, cooking dinner, or hanging out with new friends, I was spending time with Andrew or his daughter Bec and son-in-law Dave to try to refine and sharpen my vision. I had a general idea of where I wanted my focus to be, but I had a lot of options and wasn't sure how to narrow it down. A nice conversation with Bec over lunch helped open my eyes to where my heart and passion truly lie and almost instantly provided me with more direction and plans for the future. After recognizing where my heart is and what I want to do, I had a much easier time sitting down to complete my project.

The project itself is simply a five page magazine article that explains our vision and includes the problem, existing solutions, and what our solution to the problem is. Sounds simple, but there's a lot of heart and passion that go into this article, so I definitely took my time with it. I wrote several pages about the problem and how it needs to be fixed, and then I got to the end and suddenly realized I didn't have a concrete solution. Another visit over to Dave and Bec's house, and I walked away with a crystal clear idea for how to materialize my plan. 

the awesome Hearn family

Of course, the plan is flexible and subject to change over time as I grow in my vision and define it more specifically, but for now I have a good lead that will take me where I need to start, and then I can proceed from there. I am quite anxious and excited to share this project with you, as it expresses my heart and is the beginning of what might be something really big in my life. I have a few changes to make still, but be looking for my article to be posted in the next week or two so that you will be able to read it and hear about my vision!

In the meantime, I am going to get some rest and relax and enjoy the last few weeks of the semester!