Week Five!

We had a very exciting and different week!

Monday: We left the base and took a field trip to visit Maple Hills Estates. We were able to meet with couple who have been working in this community over the last ten-ish years. Maple Hills is a trailer park located outside of Maple Grove, MN. The focus for outreach in the park is to get involved and engaged with the children and teenagers in the community, to introduce them to God, and to give them hope for the future. The couple we met with have actually moved from Maple Grove into Maple Hills for the summer to really see what it looks like to "incarnate" Christ. They want to be His hands and feet in that community. It was really inspiring for us to see.

Tuesday: We began our normal class week. This week we talked about public speaking/ how to prepare a sermon/ message. We each had to give a 5-7 minute speech on the fly. We all gave speeches on things that either interested us or were the first things we could think of to speak about. Nate gave his talk on "What Makes a Good Hockey Goalie a Great Hockey Goalie" while Julianne taught the class how to bake sugar cookies. It was fun for all of us to get a chance practicing speaking in front of each other.
       We also met with our outreach groups today. All of the fall DTS (Discipleship Training School) staff gathered together to talk about the upcoming school and to pray for the students. We would love your prayers as we prepare for this fall's school. We are needing more students to attend to have a big enough school. We know God will send those who need to be here. We don't want anyone to miss out.

Wednesday: We continued with our speech practicing. This time we split the class into two groups. The first group had to give a 5-7 talk on a topic they learned from DTS...but pretending to give it to a youth group. The second group had to give a 5-7 talk to a group of supporters, explaining what they were doing and trying to raise money for outreach. Nate and I were split into the opposite groups. I did the youth group talk while he have the support talk. We each had a half hour to prepare and then gave our speeches to our respective groups.

Nate teaching in class

Thursday: We had another field trip. This time we journeyed into Minneapolis. We visited an organization called Urban Home Works. This organization buys old/ foreclosed houses in Minneapolis, fixes them up, and then rents out the homes to lower income families. What is really neat about this organization is that they rent the lower and upper parts of the houses separately. The lower is rented out to low income families while the upper is rented out to Christians. Those in the upper commit to a year long program of intentional community. These "neighbors" make a point of reaching out into the community and showing their neighbors the love of Christ. On our tour, we first met with a couple named Heather and Nate. They lived in north Minneapolis with their three little boys. We visited with them, heard their story, and looked around their house and neighborhood. We next traveled over to the main headquarters of the organization to learn some more of the background of the organization and their goals. After lunch we all got to help do some landscaping on a nearby house that Urban Home Works had purchased and were fixing up. Nate dug and filled a trench while Julianne weeded, planted new grass, and watered. We had an incredible time. We are hoping to keep connected with this organization because we really believe in what it is trying to do.

Friday: Last day of class. Each of us students had to prepare a 15-20 mini sermon on something God had been showing us lately. It was also to be translated. Nate gave his on "Trusting God and Living in His Rest," and Julianne spoke on "The Person God is Looking For." It was a challenge, but we both grew so much in all of it.

Saturday: Our day off!!! Well, kinda. :) We watched a bit of the Olympics right after breakfast. Someone here at the base hooked up the TV to our big projector in class. The guys here are loving it. Nate wanted to stay and watch for more, but we had work to do. We have FINALLY finished all of our wedding thank you's! We will be sending them out early next week. We had not forgotten about all of you. :)

         This evening we had a class picnic at the Buffalo Lake Park. We grilled up some burgers and played frisbee. We worshipped together at the park on some blankets. We then broke up into groups to walk around the park and the town to see who God wanted us to talk to. Some of us had a chance to speak with some other people, but the park was pretty empty. Nate and I walked around the town with our friend, Jaime, praying for the community. It was such a lovely night.

Worship in the Park

        And now we are here at McDonalds for our weekly update. The Internet at the base doesn't let us get onto our blog. So we have to take a trip here. We get a large drink every week and sit in the little booth, typing away. It's a good time.

We are so thankful for all your support in our lives. We LOVE your prayers! We would really appreciate you joining with us in prayer for this upcoming DTS this fall. We really need students. Pray that God will open the doors for students to come and that they would only listen to God's voice. Also pray and ask God if He is wanting anyone you know to come to this DTS. We have three different focuses: a Dance focus, a Wilderness focus, and  Justice and Mercy focus.
We also would personally love your prayers for our future. Please pray that God would give us the ears to listen to what He wants to say. We only want to do what the Father tells us to do. We are longing for His direction and wisdom.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you! We love you all dearly! May God continue to bless you!!

Love in Christ,
Julianne and Nate Gibbons