Thankful

First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone and anyone who supported us in any way for the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign. We were honestly humbled by your kind words, texts, messages, prayers and monetary donations given to this campaign.
Collectively as a group of runners, with God's grace and your help, we were able to help raise over 25,000.00 dollars for the refugees of Burma. Our sponsoring church, Cedar Valley Church, collectively raised the total given to the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign to right under 100,000.00 dollars! That amount of money sends five huge shipping containers of food to the Thai/Burmese border. We are humbled with the amount of individuals who would do even a small part for people across the globe that they most likely will never meet.

A team is over on the Burmese border as I am typing this post, distributing a shipment of food to the very people group we have been raising awareness and money for in this endeavor.

I am moved again as I look into the eyes of these people and see a glimmer of HOPE.

In the midst of ruins, HOPE rises up......

Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace proclaiming news of happiness...."

Thank you again for your support to us on a personal level as well, it helped keep us motivated during the really hard times on this journey and helped keep us focused on the reason why we were doing it all in the first place. Your encouragement in this campaign meant the world to Erik and I, your kindness appreciated.

When God asks you to do something hard, it is invaluable to have people in your life that support, encourage and help you to meet your goals- everybody needs that in life.
Below is an article written by a staff member at Feed My Starving Children. It is a fantastic overview explaining the work that is happening there, and specifically where your support is going towards. Worth the few minutes of reading time!
Article Posting Click Here.

Photo Credits: Ryan Skoog and Alicia Davis

Solitude

The other word that has taken a hold of me these last couple of months is Solitude. Actually my last entry on Solidarity what supposed to be combined with this one, but as I was writing the words kept coming and well, we had a full blog. (I must write how I talk which as my husband can attest, can be a bit "wordy"- whaaaat?!)

During the training for Run for the Border, I've been given this unexpected gift of Solitude. For someone who is well connected to life; her family, her schedule, her friends, activities, and social networking- this was one of the biggest surprises of committing to this run. One thing about running this length of miles is that while it takes a lot of time to run the 50 miles, it takes even more time to train for it.
I underestimated the amount of time this would take out of my normal routine. At first I fought that a bit- but now I've learned to enjoy the purposeful break out of my normal life.

It's there on the long stretch of road that I'm left alone with my thoughts, my feelings, my problems for hours. It's also the very place that God has always shown me things, imparted wisdom and ideas to me, talked to me, convicted me. There, I am disconnected from life; no interruptions, no laundry, no "To Do" list, no phone calls, and no errands.

Most of us have these quiet places, not necessarily for devotions but for just simple communication. For some of us it has just been a very long time since we have lingered there. Maybe this is the gentle nudge needed to make that a normal place. To get away so that you can hear again, so that He can refresh you, heal you, and restore you back. I love that Jesus modeled this himself many times in the New Testament as shown in Matthew 14:23.
I know some people who use their garage time, during gardening, time while doing dishes, when they are driving, and for years when the kids were younger my quiet place was folding laundry- super glamorous huh?

I think God is his goodness would've orchestrated this mini season of life just to have me get time away with Him. I know I've needed this time to process, to reflect, to align, to remove, to prepare me, and to pray for a lot of people. When you have two hours plus on the road at a time you can get a lot worked through. I used to joke that I could solve world peace when I was out on a good run, sometimes I think I came close.

The song that has been a theme for this run for me and as it gets shuffled through on my playlist has risen like a prayer;

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior


"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" Hillsong United

A Little Bit on the "Hope Campaign" from Hayley. In Her Words....

Hey there! This is Hayley Skoog. My mom and “Office Jesus”, (AKA Paul Hurckman), asked me to write something on what I think about the Hope for Dinner campaign for her blog. When I first heard about Hope for Dinner, I got pretty excited and wanted to do something. Last time when I had an opportunity to do something like this, my parents said no because they thought I wouldn’t be dedicated enough. So this time, I kind of wanted to prove them wrong. I decided what I would do to raise money is to bike around Orchard Lake, (which is 4 miles around), and get people to support me. My goal is to bike 200 miles. I also plan to bike alongside those that are running in the Run For The Boarder 100 mile, 4 day run in July. Also, when I’m biking, I wear this shirt that says “Bike 4 Burma” on the back, so people know what I am doing. I also wanted to make a webpage to spread the news and to get some people to support me. I talked this over with my parents and this time they did say yes. So far, I have gone 66 miles. Doing this is really fun, but also it makes me feel great that I can do something to help other people.

When I was younger, I always wanted to help others, but I felt so helpless and thought I was too young. I learned later on in life that you’re never too young or too old to help the Kingdom of God. For me being a young teen, I didn’t know what I could do. I realize you don’t have to just go on a 100 mile run or bike across the state. What Emma and I did was throw a birthday party, and instead of presents we asked for donations for Hope for Dinner. Also for our birthday, we went to Feed My Starving Children, and were able to see and pack firsthand the food that the money we are raising is going toward.

There are so many simple things you can do to help others, sometimes it’s just asking God what he wants you to do and then doing it. These people in Burma and others places in the world have nothing and while they are starving and thirsty, we are “busy” with our friends, schedules, phones, and trying to get the latest upgrade for our phones. We get caught up in the worldly things that our culture says is right, but God’s word does not say the same. It says in Matthews 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Yet we cannot serve both God and money.”

Lately, I’ve just been more aware of what I have and desire to be even more thankful for it. I look at my life and I just think that I am really blessed. I have a great family, great parents, friends, an amazing church, and even though I don’t always enjoy this, a great school. Sometimes you can get caught up in your own life and not enjoy just the simple things. I was thinking about this on Friday night, we were sitting by the bonfire and spending time together as a family. I was really sad thinking about the end of school and I was already worrying about high school. My mom asked what was wrong and I told her. She replied back, “You should be grateful for everyday that God gives you. You are not promised the next month, week, or the next day. So live in this moment right now Hayley.” I learned from her that I should live in the very moment I am in, and enjoy what God has given me for this day.

So what I can do right here and right now, is help in my own way the Hope for Dinner campaign. I can pray for the Burma refugees, I can give what I have, and I can bike- in hopes of raising some funds and awareness to some people in our world that really need it.

Here is some pictures from our birthday celebrations. If you are interested in supporting please click this link right here. Thank you!