We thought past summer LT participants might want to check out the
Dr. Seuss inspired newsletter from Colorado LT 2009.

Links:
Rock Newsletter
Great Commission Latin America website

You can also find out more info on some of the people profiled at our
Rock Storybook page.

Get your own – Open publication

Page 1 (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Page 2 (PDF, 1.7 MB)

 

 

 

 

Melissa Ebberts,

Describe the need in Santa Monica. Why did you feel called to go?
Santa Monica, which is in LA County, is the homeless capital of the country. There is a great disparity between those who have and those who have not. Right alongside movie shoot locations are people who are struggling just to get by. Those with material wealth also have a great need, though theirs can be tucked away behind a glossy set of sunglasses or a shiny luxury car.
There is such diversity of cultures that include different religions, languages, ethnicities. It’s fascinating. People are searching for something great, something that will give them a purpose, but there are so many things in L.A. that can distract them from finding the truth about Jesus. I think that’s why I wanted to live out here.

What are some of the ways you’ve been engaging the neighborhood/community?
I work for a Head Start/State preschool program, which has helped me to get connected with my neighborhood and the families around here. I call a few of my co-workers my close friends, and it has been so neat to have them get to know people from Kairos and vice versa. I also volunteer on Thursday nights at an Adult Education Center with the school district, helping an overworked teacher in the reading lab class that includes ESL, high school diploma/GED students, and adults that are trying to learn how to read. About every three months, I go with a group from USC, called Healing Hearts Across Borders, which does free medical/dental clinics down in Tijuana for a weekend. I translate and help with registration.

What has been difficult?
Not getting distracted by the glitz and the glamour. So much of what people grumble and fuss about is about what they think they should have or what they deserve. I can get caught up in that sometimes. It’s hard not to give in to gossip at work, too. I have to keep my focus and to love others not necessarily as they would do unto me.

What has God taught you in this experience so far?
Take a leap, jump into it and trust Him all the way. That’s really difficult for a control freak like me.

How have you seen God’s faithfulness in this process?
When I truly and honestly trust God with a decision or a particular situation, He provides. God doesn’t let me down. The passage that I’ve meditated on lately is, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ…”

Describe what it has been like doing this with a team of people.
Amazing. Challenging. Funny. Mind-boggling. Uplifting. 

Links:
Kairos L.A.
 

Download or Stream

Also, for more about Samaritan’s Purse and the church reconstruction project in Sudan visit their website and you’ll find multimedia, church stories, prayer requests and more.

Eva’s Testimony: audio
Eva’s LT story: audio
Eva’s Amsterdam calling: audio

LT Links:

• LT information
• An LT experience: Erica
• An LT experience: Liz
• An LT experience: Tyler
• An LT experience: Colorado LT survivor man

Links:

• An LT experience: Erica
• An LT experience: Liz
• An LT experience: Tyler
• LT information

Why did you decide to go to LT last year? Why are you returning?
I think in the end it boiled down to giving an entire summer over to God. I felt like if I could be faithful in giving God an entire summer that he would show up in a real way. There was also the added bonus of living in the mountains as well as working at a YMCA that I had visited before and loved.
I’m going back because I feel there is still a lot of work for God to do in me out there. I spent three months out there, but I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what I can learn.

How did God use LT to change your life?
God truly showed me the importance of being with Him. At LT, the world seemed far away. I feel like LT showed me how I could minimize the distractions of this world and focus on God. God showed me the importance of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness and trusting that all else will be given to me.

What was your biggest highlight from LT 2007?
My favorite story from Colorado LT is about a girl who decided to hang out with our project group. She wasn’t a Christ follower, but something attracted her to our group and our love for each other. Well, about halfway through the summer it was too much for her, and she gave her life to Christ. It felt so good knowing I was apart of a community that showed her Christ’s love in a real way.

It sounds like relationships were a big part of your LT experience, describe the friendships you form at LT.
I still talk to many of my friends from LT to this day. Not only do you meet other believers, but other believers your age who want to lead and to be called to a higher standard. You truly form bonds that will not be easily broken.

Many of these bonds are formed in project group. You will be amazed at how close you get to your project group in so little time. I truly feel I left Colorado with 20 new best friends. Every week you spend a day learning about God, serving God or just experiencing Christ’s love through real relationships and fellowship. I am most excited about being in a project group again and meeting new people and loving those people.

Last summer you worked in day care. What was that experience like?
I absolutely love kids, and the Day Camp was the perfect job for me. Every week brought new challenges, but the difficulties were rewarding knowing I was dealing with children’s lives and working towards making an impact in their future. One of the best parts is that you get to make your own schedule with the kids, so YOU decide what you would like to do during the week with the kids. It really allows for creativity and fun.

My guess is you have some fun memories from working there, too?
Yeah, everyday brought something new, something hilarious. There was the day that the girls somehow got a hold of some makeup and decided it would be a good idea to hold me down and put it all over my face. I looked a mess, but the kids thought it was great.

What was your favorite thing about the living arrangements?
The simplicity. There are no TVs, no regular amenities, just fellowship. One of my favorite parts was just relying on people to have fun.

What was it like living in such close proximity to the Rocky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park?
The mountains make the whole experience surreal. The surrounding area gives you a real reason to keep pressing on since you’re in a place where it’s so difficult to deny God’s presence. The park offers many challenging hikes that will instantly grow you closer to anyone you want to hike with. The mountains add the extra flair of adventure to an already amazing summer and help you experience different sides to you and different sides to God, which you can’t easily see in our 9-5 lifestyles back at home.

How would you describe the LT experience?
The LT experience is something you cannot get anywhere else. Working at the YMCA and spending a summer in the Rockies is good enough, but when you add a top-notch leadership program that calls you to the next level, nothing can beat it. I know some people had really tough summers and some people had a lot of fun, but EVERYONE learned something. It’s an experience like no other, and I truly believe it’s one of the best ways to prepare yourself spiritually to not only take on your campus for Christ, but get prepared to live the rest of your life for him.

Links:

• An LT experience: Erica
• An LT experience: Liz
• LT information

Page 1 (PDF, .9 MB)
Page 2 (PDF, 1.9 MB)

FYI – The Rock is sending another team to Choluteca, Honduras, during Spring Break in late March 2008.