Project Cold Update

Most of you already know the update on Project Cold: The Sleep Out, but for those of you who don't, here's the scoop!

Project Cold was a project laid on the heart of Stephen Santos and non-profit organization Watchman's Call to raise funds to purchase sleeping bags for the gypsie village of Danceau, Romania. In a land where the gypsies suffer endless persecution and poverty, as well as possess high rates of orphans, Steve got a vision to be Jesus with skin on to them, and meet thier felt/basic needs of warmth this winter.. The goal was to raise 200 sleeping bags.

As a simple and practical way to help and bless someone this past holiday season, the Lord laid on my heart to do a Sleep-Out, from 9pm on Dec 28th to 6am on Dec 29th to not only raise funds through support, but to also intercede for Romania and to know what these people experience every winter.

Amidst early on-set discouragement of feeling so alone, the Lord performed a miracle in raising over $1700 in pledges and donations, as well as banding together a group of crazy believers who camped out with me. it was a beautiful experience, extremely cold, wet, and exhausting. :) A storm blew through that night, which started when we did, and ended 2 hours short of our stop. Our goal of 87 sleeping bags was blown out of the water (no pun intended! ;) and we reached over 100 bags. Praise God!

Thanks again to everyone who participated, helped, encouraged, supported, prayed, and loved. It's always so awesome to be part of a miracle with friends and family!

-cher

beautiful sign made by brooke to let our neighbors know our cause

enormous 60 x 40 ft tarp to become our shelter! oh, and our back yard :)

jason being the master "tentmaker" ;P

jenna, tracy, and j going over our official "Romanian Rule Book"

Amanda, Ashley and I writing letters and coloring pics for the kids in Romania

Ash reading the Bible with the light of heaven illuminating ;) we had cool times of prayer for Romania

Ryan and Julia being "smart" inside :)

a lovely water drain right into our tent :)

amanda's pillow is one of many casualties of our stormy night

we all moved to the concrete b/c the other half of the tent was soaked! tryin to keep warm!

a group pic is on the left -> i love these people so much! :)

the love story...

i'm always intrigued at how people read the history of this world. through text books or religious books, i always loves different views on the Story. there has to be a story. a way that it all played out. no one knows what literally happened unless they were there. even then, how does emotion and subjective interpretation play into all of it? did you ever watch witnesses on a stand? studies have shown how they are not even accurate b/c of the biases and velocity of the situations, ej. a bank robbery or crowd fight. so, really, can any one story or perception be completely trusted? what about 5 stories that coincide? or 50? or 100? what would it take to begin to turn the mind of the average onlooker to begin to speculate that a Story could actually be true? not to accept one story as completly accurate, but to begin to get glimpses of a bigger Story amidst the many little stories.

i was reading a fresh little story today by Calvin Miller, author of "A Requiem for Love." He is poetic in his version of telling stories. i love that. this particular part of the story gives an interpretation, an interaction, a make-believe 'maybe it could've happened this way' enchantment. and i love it. it plays out the story of when mankind, ergo man, was first created, and called Regis, meaning "Prince," and placed in Paradise.

p. 17

The naked Prince laid down in the grass
Soaking life from Terra's ochre soil.
"Son!" Earthmaker breated the gallant word,
Soft and often as the breeze that whispered oaks alive.
"Gift unto Myself-
The Prince of presence-
Lest I should ever be alone.
Now, Regis, image of My Being,
You are the Child to brighten My lonely house
And the glad resolution to My years inside Myself."

The new man listened, overcome by Presence.
To be given all the world at once,
Stopping his tongue and left his wit too dead for words.
Overwhelmed, he broke the awesome quiet.
"Father, I receive Your gift of being
But You have made me too rich
To name my wealth
And yet too poor
To give You anything of meaning
I love with only giftless love."

"Regis, there is no such thing as 'giftless' love.
The very words accuse each other.
My gift to you is love, but
Worship is your gift to Me.
And Oh, most glorious it is!
Worship always calls Me 'Father' and
Makes us both rich with a common joy.
Worship Me, for only this great gift
Can set you free from the killing love of self,
And prick your fear with valiant courage
To fly in hope through moments of despair.
Worship will remind you
That no man knows completeness in himself.
Worship will teach you to speak your name,
When you've forgotten who you are.
Worship is duty and privilege,
Debt and grand inheritance at once.
Worship, therefore
At those midnights when the stars hide.
Worship in the storms till love
Makes thunder whimper and grow quiet
And listen to your whispered hymns.
Worship and be free."

Taken from A Requiem for Love by Calvin Miller, (c) l989 by Calvin Miller,
Word Publishing, All Rights Reserved.

2008

It's hard to believe that's its 2008 already. mid january nonetheless. so far this year we've had 60 degree weather, 1 in of snow, and the first considerations of a black or woman president. what a year it will be, depending on who you ask. for me, i've decided to be less contemplative and more simple with the workings of this blog. so, cheers!

currently, i am starting my last semester of prerequisites here at good ol' Montco. 2.5 years there so far, full and part time. i've cherished it all, wouldn't change a thing, not even the major changes or the excess classes that don't count for anything. each has shaped who i am today.

i petitioned for the nursing program last friday and will hopefully be starting this summer full time. for those of you who know me, you'd probably say that i'll make a good nurse. and i'm sure you're right. i'm learning that there's a much needed balance in living a life for Christ. Sometimes there's things he calls us to do that would not necessarily be our pick. i feel nursing is one of these things. while i wouldnt pick it, i feel it picked me, and i'm excited to take God's hand as he leads me in it. my desires, or my plan A, will always be mine and available on this earth into eternity. what i dont get to do here, i believe i'll get to delight in, with Him, there. this includes things such as singing, dancing, learning, sharing stories, and learning cultures and languages. though seemingly contrary to my previous post, i even hold marriage in this life loosely. life's just way too short to spend with someone who hasnt been crafted by Him for you.

i'm currently studying a book by Max Lucado called "It's Not About Me - Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy." i was a little skeptical at first, it's actually a very cool book. it's changed my perception 180, and has given me clarity, things to think about, wrestle with, and rest in. i'm also reading "the Message//remix: solo - uncommon devotional" by e. peterson. a pressure-free invitation into times spent with God; its been healing at times, when i let it.

so what are you reading? has it made you think differently or opened your eyes to something new?