Live, Laugh, Love & Laugh some more!

Dying to Self

2012-02-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

When you are forgotten, neglected or purposely set aside, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but you keep your heart right before God, glad to be counted as worthy to suffer for Jesus - that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself - that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, irregularity, unpunctuality or any annoyance, and when you stand face-to-face with waste, foolishness, extravagance and spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus did - that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, clothing, climate, culture - and any interruption by the will of God - that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendation; when you truly love to be unknown - that is dying to self.

When you can see someone else prosper and have their needs met and can honestly rejoice with them from your heart, and feel no envy, nor question God while your own needs are far greater - that is dying to self.

When you can receive rebuke and correction from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no places of rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart - that is dying to self.

Are you dead yet? In these days, the Holy Spirit desires to bring us to the cross that we might become more like Jesus (Philippians 3:10).

- Anonymous

2011 Blog Highlights

2011-12-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

As I am looking back on this year, both in reflection and evaluation - I looked over some of my blogs of this last year. Whew! What a crazy year! I am so thankful for where I am at, and how I get to do what I love, and be in a city that I absolutely adore.

Here are some of my favorite blogs from this last year!

Adventures - I got CAUGHT!

Piece of Luggage - This was a BIG deal!!

Crosswalk Kids Family Experience

Our lives as a STORY

Smiles. So very important!

Community - What's it to ya?

Guatemala!!

Bernita's adventure to DC!

Full Circle

My parents are awesome!

Possibly one of my favorite Uprising moments

The IMPOSSIBLE

Christmas time with the FAMILY

2011-12-30T09:24:00.000-05:00

Coming home for Christmas is not something I take forgranted. Last year after a crazy year was unable to make it home for Christmas,so coming home this year has been especially sweet after a long 12 months ofnot being in Washington State.

I love my family dearly – so thankful that I get to spendtime with them. And quality time at that!

Aren’t they beautiful?

Too Many Adventures

2011-12-29T19:21:00.000-05:00

I got to have an “Auntie Jen Day” with my 2 handsome nephewsand my adorable niece the other day. I had requested that my sister allow me totake them for several hours so that I could take them on an adventure!

All three of the kiddos have gotten so big since I had lastseen them, and it was fun to ask them what their biggest dreams were, what theywant to be when they grow up, and of course ask them some good “Would YouRather” questions.

We had an adventure to the bank.

We had an adventure to the donut shop.

We had an adventure at the Children’s Museum.

We had an adventure at the Everett Marina.

Sure, some of these were more of errands for me (depositingchecks, eating my favorite donuts here while I can, and well being close to thewater – all my personal faves.) but that is one of my favorite things to do –create adventures out of ordinary things.

Upon leaving the Marina, little Sam said, “We’ve had TOO many adventures today, AuntieJen.”

It made me giggle and remind of me of that one time SummerBatterson told me that “Adventures with Jenilee” are just a way to get other peopleto go on errands with me. While partly true, I also firmly believe that life isbetter with other people, ESPECIALLY if they are with cuties like my nephews and niece!

So bring on the CRAZY adventures!

The Time Capsule Crew

2011-12-29T03:30:00.002-05:00

My trip home has been delightful and full of lots of familytime and friendly faces! The longer that I am away from home, the more thingschange at home, which is normal, but sometimes I forget that.

One thing that I am so grateful for is something that I don’tthink I realized the significance when I did it.

In 2007, six of my friends and I came up with an outlandishidea of burying a time capsule. At the time of the burial, we all grew uptogether, attended the same church and lived in the same city. And when we buried it, I don’t think Iever thought life would be too much different than it was.

Fast-forward four years, we are all in different cities –New York, Washington DC, California and Washington. We all are at differentchurches and basically rocking out crazy stuff. When I came home this year, we had a Time Capsule CrewParty and it was just so fun to hang out with all of them. I told my brotherlater that night that I was so thankful that we buried the Time Capsule,because had we not done that I am not sure that group of friends would cometogether as often or with such intentionality. I love that we have a reason to do so – that really cool and awesome TimeCapsule.

So thankful for that fire-proof and water-proof safe that wepurchased and buried. It seemed like such a crazy idea, but I am SO thankful forthat crazy idea!

The Time Capsule burial day!!

The Time Capsule Crew - 4 years in, 16 years remaining!

The God Anthology - COMING SOON!!!

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

This summer my church did a series called the God Anthology, which dove into the attributes of God. It was an incredible series, but more than that it became a movement of sorts. A movement of people towards a new understanding of who God is.

Each week our worship team released a song that was written specifically for that attribute of God. Small groups were focused on it. It was such a cool cool summer, and it was more than a series.

As a culmination of the summer, we recorded a LIVE worship CD, and it was amazing. Unreal.

The CD is released on November 22nd. You need to get it!!

Pre-order here: theaterchurch.com/godanthology

Check out the video:

God Anthology Promo from National Community Church on Vimeo.

An IMPOSSIBLE Promise

2011-10-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

A promise was made, a covenant – sealed. And yet there was still anxiety and disbelief in God, the maker of the covenant from both Abraham and Sarai. They were promised something that was seemingly impossible – descendants as numerous as the stars, and apparently the jokes on them, because they were 100 and 90 years old respectively with no kids.

I cannot even begin to imagine what was going through their heads as they hear this promise from God, and really want to choose to believe it, yet reality is staring them square in the face and they have got nothing, and its an impossible situation.

What is the seemingly impossible promise God has made to you? What is staring you square in the face and you are almost to the point of disbelief and laughter at what God has promised you?

Its so interesting to me to see Sarai (Sarah) hear this promise from God, laugh because of the impracticality and impossibility of the promise and the situation she is in, and she attempts to take things into her own hands, because obviously God didn’t think this through.

My prayer is that God will reveal the impossible and promise the inconceivable and we will be in a place where we hold true to those promises, risk our sanity and need to figure out HOW things are going to happen and trust God knowing that his ways are better than mine.

“…For I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” (Genesis 15:1)

Full Circle.

2011-10-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

My senior year in high school I embarked on an adventure called youth ministry. I wanted to see one group of girls love Jesus more, so I took on the assignment of leading the group of 6th grade girls at my church. It was a crazy adventure of Life Groups, TP-ing adventures, leading a dance team when I didn't dance, and much more.

I figured I would lead this group of girls when they were in 6th, 7th, and then 8th grade, after that I had no plans. But those years came, and flew by with a-many adventures. 9th grade happened, and I was still their leader. I was a little conflicted because at the end of their 9th grade year was the end of my senior year in college. I was to graduate. I majored in Political Science and History and had spent my senior year dreaming about moving to Washington, DC.

I remember wrestling with the idea of moving and not being the girls leader, and I remember having a hard time reconciling the fact, but I knew I had made plans to move to DC and that was where I felt I needed to go. Then four weeks before I was graduating I got offered a job to become a youth pastor at my home church with two other youth pastors.

I got to work at the church that I was leading the girls and got to be their leader, and I knew I wanted to see them finish high school.

Once they finished High School, I felt it was time to move on, God was stirring up my heart and the dreams of DC were coming back. Well at the end of the summer I packed up my life and made the move to DC.

Two years later, a new group of gals, students, kids that I was working with later, I had the coolest opportunity. Bernita, one of my gals from Seattle decided to spend the summer with me here in DC. It was a collision of worlds like no one would believe. To see Bernita be loved on, to watch her engage in relationships here in "the other Washington." There was multiple moments when Bernita was speaking wisdom and life into those around her and those were incredible moments.

Ministry is not just something that happens in a year, or two. Its living life with people, hanging out with them, and walking step by step with them. I did that with Bernita and her group of friends, and it was SO cool to see her do that here.

It was a world of home colliding with DC but the circle keeps growing, and continues on as I continue to follow in the direction God takes me. :-)

The Fall Reading has BEGUN!

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

Well last week I raided my Amazon Reading list and ordered some books to read (obviously) this fall. There is something great about getting new books, and lets be honest getting packages. I love getting packages, its almost like Christmas!! :-)

Here are the books I am reading and hoping to finish in record time!

All Marketers ~~Are Liars~~ Tell Stories by Seth Godin
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
The Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Sticky Faith by Kara Powell and Chap Clark
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Sticky Faith: Youth Worker Edition by Powell, Griffin, Crawford
Walt Disney: The Triumph Of The American Imagination by Neal Gabler
Switch: How To Make Change When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

When Jesus washed his disciples feet, it set an example for me.

2011-10-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

On September 25th, we had Uprising, which is when all our community groups gather together for a monthly service. I had been really praying for this next school year, we have some great things in store, but just really praying that God would really rock each student's world this next year, and that they would encounter God.

We had been planning what we were going to talk through in groups, and I was just praying for what I would talk to the students about leading up into our Groups. I really felt like God was laying it on my heart to talk about John 13.

John 13 is the beginning of the documentation of Jesus' last hours on earth before his crucifixion, and in this chapter Jesus washes his disciples feet. He humbled himself knowing that there was a guy that had betrayed him, one that would deny him, and yet Jesus took all that and humbly served them. I really felt like we needed to posture ourselves in humility as a student ministry and also with one another.

In my leader meeting prior to Uprising, we talked through our normal stuff, and then I shared with them what I was speaking on, and that I was going to wash their feet. It was a moment of prayer, posturing myself humbly before them, and serving them. We spent some time in prayer and really was ready for the night. As I spoke on John 13 that night - I had my leaders in turn wash their students feet. And after their feet was washed they were given a towel that said "Go Team" to remind them whose team they are on, and to remind them to humbly serve those around them. Especially the ones that don't deserve it.

Its my prayer that each student and leader continue to posture themselves in a manner of humility to those around us. No matter what rights we have, or that we think we have, we are called to follow Jesus' example. And he had every right in the world, but he served humbly.

I am really excited and have a lot of anticipation for this next school year. God is up to something crazy awesome, and I cannot wait!

September... Where did you GO?!!

2011-10-01T11:29:00.000-04:00

Honestly the month of September has FLOWN by. Like not just hurried by, but like a jet plane, FLEW outta here.

In looking back in the month of September so much change and transition happened. Bernita, my friend who lived here over the summer flew back home to Seattle. That same day, literally hours later, my new roommate and friend and NCC protege moved in from Knoxville, Tennessee. Then it was the first week of the proteges at NCC - such a cool cool class. I am excited for that. Then it was planning for 2012, celebrating my friend Nina for her ten years at NCC, dreams/nightmares about being pregnant (the side effects of working with 5 pregnant ladies. haha), training our new protege and familiarizing her with NCC. Then it was a (re)Train for our locations, filming videos for that, then doing Crosswalk Kids Super Short Show filming, and a Family Experience with preschoolers. This month also included some soccer games, apple picking, small groups, like FIVE Nationals Game, being in DC during the 10 year anniversary of September 11th, and hanging out in DC. Plus some crazy family stuff that needs miracles and well - there you have it, there is my September!!!

I am just tired/excited/thrilled/crazy thinking about this last month. It was an exhausting month, yet it really reaffirmed how much I love what I get to do at National Community Church. I am also so thankful that I am entering my third year here in DC. The student ministry is crazy awesome. Crosswalk Kids is such a crazy fun place to be, and well all the change that happened was crazy, but I am so glad it happened.

Now onto October, which just might be crazier than September. (haha!) We have three NCC staff members due in this month, we have Catalyst, our very FIRST Uprising Retreat, more soccer games, more small group, a FANTASTIC Uprising Gathering planned, and well - a Segway Tour. So, October is going to be a great great month. :-)

I cannot wait.

Bring.
It.
On.

September in pictures..... :-)

A networking gathering of Family Ministries extraordinaires at Ebenezers

A monumental day. My first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. :-) YUMMM

Playing Banagrams with the new proteges.. Gotta train 'em up right!

En route with Steffanie and Emil to check out our retreat location for Uprising!

Annapolis rain dancing and puddle jumping partners!

Going to dinner with Emily, Heather and Em's dad!

Some of my favesies.

Nats game with Emily!

Another Nats game with Ashleigh, Sunshine and Emily!

Walking the monuments and giving them my "tour" and my "DC fun facts"!

Taking the Uprising Students to another Nats game!!


Apple Picking. We picked TWENTY FIVE POUNDS!!!! And made lots o' goodies!

Our first PRESCHOOL family experience. So fun!!

I love my JOB!

2011-09-08T10:01:00.000-04:00

So - I really love my job, love the people I get to work with and love what I do.

I wrote a blog about it at our Crosswalk Kids Blog here.

Check it out!

A blog dedicated to Bernita - who leaves tomorrow...

2011-08-31T08:07:00.007-04:00

Bernita's first day in DC!

When someone knows you for an extended period of time, there is a bond, a relationship, a history with them that is valuable. I have a lot of family and friends like that back home. But since moving to DC, I remember the first couple months wishing someone knew me longer than several months. Or wanting to crack a joke that only people that knew me well would get. Well in the two years of being in DC, I have had many great friends come to visit, and even my family!

But this summer was a little different. Bernita Bontrager is the daughter of Jay and Linda Bontrager whom I affectionately call Uncle Jay and Aunt Linda, and big sister to Gabriella and Alisha. I have known Bernita since she was born, I was a whopping 6 years old, or maybe I should say she has known me her WHOLE life. :-) From doing hair and nails together, to getting ice skating lessons from semi-pro Linda, to shopping excursions, to camping adventures, to growing up in church together to family dinners and events, the Bontrager family is family to me.

When I was a senior in high school, I decided to mentor a group of girls, and Bernita was in that group. I wanted to see them through middle school, and then really felt called to see them graduate high school. It was really neat to see Bernita grow through those years, to see her mature as a young lady, to watch her excel in school, and develop relationships but also to grow in her faith, and to see her share it with those around her.

This summer, Bernita took a summer after graduating college to intern in DC, much to my persuasion. (haha) She took residence on an air mattress in our hallway, and began the adventure that is DC!

It was incredible on so many levels: to have a sister-like friend and to have her living life with me here in DC. She knows my tendencies, knows my quirks and yet loves and cares for me regardless. She knows how to make me laugh, make me cry, and so much more.. haha. She engaged in friendships, relationships and ministry here in DC, which was a huge blessing to me. I love how she processes things, how we process things, and how she genuinely loves Jesus with her entire heart.

I think Bernita’s plan for the summer was to recalibrate and figure out what’s next, but I feel like she has been more of a blessing to me being here than anyone could ever know. To have had a dear sister-friend here in DC from back home is something I will cherish forever. I am so proud of her, who she is, who she is becoming. She is a rockstar!

Bernita,
Thank you for taking the leap out to the other Washington. Thanks for investing 3 months of your summer to hang out here in DC, to get to know the city, to know my friends, to create your own circles of friends and influence, and to be a part of what I get to do here in DC. Thanks for the laughter, the adventures, the new experiences and thanks for challenging me, loving me and really spurring me on to love Jesus more. I really have loved you being here. I am incredibly proud of you, and am excited for where God is taking you next!
Love you!
Jen

Just a little trip down memory's lane this summer!

dinner with the gals!

Experiencing rain, thunderstorms and hail all prior to the Mumford and Sons concert!

Bernita jumped in with Crosswalk Kids Filming!!

Serendipity for Fried Oreo Sundae - yes please!

Harry Potter MIDNIGHT showing!!

Adventures on the Alexandria waterfront!

The Mason Dixon line on our way up to Gettysburg!

Segway TOURS of DC!!

Marine Corp Barracks Parade

National Cathedral

Nationals Game with the roommates!

A little NYC Times Square action! (pre-IRENE)

a little Irene Rain Dance!! (an Earthquake AND Hurricane all in one week!)

National Harbor with the Zempels!

Bike tours of DC and at the Capitol with Bert.

Love ya Squirt! Come back soon! :-)

Think Differently. Dream BIG!

2011-08-30T09:59:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Dan Portnoy for this - love it!

The Way Teenagers Perceive Things...

2011-08-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

Its amazing and fascinating to watch what goes on in a teenagers mind. I have seen several instances this week alone that has solidified the idea that no one can possibly understand the reasoning nor the thoughts that go on in a teenagers mind. As a friend said - "its manic."

So as a teenager in and of itself you are going through the craziness, then add on situations that happens to each one of us unfortunate or fortunate.

Bernita, my friend and fellow CODA (Child Of Deaf Adult) sent me this link. I had my experience with peers and being "different" but it never escalated to this level. Regardless - teenagers are experiencing tumultuous emotions- reasonable or not. That is all the more reason I invest in teenagers - to walk along side them - speaking life, encouragement and God's word into them, because there is not much else going into them that is the truth or even positive.

Stiving for Attention!!

2011-08-25T09:03:00.002-04:00

This morning I was processing those conversations I had in the last 24-hours and one theme had emerged, the value we place on the attention that we receive from others.

Whether it be the center of attention within our family, or in the circle of friends, how is it that we seek out attention? What value do we place on that so-called attention? Maybe certain people we value their attention, or we wish we had the attention of that one person.

It is when we focus our efforts on getting attention (good or bad) that things take a turn for the worse. I said in one of the conversations that your focus determines our reality (thank you Star Wars), and how true is that? If we are focused on getting the attention we are getting all of a sudden it becomes pride, or we are focused on the attention we are not getting and it brings disappointment and sometimes depression.

Getting the attention of others is flattering, but that shouldn’t be our focus. When we strive for the attention of others it puts the value other people place on you or me first before the value of our Creator. When we forget the value God has placed on us or the price he paid for us, we get out of whack and experience pride or depression – neither are of God.

The thing is this: we shouldn’t be yearning for the fleeting attention of those around us, but we should be striving to be engaged completely by the attention of our heavenly Father. When we focus on our heavenly Father’s value he places on us, we no longer rely on those around us to validate us by seeking their attention.

Our value is found in HIS Word.
Read it.
Meditate on it.
Memorize it.
And then repeat again and again.

My Girls: Now and Then.

2011-08-17T09:08:00.003-04:00

Me, Bernita & Jalisa at the Supreme Court, DC.

Time passes by.
Things change.
People grow up.

More specifically, my girls grow up. My senior year in high school I led the 6th grade girls group, and had committed in my mind to be their leader for awhile. I thought at first it was going to be all of middle school – 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. But as I continued leading, I loved it, and loved the girls.

I graduated college with a political science degree and the girls just finished their freshman year of high school. My original plan was to move to DC and do politics, work on the Hill, or whatever. But I remember wrestling with the thought of leaving the girls. I wanted to see them graduate high school, so I got offered and took a job at my church as a youth pastor.

To walk with these girls grow up, mature, change, love Jesus, go through crazy stuff was an incredible experience. I loved seeing the original girls grow up, to see some girls come, leave and come back again, to see new girls be a part of our “group”.

I finished my time as a youth pastor a month after my girls graduated high school. I packed up my bags and moved to DC.

Fast forward two years, and I have one of those girls living in my house with me for the summer. And one night this week, there were two of my girls here in DC. One was days away from hopping on a plane to Afghanistan and the other was weeks away from going back to Everett, Washington. It wasn’t just the fact that we were together, but it was so cool to see how each girl has grown exponentially in the last two years. It was fun catching up, laughing together and reminiscing the crazy events that happened throughout the years.

These connections didn’t happen over one year, or six months, but it was over several years, formative years. In fact, they didn’t always happen in a circle of Bible study. It was going to coffee together, movies together, serving together, playing together, eating at Red Robin together, shopping together, and even TP’ing houses. Some of the memories that they talked about were not the Bible discussions, but the goofy things we did, that will remain unmentioned right now. (haha)

I love these girls, and love my girls now. They have forever changed my life and have made my life a LOT more exciting.

Guatemala - Recap Video

2011-08-16T08:34:00.002-04:00

Mark Rickman made this video/slideshow as a recap of the A1:8 Guatemala missions trip this last June/July. It was a phenomenal trip. I love the vision of Champions in Action, I love the people on the trip, I love the way NCC does missions.

Check this video out. Its phenom.(short for phenomenal... haha) :-)

I also blogged about my trip to Guatemala here, here, here, & here!

Bananagrams and the Family!!

2011-08-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

Bananagrams by the Pool

Its not often that I find a game that I love, but this summer I have found one: Bananagrams. You see, I love word games, and that probably started on our long nation-wide two months at a time road trips in a station wagon with the family. We got to be really good at all sorts of games – crossword puzzles, word searches, hangman, the list could go on!

I first played it with Jayne Fisher one night. Then it was like I couldn’t get enough. I played it at Baptism by the Bay, at the airport on our way to Guatemala, and we played it on the LeFors family vacation. My grandparents are scrabble champions, and my parents are up for any kind of competition, and I guess the same goes with my siblings. Scratch that – we are all competitive. Its bad.

It was one of my favorite memories of the trip – seeing my Meemaw kick our butt, or my brother trying to convince us that “Qi” was a legitimate word. (He was claiming that www.scrabblewordchecker.com told him it was… All I wanted was a definition, and it never turned up). My mom and I took up a huge table at Starbucks one morning to “practice” for her, and for me to relish in the winnings. All to say – Bananagrams was a major highlight of the trip. And I am not sure if I am making this up or if I had heard it before – but a Family that plays together stays together. (Maybe I just made that up or got that confused with a Markism. And by Markism I mean a Mark Batterson catchy phrase. Haha)

(*This blog is not sponsored by Bananagrams. But if they want to, I will welcome it with open arms! haha)

US Open, Soul Surfer & Bethany Hamilton!!

2011-08-12T08:38:00.000-04:00

I saw Bethany Hamilton.

Okay, so that may not be a big deal – but I saw her! :-) The US Open for surfing was happening at Huntington Beach while I was in town. Nick had to work all-day on Friday, so I headed to the beach with one of the gals who’s house I stayed at.

Tons of people. Tons of cars. Tons of surfers, lots of glorious non-humid sunshine (it was GLORIOUS!!)… and Bethany Hamilton!! She was signing autographs at one of the stores down on the beachfront.

I had watched Soul Surfer when it first came out in theaters. I was fascinated with her story. To see someone overcome what seemed to be all odds, is impressive, and to know she is still a professional surfer is way legit.

Check out a little bit of her story here:

http://bethanyhamilton.com/

The LeFors Family: There is none like them.

2011-08-11T10:36:00.002-04:00

The LeFors Family:
There is none like them. Noone compares - so odd yet so cool, so weird and yet so awesome, so crazy yet so legit. We did a photo session in California before we all went our separate ways... Marysville, Baton Rouge, District of Columbia, Costa Mesa & Everett. I love my family. That is all there is to it. Enjoy the photos. There are a lot of them. :-)

The family signing "I love you"

point and case of the weirdness that is cool!

Nick & Peggy Lee LeFors: My amazing parents!
THREE generations: Nicholas Charles LeFors Sr, Jr, III
The GRANDS and kiddos!
Lady LeFors. Well, now LeFors/Kinman. :-)

That awesome and legit part I was talking about earlier... Yep!
We are weird, yet so cool. How do we do it?!? I will never know.

My daddio and me - he really likes me, or so I think....

Well. I am not sure what happened. But I am sure he still loves me (sometimes..haha)

Mother - Son.

My Papaw and me.

Proof that the craziness is hereditary!!

The lovely LeFors grandparents!

Further proof of the quirkiness.

Ha. HA. AHHAHAHAHAHHA!! Need I say more?!

Golly. I love my parents.

The two (of three) Peggy's!

My mommy & me.

Charlee with Papaw & Meemaw

Nicholas Sr & III with Meemaw!

Isn't this precious?!

I love my Meemaw & Papaw!

The LeFors parents with their eldest son.

My brother and me.

Sister and Brother.

My seeeesssterrr!!! :-)

Beat. That.

Despite the quirky odd family that I am blessed with, I love them so much. I loved hanging out with them all week in sunny California. Each one blessed me, loved on me and I was spoiled to hang out with them. Have I mentioned yet that I love them?

Cause I do!!!

Generosity. Hospitality. Loyalty. Laughter. Adventure.

2011-08-11T08:36:00.002-04:00

Generosity. Hospitality. Loyalty. Laughter. Adventure.

These are just some of the things my father and my mother embody. I remember growing up and seeing my parents generously give of their hours, their home, their finances, and their hearts to those around them.

I don’t remember a Thanksgiving or a Christmas growing up without a friend who didn’t have family in town, didn’t have family left or couldn’t make it out to visit their family. You see, we lived thousands of miles away from our family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and so on. It could’ve been a moment for my parents to sulk, to keep to themselves, but they generously gave. My mom would generously cook, my dad generously entertained the dinner guests through his outlandish pranks and humor, and we would have Thanksgiving, and each person at Christmas did not go without a gift. Generosity. Hospitality. Loyalty. Laughter and Adventure.

My parents hosted out of town guests, or even in town guests when need be. There was never a moment that the door would be shut to a friend. The incredible hospitality and loyalty to dear friends was a sight to behold. Each friend that came through had either known my parents in one way or the other, or knew them through a friend, and yet my parents opened up their home and their hearts with hospitality. Each guest never left in want, nor without having laughed. The way my parents made each guest laugh – whether through joking, reminiscing of the past, or my dad pulling a prank of them and it leaving us all in fits of laughter – was incredible. Generosity. Hospitality. Loyalty. Laughter and Adventure.

Adventure. It was something that started at the beginning of their marriage. Scheduled wedding date was July 4th (my mom loves all things Americana), but why not move it to December 24th(what’s a couple months of planning? Only the world!!). They moved from a house in Louisiana to a trailer in Louisiana – why not? When they had two children, lived close to family they decided to take a God-adventure and step out in faith and move to Washington State. Soccer, Basketball, Unicycling, Fishing, Capture the Flag, Camping, Nation-wide road trips were all the normal routine of the LeFors household. Maybe I can attribute it to my dad’s inability to sit still, or my mom’s love of trying new things with an open attitude, or both of them just wanting to have fun, either way I feel like adventure is something they never lived without. Generosity. Hospitality. Loyalty. Laughter and Adventure.

In talking to my sister by the pool on vacation – I was telling her how much I have seen my parents’ influence on our lives, now that we are all grown up and out of the house. My brother was incredibly generous and prepared when I flew in, welcoming me with great hospitality. My sister bought the family a new kind of candy to try (something my mom would ALWAYS do on vacation). My brother made my sister and I try riding a tandem bike. We were buying each others meals and such. I am not sure when it became apparent during this week but it was striking when I did notice it. The rich heritage of generosity, hospitality, loyalty, laughter and adventure is woven into the tapestries of our individual and collective stories, and I am incredibly richer for it.

Divided - What Role Does the Church Have With Teenagers?

2011-08-03T10:24:00.004-04:00

One of my biggest soapboxes is that student ministry shouldn't be an island to itself, but integrated to the church as a whole. Students should be serving alongside those older and younger than them, on missions trips with the same, and in church with the "big" people. Its learning to be a part of the body of Christ, its learning from people who have the same faith, yet may struggle with the same things as them. Its the teenagers seeing how a faith is played out in others lives. I also believe that teenagers need to have a place where they can be their age, interact with their peers and what not. Both are valuable, and there will constantly be a tension of the two. Then throw into the mix the involvement of parents, and the huge role that that they play in teenagers lives, and how faith conversations need to begin at home and continue at the church. I could go on and on and on....

I somehow found this "documentary" on youth ministry in the church. It was interesting, and sparked good conversation between some friends and I. Yet - I don't feel like this is complete and well argued, but it sparks good discussion. I would love to hear what you think. Is youth ministry the right way to go or has it led to the "demise of America"?

Official Divided the Movie (HD Version) from NCFIC on Vimeo.

A review that I liked of the movie: http://www.youthministry.com/articles/culture/divided-movie-review

Guatemala - Champions in Action & Passion

2011-07-28T08:26:00.000-04:00

One of the first things that I notice about a person is their smile. Are they smiling? Is it genuine? Can you see their teeth? (I know the last one is weird, but I firmly believe in smiles. Haha) When you first meet Jon and Missy Jakubowski you can’t help but notice the genuine smile and the infectious passion that oozes out of them. Its not only a passion for life, it is a contagious passion, a God-given passion.

I'm not sure exactly where the genesis of the passion begins – but its been one that God has orchestrated, even in the littlest of details.

I remember being at National Community Church one day while Jon had his film crew set up in the offices filming promotional videos for Champions in Action. I don’t remember ever knowing exactly what it was about except that it was a soccer camp in Guatemala. I would hear little snippets here and there whether over facebook or twitter about the Guatemalan ambassador endorsing CIA, or some professional futbol player from Guatemala endorsing them as well.

I remember finding myself at the same Easter gathering in 2010 with the Jakubowski’s and making a mental note to get to know them better. A couple months flew by and I missed my chance – they had moved back to Ohio.

It wasn’t until I was trying to research a missions trip to take our Uprising kiddos on, that I saw that NCC was sending a team down to Guatemala to partner with Champions in Action and the Jakubowskis’. The decision was made, and preparations began. From the time we decided to go, to when we got down there, it was evident that God’s hand was on CIA, as well as the Jakubowskis.

The model is this: to provide premiere soccer camps to boys and girls from the most dangerous zones in Guatemala City. What makes this organization so great is that it starts out with leadership from within the country of Guatemala. Then it recruits mentors from local churches. The mentors then pick 5 boys that they know, whether from their church or not, and those 5 boys pick a friend to make a team of 10, which makes one mentor to ten boys at the CIA camp. The camp is centered around the teams. They eat together, play together, sleep together, and train together. Then they go back to their homes, and have a mentor who is now investing in their lives.

The vision that God put in Jon and that is now being played out in Guatemala is in the beginning stages of something great. It was cool to talk to Missy and to hear her process what all was happening the week that we were there. It had been a laborious process from 2008 of when the idea began to take shape and was just a plan to the second Champions in Action camp where 100 at-risk Guatemalan boys were beginning a new chapter in their lives and the action steps were laid out and being implemented.

One of the things that Pastor Mark has always said is this, “We (NCC) want you to be a part of our story, but we (NCC) want to be a part of your story as well.” This has never been played out so well in my mind than that of the Jakubowskis and the Champions in Action organization. A vision that was birthed in the heart of Jon and Missy, NCC was now investing time, money, value and manpower into the God-given passion that is now Champions in Action.

Champions In Action - Promo Video from Champions In Action on Vimeo.

Guatemala - Trying to Get Ready

2011-07-27T08:24:00.004-04:00

The week prior to Guatemala it hit me that I had really yet to prepare for this trip. I had put off shots, pills or any of the like, and was beginning to worry if that was a wise idea. I figured I had the Hepatitis A & B series, and an up-to-date Tetanus. That’s all I need right?

Passport: check.
Suitcase: check.
Soccer cleats: heck yes.
Sanity: ...debatable.

The night before was here and I didn’t know if I was ready or not. But ready or not, here I come.

It was a break that I was looking forward to. It was providing distance from DC that I needed. I was ready to get my hands dirty.

----

Guatemala is reeling and trying to pull itself together after a 30-year civil war that ended in 1996. The country lost a generation in those 30 years, if not more. Families were broken. Children became fatherless, and or parent-less. Fifty percent of Guatemala City, the nation’s capitol, is under the age of 18.

With families destroyed there were new families created through gangs providing all that the youngsters were missing: protection, a sense of belonging, people who were looking out for you, and essentially a cause to stand for. Gangs, violence, turf wars, and drugs have shaped Guatemala City making it one of the most dangerous cities to enter in. There are various zones in Guatemala and are run by different gangs. The gangs instill fear and gain control through this fear and implementing violence. There is little choice but to join the gang for the new generations.

But there is one unifying tie that knits each Guatemalan together outside of their humanity is futbol, or as we know it, soccer. Guatemala is consumed with soccer. They love soccer. They eat soccer. They breathe soccer. It seems as though every young person is actively engaged in the sport. No field? No problem, its played in the streets. No shoes? Don't worry about it, bare feet will do. It is a passion that is woven into the fabric of each Guatemalan.

That’s where Champions in Action comes in.

True Marks of a Christian

2011-07-21T12:58:00.002-04:00

I read out of Romans this morning, and it kicked my butt:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

- Romans 12:9-21

Well, I got my list to work on.. How about you?

Okay... Ooookkkaayyyy... Back in the States!

2011-07-04T09:17:00.004-04:00

Our NCC #AOneEight Guatemala missions team is back in the United States of America after an incredible trip to Guatemala. We partnered with a fantastic organization, met some quality people, loved on some of the most adorable kids, and God transformed lives.

There are so many stories to tell, perspectives to give, and pictures to show. I am working on all of the above. I am SO grateful for the opportunity to have served, and to love and to partner with some amazing team members. :-)

So - we are back safe & sound, and I am excited to share more!!

Champions in Action

Guatemala Blog

Gua-TE-mala... Here we COME!!!!!!

2011-06-25T11:27:00.002-04:00

Annnddd... we are off!! To Guatemala that is. :-)

NCC and some of our Uprising kiddos are heading to Guatemala to partner with Champions in Action! We are so excited for the adventure ahead!! If you get a chance - we covet your prayers, thoughts AND you can follow some of the team blogs, updates, and such here:

http://www.thoughts.com/mecoda2
Chris Bahl is one of the CODA's on the trip.. He will be trying to VLOG every night.. For those who know ASL - this one would be for you! :-) Crazy story is this: His mom and my mom were Best Friends while at Gallaudet!! So, this is a fun trip and exciting for us, and to have a fellow CODA on the trip is legit! :-)

http://www.a18guatemala.blogspot.com/
This is our team blog with updates and what not!

We return on Sunday, July 3rd!! Can't wait! :-)

Much love,
Jenilee

I'm gonna Fly, Fly AWAY!!! (not really, but trying to be clever..)

2011-06-17T12:25:00.007-04:00

Silly Sock Sally (*aka Maegan) and I trying on the cool pilots headphones.

So, yesterday, I got to take a group of people to the Potomac Airport in Fort Washington, MD. We were filming July's Crosswalk Kids Super Short Show on location at the airport - because our virtue of the month was Perseverance - refusing to give up when life gets tough. It is going to be a continuation of June's lessons on Faith. It takes an immense amount of faith to fly, and to follow Jesus.

I wrote and shared more pictures on our Crosswalk Kid Blog, but I just can't get over that I got to go to an airport and film as a part of my job. There was a lot of laughter, creativity, rain, and random pilots coming up to us and chatting and asking what we were doing. It was a fantastic day!

One more reason why I love my job, and what I get to do! :-)

What is your FAVORITE youtube video?

2011-06-14T11:56:00.002-04:00

I love ice-breaker questions.

Wait, let me re-phrase that, I love asking ice-breaker questions. I have some classic-in-my-back-pocket "Would You Rather Questions" as well as some others, but sometimes the new questions just come to my brain. Sometimes they are a flop, but there are some that just raise the level of excitement in the room.

I don't know if others would say this happened, but I think I found my new favorite "group ice-breaker" question. Maybe its because I work with teenagers, and they are heavily influenced by youtube and web videos.. But this question struck gold!!

"What is your favorite YouTube videos?"

We were all talking and laughing as new videos were mentioned that brought back hilarious memories. And what was cool is that EACH person had a different answer. There was no overlap. I am not going to lie - I was pretty excited about the question. Which in turn caused me to look up some of the videos mentioned.

HILARIOUS.

What is your favorite YouTube video?

Some of the video that were mentioned:

Community - What is it to you?

2011-06-08T08:42:00.000-04:00

I was asked sometime last week about community in DC, and what it meant to me. Its interesting to me, because I feel like "Community" is a term that can be over-used, both negatively or positively. We use the term "Community Groups" for our youth small groups. I attend and work at a church named National Community Church.

What does community mean? Is it the area in which one lives? Is it the school or work where one attends? Is it the location of service that their family goes to? There are so many things that could mean community.

I would venture to say its a place where you are known. Known in the good times and the bad, known when things are clean and when they are messy. (in the physical and figurative...)

Last October, I moved into a new house in a new neighborhood with two of my friends. We had a full day of moving, and when things were starting to settle down that evening, we had a knock on the door. One of our new neighbors had brought us pie. It was the act of someone noticing and knowing that we were new. And capitalizing on that to welcome us to the neighborhood. It made the experience of moving more enjoyable and the anticipation of being a part of the neighborhood was great. It could have been easy for the neighbors to pass on noticing new neighbors, but they went out of their way to make sure we knew that they knew we were there.

It feels like when you are in a city like DC where your safety is dependent on the neighbors you live next to, there is a sense of community - because you need to know who you are looking out for, and who is looking out for you. You are somewhat forced to get to know them, thus creating some sort of community.

In work, or church, or at the neighborhood java shop - getting to know those around you creates a community. Sometimes you have to be a little more intentional, and make yourself a little uncomfortable to build that community. Each one of us yearn to be known, to be in community, and to know others. And that doesn't change when you are 7, 17, 27, or 107.

Do you have a place where you are known? Do you know those around you? How can you help make someone known?

Sometimes its easy to feel like we aren't known, or nobody cares, or that we lack community, but maybe it takes us noticing something about someone else to get the ball rolling on community.

I like Smiling. Smilings my favorite!

2011-05-24T10:54:00.003-04:00

I had a conversation with Heather Zempel in the car last night. We had seen a promotional flyer, and I commented on the person's smile. I asked why this person couldn't just smile with her teeth, or have a genuine smile. Heather tried to argue my point, but I just was saying that if you are going to smile, might as well make it genuine.

And then Matt McKee blogged on smiling today, and how it impacts people's perspective of him. I couldn't agree more.

This TED talk confirms everything I was arguing with Heather about. Bring on the long life!! ;-)

What do you think? Do you smile big in pictures? Why or Why not?

Summer Goals

2011-05-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

Last summer, I heard from a couple of my Uprising girls right as their summer began, that they were not excited about their Summer Vacation, because it was going to be SOOOO boring. (insert typical teenage girl dramatic tonage.)

Deciding pretty early on that I did not want to hear that all summer, I sat each one down, and we started talking through some summer goals, and through that conversation, we started talking life goals.

"What do you want to have done by the end of the summer?"
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"If money weren't an option, what do you want to do?"

At first it took forever to get goals out of them, let alone life goals, but once we got to talking, there was an overflow of goals. One gal Michelle, through our conversations, I found out she thought she would like being a News Reporter, and she wanted to be a writer. I did everything within my reach to help her gain some of those experiences last summer so she could get some sort of confirmation that this is what she wanted to do, or change it up a little.

Not only through those goals, it was fun to start planning our summers with a little more purpose. It made it fun for me to accomplish their goals, and it also gave me a reason to hang out with them. :-) They didn't accomplish them all, but it was a great connection between me and the girls. It also was a starting point for their dreams. Its easy to get focused on the here and the now (ie.. boring summer), but to start thinking and dreaming of what they want their life to be like or to turn out, and how they could start NOW to make that happen.

I decided to do the same this year. I changed it a little bit though. I wanted 5 summer goals, and it had to be in these categories:

FUN
Serving others
Encouragement to someone else
Impossible (Something that seems impossible to them.)
Miscellaneous

I always seem to find something new about the girls through this. One girl wants to be a make-up artist, another wants to be a photographer. And I am going to do everything I can to help these girls dream through these summer goals.

Sometimes we need a little push to help us dream, and I want to be that catalyst for my girls.

My Insecurities and God's Calling

2011-05-16T12:58:00.002-04:00

It’s easy for me to allow my insecurities to dictate my steps, my thoughts when it comes to my calling. What is a girl who majored in Political Science and History doing in ministry?

I shouldn’t be doing what I am doing outside of God’s calling. I didn’t go to seminary, nor do I have a degree that boasts of biblical studies. Trust me, there are days where I feel that inadequacy way more than others. Many times I forget what I am called to do, and why I am called to do it.

I read this passage this morning. Its when Peter and John healed the crippled beggar in the temple. This stuck out to me:
“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” - Acts 4:13

When I read this verse, and was reminded that outside of my own foolishness and degrees, nothing matters except that I am a gal that has been with Jesus.

I get caught up in what people think, what people are saying, but that is not why I am doing what I do.

I am doing it because God has undeniably called me to it.

Five years ago today...I walked

2011-05-07T11:42:00.002-04:00

FIVE years ago I walked across the stage and graduated from Northwest University with a Political Science and History degree.

Its crazy, because four weeks prior to this day, I had every intention of moving to Washington, DC to dive in head first to politics with three of my close friends. Then that one conversation happened and it changed the trajectory of my path.

I became a youth pastor in Everett, WA.

Then five years later I am finally in DC. With one of the girls I had originally planned to move here with. AND I am not doing politics, but doing something I am passionate about: Helping kiddos and teenagers understand and experience the gospel and live it out daily.

It wasn't written in the way I had planned or thought. Its a good thing God knows what he is doing!! :-)

The prophet Hosea & Easter

2011-04-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

Hosea is one of the prophets we talked about this last weekend in Community Groups. I love this story. For those of you who don't know it, here is a synopsis:

Hosea is one of God's prophets. Instead of God giving Hosea a message to relay, he tells him that his life is going to be the message. Hosea's life is going to be the demonstration of God's faithfulness and love to his people. God tells Hosea to marry a prostitute. And the book of Hosea is the message of God being lived out through his life and told to the people of Israel.

We read Hosea chapter 3 as a group:
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.' So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine."

It never really hit me before, but Hosea, after have taken in a prostitute for marriage, and she rejects him and goes back to prostitution. Hosea chases after her with a relentless love, like our heavenly Father, and Hosea PURCHASED his own wife, again.

It was his wife. They entered into marriage. He shouldn't have to purchase his wife, what a crazy guy right?

But that is essentially what Easter is all about. Jesus, the Son of God paying the ultimate price for us, the bride of Christ. The covenant between the people of Israel and God was similar to Hosea's marriage covenant, and Hosea was faithful, he chased after Gomer and he was relentless with his love.

The Bible Breakdown

2011-04-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

For the months of April, May, and June we are going through the Bible in Uprising's Community Groups and it feels like a WHIRLWIND! The WHOLE Bible in 9 different sessions of groups. Do my leaders hate me? Probably so.

Here was the idea/goal: To give the students a BIG PICTURE perspective on God's story that is documented within the Bible.

We decided to record short introductory films to give the students a brief synopsis of the part of the Bible we are covering that week, and empower and allow the leaders to ask the questions and engage the students in what we were covering that week. (The leaders have been rockstars despite me giving them WAY more stuff to talk about than time for. Their patience for me is incredible!)

It is my prayer and desire that each student begin to engage in the Word of God. If one student is engaged in the Bible in a new way, and learns something that changes them to become more like Christ, that is a win.

The jury is still out on whether it was a success. It may be at the end of June or it may be years before I find out if it was a success or not. And that is when I put my trust in God, confident that he is at work within me and every student and leader that is a part of Uprising. And, well, quite frankly its a LOT scary.

Here's to hoping I haven't messed up the students OR the leaders :-)

These videos are month one/April 2011. (I will post the others as we complete the month)

Thanks to Andy Pisciotti for his FANTASTIC heart & willingness to help the students discover God's Word! :-)

Week ONE - The LAW

Week TWO - The FORMER PROPHETS

Week THREE - The LATTER PROPHETS

"That is SO Annoying" & Other Things I heard yesterday

2011-04-18T08:18:00.001-04:00

I got to spend some time with our Uprising Community Groups yesterday, really getting to see how the kids are learning and taking in the "BIG Story" survey.

It was fun, I love teenagers. And I especially love being there as they learn more and more about God's STORY. We talked about the latter prophets yesterday, and if you don't know, they are kinda crazy, but they have a crazy awesome message they are trying to relay. Last week it was the former prophets, and its a LOT of information. But the Uprising Leaders have been doing a great job bringing perspective to the Bible, and helping them see the BIG picture.

I was at the DC gals group, and the leaders Robin Whitford & Courtney McCrea were reviewing what they talked about last week, and then started talking about the prophets, and helping them place the prophets in a chronological order, and they started talking about one of the prophets and I don't remember which one, and how the people of God had fallen away from God, worshipping idols and then one of the girls pipes in and says, "That is SO annoying! Why do they keep on going away from God?"

It was cool to see how Robin & Courtney turned the question and asked her why do we sin? Why do we turn from God? Why do we make mistakes? It was a crucial moment in the group, because something clicked.

How many times do we read the Bible, and look at the Israelites and think or maybe verbalize how ridiculous it seems that they are being by worshipping idols, and not serving God? Over and over again. And again.

We tend to forget that we reflect the Israelites exactly!We serve him, love him, and then we hurt him, we turn from him and prioritize other things, we place things before God, and boom, we are in the same vicious cycle as the Israelites.

I love how Robin tied it all together: We don't want to just study the Bible and God's BIG story for the sake of studying it, but we need to see where we come from, and how we can learn from the Israelites mistakes and their successes and learn the HISTORY.

Sometimes we just need to get a perspective on the story of God and see how God demonstrates his love, and look for ways that he is doing that for us today.

The BIG Story (what story is your life telling?) Pt.4

2011-04-16T08:54:00.001-04:00

What stories are you telling with your life?

What stories are the choices you make telling?

Is it all about you?

It’s the little choices like what music is influencing you, as well as the big choices.What is the main plot of your story?

We have a choice, to trust God to author our story, and to write the plot, the storyline, the script. Or we can live a life separate from his authorship.

If someone was to pick up a book and its YOUR story from the very beginning until now, what would it reflect? What would your message be?

The story is BIGGER than we realize. God has made us, and every person before us with the desire to be a part of a story, a compelling story, an adventurous story.

And His desire is for you to be in a story. A Story SO great, SO big.

Regardless of what choices you have made, you can make a choice to move in a new direction, create a new plot, allow yourself to trust God to author to continue your story.

Today is one of those days that can become a mile marker, a new chapter in your story.

Once you decide what you want your life-story to be about, it makes the everyday decisions easy to make, because you know what you want your life to be about.

Your story is one that should be worth telling.

Live like it matters.

The BIG Story (My life as a story) Pt. 3

2011-04-15T08:47:00.001-04:00

What I love about my story is it goes back a little further than me.

My mom was born a hearing child to hearing parents Milton and Peggy Barbour. Milton, my granddad was overseas finishing a tour in Germany which meant he didn’t get to meet his first born daughter until she was around 9 months. This was about the time that my mom had been hospitalized for her asthma and she had gotten a fever, which became a scary life-threatening situation.

Through the medicine the doctors had given her, it ruined her hearing nerve and damaged her eardrums. She had lost most, if not all, her hearing.

Now imagine you are my grandma, Peggy Barbour. A little perspective. She had her baby girl while her husband was overseas finishing up his army tour. You are a single mom, you are hearing, and have not known anything but being hearing, and your daughter turns a little over a year, gets sick and now she can no longer hear.

I can imagine the horror, the fear, the questions she had for God. Why? Why me? Why my daughter?

What’s remarkable is my grandparents faith, and their willingness to allow God to work through them. They, in faith, sent my mom went to a deaf school, over 200 miles away from home. My mom was a brilliant student, and became influential while at this school. After high school, she decided to go to Gallaudet University, in DC.

It was here that she met one fellow student who in turn became her husband, Nicholas Charles LeFors Jr.

Through my mom, my dad entered a relationship with Jesus, and stepped into his calling of ministering to the deaf culture. And through their relationship, marriage and life, God has used them in miraculous ways to help people enter into a relationship with Jesus. They have declared the gospel across this globe through American Sign Language.

The thing is this, its no longer just a story about me complaining about having deaf parents, but knowing a little bit of my story gives me a little bit of context of God’s story woven through my family. And that’s only part of it.

Each one of us have a context of which our story comes. Not just our immediate family’s context, but we come with a greater heritage than that. We are smack-dab-in-the-middle of God’s BIG story.

The BIG Story (our lives as stories) Pt. 2

2011-04-14T08:42:00.000-04:00

We are attracted to great stories. We will pay money to sit for 2 hours and watch a good story play out in front of us. We will pick up a book or two or seven and read straight through the story that is told in those one, two or seven books.

There is something within us that loves cheering on the underdog. We love to watch adversity be overcome.

We love stories.

I mean, so many people are beginning to love the story of this little Canadian YouTube star turned megastar named Justin Bieber. (I was just talking to a friend the other night and they said after watching the movie, they became a “Belieber”. Its no longer just me folks.)

Each one of us have the makings of a story. We are living a story. Maybe you don’t see it, or don’t think you have a story, but you do. Where you come from, your family, who you hang out with, who you are influencing, the decisions you make. Each one of us are living a story. You have the choice to make that story good, bad or great.

What I love about the stories in the Bible, they aren’t stories that are glammed up. A prophet named Ehud, was left-handed and that was seen as a disadvantage compared to all the warriors in his time. Yet, he was obedient, trusted God and ended up taking out a king while he was relieving himself. (It doesn’t get much better than that!) Or the story of Ruth, where her husband died, and she remained faithful to her mother in law, and God totally blessed her, and put her in the line of King David, and eventually in the line of Jesus. Ruth didn’t know that in her lifetime, yet she left an epic legacy.

Each one of these stories are unique, and nothing special until you look at the BIG picture.

Your life is a story.

I think we tend to underestimate our lives. We just living our lives thinking we are going to do nothing significant. We are just trying to live each day, survive each day.

When I was about 7 years old, I remember realizing that I was different, that my family was different. I remember wishing my family was “normal”. Sure, no family is “normal”, but having parents, who were deaf, was not normal. I couldn’t just pick up a phone to call my mom at home, it was a tedious and quite annoying processes. My sister played the piano, and I remember going to recitals and wishing my parents could hear her play.

I remember asking God all these questions… Why my parents? Why couldn’t they be normal? Why couldn’t they just hear? I wished my life was normal. I was so caught up in only me, and my perspective that I hadn’t even taken the time or the energy to think of anyone outside of me.

And isn’t that the case most of the time? We get caught up in our stories, our lives, and its all about me, me, me.

Maybe its time for a perspective shift. What is the context of our stories? What made us, what brought us to this place?

What is the context of your story?

The BIG Story (Contextualization) Pt. 1

2011-04-13T09:35:00.001-04:00

For the next couple months we are going through the Bible in our Uprising Community Groups. The next couple blogs were the introductory talk sharing about the BIG STORY that is contained within the Bible and within our lives.

Have you ever wondered why we have the Bible?

Maybe you’ve wondered about its importance or significance.

Why do we read a book that was written thousands upon thousands of years ago?

There are stories of a donkey talking, a king turning into an animal for a bit, a guy actually putting his son on the altar to sacrifice him on a stone altar, you have a guy who is a prophet that walks around naked for three years to send a message from God.

Then there are the books of the Bible no one likes to read. Like Deuteronomy and Leviticus that go into the gory details of what you can eat, what you cannot eat, when you can go out, what you can and cannot do, and all of a sudden it just seems like the Bible is an outdated book with outdated information.

Have you ever told a story out of context? Or have you ever started telling a story and someone else has to pipe in and tell HIS OR HER side? Because it’s dramatically different story once you hear their side? I have many stories where just hearing one little snippet of a story could give you a WHOLE different impression as opposed to hearing the WHOLE story.

One example would be a story of the Carrot Cake.

Once you understand the context of the story, it brings new meaning and new understanding of the story. The same is with the Bible. When you read the Bible face value, you tend to miss out on the entire context of the Bible. Once you realize that it is a documentation of stories to reveal God’s glory and his ultimate story that is woven throughout the entire Bible, it brings Deuteronomy into a whole new light.

For God to map out each intricate detail for his people in specific ways demonstrates that he cares for even the tiniest of details of the Israelites, and the same is for us. Seeing God’s glory revealed throughout the Bible brings new perspective and new eyes for who God is.

The Bible isn’t just a bunch of compiled stories for us to read and take literally. (I better get those lambs bred & ready for my sacrifices…)

But its a compilation of stories for us to take within the context of God, his glory and how he orchestrates his plans according to HIS purposes.

I fall...

2011-04-07T09:18:00.000-04:00

(photo from Catalyst Space)

It all starts with a fall, and after that fall, I cannot help but laugh hysterically.

I mean Heather falls in front of the Lincoln Memorial after doing an impression of the Danny Zuko walk, and the first words out of my mouth are not, “Are you okay?” but more of inexplicable words that really are just me laughing hysterically.

Maegan totally lost her footing while running from the metro. Do I ask if she is okay? No. I just fall into hysterical laughter, which may or may not have ended up with me peeing my pants. (See more of my problem here.)

Well before you think I am all about laughing at other people when they fall, I have had my moment. Well its been more than one moment, but this is one that happened recently. But here is the tale of one of those times. And quite a time it was. You see, every year the NCC staff goes down to Catalyst in Atlanta, GA. I love traveling, and I love the people I work with so that is a major win! Plus getting to worship and learn with thousands of people is a major bonus!

One thing that I love about Catalyst, is that they think out of the box. They do things a little crazy. From the entrance, to the interactive elements in the conference, they weave the theme throughout the entire conference. Last year’s theme was “The Tension is Good.” They had rubber bands, balloons, people flying out of cannons, and much more. They also happened to have trampolines outside of the convention center. They were those little exercise trampolines. Not just one, but grouped in tens, twenties and some were just fives in a row. (See above picture)

Now who doesn’t love a little trampoline action? I mean I grew up on the little, medium and big trampolines. I have so many GREAT memories associated with trampolines. I had gained some confidence because Maegan and I had hopped our way into the conference in the morning. And to nobody’s surprise we did it with grace and class.

 Then I am not sure what happened between the morning and dinner. Everyone was leaving the conference and heading to their dinner of choice. Some were walking, and a lot of other people were stuck in the parking lot traffic jam trying to exit the convention center.

I saw that the trampolines again were not being utilized to their maximum usage, so I decided that needed to change. Change it I did. I am pretty sure I was the only one foolish enough to embark on the 30 or so trampolines ahead of me.

And embark I did, in my cute dress and boots with such gusto! Why do anything halfheartedly? One trampoline, to the next, and to the next… I am not sure what happened next, but it was a combination of my foot getting stuck in one of the trampoline’s spring coverings and my inertia that one second I was confidently jumping to sprawled all across the trampolines, in a dress.

And who do you think were there to observe and laugh at me? Yup, Heather and Maegan.

Oh how God works in mysterious ways.

(Check out Heather's blog on falling & Maegan's too!)

Big Booty Party!!

2011-04-04T08:29:00.000-04:00

Its definitely one thing to have a party, but its another to have a "Big Booty" Party.

I cannot tell you how many semi-awkward conversations I had leading up to this party. People were wondering if it was like Big Booty where you stuff your pants to make a big booty party (aahheemmm Mark Batterson hahaha) or where the connection was.

A couple things, I have the most incredible friends. Period. What I love is that Heather and Maegan go ALL out when it comes to parties. It was the bomb-dot-com. From the wordage to the party invites, it was an all out Pirate Adventure.. I mean Maegan was even talking in an Irish-Pirate accent. (Ask her about it.. she loves talking in accents... and I mean LOVES it!)

Thank you to each of you who came out, who donated, who text me, called me, wrote on my facebook wall, tweeted me! I am so grateful for you & thankful for the part you play in my life.

Be blessed. And here is to another year full of adventures! :-)

If you haven't donated, and would like to, check it out here: http://mycharitywater.org/jenileejoy

Adventures with Alexis in DC!!

2011-04-03T22:18:00.004-04:00

So, my cousin Georgia's daughter Alexis is hanging out with me for the first part of her spring break here in DC. She is a tall, gorgeous 13 year old gal and lucky for her, she is related to ME! :-)

Well, that is what I keep on telling her, but I am sure she is not convinced... yet.... hahaha.

Its been a crazy weekend, and we have a couple more stops tomorrow before I take her back to Williamsburg.. Its times like this where I am grateful I have family close enough to pick up and steal for the weekend, or go down for lunch for my Nana's birthday. What a blessing! :-)

Things we have done this weekend:

Saw a presidential motorcade
Alexis had her FIRST ever Chipotle experience. YUMM.
Shopped at Metro Center & Gallery Place
Went to the Capitol & Supreme Court
Ate at 7th Hill Pizza
Gave Alexis the grand ol' tour of Ebenezers, and she got to help & watch the NCC Variety Show
Watched Tangled with Summer & Michelle & me
Went to NCC's Potomac Yards Campus
Jumpstarted Joel's car.. (oops!)
Checked out Pentagon City
Walked all over Capitol Hill.. :-)

We have only one agenda tomorrow, to pick up Georgetown Cupcakes for a delivery to the Family. Yes, they are obsessed!! :-)

Crosswalk Kids go BIG for the Family Experience!

2011-03-24T17:09:00.004-04:00

(Design by Dylan Byrd)

"Everything is an experiment" is one of National Community Church's core values. A core value that Crosswalk Kids has taken to heart. As the childrens' ministry grows at NCC, we are constantly experimenting. This last Sunday was no exception.

We put on our FIRST EVER Family Experience (FX), where the elementary aged kids and their parents had an opportunity to worship together during our regular service time. We had wrestled with the decision, we thought through doing it after service and renting the theater a little bit longer, we had also though about doing it at a home, but in the end, we decided to experiment with having the FX during service for a couple reasons. One, the families with younger kids wouldn't have to search for sitters, or have only one parent able to join the service, and two, we decided that it would be a cool way to show the parents what goes on in the theater every Sunday for their child. The other element of the experiment was only trying it at one of the locations, Ballston.

Every year, Pastor Heather Zempel does the "Story" which is a 3 week class that goes through the Bible, from beginning to end. Nina and I had been in conversation with Heather from the beginning trying to figure out a way that we could do this with kids and families. We also use ReThink's curriculum, and loved the idea of having a "For Heaven's Sake" event. We decided to merge the two, and added a little bit of spice to the Sunday with our regular "Super Short Show" characters. And it became one BIG (and awesome) event.

BIG was our theme. "Go BIG or go home" was the mantra that I had set in my head for this event. We wanted to create an experience for both the kids and the families, but also an opportunity for conversations to begin both at church and at home. We talked about the BIG story, we had the characters of the Super Short Show be there in BIG person, we had BIG-in-their-face lighting, using our BIG theater screens, we sang "BIG House", AND each person got BIG glasses to prepare themselves for the BIG event. We had so many people invest their time and efforts into this FX, and it was a BIG success!!

It was a great Sunday, and I know I am excited to "experiment" with this again!

The goodie bags that we gave to each person coming to the Family Experience! (FX)

The Family Experience hosts entertain the attendees of the Crosswalk Kids FX. (See the BIG book? It hid one of our CWK Super Short Show characters for a skit!)

The Crosswalk Kids Super Short Show talk about being in God's BIG Story! (The Super Short Show is a intro and closing to our storytellers video)

One of our Uprising (NCC's Student Ministry) Students, Hannah, filming the FX

(All photos were taken by Yejin Oh)

(Post was originally written for Crosswalk Kids' Blog: www.theaterchurch.com/crosswalkkids/blog)

Big Booty Birthday

2011-03-24T07:37:00.001-04:00

Ummm…. So its my birthday on April 2nd.

It’s a sad reality of me adding another year to my current age. I think I am still mentally 22 years old, and yet the length of my existence isn’t getting shorter, its getting longer. and longer.

I am learning to embrace birthdays even when they begin to distance me in age from my friends, my students and children that I work with in my job. I’m not the young chap I once was.

With another year under my belt, I am choosing to believe that experience is far more valuable than inexperience. Or maybe that is something that I am telling myself to make me feel better. Regardless.

This year, I made the decision to throw a pirate themed party for my birthday. One, because pirates are cool, and it gives me a reason to talk like a pirate and utilize my best pirate jokes like, “What is a pirates favorite letter of the alphabet? Arrrrr(R).” And then burst into fits of laughter because I am “SO HILARIOUS!!”  

Aside from the pirate costumes and lame jokes, I decided to “donate” my birthday for a bigger cause. I have set a goal of raising $5,000 to build a well through Charity Water.
(http://mycharitywater.org/jenileejoy)

I have a party planned and would love to have you come…But even if you are unable to go, I would love to have you be a part of the building of the well. :-)

I am no longer a part of the United States...

2011-03-23T12:48:00.005-04:00

Welp.

There is no getting around it. It came the day where my license was expiring on my birthday this year. And since I no longer live in the state of Washington but in the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, it was time to change my residency.

And change it I did. Today.

And according to Stephen Colbert, I am not a part of the "United States of America" because I no longer live in a state, but a district, thus excluding me from the U.S. of A.

Let the adventures CONTINUE!!

I Have A Big Booty Goal...

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

You are INVITED TO: Jenilee's Big Booty Party!!!
Written by Heather Zempel:

Ahoy Mateys! Join the most fearfully energetic and dreadfully enthusiastic pirate to ever sail the seven seas-- Jenilee "The Joy" LeFors-- as she embarks on her next great adventure!

Captain Jenilee Joy wants to raise money to build a well through mycharitywater.org. Since the cost of a well is $5,000, she needs a lot of booty. She hopes to leverage her birthday to pillage and loot to raise funds for the well, and you are her victims.

So...if you dare to join, bring $10 ship dues (minimum) to Jenilee's Big Booty Party (and Birthday Bash) on April 2. There will be plenty of food, games, singing, and fun. Captain Jenilee will not be accepting any loot for her birthday-- except funds for her well. She does, however, strongly encourage costumes.

And for all of you landlubbers who cannot make it, you can still contribute to the cause here:

http://mycharitywater.org/jenileejoy

Jenilee's Big Booty Party
Saturday, April 2, 2011
6:00 pm at Zempel House

Just a piece of luggage!

2011-03-16T10:15:00.001-04:00

Ever since moving to DC I think I have chalked up several thousand air travel miles. It helps that I live in Washington DC, and am from Washington state.

Prior to my cross-country jump, I was notoriously known as the over-packer. I would pack for rain, snow, and sleet when going to a place that was tropical. Or I would pack 10 outfits for a 3 night trip.

“You never know what could happen while you are away” was my mantra.

I bought 2 pieces of luggage that were a gorgeous and bright orange color. No one is to ever mistake my luggage for theirs, it was that great!

Well something changed when I moved to the district. I became an efficient and strategic packer. I am not sure if it was the increase in the short trips via a plane, or if something just snapped when I moved, but I have gotten to the point where I can pack a whole weeks worth of stuff in a carry-on bag.

It must be pure talent. Yes, that is it.

Like I said, I have two pieces of luggage that are too big to carry-on, and was lacking in the carry-on luggage department. So I made the jump, and purchased a new carry-on piece of luggage, and it has changed my life.

Can luggage change your life? Yes, it can.

Here's to many more adventures with this new piece of luggage! That is all.

I've almost tripped people just for a laugh.. I have a problem.

2011-02-18T12:59:00.001-05:00

I have a problem.

I laugh. I laugh a lot. I laugh at appropriate times. I laugh at inappropriate times. Yeah, I said it, I laugh at inappropriate times.

And its not just at any inopportune times, its specifically when close friends (if they would even allow me to call them friends after what I do…) get hurt.

One day when I was walking the Lincoln Memorial with two dear friends, and one of them trips on a curb and literally goes parallel with the ground and does not land the fall gracefully. Not only was it not graceful, every surrounding person was in shock and immediately rushed to her aide. As for me, I proceeded to fall to the ground and roll on the ground in a fit of laughter. Not just any laughter, but the “I can’t breathe-snorting all over the place-tears from my eyes” kind of laughter. Do I ask if the friend is okay? No. I am in a fit of laughter, isn’t that enough? Apparently not. The said friend’s knee was hurting for three months after this event. Yeah, I am a great friend.

Another time I was ice-skating with a fun friend of mine. We were experts on the ice, and we had taken a pause, and all I hear is a yelp, I look over and my friend is flattened and completely sprawled out, back-side on the ice. Was my reaction one of concern? No. The laughing fit came over me and I was bawling my eyes out from laughing so hard. What is wrong with me?!

It almost gets to the point where I will go out of my way to potentially trip people to get a laugh. This is bad.

I was going to try and get help, but laughter is the best medicine right?

The Gambler - NCC Version

2011-02-02T09:41:00.001-05:00

Performed at the Leadership Retreat 2011. Such a fun version of the Gambler.. Props to Jeremy's rap & Sarah Bayot's choreographed dance moves! :-)

NCC's Gambler Remix from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Typical Staff Meeting at National Community Church

2011-02-01T21:02:00.002-05:00

We take our staff meetings at NCC very seriously.

Typical NCC Staff Meeting from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Passionate. Conviction. Reckless.(Revelations 1-3)

2011-01-24T09:34:00.001-05:00

Passionate. Conviction. Reckless.

Many people are passionate, convinced and reckless for their certain sports team. Whether it is football, basketball, baseball, NFL, NCAA, NBA, people are passionate, convinced, and reckless for their teams. People will go to great lengths to demonstrate their affiliation with their team. And especially when the winning comes, there is an even greater (almost obnoxious) passion. (Can anyone say Steeler fans?)

I don’t know if you have been in a room with Heather Zempel when she is cheering for her Alabama teams, or when Joel Schmidgall is going on and on about his Chicago teams, or in the room when Chris Jarrell is talking about his Steelers (ugh..), but there is a passion, a conviction, and a reckless pursuit of cheering their team on.

Every time I read these chapters in Revelation, I get the feeling that each church is missing one of those things. Each church missed the mark; they had lost their passion, their fire, and their reckless abandonment towards their heavenly Father. They were indifferent, neither hot nor cold, they had lost their first love, and the list goes on.

This may sound cliché or cheesy, but its true, we serve a heavenly Father who is the beginning and the end, Who IS, who WAS and who IS to COME. (1:8). I get convicted each time I read these chapters, because I wonder if I am pursuing God with passion, a conviction, and recklessness.

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1:6)

It’s the gospel, Jesus died on the cross to free us from our sins with HIS blood. It’s the least we can do for our “team/kingdom” to passionately love people, to passionately and with conviction spread his gospel, the good news. Listen closely to what God is trying to speak to you, to challenge your heart, your ways to bring you closer to him.

And remember: God is the beginning and the end, he will outlive, outlast and outplay any Steelers team!

(Go Packers!)

Dulles Airport, Chocolate Milk & Adventures

2011-01-13T08:23:00.000-05:00

I got caught.

I love taking people with me to do things, mundane things, exciting things, I love having people come along with me. A huge part of my discipleship with the youth kiddos is having them come with me when I do things, so they can see how I live out my faith in everyday life, exciting or not. I have a "Includer" strength and I have "Positivity" strength, which in turns means I invite people to join me whenever I can, AND I can change perspectives on mundane-not-so-fun tasks to a positive fun adventure! Let's be honest, its always funner (I know that is not a word, bear with me though) to do icky tasks with someone you can laugh with and have fun with.

It was Christmas break for Summer Joy a couple weeks ago, so it meant we were hanging out a lot, she was doing things with me, helping me run errands and it was a win-win, she was making my errands super-fun and full of laughter, and she wasn't sitting at home sulking over break. :-)

I had Summer spend the night one night, so we could get up early because I had agreed to pick up a friend from the airport, and not just any airport. Dulles Airport.

We got up at 6:30am, and all of a sudden Summer had taken a "grumpy-I'm-not-completely-awake-this-early-in-the-morning" pill.

"WHY are we up at 6:30am again? Tell me WHY?!" Summer asks.

I enthusiastically replied with, "Its gonna be an adventure that we will never forget!! It will be so much fun! Steffanie doesn't know you are coming, and it will be a great surprise!!"

As we got ready, fumbled around my house and left, we got in the car and were talking and I was again trying to "sell" the adventure we were going on. Summer said something that caught me in my tracks, and I knew I "got caught".

Summer exclaimed, "Adventures is just another way for you to drag me to things you don't want to do!"

I just about died laughing. Yeah, sure there are some things that I am not as enthusiastic about, and sure, I love including other people with me, so its not as drab, but Summer sure had some insight that day.

My response was this, "Yeah, sure adventures may be another word for doing things that I don't want to do, BUT I bring others and you along because it makes the things I don't want to do more fun! It gives us memories, opportunities to laugh about circling the airport TWENTY times waiting for Steffanie and her luggage."

And that is the honest truth. Adventures are, for me, taking the mundane and adding a little bit of the unknown to it, whether its adding a person, changing the route, and or extending offers to pick up friends from the airport and dragging middle-schoolers out of bed for it. I mean, where is the adventure in only dragging myself out of bed? Now I have a story of grumpy Summer AND a lot of things to laugh about.. (ie. Chocolate milk & donuts, circling Dulles, the creepy police man, going 5 mph while circling and starting a trend. Yes, it was an adventure indeed!)

Invite someone along with you on your next "mundane" task and create an adventure! Because the biggest opportunities for discipleship are shared experiences and just regular conversations that happen along the way.

I want to talk more & other New Years Goals....

2011-01-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, Okay, so it doesn't sound like the best New Years Resolution to want to talk more right? Wrong! :-)

I have been processing my goals for 2011. I even sat down with Heather Zempel last week (at Ted's Bulletin no less) to solidify them, and tweak them a little, add to them and such.

One of them is to speak more blessings into people's life and into existence. You see, I was struck by Isaac's blessing to Jacob and to Esau. It was the tradition to speak blessing over the off-spring/children. Sometimes I wonder why it stopped?

When we are engaged in a conversation with someone about a new topic or something we don't know about, it is as though the next week you are seeing things or hearing conversations that relate to that one topic. It is put on your reticular activating system in your brain. The more conversations you are having about your friends' new car, the more you will see it on the streets, not because everyone bought it at the same time as them, but its on your radar.

The same thing with spoken blessings, and words spoken. I am learning, and believe that if I am to speak a blessing and or a prayer over a friends life, it is put on their reticular activating system, and they are going to be able to trace it back to the blessing spoken over them.

When talking or praying with a student about an upcoming situation that is stressing them out, being able to pray with them, speak words of life and blessing into them, and then help them see the blessing, answered prayers and talking through that.

I want to talk more of God's greatness, his goodness, faithfulness AND I want to be a speaker of life to those around me.

So yeah, I want to talk more in 2011.

A Franciscan Benediction

2011-01-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

During our Uprising Leader meeting on Sunday night, I felt the need to get on our knees and pray for a little while. The act of getting on my knees, for me is an act of humbling ourselves before God, but also keeping us in the posture of discomfort. After our meeting, Cori Wittman emailed all of us, sharing this prayer.

I pray that you will be in a posture of humility and discomfort before the Lord this year.

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy

May God bless you with foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor

Brian McArthur & Bolivia. He needs YOUR help!

2011-01-10T13:23:00.005-05:00

One of our Uprising Leaders is heading out to Bolivia for a year. I love his story, and how he came to take this leap of faith. Brian is in the last month of gathering supplies for his time down there.. Here is the "Genesis" story for him:

The idea for this program was born during a short term mission trip to the Bolivia Life Center over New Years 2010 through National Community Church. On this trip God laid it on my heart to come back and work with these boys on a more permanent basis, ideally incorporating my love of the outdoors into a therapy program that would address their needs as trauma victims.

He has a great task in front of him, thank goodness he serves a GREATER God who is exceedingly and abundantly able to do more than Brian or we can ask or imagine!

Below is a list of things he needs to effectively run this therapy program. The list is huge, and your help is WAY-beyond appreciated! :-)

Supplies needed

Corporate Donation/Support Letter

Risky Faith - Bolivia & Brian

2011-01-10T13:06:00.002-05:00

What I love about being a part of NCC, is the culture of doing these crazy things is actually a norm. Right when I arrived, Adam Taylor was being sent off to Ethiopia. Ten months later, one of my closest friends in DC, Cori Wittman took the leap across the world to Thailand, risking the known and jumping into the unknown in Thailand to help rescue and rebuild gals enslaved in sex-trafficking. At the end of this month I have another friend Brian McArthur who is moving to Bolivia. Brian led faithfully led one of our Uprising guys group this last year.

Its this risky faith, stepping into the unknown.

We had a meeting with our Uprising (NCC's Student Ministry) Leaders, and in talking through the book, Almost Christian by Kenda Creasy Dean the work with the teenagers is not something to be taken lightly. It requires a tangible faith of sorts. It requires us to be able to articulate our faith and to set an example of an authentic risk-taking faith.

Both of those who go abroad and those who are leading students require a authentic-risk taking-call to arms-kind of faith. Its my prayer that I won't take my task as a leader lightly, but I will live out my faith with authenticity and courage.

One question I am asking our leaders to answer in two weeks is this: What is one risky thing you are doing in 2011 that requires faith and or miracles?

What about you?

The impossible promise from God (Genesis 15-18)

2010-12-31T09:05:00.001-05:00

A promise was made, a covenant – sealed. And yet there was still anxiety and disbelief in God, the maker of the covenant from both Abraham and Sarai. They were promised something that was seemingly impossible – descendants as numerous as the stars, and apparently the jokes on them, because they were 100 and 90 years old respectively with no kids.

I cannot even begin to imagine what was going through their heads as they hear this promise from God, and really want to choose to believe it, yet reality is staring them square in the face and they have got nothing, and its an impossible situation.

What is the seemingly impossible promise God has made to you? What is staring you square in the face and you are almost to the point of disbelief and laughter at what God has promised you?

My prayer is that in 2011 that God will reveal the impossible and promise the inconceivable and we will be in a place where we hold true to those promises, risk our sanity and need to figure out HOW things are going to happen and trust God knowing that his ways are better than mine.

“…For I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” (Genesis 15:1)

(from NCC's From Garden to City's blog on 12/31/2010)

"You should sign instead.." & other things that destroyed my self-esteem...

2010-12-14T10:03:00.002-05:00

I was an aspiring singer when I was five years old or so. The vacuum magically was transformed to my microphone and microphone stand. The jump-rope was no longer a recreational toy but my microphone into which I would sing my heart out. I think for my 7th or 8th birthday I got one of those microphones that echoes back at you, I was on top of the world.

I grew up going to church and a Christian school, so there was always a plethora of Christmas productions. Annual Christmas productions. With every production, there was an opportunity to audition for solos, duets, or ensembles. Every time the date of the auditions were announced, I mentally prepared myself, memorized the words of the solo, and conditioned my voice at home on that good ol' trusty vacuum-turned-microphone.

I don't remember when I auditioned for my first solo. But I do remember after my audition when they made the announcement of those who got the solos; I remember being crushed. But there was ALWAYS next year. Next year rolled around. I don't remember if I did anything to prepare for the solos, but I made sure I signed up for the auditions. Again - nothing.

Now I remember in third or fourth grade, I was close friends with this gal whose parents were also deaf. We both were auditioning for the same solo. She got it, and I got, "Jenilee, how about you sign for the deaf parents that come to the concert/production?"

"Okay," I thought. I knew that the deaf parents definitely needed someone to sign for them. I thought nothing of it.

Then it happened again. Same friend and I went out for the solo, and she got the solo and I got the signing. I remember being a little devastated, and in the conversation with the choir director, she mentioned that, "I was the only one that could sign," and the signing was very important for the deaf parents.

It hit me. My friend who got the solo could sign just as well as I could.

Middle School came around, and the only elective was choir, so I joined it. Trust me, by this time I had long given up trying out for solos. I still loved singing. The faux microphones were long gone, but I loved singing. I am not sure if I can recall exactly what song we were going over in practice (it probably was a Jars of Clay song or the sort) when it happened. I was in the front row, singing loud, and getting really into it, and the choir teacher grabbed my shoulder, and told me that I need to quiet down and not sing as loud. She might have asked me to sign for the rest of the semester for "all those deaf parents". (okay not really, but that would've been funny.)

That was it. I decided then and there I was no longer singing in a choir or trying out for any kind of solo.

Fast Forward six years to the summer before my junior year in college. I was in conversation with Brenda Rasmussen, and she was telling me how her husband Phil had heard me singing during the church's summer camp and mentioned to her how I should join my college's choir - Choralons.

FAT CHANCE.

I explained to Brenda in the most delicate way possible. I told her people don't want me or like me to sing. They would always ask me to sign whenever I auditioned for solos. This was obviously a sign that I was not a good singer. There was no need to join a choir, let alone AUDITION to even GET into the choir. No thank you.

I don't know how she did it, but she got me to audition, and she didn't ask me to sign during my audition (although we joked about it, laughing about how funny that would be.) :-) I made it into the choir with my own voice—not my hands—and I survived the audition and two years with Choralons.

I laugh at this story, share this story, and poke fun at myself. I find it interesting that the words of several people put into my mind this insecurity that I couldn't sing. It took years and a persistent friend to encourage me to audition again and sing in a choir again. She saw/heard potential in me, and though it took time, several conversations and joking around for me to allow myself to face those insecurities.

I wonder how many people are paralyzed by insecurity because of an earlier incident? And how many of those who are paralyzed can be set free with someone who believes in them?

It took only one person to believe in me.
It only takes one person believing in someone.

Who are you believing in? Investing in? Seeing through the junk and pulling out the potential?

Fumbling around in the Dark (Isaiah 48-50)

2010-12-11T08:30:00.001-05:00

When I was thirteen I entered my home after babysitting. It was late and the lights were off. I opened the door and took one step into the house. Before I could get to the light switch I got to my brother’s extensive-yet-quite-annoying matchbox car city all in the walkway of our house. I lost my balance and tumbled to the ground. I remember coming close to cursing my brother because this wasn’t the first time this had happened. It probably happened hundreds of other times. I would never know what to expect when entering our house because it was dark.

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in the darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. “ - Isaiah 50:10

There are seasons of life that sometimes feel like you are walking into a dark room with things seemingly set out to puncture your feet and lose your balance (like those dumb matchbox-cars). Sometimes you may feel blindsided with a circumstance that knocked the wind out of you. Maybe you feel like you have no direction over your life and you are wandering aimlessly.

I have heard more in the last month of friends, acquaintances and family that are going through situations that are confusing, frustrating, and they are just overwhelmed. When they think things can’t get worse, they do.

What do you do in those situations? Why does it feel like sometimes we are wandering in the darkness rather than clinging to God’s glorious light? I don’t pretend to know the cure-all answer to why circumstantial things happen, but I do know this: God gave his Son, in human form because he wants a relationship with us. He wants us to trust him, to give him our all, regardless of the circumstances. God knows that its dark, frustrating and hard, but he wants to be our source and our center.

I pray that through these times for my friends, families and you that you will cling to the source of life, the only one who is worthy of our trust.

This blog was written for National Community Church's From Garden To City Blog.

I have a FRIEND named Josiah!!

2010-12-10T10:01:00.001-05:00

So, I have this friend named Josiah.

You see, he's not just any friend, he is a very-cool-and-awesome 8 year old friend.

Its been one of those friendships where I was more excited to be his friend in the beginning, but I think he is having a change of heart. Or maybe its I have gone crazier trying to get a little smile from the kid. :-)

Regardless, Josiah is pretty awesome - I got to hang out with him earlier this week, and we make a pretty good Apples to Apples team, despite what his brother and sister think. :-)

November 2009

May 2010
November 2010

The Dilemma of Including & Wooing (a story about baked goodies)

2010-12-08T09:36:00.001-05:00

I enjoy baking from scratch. I like the challenge (the oh-so-hard challenge of reading and following a recipe. Doesn’t sound hard, but following directions are a challenge for me in and of itself). I love the rewards of time and heart-felt goodness that comes out of the oven when the timer rings. The thing is, when I bake, I can never eat it all in its entirety by myself, so when I do bake, its almost always to share. I think my WOO (Winning Others Over)& Includer strengths have a huge part to play in this. I love building relationships with people over food, and I like for everyone to share the wealth. But those two dang strengths have gotten me in trouble when it comes to bringing fresh-baked goods to work.

Here is a little story:
Late last summer (August 15th to be exact) I was asked to bring a dessert to dinner with some friends (fellow Protégés), and I decided I wanted to make a cake from scratch. Not just any cake, but I felt a carrot cake would suffice the challenge I felt myself ready to take on. I went to the neighborhood Safeway bought the ingredients that were called for by the recipe and went home. I began the peeling process, and I hand-grated each carrot, because being a poor single gal in the city, who has the money to buy a food processor? Not me.

After laborious moments (what felt like hours) of shredding and grating the carrots, I found my hands to be bright orange. I continued on and set the cake in the oven. All that was left was to wait and tweet.

The tweet read like this: “Making Carrot Cake from scratch & I think I may have
stained my hands orange... #thethingsIdoforfellowProteges :-)”

Well, I got a text immediately following that twitter update from one protégé director Heather Zempel mentioning that she loves Carrot Cake, and how I best show honor to my one protégé director by sharing with her. Being the loyal and gracious person that I am, I decided to stop by to the Zempel household right when the cake came out of the oven, while it was still warm and give them the first three pieces of the cake, BEFORE I even went to the dinner.

The cake was a hit both at the Zempel household, and at the Protégé dinner, which was encouraging and exciting for little miss Betty Crocker-in-the-making, also known as me. :-) There was enough for four small slices of cake left after the party, and I didn’t need to bring it home, because like I mentioned, I like to share!

The next 24-hours created a debacle that has TOO many miscommunications and assumptions to put into one blog, but what happened is this: I woke up late for my shift at Ebenezers Coffeehouse, and I arrived a half-hour late. I brought the remainder of the cake to share with my fellow baristas as a peace offering for me being late. Chris Howell saw the carrot cake on the “day-old” bin at Ebenezers while I was working. Key word: ON the day-old bin. Being the little tattle-tale that he is, he ran to Heather’s office and told her that Jenilee was just throwing away the cake. He returned to Ebenezers to take the remainder of the cake to Heather’s office where they feasted in her office. I checked my phone an hour or so later, to see this twitter from one Heather Zempel.

“is grateful for loyal proteges, like @chrishowell85. Other proteges, like @jenileejoy,
are still casting their pearls to swine. :)”

To say that there was some dissension between Chris, Heather and I would be an understatement. Chris was all of a sudden glorified to all, and I was thrown to the pigs. All Chris did was carry a tray, I labored for hours on this cake, and the thanks I get was this tweet?

I have baked several things since then, being cognizant of all players in the previously mentioned story and making sure they all are included in getting a share, but it hasn’t worked. I just want them all to like me, and the whole baking goodies to bribe their friendship isn’t working out so well… Since they turn their backs on me in a quick second. (hahaha!)

Dang Includer strength.
Dang WOO.

*Side Note: In all honesty - I love Heather Zempel & Chris Howell. We all tease because we love, and I just felt I need to tease them a little, because that is what friends do. :-)

The Pink Panthers ROCKED my world

2010-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

I think it may have started when I was 5 years old when I joined my first team-sport.

Team Name: Pink Panthers.

Let’s just talk about this: any team with the name “Pink Panthers” is bound to dominate whatever they find themselves doing. In my case it was soccer.

From the time I was 5 years old, until high school I played on a soccer team. Some of my fondest memories when I was younger include soccer. One of the largest scars on my leg can be attributed to soccer. You can’t play soccer effectively by yourself. It takes teamwork to pass the ball, to strategize to complete a goal, to efficiently play defense. The goalie cannot be the only one playing against the opposing team.

Maybe it was the Pink Panthers that started the team-mentality that I place so much value on in my life. I love playing team sports, working with teams, on teams, and coaching teams.

I love that teams have a unique value on each individual.
The goalie has to have a different skill-set than the midfielder. Both have to be committed to the team, and have similar basics, but gosh-dang it, I am not the fit to be an all-star goalie, but because they are different than me doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on the team. I love that within the NCC Family Ministries Team we are very different. Uniquely bringing gifts to the team.

I love that teams win & lose together.
Sure, I may have scored three of the three goals for the 3-0 win the Pink Panthers had one game (may or may not be fictional. You choose. ), but it wasn’t me that won. The Pink Panthers won. I couldn’t have scored those goals as a 5 year old by myself. It was strategic passing, it was the goalie blocking the goal with excellence. The next week we might have lost, but we lost as a team. We can celebrate individuals on the team, but when it comes down to it, its “all for one, one for all.” Everyone pulls their weight, works as hard as they can and we truly win as a team and lose as a team. A couple months ago I dove in head first into a project with the Family Ministries Team at NCC and there was a lot of uncertainty but I knew that a moment of felt vulnerability and feeling like I was alone was short lived. They've got my back and I have theirs. If this project soars, we all win. If it tanks, we all lose and bounce back with the next crazy hair-brained experiment.

I love that teams have to practice, practice and practice together.
Skill Drills: Gosh, sometimes I hated skill drills, I also hated running laps. It takes practice for a team to “gel”, to work together efficiently, and it takes practice. Teamwork takes intentional time investing in the team and team members. We would practice four to six hours a week for a hour-long game. I always remember as a child wondering why we did such foolishness – but if you don’t take time to practice together, it falls apart in the game. I don't know if this is a saying from someone else or me, but I believe that the team who plays, laughs, and prays together are setting the stage for effective work time or game time.

I love that teams have coaches.
Having someone yell at you during the game is never something you think is “just awesome”. But they are the people who keep you in check, in the right place, and ask the right questions, even if its “What are YOU DOING?!” Its hard to have a team if you don’t have someone leading or directing the team, and teams need that. Let’s just say that practices wouldn’t be filled with half the drills we did, but the coaches knew what was good for us to develop as a team. I love the Small Group model currently being employed by NCC's Discipleship team - each small group leader has a coach.

I am a part of some pretty spectacular teams. Some teams I am the coach, some I am a player, and some I am on the third string. Regardless of my role, I love being able to be a part of a team.

What teams are you on? What do you love about teams?

Confession: I have the Bieber Fever

2010-12-03T14:53:00.004-05:00

I may or may not have purchased the Justin Bieber “100% Official” First Step 2 Forever: My Story book a couple weeks ago. I definitely had to explain myself to the Barnes & Noble cashier – giving the whole “I work with kids and teenagers” excuse.

As someone who works with middle school and high schoolers, I have to stay relevant. Right? I got an email from my brother after he read my friend Jenn’s blog and he said, “I have a feeling you have the Bieber Fever.”

Uh-Oh. Is that what this is called? Well, call it “working with teenagers” or “Bieber Fever”, regardless – I like this kid, his story (from which I read in the book) and his music.

I tried to think of some cool way to connect this to how I relate to the girls, and or to my job… All I know for sure is that I am going with the girls and a fellow Uprising Leader (who will remain nameless at this point…) to go see his film documentary come February, so I guess shared-experiences is one way that benefits from me having what my brother calls, “Bieber Fever”.

The book, and book cover-turned-Justin-Bieber-poster has made its rounds in the office, and has been the start of many conversations about dear ol’ Justin.

Sometimes being relevant means you take some hits for the team. Team Bieber that is.. (haha!)

Seattle Snow & my adorable nephews & niece!

2010-11-24T13:31:00.003-05:00

Tons of snow and cold weather has blanketed the Seattle area. Reports have been flying in since the fall that its going to be a doozy of a winter. I am kind of excited for the Northwest to experience (hopefully) what we got to experience here in DC last winter. :-) It may be a maliciously-based thought. Regardless.

My sister and brother in law have three ADORABLE kiddos, and this picture captures the beauty of the pre-Thanksgiving snow and their beautiful kids. Love them, love my family.

I am so thankful for family and miss them especially being so far away this week.

Wait, Waiting & Trust (Psalm 130-133)

2010-11-24T13:08:00.001-05:00

This blog was written for National Community Church's From Garden to City Blog.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord.” – Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV)

Waiting or patience: Neither of which are my strong-suit. I have a hard time waiting for things I want or desire. I am personally working on being the person that God wants me to be, and yet I feel like a failure most of the time. I see someone older than me and wish I was as deep in my faith as them. I see one of my peers and wish I could love others unconditionally like they do (which I find so hard to do).

Failure, stupidity, and vulnerability are all words that both my friend and I used while at coffee this morning. And as I recount the conversation I had with her, she mentioned that it’s easy to say you trust in God, but sometimes I just want to know and not have to worry. It’s easier said than done to wait on the Lord, to put confidence in his word, and to have hope through that.

What does trusting in God or waiting on God looks like? I had a conversation with a mentor earlier this week about wanting to be confident in my job, in myself, and to have a deeper relationship with Christ; yet all these things take a leap of faith in waiting and trusting in God. I have hope because his word never fails and is constant in my times of need and in my good times. As I navigate what it means to trust in God, I am curious how your soul waits on the Lord?

I love how the NLT version brings a different perspective on this verse:

“I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord.” – Psalm 130:5-6 (NLT)

I am continually learning and learning some more on what it means to trust and count on the Lord. I think it’s easy to speak those words, but to live it out is harder. I am striving to truly surrender my soul to trust in him, to wait on him, one day at a time.

What is your favorite Christmas Song?

2010-11-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

Because there are only a few Thanksgiving songs, if any, I figured I should begin my search for the best Christmas song for this season! :-) 35 days remaining people!

I love all sorts of Christmas songs - I have a few timeless favorites, and well, hoping to get some more! I just bought the Christmas Glee CD! Here are a few of my faves:

1.) All I want for Christmas is you - Mariah Carey (scratch that, the whole CD is awesome!!!)
2.) Last Christmas - Taylor Swift (actually, her whole CD is awesome too!)
3.) Don't Save it all for Christmas Day - Celine Dion
4.) Ave Maria - Celine Dion
5.) Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Natalie Grant
6.) Joy to the World - Natalie Grant
7.) 2000 Decembers Ago - Joy Williams.

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs/CD's? :-)

Like I said earlier - 35 days people!! :-)

The Next Generation (Psalm 78)

2010-11-18T10:30:00.001-05:00

I am in the middle of some curriculum writing, meeting with creative people to help engage the kids and students of National Community Church into the story of God, and how it is relevant to them today, and to captivate them with the brilliant, amazing, miraculous stories that we find in the Bible.

I was reading Psalm 78 this morning, and I love the instruction given to the people:

4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

Seeing children and teenagers grasp the Gospel, and not only hear about the glorious deeds of the Lord, but see them and experience them for themselves is my constant prayer as I go through this process of developing our curriculum. I want each individual life that is within range of seeing the curriculum that we do, or hear it, it is my hope that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt about His power and mighty wonders!

7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.

It is our responsibility to share with the next generation the goodness of God, so that they can set their hope anew on God. How are you investing into the next generation, ensuring that they don't forget his glorious miracles? And how can they remember it, if they have never been told it?

Share your story with someone younger than you. Invest in one's life, its only biblical. :-)

....and if you need help finding younger people to invest in, talk to me, I know kids and teenagers alike! :-)

37 days and Counting....

2010-11-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Some people have been giving me a hard time about getting excited for Christmas. Some claim I am not Thankful enough, or giving Thanksgiving enough credit (don't want to mention any names...ahem Nina Schmidgall).

I love Thanksgiving, and I love Christmas. Both holidays bring special meaning to me. All that to say, the Christmas decorations are going up - Union Station has their Christmas wreaths up (to which I definitely ran into a HUGE cone to get the picture below... embarrassing.), stores have the decor up and my ringtone has been changed to Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is yooouuuuuuu, baby!"

As the holidays draw near - I am working on taking time to be grateful, thankful, and to be sure that I express it adequately. All that to say, I am so thankful I am where I am at. I'm thankful for my church, my community, my friends, my home, my family. So much more.

As the holiday decor goes up, I am working on making sure I express adequately my excitement for the holidays as well as demonstrate my thankfulness for the people in my life. :-)

37 days and counting BABY!! :-)

A Tale of 2 Leaders

2010-11-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

In the last couple months, I have become close friends with some of the gal youth leaders at Uprising/NCC. Its been a blessing to be in the trenches with them, sharing wins and struggles with them personally, and then also within the context of ministry. They are gals that I simply adore, and quite honestly have done such a phenomenal job investing in the students at NCC.

So much so, that its been to my detriment.

You see, I call these gals to hang out, to watch TV together, to go to coffee, you know, all the things friends do, but last Saturday was different. I had just gotten back from Seattle and Baltimore, and was trying to see how I could hang out with my friends, perhaps on that Saturday. I sent a text to both, asking what they were doing on Saturday, and the first response came...

"I'm hanging out with so and so, we are going to check out her stable, and horses and such..."

Okay, one was out - she was hanging out with an gal from her Uprising Community Group. I couldn't be upset or ask her to change her plans, but there was always the second friend/leader. Then her response came:

"I am going with so and so to hang out with her and help her cheer on her little brothers at their soccer game..."

And then another one was gone... And she wasn't just hanging with anyone, but it was with a gal in her Uprising Community Group.

I may have sulked for a minute, wondering what I was going to do that weekend, but then I realized something really cool. These two gals were doing what I have been trying to impress to all our Uprising Leaders: Live life with these students, don't just hang out with them in Community Groups.

I believe in the importance and value of not just leading the students from group time, but in daily life. Make memories with the students, because in those moments you establish relationship and trust, and that trust will help you speak into their lives.

I have great Uprising leaders...almost TOO great. :-)

The oh-so-elusive Calling (Part 3)

2010-11-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been in a place where the odds were against you? Have things people said affected the way that you approached ministry? What is your motivation for ministry? To further your agenda?

I applied for an internship. A non-paid ministry internship. in DC, across the United States of America from Washington State. Yikes!

June rolled around, the girls I mentored since their 6th grade year graduated High School, I received word that I got the internship and put in my notice at the church. In my mind I figured I could intern for a year, meet some people, and find a job somewhere in DC or on the Hill. I worked at a Law Firm for two months in July and August, and made the leap in September.

Sitting, bawling in Heather Zempel's office the second night I was in DC, asking her questions about how she came to where she was today and telling her my story and journey to DC. She was a woman in ministry, she majored in Engineering, and here she was, influential and walking in humble confidence, and I wanted to know how she got to where she was and what was her process. I had entered into a relationship where there was a safe place, and an example (among many at NCC and in DC) of a leader that I wanted to emulate and learn from.

I took Strengthsfinder 2.0, and learned to recognize my strengths. It’s easy to look at what you are not good at, or even recognizing what God has gifted you with, and only seeing them as weaknesses and a source of failure. I was able to grasp a little of how God saw me.

Its was easy for me to loose sight of how God saw me, and it was little reminders from the team that I was a part of at National Community Church that reminded me how divine God's timing was and how he he placed me here for such a time as this.

It was a year of faith. Trusting that God was going to provide financially. Trusting that God was going to allow the year to be a year of restoration of my joy, and my heart. Trusting that God would heal me from the hurt. Trusting that God would restore and allow me to be in ministry again, for the right motivation, and right purpose.

The trusting God thing proved to be a little tricky (okay ALOT tricky, and not easy). It meant I had to get real with my emotions, with myself, and I had to get vulnerable, with people I didn't even know well (felt like it was not much longer than weeks). I felt like my heart was ripped out multiple times, but in reality it was God taking my heart and doing surgery on it. Restoring it. Healing my heart.

I am still in process, still learning from my experiences, and still trusting God that he is guiding and directing my steps.

The oh-so-elusive Calling (Part 2)

2010-11-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

"Its not fair that you get to be called a pastor and you majored in Political Science and History. If I would have known that I could've majored in Business and could've been a pastor, I definitely wouldn't have majored in ministry."

I heard this within the first three months of working on staff at my new job as a part of the youth team

I never thought twice about having the title Youth Administrator until I wasn't included on the "Pastor's Retreat". I think that was one of the first disappointments I experienced in my job.

I never really had a second thought about being a woman in ministry until the parents of their son were questioning my leadership ability as a single gal on a missions trip to Honduras.

"When are you going to DC?" was a common question posed to me almost daily, but for sure weekly in the three years as a youth pastor. Nothing makes you feel like you missed the mark when a dream you felt strongly about falls flat in front of you. Nothing like reminders of the lost and shattered dream.

The three years I was on staff as a youth pastor, it was a weird vortex of not being a male youth pastor or a pastor's wife. I was a gal, that happened to be on staff as a youth pastor. I went through the process of getting credentialed with the Assemblies of God, so that I could have the title "pastor". I remember walking through those years feeling extremely lonely, extremely different and felt like I had a chip on my shoulder to prove my calling, prove that I had something to bring to the table - despite my gender, marital status and despite my major in political science.

There was a moment in the third year, where I had decided to give up doing anything in ministry. I figured the girls were graduating, and I was ready to be done. I loved working with my girls, and being a part of the team, but my job becoming more and more consuming and I wasn't able to work with the kiddos in the capacity I felt gifted or desired to do. I had allowed the chip on my shoulder to grow, and it had consumed me. My job was no longer about being in the ministry, but trying to prove who I was, and why I deserved to be in the position I was in.

Anything outside of ministry and the church realm was appealing. Running a soccer league, working at a law firm, working retail or whatever would come my way. I had lost they joy in my job, and in ministry.

Then I went to a conference where I heard a pastor speak about his church and ministry in DC. I checked and double checked his blog, twitter, and checked out their church's website. Could this be too good to be true?

Was the next step DC? Was this dream becoming a reality? Was this really what I wanted to do, to step into another ministry role/context?

The oh-so-elusive Calling (Part 1)

2010-11-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

From the moment I decided to step into vocational ministry I have had many moments trying to decipher what THE elusive calling was for my life. I do not claim to know nor have I staked claim on the every detail of my calling, or my life, but I do know where I have been, and how it has shaped where I am today. A part of my processing through my journey is writing it down, and thus using the vehicle of my blog to process my story.

I grew up in a Pastor's family, and was always involved in some sort of ministry starting in elementary school, maybe even earlier. My middle school and high school years were peppered with working in the nursery, helping greet at the youth service, I remember helping with "follow-up" in ninth grade calling visitors to youth group.

My senior year in high school I made a conscious decision to lead a group of middle school girls along with my two good friends Chantel (Buxton) Rohr & Rachel (Allen) Gonzalez. We'd each taken a grade, and the sixth grade girls were mine. This was the same year that I started working as the assistant to the youth pastor.

I remember feeling compelled to stay with my 6th graders until they were out of Middle School, then something happened. I remember making a decision to want to see these girls graduate high school. Not just be on the sidelines watching, but to be actively engaged in their lives as their mentor, as their friend, as their advocate.

I began my sophomore year at Northwest University and changed my major mid year from Elementary Education to Political Science and History. I began to have this unexplainable desire to move to DC. I remember thinking how I was going to work on the Hill, maybe dabble in politics, change the world, and that was that. I had taken a trip out to DC the summer before my senior year in college.

In my senior year in college I distinctly remember trying to figure out how I was going to move to DC and still mentor and lead the group of girls. I remember playing their graduation scenario out in my mind, thinking of how they could come visit me in DC for their senior trip. I planned to move to DC, and told everyone about it.

Four weeks before I was to graduate college, I had a meeting with the President of my University, and had incidentally had a meeting with the Dean of Chapel rescheduled back to back. The meeting with the President went amazing, he offered personal letters of recommendations to any organization or office that I would want to work at in DC.

Not even twenty minutes later, I found myself in the office of the Dean of Chapel's office talking to him about my dreams about being in DC, and I remember telling him specific things that I felt called to do in DC.

The tables turned. He had been wanting to meet with me too, and proceeded to offer me a job at the church I had grown up at to be on a youth team along with a couple other guys. It wasn't going to be a secretary position, but a pastor position with administrative duties.

Me, a major in Political Science and History, a single gal, coming on staff as a youth pastor?

I took the job.

Two Broken Wrists

2010-11-02T09:43:00.000-04:00

The summer before my 6th grade year I did something that would ruin anyone’s summer vacation– I broke both of my wrists at the same time. Not just one, not just a finger, but I broke BOTH of my wrists at the same time in the middle of the summer vacation while in Colorado. Gone were the days of jumping in the pools! Gone were the days of swinging or doing anything really that required my hands and or wrists.

The trip to the Emergency Room in Colorado was not fun. Wearing the cast for months on end (or so it felt like) was not fun. It was painful and it automatically eliminated me from any sort of fun summer activity. I basically got to sit around all summer. Boo.

“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have broken rejoice.” (Psalm 51:8)

I was instantly brought back to my sixth grade school year, because I definitely was going to share my story of breaking both my arms to my friends, but I remember one of my fellow classmates had broken their wrist (just one, not two, like me…) over the summer, and they didn’t go to the doctor in time, and in that time, their wrists had healed incorrectly, thus forcing the doctors to have to “re-break” their bones, so that it would heal right, and they would have more usage of their wrists than had they left it healed incorrectly.

I don’t think that through my friend’s re-breaking of their bone that they were rejoicing. It was painful, and required healing time. I couldn’t help but wonder in what situations is God breaking my bones, and shaping me into the person he wants me to be? And in those situations am I rejoicing in those times where I am becoming more like Christ even though it hurts like crazy? I am trying.

The healing process is not fun, but it is necessary, and I still have two great working wrists – for which I am extremely grateful – especially when it comes to communicating to my parents.

(Try signing to deaf parents with two full arm casts. Try it – I dare you… Or not.. haha)

Sexy Lexy is getting married!!

2010-11-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

The days until one of my best friends is getting married is down to the single digits.

Alexa Nichole Smith.

I remember meeting Alexa for the first time when I was hanging out with her older sister Erika. It wasn't until several years down the road that I got to know Alexa. We both were leading girls at TrueLife Student Ministries. When I got hired on staff at BCA, I had recruited (or maybe manipulated.. its all in the past now.. haha) Alexa and two other gals to work with me in being a small group leader to the Sophomore Gals. We met at Alexa's house, and that was the moment I remember becoming close friends with her. I mean when you lead a group of girls and they can be convinced to name their group the Sassy Monks, a brain child of Alexa, you know you have a good thing at hand. :-)

Alexa began to help me outside of leading the group of gals, with the administrative details and things with my job, and then it became pretty soon that we were inseparable. We had begun our Restaurant Adventures, trying new restaurants in Everett. We shared an office, and had middle of the day office dance parties and throughout the days had laughing sessions, venting sessions, all the while accomplishing our duties.

It was with Alexa that I began my insatiable quest for adventures. Not necessarily super expensive money adventures, but doing the same things in Everett but through new eyes, or choosing to do one new thing when we hung out.

Things that I did with Alexa (or as I affectionately call her Sexy Lexy):
⁃ a SeaPlane Tour over Seattle
⁃ Planned, Coordinated and Produced the craziest Events for BCA.
⁃ Went to Gas Works park for the first time with Lex
⁃ Went to the Hoh Rainforest
⁃ Played the dumbest yet FUNNIEST games in the car with Lex (pacing other cars & staring, stop, turn left, turn right, Chinese Firedrills)
⁃ Went on Random Adventures. Too many to count or recount.
⁃ House sat with several crazy dogs
⁃ Geocaching all over the PNW
⁃ Took two trips to Palm Springs and have the craziest stories and run-ins
⁃ Went on a date with a guy while Alexa was there dressed as a man spying and possibly filming the date.
⁃ Starbucks runs and being friends with Ben and various other Baristas.
⁃ Coordinated the largest Auction Fundraiser with her.
⁃ Learned how to make Espresso from Lex.
⁃ Buried a Time Capsule with Lex and 7 other friends.
⁃ Running a Fireworks Stand 3 years in a row!
⁃ Crying together
⁃ Praying together
⁃ pranced around DC with Lex & (soon to be husband) Mark

Alexa Nichole is one of the most generous people I know. She is full of love, sweetness, and I can say that some of the moments where I laughed the hardest was with Lex. I may or may not have peed my pants when laughing with her.

I am so excited for the next chapter in Lex's life, especially with Mr. Mark Sheraton, whom I have known since I was TWO! I cannot wait to celebrate their day with them. November 6th couldn't come soon enough!

Love you Sexy Lexy,

Jen

8th time is comin' around!!

2010-10-29T14:00:00.000-04:00

I am flying home to Seattle on Wednesday for one of my best friend's wedding - Alexa Nichole Smith!!

Its going to be my 8th wedding, and I couldn't be more excited!! :-)

Little miracles that precede the BIG one.

2010-10-28T16:25:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I forget the little miracles that happened along the way of the miracle that led to the birth of Jesus Christ.

I am preparing and researching and writing scripts for NCC's Crosswalk Kids' video curriculum starting in December. Its proving to be a huge beast to tackle, but I love discovering and rediscovering truths and miracles that we sometimes overlook when reading the Bible.

When an Angel appeared to Zechariah and told him his wife Elizabeth would have a son, this was the first moment where the 400 years of silence was broken.

Four hundred years of silence. Nothing. Nada. Radio Silence.

Then it happens! An angel appears and thus begins the little miracles one after another where Chris is revealed, and his glory made known.

The silence was probably deafening, discouraging, and had people wondering where and when God was going to show up and probably had assumed God had forgotten about them. But when he showed up, WOW.

Its easy to get discouraged while waiting on God's timing or his direction. Don't fail to remember God is a keeper of his promises, and we have JOY because we can trust God.

Chipotle & one Crazy Story!

2010-09-28T17:47:00.005-04:00

It started with a rumor.

Walls went up, concealing remnants of an old shop. New signs were installed.

“Coming Soon: Chipotle at Union Station.” The rumor was no longer a rumor, but a fact. The date was unknown, but we were eager with anticipation.

A twitter conversation with Chipotle (@chipotletweets) later confirmed the date of Chipotle’s opening date at Union Station: September 25th.

I cannot recollect an exact day that I fell in love with Chipotle, nor can I remember when I first went to Chipotle with Summer and Michelle. It was as though it just clicked. We had loved the restaurant forever. We would go to movies on Friday night, and would grab dinner at Chipotle. We celebrated birthdays at Chipotle. On random nights of hanging out, we would stop by Chipotle.

Chipotle had become a part of my strategy (if you will) with my girls. I could get them to hang out with me if I told them I was going to Chipotle. They would definitely bring friends to Uprising if they knew they could get Chipotle. They memorized verses as long as they knew Chipotle was the reward. I told a small group that I was taking the group to Chipotle in two weeks, so they all brought friends through the selling point of going to Chipotle. Let’s just be honest, Chipotle has played a significant part in my discipleship and development of students.

It’s a common ground that we all share. I love Chipotle. They love Chipotle. They know that when they hang out with me they can convince me to go to Chipotle. Easy. I got texts over the summer saying, “I haven’t been to Chipotle in TWO weeks.. We need to go!”

I was no longer begging and bugging the students to hang out with me, they were begging me to hang out with them. Maybe not necessarily begging to hang out with me as much as it was the opportunity to eat great food. But let’s be honest, Chipotle is nothing without great company ;-).

Everyone wants to be a part of something great, something fun, or something interesting. And it all began with the aforementioned rumor. I text messaged Summer and Michelle and told them that Chipotle was coming to Union Station (which I might add is mere blocks away from where we live). Since July we had been planning for the September 25th opening date.

“Let’s camp out the night before and be the first customers!!”

This statement was mentioned lightly, but it was not taken lightly.

On September 25th, Summer, Michelle and I arrived to the doors of Chipotle at 8am (a compromise from a sleepover), three (yes THREE) hours prior to the opening of Chipotle. With breakfast in tow and orange juices opened, we pulled out our plethora of colored construction paper and markers. And thus it began.

“We. Love. Chipotle” and “Yummm-o” are just a few of the signs that we made. We definitely got smiles from the workers, met some of the regional directors for Chipotle, and boom, we got a place in their hearts and a prime first in line spot for Union Station’s Chipotle.

Middle school and high school students aren’t looking to just live life. They want to be a part of something exciting, they want to be a part of a story, they want to tell stories of their experiences! If we as leaders and as families aren’t giving them a crazy awesome story to tell (and/or live), they are going to go elsewhere to find that excitement.

It may seem daunting to reach out and invest in middle schoolers & high schoolers, but I guarantee you, they want to be a part of something awesome, and it may require a little craziness… But not jumping off a cliff craziness… More like showing up to Chipotle on opening day with two teenage gals, so you can say you were the first customers at Union Station’s Chipotle.

Summer, Michelle & I were the first customers at Union Station’s Chipotle.

Beat that.

This may not look like much...

2010-09-10T14:31:00.003-04:00

But, this bracelet has been a huge part of the last FIVE months of my life. Yes, FIVE months.

Let me tell you how it all started... One Saturday, four of us from NCC went to the Potomac Youth Conference to check it out. Check it out we did, and during lunch, we were admiring our oh-so-awesome bracelets that gave us access to this fabulous conference. In our admiration, and in a potentially lapse of reason on my part, I challenged Summer Joy to a little competition. (*Side Note: I am extremely competitive, and won't typically enter into competitions that I know I can't win.) We proceeded to the rest of the conference and decided afterwards that the person who's bracelet came off first would have to treat the other to Cold Stone Cremery. Umm.. YUM! :-)

In my mind, I was thinking this wasn't going to last very long. I had seen other girls from growing up do the same things, and theirs never lasted for awhile. I was thinking in the back of my mind that there was no way it would last longer than a month, or two - tops! I had a wedding I was was to be a bridesmaid in within two months.

One month went by. Summer was holding out.

Two months went by. Jenilee was not going to lose, and not going to take off a bracelet to lose a competition just for being a bridesmaid, so Jenilee wore the said bracelet in the wedding much to everyone else's chagrin.

Three months went by. Summer started taunting me, by creating scenarios of where she was going to be with said bracelet. Her wedding, her graduation, her casket.

Four months went by. Jenilee and Summer both have a tan-line because of said bracelet.

Five months went by. Jenilee got a text from Summer:
"My school is making me cut off the bracelet or else I will get a uniform violation. I am SO upset right now."

This was a moment. A very sweet moment for me. VICTORY had been DECLARED!! I had WON this competition. Sure, Summer is in 8th grade, but that doesn't mean I am going to go easy on her - HARDLY! :-)

It wasn't until yesterday that I cut off the bracelet. In front of Summer. I didn't want to be "punked" by her and cut it off before I saw it off her wrists. Did I gloat a little? I sure did!!

I remember so many people asking me, WHY? Why would you ever enter in a competition like that? Why would you even do such a thing. Call me crazy, but it was something that Summer and I related on these last 5 months. Sure there was a lot of smack talk, and laughter about how long we would wear them, and how Summer said this said bracelet was "her life" as to taunt me, and make it seem like she was going to win (BAHAHAHA she didn't. I did.. hahah). It may seem silly, but this bracelet competition gave me a little more access into her life, and she had access into mine. Allowing another opportunity for discipleship. We were living a little part of our lives together, by wearing this RIDICULOUS plastic bracelet on our wrists. It was cool to talk to people about the bracelet, and tell them why I was doing it.

I did it to invest in Summer's life. As I am doing with my life, and current vocation, diving into the lives of the students and children of DC.

In the end, I have a buy one get one free coupon, and she's gonna buy me ice cream, and where I in turn am giving her a free one. Isn't that swell? I thought so too. :-)

Signing out,
Jenilee Joy

Road Trip (WIlliamsburg, VA)

2010-09-07T21:24:00.005-04:00

Williamsburg was the beginning and the end of the road trip. I have my Nana & Granddaddy that live in Williamsburg (Lanexa if we're gonna get all technical..), My Aunt Nancy & her husband Robin live in Richmond. My Cousin Georgia & her husband Brian and family live in Williamsburg as well.

Nana & Granddaddy graciously allowed me to borrow their 1996 White Buick LeSabre (soft-top, but not convertible) to take the tour of the Southern part of the East Coast. :-) Jenn Osborne & I left DC, and hit mad traffic (check out her side of the story here). We finally made it to Williamsburg, checked out the Colonial part of town after a delicious dinner at Pizza Hut with my Nana & Granddad.

We departed early in the morning to make our trek down to Savannah. We stopped by the oh-so-classy-and-much-cooler-in-my-youth South of the Border. :-) Fun times. We also stopped on our trek back. I had to get momentos. :-)

When we got back from Savannah & St. Augustine, we hung out at the Grandparents for a couple hours, and then my cousin Georgia had so graciously made dinner - Chicken Parmesan. Oh yum. It was fun to have a nice dinner as the culmination of our trip. :-) Then on Sunday, we joined my Grandparents and went to church with them - it was quite delightful to be at church with my Grandparents. It had been far too long since I was able to do that. Love that.

Had lunch at the Golden Corral with the youth pastor and his wife - Joey & Alayna Meador, and several other parishoners from York River Baptist Church. After a food coma that always follows ANY buffet, Jenn & I contemplated naps, but decided to hit the road. :-)

After hugs & kisses to the grands, we made our way to Richmond to have a Raspberry Limeade at Sonic with my Aunt Nancy & Uncle Robin at the local Sonic. YUM. I love my Aunt Nancy. She makes me giggle & laugh. Maybe because we are both middle children. Yeah, I think that's it. haha! :-)

Some flicks to close this blog out:

Colonial Williamsburg

In the stocks. Yikes.

Oh HEEYYY South of the Border!! :-)

I love me some Alligator at South of the Border.

Cousins Brian & Georgia, Nana & Granddad, me and Joey after dinner at Georgia's!!

My BAN & me (Beautiful Aunt Nancy)

Uncle Robin, me, & Aunt Nancy

And thus ends the road trip with the oh-so-amazing Jenn Osborne!!

It was a great road trip! I love visiting family for sure. Glad Jenn was patient enough & was willing to come along for the adventure! Here's to a GREAT fall! :-)

Jenilee

Road Trip (St. Augustine, FL)

2010-09-07T20:55:00.006-04:00

In Saint Augustine, Florida is my cousin Eric, his wife June Ann, his daughters Savannah, Scarlett, Victoria, Olivia, Caroline & Priscilla. It had been awhile since I had been to Florida, and it had been as equally as long since I had seen my cousin Eric (12 years), and any of his daughters. I had seen June Ann in DC last November, but that was it.

Jenn Osborne & I arrived on Monday night, knocked on the door, and a minute or two passed when all of a sudden the door opened and all I heard was "SURPRISE!!" All of the LeFors tribe had come to the door (despite it being past some of their bedtimes) to welcome us! It was so fun to see them, and hug them all before they went to bed. Beautiful, Beautiful girls.

We proceeded to spend the rest of the week at the beach while the girls were at school, built sand castles when they got out, went to church with them, toured downtown, and got to get a little sneak peak into their lives.

I remember warning Jenn before we got down there, and even prior to the trip, that it was going to be crazy. Not just six girls crazy, but "deaf parents, hearing kids" crazy. You see, I grew up with deaf parents, and my siblings and I were hearing. I remember always being asked when I was younger. "With your parents being deaf, does that mean your house is really quiet?"
HA.
HA.
HA!!
Yeah right!! Far from quiet! :-) Not just the hearing kids that can get away with yelling, and blasting their music because their parents are deaf, but the deaf parents who mow the lawn at 7am on a Saturday morning because they do not realize how loud it is, or the deaf parents who vacuums at 12midnight because they have the "cleaning" bug, but don't realize how loud it really is, especially when you are trying to sleep. Yeah, its THAT kind of crazy. :-)

Being at the Floridian LeFors' house made me miss growing up with my family. I am coming to cherish those times. Especially when I was reminded of many childhood memories when Jenn and I got locked out. It was 10pm, the girls had been in bed, Savannah was in the shower, June Ann was at the computer, and Jenn and I were outside. I didn't want to ring the doorbell for fear of waking the girlies up. We tried to go to the back, but the gate was locked or something crazy like that (I even had my flashlight phone.. to no avail...) We finally got June Ann's attention, but that happened countless times as a child. Oh the stories, I can recount!! :-)

All that to say, the stay at the LeFors house was a-mazing. So much fun, filled with excitement everyday, and man, oh man - I am still laughing at the funny things that happened down in Florida. :-)

I can't wait to see them all again. Hopefully they will be able to come up here, or me down there (I mean who can resist the beach? They live 3 miles away!!!)

Here are some pics from the trip! :-)

Olivia, Savannah, Jenilee & Scarlett LeFors

Walking around in downtown St. Augustine, FL

At the oldest wood schoolhouse with June Ann!

The Floridian LeFors & ME! :-)

Flagler College in St. Augustine. Used to be a hotel.. Love the Spanish style!! :-)

I found the Fountain of YOUTH!!

Signing out,
Jenilee JOY

A New Season

2010-09-07T20:47:00.003-04:00

This year, when I think back to all that has happened, I feel so incredibly blessed. Its been a year since I moved from Everett, Washington to Washington, DC, I dropped my job, my family, my friends to start somewhere new.

I had always dreamed of living in DC. I had always envisioned myself coming here to do politics. Either work on the Hill, or work with some sort of social justice cause. September 6th, 2009 - I packed two suitcases, shipped a box over, had three lay-overs, and I finally made it to DC.

Now the dream has become not only a reality for a year, but now I am an official resident of the District of Columbia! In June or July I accepted a job offer from National Community Church to come on staff working with the Family Ministries in the context of being the Childrens' & Youth Pastor. And thus it begins! :-)

I started my first day in the office today. It didn't feel much different from the other days, except now, this has been a fulfillment of dreams, visions, desires, and I stand amazed at how faithful God is, and how he is orchestrated every little detail of my life.

So, today has been a FABULOUS day, and its been a year of God's faithful provision! I cannot wait for more adventures to happen in DC! Another set of goals are coming too.. Oh boy oh boy!! :-)

Officially a DC-er,
Jenilee Joy

Quoteables from the Floridian LeFors'

2010-09-02T20:53:00.006-04:00

St. Augustine is the oldest city in America. It is also where my cousin Eric resides. With his wife. and six daughters. Yes, you read right, six. There's a whole tribe of them down here. :-)

They are a part of my road trip adventure. They live about 3.456 miles from the beach, and they have about 983022 million hilarious things that they say..

Jenn Osborne: There's a new vampire moving coming out called "Suck."
Caroline (3 yrs old): "I LOVE vampire movies!"

Eating tacos, and some taco sauce is dripping out as I eat it.
Savannah: "Your taco is peeing"
Then the remnants of my taco fall out
Savannah: "Now its pooping.. SICK!!"

The said taco sauce might have sprinkled off my plate onto me, Jenn.
Jenn: "Umm, you got it on me too"
Olivia (5 yrs old): (while rubbing her fingers all over her eyes prior to taco squirt-age) "Yeah, you got it on my eye, and it BURNS!!"

Olivia (5 yrs old) to Victoria (7 yrs old) at dinner: "Umm. You are INTERRUPTING ME!!"

Scarlett (9 yrs) Victoria (7 yrs) & Olivia (5 yrs) teaching me:
"Don't snap your fingers at me in a Z-formation, exclamation. Pop my wrist, Flip my hair, and girl you just got dissed" (see video below..hahaha)

Influential. Now onto if that's a good thing...

2010-09-02T20:40:00.002-04:00

So, I have been on this little thing called vacation. Its delightful. I love relaxing, I love family, and I love sunshine. This trip has been a little reward after a great Protege year. :-)

Well, just before I left, I remember someone making a comment about my face, and the faces I make, and how abnormally crazy and odd I am. Sometimes I get it, and sometimes I don't but whatever right? Well, I got to thinking about my faces, and then while I have been hanging out with my little cousins, I am not so sure I am passing on the right things... But I think I may be passing on the FUN things.. like making faces:

So, I may not be passing on the legacy of poise & manners, but I think I am passing around the greatness of silly faces.

If that's all I do.... yikes. haha

J to the lee Joy

A Letter..

2010-09-02T20:34:00.003-04:00

I got a text from my brother while on the beach in St. Augustine, Florida saying a card from "M A D Buba, in Florida" was sent to my old place of employment, which is also where my brother currently works. Thus Nick was able to get his hands on this letter. He sent me pictures of this card, since I wasn't able to get it, and didn't know off the top of my head anyone from Florida named Buba. :-)

Then my brother sent another text saying "I am on a journey for one year..." I was SO intrigued & wasn't sure whether to be creeped out or what. I got home, and this was the inside of the card.

You tell me, what you think.. :-)

Jenilee Joy

Road Trip (Savannah, GA)

2010-09-02T20:20:00.003-04:00

The Fountains live in Savannah, GA. Or more specifically Richmond Hill, GA (I don't want to lie.. haha)- the home of Henry Ford's summer home.

The last time I had the privilege of hanging out with the Fountains, they were living in Swainsboro, and Virginia & Chas were a LOT smaller.

Trina Fountain is my cousin on my Mom's side (aka Barbour side). She is my Aunt Nancy's oldest daughter, she is also the oldest cousin on that side (this statement should not be taken in a way that makes her sound old, because she is not.) :-)

Anyways, basically the red carpet was thrown out for Jenn Osborne & I, when we arrived, and it was a great stay! We got the tours of Savannah, Caught our own dinner (blue something crabs.. YUM!) and I got to trade silly bands and BEAT the kiddos at Wii Bowling.. :-)

The Fountain Family & this Zany girl - named Jenilee....

Chas & Me doing crazy eyes.

Look what I got for dinner!! :-)

Representin' the Barbour side!

Lovely Ladies!

More to come,
Jenilee Joy

DC - This makes me chuckle!

2010-08-09T16:08:00.001-04:00

Washington DC has this unique gift of being a district, and it its not a state. Its funny, because all the license plates have the statement "Taxation without representation" (see below)

DC also has a member of Congress, but bless her heart, she is a non-voting member.. Check out this video. It made me laugh really hard. Stephen Colbert is a funny funny fellow. :-)

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/72238/july-27-2006/better-know-a-district---district-of-columbia---eleanor-holmes-norton

J to the Lee

Oh District of Columbia....

2010-08-09T14:53:00.000-04:00

Its been a crazy adventure, and its even crazier to think that my Protege year is coming to a close in less than three weeks. YIKES! Its crazy to think of all that went into this year, both personally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally. Man, and to know it will be completed in three weeks is crazy.

I have completed all but 5 of my DC Checklist! I had made it a goal to complete the list, but I have gotten to do SO much more.. In reflecting on this year, I decided to compile a list of all the things that I got to do here, that aren't on my DC Checklist!!

Tour the East Wing of the White House during Christmas AND while Oprah was filming her Christmas Special..
Experience Snowmaggedon 2010, or as its officially referred to as the Snow Blizzard of February 2010
Go to several Nationals' Games
Go to 2 DC United Games and ONE great Seattle Sounders game!! :-)
Lead a random adventures in DC Group
Played Capture the Flag on the National Mall at night with glow sticks!!
Kayaked & Canoed on the Potomac multiple times this summer!
Got free cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcakes, thanks to Twitter!
Ran my first 5k with Summer Batterson & Michelle Peverley
Developed an affinity for Modern art, thanks to my trip up to the MOMA in NYC with Heather Zempel.
Met Chef Spike Mendelsohn at Good Stuff!
Met Senator Jeff Sessions
Went on THREE Segway Tours!! (Seriously, it will change your life!! haha)
Hung out at the National Arboretum (& went geocaching too!! woohoo!!)
Saw the Darth Vader Grotesque on the National Cathedral
Went to Jazz in the Gardens
Saw Martha Stewart on one of my 5 Capitol Tours!
Developed a GREAT love for Chipotle!!
Got on the metro in the wrong direction multiple times.
Went Ice Skating in the Sculpture Gardens
Made some phenomenal friendships!!
Participated in Milkshake Mondays in DC
Went on a DC Duck Tour!!
Watched the 4th of July Fireworks on the National Mall
Have been to more houses than Chris Howell.
I participated in a National Cornhole Tournament on the National Mall
Am friends with some pretty freaking incredibly talented, ridiculously amazing and influential people.
Survived my first shooting in DC (It really isn't as bad as it sounds.. haha.. It happened on my street, at 5am. I was still sleeping, and didn't even wake up from the noise. I found out later that day that it had happened.. haha!)
Survived DC's first EVER earthquake.. Same thing happened as above, I definitely slept through the PUNY 3.2 earthquake.. :-)
Went to Eastern Market, an open air market!!
TBD...

I am honestly floored at the opportunities and crazy moments I have had in DC. I love the adventures, the fun, the madness and.....

I am staying here in DC for good! I accepted a job at National Community Church as the Childrens' & Youth Pastor here! So, I guess I better start on another list for the upcoming years of being in DC!! :-)

Can't wait for more adventures!! (now, if I could complete my original one in three weeks.. There might have to be some carry-over)

I will sign off with the ridiculous influx of nicknames that people have decided to give me.. ahha

JJ
JJoy
JJLeFors
JenJoy
JLee
Dozer
CHB
...and the list continues to grow. I don't think I have ever gotten so many nicknames in my life as I have in the last couple months.. there are more, I just can't remember.. haha)

"Called"

2010-07-08T08:43:00.000-04:00

This summer, I am a part of a small group at NCC, that is called "Called". Its for people who are called, or navigating the call of God in their life, and some specifically in ministry. Its lead by Pastor Mark & Pastor Heather, and its been a tremendous wealth of knowledge and wisdom, and its Thursdays at 7am, which is a great start to my mornings! :-)

Today Pastor Mark was talking about certain scriptures that impact our lives, especially in certain seasons where they are anthems or rallying cries for our lives. One person shared Proverbs 3, which is a personal favorite, and I make my girls memorize Proverbs 3:3, 5-6. Another gal shared Ephesians 3:20-21, and I remember memorizing that verse right before leading a trip to Honduras. Scariest time in my life, yet most thrilling, because there was nothing I could do, but allow God to do his thing in and through me as I led the trip.

I didn't get a chance to share a verse, but if I had, this is what I would have shared, especially in light of my last blog, I think this is in a lot of ways an anthem in my life, and how I go about my daily life:

"Count it all JOY, my brothers (& sisters), when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." -James 1:2-4

A couple other nuggets from today:
-Truth is found in the tension of opposites (Job 11:6)
-Spiritual Growth is a process, where scripture goes from theory to experience.
-In every aspect of life, there is a selfish ambition, and the godly ambition. We will always struggle with our godly ambition being laced with selfish ambition. We need to crucify our selfish ambitions.
-Its not about technique or giftedness.

The JOY Club

2010-07-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

I am so thankful for my parents. I love them a ton!!

One thing I am grateful for is my name, and how they named me. For those of you who don't know, my name has a pretty cool little fun story to it. My sister, Peggy Charlee was born 5 years before me, and in those 5 years, my parents had been wanting to have another child, and had almost given up hope when they found out they were pregnant with ME! And right before I was born, my dad had gotten saved. (cool cool testimony in and of itself...).

I don't know how my parents go so creative, but they did. :-) Because I was an answer to prayer and a surprise, my mom said I got the middle name Joy, because I brought them joy! With my first name they wanted to incorporate Jesus into my name, so they did this:
Je - for Jesus
Ni - for my dad's name Nicholas
Lee - for my mom's middle name Lee
Which makes Jenilee Joy!! :-)

I had a conversation a couple days ago with a friend, and I was telling her how I really feel my name is prophetic, and I am so grateful that my parents named me the way they did, because its had such an impact on me personally, and those around me. Its crazy how names can play such roles in our lives.

Well, in having a middle name Joy, its fun to meet people and share the middle name. I had a best friend growing up named Valarie Joy, and then in high school Monica Joy. Then in college - Melissa Joy, and it goes on and on and on, of various people I knew all around me, at church, school, my youth girls and so many more!! Its a fun connection with people, and for me, its a great way just to see how Joy is prophetic in their lives as well!

So here in DC, there is Summer Batterson, who is Summer JOY, and I am Jenilee JOY, and I love that we get to share a middle name, well we decided we were going to make a JOY club here in DC, and the only requirement is to have your middle name be JOY!

One of the pastors here at NCC had a baby 3 weeks ago, and despite me trying to get him and his wife to name it Jenilee Joy the 2nd, they named her Brianna Joy! So, Summer and I had our first inductee into the Joy Club, outside of us two (the founding members.. haha)! We are excited to add more as we find them, but until then, here is the DC Chapter of the Joy Club! :-)

(Next time, I think we need to tell Brianna that she needs to SMILE, cause she is in the JOY club afterall.. haha)

Go FOURTH & Celebrate!!

2010-07-07T17:42:00.000-04:00

So, this was my first fourth of July in Washington DC!! (It was also my first Fourth of July NOT in a fireworks stand selling fireworks, like ten years straight!!)

I was excited to make the most of it, and to enjoy the sunshiney weather, and not only sunshine, but WARM!! I love being in the warmth. :-) Its delightful!

I had a PACKED weekend!! On Friday, I closed at Ebenezers, Saturday I had my Adventures in DC Small Group - we went to the National Arboretum, and had a picnic, and then we went geocaching!! It WAS SO fun and VERY warm! We had an extensive search for the geocache, and couldn't find it.. perhaps next time.. :-) Saturday afternoon/evening, I went to the rehearsal concert on the Capitol Lawn, for the 4th of July Concert with the Zempels' & some other WAY awesome peeps! :-) It was lots of fun, and was topped with a night of great karaoke. Spectacular!
Then the Fourth was here, and celebrate I was going to do!! :-) I went to church, the DC parade, picked up Gabrielle Wilson (Alexa's cousin) from the airport, dropped her off at Georgetown University, fought traffic, and made it to the mall in time to hang out for a bit, meet up with Jamie Sperte, and also watch the fireworks AND have some more karaoke at the Zempels'!!

It was a great weekend full of fun, laughter, sunshine and great friends! OH & I got to meet Chef Spike - who competed on Top Chef and was at his burger joint - Good Stuff, so I got a picture with him - fun fun!! :-)

Random Adventures Crew 7/3/10

Heather Zempel photobombed me.. hahaSUMMER JOY & me!! :-)

Courtney McCrea, me, Chef Spike & Maegan!!
At the Parade with some fabulous new friends!! :-)
Casey Tait, Jamie Sperte & Me - fellow NU friends in DC!! Casey is a new friend!! :-)
Another miracle of being in DC - with Maegan. Love her, Love DC, Love God's impeccable timing!!
The 4th of July "Mall" Crew!!
Wow. Its really true. I am in DC!! AHHHHH!!

Still in awe of God,
Jenilee

Delayed 2nd part of Seattle Trip

2010-07-07T17:32:00.000-04:00

So, I posted a Part Uno of Seattle's trip, but never posted the 2nd part!! Crazy!
It was a Crazy awesome time with my dear friend & twin Heather LeFrench (now Keyes..) and it was great being home, the weather was MUCH cooler than DC, and definitely had some humidity in the form of rain, but overall it was a great great trip!

Here are some pics! :-)

Heather LeKeyes & I

The FANTASTIC Mother of the Bride & me!! :-)

My handsome little bro!!

Lovely Ladies that I got to work with at Bethany Christian Assembly
(Christina Mulkey, Me, Jaclyn Endersen, & Brenda Rasmussen)
The Time Capsule Crew 2010 at Toy Story 3!!
I love my family. So. MUCH.

Seattle Highlights.. So far...

2010-06-19T12:15:00.000-04:00

Today is Heather French's wedding! I made the trek out to Seattle to be here for the wedding, and it is a double win when the wedding is at home! :-)

Its been a fun trip so far! I ran into Jennifer Joy, which we have deemed each other Jen Joy the 1st & Jen Joy the 2nd!! :-) She is driving now, which is CRAZY! I remember watching her in the Nursery at church, and she was one of the coolest youth gals!! (Love you JENJOY!!)

I have spent time with the nephews & niece.. They are such little hams & always ready for Auntie Jen hugs & lovin'!! They also like to show off!! Rachel Elizabeth is adorable, she wanted to show me this...

While I was at the Kinman's house, I also found 7-four leaf clovers.. AND 2-six leaf clovers.. CRAZY!

Nate wanted to show me that he was smelling them.. haha! :-)

Off to do my hair & get "prettified" for the wedding.. :-)
YAY for Heather LeFrench - my twin!! :-)

Jenilee

Georgetown Cupcakes - YUM!

2010-06-14T13:36:00.000-04:00

I have a twitter account, no big deal... I follow people, they follow me. Its a great thing.. :-) But there is one particular twitter account that I follow that I have yet to utilize the greatness of...

Until today! Georgetown Cupcakes has a Twitter Account that every morning they tweet a "secret flavor" of the day that they give out for free! All you have to do is order it by name & its free!

I have followed them for several months, but never made it out there (what WAS I thinking?!). Well, Summer text me & we decided to make a plan & head out to Georgetown Cupcakes to get a FREE cupcake. YUM!! :-)

Yum, YUM, YUMMM!!

Jenilee

Dreams.. We all got 'em

2010-06-11T10:17:00.000-04:00

I sat down with one of the middle school (now high school-yikes!) gals from NCC, and we were talking about some goals and things we should do this summer to help her not be bored, and to help her accomplish her desire to be "not just another 14 year old". We started talking about things she wanted to do in DC, things that she wanted to accomplish this summer.

It was becoming apparent through some of her goals, that some of her dreams were peeking through.. It started with wanting to go to the Newseum, and then to find out she has this dream of being a news reporter!

It was such an incredible opportunity for me, to be able to help her dream a little, and how to take steps to accomplish her goals, all the while allowing her to dream. From shadowing at a TV station, to starting to journal, and to write, we created tangible goals for her to allow her opportunities to put some reality to those dreams. She may find out after this summer she wants nothing to do with being a reporter, but how cool is it, to know she put her feelers out there, and was able to accomplish some of those goals!

I have officially put on my "cheerleader" coach for her, whatever goals she wants to do, we are going to figure out how to make them happen, and to go from there. :-)

This could quite possibly be the favorite part of what I do.. Helping friends and people accomplish their goals & to see them find things they are passionate about, and just loving and living life with them!

What are some goals that you want to have accomplished by August? What are some life goals that could be accomplished this summer or in the next year?! Who can you encourage & come along side to help them reach their goals?

Off to the Newseum!!!
Jenilee

If your life was a book...

2010-06-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

What would you name the chapter of life you are in right now?

I was asked this question earlier this week, and I was trying to think of a good, yet catchy title, and it wasn't until I was in the car with Heather Zempel on our hunt for a good milkshake/blizzard from Dairy Queen, that I decided what it should be... "DC isn't just for Politics"!!

Its crazy to try and put one label onto this season of life, but if one thing is for sure, I have learned SO much about myself, and have really been messed up in the area of my "life-calling". Messed up in a good way.

And, its crazy to think just four years ago, I thought I was going to come to DC to do Politics and pursue that, and I am here for reasons that are not politics, and I am loving it! Its crazy to think through all the tears, sacrificing dreams, and loving on students, that God had it all under control. Good thing.

And in case you were wondering - Heather's chapter would be named, "I have book deals..", thanks to Ryan, her husband's ingenuity! (LOVE YOU HEATHER!! haha)

Reminder this morning...

2010-06-10T10:29:00.000-04:00

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
-Psalms 84:11

Progress on the DC checklist

2010-06-04T10:36:00.000-04:00

I have three more months of the Protege Program, and I have a lot left on my list to do!! (I also just added some.. man, I gotta get these things done!! :-)

Bold - means I have completed them!!

1. Walk the National Mall (with all the monuments) at least once a month
*In process every month.. I even ran the mall once.. haha
2. Walk through all of the Smithsonian Museums
*I have done half of these.. yikes! Gotta get on that!
3. Go to the Holocaust Museum
4. Do a DC Segway Tour (BEST THING EVERRRRR!!!)
5. Go inside the White House
6. Go to New York City (Broadway show, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and MOMA) (I've yet to do the Broadway show.. soon though!)
7. Visit Reggie Carlson at West Point
8. Visit my cousins Eric and JuneAnn in St. Augustine, Florida
9. Visit Nana and Granddaddy, Aunt Nancy, Cousin Georgia, Alexis, Tony, Jackson, and more :-)
10. Visit the "other White House"
11. Take a picture with the Constitution
12. Meet the President (wondering if seeing him drive by in his motorcade counts?haha)
13. Get a tour of the Pentagon
14. Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
15. Tour the Capitol Building (3x actually.. haha)
16. Listen in on a Supreme Court Case (is that even possible?!)
17. Walk up the stairs of the Washington Monument (Couldn't walk up, but I got up there!!)
18Visit the National Cathedral (and find Darth Vader)
19. Go to Arlington Cemetery
20. Go up the Old Postal Museum
21. Go to Philly
22. Go to Great Falls
23. Ghost Tours in Alexandria, VA

I really would love to do the Supreme Court & Pentagon here soon.. And since it is SO SO warm, I need to get to the Atlantic Ocean...

Happy National Donut DAY!!! :-)

Jen to the lee