You Are My Vision.

Good afternoon!

It's been a little over a week since my last post- so here is the promised weekly update!

Last week the theme was related to prayer and World Vision.  This summer as part of NMB Summer Project the goal is to build the greatest missionary army.  The ultimate goal is to send at least 40 students overseas for either a Vision Trip, STINT, or Summer Project to partnerships around the world!  It's been interesting to hear stories of people who are feeling called to serve in another country on the opposite side of the globe from us and how important it is that they spread the love of God there as well!

We did a handful of fun and eye opening activities last week to experience what it may be like to serve overseas and had a taste of different cultures.

Last Sunday we had student lead evangelism, and I'd love to share with you some of my experiences that day!  We approached two girls on the beach and initiated a conversation by asking if they'd like to do the Prospective cards.  These cards are similar to a game but help get into spiritual conversation.  We had a wonderful conversation with the ladies and sent them away each with KGPs because one of the girls had to work.  Our next and last conversation that day was probably the most encouraging I've had so far since project has begun.  We approached three ladies on the beach and asked if they'd be interested in going through the Prospective cards also.  After going through the cards, we had the opportunity to share the KGP with each of them.  Two of the ladies had heard the gospel previously, but one of the ladies did not know much about the Bible or what it meant to have a personal relationship with God.  Our conversation lasted about an hour and a half and consisted of answering many questions and explaining things.  After leaving the ladies, a feeling of encouragement and joy overwhelmed me and the other ladies I went sharing with.  The crazy part about the conversation was that the lady who did now know much about God had been asking her friends questions about faith and religion the night before!  Divine appointment for us to encourage her!  So amazing.

Sunday night kicked off the theme for this week which is Behold Our God.  Standing in awe of God and who he created us to be.  His love is unending and he truly delights in each and every one of us!  After sharing in NMB on Main Street with my discipler and having quiet time Wednesday night I have been in awe of everything!  This week has been so great that words cannot even begin to describe it to you!

Last night was our Mid-Project banquet.  Staff leave tomorrow. Crazy.  Last night was a celebration of what has happened so far here in NMB and what it will be like as we continue with the next 5 weeks as students begin taking over the leadership positions.  We all had to opportunity to dress up, take pictures, eat delicious food, and join together in community to celebrate what God has done!  It is sad to see the staff leave as they have all been incredible role models for the other students and I this summer, but it will be exciting to see what happens during these next 5 weeks.

Thank you so much to those of you who have shown love by sending me mail and packages! It's a joy to receive boxes of love while I'm here in NMB!

Please continue to pray for us here in NMB, especially during this next week as the students begin to really lead the project!  Please also pray for safe travels for the staff as they head back to the mid-west!

Love,

Jenna

My discipler Cassie and I

 



 

Bible study ladies!

 

UW-Oshkosh

 

Roommates!

Alive.

Good morning!

Today marks being in North Myrtle Beach for 4 weeks! Time has literally FLOWN by but has been simply glorious at the same time!  Today is my day off, so I figured I would write a blog post for ya’ll to read and catch up the life of Jenna!  This morning I got up and went for a run and then walked a bit by the ocean.  I have found that walking by the ocean at that time is the best because there are less people and the air seems to be fresh and crisp!  Afterwards I got coffee with my friend Haylee.  She is such a joyful lady and has such a loving and kind heart!  Making new friends here on project has been beyond what I could have ever imagined.  Everyone here has such an open and loving heart and really love God!

To jump back to last week, the theme was All For One. I can honestly say that last week was an experience in itself and the technology challenge really contributed to everyone here on project becoming even more of a family.  Sometimes you forget how consuming social media and cell phones are until you give them up.  I am truly blessed and thankful to be surrounded by so many wonderful people here on project.  Friday night the men on project treated all of us women to mini golf.  Needless to say the golf lessons I took when I was younger didn’t quite work to my advantage while we were mini golfing, but it was fun to get to know people I hadn’t yet had a chance to hangout with!  To end the week on Saturday we played a project softball game-so fun!  The best part was being able to encourage one another while we were up to bat or out in the field.  Each of us on the project have unique God given gifts and it has been a treat to experience the gifts that everyone has!

On Sunday during outreach I went with some friends to the beach to share.  We used a tool called Soularium which has a variety of pictures people can use to describe their lives as we ask them questions.  The pictures can be interpreted in many different ways so it’s always interesting to see how people will view them.  We got into conversation with a dad and his son who were from Pittsburg, PA.  It turns out that the son just graduated college with an accounting degree (as a business major myself I gave him props for that).  They were here on vacation with family and it was interesting to get to know them throughout the conversation.

Other conversations I have gotten into here have been with people over a variety of ages from families to high school and even college students.  One of my favorite parts about getting to know high school students who just recently graduated is encouraging them and giving them a little insight into the life of a college student.

Last night we hosted a Hot Dog Feed/Block Party on our project property as an outreach effort to all of the college students and high school students who are renting the houses surrounding us.   A lot of the students didn’t understand why we would give them free food, which then lead to conversations about CRU, our mission here in NMB, and getting into spiritual conversation with them.  A storm rolled through during the event, but that didn’t keep the students from joining us in community for the evening.

Thank you to the people who have sent me mail and emails! It makes me grin from ear to ear when I receive mail! I am going to try to be better about writing emails and letters back to each of you- so be on the lookout! J

Below are a few pictures that I have taken recently of the beach.  I am making a promise to myself to take more pictures while I’m here of not just the beach but new friends!  Hopefully by my next blog post next week I’ll have a handful of new pictures to share with you!

Please continue to pray for lives to be changed here and that students can continue to come together as a family!

Love,

           Jenna

         

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Because Christ is Worthy

Hi family and friends!

 

This update is coming to you from the east coast, humid and beautiful North Myrtle Beach!

The past week has been wonderful! Last week the theme of the week was Killing the Giants week. This week was challenging in a good way. The gospel was shared around 850 times this past week-through divine appointments on the beach, downtown, or at work. Our overall goal was 1017 conversations, but with Tropical Storm Andrea hitting shore this week, we were a bit limited on Thursday and Friday as to where we could go sharing.

Work is going super well! I enjoy each and every single one of the people that I get to work with on a daily basis and it has been so interesting to pick up on slang words! Instead of swimming trunks, people down here call them board shorts. Given that I have a Wisconsin accent, apparently there are quite a few words that have a funky twang compared to how people “usually” say them.

God is working miracles down here in North Myrtle Beach. I am beyond thankful for all of the people I have met and continue to get to know! My roommates and I have been bonding since our first day here together. It’s such a glorious treat to be surrounded by each of those women. All of our senses of humor mesh together well and we are having a wonderful time serving each other and spending time together when we aren’t working or doing outreach.

This coming week our theme is All For One. What does that mean?! Well, I shall tell you right now! The thought behind All For One week is for all of us students to come together as one. With that, we have been challenged not to use technology (cell phones, ipods, laptops) for one whole week! With that, the only way we the students are going to be able to communicate it through word of mouth and having set times for meetings. Tonight after 7:30pm I won’t be able to use my phone. Below I will list my address seems how I forgot to do that previously, feel free to send letters or anything this week and throughout the rest of my time here! I love receiving mail here just as much as I do when I’m at school in Oshkosh!
 

During my free time here I have had the opportunity to do a lot of fun things! Last week Friday evening a group of us students when to Myrtle Beach for the evening and rode the Skywheel together. The sights from above were simply wonderful. To picture Myrtle Beach, think of the Wisconsin Dells except on the ocean. Mind=blown. Very touristy but classy at the same time. We ate dinner at Dirty Don’s and then ventured around for a while to take in the sights.

Thursday nights are roommate dinners! This past Thursday my roommates and I went to a taco shack for tacos and THEN we went to the Sugar Shack for ice cream. Yumm yumm. Needless to say that we’re all receiving the nutrition that we need for our daily routines!

I hope most of you know how much I appreciate the weather, but I just want to share what the weather is like down here! It continues to be fairly humid and warm- but that’s a blessing. Friday after Tropical Storm Andrea had passed through our area, it was the most beautiful day down here so far in my opinion. There was a cool breeze coming off of the ocean and the humidity wasn’t bad at all! When it rains here, it pours. Let me tell you! Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to experience the beautiful weather, especially during this next week!

Please continue to pray for all of us, and specifically the people we are working with and encounter while evangelizing. Many lives have been changed and it’s truly amazing to experience that.

Ta ta for now! I will update again next weekend after our week without technology comes to an end.

Love, Jenna

Address:

Jenna Bilz
Campus Crusade for Christ/CRU
205 2^nd Ave. South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

 

Myrtle Beach! Halie and I

View from the Skywheel

 





 

NMB gang in Myrtle Beach!

 

Roommate Dinner! Callie, Melissa, Karlie, me, Krystyna, and Ari!