WEBVTT 00:00:03.939 --> 00:00:06.419 Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's episode 00:00:06.419 --> 00:00:09.419 of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla, and I am really 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:12.000 glad that you are joining us today. We have a 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.660 really exciting conversation today. I'm going 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:17.480 to be talking with Megan, who is the Children's 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:21.179 Ministry Director here at Trinity, but also just 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.500 recently came back from three months traveling 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:27.760 the world, maybe not the whole world, but a good 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:32.009 chunk of the world. So, Megan, where did you 00:00:32.009 --> 00:00:34.810 go? What did you do? Why were you gone for three 00:00:34.810 --> 00:00:38.310 months? All good questions, yeah. I went away 00:00:38.310 --> 00:00:41.549 for three months to do a YWAM program. So, YWAM 00:00:41.549 --> 00:00:43.950 is a mission organization, a youth of mission, 00:00:44.130 --> 00:00:46.969 and they run this Bible school called their Bible 00:00:46.969 --> 00:00:50.570 Core Course or BCC. And they let you read the 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:53.890 whole Bible in three months. Okay. Read it multiple 00:00:53.890 --> 00:00:56.670 times, actually. And then they take you to the 00:00:56.670 --> 00:00:58.649 places that the Bible was written while you're 00:00:58.649 --> 00:01:02.189 reading it. Okay. So we started and ended the 00:01:02.189 --> 00:01:04.790 trip in Switzerland, in Lausanne. That's where 00:01:04.790 --> 00:01:06.730 the YWAM base is. And that's just kind of like 00:01:06.730 --> 00:01:09.069 the people who organize it. That's where they 00:01:09.069 --> 00:01:12.810 gather. And then we traveled around to Greece, 00:01:13.170 --> 00:01:16.670 Egypt, Israel, Turkey, and Italy. Okay. I always 00:01:16.670 --> 00:01:18.790 have to remember all of them. Yes. But I did. 00:01:18.930 --> 00:01:21.989 You did. That was a very good list. Yeah. Yeah. 00:01:23.209 --> 00:01:27.129 So what made you want to do this trip? Oh, so 00:01:27.129 --> 00:01:30.310 many things. I just... Well, actually, first 00:01:30.310 --> 00:01:32.269 of all, honestly, it's something God put on my 00:01:32.269 --> 00:01:34.870 heart like in 2019 when I was like wrapping up 00:01:34.870 --> 00:01:37.250 my undergrad and like you always ask those big 00:01:37.250 --> 00:01:39.510 scary questions of like, hey, what's next? Like, 00:01:39.530 --> 00:01:40.969 what am I going to do? Life outside of school 00:01:40.969 --> 00:01:43.909 is scary. And it still is. But something that 00:01:43.909 --> 00:01:46.230 God really put on my heart was to be really grounded 00:01:46.230 --> 00:01:48.650 in the Word. And I was like, cool, like there's 00:01:48.650 --> 00:01:50.230 divinity schools, like all over Ontario, I'm 00:01:50.230 --> 00:01:51.870 going to get him one and I'm going to lay this 00:01:51.870 --> 00:01:53.909 good, solid biblical foundation for my life. 00:01:54.010 --> 00:01:57.170 But I really felt it impressed upon me to go 00:01:57.170 --> 00:02:00.260 there. And I didn't know how, like I was like, 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:02.780 I can't just like go to Israel, like out of nowhere 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:04.920 by myself. Like it doesn't make any sense. But 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:07.640 then I went to YWAM with another program that 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:09.780 they run called their DTS, which is like their 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:11.979 interim mission. And the first day I was there, 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:14.460 they said, we run a Bible course that goes to 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:16.740 where it was written. I was like, that's perfect. 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:19.439 It was almost like it was given to me, like this 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.949 specific course. But the desire to do, of course, 00:02:23.069 --> 00:02:24.689 the travels to location is just to like have 00:02:24.689 --> 00:02:27.169 a really, really rich foundation in the word. 00:02:27.330 --> 00:02:29.550 I knew I wanted to do ministry of some kind. 00:02:29.669 --> 00:02:31.250 I didn't yet know that it would be kids ministry 00:02:31.250 --> 00:02:34.210 all the way, although I'm happy that it is. But 00:02:34.210 --> 00:02:36.810 I really knew that no matter what I did, I needed 00:02:36.810 --> 00:02:40.469 this foundation. I didn't grow up going to Sunday 00:02:40.469 --> 00:02:41.990 school or anything. So I really, really wanted 00:02:41.990 --> 00:02:44.250 to keep up and like know these important stories 00:02:44.250 --> 00:02:47.069 and really just be formed by the word. Cause 00:02:47.069 --> 00:02:49.509 I think it had something to offer me. And to 00:02:49.509 --> 00:02:52.479 go there, I just I've been talking to people 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:55.560 about it, like it's like your best friend taking 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.080 you to their hometown. It's like, hey, this is 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:00.280 where I grew up and like this is where I did 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:02.639 this cool thing. This is where my first job was. 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:04.539 And this is where me and my mom did this thing. 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:07.580 So that's what I wanted. Like I wanted to know 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:11.000 Jesus in that way. So, yeah, that's very cool. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.379 That's a really cool analogy, like a really cool 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:16.219 way to like think about it. That like, yeah, 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:19.879 sitting. here we like obviously can have this 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:22.479 really rich understanding of Christ, you know, 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:25.819 like that's not going to Israel, going to these 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:27.680 different places. It's not like a requirement. 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:30.759 No, it's not. Right. Like the, but, but it does, 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:33.439 it enriches your faith in a different way. Yeah. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:34.659 And I think that's something I've been telling 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:36.639 people too, is that like the Bible is going to 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:38.659 be good wherever you are. Like the Bible is good 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:40.960 in church on Sunday. It's good like in your room 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.340 at home. It's good at one of these amazing schools 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:46.259 we have to go there was just like, this cool 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.080 intimacy that I could have with God while I was 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.840 learning it. And I'm a very experiential learner 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.240 and I love to travel and I have like this interest 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:57.280 in supporting missions and like I just really 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.520 wanted to go and have that visceral experience. 00:03:59.539 --> 00:04:02.150 And I just thought... I want to know these things 00:04:02.150 --> 00:04:04.150 that you can't read. I want to know what the 00:04:04.150 --> 00:04:09.150 Red Sea smells like. I want to open up Exodus 00:04:09.150 --> 00:04:11.490 and know what it was like to be in the wilderness 00:04:11.490 --> 00:04:14.610 and kind of have these visual reminders. So for 00:04:14.610 --> 00:04:17.470 me, as a visual and experiential learner, it 00:04:17.470 --> 00:04:25.259 was so helpful. So I'm sure going into this experience, 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.040 you had a lot of sort of expectations or hopes 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.240 for what you thought this was going to be like. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.600 So did the trip live up to those expectations? 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:35.920 Were there some things that you maybe didn't 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.120 expect? Yeah, I definitely surpassed my expectations. 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:43.259 It's just it's so cool. Like it's so enriching. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:45.839 And I think I will say also like to your earlier 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.670 question, like I think like What I've been telling 00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:52.470 people to summarize the trip is like it can't 00:04:52.470 --> 00:04:54.569 increase your faith going to these places. Sure. 00:04:54.670 --> 00:04:57.410 But like it affirms the reality of scripture 00:04:57.410 --> 00:05:00.050 in such a visceral way. Like you go to historic 00:05:00.050 --> 00:05:02.730 monuments and things like different important 00:05:02.730 --> 00:05:05.310 historic spots that they have around here. And 00:05:05.310 --> 00:05:07.410 you're like, wow, that happened here. But like 00:05:07.410 --> 00:05:09.939 with this trip, it's like. Yeah, like God did 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:12.519 that here, like God moved that seat and Jesus 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:16.199 walked there. And so like my expectation was 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.139 to have those visceral experiences that would 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:20.399 support my knowledge of scripture in that way. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:22.600 And even though you can know scripture well anywhere, 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:26.870 it did that. And it was just. It was so beautiful 00:05:26.870 --> 00:05:30.370 to be with God in those spaces. I think one thing 00:05:30.370 --> 00:05:33.250 I really respect about YWAM is that they really 00:05:33.250 --> 00:05:36.850 prioritize your personal formation. So yes, they 00:05:36.850 --> 00:05:39.709 gave us a lot of good tools to get into the Word 00:05:39.709 --> 00:05:42.449 and to know it really well, but they also made 00:05:42.449 --> 00:05:44.769 space just for prayer and just for you to be 00:05:44.769 --> 00:05:47.350 with God and for you to worship and to really 00:05:47.350 --> 00:05:50.470 think about what this means for you and allow 00:05:50.470 --> 00:05:53.589 God to do that inner work in you. And that is 00:05:53.589 --> 00:05:57.120 all what I expected. and I had all of that met 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.079 and I got to know the Word and I got to know 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.480 God in such a beautiful, intimate way. There 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.680 was one moment when I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:09.720 just beside Jerusalem, and there were not that 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:11.839 many people there at that time, and there were 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:13.399 just all these different olive trees and we all 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.339 got to sit underneath them and just pray to God 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:19.680 about what it was like. for Jesus to go to the 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:22.899 cross and what actually that felt like to him 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:25.160 and what that pressure would have been like and 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:27.839 just sit with him and pray about that. And so 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:29.740 intimate moments like that is what I went there 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:33.360 for and what I got just to know my Jesus a little 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.079 better. And then it surpassed my expectations 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.100 in so many ways. Like you can't expect something 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:41.139 this awesome. Like you can't expect something 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:46.779 with so many awesome layers to it. just to learn 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:49.240 what the wilderness was like. Sure. I didn't 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:51.100 think about that, but it's so obvious. Like in 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:53.079 retrospect, like I think of the wilderness, I'm 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.079 from like Ontario. I think about like Muskoka 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:57.560 and I think about like dense forest. I think 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:01.660 about bugs and swamp. Nothing like that. The 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:05.720 wilderness in Egypt is barren. Like there's no 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:08.300 plants, right? It's desert and it's rock. And 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:10.220 that's, and there's really nothing. So like you 00:07:10.220 --> 00:07:13.040 just think about like, emptiness. And I think 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:16.480 that like changes my whole view of like Exodus 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.759 and my whole view of when the Israelites were 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.339 in the wilderness, because it's not like overwhelming 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:25.379 obstacles and like, you know, torrential emotions 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:26.899 and torrential downpour and things. It's like, 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:29.699 it's just emptiness. And so that was something 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:31.459 that I didn't expect that was interesting and 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:34.519 informed my understanding. And then another thing 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:36.160 that surpassed my expectations, I could talk 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:38.360 forever about it, but one final thing is like 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:42.670 my leaders were so important to my experience. 00:07:42.829 --> 00:07:44.750 I knew that the Word was going to be good and 00:07:44.750 --> 00:07:46.670 I knew that Wyoming was going to run a good program. 00:07:48.050 --> 00:07:50.910 But I didn't expect so much wisdom to come from 00:07:50.910 --> 00:07:53.310 the leaders of the school. Honestly, if those 00:07:53.310 --> 00:07:56.069 leaders had led any Bible school, even if it 00:07:56.069 --> 00:07:58.290 didn't travel... you wouldn't get so much out 00:07:58.290 --> 00:07:59.930 of it because they just, they've been doing it 00:07:59.930 --> 00:08:02.610 for years and you can tell, like they just, they're 00:08:02.610 --> 00:08:05.509 just people who like, who live the scripture 00:08:05.509 --> 00:08:08.410 and breathe it and steep in it every day. And 00:08:08.410 --> 00:08:10.709 there's the leader of the school is this amazing 00:08:10.709 --> 00:08:12.870 woman named Maida, who I just look up to so much. 00:08:13.509 --> 00:08:15.329 And you can just tell she's been living her life 00:08:15.329 --> 00:08:17.470 steeped in this because she can, she can say 00:08:17.470 --> 00:08:19.829 it and not in a way like, you know, did you know 00:08:19.829 --> 00:08:21.750 in like little facts, but like she's really absorbed 00:08:21.750 --> 00:08:24.939 the wisdom of scripture. So to get that much 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.279 from my leaders was something I didn't expect. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.360 It was beautiful. Yeah. Yeah, that's super cool. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:35.600 And like really neat how. Yeah, just like you 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.899 said, just like being there and being in it is 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:41.659 is such an important part of that that formation. 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:45.279 Absolutely. And like, I mean, I think about to 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:50.480 like even for myself, like. I just, I hear God 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:55.340 better outside in general. Yeah. And so just 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:58.639 being able to then be outside, but in the garden 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.980 of Gethsemane, like in the wilderness where the 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:04.879 Israelites walked and complained and like all 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.919 of these things, right? But just like to get 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:13.940 that sense of like, God was, is. there. Yeah, 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:17.720 absolutely. And it does feel weighty to be there 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.919 and to know that these things actually happened 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.879 and this is the place where it happened. Like, 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:24.879 there's a cool weight to it. So, yeah, just to 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.259 experience the reality of scripture was really 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:31.779 beautiful. Yeah, yeah, for sure. So what about 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:36.259 like the. logistics of the traveling and like 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:39.940 all of all of that. Like it was probably a lot. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.200 Yeah. Well, again, yeah, how did that go? We 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.039 had these amazing leaders who put it all together. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.200 So we had like this one leader, Maida, and she 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.500 would like speak to us from scripture, like pray 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.480 over us. And it was amazing. And they all would. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.259 But we also had amazing, like practical leaders. 00:09:56.210 --> 00:09:58.250 One woman named Emeline is just like the details 00:09:58.250 --> 00:10:00.250 master. And so she planned all of it. It's very 00:10:00.250 --> 00:10:02.490 luxurious. I almost felt guilty sometimes. I'm 00:10:02.490 --> 00:10:04.789 like, who am I to have all this luxury? Like 00:10:04.789 --> 00:10:07.009 we could just, all the hotels were arranged, 00:10:07.110 --> 00:10:08.590 all the transportation was arranged. We were 00:10:08.590 --> 00:10:11.259 really, really lucky to like. be connected with 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:13.299 certain local communities. In Turkey, we stayed 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.299 at a hotel, but they have a really, really good 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:17.259 relationship with the hotel owners. We like knew 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:20.159 all of the staff and things. And in Egypt, we 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:22.480 stayed at Midas home and all of that. So a lot 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.779 of it, and they've been running that program 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:26.820 for, I think, like 15 years now. So it's, you 00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:29.679 know, it's all very like laid out for us. It's 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.679 actually funny because I've done traveling before 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.600 and like been overwhelmed by all the details, 00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:36.120 but like they just did it for you. So it was 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:39.100 very luxurious. It was definitely like, definitely 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:42.500 pushed me a little bit. I'm scared of lying and 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:46.879 I didn't think about that. That's a lot to then 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.690 do. Six country, five or six. So many flights. 00:10:51.029 --> 00:10:55.529 Yeah, so many flights. But it's okay. It was 00:10:55.529 --> 00:10:59.809 a good challenge for me. And you also make such 00:10:59.809 --> 00:11:02.669 good friends on these trips. So then traveling 00:11:02.669 --> 00:11:04.850 was easy because you just mess around with them 00:11:04.850 --> 00:11:06.009 and have good chats. You just hang out with your 00:11:06.009 --> 00:11:09.210 people. And they had you studying the whole time 00:11:09.210 --> 00:11:12.009 also. We were in airports and they're like, okay, 00:11:12.009 --> 00:11:14.490 before you get on the flight, I need you to read 00:11:14.490 --> 00:11:16.710 Titus. So we're like in the airports reading 00:11:16.710 --> 00:11:18.740 it. like going through on the plane they're like 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:21.039 you need to mark up like the book of Matthew 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.000 and like like they really had you doing stuff 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:25.480 the whole time so the logistics they had all 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.220 worked out for us and we just got to enjoy being 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:30.179 in the word which was again so luxurious yeah 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:33.919 yeah that's awesome yeah it was yeah so it sounds 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.830 like It was a very full three months. Very much. 00:11:37.370 --> 00:11:40.809 Lots of really delightful moments. Yeah, totally. 00:11:41.450 --> 00:11:44.649 Are there like one or two like highlights that's 00:11:44.649 --> 00:11:47.710 like this was like the coolest or like a really 00:11:47.710 --> 00:11:50.490 important moment for you? Oh, it's there's so 00:11:50.490 --> 00:11:54.990 many. Like the whole thing was so important. 00:11:56.110 --> 00:11:59.870 I think that moment I described of being in Gethsemane 00:11:59.870 --> 00:12:02.710 was really important to me. I'm more of a contemplative 00:12:02.710 --> 00:12:05.690 person. I love games and being around people, 00:12:05.710 --> 00:12:09.090 but I connect with God best when I'm in nature 00:12:09.090 --> 00:12:11.769 and when I can be alone with Him. And to have 00:12:11.769 --> 00:12:14.149 that moment and to pray and to ask Him, what 00:12:14.149 --> 00:12:18.480 was it like? to suffer in this way for your people 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:21.860 and to be alone in this way and to hear that 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:24.500 from him and like just get to rest in that and 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:26.419 read over the scripture where he's praying over 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:29.919 Jerusalem was just so intimate. I think that 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.360 was even like a turning point just for me and 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:36.120 like my year and my walk with God, just to kind 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:38.600 of humble myself and not think about like, hey, 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.320 God, like, what are you asking of me? And like, 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:42.059 what am I doing next? And things, but just to 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.289 put it aside and just like. I actually just want 00:12:44.289 --> 00:12:48.090 to know your story better, God, and to read and 00:12:48.090 --> 00:12:50.190 to know that better. So that was really beautiful. 00:12:50.629 --> 00:12:53.830 And then we would walk like into the city and 00:12:53.830 --> 00:12:56.269 we walked to the Holy Sepulcher and just to reflect 00:12:56.269 --> 00:12:59.889 on the cross so intimately was really important 00:12:59.889 --> 00:13:02.980 for me. Yeah. And just to remember what he's 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:05.740 done and that he does it out of love. I was like, 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.879 I feel like what I got from that, like how much 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.980 he loves us, that's like where it all comes from. 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:13.240 So that was important for me. And then a couple 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.539 of days later, they have like another spot in 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.929 Jerusalem called the Garden Timbs. People in 00:13:17.929 --> 00:13:19.529 Jerusalem disagree on where things happened. 00:13:19.690 --> 00:13:21.309 And it's so difficult to say. It was 2000 years 00:13:21.309 --> 00:13:23.710 ago. But the Holy Sepulchre is one place where 00:13:23.710 --> 00:13:25.769 they proposed that he was crucified. And then 00:13:25.769 --> 00:13:27.350 there's the garden tomb, which is just outside 00:13:27.350 --> 00:13:29.269 of the city. And it's another space. But I thought 00:13:29.269 --> 00:13:31.590 both offered spaces for meaningful reflection. 00:13:31.909 --> 00:13:33.850 Either way, Jesus was here. It's still meaningful. 00:13:34.389 --> 00:13:36.110 Then a couple of days later in the garden tomb. 00:13:36.889 --> 00:13:40.350 It was all about resurrection. They do it up 00:13:40.350 --> 00:13:43.769 in this beautiful, lush garden. It's so beautiful 00:13:43.769 --> 00:13:46.570 and green and full of flowers and they have gardeners 00:13:46.570 --> 00:13:49.519 working in it all the time. And they have like 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.259 this tomb where they believe is where he was 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:54.179 buried. And the stone is rolled to the side and 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:57.240 just to like relish in that victory. We did that 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.379 a couple of days after we went to the Holy Sepulchre. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:01.440 So it's this beautiful experience of the Easter 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.720 story and moving through that. And then we got 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.299 to worship. Like they gave us space just to sing 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:08.480 and to praise God and thank him for who he is 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.379 and what he's done and the victory that we have 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:13.850 in Jesus. It was, I don't know, it was just such 00:14:13.850 --> 00:14:17.409 an important reminder of like who I am and how 00:14:17.409 --> 00:14:21.149 I've been freed and how God loves me. So that, 00:14:21.210 --> 00:14:23.070 and that was like the very center of our trip. 00:14:23.090 --> 00:14:24.970 And I think that was like the heartbeat of the 00:14:24.970 --> 00:14:27.950 whole thing for me, among many other amazing 00:14:27.950 --> 00:14:31.450 experiences. Like we also went to local churches 00:14:31.450 --> 00:14:33.970 wherever we went. And that was amazing to see 00:14:33.970 --> 00:14:36.490 different expressions of faith. Like we went 00:14:36.490 --> 00:14:40.389 to a church in Egypt, just like our leaders local 00:14:40.389 --> 00:14:45.330 church. That was so impactful for me too. Because 00:14:45.330 --> 00:14:47.710 in Egypt, there's a very small Christian population 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:49.370 and it's actually really difficult to have a 00:14:49.370 --> 00:14:52.370 church there. It's difficult to open new ones 00:14:52.370 --> 00:14:54.429 and sometimes they experience violence in those 00:14:54.429 --> 00:14:57.309 spaces just for worshiping. But we went to this 00:14:57.309 --> 00:14:59.389 church and you have to go through security to 00:14:59.389 --> 00:15:03.070 get in and put your bags aside because they've 00:15:03.070 --> 00:15:05.590 had violence there before. It's a little more 00:15:05.590 --> 00:15:08.159 hostile in that area. But when we went in, the 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.320 church was full. It was hundreds and hundreds 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:13.019 and hundreds of people. And the music was beautiful. 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.480 But more than that, like the worship was authentic 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.120 and rich and deep and just people knowing that 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.980 they need Jesus and knowing that there could 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.919 be a cost to them worshiping, but saying that 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.480 that's worth it and just coming alongside them. 00:15:25.309 --> 00:15:27.269 gave this message, we didn't understand the language, 00:15:27.370 --> 00:15:28.909 but they gave you these little earbuds and they 00:15:28.909 --> 00:15:30.529 talked to you and they translated it to English, 00:15:30.690 --> 00:15:32.730 just like some guy sitting in the back, like 00:15:32.730 --> 00:15:35.710 doing his best. But they had this beautiful message 00:15:35.710 --> 00:15:38.450 just about repenting and how he asked us just 00:15:38.450 --> 00:15:40.830 turn back to him, just keep turning back. And 00:15:40.830 --> 00:15:42.629 these people like really putting everything on 00:15:42.629 --> 00:15:44.649 the line and being willing to come here and worship 00:15:44.649 --> 00:15:48.690 and turn back to him. Like, who am I to do anything 00:15:48.690 --> 00:15:51.269 else? Like when when God has done all of this 00:15:51.269 --> 00:15:53.649 for me and when these people are willing to turn 00:15:53.649 --> 00:15:56.429 to him and come to him even at a cost. And that 00:15:56.429 --> 00:15:59.730 was a big moment for me. Yeah, so many. Those 00:15:59.730 --> 00:16:01.710 are the two that I got a first. No, no, that's 00:16:01.710 --> 00:16:05.429 yeah, that's really awesome. Yeah, and and neat 00:16:05.429 --> 00:16:08.769 that. To get to live that Easter story, like 00:16:08.769 --> 00:16:12.870 you were saying, that just feels so cool. Yeah, 00:16:12.950 --> 00:16:15.929 it was. Yeah, unbelievable. And they really spaced 00:16:15.929 --> 00:16:17.850 it out. Again, Wyom's really intentional about 00:16:17.850 --> 00:16:21.909 you personally receiving that story. And just 00:16:21.909 --> 00:16:23.789 to rejoice in that, I feel like I've been rejoicing 00:16:23.789 --> 00:16:26.110 ever since. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, that's 00:16:26.110 --> 00:16:31.009 really good. Yeah. On the flip side of that, 00:16:31.309 --> 00:16:34.009 I'm sure that there were moments that were less 00:16:34.009 --> 00:16:35.990 ideal, moments that were maybe a little more 00:16:35.990 --> 00:16:39.490 challenging. Yeah, so what were some of those 00:16:39.490 --> 00:16:41.730 challenging moments for you? Yeah, thank you 00:16:41.730 --> 00:16:43.570 for asking. We'll do the honest review of it. 00:16:45.189 --> 00:16:48.649 Well, but even this is a positive as well. Like, 00:16:49.230 --> 00:16:52.370 they work you hard at that school. Like, it was 00:16:52.370 --> 00:16:54.889 not a vacation. Like, sure, they would get you. 00:16:54.929 --> 00:16:57.429 So they have this fabulous Bible study method 00:16:57.429 --> 00:16:59.570 and they're all about inductive study. Okay. 00:16:59.629 --> 00:17:02.190 So looking at the word for what it says to us, 00:17:02.269 --> 00:17:05.589 like not what we want it to say for us. So like 00:17:05.589 --> 00:17:08.289 really treating it as an independent text. And 00:17:08.289 --> 00:17:11.369 that process involves reading a book through. 00:17:11.430 --> 00:17:13.750 So like saying the book of Matthew, you read 00:17:13.750 --> 00:17:16.009 it through and then they have you like go through 00:17:16.009 --> 00:17:17.730 and highlight with different colors, like just 00:17:17.730 --> 00:17:19.549 to get the facts of the story, like highlight 00:17:19.549 --> 00:17:21.210 the names and the places and the times. Very 00:17:21.210 --> 00:17:24.210 easy. And then they get you to summarize every 00:17:24.210 --> 00:17:27.369 single paragraph with four words from the paragraph, 00:17:27.710 --> 00:17:29.789 which took time. And then they get you to summarize 00:17:29.789 --> 00:17:31.349 little sections and then they get you to summarize 00:17:31.349 --> 00:17:32.829 chapters and then they get you to summarize, 00:17:32.970 --> 00:17:34.569 summarize, summarize. And then you're allowed 00:17:34.569 --> 00:17:37.579 to interpret. but you have to interpret based 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:40.460 on what it meant to the people of that time. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:42.420 And that's where our lectures came in and they 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.299 would have fabulous missionaries come in who 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:47.920 study the word and they would explain it to us 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.079 what the context is. And only after you've done 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.740 all of that, are you allowed to think, okay, 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:56.119 what does this mean to me? And that was an important 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:58.940 challenge for me because I'm so used to just 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.579 picking it up and like doing my devotionals in 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:02.259 the morning, just being like, Hey God, what do 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.759 you want to say to me? And like opening it up 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.480 and then reading it and trying my best. But this 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.819 is so much richer because there's a distinction. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.059 What is it? The Bible is for me, but it's not 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:15.019 about me. There's something like that. I don't 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:19.019 think that's it. But it's not about Megan. I 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:23.200 don't open it up and this story. The Psalms aren't 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.700 written about me. They're not written about my 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:29.269 situation. we can glean so much more truth when 00:18:29.269 --> 00:18:31.849 we read it for what it is, like in the context 00:18:31.849 --> 00:18:33.470 that it was written in. So that was an important 00:18:33.470 --> 00:18:35.170 challenge because it was reworking the way that 00:18:35.170 --> 00:18:38.049 I approach scripture in a fundamental way. Like 00:18:38.049 --> 00:18:41.940 I have to approach it with that humility. And 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:44.059 actually when you approach it as something that's 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:46.359 not written like about you, then you actually 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:48.920 get so much more out of it because you understand 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:50.859 like the truth of that story and who God was 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:53.859 in that story and not just like trying to figure 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:56.759 out my own life. So humbling myself before scripture 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.980 was a challenge that was wonderful. And I'm so 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.759 grateful for it. So maybe that's not where you're 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.920 at. Going forward. I'm like, no, I loved it because 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.019 I was changed in that way. Yeah, no. But but 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:09.279 yeah, like it is like you said, like a reworking 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:12.609 of the way that you approach scripture. And there's 00:19:12.609 --> 00:19:15.069 something hard in that, something challenging 00:19:15.069 --> 00:19:17.289 in that, right? Yeah, but so important. Like, 00:19:17.549 --> 00:19:19.410 I needed that. And I'll never approach Scripture 00:19:19.410 --> 00:19:22.309 the same way again. Like, I won't go in it so 00:19:22.309 --> 00:19:24.809 simply, even though it is simple. Like, it's 00:19:24.809 --> 00:19:26.890 approachable. Like, anyone can do it. But we 00:19:26.890 --> 00:19:30.430 just have to be humble and see what God is saying, 00:19:30.769 --> 00:19:34.650 like, to us, not what we want it to say. And 00:19:34.650 --> 00:19:36.809 even getting out of our own lives and just... 00:19:36.829 --> 00:19:39.009 thinking about the story of the Bible and who 00:19:39.009 --> 00:19:40.869 God is like outside of me. And there's so much 00:19:40.869 --> 00:19:43.069 freedom in that, too. Just knowing the truth 00:19:43.069 --> 00:19:45.369 of God that's outside of me, I think is like 00:19:45.369 --> 00:19:46.970 helpful because I get very like in my own head 00:19:46.970 --> 00:19:48.769 as I think we all do, like my own problems, my 00:19:48.769 --> 00:19:50.710 own stuff. What's next? Like, no, well, this 00:19:50.710 --> 00:19:53.970 is true, actually. And this is really good to 00:19:53.970 --> 00:19:55.690 get out on my own head sometimes in that way. 00:19:55.769 --> 00:19:58.089 Yeah, totally. And then the challenge with that 00:19:58.089 --> 00:20:00.369 was just how much work that was. Yeah, totally. 00:20:00.529 --> 00:20:02.750 It was, I was so tired. It was great though. 00:20:02.750 --> 00:20:05.210 I love studying. I'm so nerdy. Like I love getting 00:20:05.210 --> 00:20:07.130 into books and the context and the lectures. 00:20:07.130 --> 00:20:10.289 I loved it. But we were up late and like we were 00:20:10.289 --> 00:20:12.470 up early and they had all of our time booked. 00:20:12.509 --> 00:20:14.329 And then you're also traveling on top of it, 00:20:14.490 --> 00:20:16.529 which is why we're reading on planes and like, 00:20:16.890 --> 00:20:18.990 and reading in the airports and in the cars and 00:20:18.990 --> 00:20:21.569 things. And I get sick when I read in cars. And 00:20:21.569 --> 00:20:23.990 so I was like trying. So that was the challenge. 00:20:25.390 --> 00:20:27.289 But it's like, I don't know, it's like if you're 00:20:27.289 --> 00:20:28.809 exercising, if you're running or something like 00:20:28.809 --> 00:20:30.829 there's some days where you do the long run, 00:20:30.849 --> 00:20:33.009 right? And it's like more work and you run further 00:20:33.009 --> 00:20:34.789 and you push and it wouldn't be good to do that 00:20:34.789 --> 00:20:37.109 every day. But it's really good once in a while 00:20:37.109 --> 00:20:39.390 because you grow. That's what this felt like 00:20:39.390 --> 00:20:41.529 with Bible study. Like, OK, we're not we can't 00:20:41.529 --> 00:20:43.210 do this all the time. Like I would love to, but 00:20:43.210 --> 00:20:45.130 can't study the Bible from seven in the morning 00:20:45.130 --> 00:20:48.329 to nine at night every day unless I go and be 00:20:48.329 --> 00:20:50.210 a Bible scholar. But that's not my thing right 00:20:50.210 --> 00:20:53.890 now. But it's it's really helpful for a season. 00:20:53.890 --> 00:20:56.130 And I think, yeah, we all grew a lot through 00:20:56.130 --> 00:20:58.730 that. Yeah. Yeah, totally. Yeah. Yeah. And I 00:20:58.730 --> 00:21:00.589 think just like as you were talking, I was just 00:21:00.589 --> 00:21:02.890 thinking about the different ways that we approach 00:21:02.890 --> 00:21:06.150 scripture. And I think. Like there, like you 00:21:06.150 --> 00:21:08.930 said, there is a time and a season for like doing 00:21:08.930 --> 00:21:12.710 this really deep dive into scripture. And God 00:21:12.710 --> 00:21:17.210 totally meets us in that, as you've said. And 00:21:17.210 --> 00:21:20.789 like we don't all have the privilege of like 00:21:20.789 --> 00:21:24.990 taking that entire season or like whether it's, 00:21:24.990 --> 00:21:26.710 you know, traveling or doing it at home, like 00:21:26.710 --> 00:21:29.349 we don't always have that extended amount of 00:21:29.349 --> 00:21:32.890 time, but God meets us in the short. Oh, he does. 00:21:33.430 --> 00:21:35.769 Absolutely. Yeah. And what I'm really excited 00:21:35.769 --> 00:21:39.309 about is that that was my season of really dedicated 00:21:39.309 --> 00:21:41.990 Bible study. But we're all called to be Bible 00:21:41.990 --> 00:21:45.430 scholars. We're all called to listen to it and 00:21:45.430 --> 00:21:48.980 see what's in there. and we'll never know all 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:51.960 of it. And I find that really exciting because 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:54.579 we have an adventure like until the day we die, 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.779 we can always learn more. Like there's always 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.339 something new. Like that's such an adventure 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:01.160 to me. And you do not have to take time apart 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:04.160 to do it. Like you can do it every day and you 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:06.299 can find courses and you can find just other 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:08.859 people and like find great resources. Like the 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:11.319 Bible Project's amazing and like just really, 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:14.500 really cool, supportive things. everybody can 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.900 do. Now, if you're a young adult and you had 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:17.819 the space, I'd recommend it for anybody. Like, 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.440 not even just this program, just some dedicated 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:24.380 season, like for Bible study. It's just so foundational. 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:26.660 But we'll do it our whole lives. And I'm excited 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:31.000 about that. Yeah, yeah, totally. So, so in that 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:33.019 vein, what are some of the sort of things that 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.819 you are taking? from this season and sort of 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:39.400 bringing into this next season of your life. 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:41.920 That's great. Yeah. Well, I want to tell the 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.140 kids about it, like about what I learned and, 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:46.900 and I have photos now to like support. Like we're 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:48.759 doing, like we're talking about Ephesus this 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:50.579 weekend. So I've got my Ephesus photos because 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:52.099 that was the place that we went in Turkey, which 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:54.240 is cool. So I know it'll support the ministry 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.440 because I have a deeper understanding of scripture 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:58.619 that I want to take to how I serve the kids here. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.380 But I... There's so much more than that. Like 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:04.279 I think that inductive study method is something 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:06.440 that I'm going to use to get into the word all 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.940 the time, which I think helps me be formed by 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:12.279 the word. So I want to take that with me. And 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.180 even just like this reminder of the gospel that 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:17.960 I got like in Jerusalem and my whole time being 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:21.079 there with him and this reminder of like how 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:24.319 righteousness is given to me by God as a gift 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.920 to Jesus. Like that was important learning that. 00:23:28.029 --> 00:23:30.230 we gathered in the study of Romans, like just 00:23:30.230 --> 00:23:32.849 these important nuggets of truth are going to 00:23:32.849 --> 00:23:35.009 just be important to me. Like they just form 00:23:35.009 --> 00:23:38.230 my character and for my disposition, for my ministry 00:23:38.230 --> 00:23:40.109 and also just how I engage with everybody in 00:23:40.109 --> 00:23:43.430 my life. Just knowing the truth that I'm saved 00:23:43.430 --> 00:23:46.269 and knowing the truth of who God is and how he's 00:23:46.269 --> 00:23:48.410 redeemed me and restored me to himself. But I'm 00:23:48.410 --> 00:23:50.410 going to go through this process of continuing 00:23:50.410 --> 00:23:52.549 to be sanctified and continuing to grow my whole 00:23:52.549 --> 00:23:56.420 life. And just like these bits of truth and And 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:59.480 the hope that I have in Jesus of like ultimately 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.579 like all of God's creation being redeemed and 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:04.440 restored and all of these nuggets of truth are 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:06.599 going to be so important for me going forward 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:08.900 in everything that I do. And I want to share 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.799 that with people. And right now that's the kids 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.619 at Trinity. And we're going to be in Revelation 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:16.619 for the next few weeks at Trinity, which is awesome 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:18.519 because we studied it there. And I think that. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.420 There's like this hope that the whole Bible and 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:23.279 especially Revelation proclaims and I want to 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.160 share with them. And I hope that these resources 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:27.559 I've gathered can help me do that. Yeah. Yeah, 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:31.599 that's awesome. Yeah, thanks. What about in like 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.559 your spiritual journey? Like how have you seen 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:38.480 God form you? Yeah. Yeah, I think I'd love to 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.819 talk more about like that righteousness piece. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:42.900 Like he's just talked to me about like what it 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:45.500 means to like live righteously, because there's 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:47.259 always like this tension, like this important 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:49.509 question that we have. that I think like Paul 00:24:49.509 --> 00:24:52.569 is addressing in Romans of like righteousness 00:24:52.569 --> 00:24:54.730 is given to us as a gift, but you're still called 00:24:54.730 --> 00:24:57.049 to like live a righteous life. Like you're still 00:24:57.049 --> 00:24:59.309 called to like godly behavior and you're called 00:24:59.309 --> 00:25:01.569 towards integrity. And it's always this tension 00:25:01.569 --> 00:25:04.369 of like, hey, like I'm redeemed by Jesus. Like 00:25:04.369 --> 00:25:06.349 I'm not redeemed through like anything that I've 00:25:06.349 --> 00:25:09.869 done. And righteousness is given to me because 00:25:09.869 --> 00:25:13.470 I'm made right with God by Jesus's work on the 00:25:13.470 --> 00:25:17.589 cross. So then what am I doing? But like, I know, 00:25:17.630 --> 00:25:19.349 like I know I'm supposed to be a good person 00:25:19.349 --> 00:25:22.069 or whatever, but, but it's given to me, like 00:25:22.069 --> 00:25:23.750 I'm right with God for something beyond me. And 00:25:23.750 --> 00:25:26.569 I think there was this important truth in Romans 00:25:26.569 --> 00:25:29.589 that I feel like is really basic, but God like 00:25:29.589 --> 00:25:32.670 brought to a new level with me, which is that 00:25:32.670 --> 00:25:37.529 when you realize what God has done for you in 00:25:37.529 --> 00:25:39.990 Jesus's work on the cross and in his resurrection, 00:25:40.349 --> 00:25:44.150 like, you just naturally want to respond by honoring 00:25:44.150 --> 00:25:46.230 God. It's like someone giving you the best gift 00:25:46.230 --> 00:25:48.230 in the world, like something bigger than you 00:25:48.230 --> 00:25:51.009 could ever want and everything that you've ever 00:25:51.009 --> 00:25:54.509 wanted. And even though you were unkind to that 00:25:54.509 --> 00:25:56.849 person and you rejected that person, and that 00:25:56.849 --> 00:25:58.349 person's like, I want to give you everything 00:25:58.349 --> 00:26:00.329 you've ever wanted and more. And you're like, 00:26:00.349 --> 00:26:03.210 oh, what do I do in response? I want to live 00:26:03.210 --> 00:26:05.930 well, and I want to live rightly with that person. 00:26:06.109 --> 00:26:09.099 And I feel like that's what God taught me. He 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:12.940 almost taught me to stop striving. It's not like 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:15.759 I just need to get it together and be this good 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:19.440 person. Because also, righteousness and that 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:22.460 process of behaving more and more in the way 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.640 God wants me to and being sanctified is also 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:28.680 His work in me. But I show up because I love 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:31.220 Him and that's the natural response to a big 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:34.160 love gift that He gave me. So I think that was 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.039 an important distinction. I'm not just striving 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:38.960 to be this good person. He's done that work on 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:40.900 the cross. He's continuing to do his good work 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:44.259 in me. But I show up and I live a godly life 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:47.299 as best I can because I want to, because he loves 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.900 me. And that's how I can respond in love to him. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:53.700 Yeah. Yeah. And that's one of those things. Like 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.660 you said, it sounds really simple and it's something 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:58.539 that we talk about in church a lot, but like 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:03.769 it is still always such a mind shift thing. happens 00:27:03.769 --> 00:27:06.809 and continues happening. Exactly. Yeah. And I 00:27:06.809 --> 00:27:08.369 think it's something that I thought I understood, 00:27:08.369 --> 00:27:11.230 but I didn't have language for. And I think I 00:27:11.230 --> 00:27:13.849 understand how to articulate it a little better, 00:27:14.049 --> 00:27:15.670 even though I'm rambling a little bit here. It's 00:27:15.670 --> 00:27:19.849 like, righteousness is given to me and sanctification 00:27:19.849 --> 00:27:22.630 is something that God is working in me, but I 00:27:22.630 --> 00:27:24.710 still have to show up and I still have to turn 00:27:24.710 --> 00:27:27.470 to Him. But that's all I have to do. And I don't 00:27:27.470 --> 00:27:30.930 need to strive in the way that I was unconsciously 00:27:30.930 --> 00:27:34.339 doing before. Sure. So I feel relieved and also 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:36.519 like I'll do a new sense of purpose and all of 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.940 that. So that was good. And I think I just feel 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:41.119 close with him also because I got to know him 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.960 so well through this trip. Yeah, totally. Totally. 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:49.920 Yeah. I mean, it's God is cool. So cool. So cool. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:56.220 Just like the way that God chooses to work in 00:27:56.220 --> 00:28:00.019 us and through us. Yeah. Right. That that. Yeah. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:03.680 Like you said, God doesn't... We don't do these 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:06.160 things because God needs us to do these things. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.940 And God could do the things in the world without 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:12.420 us. Yes, He could. Right? God doesn't need me 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:14.480 to be a good person in order for there to be 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:16.079 goodness in the world. There's goodness in the 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:19.059 world because God. Yeah, and He'll make it happen. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:23.240 Right? But God chooses to express some of that 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.980 goodness through my life. Exactly, yeah. And 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:29.230 we get to partner with Him in that way. And also 00:28:29.230 --> 00:28:31.130 that's the only life that there is, like partnering 00:28:31.130 --> 00:28:34.369 with God in the restoration of His whole creation 00:28:34.369 --> 00:28:37.470 and doing His will. There's just nothing really 00:28:37.470 --> 00:28:40.750 outside of that. It's a huge privilege to get 00:28:40.750 --> 00:28:43.970 to partner with Him in ministry. And I think 00:28:43.970 --> 00:28:46.930 it was even that moment in that church service 00:28:46.930 --> 00:28:51.009 in Egypt where they preached a service on repentance. 00:28:51.269 --> 00:28:54.579 That is asked of us, like Jesus. says, like, 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:56.819 repent for the kingdom of heaven is near, like 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:59.440 that's Jesus preaching the gospel. And so the 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:01.240 kingdom of heaven is near because of what Jesus 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:03.759 did. And we get a choice, like we get to turn 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:06.799 to him and we get to listen to him and we get 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:09.259 to submit to him and and obey him. And those 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:13.140 are strong words. But but like, but he's he's 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:15.740 love and and everything he does is good. And 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:17.759 it's for our good. And it's for the good of creation. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:20.180 It doesn't mean like what he asks of us is easy. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:23.150 It's usually difficult, but. But his way is the 00:29:23.150 --> 00:29:26.349 only way to living. So it's yeah, it's yeah, 00:29:26.410 --> 00:29:29.410 we get to do things his way and we get to be 00:29:29.410 --> 00:29:31.710 part of redeeming his creation and doing things 00:29:31.710 --> 00:29:34.150 right. Doing things his way is just a privilege. 00:29:34.349 --> 00:29:38.710 Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, it 00:29:38.710 --> 00:29:43.140 sounds like it was this really. life changing 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:45.880 kind of experience, I would say. It was. And 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:48.319 I'll say again, like it was amazing to get to 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:50.880 go there and have these experiences and be close 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:53.619 with God in the spaces where Jesus was. But that 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:56.099 just happens when you're in scripture. Like that's 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:58.160 always going to happen if we choose to steep 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:00.900 ourselves in scripture and be formed by it and 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:03.359 meditate on it day and night and let it speak 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:05.460 to us instead of trying to read into it what 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:07.660 we want to. Like it's going to change us and 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:09.420 it's going to change us for the better. And that's 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:12.589 how God speaks to his people. Yeah, yeah, God 00:30:12.589 --> 00:30:17.869 was with you in one kind of way during this three 00:30:17.869 --> 00:30:20.210 month journey. But God is still with you. God 00:30:20.210 --> 00:30:22.910 is still with us. And God is still speaking. 00:30:23.589 --> 00:30:27.150 Absolutely. Here, there, wherever we find ourselves. 00:30:27.529 --> 00:30:29.769 Yeah. And it's easy after you have these big 00:30:29.769 --> 00:30:32.650 trip experiences to kind of come down off of 00:30:32.650 --> 00:30:34.210 it. Like you're kind of like riding a hive and 00:30:34.210 --> 00:30:35.589 experience and you come back and you're like, 00:30:35.609 --> 00:30:38.430 ah, like things feel ordinary. And I'm not like 00:30:38.430 --> 00:30:39.730 having these crazy adventures and like going 00:30:39.730 --> 00:30:41.730 to the pyramids and like, you know, and I'm not 00:30:41.730 --> 00:30:45.509 like doing that every day. And I want to feel 00:30:45.509 --> 00:30:47.710 like I'm living on mission with God. But if you 00:30:47.849 --> 00:30:50.970 truly repent and humble yourself before Him every 00:30:50.970 --> 00:30:53.390 day and just like ask God, what are you doing 00:30:53.390 --> 00:30:56.130 and how can I join you? You're on that adventure 00:30:56.130 --> 00:30:59.670 every single day. And if you choose to seek Him 00:30:59.670 --> 00:31:02.230 in His Word, He will show up every day, like 00:31:02.230 --> 00:31:04.029 wherever you are doesn't matter. And that was 00:31:04.029 --> 00:31:06.309 an important message that I received too about 00:31:06.309 --> 00:31:08.809 repentance is like, that's where the life is. 00:31:08.950 --> 00:31:11.849 It's not like in... Egypt and Israel, and it's 00:31:11.849 --> 00:31:14.930 not in YWAM. Right. It's in the turning towards 00:31:14.930 --> 00:31:17.630 God. Exactly. Yeah, it's he's just everything. 00:31:17.849 --> 00:31:19.829 He's just what we're looking for him. So I'm 00:31:19.829 --> 00:31:21.349 more convinced of that than ever, I think, after 00:31:21.349 --> 00:31:23.490 this trip. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. Thank 00:31:23.490 --> 00:31:25.710 you so much, Megan. Yeah. Thank you for asking. 00:31:26.150 --> 00:31:28.420 Yeah, no, it's. Like I said, it's been really 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:31.079 good to sort of hear about this experience and 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:35.220 I'm excited for this next season for you as you 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:37.700 get to share some of these learnings, especially 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:40.279 with the kids here at Trinity, but then also 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:43.960 like. And you're leading this core sort of segment 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:47.460 of our church, right? I think he filters up in 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:50.279 some way on just what happens in kids' church. 00:31:50.619 --> 00:31:52.559 Totally. Yeah. Oh my goodness. I love the kids. 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:55.059 They're everything. I'm so excited to share it 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:59.099 with them. And they're smart. They ask good questions. 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:01.160 So I'm glad I did this school so I can keep up 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:03.180 with them and give them some more answers. Totally. 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.900 Yeah. No, that's awesome. Well, thank you so 00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:08.660 much. And thank you for tuning in to this week's 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:12.400 episode of Trinity Talks. Wherever in the world 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:15.640 you find yourself, I hope that you can take some 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:18.619 time to turn towards God and have God meet you 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:22.579 there in the very real circumstances of our lives 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:25.240 and in this gift of scripture that God has given 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:27.400 to us. And we'll see you next week.