Challenge 2014

This year, my sister Erin and I went on a trip with our youth group to Kansas City, Missouri for a week. It was amazing, life changing, stretching, and moving. I loved every bit of the trip and seeing how God used everybody to do His work and to reach others about his love and mercy.

5,300 + teenagers
1,000 + leaders / youth pastors
39 states + singapore & austraila
7 fantastic speakers
2 incredible bands
vans, buses, and planes

...and we all came together to serve our amazing Jesus, learn about his restoration, reach the community of Kansas City, worship Him with our praise, and come together as the body of Christ to His work. I can't begin to describe this trip to you...It was a "had to be there experience". We did service work like painting houses, picking up trash, and landscaping. We met new people from different states and exchanged jokes about accents from Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas. :) It was an unforgettable trip because it involves unique opportunities that you can only experience at the Challenge Conference. It's an unbelievable time.

So instead of me continuing to blabber on about it, here's some pictures for you to look at and see if you can gather why you must get yourself to a Challenge conference before you graduate high school. The next one is in Louisville, Kentucky in July of 2016 so make sure you talk to your youth pastor and get you & your youth group there. You won't regret it.

Service projects, playing card games, late night girl talk in our hotel rooms, j-walking because we're too impatient for crosswalk lights, worshiping Jesus with an Irish band, learning new songs with a band from our home state (MN proud), taking too many pictures, swimming, doing prayer walks around the city in 102F heat, meeting new friends, tweeting #ChallengeKC 5 times a day, long bus ride memories, growing more in my faith, and learning more about my restoration in Christ...would not even sum up Challenge but it's close enough. :)

Our youth group also stopped at Adventure Land in Des Moines, Iowa for some amusement park fun after a crazy week and it was awesome!

We serve one amazing God and I'm so excited to travel to Louisville in 2016 as Challenge staff!

Restored.
Live the story. Tell the story.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

Reflecting.

This is a post mostly for myself. Something that I need to write down so I can come back and remember. If you want to, go ahead and read along but I warn you - it might get a little long and be a tad boring. :)

Looking back on this year, it has been a year of growth and struggle. Good struggle & bad struggle. A full year of fitting pieces of a puzzle back together, erasing scars of my heart, and opening new doors. I look back and realize that I fit a lot into this past year and it brings nothing but joy. I had a lot of stressful moments but I had support and comfort after the storm. And that just brings joy that overpowers all the hard times. For that I'm thankful.

But something else I've noticed is that I have not grown in my faith with God. And that's something I've really struggled with in the past 2 years. You can go read this post and that gives you a little smidgeon of info. We lost our youth pastor around that time and it's been hard ever since. (We do have a new youth pastor now and he is super awesome! Just losing the one before him was pretty rough for a while) Someone really special to me asked me the other day "How is your walk with God?" and all I felt was disappointment. In myself. In my church. In my heart.

My faith has been tested a lot over the past 2 years and I've realized that I rarely turned to God when I needed something or was hurting. I turned to my friends or raged at my parents or cried alone in my room or complained to God. I never prayed to Him or thanked Him or cried out to Him. And I'm SO THANKFUL to everyone in my life who has and will always be there for me in hard times. Whether it's girls from my team, my parents, my best friends, or my grandparents. But most of all I'm so thankful to have a God that is so forgiving, so loyal, and so selfless. If it wasn't for Him not giving up on me or letting me give up on myself then I'd be in a lower spot in my faith than I am right now.

I'm the girl that tries to always have a smile on her face, who hates letting people down, and has a positive outlook on life. My life is beautiful. And there are times when I think "my life couldn't get any better" and times when I think "my life couldn't get any worse". But whether it's good, bad, or beautiful - it's not perfect and I'm not perfect.

So reflecting back on this year it's been an adventure. A crazy one. In 2014, I want it to be even crazier. I want to be crazy for God and for the life and future He has for me. Not the plans I have for myself but the plans that HE has for me. I want to strive to learn about Him and to seek Him in all that I do.

"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." 2 Timothy 4:17

xoxo,
~Michlyn

New Orleans - One Year Ago

Wow. Time does fly. I mean it must seriously grow wings and fly faster than we think.

One year ago today I was stepping off of a coach bus with 42 other students. Pillow and carry-on bag in my hand, best friend and sister by my side, searching for my dad in the crowd of parents.

It was such a journey. An incredible experience. When I look back and see the pictures, read the posts, and watch the videos...I just want to go back. That week was unforgettable. There were some bumps (big ones) but we got through it and glorified God at the same time.

Strength. That's one word I want to use to describe my youth group. We lost our youth pastor around 13 months and now we have a new and incredibly awesome one. But we seriously have been through a lot. Something we always point out is say how "cliquey" or "snotty" we are compared to other youth groups. Yes, there are some weaknesses. Our strength though...literally, IS strength.

That trip transformed the way we saw each other. Whether most of us forgot about it or it washed away...it's true.

And today I'm especially remembering some of the best times of my life! God has richly blessed me with more support, friends, and love than I could ever have thought of. Now for the throwback.....

These pictures bring back so many laughs, hand raising in worship, crazy bus rides, and growing 

in my faith with some of my favorite people on earth!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

P.S. If you want to read more about my New Orleans trip you can start here or here or just watch the video here! 

District Blitz 2013

This past weekend I was out of town with my youth group on our first trip since last July! It was sooo much fun!

Everyone got a long, the bus rides weren't too long, we got to grow more in our faith, and worship our AMAZING God! :)

DISTRICT BLITZ 2013 --- ENCOUNTER JESUS

 Caitlyn & Erin on the bus...headed for the conference!

 

 Beka & I on the bus...on our way!!

 

 Waiting for the conference to start beginning on Friday!

 

In our seats in the balcony

 Chatting...waiting for the doors to open on Saturday night.

 

 Our speaker for the weekend...Brandon Zieske.

 

 These are fears that people wrote down and our speaker (Brandon) painted FREE across it. So amazing!

 The conference and the room was only half full :)

 

 The Neverclaim! This band is INCREDIBLE & SO passionate to worship our Lord.

 

 One night we decided to dress up and then go out to dinner...It was a lot of fun!

 

 A favorite verse that he showed

 Encounter Jesus flame

 Brandon Zieske

 

 The "MC" for the weekend :)

 

Dress up!

 

 Brother & sister on our "dress-up go-out-to-dinner night"

 

 Where we sat in the conference center...left balcony w/ a perfect view of the stage!



It changes EVERYTHING!

 

~Michlyn

He was Protecting Us

I'm pretty sure most of you know that I have my drivers license. I turned 16 in November, and got my license in January.

Just about 4 weeks ago, I was involved in my first ever car accident.

My parents have been in quite a few accidents, but never when they had kids.

Thank goodness it wasn't my fault, and that everyone was perfectly ok.

I was on my way to school with both of my brothers in the back seat.

I was getting ready to merge onto the busy highway from a backroad about 5 minutes from our house.

As I was waiting for it to clear, I noticed that there was a bus in the left lane and that it was clear for me to get into the right lane.

Well, about 3 seconds after I was fully in the lane the bus passed me, and the car behind it was trying to change lanes, but since he hadn't seen me merge earlier he hit me in the front/side.

He was going around 60 mph and since I was still speeding up I was going around 40 mph.

Once he hit me (on the drivers side) it popped my front tire and spun me around. That would put me facing oncoming traffic.

It all happened so fast...the only part I really remember at that direct moment was; I heard a loud crash and thought "What on earth just happened?! No...I couldn't of just gotten in an accident."

Did I mention that my parents had surprised me with a car...just 10 days before this happened? I didn't? Oh well they did and yes I was driving it that day...

I couldn't restart my car and so I was stuck facing backwards in the middle of the lane with no help accept my mom who I had just called to tell her what happened.

After being turned around, frantically trying to restart my car, and balling my eyes out I had to figure out two things: "Are my brothers ok?" & "How bad is the car?"

I spun around and saw both of my brothers conscious, not bleeding, and not even crying. They actually cried less than I did...

A couple minutes later 2 ladies who had seen the accident came rushing towards me, called 911, and made sure everyone was ok. It was quite the scene!
I did hit my head on the side window and so I had a small bruise and my neck was sore and my youngest brother also bumped his ear on the window, but that was about the extent of any injuries what so ever.

God was not only protecting me & my brothers, but also the other guy and his young daughter.

He didn't come up to me or ask me if I was ok, but my mom did ask his wife if him or his daughter were hurt and that was about it.

I was so shooken up about everything that looking back... half of it was a blur and and at the same time I remember everything. (obviously because I'm writing this post)

 



After working everything out with insurance, being asked many questions, and waiting for the "shock" to wear off...things are 98% back to normal.

Whenever my brothers are in the car with me and we get home safely, Scout (the youngest bro) will announce "We made it and we're back in one piece!!" :) Haha oh dear I traumatized them...kinda...not really.

I know for a fact that the accident could of been a lot worse, and that Jesus sent his angels down. The thought of anyone getting seriously injured or even dying makes me emotional.

It's hard to think about sometimes, but when I breathe a little prayer I know that Jesus is always with me no matter what. Whether it's driving, eating, sleeping, or working.

If you read the whole thing, I applaud you! :)

~Michlyn

The Meaning of Christmas

Just thought I'd brag and say I took this picture... I know, shame on me. ;)

Well I'm back!!

You guys... I just need to say...

I am ridiculously blessed!!!!

This Christmas was so great!

It was filled with joy, laughter, & love.

It's not about the money or presents.

Or the cookies or lights or the snow.

Christmas truly has a meaning.


Christmas really should be explained more...We wouldn't have a Christmas without the most important one.

OUR INCREDIBLE SAVIOR WHO WAS BORN ON THAT COLD DAY IN DECEMBER!!

Goodness gracious, he was born in a dirty stable outside and layed in a feeding trough (manger) to sleep.

He was the most important person ever born. He saved the sins of the entire world - This tiny little baby was literally perfect.

So instead of complaining about not getting the best present, or the weather being too cold... let's remember...

Jesus is the reason of the season!

Blessings,
~Michlyn

Sunrise

In the morning when we leave for school in the winter/spring time - The sun is still rising. Usually it's pretty quiet in the car as our dad brings us. So I am always sleepily looking out the window or listening to music. I always notice the sunrise or the clouds or the other cars passing us.

Pulling out of the driveway in our neighborhood...

Passing through the rows of houses...

And getting to that road, where you could see it in all it's glory.

Our God is incredible! I love how I always notice the simple things that he creates! Yet so intricate...

~Michlyn

Dare2Share 2012

We had an AMAZING time at Dare2Share this year! The theme this year was Game Day!

They have 3 main speakers - Greg Stier, Zane Black, and Propaganda!

Propaganda 

Zane & Propaganda

It was an incredible time for everyone there! We went to a very big church about 1 hour away from our church and it was great!

 The Church that the conference was at

There was about 3,000 teens there! How amazing is God?! He can bring so many of us together to learn and grow closer to Him!

Dare2Share teaches and trains teens on how to share their faith with their peers, family, and friends! Their were so many testimonies and tons of teens accepted Jesus Christ for the first time this weekend! WOW!

Greg Stier with a young man who was sharing his testimony through Compassion (a sponsor ministry)

Dare2Share helps sponsor kids through Compassion. It's a program that takes kids from countries all over the world and provides them with their basic needs. School, food, water, medical care, and shelter. But they can't do it alone and it's not free! For only $38 a month, you can sponsor a child through Compassion. So many teens were moved by this and decided to start sponsoring a child for the first time!

We had so much fun this weekend learning what these 3 guys had to teach us, and how we can be more open with our faith to everyone we know!

Caitlyn, Erin, Beka, and I on our way to the conference Friday night! :)

All 4 of us were on our iPods for a while, and so I needed to get a picture :)

At the conference...

On Friday we headed down there at about 4:30, stopped to eat dinner, and then arrived at the church to get wristbands, and find our seats.

They also had dramas that would show real life situations. One of them was about 2 friends and one girl was a Christian and the other girl was not. It was super intense and it showed the importance of making sure every one of your friends and family members get to heaven. It was one of our high lights from the trip.

A couple of the actors (not the girls) :)

They also had a few of the actors come out on stage, before each session started and would get us really excited!

Everyone got a "playbook" to follow along with and take some notes. All 3 guys are pretty funny and they tell some awesome stories! Propaganda has a little girl and he told some cute stories about her and what she's learning. Zane didn't become a Christian until he was 18 years old, and he was a surfer so he had some pretty cool stories. Finally, Greg is the oldest guy and he's a preacher/youth pastor kind of guy. So he would tell stories from camp or from his youth group. So fun!

Beka's playbook :)

Brenton Brown was also the worship leader this year for D2S! He's a pretty awesome guy, and he's got a pretty awesome accent. He was there and played with "The Worship Republic" as his band. 

He taught us some new songs, and we also sang a song we already knew! Some of best parts of the worship was seeing everyone come together and praise our great God, and also...

We got to go on stage!

Beka and I and a few other girls from our youth group went up to show actions to a song! It was amazing! We got to stand up there and simply show some actions to 3,000 teenagers so we could all make our praises just a bit more fun! He actually stopped in the middle of the song, to call us up there! I loved it!!

Dare2Share will always be my favorite! :)

~Michlyn

I Wish...

Sometimes...

I wish teachers wouldn't give out so much homework

I wish my mom didn't get hurt while she tries to be the best momma she can be

I wish my siblings weren't so mean or disrespectful

I wish I could please the Lord in a better way and more often

I wish my attitude was always good

I wish that making hard decisions wasn't so...well...hard

I wish the truth in some situations wasn't so hard to say

I wish that the house was always clean

I wish my makeup, hair, and face was always spotless and perfect

I wish that I didn't get so jealous over ridiculous things

I wish my dad had a better boss and a higher paycheck

I wish that money didn't get in the way of so much stuff

I wish that hearts could never be broken

I wish that there weren't orphans in this world

I wish friends wouldn't lie and make things so complicated

I wish politicians could make decisions that help everyone

I wish athletes didn't have to get hurt and ruin their dreams

I wish that no one got sick and would stay healthy

I wish that I could take amazing pictures

I wish... I wish... I wish...

BUT

I know... That our God performs miracles and that some of the things above could eventually be fixed.

Nothing is impossible with God!
~Michlyn

We Are

I've heard this on the radio a lot lately.

I love it a lot.

Up beat and it tells a great message.

What we are. What we should do.

"We're the light of the world. We're the city of the world"

We need to spread the light and the word.

God tells us.

We need to obey.

~Michlyn

This is Real Life

This is real life.

When beds are not made.

When there are clothes all over the floor and not put away.

When your closet is stuffed with clothes and everything else.

When projects sit and not touched for days.

When homework awaits to be done, but you wait longer and longer to do it.

When you hear siblings fight from every corner of the house.

When your mom wants the house clean, and you try to clean, but get distracted easily.

When you know it's lunch time, but still no one starts to make anything.

When you want to make plans this weekend, but your hardworking dad and some of his "not-so-great" employees are stuck in a smelly place trying to catch up from all the mistakes made by some "not-so-smart" people.

When you miss friends, but know that you can't ask your mom to do another single thing, or she just might burst.

When siblings are told to do things, over and over and OVER, but still don't listen.

When the phone rings every 5 seconds, when you're trying to get something done, and you wish you could chuck it out the window.

This list could go on forever. Really it could.

But I know that the more I type these things, and not fix them the list might just never ever end.

So I'm off to do my jobs. To finish my work. To please the Lord in every way I can. With patience.

I'll blog soon,

~Michlyn