Greetings!
I apologize for being a bit quiet with my blog. It seems that every time I am at an internet spot, I am working to upload my video blogs to YouTube and then back on the move, barely finishing the basic work goals I had!
[Consider this another plug to subscribe to my YouTube Channel {click here} ]
So, here I am, sitting in a STARBUCKS in Bandung, Indonesia, sipping a CARAMEL MACCHiATO [YAYYYY!] and catching up on embedding all of my video episodes into this blog. Thanks to all of you for being patient. I recognize some of you have caught up through my Facebook posts of these episodes, but I want to make sure all of you have access. :0)
I might suggest watching one every other day to catch up. ;0) These episodes will bring you out of Cambodia and through the end of our time in Vietnam.
The adventures and service opportunities of which my team and I have been a part have been incredible and I am so, so blessed and overwhelmingly grateful to have all of you as a part of it, too!
Lots of love to you all from Indonesia!
in HiM,
dani
TWR 2.15: traveling to and through phnom penh
as we head to our opportunity to serve next month in vietnam, we have an afternoon and evening to spend in cambodia’s capital city of phnom pehn!
*this episode is dedicated to one of my AKONiSTE lovies and YELLLOWWW residents from my semester at sea voyage- elizabeth! sailing around the world with elizabeth was such a blessing. her heart for CHRiST and for passionately pursuing HiM is so evident and i am grateful to have been able to have meal dates on the ship with her, travel adventures in port cities together, and to be able to lead and be in worship with her on the mv explorer. elizabeth- i am so, so proud of you and grateful to be a part of your life journey and to have you be a part of mine!
TWR 3.1: travel to vietnam
~ ~ ~
for an inside perspective to travel days on the world race, stay tuned for the exhaustion, excitement, nonsense, adventure, and occasional confusion and boredom. ;0)
*this episode is dedicated to another AKONiSTE lovie from the fall 2014 semester at sea voyage. mikayla’s joy for the L0RD floods through her heart and sparkles within each interaction or experience she encounters. leading worship with her, traveling the world, and spending so much time in laughter with mikayla was so special. mikayla- thank you for sharing and spreading so much light and love through your cheerful heart. i am so grateful to have sailed with you and to call you a friend and significant supporter!
TWR 3.2: welcome to vietnam
~ ~ ~
after several days, multiple bus and taxi rides, many stops and layovers, and sporadic eating and sleeping… we’ve made it to the breath-taking country of vietnam!
*this episode is dedicated to lucy call, a sweet-spirited, joyful student with whom i shared the privilege of sailing the world with semester at sea. lucy is an incredible musician [seriously- stunning voice!] and always sharing a smile with those around her. lucy was among the first to contribute to my support-raising and i am so grateful to share this journey with such a beautiful individual! thank you, lucy, for your generosity and for making such an impact on others through your kind, compassionate heart!
TWR 3.3: settling into da nang
~ ~ ~
our team has been placed at a volunteer site in the city of da nang, vietnam, alive with vibrant city life and beach views. we’ve enjoyed settling into our new scene.
*this episode is dedicated to chrissy jonassaint, with whom i worked during last summer’s soul city kids camp. chrissy so sweetly hired me and supervised me for the duration of my position, and from that relationship, i gained a beautiful, bright-hearted friend and sister in CHRi$T. the way that chrissy loves others with a gentle, patient, and encouraging heart is a direct display of the love of the L0RD and i am SO blessed by the impact she has made in my life and example she sets to me as a woman of G0D.
TWR 3.4: volunteering in vietnam
~ ~ ~
team lift has been assigned to serve with orphan voice in da nang, vietnam. the organization supports a variety of efforts including orphan relief, family care, a physical therapy center, and a school for students who are hard of hearing or deaf. specifically, we have been focused on behind-the-scenes work such as cleaning, decorating and promoting the community spaces and organization operations.
*this episode is dedicated to the lutz family. cori lutz is the daughter of tooty (my dad’s wife) who has a kind, goofy, vibrant, talented, and incredibly bright-spirited family. between the five of them, they bring an enthusiastic desire to connect with others, impressive athleticism, delicious home recipes, musical brilliance, and coffee expertise. :0) they have beautifully and graciously invested in my participation and service with the world race. it is a joy and honor to have john, cori, hailey, jack, and henry be a part of this experience through their support!
TWR 3.5: da nang dinner, deworming, and a dragon
~ ~ ~
an evening out in da nang with team lift brought delicious feasting, city site-seeing, an encounter with a fire-breathing dragon, and an errand to purchase deworming meds. it was a full and fantastic team time experience!
*this episode is dedicated to cindy wrona, with whom i had the opportunity to work this past summer. cindy assisted with soul city church’s kids camp and from the very first encounter with her, i was able to see her heart for hospitality and care for others. she serves with so much love and investment in others, has an open and bold spirit to follow JE$uS, and brings so much encouragement into the lives of those around her. i am so blessed to call cindy a friend and sister in CHR!ST and to have her enthusiastic support to follow G0D around the globe. thank you, cindy, for believing in a call to serve and being so directly invested in it!
TWR 3.6: vietnam karaoke night with english club
~ ~ ~
one of the hosts, sherman, from our volunteer site works with university students and recent graduates through an english club. He invited team lift into a social outing of karaoke and tasty local food!
*this episode is dedicated to john campbell, to whom i was originally introduced when i inherited a spectacular coach for my role as a small group leader at soul city church. not only did john serve as a significant spiritual support and mentor, but he became a dear friend and strong example of what it means to serve like CHR!ST. john has a heart for being intentional and inclusive in building friendships and i am so proud to have a friend who is so invested in making a difference at both the individual and community levels! thank you, john, for your support and friendship!
TWR 3.7: exploring hôi an
~ ~ ~
for one of our off-days, we headed to the ancient town of hôi an, a former port city on the central coast of vietnam. the community is known for its blended eras and architectural styles influences by japanese, chinese, and french colonial designs.
*this episode is dedicated to my dear friend and sister in CHRiST, alana mcginty. i first met alana under the context of navigating my first role as a supervisor in the professional field. i was immediately impressed by her passion for leadership development, social justice, as well as her organization and facilitation skills. it wasn’t long before alana became a cherished friend and i am so proud of the way she has made a international impact through her efforts with various NGOs, the peace corps, and global development work through her graduate work. alana is a strong, beautiful example of what it means to be an active, global citizen and follower of JESUS. thank you for all of your support, alana!
TWR 3.8: an assortment of adventures
~ ~ ~
a collection of all the random episodes of exploration for our team throughout da nang.
*this episode is dedicated to the parents of my mcfriend, brooksie mccarty. mr. & mrs. smith have so kindly and warmly welcomed me into their family every single time i have traveled to kansas to visit brooksie and her husband (kevin) and daughter (lydia). they have hosted and loved me so well and invited me into family celebrations and occasions. to have them invest in this journey and the work of the L0RD is so meaningful and i am so, so fortunate to have been blessed with beautiful friends who share their families with me. :0) thank you so much, mr. & mrs. smith, for being so supportive and dedicate to sharing the love of G0D across the world!
TWR 3.9: outrageous outtakes
~ ~ ~
all these outrageous outtakes have to go somewhere…
*this episode is dedicated to a dear friend to my godmother. i met rick while visiting my aunt elsa in san diego a few years ago. as my godmother is a part of a vivacious and talented ballroom dance community, i had the chance to *attempt* to tango and waltz with her friends. as i lack any sort of skill for organized movement, rick led me onto the dance floor and practiced so much patience and encouragement as i stepped all over his feet. ;0) his reassurance and cheer provided a window into his heart and i am so so grateful to have his support and love from across the glob- on a dance floor and in the service field. thank you, rick, for your investment in G0D’s work and for being such a significant cheerleader for me!
TWR 3.10: a baptism story – sarah snyder
~ ~ ~
my teammate, sarah, forfeited all control and all of her life over to her HEAVENLY FATHER. and she invited team LiFT to play a role in this beautiful and bold proclamation while we were serving and living in da nang, vietman for our third month of the world race.
sarah shares her testimony and journey toward being re-baptized in this episode.
congratulations to you, sarah, on such a special and significant dedication in your faith walk!
TWR 3.11: fusion squad debrief
~ ~ ~
the first debrief of our route; all teams of fusion squad 2.0 came together in vung tàu, vietnam to refresh and reconnect after our first two full months of service and ministry. our time together brought opportunities for workshops, worship, adventure, and sharing what GOD has been doing in and through each of us and the organizations of which we have been a part across asia.
*this episode is dedicated to my friend and former colleague, tyler. i know tyler through working at north central college, where i was in residence life and he serves in the information technology services. tyler has a charismatic and playful spirit, a compassionate heart for others, and a strong desire to be the man GOD calls him to be. i so admire tyler for his faith, family values, and positive approach to life’s adventures.
tyler- thank you so, so much for your friendship and for your support of the world race!
TWR 3.12: this is my love letter to team LiFT
~ ~ ~
as the time with team LiFT comes to a close, i want to fully celebrate all of the memories, experiences, and encounters with G0D we have shared together. serving and sharing the L0RD’s love alongside darek, danielle, emilyann, sang, and sarah was a tremendous blessing and a life season that will forever be in my heart.
i don’t know that i can ever find words that can match the gratitude in my heart i have for you all, team LiFT, but it is my prayer that this love letter can at the very least convey a little glimpse into the impact you all have had on me. i love each of you – darek, danielle, emilyann, sang, and sarah – my brothers and sisters in CHR!ST, and i hold team LiFT as an everlasting, sacred impact.
*this episode is dedicated to team LiFT.
