The rolling Galloway Hills of Scotland


Scotland
Originally uploaded by Nikocrash.
One great part about being able to take part on a NIKO in Scotland was that it was just so pretty! I am not sure I have ever seen such green everywhere! This picture makes it look like summer, but let me remind you it was NOT summer and was very cold and wet! But still somehow my heart always seemed to find something to thank God for, and often it was just what I was looking at, from the rolling Galloway Hills to the faces of the people I was with! And I learned again that there is always something to be thankful for- even when my feet are wet and cold for the 3rd day straight!

NIKO: to conquer, to overcome


My NIKO team
Originally uploaded by Nikocrash.
Well, I survived! Two weeks ago I went to Scotland where I staffed a NIKO. NIKO is Greek for: to conquer, to overcome; and that is just what happened. The NIKO is 4 1/2 days or so of intense teambuilding, surrendering rights, and servant hood- which is experienced in an extreme way of being in the great outdoors and facing different challenges! These challenges take place in all spheres of our lives: physical (as there is a lot of physical challenges and lots of hiking and things like that), mental & emotional (many things to overcome inside), and spiritual (we are challenged to go deeper in our relationships with God, both on an individual level and as the body of Christ). These 4 1/2 days feel much longer then they are, but are such an amazing time of growing and stretching and learning; we leave changed, even as staff!
This picture is of the team I was, what we call, a shadow for. We were with this group nearly all the time and had many great conversations and we learned together- and most of all we had so much fun doing all of it together! We were an international team (even our small part of the larger group)- we were from America (Me), Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand, and England and then my shadow partner (fellow staff) who was from Sweden!
I hope to share more in a later entry, but God's hand of protection was with us and we were kept safe through all the challenges and were kept safe in spite of the rain and cold temperatures, snow, sleet, and hail that also visited us, as well as high winds that seemed to plow over many big trees! God took people from many backgrounds and many places and joined our hearts together for this time and managed to catch our attention in many ways! He showed us more of Himself... or maybe we were just looking for Him more and found Him out there on the rolling, boggy, hills of Scotland!

On the Trail


Along the Trail
Originally uploaded by Nikocrash.
The weather has been so strange these days- all around the world! From the tsunami in Asia to the severe wind, snow and ice storms in Scandinavia to the unusually warm temperatures here in the Czech Republic! It is good to remember that God is still in control, and that though things may seem strange they have always been this way in one way or another. I read a quote the other day about how we are just living in ordinary times- that people all through history have had these same thoughts and these feelings that we are having these days... 'the end must be closer'... 'Jesus must be coming back soon'... 'why is there so much suffering in the world today?'... all these thoughts and questions have been asked before probably by your grandparents and their parents before them. That is why I tend to agree that we are living in ordinary times- but at the same time we are living in Holy times! This same author of the quote also said that we are living in Holy times- in fact she says: "There never was a more holy time than ours, and never a less." I like that as well! Anyway, I say all of that to simply say, lets not lose hope or just stare at the sky, waiting for the clouds to part... when they part we will know it and all our questions will be answered- but until then lets keep at this 'ordinary' life- daring to live life as He intended us to live it- to the fullest! He has given us abundant life- we just have to live it!
Well, I wasn't planning on writing all of that, just sort of came out but what I did want to write was that because the weather has been abnormally warm these days it has enabled me to get back out on the trail and start running again! I love this time of the day, when I am out there running! For me it is a time that I get to spend with God and because I am running and out of breath it gives God time to speak to me without me butting in! And though sometimes it feels like I am not thinking about anything but the sound of my own foot steps as they hit the ground... I know that He is speaking things to my heart that I will discover later! And so I find comfort out there on the trail- I find strength to keep going- I meet Him out there! And find myself thinking and praying for others much more than myself! It's a real gift that God has given me these days to just find time to run, get in shape, but just to spend time with Him! He is God over everything! Including this wandering heart of mine!