Category Archives: College Dream Tour

May21

40 Things in 40 Days – Part Four

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This is the last installment of 40 Things I Learned in 40 Days. The other posts are here, here, and here.

Julie

30. Obedience trumps excellence.
For most of my life, I did not believe that these would ever conflict with each other. However, I now believe sometimes God calls you to do something and you don’t get to decide how you will make things perfect first…when he calls you, you just have to do it.

Most of my life I think excellence trumped obedience. Now, I value both obedience and the pursuit of excellence, but if I have to choose one over the other, I believe that obedience to God has to come first.

31. It’s hard to pray the prayer, “Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go” and genuinely mean it.
Many times I thought I believed I was willing, but then I started to think of some places that I hoped that the Lord never called me to settle in. One of those places is North Dakota. I don’t have one iota of desire to live in North Dakota. I know that the Lord created it, but I just struggle to see the beauty of ND. So…every time I started to think about this prayer, I was quick to admit, “Lord, help me to pray this prayer. Right now I cannot prayer this prayer because I am just not completely willing to go ANYWHERE.”

But about 35 days into the trips, something dawned on me…I would rather be where the Lord wants me than to be anywhere else. It would be better to be in His will in North Dakota than out of his will and living in Hawaii. So, finally…after much contemplation and much work being done on my heart, I prayed, “Lord, I will go WHEREVER you want me to go.”

32. Oklahoma seems to have the nicest rest stops.

33. If you are planning on having your car break down, let your car know that 5:45pm on Good Friday is not a convenient time.

34. A prophet who is not in the Word of God operates out of the flesh and out of a place of spiritual weariness.
A prophet in the word is a powerhouse of life.

35. Humble submission and intimacy with the Father needs to be at the heart of everything, or the other things we try to do become empty.

Orange City, Iowa36. There is a second Netherlands…and it’s called Orange City, Iowa.
Seriously, it is a Dutch empire.

37. When you drive the Strip in Las Vegas, you might the impression that the Strip is only about a mile long.
If you walk it, you will definitely know that this is not true. (It’s probably a mile just between The Bellagio and the Venetian Hotel.)

38. The Grand Junction Regional Airport is much like the airport that is featured in the Seinfeld episode where the man who works for the airline is also the car rental representative…and everything else.
If you don’t like the attitude of the person working there, going to another counter doesn’t help…because they work there too.

39. You can be fed at both the International House of Pancakes and the International House of Prayer…but the feeding at the International House of Prayer seems to last longer.

40. “Living a radical life” seems to be a relative concept.
Some think that jumping into a van with little money, traveling across the country, and waiting on the Lord to provide is radical. However, our team doesn’t seem to think so. We just think it’s being obedient to what God called us to. We hope to someday be radical.

May16

40 Things in 40 Days – Part Three

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This is a continuation of the posts from here and here.

Julie

21. If you decide you still want to eat all almonds all the time, here’s a helpful suggestion: get them at Sam’s Club.
They have the best deal on almonds and…unfortunately for me, the bag seems bottomless. It seriously lasts for forever. (see #12)

22. Eating healthy can be costly, but the cost of NOT eating healthy is much greater.
And someday, when you are desperate for health, you will not be able to buy it. So, invest now in health so that the quality of your life will be high throughout your life, not just when you are desperate for it.

23. Chia, Flaxseed, Coconut Oil, and Almond Milk seem to be all the rage these days when it comes to nutrition.
I’m not a dietician, but I’ve noticed that everyone I met who is serious about health and nutrition are talking about these foods. So I’m thinking it’s probably time to include these things in my diet.

24. Del Taco.
I had never been to this fast food taco joint prior to this trip. Frankly, I will be fine if I never went again. If there is any question about why this franchise isn’t sweeping the nation with new stores, let me just tell you: it may have something to do with their “2 tacos for 99 cent” deal that contains lower grade “meat” than Taco Bell. (I didn’t know that was possible.)

25. If you have to get stuck for seven days while you’re car is being fixed…Colorado’s not a bad place to do it! 

26. Never withhold forgiveness. Never.
Don’t withhold forgiveness because you think it will give you leverage. There is nothing good that comes out of this. In fact, it usually creates bitterness. You don’t forgive someone because they deserve to be forgiven. You forgive someone because you believe in grace.

27. Omaha has a 2% entertainment tax that is charged on any “entertainment” purchase within the city limits, which includes any meal ordered from a restaurant.
If you are like me, and find yourself immediately excited about the idea of this money being invested back into arts and entertainment industry within Omaha, don’t be. It has nothing to do with arts and entertainment being improved or invested in. It’s just a “bonus” tax.

28. True resting comes out of true trusting.
Resting is more than a nap. You may be getting enough sleep but still feel tired. This is because rest comes out of a place of trusting. When we believe the promises that God has promised us…and really TRUST this, our soul begins to find rest, physically and emotionally.

29. I think Heaven may look a lot like Santa Barbara, California.

30. The Lord, the giver of our kingdom dreams, loves it when we are willing to give our dreams back to Him as an act of surrender.
He loves when we take our dreams and put them back at His feet and in doing so, submitting to Him and acknowledging that He is the Giver of every good thing. That’s when we know that nothing, even our dreams, are as important as he is.

May9

40 Things in 40 Days – Part Two

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Julie

This is a continuation from the first post, 40 Things I Learned in 40 Days.

11. Freedom is something you have to fight for.
If you want freedom you have to choose it. It’s yours in Christ but you have to renew your minds to it every day. You have to intentionally fight for it. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. If you don’t know how to fight for it, ask someone who does. Have them walk with you, fight for you, and teach you. It is worth every effort you put forth.

12. Know this: just because almonds are good for you, does not mean that you can eat as many as you want.

13. Self-condemnation is not attractive. It really isn’t.
And being hard on yourself does not actually make you stronger. You may think that telling yourself, “I am not enough” is a great way to motivate yourself to do greater things, but that’s just warped thinking.

How do I know this? Because this was exactly how I thought before I came on the Dream Tour. Now I understand what it means to take every thought captive: repenting from self-condemning thoughts, rebuking the enemy in his lies, receiving forgiveness, and replacing the lies with truth. Is it helping me find my true identity in Christ.

14. Love IS the greatest motivator.
It trumps self condemnation, self hatred, guilt, and everything else. The Beatles were on to something when they said, “All you need is love.”

15. If you are stuck spiritually – start giving thanks.
Something changes in the spiritual realm when we give thanks. The enemy hates it when he hears us giving thanks. I think, in fact, it might just terrify him.

Now, I am not saying that if you give thanks then Jesus will give you exactly what you want. He’s not a genie in a bottle, and there is no magic formula. I am saying I’ve noticed when people who are desperate for Jesus start giving thanks, things start to move. Something shifts. A spirit of gratefulness changes things.

16. If you want to exfoliate your skin, consider standing in a windstorm of 50-60mph.
Your skin won’t regret it. However, the rest of your body might. If you don’t know where to find one, check out Moab, Utah.

17. Confession creates a way for healing to be ushered in.

18. If you have been searching your whole life for some fried pie, just get off exit 123 on Highway I-40 near Oklahoma City.
You can’t miss the 37 signs leading up to the exit.

19. Anything seems possible when you have a great group of prayer warriors on your side.
Every joy and every sorrow seems to have greater depth when you surround yourself with a community that prays together.

20. Adrenal glands help regulate the hormones that are sent out in your body to help regulate stress.
Before the tour, I knew nothing about them. Also, did you know that if you are under constant stress, you can wear out your adrenal glands? Did you know that very organ that is created to regulate stress in your body can actually become too stressed out to function if you don’t manage external stress well in your life?

So, if you aren’t managing stress well, now is a good time to start!

More of the list to come…stay tuned….

May7

40 Things I Learned in 40 Days

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Julie

Here is a list of random things Julie journaled about during our 40 day College Tour.  We’ll split them up in a few posts so they are more easily pondered. Some real gems of truth here. They are listed in no particular order.

On the College Tour, I learned…

1. Clean rest stops are good for the soul of a weary traveler.

2. A good night’s sleep is more precious than gold.
Everything is better when you are well rested; your attitude, your outlook, the way you treat others is better. You can offer the best version of yourself to the world.

3. A lack of sleep is a ministry killer.
When don’t get the sleep your body needs, it not only affects you. You can miss opportunities to bring Kingdom to your community and those around you.

4. Mountain regions that are flat on top and look like a table top are called “mesas” because the Spanish word for table is mesa.

5. Everyone in life needs space.
Introvert or extravert, we all need space. We need space to decompress, to reflect, to create, and to just be. There is something incredibly freeing about having a sanctuary of space.

6. AAA is worth the money.
If being broken down on the side of the road for 3 hours while having to go to the bathroom is exciting for you, then….don’t spend the money. But, if you want assistance in a timely manner, then I recommend purchasing the coverage. After being on this trip, I will be investing in AAA.

7. Starbucks is a playground for ministry.
Be open and prepared to minister, whenever, wherever…you may just be surprised by how the Lord brings a kingdom connection. It could be at the Starbucks near you.

8. Hospitality is an attitude.
It has little to do with how large your home is, how luxurious your guest bedroom is, or whether you can cook a gourmet meal. Instead it has everything to do with how you offer what you have. Hospitality is not limited to how you treat people in your home: it’s an attitude you bring with you everywhere you go.

Hospitality is an attitude of grace that chooses to radically bless and radically love because you know what it means to be radically blessed and radically loved. Hospitality creates a space, wherever you are, for a person to feel loved and cared for, whether that is a complete stranger or a life long friend.

9. Your trip to the west coast is incomplete until you have been to In-N-Out Burger. 

10. College students are in a perfect place in their life to dream big.
I’ve noticed that college students, more than anyone else, have a strong faith in their dreams. They are not jaded by failure yet. They don’t feel limited. The sky is the limit. They are in a setting where they are told, “you absolutely can” more times than not.

I believe, that if this generation starts believing in their dream, working towards it and doesn’t stop until it comes to fruition, we will have a whole new generation of bold dreamers who will advocate for the next generation of dreamers.

College students really will change the world.

Stay tuned for more nuggets to ponder coming soon….

Apr29

College Tour: Complete

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We’re back! We made it!

Nearly 7,000 miles later, we’ve completed our little experimental tour to see what’s happening at the college campuses.

The answer?  A lot.

God is stirring up revival on college campuses.

We saw the seeds being planted each place we went. Some had already sprouted and were starting to grow. Others were still being watered. But, God is definitely stirring up hearts for His Kingdom.

Here’s a quick recap:

  • Traveled through 12 states
  • Slept in 16 different places
  • Visited 10 different colleges
  • Met with few people but had many more significant interactions (see here and here and here)
  • Saw several people take meaningful steps toward the next phase of their Kingdom dream
  • Had nearly 30 different donors sponsoring the Dream Tour!  THANK YOU!
  • Tripled the number of regular viewers to the blog
  • Ruby became an icon of Dream Tour folk lore (see her story here and here)
  • Broke our new GPS
  • Met some incredible dreamers whose lives are filled with fruit (see here and here)
  • Learned even more about how faithful God is

We are so grateful for all the prayers, well wishes, emotional and financial support we’ve received. We couldn’t keep going without it.

We thank you and Ruby thanks you!

Apr24

Home Stretch – Help Us Get to Oklahoma City

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We’re in the home stretch of this College Dream Tour. Only a six more days left.

Today we’re headed from Santa Fe to Oklahoma City. Then we ‘re on to Kansas City to meet up with some dreamers on their way to Peru and speak with a small group. Then back to Minneapolis on Friday for team debrief and celebration.

Yesterday, Ruby needed some additional small repairs.

The good news?  With the latest repairs, Ruby is running like a champion and getting about 8 miles per gallon more than she was!

The problem?  Her repairs depleted our account.

We don’t have enough funds to finish our journey.

We need your help to keep us on the road.

Please sponsor us and help us finish the tour strong.

Blessings and many big Kingdom dreams to you all!

Molly, Teri, Julie

Apr16

Grateful

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More in the saga of Ruby…

Last Friday we drove our rental car, Sliver Slick, from a couple days of camping in Moab, Utah to Grand Junction, Colorado in anticipation of picking up Ruby that day.

While on our way,  we got a call from our dear friend who had offered to pay for Ruby’s repairs called. His house was robbed the day he called in to pay for Ruby. The thieves took everything, including credit cards. The credit card company cancelled his cards as of that day. He wouldn’t be able to pay for Ruby after all.

Please pray for Steve! And pray for the thieves who took from him – they all need a little Jesus!

Right after that we got a call from lovely Jackie from Masters Automotive to say the very lovely words, “Ruby is ready!”

We’re now about an hour away from Rifle. One moment Ruby is paid for but not fixed.

Now, Ruby was fixed but not paid for…

Ruby was now all dressed up with no place to go!

And the mechanic shop is closing in about two hours for the whole weekend. If we didn’t find a solution in one hour, we would have to wait in Grand Junction until Monday.

What did we do?

We pulled off in Grand Junction and ate lunch on the Applebee’s gift card someone gave us.

And    counted   our   blessings!

We’re thankful for:

  • Applebee’s spinach and artichoke dip
  • Easter candy on sale
  • The Kingdom Dreams team who loves us
  • Our prayer networks who are so vigilant in their support
  • Social networks that help us stay connected
  • Our parents that help us stay grounded
  • Our friends that help us stay real
  • Laughter that helps us stay sane
  • Mountains that make us dream big
  • Divine appointments that make us humble
  • Air conditioning in dust storms when you are allergic to dust
  • Allergy meds
  • Spiritual breakthroughs to freedom
  • Truth that sets us free
  • Grace that loves us even though we don’t live like we’re free
  • The Body of Christ who is rising up
  • Full authority in Christ
  • Rental cars
  • Tax Refunds
  • The powerful name of Jesus Christ
  • America the incredibly beautiful
  • For hosts who bless our socks off (More on Cal and Jan in another post!)
  • The Arches National Park that inspires us
  • Pandora radio, GPS’s, smart phones, cruise control, and texting that makes our lives much easier
  • Tow trucks

Just then, at the 11th hour, another friend called in to offer to pay for Ruby’s repair.

We are thankful for 11th hour rescues!

We picked up Ruby. I think I hugged Jackie about 10 times. Said our good-byes and got back on the road.

We drove over 900 miles in the last two days and Ruby was purring!

Thanks to all who prayed and gave to help us get back on the road.

We are grateful…

Apr11

God is Good but Ruby is Still Broke

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It would seem that God is not done with the saga of Ruby.

Which is best? Do you start with the bad news and ending with the good? Yes. That’s probably best…

THE VERY INTERESTING NEWS

We woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, with great anticipation of picking Ruby up and getting on the road again.

God made other plans.

Ruby was fixed, they thought, but once they got her down they realized that she wasn’t really fixed She was just fooling them. Silly Ruby.

The fuel pump wasn’t the right one. We figure it’s best to get the right one in and all.

So, the mechanics ordered a new, correct one…from Albuquerque.

It will take another two days.

Yep.  Two more days…at least.

So, we extended our rental car and ended up praying for the guys at the National Rental place. That was cool.

We said good-bye to the wonderful family we have been staying with and decided to head out to Moab, Utah to go camping.

THE BEST NEWS

We received enough in donations yesterday to make-up for all our expenses in repair, car rental, and extras!!!!!

Thank you all so very, very much.

Ruby is well loved!  (And us too.)

Blessings from the land of Rockies. I could think of worst places to get stuck.

Apr10

Ruby’s Prognosis

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Ruby’s prognosis is in. The fuel pump went out.

Sometime today Ruby will go under the knife for fuel pump replacement surgery.

The price was steeper than we hoped; after a few gallons of gas, the diagnostic service, and the labor to get Ruby fixed and on the road, the bill will be close to $600.

Yikes.

We run the Dream Tour on a boot-strapping budget and with the ministry being a brand new, the bottom-line is this will completely deplete our finances.

We need your help to keep going.

We barely have enough now to get to the next stop, but the journey will end there and lives will be left untouched if we don’t get your help with funding. Please consider helping this worthy Kingdom dream!

Please help keep the tour on the road so we can keep inspiring, igniting, and connecting dreamers
into their next steps of their Kingdom dream journey!

You can make an easy tax-deductible donation here.

Or you can send a check (with Dream Tour in the memo) to:

Adventures in Missions
6000 Wellspring Trail
Gainesville, Ga 30506

Please let us know about your donation! You can email us here.

Blessings and Big Kingdom Dreams to all of you!

Teri, Julie, and Molly

Apr7

Ruby Needs a Doctor

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Teri

Ruby broke down yesterday.

Ruby is our pet name for the Dream Tour’s little red mini-van.

We were traveling west on I-70 on our way to a quick stop in Grand Junction, Colorado. Poof. Ruby wouldn’t go anymore. I pulled to the side of the road just in time for her to gasp and die.

Ruby needed a doctor.

Problem was, car doctors don’t have emergency rooms open at 6pm on a Friday night of a Holiday weekend. Ruby would wait until Monday to be seen.

I actually begged the only mechanic we could get a hold of within 20 miles of where we were. He said, “Yeah. Sorry lady. We’re just closing up shop. You’ll have to wait until Monday.” How rude!


Finally, I got a hold of Al, the tow-truck guy. He’d come out and take Ruby to a mechanic 16 miles in the wrong direction.
Soon Al came and hauled Ruby onto the back of his truck and dropped her off at a closed shop that wouldn’t open again for three days.

We thought that was pretty fitting for Easter.

Molly has some lovely friends we were planning to visit for one night in Grand Junction.

Cal and Jan drove an hour east to come and rescue us. They threw all of our bags into the back of their truck, lavished us with a healing dose of grace, and then took us out to dinner. They offered for us to stay in their house, “as long as you need”. Those are harmonious words to the ears of stranded pioneers who’ve just lost their horse and buggy.

So, we’re Ruby-less in Grand Junction, Colorado hanging out with a family that didn’t expect extra visitors for the Easter weekend – yet who have opened up their house and their hearts to us. And who are helping us laugh about our unexpected adventure.

I have a secret to tell you…come in close…closer…I’ll whisper in your ear.

When Ruby broke down…I WAS TICKED! I WAS REALLY, REALLY ANGRY. I WAS SHAKE-YOUR-FIST MAD AT GOD!

Confession is good for the soul, so in the next post I’ll tell you all about it…

 ”I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah”  Psalm 32:5

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If you would like to contribute to the “Help Ruby Get Well” fund, please click here.

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