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***warning: long post***



first off....I have a deep desire to praise the Lord for the work He is doing through the DRM....

here's the story:

Monday: a family of 7 (dad, mom, 5 kids ages 3-16) came to the Crossing because they no longer had any money to stay one more day at the motel they were living in...literally not a cent...so this family came with all of their stuff and waited till 2pm to find out if at room was available. My roommate Kaila works with FSHI (Family and Senior Homeless Initiative) so she was able to secure them a weeks worth of rent voucher and meal vouchers...amazing...

T-R: the kids became involved with our programs and we made connections with them...the mom is a firm believer in the power of the Lord...and by Wednesday they found out they qualified for the FSHI program...

so that brings the story to today...the family is moving into their own house tomorrow! I just spoke with the mom and she is unbelievably thrilled...and praising the Lord the entire time!

it's stories (and realities) like these that make me fall in love with the work being done here...

anyway...

last thursday we served dinner at the DRML--the downtown men's shelter/soup kitchen/clinic

talk about an experience I will never forget...and an experience that I have a desire to repeat again and again...

the DRML (Denver Rescue Mission: Lawrence St) is in the middle of "Triangle Park" which is an area that has the DRML, Samaritan House, and another shelter all in the same area which means tons of homeless...

I was told to look at the people we were serving...you may think 'bum' or 'hobo' and granted there were definitely those types...and those that were pretty well on their way to a nice hangover...but also those that were decently dressed...families...as well as younger men that seemed to just have left work...it's an intense moment of awe when your presuppositions are challenged.

I know that families I work with at the Crossing and some of their stories...but the DRML just added to picture of homelessness and its effects. also. the food there is really good...they serve about 200 meals in 45 minutes. talk about intense...

then...came the weekend and the 4th of July. the holiday that made me really want to be home where I know the people their take it seriously and the F-15s do a fly over...and there are amazing fireworks and flags on every lightpole. not so much in Denver. it took us 30 minutes just to find the American flags at Wal-Mart on the 3rd. the "parade" we went to was nothing more that personal pride in the fact that it was an entirely 'green' parade...but that's another story.

that night we did find fireworks downtown and it was amazing to see the reflections on the buildings and see towns miles away shooting off fireworks because it's pretty flat out here...

the rest of the weekend was spent resting and enjoying the use of my supervisors house as she was away for the weekend and we were house sitting...

then came this week...a group from the John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa, OK came and did a 4 day VBS....wow...talk about amazing.

the group was 13 highschoolers and 2 leaders. the most mature highschoolers i've ever met. they are our kids just grown up. they are being discipled and it is evident the work that has been done in their lives...amazing leaders and a blast to work with! they knew the best kid's songs and the kid's loved it...as did the interns...can't get them out of our heads...hahaha...and their leader/pastor Rich paid for the 6 interns to go to Eliches today (6 flags over Denver...actually more in Denver...) It was a blast...not as good as Atlanta but still fun to ride rides and hang out with the John 3 crew one more time before they leave tomorrow...:(

It's hard to believe I only have 22 more days here....I think I could stay here if I were already graduated...anyway...

so my birthday is on Tuesday. just to let you know :)

ooooohhhhh! so July 25-26 is going to be amazing! the 25th is a Cardboard Campout to promote awareness of homelessness and then the 26th is Heavenfest. well.......somebody in charge wants the interns at the DRM to help facilitate small group discussion the morning after the campout with those that attended! and then we get in free to Heavenfest which is a huge Christian concert!!! oh. and we also get to promote the work of the DRM at a booth at the concert! I'm so excited!!!!!

well that was a decently long post...this next week will be pretty low key but I think that will be good for us...we need a bit of a break...

i'll leave you with a verse from a VBS song stuck in my head "J is for Jesus...O is for others...and Yyyyyyyy is for you. you. youyouyouyou..." then you dance around....