God's Funny Bone

This morning I had the realization that in two weeks Christmas will be upon us once again.  The craziest thing about this time of year is thinking back a year.  Last year at this time I was waiting, quite impatiently, for Global Ministries to open their application for the Young Adult Missionary program.  I was a senior in College and working a pretty awesome job with some great people.  Some of these people, at that time, I didn't realize how much they would truly change my life and how I would miss them all a year later.  During this year I applied for this program, wanting to go to another county and to be exposed to many new experiences, that I thought would not be offered to me in the United States.  I can only imagine that God was laughing at this.  I learned so much about myself and what I wanted to do with my life and where I might want to go.  The biggest life lesson I learned was that God will lead you to the weirdest places, the places where you think you will never go again.  For me that place was Oklahoma City.  In the application process there were two interview locations, Oklahoma City and New York City.  I really wanted to go to New York and experience something new, a big bustling city, many people, very different from Seattle.  Instead he brought me to Oklahoma City. The interview was exciting! Seeing what people my age are passionate about and what people around the metro are doing in the community.  I left Oklahoma City back in March with a new outlook.  This time it was a little prayer.  "God, send me where you need me!"  This time I was open to anyplace.

I truly believe that God has a sense of humor.  When we brush something off by saying, this is not important for my life, I won't need to remember this,  I believe that God is laughing and trying to tell us that these are the most important times in our lives to remember.  Again for me this place was Oklahoma City.  I brushed off the experience of being in OKC.  I didn't think I would need to remember the city or the places where we went, because I probably would not be back.  When the tornadoes went through Moore this past spring, I was saddened because I had been to Oklahoma, but not too sad because I thought there was no way that I was going to be back.  Again God laughed.

Yesterday in a Sunday class I attend at church we talked about the story or Zechariah, who didn't believe what the angel Gabriel was saying to him and he lost his voice.  This to me is a story of trust.  Every day there are different things we need to trust.  We trust that the sun will come up each day, we trust that the people driving behind us on the highway are paying attention to their driving and we trust that God is with us always.  Reading this story (Luke 1:8-20) I kept thinking about the last year of my life.  Trusting that God will send me to the right places and through his "Angels" I will get the information that I need to do his good works.

This last year has been a whirlwind of fun, excitement, and hellos but also sadness, homesickness and goodbyes! It is hard to think that this year is almost over, and I pray that 2014 is fruitful and amazing for you as I hope it will be for my ministry and the students our program will help!

God Bless!!

Advent: A Time for Firsts

As many of us know today is the first day of Advent, one of my favorite seasons in the church and in my own life.  Today as I reflect upon my first Thanksgiving away from my family I am thankful for being able to connect with people here who are supportive of me and what I am doing with my life.  The holiday this year was spend with my supervisor and his family as well as a Bolivian family.  I am so blessed to work around such diverse people who celebrate each others culture.  After dinner, I got the chance to Skype with my family, it was interesting to see how my grandparents would respond to this technology.  It was hard to see my family but not be able to see them or reconnect, but to chat with my family over the internet made it much better.
I have noticed that in Seattle the weather changes and gets colder around the beginning of November almost marking the beginning of the holiday season. In Oklahoma the weather changes so often that in November or even today, December 1, the weather can get up to 60 degrees but a week ago it was snowing and ice was all over the road ways.  Houses are beginning to light up with the decorations of this holiday season.  It brings me joy and sadness to be so far away from home yet so close at the same time.  I love being home with my family watching silly Holiday movies, making cookies and sitting near the fire.  It is so exciting to be here in Oklahoma, making a difference in the lives of those I am working with as well as growing in myself and in my confidence in my faith as well as in general. I have loved meeting new people and being able to sit by myself in church.  This is something I would have never been confident in doing a few years ago.  I thank God that I am here and I am growing in who I am, while figuring out what God wants me to do with my life!

God Bless on this first Advent Sunday!

Small Things

The small things in life can make the most impact.  Receiving and email from someone who you have been waiting to hear from, learning your blog is reaching people internationally or simply playing and laughing with a three year old while decorating for Christmas.  In my short time in mission I have learned to embrace the small things in life and overlook the overwhelming things that need to get accomplished.  For instance, this past Saturday we decorated the church for Christmas.  If anyone knows me really well, I LOVE THIS SEASON!! From November 1 until January 1.  My most favorite time of the year! So being asked to help decorate the church for the Holiday season, was a must do activity.  The weather is beginning to get colder, and being warm in church with my new found Oklahoma Family was a great feeling.  Playing hide and seek with my three year old friend and laughing while we decorate the tree.  These little things in life make the difference between missing home and friends, and fully embracing myself in this new life.

I have to admit the weather out here is a bit weird.  On Thursday we could see the cold front coming in form the north, and being able to feel the temperature drop was quite the experience.  I keep hearing that when it snows, everything shuts down, and that can't be more true.  There was sleet and a bit of snow falling on Sunday morning and there were many churches who closed down because of the weather.  I even got an excuse from attending church because I live far away.  I never left my apartment except to take the trash out.
At the same time that I am grateful for being in a great place with a great roommate and wonderful people to work with, I am humbled by how lucky I am.  I don't have to live outside, or even have to be outside when it is cold.  I live in a great apartment that has running water, heat and electricity.  I have food in my pantry and clothes in my closet.  The more time I spend working with this church and the congregation here, I am reminded that I am very fortunate and very lucky.  Even saying that I love the cold weather and wish it would get cold more often is something that is rarely heard from me anymore because there are some people in our church who live outside.  It breaks my heart that there isn't anything I can do for people who are not as fortunate as I am.  I do not have the funds to give away food constantly or even provide a safe place to sleep.

In this season of Thanksgiving and being thankful for all that we have, family, friends, and a warm place to call home, remember those who are less fortunate around us and spread holiday cheer with everyone no matter the circumstances.  Another life lesson that was firmed the other day, while shopping in the grocery store was that if you extend graciousness it will be extended back.

Those are some thoughts on this Monday before Thanksgiving! Also, I don't know if my brother reads this but tomorrow is his birthday, my little brother.  He is turning 21 (WHERE DID THE TIME GO!!) and I just ask prayers for him tomorrow as he celebrates turning into a well rounded adult! Love ya bro!!

Thanks for reading!!

Forgiveness

On Tuesdays, I usually go to a chapel service at the local Seminary School.  Yesterday, I went again to hang out with new people, get out of the office and ultimately find God in the middle of my day.  Who would have thought that I would find much more then all of that.  The service was a contemplative, much like our Taize services we led in College.  It brought me back to good friends, good memories and a closeness with God.  The scripture that was read was 

       One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation.

    ~Luke 11:1-4

It was read three times, and each time forgiveness was a theme that stuck out in my mind.  At first, I was a bit stuck up about it, kept thinking, I have no one to forgive! But when other thoughts popped into my mind, the thought that pushed it out was forgive those who sins against us.  Its powerful how meditating on a simple few verses can make a huge impact.  I found that deep inside there was a small part of me that needed to forgive others, as well as myself.  Sometimes, there is a small voice inside my head that says, you aren't making the most of this opportunity that is in front of you.  This opportunity is amazing and you can do great things with this program if you can focus for a bit longer to embrace the new possibilities.  Once I forgive myself for thinking that this opportunity is being wasted or even not embraced, I can find joy in the unknown.  I have no idea what will happen in the next four weeks, besides getting the program started and off the ground.  I keep praying for our students and volunteers, and sometimes I wish that I could have done some of this sooner in my time here, but God works for a reason and he does things for a reason.  If I can remember that, and think that the order of how things are going, I will know that he will never leave me stranded in a place I can't handle or do something I cannot handle.  

I am so grateful for the people I am working with and the people I have in my life now.  There is so many opportunities I would never had if I had not moved to Oklahoma City.  Some of these new experiences include: meeting the greatest three year old ever; having a wonderful supervisor who can laugh with me and joke around to lighten up the situation; two wonderful and brilliant pastors in my life who are always there when I need support or encouragement; new friends who help me adjust to life in Oklahoma; a roommate who was in my place a few years ago, away from home and trying to adjust to a new life who can help encourage me; learning what FLAT truly means; being able to call myself a Director of a program at 23 years old; and finally truly learning that God works in amazing ways, we are all connected, especially the young adult missionaries!  

I really hope that if anyone who needs encouragement can read this and gleam something from it, hopefully some people will read this and relate to my situation, and being able to find joy in the small things!

(Small things.. title of the next blog!! Look forward to it)

GOD BLESS!!!! 

Uninspired

Many people have been asking me about why the blog hasn't been updated recently, and the honest answer is I am uninspired.  So the answer back is 'you should write a blog about that'.  This is it.  My uninspired, probably going to jump around blog post.  Oklahoma in November is my favorite month so far. The weather has cooled down and the sun sets earlier and its a reminder that winter is coming and that my program is going to start soon! That is always a terrifying thought.  The sooner Christmas comes the sooner I learn that I need to get this program started and off the ground asap! Well not asap, but by January.  That is if we can get contact with the Principle again.  We have called and emailed for weeks and I haven't heard anything back.  And there is an important question that needs to be addressed but it can't happen until we get in contact with each other.  So frustrating. Overall, things down here for me are going well, small stresses, and some interesting people, but overall it is going well! Reminder for those who are reading this and want to help out with my project, Global Ministries uses a program called The Advance to collect funds towards each project.  Each Missionary has an advance number, mine is 3021852, by using this number to donate money towards our project as well as donating towards future missionaries that are doing the same kinds of work all around the world.  On December 3, 2013 the advance is matching every amount that is donated on that day.  I encourage all of you to help out my project as well as the future of Young Adult Missionaries around the United States as well as the World by donating on December 3.
http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Thorson--Kristina

Here is a link to my profile and more information about how to donate online!
Thanks for reading!

Changing Seasons

I cant believe it is almost October! From what people tell me this is the best time of the year in Oklahoma, and so far I would have to agree.  Today for instance is sunny and beautiful but with the wind blowing it makes it feel like fall is approaching.  I was thinking about this today, that in Washington, the seasons are marked by the change of weather.  About now the rain would be more prevalent and sweaters and sweatshirts are more acceptable because the warmth has begun to move on.  However, here in Oklahoma it is still very warm during the day and moderate during the evening.  I have also learned some bad habits that I have developed by living in the Seattle area, in Late September until about April, when it is dark or overcast outside that means you should probably wear a jacket or a sweater of some kind.  So when I leave the office most nights and it is dark outside I automatically put on my jacket and walk outside and realize I don't need this at all!! It has made for some pretty silly moments!

However, Oklahoma is treating me well I have begun to really hit the wall of 'Oh wow, I will actually be living in this new place for a long time' but then my mind contradicts itself and says 'but you have been here a month, that went pretty fast'.  Like I have nothing to worry about and the next two years will speed by and I will be changed in my faith and work etc.  But I am still anxious about starting this program.  I am worried about disappointing people and not making this program the best it can be.  After a meeting with the Principal of the elementary school we are working with we have finally developed a target group of students.  In Oklahoma, there is a new law that states a third grader has to pass a reading test determining if they are in the correct reading level to continue to Fourth grade.  However, many of the students in this area have immigrated from outside the US and are illiterate in English as well as Spanish.  Many of these students never fully learn to read and with the law that is now in place, a new stress to parents and students.  Our after school arts program will target students that have low reading scores.  We will assist in reading with them each day as well as have an artist teach them different mediums for art projects.  I am really excited for what the church is doing in Oklahoma City.

Tomorrow, Wednesday September 25, I am traveling with  three other leaders in the church up to Kansas City for a leadership conference.  Apparently a lot of people know about this and are excited that I am attending, however I barely know what is going on! From what I hear this conference/training event will be beneficial to my work here in Oklahoma City and will be an asset to St. Johns and we revitalize this ministry.

I am going to add pictures to this blog so hopefully it will be more interesting then just words.

Thank you for reading!! As always donations to my project are appreciated and accepted.  Anything helps and it goes to future missionaries here in Oklahoma as well as all over the world! Go to this link to donate directly to my advance number and to help missionaries everywhere!!   http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Thorson--Kristina

   St. Johns had a car seat fitting for the community.  I snapped some pics of the car seats before they were given out and placed in cars.  They filled the back few pews of the sanctuary.

    My friend Hannah also runs and after school arts program.  I got the chance to visit her at work and join her students in some games.  The three pictures above are of parts of the church were she works with the students.  I got some great ideas about my program from visiting with her.

 The beautiful color I got to paint in my office.  We ended up painting a file cabinet the same color.  I had some fabric that matched the paint very well and we used modge podge to adhere it to the cabinet as well as to a bookcase.

 Lake Hefner! I get to pass this beautiful large lake on my way to church some Sundays and a few weeks ago I decided to stop and see it up close.  The red dirt is clearly visible in this picture.  It is the most fascinating thing, red dirt.

The difference between a Clydesdale shoe and a regular shoe!  

 The rest of the pictures are of the Clydesdale farm that we went to the first Saturday I was here.  It is a beautiful farm with amazing horses!

Hey!!
 I am finally around internet long enough with enough free time to actually post another update for those who are interested in what I am doing.  I arrived in Oklahoma City about two weeks ago.  I almost wrote one week.  I am constantly humbled by the wonderful people in this conference, and because of that I feel like my time here has been way shorter then it actually has been.  Some days I feel like I have been here for a very long time.  However it has been a really fun time being down here and learning a new way to live on my own again, in a new place.  It is also a weird concept to remember that if i needed to get home I would have to plan it out and it would take a lot of travel time to get home, but being the optimistic person I am, this concept kind of adds to the adventure of being down here.  However, it sucks to not have any Safeway's down here because I feel like I can't find anything I need or usually buy from the grocery store.

Anyway, my job.  I have to come up with my own job title so we can make some simple business cards and we cant seem to come up with anything so far except "Divine Awesomeness".  But I don't think that many people will understand what that means except for me.  Anyway, I am working to put together an after school program for Hispanic/Latino students in the northern part of Oklahoma City.  The drop out rate is really high as well as the Hispanic community in the city so together with St. Johns UMC and Church of the Servant (also a UMC) we are hoping to grow the congregation of St. Johns and help students after school and hopefully keep them in school.  However, I get to come up with the plan, talk with the principle and teachers and more or less start this with volunteers and support from the surrounding churches.  Its kind of overwhelming because it is pretty much on my shoulders, but at the same time I am super excited to see where it goes. Like my supervisor Carlos always reminds me of, "Its great because you are the first, but its unfortunate because you are the first".

I have noticed that this area of the world is a lot more relaxed then Seattle in many respects.  For instance its the weirdest thing, when the light turns green, it takes about 5-10 seconds or more for many of the cars to go.  I always feel like I'm jumping the gun.  But on the other side of things, the highways seems to be super speedy.  Its a very interesting place.  One of these days I plan to get some pics of the beautiful sunset.  Since it is so flat around here you can see the sun all the way until it sets on the horizon.  The sun is a blazing orange with beautiful reds and oranges around the setting sun.  I am always captivated by it every time I see it.  Its unfortunate that a beautiful place like Oklahoma (never thought I would say that) would be so torn by natural disasters.  I feel like I am always comparing here to Seattle, but the only thing that would make an impact in Seattle would be rain or an earthquake which can cause damage but not every year.  I haven't seen much of the tornado path, but its quite unfortunate that every year there is such a threat to this area and there isn't much that can be done about it.


Anyway, to sum up my long/short two weeks here in the beautiful OKC, I love it.  My work is quite fun! Yesterday, I did some work online and got to hang out the the office with many of the other people in the congregation, they are such a hoot.  At St. Johns there is an older couple who remembered my name the second time they met me and they remind me of the couple in the swiffer commercials. Just a darling couple!  I will add a link on here to my bio page on the Global Ministries page.  It has info more about what I am doing and my advance number to help support me and future Missionaries doing great work around the US and around the World.

http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Thorson--Kristina

Well, that's all for now folks!!!
God Bless!!

ISAIAH 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.