Sunday, May 15, 2011

It is 6:25am in Jerusalem, and I am sitting at the public computer in Citadel Hostel, which they tell me used to be some kind of tower. We flew in to Tel Aviv early yesterday morning and this is the first full-ish night's sleep I've had in 3 days or so. But we're here and it is beautiful! Yesterday, the 15th, was known as the Day of Independance for the Israelis and the Day of Catastrophe for the Palestinians. There was a little tension in the air for our first day here, but there was nothing to worry about. We had several long flights, starting in Detroit, then to Chicago then to Warsaw, Poland, and finally to Tel Aviv.

We did a little touring of the city yesterday and went to a Palestinian Christian church, it was great to see and talk to the Christians in this area. We went to the Wailing Wall and the various quarters of the Old City. Today we'll be meeting with a group called Musalaha (that is likely spelled wrong). There are other things on the itinerary, but I don't remember at the moment!

We have a beautiful view from the roof of the hostel, we can see the Dome of the Rock and can almost see the Wailing Wall, along with most of the city. Last night before going to bed, Chris, Karl and I sat up on the roof of a building and ate hummus and bread as we watched the city. I've found this to be an amazing experience already! Keep checking back here for updates!

Nate

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

I'm finding more and more that this trip will be unlike any I've ever taken. I went to Mexico in high school on a mission trip, I also went to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota on another, then to Greece in 2008 (though that wasn't exactly a mission trip). This trip is going to be crazy, I just feel like this is that area of the world that I'm always hearing about, the centerpoint for perhaps the biggest worldwide controversy ever, and a crossroads for human history! Chris was telling me the other day that there are Christians there that trace their family back to the time of Jesus in that area! How amazing!

And yet I have an uneasy feeling about what I'm going to experience. Most of the time, I think mission teams are really well received, because they are there to increase the quality of living for the people. However we'll be there to talk to people on both sides of the controversy, in hopes of showing people that they're loved (by us and by their Maker) and plant seeds for reconciliation. We're bringing a message that some people aren't going to want to hear. Not that I'm afraid for my safety, I'm almost excited to face some adversity on the trip (though I'm sure I'll regret saying that). I'm just... anxious about it. But I think it is a good anxious.

In other news, I'm kind of sick... Please pray that I get over this bug quick! I can't afford to be sick right now!

Things are progressing pretty well for the trip, we leave a week from Friday! The whole group is getting excited and anxious as final plans are made. We have a meeting tonight to discuss things like what to bring/not to bring and other important last minute details. We'll also be watching another movie!

It also seems I will be cutting my hair like Mr. T! My fundraiser has been pretty successful! So in anticipation of a victory, I have ordered a shirt:

God is good!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011




MR.T HAIRCUT CHALLENGE FOR ISRAEL!

Go to this link on Facebook and check out my event!

(Copied from the Event page on FB)
I am challenging you, facebook friends, to raise $500 for my mission trip to Israel! If you can reach that benchmark, I will cut my hair in the classic Mr.T mohawk/beard combo. That is less than $1 per person if all of my facebook friends gave! You get to help out a really good cause AND see me look like Mr. T!

Now, I know what you are saying, "NATE! But you already look JUST LIKE Mr. T!" And you're right, I do, however, my mohawk is a little less defined than his.

So here is the plan: You have until May 7th to donate online @ www.kensingtonchurch.org/global/israel_may12.php (Just create a login and password- it is really easy) Then send me a personal message telling me that you donated online for the MR. T CHALLENGE! If I raise that $500, I'll cut my hair like Mr. T.

Now comes the fine print: As I don't want to be stopped at the airport and held for questioning, I probably won't wear the mohawk on the trip itself, but I will post plenty of pictures of it before we leave!

/Users/nate.woods/Desktop/Snakes....jpg
"Snakes... Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Found this on top of my computer at work this morning. We've been passing the snake around from cubicle to cubicle for a couple weeks now, it was only a matter of time before he found Indy! I love working here.


Things are progressing well for the Israel trip! We're all getting to be one big cohesive group! Things in the middle east continue to be... tumultuous. Please continue to pray for safety for our trip! With the trip nearly at hand, we're all getting very excited. AND, I'm about to launch another fundraiser idea, stay tuned for details!

Monday, April 18, 2011

World Next Door

This article shows why we're going to Israel SO well! I'm really excited. Please take a few minutes and read this if you can, it will really make you think, and may challenge you!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Well, I just got back from the last service ever at Kensington's Rochester campus. (They're merging with Lake Orion campus and getting a new building!) Though this was my first time at that campus, it was an emotional experience, there were a lot of testimonies being shared about what God has done through this campus- what a blessing it was to be there and see people open their arms to embrace the change that God is bringing.

Well, this has been a great weekend! Friday night I spent some time with some of the others going on the Israel trip, we played games and had a great time! Last night I helped out some with Kensington Kids in Troy, which brought back memories from my days of substitute teaching and camp!

Tonight I will be watching a documentary about the history of Israel as a country with the group- should be a good time!

God is good!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Israel trip!

Dear friends! I am going to Israel! (Notice the new look?)

I mentioned this trip in a previous entry, but now I will give you more details! I heard about this trip through Chris Shea, a friend of mine at Kensington and the leader of the trip. It is for a group of "Quarterlife-ers", roughly college aged. Being 26, I barely count, but that is more of an attitude/state of mind, right?

Well, we'll be leaving May 13 (one month from today!) and it is getting intense! We've been having meetings to watch documentaries and check up on our preparedness for several weeks. The trip is very experimental, the first of its kind at Kensington. It will be very relational. Chris went on a scouting trip for this mission trip a few weeks ago and talked to the people in that area and found that they wanted to be understood. I found, rather regrettably, that I had ignored Israel thinking "Jesus was there. Surely there are lots of Christians!" When in fact less than 2.5% is Christian (and that number is dwindling). But in a place tired of war and hurting from decades of it- people STILL need Jesus! So, we get the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus.

We have a really good group of people- I'm pretty stoked for this trip! God is going to do amazing things! Please be praying for us.

If you are interested in helping me raise the $2600 that I need for the trip, you can give online at www.kensingtonchurch.org/global/israel_may12.php (Just create a username/password and you're set!). Just let me know if you have any problems!

Love you all!


Monday, March 14, 2011

Hey Friends. Sorry I've been MIA... again. As a quick update, I've still been working in Troy at Kensington Community Church. Like any job there are good days and bad days, but I didn't think that this point in my life I would be doing a job in my field and enjoying it! I am so blessed.

So I'm going to Israel! A buddy of mine is leading a mission trip and I'm going with him. I'll post more details later, but I'm pretty stoked.

I wanted to post a photo, so here it is. Sadly I've been putting a lot of money into the Raider lately. This weekend I came home to my parents' house to get a little work done on her, but it has been considerably more than I expected. But she'll be all the better for it.