Archive for the Category »DUZIE events «
Yesterday we spent 16 straight hours with 58 teenagers. It was delightful! We went to art galleries and museums, had pizza and tacos, watched movies and took in a planetarium.
Why you may ask?
Well we have worked and ministered with young people for over 25 years. We have spoken to over 1 million of them along with their leaders and parents. We have done this in 60 countries spanning various ethnic, religious and income settings. Some might say by now we should be experts, but there are no more experts . . . only explorers. Of which we are only two!
Yesterday we lived life with them. We did not lead or follow, we were just were part of their journey . . . creating moments. We asked questions and listened to their unprocessed answers. We shared stories, concerns, passions and questions. One thing was confirmed to us again. This next generation is an ungraspable people group.
We do not mean that in a bad way or in a manner of “why try to do anything”. This age group is fascinating; they are touchable and distant, honest and self-protective, real and artificial, caring and provocative, predicable and unpredictable, united and divided, complex and simple.
This Next Generation includes 2 billion under the age of 25 people. Around the globe many of them saw the same movie this weekend, downloaded the same song, talked about the same hero, and played the same sport. Many of them struggled with self-identity, their parents and peer acceptance. They hold various beliefs so close and so far from their daily lives.
Family and faith are no longer at their core, (and we are not saying who left who), but they live for compassion and community. Whoever accepts them, hears their heart and creates a better tomorrow will lead them forward.
We want to have MOMENTS with them! There is so much potential there.
We are now preparing to lead the program team in Sydney, Australia for their first TeenStreet 5-10 April 2010. We would appreciate your prayers for us and for those organizing and preparing for this event!
I sit on a tattered bench of green long gone.
I look out at this garden where for two weeks I belong.
Palms and ferns, flowers & more.
Stand and wave in the wind of no more.
My bags to the left, birds watch up above.
This is peace . . . a moment I love.
DISCOVER’s begun and we head home.
Amazed, in mercy I roam.
TeenStreet in Uruguay has begun for the 8th time. We are excited to be doing the
“HUMAN ~ a quest for connections” theme.
Our program team pictured here is: Darwin, Facundo, Rosie, Giovana, Suzie, Dan, (and in the evenings we are joined by) Natie & Roland.
It is exciting as we have had all of them (except Natie – who daily joined us by skype) for one of our imagiNations trainings. We love our little Uruguay family!
We just finished with the TCK (Third Culture Kid) Jordan Weekend! It was an awesome time together with 76 of us from all over the world! Our theme was “The Journey of Monkeys, Monks & Me” . . . which was similar but totally different than the week we had in the Netherlands with MTO 09.
It was great to learn about the culture and life of these teens living in the near east. Our challenge was to motivate them to Follow Jesus!
Then he (Jesus) said to them all:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
~ Luke 9:23
These teens are in our prayers as they go to following Jesus in the midst of their present life!