A Christmas Wish

This morning a friend of mine emailed me a most unexpected email. She works at a recreation center in town and her department is in charge of the Santa's Mailbox each year. Around Christmastime, children put in letters to Santa and her department has the special responsibility of answering them. 


Yesterday, she received two special letters in Santa's Mailbox, not from children but rather a husband and wife. Usually I don't read cheesy emails like this but the sincerity of their hearts struck me and their letters reminded me about the basic message that the birth of Jesus brought to the world: There is hope for tomorrow.

Transcript: 

Dear Saint Nicholas,

it has been a long time since I have written you a letter, but Christmas is a time for child-like faith and so this year I choose to believe in you.

I am not asking for the latest Xbox game, Cabbage-Patch doll, or shiny new bicycle. Instead, my wife and I are adopting two children from the Democratic Republic of Congo and we would like to ask you for a favor.

You and your reindeer travel the world on Christmas Eve delivering toys to girls and boys. We do not know if our children have been naughty or nice, but we are certain that they are loved. Although we have never met, we already miss them more than words can express. 

This Christmas Eve, when you visit the orphanage in K***, could you make sure that our chilren are tucked in and safe? And we would ask that you whisper to them a simple message, in French, while they sleep:

"Votre mere et votre pere vous aime beaucoup. Ils viennent a vous ramener chez vous bientot."

(Your mother and father love you very much. They are coming to take you home soon.)

Thank you Santa, and next year we look forward to welcoming you to our home and delivering presents to two children who will be enjoying their first Christmas in Tennessee.

Grace and peace this holiday season,

Ken J. 

Transcript:

Dear Santa, 

I know I'm a little old to be writing you a letter, or even to be telling you what I want, but before you put me on the naughty list, know that this letter isn't for me. It's for my kids.

My kids are Rose and Emmanuel. They are ages 3 and 5, and they live in an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We're in the process of adopting them, and things have come to a standstill since October. There had been an election, and rioting, and much instability in the country. We were hoping to be traveling to get them this time of year, but we still have months of paperwork and processes to go through before we can get them. I don't know for sure if they even know we exist, or know that they are loved. 

So, here are my Christmas wishes:

• Would you let Rose and Emmanuel know that they are loved and that we are desperately trying to bring them home?
• Would you make sure that their mosquito netting is snuggly around them and that they have a toy or blanket to cuddle with?
• Would you fill their caregivers with an extra amount of love, joy,  and patience, and help their security guard to be brave and strong?
• Would you give them the gift of laughter on Christmas day--even though they may not even realize what day it is?
• Most of all, would you protect the places in their hearts that are meant to be occupied by a mom, a dad, and Jesus, so that they don't give up hope too soon?

I know this is a lot to ask for, but I'd appreciate your help. I know you have lots of connections. Next Christmas, I hope to be helping Rose and Emmanuel to write letters of their own.

Merry Christmas!

Robin J.

Bigger or Better

Oh hey...


It's been a rather long time since I've updated hasn't it? Sorry about that, first there was this nasty paper about the character of Satan in Paradise Lost (it was a rather demonic time to say the least) (pun definitely intended). Then a crazy portfolio demanded all my attention like a needy boyfriend. Now we're onto finals week and while it's been chaotic, I think I've just gotten used to pandemonium in my life.


But let's move on to the fun things that I've been managing to squeeze in, shall we?


A few weekends ago, I was able to lead a D-NOW weekend with my very own youth group back home and wow, what a blast!


D-NOW weekends are youth group retreats that last a full weekend. A short glimpse of what happens goes like this: eat junk food, talk about Jesus, eat more junk food. Go to a church service, go sleep at a somebody's house, get in our jammies and eat more junk food. While talking about Jesus. Wake up at an ungodly hour after getting <4 hours of sleep and pretend to be hyped up for life while trying to wake up seven-ish teenage girls. Go back to church, eat junk food, play some ridiculous games and talking more about Jesus. Repeat for another full day. Sunday morning challenge: staying awake throughout the entire church service while only getting seven hours of sleep during the whole weekend.


No joke, D-NOW weekends are the highlight of my month. Ultimate party.


While I work at an incredible ministry where I lead DNOW weekends once every few weeks, to come home and be able to do this was incredible as I got to be with my Jesus family!

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Jesus Family (noun): In the Bible, Paul talks about how once we accept Christ, we become sons and daughters of God and all other believers are our brothers and sisters (Galatians 3:28). A Jesus Family is merely the group of fellow believers that meet with one another and encourage/love/sometimes rebuke each other. Yes, basically this is a church but I prefer Jesus Family for two reasons: 

1. Church has become a tainted word in that it no longer means 'the body of Christ' but rather a building. I don't love a building, I love people. It's hard to communicate with someone about the intimacy of God's love when they're constantly thinking of a building or even worse, a group of distant cold-hearted people that judge a person once they step through the door. 
2. I like the word family because it's real. Coming from a family who's experienced brokenness, I love seeing groups of people practicing true love in encouraging one another, seeking advice from each other, and merely asking how one is doing without simply taking "fine" as an answer. Of course there's fighting, just like a real family. There's arguing, disappointment, and jealousy as we're still human but there's still love that transcends all of that, as families do (Romans 12:5, Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 12:50, 1 TImothy 5:1-2).

I like to think of this as my Jesus Family's awkward family photo

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So anyways, back to my adventures. At one point in the weekend, we played a game called "Bigger or Better".

The rules of Bigger or Better are simple. Each team is given a small object like a golf ball. They then have a certain amount of time to go to random strangers and ask if they would be willing to trade for the golf ball that's bigger or better than the ball. Whoever brought back the best thing won.

So with a 1.5 hour limit and a group of middle school girls to join me, we set off to auction off our ball. 

I was expecting to come back with some cheesy item that even Goodwill wouldn't accept, but boy was I wrong!

Our first trade happened in a random neighborhood as we saw a man unloading groceries. Luckily for us, he loved golf and traded us the golf ball for...

A blue velvet sombrero!

Then we knocked on the next door and tried to convince the lady to take our sombrero. At first she thought we were crazy, which was acceptable, and said she didn't have anything to trade. But as we were walking away, she stopped us and said that she did have something:

Elvis. Cardboard, life-size Elvis. Who was motion-sensored and spoke Elvis-y sayings.

Oh the things people have in their houses. 

Although we knew that we would definitely win with Elvis, we decided to keep on trying since we had a good hour left in our adventure.

Then we arrived to another house who's garage door was open. We tempted him with motion-sensored Elvis and although he didn't want Elvis, he did have something to give away:

We hit the mother lode.

Unfortunately, I don't have the picture with us and the piano as another girl took that photo but there's nothing better than calling your youth pastor and asking to borrow his truck. "Why?"  "...because we found a piano". I bet he wasn't expecting that one.

So we did win, but here's the kicker:

We got back to the church to show off our goods and between the nine groups that went out, this is what we acquired:

• 1 piano
• 5 couches (yes 5!)
• 3 various other pieces of furniture
• 1 bunk bed
• 1 horse from a carousel
• 1 laptop missing its battery
• an old xbox
• a firepit
• 1 puppy (turned out that that group went to their house, no worries he has a good home)
• Various other things like: a dollhouse, a Predators hockey stick, a punching bag, other stuff that was found in people's garages.

Turns out many of these people had these things for a long time but just never had the transportation or manpower to get rid of the big objects like the piano so when a group of teenagers came knocking on doors to take anything, it was more of a godsend than to them than anything else.

*Note to self: when furnishing my first apartment, play Bigger or Better first before buying anything!

(also, sorry for the long post! Like I said, it's been a while!)

21 Things I'm Thankful For

I am thankful for...

Ten person fort. Tangled. Love.

• My family because they understand that I'm weird and they still accept me
• Friends that will spend hours with you in silence as they do their own thing, because they're that comfortable with you
• My brothers and sisters in my Jesus family who will build giant forts and watch Tangled inside with me.
• Hammocks. And beautiful days to lay in hammocks and read.
• Jesus. Because He's really cool and loves us even when we don't deserve it.
• Sleepovers. Just because we get older doesn't mean we should stop having them.
• My job. Although I hate going, I'm still blessed to have a job.
• My mom's cooking and that she's teaching me to share it with others.
• My dog. Sometimes you just need someone to love you without judgement.
• Potlucks. I really hope heaven involves a massive potluck and all the joy that comes with it.
• Roommates who understand how stressful life is and will burst out in crazed, stressed laughter at 2 am to elevate the tension.
• People who sincerely promise to support me on The World Race.
• Hugs. Not just a greeting hug, but those strong yet comforting, gripping hugs that is a reminder of how loved you are.
• Serious, I-want-to-know-your-life chats. That's how you know people care.
• Dreams coming true:






• Kids that share snacks with you because they want to be your friend.
• The moments where an acquaintance becomes a friend
• Roadtrips with awesome people. They didn't even have to be your friends when you started, but they are now.
• Pictures of basset hounds running. Gets me every time.

• Good hair days. It really does make all the difference.

Thanks to you guys also for going through all these adventures with me!

Upcoming Adventures: The World Race

I want to change the world.

I know this sounds rather forward, but, then again, pastors and Sunday School teachers have been quoting Luke 1:37 (“Nothing is impossible with God”) to me my entire life, so I decided to dream big on this one.

In May, I will be graduating from Lee University with a degree in Middle School Education. Then, in July, I will be headed off with a missions program called The World Race to 11 different countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala for 11 months (11 countries in 11 months). Through The World Race and its parent organization, Adventures In Missions, I will be working alongside various churches and organizations to assist the missionaries living full time in each of these countries in reaching out and sharing God’s love among the nations. During this time, I will be involved with many various ministries, including youth ministries, orphanages, teaching English, manual labor, evangelism, and ministries reaching out to prostitutes and victims of sex trafficking.

However, I can’t change the world until I’m changed first.

So, for those 11 months, I will be joining with a team of about seven other World Race participants and live in a close and raw community with them. I’ll be giving up a home, adequate sleep, food, and even basic hygiene, and instead choose to live out of a backpack and on only $3 per day for food. In doing this, I will experience the world as, well… the way most of the world does. In breaking out of my protected and comfortable world here, I have the opportunity to experience life with bodies of believers in other nations and cultures other than my own.

If you’re wondering whether or not I’m crazy, that’s OK. I wasn’t entirely sure about the whole thing myself. But my passion has always been to serve people, especially “the least of these,” and I truly cannot wait to show people the love of God on this experience.

I’m so excited, and, honestly, completely nervous about this trip. To change the world, I must be changed first, and I cannot wait to see where the Lord takes me on this adventure.

I am asking for your support on this journey. I need A LOT of prayer. Like I previously stated, I will be traveling to 11 different countries, most of which are NOT Christian nations and involved in ministries that bring light to dark, dark places such as prostitution ministries in Thailand, sex trafficking in Cambodia and Moldova and ongoing conflicts in numerous nations. Pray that we can reach out to the outcasts of the world and bring them hope. Pray that God brings to us the people who need to hear about God’s love and for open hearts. Pray for safety and protection for us as we continually travel.

To be completely frank, I must also raise $16,000 for the trip, and I have absolutely no idea how I alone can raise that amount of money. I know things may have been tight lately, but if you can help me out in any way, I would greatly appreciate it! To send donations, you can mail your tax-deductible contribution to:

Adventures In Missions

P.O. Box 534470

Atlanta, GA 30353-4470

And be sure to indicate the purpose of your gift in the memo line: The World Race (Pookie Vergara).

You can also visit my blog at http://pookievergara.theworldrace.org and click on the “Support Me!” tab to contribute online, as well as get updates on my adventures before and during my time on The World Race. (This blog will still be up and running of course, but it will probably be better to check up on my activities on the world race blog once I actually go).

In the coming year, I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. I would be honored to go as your representative to bring Christ Jesus to nations around the world. May God bless you as you prayerfully consider partnering with me in this ministry.

If you would like to know more about The World Race and the plan that God has been putting in my life, please feel free to email me (stephanieprvergara@gmail.com) and I would love to get in contact with you!

Thank you,

Stephanie “Pookie” Vergara

Top Ten: Favorite Songs

So I'm in the process of writing a huge 20-ish page paper but I'm taking a short break since my attention span completely died a few minutes ago. 


Since I'll probably be out of focus for the next few weeks, here's a few of my favorites in top 10 form.  Tonight, we'll be starting with my favorite songs:

1. The Call: Regina Spektor.   By far my favorite song of all time! With the past few years of my life involving seasons of meeting lots of crazy amazing people and having to say goodbye, this song reminds me that there's no need to say goodbye to the people you love.
2. O' Blessed Child: The Candy Shop soundtrack. First of all, watch the movie when you can. It's a 30 minute movie about child sex trafficking but so incredibly good. This song basically wraps up all emotions that comes up when dealing with hurting people. Yeah, all that in a song.
3. Beautiful Things: Gungor. Favorite worship song of all time, no doubt. Who hasn't felt like a discarded piece of trash before? Well, God takes junk and makes it beautiful. 
4. Through Heaven's Eyes: Prince of Egypt soundtrack. The best 3:42 of instant bar mitzvah one could ever want. Try and listen to this song and not dance, it's impossible.
5. All About Us: He Is We feat. Owl City. I'm pretty sure the first day I got this song, I listened to it about twenty times. And it didn't stop for at least a week. After listening to this song, you can't help but smile really goofy and have a strong urge to dance. I hope this is what love sounds like. 
6. Wunderkind: Alanis Morissette. Ok let's be completely honest. Practically every single song from any Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack is my favorite. This includes "This is Home" by Switchfoot, "Can't Take It In" by Imogen Heap, "There's A Place For Us" by Carrie Underwood and all the musical creations by Harry Gregson-Williams.
7. Indelible: Brooke Fraiser. This song just inspires me to be more. That doesn't entirely make sense but sometimes, just remembering how much a great and incredible God loves me motivates me to strive and be a better person. This is also the song that inspired me to go on The World Race.
8. Expressions: Helen Jane Long. Just listen to the song. If I had a soundtrack to my life, this would be in it and in my crazy, bouncing off the walls life, being able to listen to this  song for a few minutes helps me to relax and refocus.
9. Lions!: LIGHTS. Lions make you brave. Giants bring you faith. Death is a charade. You don't have to feel safe to feel unafraid. That's all you need to know.
10. Falling In Love In A Coffee Shop: Landon Pigg. I listened to this song once and had a crush on the song. It's beautiful, it's real, like number 5, I hope that this is what love sounds like.

Never Praying For A Distraction Again

Warning to all my male readers: caution.


I just spent the last half hour talking to a young girl from a D-Now that I led a while ago about her first period on Facebook chat.


That's the last time I ever go on Facebook praying for a distraction.


Oh, and I AM SO NOT READY TO BE A PARENT.

"The horror! The horror!"

--Kurtz in The Heart of Darkness 

(Basically the same meaning) 

Night Wanderer

The crisp, cool night air wakes up the great lion as it breezes through his majestic mane. Aslan looks up to the clear and cloudless night sky where the stars reign. His friends are up there, but they are hard to see. Although the lighted campus brings safety, it also pollutes the night sky, hiding the brilliance of the stars’ light. Sadly, sometimes, even the best intentions can block what’s true.

Yearning to fully gaze upon the stars, Aslan stretches from his slumber and jumps through the windowsill onto the plush grass below. Strolling through the university’s campus, the majestic beast revels in the solitude that comes from the hours just before sunrise. He finds a lonesome soccer ball and plays with it for a while, tumbling and wrestling with his prey. Victorious, the champion hunter leaves the deflated kill and continues on his mission to see the heavenly hosts.

The gurgling sound of the fountain is pleasant to the untamed creature’s ears as it tones out the sounds of cars, factories and a passing train. This is his favorite spot, a garden laden with flowers blooming in this tiny utopian corner. Aslan walks up to the fountain and sits on the ledge to drink the cool, clear water. Then, he looks straight up at the stars. He misses them and once being able to walk among the stars. He knows them all, by name, and silently greets them, admiring their beauty. Yet although Aslan wishes to be with them, he knows that he must stay here for the time being. He is needed.

Yawning, Aslan sees that the sun will be coming up to greet the world soon and wordlessly says goodbye to his old friends. The lion begins to make his way back into room 206. Ambling back through campus, Aslan happens upon a poor college student walking home for a few hours of precious sleep. The young man stares at Aslan from across the street, enraptured by the great lion’s size and magnificence. The student’s eyes connect with Aslan’s and in that moment, the boy experiences peace and a trembling fear of being near something so great. But then, he realizes that he is staring at a lion in the middle of campus and shakes his head, muttering that he really needs to stop drinking so much coffee late at night. As he walks off, Aslan watches him go. Sometimes people can’t even believe what their eyes are seeing.

As the night wanderer goes back into small apartment room, he gazes back up at the sky. The quiet pale streaks of the sunrise have already overpowered the light of the stars but Aslan can still see a lone faint star clinging to the night. As the sun gets brighter, Aslan says one final goodbye to the star until the next night and curls up for his sleep till his next adventure.