Eight Christmas Ornaments of Thanksgiving

Typically I'm not one for putting Christmas decorations up until after Thanksgiving. However, this year has been a little different. This year my family is traveling for Thanksgiving and because we will be out of town on our usual Black-Friday-stay-in-the-house-and-put-up-Christmas-decorations day, we decided that today would be a good day.
Now another summary before I get to the point. Every year since I can remember my mom, or should I say Santa, left my brother and I a Christmas ornament in our stocking. Usually the ornament had to do with something significant that had happened during the year. For example, my ornament for 2002 is of a girl playing the clarinet. I started, and if we're being honest, stopped playing the clarinet in the year 2002.
Now that you know that background story let's move on to the point. Today after putting the Christmas tree up in the family room with mom I went down to my apartment to put my own little three foot Christmas tree up. Oh. One thing I forgot to say about the ornaments. My mom ended up giving my brother and I all of our ornaments for Christmas during our first year that we "moved out of the house". Jokes on her because I moved back in a year later... anyways, all of the ornaments that I have collected are now on my own Christmas tree. No more of the macaroni noodle ornaments that I made in first grade to be seen.
Back to the point again. Today I was putting my ornaments on the tree and I realized something. Each ornament holds a story. Because of my mom choosing to get ornaments for significant happenings each ornament brings about something that is special to me. Memories. Nostalgic moments. And finally, things that I'm thankful for. Hence the title, Eight Christmas Ornaments of Thanksgiving.
I'm going to take an opportunity right now and share a few ornaments with you and why I'm thankful for them. Starting with the oldest to the most recent ornament.
1. The first ornament is a softball. I spent 12 years of my life playing the wonderful game. This sport made me a fan of baseball. (I actually know what's happening unlike other sports) Softball taught me how to be a team player. We win together. We lose together. When one player hits a homer we all celebrate. When one player has a rough day we all encourage. I'm thankful for the 12 years I spent on the diamond. It allowed me to learn to work with others. Turns out. Introverts have to do that for the rest of their lives whether we like it or not.

2. This star ornament I received as a thank you for serving in Children's Ministry at Glen Ellyn Bible Church in 2005. I know it's not a stocking ornament. That doesn't mean I can't be thankful for it. Back in 2005 I would have survived my first year of middle school and started in on my second. This year would also be the year that I first served regularly, year round, in Children's Ministry. Something that I would continue to do, for the next, oh let's see, 11 years and counting... Serving in Children's Ministry has taught me numerous things. But most importantly, you're never too young to understand that Jesus loves you. 

 3. This ornament I received my sophomore year of high school, 2008. It marks my first trip across an ocean without my family. This trip taught me all sorts of things. From how to pack light to how to not get pick pocketed to how to get through customs by myself to how to not lose my passport.

4. The next two pictures go hand in hand. The first is Taylor University followed by 3CO, which stands for Third Center Olson, the dorm and wing I lived at during my four years at Taylor. I'm not sure I can sum up four years into a short paragraph but I'll do my best. 3CO is a major contributor to bringing me out of my shell. I got to do life alongside some wonderful sisters who challenged me, supported me, listened to me, laughed with me, and cried with me. But I can't forget the academic side of my time at Taylor. Christian Educational Ministries and the professors and friendships that came with it helped form and shape me in my professional field. Because of the encouragement of a professor I would have not stepped foot in Colorado a few months after graduation but that's a different ornament for later down the road.

5. If you look closely at this cowboy hat you will notice it has VCBC written on the brim of the hat. This stands for Village Creek Bible Camp. 2011. This marks my first W-2 job. The theme that summer was Frontier. This summer I would be stretched in ways I never thought possible. As a cabin counselor Sunday afternoons would become my least favorite part of the week as I introduced myself to another group of campers. Remember I'm an introvert. Meeting one new person is cool. Meeting eight new people who would live with me for the next week. Well it would grow on me. Because Saturday mornings were so hard to say goodbye to campers when you know that camp is a place where they feel loved and known. I'm thankful for camp and the many summers that I continued to work there beyond 2011.

6. This next ornament would not hold near as much significance now if it weren't for current life situations. This is one of two ornaments that my mom gave me that were made in Peru. I received these in 2013 after I had been on my month long missions trip to the country that I will be moving to in about 2 months. Looking at these ornaments I'm thankful for God's plan. It is so much better than I could have ever imagined and although scary and confusing at times He always remains faithful in his leading.

7. This candy cane was painted and given to me by Chloe in 2013. This would be the last year that I would serve at Basics. Chloe was one of the girls that I had the privilege of having in my small group at Basics for four years. Although this was given by one of my girls I can't help but think of them all when I see it. It reminds me to pray for her and the other girls as they are now freshman in high school! Yikes. They were in 3rd grade when I started serving at Basics. Looking at this candy cane I'm thankful for the years I had to invest in these girls while at school. I'm thankful for the things they taught me. For example, I'm a very by the books person. I'm a rule follower. So when it came to small group Bible study time. We were going to hear their verses, sign off on Bible readings, do the study, then pray, then dismiss. In that order. Every. Wednesday. Night. What I learned as time went on was to be flexible. You don't HAVE to do the study every week. In fact you can play ninja and spend the whole time laughing. Because sometimes we all just need to laugh.

8. Last and certainly not least. Colorado. After graduating from college I would move to Colorado to intern at a very very very very large church. Flatirons Community Church. While very skeptical at first I would soon become a part of Flatirons culture. This year in Colorado was the hardest year to date for me. I'm sure I have a harder year ahead of me in Peru but at this point I haven't experienced it yet. I'm so incredibly thankful for the year in CO. I am thankful for the friends I made. Many of which are supporting me as I will serve in Peru. The biggest thing I'm thankful for right now is for the confidence and voice that I discovered. God revealed to me many things during the year. One of which was confidence in myself to do the things I hate the most to see Him show his power. For example, public speaking in any form. Growing up I never enjoyed speaking in front of any group. Period. In college I would get so nervous that I couldn't eat in fear of throwing up. Well that all changed during my year in CO. I would be challenged to face this fear head first. By the end of the year I would willingly volunteer to speak or teach in front of many different groups. From 1st and 2nd graders, to adult leader meetings, to sharing my story about Peru in front of the whole congregation at Glen Ellyn Bible Church. (Sorry. That one was long.)

So there you have it. Eight ornaments of thankfulness. During this season Thanksgiving and more importantly, Christmas, I want to remind you to be thankful. Christmas is such an easy time to become greedy for the material objects. Don't get me wrong. Presents are great. But I want to challenge you to look beyond the item you want most to find someones greatest need. Maybe instead of receiving that want you can meet a need. So. Take a moment. Pause. Reflect. Thank God for the ways he has provided for you. Big or as small as a Christmas ornament.

March Madness and a Search for Community

Despite the title of this post it has nothing to do with March Madness basketball and everything to do with the madness that March brought in my life.

March started with a 5 day trip to Colorado. I had been counting down the days for this trip since I purchased the plane tickets in December. Yes, I purchased them 3 months in advance. I was excited. Anyways, in the days before the trip I was preparing my fundraising materials, filling up my calendar with coffee dates, dinner plans, lunch plans, housing arrangements and so forth. I was so excited to be back in one of the places where God helped me discover who I was in him and to be with the people who helped me along the way.

When I arrived I was instantly welcomed into the Veve household and was able to fill Lara in on the happenings of the past 7 months since moving away from CO. Conversation soon went from catching up to simply talking life and what God has been doing and sharing some of the struggles of fundraising and being back in Wheaton and missing CO. On the Tuesday of my trip I had the chance to spend all day at Flatirons. Sat in on team meetings, went to lunch with several Kids Ministry staff, had dinner with Lara, and then packed my bags to head north to spend a night with my cousin before heading home the next day. That was when the rush of emotions from the past 4 days caught up to me. I found myself driving north on I-25 towards Mead with tears flowing strong. Over the course of the 7 months I had been in Wheaton I knew I missed CO but I didn't quite know exactly what I missed. But in the span of 4 days I was able to pinpoint exactly what it was. I missed the friends. But not only the friends I missed the vulnerability that I had with these friends. They had seen me at my worst and at my best during my year of interning and after leaving they still welcomed me in with open arms 7 months later. Now many of them have committed to financially support me as I head out for Peru. I miss that community.

Now this is where the madness of March begins. During my time in CO I was able to realize the lack of community in my life. Not just any type of community though. I lack the community amongst my peers. People my age who I can do life with. Emphasis added to people my age. I have plenty of community with people older than me and younger than me but nothing with people my age. The longing and desire continued to grow.

A week after returning home I was sitting at church in my church membership interview when I was asked the question, "Is there anything that Glen Ellyn Bible Church can do better?" That's when I said it. I said, "GEBC does not have opportunities for young adults and college age students to come together for community." I then also emphasized that I didn't know the solution and that I was not the one to take it on because of my commitment to fundraising and the fact that I will be leaving in less than a year for Peru.

Late March just before Easter I had the opportunity to head to Village Creek Bible Camp for some prayer and reflection on what the next year would hold. Obviously I brought this whole lack of community to God in prayer and asked that he would put other young adults in my path to do life with. Like brick to the face God was like, "Alison, you say you want this but you aren't doing anything about it. DO SOMETHING!" At first I thought, God how can I do something when I don't know where to do something. Clearly the community can't be at Glen Ellyn Bible Church so where I am going to find it! Then there was silence. As if God was saying, "think harder."

I left camp feeling slightly defeated because I was hoping to have an answer to this whole lack of community thing. I continued to pray about it. Then I got to thinking. "What I am going to do for community once women's Bible study finishes for the summer? I could join a small group. But then I can't visit small groups to present about Peru. So that's not an option. I wonder if there is anyone doing college ministry this summer. I wonder if I could help lead that... Wait. No there's no one." This whole train of thought brought me to this. I am supposed to be that person. I am supposed to be that person who welcomes in the college and young adults into my home for community. I have the space. I have the time. I need to community and if I need it someone else needs it as well. I'm excited for this vision that God has planted in me. I don't know exactly what it will look like yet. But I do know that this summer my basement apartment will be open and available to the college and young adults of Glen Ellyn Bible Church as well as their friends. I don't have details yet. But they will come. I'm excited to see what God makes of this summer and the community that will form because I am following his call to open my doors to the college and young adults in the Glen Ellyn and Wheaton area. With that, if you are a young adult or college student looking for something do this summer please contact me. I'd love to hear from you and see what ideas you have on what this community could look like. If you are not a young adult or college student please pray with me. Pray that the people who need this will come. If you know of a college student or young adult who needs this send their names to me. I want to reach out to them and invite them.

All Fear Removed

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the IF:Gathering. More specifically the IF:Wheaton, IF: Local, IF: Gathering. Basically a live stream of the IF: Gathering that took place in Austin, TX with local Wheaton women at a local church. During this weekend one of the songs that we sang quite a few times was Sinking Deep by Hillsong. I sang along the first time mindlessly singing the words not really thinking about what I was singing. Let alone singing in praise to God. The second time we sang the song I started to listen to the words. What exactly was I singing? What was I singing praise about? While listening to the chorus I became deeply convicted of something that I have been dealing with in my own life. Fear. The chorus goes as follows: 
I'm wide awake, drawing close, stirred by grace
And all my heart is yours
All fear removed, I breathe you in, I lean into
Your love, oh, your love
There are those words, "all fear removed." It didn't read just a little fear or some fear. No. It read ALL fear removed. Here I thought I was doing good in the fear category. I mean I'm moving to another country within the year to do ministry. You'd think this wasn't an issue for me. Yet I still find myself stopped, dead in my tracks, by those four letters. FEAR. I couldn't rightfully sing the song anymore. At least not until I confronted my big ugly fear head on. Low and behold during that very session of the IF:Gathering we were going to confess our sin. Oh goodie! During the confession, on the screen different sins would be flashed up. If we had committed that sin we would light up our phone screens and shine the light into the darkness. Yes. A very hi-tech confession but nonetheless a powerful visual to watch. As sin after sin flashed up on to the screen I found myself waiting for my moment to confess my living out of fear. Then up on the screen, as if God had written that slide for me personally, it read, "If you've been making decisions out of fear." I shone my phone into the darkness, shed light on the sin in my life and confess that I am not perfect and that I need God's help. 

As the evening continued we sang Sinking Deep again only this time instead of the words "all fear removed" sticking out. It was the latter part, "I lean into your love." I realize that fear is not the easiest sin to defeat but if I lean into God's love. Defeating it will become much easier. I'll be the first to admit that I still live out of fear. But knowing that it is out in the open and in the light and that I have given it to God and prayed for his help on the journey to defeat it will be easier. I say easier because, simply put, it's not easy. But with God working in me and through me it is definitely becoming easier. During the passing days since the IF:Gathering I continue to pray that God would not let me make decisions out of my fear and slowly I'm starting to see fruition. 

If you've never heard the song before I'd go ahead and take a listen. Down there↓

"I'm a Missionary."

I remember growing up walking into church on Missions Sunday as a child. I remember walking into the sanctuary to sit at the usual Koch family pew and being completely in awe of the flags hanging from the ceiling from all over the globe. After singing some songs in worship a missionary would take the stage and share stories about life in the bush of Africa or sharing gospel to the people of Asia. I remember as a young child thinking, "WOW, I want to be like them!" However, once the innocence of a child wears off. I didn't think that the missionary life was so cool. In fact, I never thought I was the missionary type. Don't get me wrong. I loved global missions and the work missionaries were doing for Christ around the world but I was fine doing kids ministry in the U.S. of A. I would even continue to go on several short term missions trips throughout my high school and college career.

Little did I know that as I went on these short term trips as a student God would begin to plant the seed for missions on my heart. What started with high school missions trips would eventually lead me to where I am today. Which is a missionary.

Not too long ago I spent a week down in the Smoky Mountains at missionary orientation with TEAM. On the last day of orientation they commissioned all of us as missionaries. I remember during the commissioning one of the men leading the morning said, "Well, I guess you are all officially missionaries now!" I remember coming home and going to church the next Sunday where I would run into a long time family friend who I hadn't seen in quite a few years. They asked me, "What are you doing these days?" Meaning where do I work. I begin to answer the question with, "I'm currently unemployed. But..." Then I stopped. Thought a little bit. Then spewed out, "I'm a missionary." This was the first time I had called myself a missionary. EVER. I stood there rather shocked at my answer while thinking I hope this person doesn't see how shocked I am on my face. (I'm known for making faces that I'm not aware of.) Fortunately, they didn't realize my shock and answered with, "Wow, that's really awesome!" We then went on to talk about Peru and my vision to work with the children's ministry at the church in Arequipa.

All that to say, I'm a missionary. Me. Plain Jane Alison is a missionary. If you had asked me a year ago where I'd be right now I would not have responded with, I'm a missionary. Goes to say that God can change the trajectory of your life in an instant. That is, when you choose to follow God in every circumstance He will lead you in situations that you aren't always comfortable with. I have to remember, now more than anything, that I'm not called to be comfortable. If anything I need to be uncomfortable. For me being uncomfortable is a sign of learning and growth. I'm incredibly excited for the journey that God is taking me on. It's not always easy but I know that in the end it will be eternally rewarding. Because my comfort is nowhere near as important as one's salvation.