Without Borders.

One semester down and one to go!  Somehow time has flown by. I feel like it was yesterday that we were picking the students up at the airport, but I know so much has happened these past few months. As a house, we have gone through many "poop-tarts and pop-tarts" or highs and lows. There have been unexpected changes along the way and even more unexpected challenges. As a staff, we faced sickness of many kinds. The students have been challenged in their faith and challenged to re-evaluate how they view the world. There has been much growth because of these challenges and I praise God for His faithfulness through it all. Praise God for coffee and friends This semester has consisted of many outings, adventures, classes, and times of fellowship. For example, in the middle of the semester we took a trip to Nicaragua to get our passports stamped. That was a refreshing time spent together outside of the Villa. However, it is guaranteed that there are no guarantees...

Pc: Abby Shaw Hello everyone! It has been a little over a month since I arrived in Costa Rica to serve as the Female Student Life Director for the GAP program. In some ways being here is still surprising because I never imagined I would have the chance to come live here again. In other ways, living in Costa Rica and in the Villa feels absolutely natural; it feels like I am home. In many ways this is my dream job. Starting from 10th grade when I first traveled to Costa Rica I knew I wanted to spend my life traveling and mentoring students. I had no idea what that would look like or that I would end up in Costa Rica. Then not only am I working at GAP, but, I am also continuing to work for Lancaster Bible College as their International Admissions Counselor. God has been so generous.  Our Leadership Team GAP Students 2018-2019 Pictured above is this year's GAP class. The students have been here for three weeks. In those three weeks they have begun...

Dear Friends and Family, Many of you may know and some   may not so here it is... drum roll please... I am headed back to Costa Rica, and this time it is for two years! This past February, I visited Costa Rica to recruit GAP students for Lancaster Bible College. While I was there I heard about their need for a new Female Student Life Coordinator. I never anticipated this position being available at a time when I would be in a position to take it. While I was in Costa Rica with LBC I was able to speak with the directors of the program who offered me the position. After I returned home I had a lot of praying to do. I took about two weeks to pray and seek good counsel. After considering my options and seeking Godly wisdom I called the director in Costa Rica and officially accepted the position. In this position my primary responsibility will be to build relationships with and disciple the GAP students in the program. We hope to have 20-25 college age st...

I wanted to write one last time on my experience at Urban Hope as a summer intern. So to begin with I need to say thank you again to everyone who supported me throughout this summer ministry. Thank you to those who gave financially as finances always seem to provide a cause for anxiety for me as I think: "Will I raise the full amount?"  "Will I be able to afford college if I can't?" "How am I going to be able to afford food and transportation"? "Will I have a job after this if I just leave Lancaster for the summer?" And thank you to all of those who prayed for me because as doubt creeps up I think: "How will I ever be good enough to belong in full-time ministry?" "Who am I to intern with a church, teach children about Jesus, and offer prayers to those who are lost, hurting, and outcast?" "How will I ever become a person who is able to boldly lead people towards Jesus?" The answer to all of these wo...

Almost finished at Urban Hope with only two weeks to go. The previous four weeks at Urban Hope have been consistently stretching and challenging. The week of June 25th to the 1st we were hosting about 65 people on three different teams; a Grace College volleyball team, a youth group from Manheim, PA, and a youth group from Marysville, OH. Those teams engaged in our homeless ministry, water-ice ministry, prayer walks, invited kids to day-camp, and also helped us run a park program in in Mifflin park with is located about 10 miles away from our church in a mostly Asian/ Cambodian neighborhood. For June 28th, 29th, and 30th our roommate Devin organized a park program/ volleyball camp for any children in the area who were interested in participating. On day one we performed a skit that demonstrated how Jesus could make the impossible possible and told the story about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Mathew 14:13-21). On day two we p...

I have lived in North Philadelphia right outside of Kensington for exactly twelve days. So far I have prayed a lot. I have been excited, at peace, encouraged, loved, and inspired. I have also been nervous, anxious, confused, frustrated and unsure. Thank you to all of you who have continued to support me and pray for me through it all! Throughout the last couple weeks I have moved in, met the Urban Hope team, have gotten to know my roommates, have gotten to know some of the other church members, and have begun to meet people in our community. There are four summer interns- Tommy, Paige, Jada, and myself. I am living in a house with Paige, Jada, and Devin (she is a nine-month intern with Urban Hope who has graciously and lovingly accepted us three ladies into her home). As interns some of our responsibilities include welcoming short-term teams to Philadelphia and taking those teams around Philadelphia to do ministry in our community with those in need of food, clothing, she...

Friends and family, Hola, Bonjour, and Hello! I am writing you to tell you of an exciting ministry opportunity the Lord has given me for the upcoming summer and ask you to partner with me in the exciting direction God is taking me. I am currently a student at Lancaster Bible College, and I am excited about everything God is teaching me during my time here. I have had several opportunities to be involved in ministry throughout this year and last year in Costa Rica. Through these opportunities God has really shown me the need in the inner city for God’s love and compassion. I have a deep burden to help reach out to those in the inner city. Recently I was accepted to work as an intern at Urban Hope Training Center during the summer of 2017. Through much prayer and guidance I have come to believe that this is where God desires me to be this summer. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do! What is Urban Hope Training Center? Urban Hope is located in one of the “rougher...