Autumn Time

The weather in Seattle has been beautiful (until this weekend, when the rains have come!) but until then...the past week we had sunshine every day and temps in the high 60's. The chill in the air told us it was Autumn, but still it was beautiful. In America, you know its the 'fall' when the pumpkins come out, in the supermarkets there are huge barrels of them, in the bakeries and cafes pumpkin scones are on the menu, the smoothie place gets their seasonal pumpkin smoothes out and last but not least every coffee shop worth its caffeine has now got their pumpkin Spice Latte ready to warm you.

This week, I enjoyed shopping for pumpkins with my friends - we got a big one (see the pics!) We took them home and carved pictures in them, one had the Seattle skyline, very artistic! Then we roasted the seeds, and made some salty and some sweet - the perfect treat.





At Small Group we enjoyed some more seasonal goodies, Pumpkin, as well as Apple Spice Cupcakes. Yummy! This Harvest Season is being much celebrated and enjoyed here in Seattle!



On Saturday, with the rain beating on the windows, my housemate and I cooked up some hearty Butternut Squash and Leek soup and then a Spiced Pear cake, which was very good with a cup of tea!

The leaves are finally turning and the evenings are getting darker earlier...This time of year makes me very sentimental.

Renewing the Spirit of Your Mind

Our first speaker, Patrick Dodson, recorded some of the teaching sessions he did during the DTS, he has one online already and plans on posting the rest of them soon. If you are interested to know more of what we are learning, please download or listen to them, they are in the podcast section of his web site, patrickdodson.net - the podcast is called Renewing the spirit of your mind'.

He taught on the 'Character and Nature of God' and 'Renewing the Spirit of your mind'. First we looked at who God is to each of us and why we see him in certain ways. looking out how our family and authority figures have effected our image of God. We also looked more at the true character of God and specifically how he can be seen the the domains, Media, Healthcare, Education, Government, Arts, Business and Family & Community.

God should not only be in certain areas of our life. It can be so easy to have a job somewhere that feels like it has nothing to do with your Christianity, i mean you people know you are a Christian and you can treat people well, but actually your work - how can God be in that?

Patrick went through each domain of society and showed how God's character reflects in each one...for example the Arts, God is beautiful, mysterious, a creator and we can identify with him as we create art. It seemed so simple but it made so much sense. I feel like i need to go over my notes and take it all in so i can apply it in the areas of my life.

The week ended with us looking at our identities. How our lives and passions show us some of the identity God has given us. We mapped out some of the identity traits we have, under the catagories (l) How God see me, such as Daughter, friend. (ll) How i see myself, such as encourager (lll) How my family/community see me.

It was really interesting to consider these things and see what my life says about my identity! Sometimes we, or I search so hard for a true identity, and it was a relief to see that so many answers were staring me in the face! I believe our identity grows and develops with us but at the core there are something which never change. I have already done some soul searching about this since last week, and i believe God is teaching me more about who i am in Him.

The podcasts are great, so if you have an ipod and a long commute - or you know someone that does, send them to this page, or if you need some entertainment while you are cooking dinner then give it a listen!

Putting names to faces...

Here is our school pic -



Back Row
Ben(s), Jordan [The Space Needle!] Funky, Sarah, Chris, Bubba(s)
Second Row
Sam(s), Brandi, Becky, Ann Iren, Amy, Rachel, Evangleyn, Allena, April
Thrid Row
Heidi, Me, Stephanie, Amanda(s), Connie
(s) = staff

Here we all are! We take our teams to this park because it is great to take pctures, but it is also a unique place to do intercession for the city. On a good day, which it was last Monday, you can see for miles. Mount Rainier was out, the ferries we all on the water, the city was busy with life.

It was a special time to hear God's heart for this city, and join Him in bringing transformation!


All the students started their weekly outreaches this past week. For the next three monthe they will be volunteering at 2 different places each week. Homeless shelters, afterschool care facilities, an elderly home, and working with Refugees. Everyone had such great attitudes as they went out this week, and served. It was cool to see their enthusiasm, and a reminder to me of what a privilege it is to get to be out in the city, buliding reletionships with people who are not seen as desirable by many in society.

On Friday night we take Hot Chocolate downtown to a few different parks, and along the waterfront. We took the DTS for the first time this Friday night, and had such a great time. The weather is really starting to turn here, and the nights are getting much colder, so the Hot Chocolate was gladly received.

I met a man, probably in his late 50's, an African American, who's name was Robert. He was a little hard to understand as he spoke to us, he was an alcoholic. He started to talk a little about his life before the streets. His father had been a Pastor in the South, and he had grown uo knowing the Lord. He kept repeating how he 'knew the Word from Genesis to Revelation'. He kept saying how he had been 'backsliding' and how he hadn't been preaching the word even though he knew it and how he was punished for that. Then he looked at me and said something about how empty his life was, and how much it hurts him inside to be away from God. He broke down and started crying. This older man was standing on the streets, in dirty clothes, beer cans all around, and he was so broken.

I believe in that moment i was able to see his heart. He said he was ready to be off the streets, that from ' next week' it was all going to change. We asked if we could pray with Him and he agreed, so we did. It is so hard to make a change to get off the streets. People we meet make claims like this all the time, and it is hard not to disregard them without a second thought. Sometimes it can seem so hopeless. I don't think Robert has family around, just his street friends, but i am praying that if he is really wanting to make a change, people who can help and encourage him will come alongside him this week and be the support he needs.

I am praying that if he is still out on the streets this Friday night, i will have the chance to talk to Robert again.

Small Group Girls

We had our first small group meeting on Friday nights, and talked about what our times together would be like. I have 3 girls in the group and i am excited for them to get to know each other and me better and to share together as we learn.

Here are their pictures, so please be praying for them individually, and for us as a group that we might develop good friendships and be able to support, love and encourage one another.

April


Brandi


Stephanie