#streetinvaders

[potoroz]

#tiles#fire#bonfire#streetinvaders#streetart#streetartparis #paris#paris13 (à Boulevard Saint-Marcel) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6u5hI7ANqe/?igshid=6xrbz1sg27i0

[betovet]

#inlinehockey 🏒 #seba #nutcasehelmets need new wheels #streetinvaders or new hockey skates Preparing gear for new hockey session with #FitT (bij Oostham, Limburg, Belgium)

[siteamphilippines-blog]

When it became real When does reality really sting? We sit at home, on our big leather couch, covered in cozy blankets, eating junk food that "later on I'll run off" because we indulge so excessively. We watch our big screen hd tv, some reality show wishing our lives were more like celebrities lives, "I don't have enough, my car isn't fast enough, my house isn't big enough" then a commercial goes on, it's a little child covered in flies "for only a dollar a day you can feed a child" what do we do? Think about it. We either change the channel, covering our shame with defense "I shouldn't have to watch this, It's me time" or sigh because we want to get back to our show, some may even sponsor a child. We live so comfortably on the surface, we are so afraid do dig in and accept reality. Today I encountered reality- not safely behind the screen of a tv or through the voice of a braver person, but straight up reality. A paint chipped hospital crib, covered in rust, a wooden plank for a mattress, a thin dirty white blanket and a flat worn out pillow, a little sign above the bed that says "ICU" but it's not even in a room, it's in a crowded hallway filled with other cribs with other sick children, laid a dying baby boy. Gods child, stick thin legs, tooth pick arms, hollow cheeks and bulged eyes, he's so tiny that the smallest sized diaper goes up to his armpits. A malnourished baby, being attacked with pneumonia, held by his hopeful mama. This isn't what we just see on tv, this isn't just a story, this is a mamas child, her precious creation, her baby boy, our brother in Christ. This is reality, has it become real yet? I have never felt so confused. I was beside myself, I broke down in tears. Reality didn't just sting, it stabbed. See the health care isn't free here, and hospital bills are really expensive, how can poor families afford the hospital bills to care for their malnourished baby if they can't even afford food in the first place? I had the opportunity to pray with the baby and his mama, I was speechless so it was super difficult to form the words to pray. I was in tears with my hands on this boy, I desperately called out to Jesus even though my voice was silent. Peace was in that place. Our prayers are more powerful than we will ever know, God heard my cry and poured out his love to the children there. Where there is no hope there is Christ. I'm not telling you to stop living in a house and only eat off the streets, I'm not telling you to stop watching tv , I'm definitely not telling you that sponsoring a child won't help, of course it will. I'm not asking you to come out to the poorest of poors and give up your luxuries, but I am asking you to count your blessings, and acknowledge reality through prayer. Listen for Gods voice and together, we can create life on earth as it is in heaven. ~Adrianna Dizy

[siteamphilippines-blog]

Sarah on bootcamp so far

So far we have had three team times together, and I am so excited all ready for what God is doing! One thing I can say for sure is how like-minded we all are. There was no difficulty within the group to connect with one another. I couldn’t imagine being on any other team this year.

  The first time we got together, I told the team that I really felt every person is a leader in there own ways. It turns out Jane had already said the same thing to Keegan and Andraya when they met together earlier. Its so cool how we all kind of have the same things on our hearts.

  Our team vision scripture is, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. we all decided on this because we felt strongly that we are going to bring an actual heavenly atmosphere, where there is no pain, no sickness, and no poverty. We will bring freedom by walking in obedience to God. We are going to bring pure fun to the kids we are working with because that is what comes with the heaven we will bring because of the Holy spirit dwelling inside of us.

  Our leaders are so awesome! Jane is so patient and full of wisdom. She brings order and peace. You can feel the love she has for everyone. She blows me away!

Keegan has such a humility and openness. He is focused and strong in the Lord. He is always willing to listen to what we have to say. We all mentioned that we appreciated his honesty and openness with us.

Andraya is full of passion and she has kindness in her eyes all the time. She is incredibly humble. This girl is an example even if she doesn’t know it.  They all love our team so much, which is such an incredible thing! These are some things I’ve learned about them, and I am so excited to get to know everyone on the team! Please pray like crazy for us! We love prayers!!

  Thanks for reading,

Sarah Siggelkow

[siteamphilippines-blog]

WATCH THIS SPACE!

This morning while thinking about this team going to the Philippines, I realized how privileged I am to be travelling with this group of youth and my fearless co-leader Keegan and our assistant leader Andraya. Really, very privileged.

I have been astounded by the dedication and hard work that our teens have put into this mission over this school year as we have been preparing to go. Team, you are fantastic and I am so very proud of you. This blog will shortly be shifting in focus to document our time in the Philippines. I can hardly wait to read what our team will blog on her as we set out on this mission. WATCH THIS SPACE FOLKS. These young people are incredible, this summer is only a small part of God's plan for their lives! Friends and Family, please pray for us as we prepare to head to bootcamp in about 3 weeks. 

[siteamphilippines-blog]

Your Missions Footprint

Have you heard of the environmental term 'Carbon Footprint'? A Carbon Footprint refers to the amount of damaging greenhouse emissions that you personally create in your day to day life. It is almost like leaving an environmentally negative trail wherever you go.

Likewise, as a missions team we have the potential to leave a negative or positive footprint depending on our attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Here are some questions to ask yourself to assess your mission footprint as we get ready to do missions in the Philippines. Stay tuned for further post when I will go into each one in more detail.

[siteamphilippines-blog]

Money Grows

Last post I shared some lessons I learned from my first ever mission trip, lets fast forward to the latest mission trip I went on. August 2012 I headed to Cambodia to work with a local christian organization who help the poorest of the poor including orphans and child prostitutes. It was an amazing opportunity put together by our leader, Bethany Graburn. At the time Bethany was in university studying marketing and business. Bethany is in her 20's and grew up going on mission. 

Bethany has an amazing way of using what she knows about finances, marketing and business to carry out DEEP KINGDOM JUSTICE for God.   Its cool how God uses different people to do different parts of His work! One thing God taught me through Bethany was that we can make our money grow if we use it wisely!

There is an overwhelming amount of need in Cambodia. For example, when we were the orphanage we noticed that the children needed clothes, their clothes were tattered, worn and not the right size. What would have been a solution?? GET THEM CLOTHES. Easy! We could have raised money, bought clothes in Canada and given them to the children. However, what if we raised the money, brought it to Cambodia and bought the clothes THERE? That way we can get significantly more clothes for the same money and we contribute to the local economy! Your spending the same money but that money goes much further in a third world country like Cambodia both for the amount of clothing you get and for the impact it will have on the economy. 

Are you saying its wrong for us to bring over items from Canada?

NO, not at all! On our mission to Cambodia we had to bring certain supplies over because the items were not available or very expensive in Cambodia. Trick is do your research!

Team, you have accepted the challenge of only bringing a carry on sized suitcase with you to the Philippines, why? because we want to bring things over for the people we will be ministering to. What I have learned is that we need to think carefully about what we bring. There are items that are hard to get or very expensive to purchase overseas. Those are the items we want to focus on bringing over. 

What if people want to give me things? Thats fine, bring whatever your given to bootcamp! BUT if you can tell people what is most needed then we can get those vital items and if anyone gives you money to get things...we can buy them over there. Make sense?

After talking to the local ministry in the Philippines this is what is most needed so watch your inboxes for info on gathering items!

Deodorant, Female Hygiene Products, Multivitamins, Kids Basic Medications, First Aid supplies (especially large band aids)

[siteamphilippines-blog]

Deep Kingdom Justice

The Philippines is a country struggling with extreme poverty.  As a team, God has asked us to go to the Philippines to play a part in helping with this problem. Is helping enough? As Christians, God asks us to do more than help. Our time in the Philippines is not about charity and its not about social justice, its something more...its about DEEP KINGDOM JUSTICE.

There is so much wrong with our world, its overwhelming. I mean really, what can we do in two weeks to help this problem that seems to be everlasting?

Thing is, it is an everlasting problem. Poverty is a natural consequence of other peoples greed and selfishness. Greed and selfishness are sins... and sin....without the help of Jesus, its an everlasting problem.

Lets look at those three terms 'charity, social justice and deep kingdom justice':

Charity is different from justice. Imagine you are in the blistering heat in a slum area of Manila, Philippines and you come across a small child trying to find water to drink.

Charity gives this child a drink when thirsty, but what happens when you leave and the child becomes thirsty again? Your water helped but it wasn't lasting, it didn't address the problem - a lack of water. Social justice looks at this child's situation and goes one step further. Social justice builds a well in the slum area so that the community can have a permanent supply of water. But what about Deep Kingdom Justice, the kid has a water supply so what else is needed?

Deep Kingdom Justice gives the child a drink of water, builds the well for the community AND speaks to the child, telling him that Jesus provides us Living Water. (John 4:13)

Yes, God cares about taking care of physical needs and yes, God cares about bringing justice and solutions to the worlds problems...thing is HE IS THE SOLUTION. We cannot REALLY help people if we don't tell them the most important part....that they need to have a relationship with God to really be satisfied. When the sin of others often causes people to be victims of poverty, we can't really be of help unless we go deep down to the heart of the issue and for that the only answer is Jesus. We only have 2 weeks in the Philippines but when we share about the transforming relationship available with Jesus then our teams impact is eternal.

  God give our team the wisdom and discernment to be deep kingdom justice people in the Philippines. As we pitch in to help with physical needs help us to go deeper to the root of the issue and tell the people we meet about you.