Posted in ...WR... by Allison Johnston on 3/3/2010
I am so glad you all enjoyed the randomness that was in my head last week. There is more where that came from!
But...this just may be even better! Because I am the original, ultimate blog stalker I read every single stinking blog on the website. There are a few that I skim over for sure, but I still really enjoy reading about the antics on the field.
Maybe it is because I spent having 2 years having stories myself, but I am addicted to reading about what the Racers are doing, where they are, who they are meeting, etc...I found myself reminiscing about the Philippines this morning reading a blog that looks eerily similar to some of my adventures in the Philippines. I miss it so much!!
I know sometimes the site can be overwhelming to look at and try to find blogs, so I thought I would send you a few of my favs each week. Enjoy!!
Plain and simple: I am a blog stalker. I may be eligible for a 12 Step program. It is true.
Why are we so interested in what is happening in other people's lives? Is it like the "grass is always greener" principle? We can escape our own madness by reading theirs? Or is it because our world is so small sometimes that it is refreshing to expand our horizons every now and then?
Would love to know why you are reading blogs. Why are you reading this? What do you like reading about? I have a few favorites that I always end my day by laying in bed and just checking in on their blogs. Post a comment if you want to know who i read and I will send you the links. Some are hilarious, some are thought-provoking, some are people I don't agree with, some are people I want to be like, some are just nonsense!
My personal favorite kind of blogs are Stream of Conciousness blogs. Just random thoughts in random order. Like a sneak peek into their brains. Kind of like watching a ticker tape screen go across their forehead. Here is mine:
I love green M&M's; bought a whole new bag and just yesterday pretty much devoured it. Really should stop doing that so I can stop complaining about my pants not fitting. I love taking up new sports-so I am obsessed currently with swimming. Although I hate the fact that the lifeguards are always watching. The whole time I am paranoid that they think I am a terrible swimmer. I wonder how many laps it takes to swim a mile. Wonder if I can stop doing ab workouts if I keep swimming. Why do the women in locker rooms insist on walking around in just tiny towels. I may be scarred for life. Bought a new pool bag for $12 at Target last night!
I really need to clean my room. It looks like an atomic bomb went off and is depressing. Something about never putting my suitcase away helps me feel safe. Always on the move. Besides, I hate the scary attic and really hate putting my suitcase up there. I wish i was better at memorizing scripture--i pretty much stink at it. But I am trying. Now if i can only decide what to memorize. Any suggestions?
I love the Glee Soundtrack! Although I wish my stupid new bluetooth speaker-thingy would just work! Jake Hamilton is my new obsession. Love that guy. He can worship like a mad man!
Posted in ...WR... by Allison Johnston on 2/18/2010
For the most part the evening news has moved on to stories of Olympic glory and Maalox woes; it is so easy for us to be out of sight and out of mind. Every evening CBS tells us of a new "crisis" or the impending "crisis" and slowly Haiti fades from our memory.
I am choosing to refuse to let it be a memory, another tragic event somewhere "down there", or another thing that is horrible.
I am choosing to let it change me.
I am choosing to be broken.
I am choosing to not forget.
I am choosing to BELIEVE He is Good.
I am choosing to KNOW that He longs for restoration in the land of Haiti.
I am choosing to be a part of something bigger than my little world.
One
of the things I love most about working with Adventures In Missions is that when there is a need, we as an
organization immediately begin working to respond. And that includes
everything from collecting donations to mobilizing people to actually
go.
This morning, one of our directors who just got back from
Port-au-Prince yesterday, told our staff:
"We didn't initiate the Kingdom there. We didn't single-handedly bring
it. It was already present. God is already moving, and the people are
responding to Him. And the people of Haiti are releasing the Kingdom
into their own nation. But God is inviting us to be a part, and to join
with them as a family, as the Body of Christ. We aren't going to be
their saviors; we are going to support them; to show them we love them.
It is our honor, and our privilege."
Sweet and simple: If you want to go to Haiti, AIM is taking teams consistently for the next 6 months. If you want to go, we want to help get you there. If you know someone who wants to go, please pass this along to them.
::
This page has all the listed trips available as of now. Most are 7 days, some are 9, some are 14 days; for the next 6 months
Take 3 minutes to watch this
practical video on what your time in Haiti might be like. And let me
know if you have any questions, or if you decide to go!
"Welcome Home". These were the first two words uttered to me by the immigration officer at the Nairobi Airport. "Welcome Home."
A quick flip through my passport showed him I had been in and out of Kenya twice before, so he was simply making conversation with the nice Mzungu (white girl). But there was such a deep resonating in my spirit that I could only smile and try not to cry.
My three months in East Africa were life-changing for me last year. You can read about my African Love Affair and see how much I LOVE Kenya and Uganda. It really was like I was coming home. It is hard for me to even try and sit down and explain why I love it. There really aren't words to describe the smell: BO mixed with burning trash, or the sounds: chickens, honking horns, singing, or the sights: a slow-moving busyness that doesn't really make sense to us, giant buses crammed way over capacity. It is just Africa. And it felt like coming home.
My week there was a quick whirlwind. We did 5 days and nights of teaching, one FULL day at church and hopped right back on the plane. In a blink it is over and I am freezing again in my bed in Michigan; greeted again with more 'welcome homes'.
Always a great conversation starter; or a conversation ender. Never can tell what kind of response I might get.
Here is the deal: I really do believe it. I believe Matthew 10:9 when Jesus says: "raise the dead". I believe it when Jesus says that if we have faith in Him we will do even greater things. (John 14:12) I just believe it.
I haven't seen it happen yet. I practiced once, but the lady was old and we are pretty sure that she was resting with Jesus and he wanted her to just hang out with him. But we still gave it a whirl.
I still wrestle with the "why should we want them to come back to this earth? Aren't they better off in heaven?" argument. I really am not sure how I feel about a lot of things these days. But I just know in my knower that one day Jesus will raise the dead through me. I just know.
"So, I am going to raise the dead"
I have started a few conversations this way lately. I kind of use it as a litmus test of sorts. I can almost immediately tell how the rest of the conversation is going to go. You know all those fancy psychology tests that are floating around? The theories discussed in books like the Outliers and Blink? yep. This is like my own personal litmus test.
I have had 2 semi-blind dates lately and both times I have tossed the ole' "so I am going to raise the dead" out there. And yeah...both times I have not gotten called back! ha! A smarter person may stop using the line, but not me! It actually kind of keeps me going. I know I want to date someone that may go on crazy, dead-raising escapades with me, so might as well toss it out there.
I was teaching recently at the World Race launch in New Zealand. 110 brand new racers. May have been a little early to toss around the "dead-raising" plans, but at least they know who they are working with, right? There were a few stunned faces in the crowd. And there were quite a few that were right there with me.
Friends and family have pretty much given up trying to figure out my wild ideas. So they just kind of nod and smile.
But Jesus, my Jesus, He is sitting up there cheering me on and screaming "get on with it!!!!" And His opinion is really the only one that counts.
Posted in ...WR... by Allison Johnston on 1/21/2010
Last year i stood on the side of a mountain near Mianyang, China and wept at the devastation of a earthquake. I held the hand of a woman who had lost everything; sons, daughters, home, job, etc...in that earthquake and cried with her. It didn't make sense then and I am not sure it makes sense now. I will never forget her looking up at me with tears in her eyes and asking me "Why?" I didn't have an answer. I am not sure anyone could stand there overlooking an entire city that was destroyed, countless lives lost and come up with a coherent answer. Instead I cried with her. I prayed with her. I hugged her.
As reports of the loss in Haiti just keep coming my heart feels that same familiar tug. I have cried for the people of Haiti and all that they are living through. It truly is a nightmare. I have had numerous conversations this week with family, friends, and people in my community. Somehow the conversation always leads to "why?" and there still is not an answer.
I personally am horrified at some of the seemingly pat answers that many Christians are giving. "Jesus will come back and make this right", "Haiti asked for this", "God is punishing them" have all been heard/seen on recent news or in articles and that may just break my heart even more. I don't believe we can just give nice Sunday school answers and nod our heads while we sit in our warm houses with cabinets full of food.
I KNOW my God to be GOOD. He is a GOOD GOD and a faithful God. I can't even imagine how His heart is breaking for the people of Haiti. But I also know He has asked ME and YOU to be His hands and feet on earth. He has asked us to partner with him and dig into His people.
We have been working all week to develop feasible options to serve Haiti.AIM is launching a huge effort to make a
long-term difference. Creating opportunities for short-term teams will
take a lot of details and information that you can't get unless you are
there. Somebody has to go in first.
I've been working with many people to organize a team of World Race
Alumni to go into the country, and they are leaving this Thursday.
They are going to pray. They are going to minister to those they meet. They are going to tell their stories.
And this is only the beginning.
Will you help us? Will you help send this team of Alumni out to help pave the way?
We have asked each Alumni who is participating to buy their own
plane tickets to the Dominican Republic. They are getting friends,
family, and supporters to help them with that. In order to cover ground
costs and ministry needs (any opportunities to meet immediate needs
like food, water, and blankets) we have set up a special project to
accept donations. Please pray and give! We need your help to pave the
way. Please give to this project to help this team of Alumni!
Once
you're on this page, change the program on the drop-down menu to a
"World Race Project." A new box will appear, for a description of the
project. Please have supporters put WR HAITI as the name of the
Project.
We're asking that all Alumni help us raise money for this
Project. Reach out to your personal networks of family and friends. If
you've watched the news, read the blogs, and wondered what you can
do... please do this. We absolutely need you to make this
happen. Please give abundantly and sacrificially.
In addition to financial support, this team will need a special
covering of prayer. Pray for safety. Pray for open doors and clear
communication. Haiti has always been a spiritual battleground as
well. There is a war in the heavens for this nation and they are sure to
experience it firsthand in the coming week.
Posted in ...WR... by Allison Johnston on 12/29/2009
There once was a girl having a very grumpy day. It seemed her phone rang off the hook day and night, she had bazillions of emails, and she got to make a lot of hard decisions. She LOVED every minute of it, but sometimes she was overwhelmed. And in the dark quiet hours of the night a little doubt snuck in about what she was doing and why. Those pesky little voices saying nasty things like "why don't you get a real job?" and "you know this really isn't making a difference"...you know the ones. Those nasty doubts that we all battle in some form or another.
One afternoon she arrived back home and to her surprise she had a giant envelope. Filled with notes of love and encouragement!! Not only notes of encouragement, but notes of TRUTH and FREEDOM. Notes of changed lives. Notes of making a difference.
There was a funny story attached about dark, cold nights in Israel and crappy handwriting because of hand cramps. But there was LOVE in that envelope. It literally seeped into the rest of the day and week. It invaded and BLASTED out every doubt, every dark thought. It brought tears of joy in place of tears of frustration. It brought a sense of peace into chaos. LOVE changed everything.
The END.
You guys absolutely made my day, my week, my year!!! I can not begin to express what simple notes of encouragement did for me. Thank you for speaking truth, loving well and making my day. I have never been so sure of what God is doing in you and through you. Thank you for being a squad that honors so well.
I just heard a sermon on how a miracle culture can not exist without a culture of honor. You guys are living it. You are a culture of honor and I so believe in you. I BELIEVE you will raise the dead! I BELIEVE blind eyes will see. I BELIEVE freedom will come to everyone around you. Get out there and do the stuff. I am prophesying some BIG stuff into your time in Africa. I can't wait to see you and hear testimony of what God has done through you.
Colossians 1:3-14 is what I am praying for you guys right now. Love you!!
Posted in ...videos... by Allison Johnston on 12/21/2009
If you have read blogs for any length of time you know that the World Race kind of has a culture of it's own. Language, clothing, food, etc...all is really kind of strange to the typical American. We use funny words "kingdom" "press in" and "intercession". We definitely don't dress like normal people; earrings make a whole NEW outfit, and one pair of pants is plenty for 11 months! And food, well, let's just say that peanut butter is a delicacy and REAL coffee is to die for!
All that being said, Christmas on the WR is anything but normal. 2 years ago I was on a beach in the Philippines. Pretty sure we ate cat for Christmas dinner and I beat Brady in a Korean-chicken fight for a chocolate bar! Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Last year I returned to Kenya for our squad Christmas celebration on New Year's Eve. We had a "snowball fight", a sing-a-long,and of course...Santa!
This year I am celebrating at home and enjoying every Peppermint Mocha, snow-covered car, and delicious cookie I can find!
World Race culture is nothing if not famous for making ridiculous videos in all our "spare time". Thought these might entertain you this year. Merry Christmas!!
Your biggest questions answered. All the details that are confusing. The BEST part of the story.
Last week I was able to share a little peek into my heart and what has been happening and what God has been doing. It has been glorious and difficult all at the same time.
The details of my actual daily activities are similar: difficult and glorious! Here are some frequently asked questions and some answers!
WHERE do you live? I am currently living in Port Huron, Michigan at the World Race house. The WR has a house in PoHo (as we affectionately call it) that serves as both office and living staff for many of our staff. Beginning in January we will have about 12 staff living and working in the house. I share a bedroom with the awesome Kelly Chadwick (www.kellychadwick.theworldrace.org). It has been really good for me to move back into a community environment and begin to live out so many of the lessons I learned on the WR.
WHAT are you doing? Since returning to the US in March I have been on WR staff serving the Field Support and Leadership Development areas of the Race. I handle most of the inbound and outbound communication for the 200+ Racers on the field. I get to personally be involved in their challenges and victories. I also handle development and support of all our squad leaders and team leaders--everything from recruiting, training, and caring for these amazing leaders. I have NEVER worked so hard or been so busy, but it is the most rewarding job I can imagine.
WHY do you travel so much? I love airports! Just kidding. Airports and I actually have a love/hate relationship. I LOVE them because it is one of the only times I allow myself to drink Starbucks. I HATE them because I am constantly stuck in them, missing flights out of them, and sleeping in them. :) In all seriousness, my travel schedule has been ramped up as I travel to many of the launches of new teams on the field and out to debriefs for teams currently serving on the field. While traveling I encourage, rebuke, challenge and train many, many racers. The BEST part of my job!
WR staff friends in Ireland
The June 09 Squad at the Awakening event in Romania.
HOW do my support dollars help you? It is no secret that I continue to raise support to work with the World Race and count on you lovely readers to help me. I have been STUNNED by the way you continue to love and care for me financially. Every dollar that you give towards my support account helps me to continue to serve around the world on WR staff. Money raised through my account allows me to have a salary that provides for my basic needs: food, gas and general living expenses. My travel expenses are not paid for by your dollars, but are provided for by the teams that I am serving. My support goal of $20k per year allows me to earn a annual salary. (link on left sends a tax-deductible donation to my support account).
WHO are you serving? RIght now in the field there are close to 200 racers with another 110 waiting to begin in January. Each of those racers is supported by the WR staff in multiple ways (logistics, marketing, field support, etc...) By serving as support staff I am allowing the racers the opportunity to impact hundreds of lives. Hundreds of racers touching hundreds of lives = thousands of lives changed around the world. Supporting me has the ripple effect of serving thousands of people. It is a beautiful process to be a part of and I am constantly humbled to be counted among those chosen to serve.
The best part of this story is the community aspect. I absolutely can not do this alone. The Racers need us. The nations of the World need us. The Kingdom of God needs us. I need you. I need your prayers. I need your financial support. I need your cheerleading. Every single one of us is an integral part of the story. What is your part of the story?
Please comment or email me at johnston.allison@gmail.com if you have more questions I can answer. I realize how remiss I have been to share with you some of these important details and am so grateful you have continued to be a part of this story with me. I plan on a new and improved version of blogging to continue.
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Last year i stood on the side of a mountain near Mianyang, China and wept at the devastation of a earthquake. I held the hand of a woman who had lost everything; sons, daughters, home, job, etc...in that earthquake and cried with her. It didn't make sense then and I am not sure it makes sense now. I will never forget her looking up at me with tears in her eyes and asking me "Why?" I didn't have an answer. I am not sure anyone could stand there overlooking an entire city that was destroyed, countless lives lost and come up with a coherent answer. Instead I cried with her. I prayed with her. I hugged her.
on recent news or in articles and that may just break my heart even more. I don't believe we can just give nice Sunday school answers and nod our heads while we sit in our warm houses with cabinets full of food.
WHERE do you live? I am currently living in Port Huron, Michigan at the World Race house. The WR has a house in PoHo (as we affectionately call it) that serves as both office and living staff for many of our staff. Beginning in January we will have about 12 staff living and working in the house. I share a bedroom with the awesome Kelly Chadwick (
stuck in them, missing flights out of them, and sleeping in them. :) In all seriousness, my travel schedule has been ramped up as I travel to many of the launches of new teams on the field and out to debriefs for teams currently serving on the field. While traveling I encourage, rebuke, challenge and train many, many racers. The BEST part of my job!
HOW do my support dollars help you? It is no secret that I continue to raise support to work with the World Race and count on you lovely readers to help me. I have been STUNNED by the way you continue to love and care for me financially. Every dollar that you give towards my support account helps me to continue to serve around the world on WR staff. Money raised through my account allows me to have a salary that provides for my basic needs: food, gas and general living expenses. My travel expenses are not paid for by your dollars, but are provided for by the teams that I am serving. My support goal of $20k per year allows me to earn a annual salary. (link on left sends a tax-deductible donation to my support account).