Times They Are A Chang'n

I'm not sure how this post is going to end up but know that if I don't get to it all... there is loads of change happening around these parts. I can't even keep up. Just yesterday I got the chance to finally get in touch with the parents and it was in between catching 45 min in the water after work and rushing to another meeting to cap off the three months with SLS. Life never stops here - I love it! Well it's more a love/hate relationship. So to follow up the post about Jennie, well how do you do that. And just to let you all know. Jennie was one of the few that got saved in this internship crew. I want to say around six were saved throughout the past three months and you have no idea how huge that mountain really is - but God moved it. Kia (Jennie's best friend) was one of them. How could you possibly process finding Christ with your best friend on that journey with you. All I can say is PTL! 

Well on the note of interns. Intern graduation was just a few nights ago and this started the process of seeing the crew filter back home. Sad days to come. Graduation was seriously epic and it was my honor to have been able to stand and affirm Julia as I handed her her certificate of completion from the internship. Oh my little sister! Congrats interns and I'm stoked for God's next adventure he is going to take you on. 

Hanna, Julie, Jennie and myself. Too many pictures calls for an "I'm over it" image.

 

The B.E.A.U.tiful Swedes of mine. Smiles to kill! 

 

Awwww Bucket! Malin and I at graduation.. I think we were the two cloudy eyes of the crowd during the interns graduation.

 

Kia! This is Jennie's best friend. So amazing to watch these girl grow into the woman of God they are today. They head out for a 2 month travel trip in Asia in a week. Keep them in your prayers that they will continue to walk boldly for Christ and that he will cover them in his hands of protection. 

 

Carl, Me, Kaelen. My boys (minus Mason). Kaelen will be returning for SLS so.. there will be more pushing this little borther around and Carl is back to the land of Swedes. We will miss him for sure! 

Next graduation would be yours truly! SLS is over, well as a student and now it's on to new things. We had our graduation this morning (fika) but non the less a moment to cap the three months. I gave a little speech on what I learned and tapped into what God had shown me these past few months. I'm starting to get over my fear of the mic but when ever it's about me I clam up... but if I'm affirming others it seems to be easier... some day some day. So today is my last day in the office on the media team and next Tuesday starts my new job as SLS staff and Surf Outreach staff! ChhheeeeeHoooo! 

So if you were paying attention closely you might have realized that my job starts Tuesday (not Monday). Why is that? Well let me tell you! Monday we have fasting and worship like usual but this Monday we will be moving... where you ask? Divine Pleasures baby. That's right - Sunday the keys are ours and Monday we move in. I can't wait for the first customer to come in on Monday night confused and stumble into the most on fire worship session they will ever experience. 

So there is a little update on the change that is happening here. The sad goodbyes, the crazy answers to prayer and the much awaited move into DP. Keep us all in your prayers for the times they are a chang'n.

Baptism at Pipeline

Yes... God really is that epic. So yesterday for fasting we had scheduled a baptism. We all knew it was at Pipe but I don't think any of us could have imagined how perfect this place could be and how God was going to show up big time. Eventually I'll collect some more photos to put up but for now a simply have a few. We showed up to this house that literally is ocean front to Pipe - you couldn't possibly ask for a better location. We show up and begin to filter in, worship music is being played and we quickly find out seats and get comfortable. There is about 80 or so of us there and I think a scheduled 15 to get baptized. Jenny and I sit in the front row and I simply couldn't get enough of this moment. I stood there overlooking pipe firing at double over head with the sun beaming down, my hands lifted high as we sang out to our Father and just as you couldn't imagine it getting any better a pod of whales begin to breach and jump out of the water in front of us. The whales stayed there throughout the entire ceremony of baptism and I don't know why but it was the kicker that just brought me to such a humbling remembrance that God is who he says he is. As we sang worship song after worship song, my arms wrapped around Jenny lifting her to our Father believing she would embrace his love. Jenny came here with no intention in finding Christ in her life but yesterday she did. My eyes swell with tears just thinking about this. (breathe).

 

This is a day I'll never forget, God was so present in this moment that if anyone could question His reality I would have loved to have them there.  After an epic worship set we had each person walk to the front to express why they were getting baptized and soon that 15 grew to about 17. After we prayed over those who wanted to take the plunge we began the baptism and before the day was over I think the final count was 20 people publicly committing their lives to Christ. Pretty Epic! 

 

I really can't get over this girl. I've never seen someone search for God so hard. She came here wanting nothing to do with Christ and she is now going to leave the woman of God we all know she was destined to be. =) I could write books about her but truly I'll leave that for later. World meet Jennie Logan Borjesson, twenty years old and a Christian. 

 

Hanna and I before she took the dunk =) The only girl missing from this post is my lovely Julia, not too sure how she missed my camera - but she did. 

After we had the baptism we all broke fast together with a BBQ. Honestly this day could not have been any more solid. So here ya go guys.  A little update again on how God is showing up in Oahu!

A blessed family

There is no denying that God has blessed me with a whole new family here. A family of friends and loved ones that I live life with everyday, not a family to replace mine rather a new family here full of love and the laughter one needs. Last night a few of the intern girls wanted to just have some chit chat time, we after a good evening surf session and the One Year movie premier in the bar -- I snagged them and we headed out for a little girl time. One Year is an epic snowboard film produced by The Nations Foundation.. sorta like STN in a way but with snowboarding vs surfing. The house was packed and we had a free showing for the community -- solid seeing so many kids come out and hear this flick. 

It was such an honor and blessing to talk with them and just get to speak into their lives as so many of spoken into mine. We had such a blast just hanging out, talking about life - God - and all that goes in between.

This is an image of all of us on our walk back to the property. Jenny, Julia, Me and Hanna. Fun fact is Hanna is the twin sister of my beloved blonde babe Emelie  (remember her)? It's fun to have Hanna here, it's like a little piece of a friend I haven't seen in so long. The funny thing is ... Julia and Hanna are exactly like how Emelie and I were.. It's almost like looking in a mirror. Julia is so like me and hearing her stories is as if she was me 4 years ago. Oh life! The four of us have a great time together and I love being able to just cruise with them. I'll miss these girls for sure. Their internship is over in just 10 days and bye bye to more friends (sad day always). Keep these girls in your prayers, they are heavy on my heart.

And this beloved family of mine is the staff side of life. When I was an intern we would have family breakfast Saturdays and today we decided to resurrect that tradition. The family has shifted a little but it's still the same heart. I love it. Slow Saturday morning making breakfast together and just cruising until the day starts. We are all now just digesting our feast and soon heading out for a search for surf.

So all in all this post is to simply show you guys a little more of the day to day blessings here at Surfing The Nations and how this isn't simply a place of ministry on the streets but within this property. It's all about living a mission "lifestyle" being on the mission field and following Jesus each step of the day, not just when you are reaching the homeless but when your within the home.

So let this be an encouragement to you to share your story with your loved ones, hold each other accountable, make a meal together and simply love. You may be shocked to know as much as you want to be heard -- so do they.

Dream Weaver

One week left of Surfer's Leadership School and the transitions have already started. Just yesterday I was given my two departments I will be staffed in the duration of my stay. I am helping lead SLS now and helping lead our Surf Outreach. I'm stoked to see these changes unfold and how life is going to look a little different these next few months. For my first time in STN life I won't have homework, tests, papers or books that I have to complete. I'm excited to be able to take all of this retained knowledge and hit the streets more, getting deeper with the community, my family here and the kids that roam around.

My Dad gets bummed he never gets to see pictures of what goes on around here so... here is for you Dad and for all you that follow and don't let me know what your thinking.. but are really thinking you want more pictures too.

 

This was during our 72 hours of prayer. I can't explain to you guys how amazing this time was and how impacting this wall is to our community and faith that God really does move mountains. If you have been following me since my internship you realize just how much I talk about this amazing painting of prayer we see each day.

 

So with this post.. an image will appear with a little fun explanation. This is our wall that separates us from Divine Pleasure (the porn shop).  One of our interns here is an epic artist and when things began to close on the purchase of this building, as the walls began to shatter he was given the go ahead to have some fun. So this is now what our prayer wall looks like -- epic huh!? God torn these walls down!

 

This was me dressed in a 3 piece last Monday for prayer. We were praying for India and the day was themed all around the culture. It was pretty "fun" to wear, but as it got hot.. I changed. Super humbling knowing that I had to choice to change and these woman that wear them for real, they don't. Man was that day a heart break day for the woman in bondage.

 

SLS baby! This is the whole SLS crew. One day we went to the skate park to help out the media team on a photo shoot and it was a hoot. I'll for sure miss this crew but I'm stoked for the new solid set of leaders to rise up.

I know this is a short update with maybe more questions now than answers given but maybe that was on purpose. If you guys really do read this -- let me know. I want to make sure my supporters, family and friends are updated but if this isn't working a new way of updating must happen. Thanks for reading guys and send me an e mail if you wanna hear more, you love it, hate it -- just let me know. 

julie.nelson@surfingthenations.com 

Please join me in prayer as I step out in faith that God will supply the finances to be here.

Travel All Across This Land

 

I can't even tell you how many times I have watched this video. 

A small depiction of my time home, a short insight of my family, a little sneak peak of the love and an evident abundance of blessings that God has poured into my life. This past weekend home was beyond words and beyond emotions. 

God has taken me from the town of Cannon Beach to the town of Wahiawa, from Egypt to Israel and now here I sit just recently returned from a moment at home. When I decided to buy my ticket home it was in response to a spontaneous idea of surprising my sister for her baby shower. In the big picture of life a baby shower really is nothing you can't bare to miss but the love I wanted to shower her with is. When I thought of surprising my Grandpa and getting to love on him, spend time with him and just see his face again - my heart broke. When I imagined the look on my Grandma's face when I wrapped my hands around her, tears began to form and there was no way I was going to stay back. I was going home! God opened up so many opportunities to go home and reconnect with existing supporters, create new contacts with those hearts God is pulling to jump on board with Surfing The Nations and simply get to be a service to the "PR" of STN.

My sister-in-law, Ashley, planned everything with me and honestly the trip would not have happened without her. We decided to surprise Mom and Dad but by that time I had already blown it to Mom (knowing she really hates surprises), so Dad was in for it. The surprises were an additional excitement for me but what it was really all about was flying home to show the ones I loved the most, just how blessed I am and honored I am to have them in my life.

But as I boarded the plane to go back to Hawaii, I realized a few more things. I realized God's plan for this weekend, not mine. I came humbly to the reality that a mirror was placed in front of my face, a reflection of my life was constantly playing forcing me to take a second look. And what I saw was a heart neither here nor there. What I saw was no longer was Oregon my home and not yet is Hawaii. I couldn't truly accept the fact that my "domain" was no longer an ownership. Without doubt my "home" still is comfort and my family still gives me the home I grew to know. But my home is not established. Christ allowed me to realize that my identity found in surfing, art, writing, Oregon, friends, relationships.... all of that cannot be my identity. For my true identity that can never be compared to, taken from, tainted nor destroyed -- my identity in Christ is what I must obtain. My heart is in limbo on where to land, where is my home if it's not the place I've always known it to be. And to ignore that God has called me here is an ownership I need to accept. Though Oregon, my family, friends and life I had before will never leave my heart and will always call on me, I must grow roots where God has called me to. I love Wahiawa. Just as I did when I left for college, roots were grown and now there a sense of home left in Eugene -- roots must grow here and Christ must be my identity each step of the process. God has called me to no dwell on the past, nor be expectant of the future but be patient and joyful in the present. 

"I could try and point the finger

But the glass points in my direction

Sure you've got your sharp edges

But my wounds are for my own reflection

You've got nothing I could ever hold against you

I've got fatal flaws to call my own"

Jon Foreman - A Mirror Is Harder To Hold

I'm excited to grow roots in a new place and though it's been months, it's been mere days of taking ownership of this new adventure in knowing that it is not a short term but a lifetime choice. So as God has it, it has taken me to "travel all across this land" to figure it all out. From Oregon to Egypt, from Israel to Hawaii -- God has had my path blazed but now I have found it and am choosing to walk in bold faith and  run in his direction. 

A special thanks to :

Kim and Dena Barnett

Joel and Ashley Nelson 

Steph and John Riley 

For making this trip happen, you guys will never know the impact this weekend had. 

Take it as it is....

I can't begin to title this post because no title could hold an explanation of what I need to update on. My biggest challenge lately has been to truly be present in where God has me and not get lost in making sure I am in contact with everyone at home, supporters, family and friends. Sometimes I feel as if with all of this effort I lose the point of why I am here. I lose the opportunity to be fully here both with my heart and my head. So that may explain the sporadic updates and to be honest I'm going to try a once a week (I feel like that's a good balance) update rather than a once a few couple weeks or try the trend I started when I was here, which was pretty much everyday. During the internship I had the joy of updating everyone everyday due to my schedule but now during SLS and transitioning into Staff, there is no time to breathe most days - let alone express to you my time here. But as a promise to those who have made it possible to be here, I will make it possible to keep you up to date with God's hand in my life. So.....



I honestly don't know where to begin, to I update you on the events or memories.. or would you like to know how God is working in my life and my heart. So with not knowing really what is wanted, let's just give a little taste of everything.

I know the last thing I touched on was the SLS "adventure" trip and for sure that was an adventure and for sure there is always more to tell about that. But for now I'll move on and as I write this I begin to realize that what I want to talk about needs a post of it's own. So take this post as an apology for not being prompt on my updating, take it as a promise to keep you informed and take it as a challenge to comment and let me know what you guys want to hear about.

I feel as if...

I feel as if I have a lot to share, so here is my best attempt to share it. Here is my best attempt to not only catch up on the events of my life but also the challenges my heart is working through.

I take a big sigh as I begin to write, a sigh that expresses a heavy heart, a healing heart, a blessed life and an excited soul. Lately God has taken me on an adventure of a lifetime. Yes it's been an epic adventure since day one but as of late not only have I been blessed by physical adventures but also an emotional adventure. Emotional sounds like such a negative word, a word filled with tears and uncertainty but does it have to be that way? I would like to think not. So without the words become distracting and my mind traveling so far it would be impossible to explain back to the main point. Let me get there now.

Last week would be the crux of this all. Last week the Surfer's Leadership School I am apart of when to the Big Island for our adventure trip. We were prepared to rough it, live off the land and have a crazy hike to the valley we were going to but I don't think any of were ready for the "eternal adventure" about to happen. For me personally God spoke my language through a camping trip to allow me to look in the mirror and really address some character, leadership and community "characters" that need to be more like Christ. It has been a crazy few days of processing and even though it's been tough, it's a ride taken with Christ that gives me the peace to settle. Along side tears, talks and testimonies - peace and affirmation is found in knowing no matter what God's got it.

 ( the team after the crazy hike to the valley) Stay tuned for a post just about the hike and less about my crazy processing.