I am kind of embarrassed that we have a blog, because we haven't written in so long. I am really going to try and start writing more consistently as a way to keep those of you who are interested informed on what is going on in our world, in Cardinal Life, with 2nd mile, etc.
I would say the most recent thing we want to share about is our five week summer mission trip to South Africa with 15 of our students from Stanford, 15 Boston Campus Crusade students, and two families from Boston. Our time there was very rich and rewarding in many different ways that we would love to share with you.

First, God used the work we were doing with disabled children, orphans, Aids patients, and people living in the worst poverty any of us have ever witnessed to break our hearts in new ways, to humble us deeply, and to teach us the rich value and joy of serving “the least of these” in his Kingdom. We feel like we saw God’s Kingdom in new ways; for example, we experienced the spiritual and relational richness of these broken people who were so loving to us and so receptive to the good news of Jesus and his love for them. So many of them seemed to really know Jesus in a very deep, personal way, and it showed in their worship gatherings Sunday morning where they brought the house down in song and dance. While their material poverty is something that might be rare in America, their community and spiritual wealth is something that seems sadly to be rare in America as well. Their love and joy spoke very loud to us because many of their situations are so painful and seem hopeless.

Second, the teaching given by Boston leaders Pat McLeod and Bret Ogburn inspired and spurred each of us to have more of a God sized vision of loving and serving our friends, teammates, and campus into the Kingdom. The 15 students from Stanford who were there, as well as Trent and I, caught a greater vision of God’s love and mercy toward every person at Stanford, and there is a renewed excitement to intentionally build bridges with the people around us to share the love of Christ with. We are all eager to go that next step of not just being a welcoming group, but seeking people out to unconditionally serve and love.

Third, living in close quarters for five weeks is very sanctifying because it is impossible to “hide” brokenness and sinfulness from others and from self. Healthy communication skills have to be developed, as well as listening and conflict resolution skills. Patience is tested, providing ample opportunity to practice selflessness, humility, giving up one’s rights, bearing with one another, showing mercy, and many other things that may seem easy to do in theory or from a distance. One of our students, Nate Cass, wrote this in reflection from his time in Africa: “One night one of the amazing leaders, Pat, gave a talk on Philippians 3 and the ways we as humans attempt to show to everyone we have it all together. The coolest thing is that Jesus doesn’t want us to feel the pressure of putting on this appearance or illusion of having it “together” (Pat calls this the divine man complex). What God wants from us is a poverty of spirit that admits our weakness and bankruptcy and our desperate need for His powerful transforming work in us. And it’s not as if our loving Father says “Humble yourself and then I’ll bless you” like some power-hungry commander. Humbling ourselves is the blessing and the place where we find freedom—we were created to be humble before God and others, and He wants to release us from the expectations of others. And people seem to be strangely drawn to a community of meek, merciful people who know they are broken but are somehow living in the freedom, hope, peace, love and joy of a resurrection power that works best in weakness. After talking about all of these things the next day with my friend and mentor, Trent, and confessing how wretched and fallen we truly were before God, he commented on how fitting it was that we were doing the maintenance project we just happened to be doing that day—shoveling manure!”

Lastly, we believe that God created a rolling snowball in all of our hearts in Africa that is going to pick up great size and momentum this year in Cardinal Life. We have an incredible group of student leaders who love Jesus and are eager to serve others and usher in His Kingdom at Stanford. We feel His Spirit stirring on campus, and it is really exciting. We already had 30 people come to Cross Training two weeks before school has even started, and many people are still gone, much less new freshmen. Luckily, we have a bigger space to meet this year, which will provide room for the growth that we already see happening. We covet your prayers for this new school year; that God would first and foremost grow students at Stanford in love and intimacy with Himself; that Cardinal Life would be a movement that is building bridges via service with the hurting world around us; that God’s name alone is being glorified and made famous; and that we would be protected against the enemy’s schemes to divide, distract, tempt, and thwart a powerful work of God.