I Need Your Support

March 2013

A letter Family and Friends –

Today I sit in my home in Northern Ireland, and I feel a chill in the air but I see the sun peeking through the clouds. It makes me aware of the many blessings in that have shone down on my life in the past year and a half and I am excited to see what still has yet to be given to the light. And this is what I am writing to share with you. As many would know, in September of 2011,  I packed up my life in Tempe, Arizona and moved to Northern Ireland to start a course at the University of Ulster and to become involved with the Causeway Coast Vineyard Church in Coleraine. It was a rocky start, but very quickly, I felt that this place has become a place of welcome and it’s home away from home.

I spent much of my time here earning a Masters Degree in Design Communication. The course allowed me to continue my career pursuit of graphic design while adding business and research skills. I developed a web-based community growth initiative that attempts to change a community by promoting happiness, well-being and hope. The work was intensive and I found myself challenged in many ways but it left eagerness in me to do more. Through the research and work, I’ve discovered that this community of Coleraine is searching for answers and looking for something higher to aspire to.

When I wasn’t working towards the masters’ degree, I was in an informal role at Causeway Coast Vineyard Church, volunteering my time with graphic design. It is a church of nearly one thousand people with a deep reach into the community. They were greatly in need of visual communications that matched the vision they have for the church and the impact it already has and will continue to strive for. Being involved at this level, I have seen the heart and the passion of the leadership of the CCV, to bring the transforming love of Christ into the lives of men, women and children who live in Coleraine, the surrounding area and more areas of Northern Ireland. I get so excited by the many ministries that have begun before I arrived, while I’ve been here, and what is still being developed. There has been incredible favor on this place, but there are still many people who’ve not yet experienced the love God has for them. Being a designer, I understand that visual communication is, on occasion, the first contact the community has with any organization, and I feel blessed to have helped the CCV reach the community members in this way.

Among many programs at Causeway Coast Vineyard, one is the Encounter School of Mission. I had several friends who took this course last year and I desired to be involved with it as well. Encounter is a nine-month teaching course that focuses on evangelism and leadership. Encounter students are encouraged to pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to go intentionally into their daily lives ministering and taking risk for the Kingdom of God. As if I wasn’t busy enough, with only two weeks left of my masters’ course and four months left on my visa, I decided to begin Encounter. Since starting it in August, I feel like I have really begun to see why God led me to Northern Ireland in the first place.

I have absolutely loved seeing God’s Kingdom break through to the people of Coleraine. As a group of students in Encounter, we gather on a Tuesday for teaching from the pastors and leaders of CCV as well as dedicated prayer and intercessional ministry for one another. Then Thursdays and Saturdays, are our practical days when we head out into the streets of town, taking what we’ve learned and bring it into the community. It is mission focused in a local environment. We seek to serve by listening to, healing, praying for and speaking of God’s truth into the lives of those in the community. Amazing stories of God’s grace have come from this course. I have realized from Encounter that every person has an identity in Christ that needs to be released. I’ve experienced it in my own life and helped guide others to it.

For the first time since moving to Northern Ireland, I was able to return to Arizona for one month this past Christmas. It was a great time to visit family and friends. It was well-needed time to see everyone, but it was also needed to really seek wisdom and guidance on what to do next. My student visa expired and I was applying for a new visa. I felt so eager to take what I’ve learned in Northern Ireland and bring it into my community there in Arizona. I want to see God’s Kingdom break through in the States as it is my first home. However, the time home helped me see with more certainty, that Northern Ireland is still the place God has me for now. So in January, I returned in a new capacity and with new needs.

There are a few things I am involved with in Coleraine. Firstly, Causeway Coast Vineyard has invited me into a formal internship for graphics and multimedia. It is a role that I am eager to be in. I am continuing work on visual communications within the church body as well as working on outward focused campaigns to reach the community. I am working on building a team of other creatives and expanding the impact that multimedia and arts plays in the CCV community. I’m very excited with the possibilities this brings to serve while using the skills that I’ve so diligently developed while in my masters’ course, while showing others that their artistic abilities are gifting from God for use in Kingdom expansion.

Secondly, I’ve continued on with Encounter. When I returned to the states, Encounter was only four months into the nine month course and I very much desired to finish the course. My heart has grown for missional work and I’m not sure beyond Northern Ireland where that will take me, but Encounter will continue to provide tools and learning to keep on this path.

Lastly, I am still hoping to continue work on the web-based initiative I built in my time at The University of Ulster. I have had a few meetings with the local council and they seem eager to learn more of the project.

I aspire to see God change the hearts and minds of those in the UK to follow Him. I don’t have a definitive time line for how long I’ll be in Coleraine or the UK. As long as I continue to sense God’s hand stirring the work here, I will continue on. I am committed to seeking His heart for my community in Northern Ireland and in Arizona as my home base. As I continue this incredible journey in Northern Ireland, the areas I would ask for your support are first and foremost, prayer:

• Pray that more guidance would be imparted on me and that all fear would go.
• Pray that creativity would flow in new ways and that cultural boundaries would be non-existent.
• Most importantly, pray that God's love can pour through me and those I partner with Causeway Coast Vineyard, Encounter, and in the community.

Also, would you also prayerfully consider supporting me financially with a one-time donation or monthly support of some degree? In each of these roles I’ve taken on, I must be self-funded and my current visa does not allow me to work while in the UK. Any amount you could offer will help, as it will go to my daily living expenses and housing. I have included a self addressed stamped envelope for your ease in supporting me. Whether you can contribute financially or not, I know that your thoughts and prayers can be counted on.

The generous love and support I have already received has been a blessing beyond measure and I know that I wouldn't be in this position without it. I truly believe God is leading me on this journey and has provided in so many ways. I know his provision will continue.

Many blessings to you and yours!
Katie

A Dusting Off

I do not know if you are like me but when life gets cluttered I notice it everywhere—from the clothes on my floor, the mound of books tumbling off the shelf, the icons on my computer desktop, and the trash on the street—and I am pushed me into drastic measures. It begins the massive effort for “Katie’s World Clean-Up Day/Week/Month.” Yes, it does last months sometimes. I clean up and reorganize everything. I attempt to figure out better methods to handle my chaos. I toss out what is not important.  And then, I put away the things that are important, but not necessary at the moment. Unfortunately, there are instances that I have gone too extreme in “Katie’s World Clean-Up.” As I shift things around while cleaning up, some stuff is put away that should not have been put away in the first place. Have you ever put something on a shelf that was useful, important, or treasured, and then you forget where it went?  Well, it is time to dust off a lot of things I have put on a shelf for a while. This blog, Beautiful Chaos, is one of them. I shifted it out of my focus and I lost an important outlet.

Life got cluttered, my brain got cluttered, and I started cutting things away.  I took away the blog because I thought I could not handle the time it takes to write. Unknowingly, I also took away something that effectively uncluttered my brain. As I been away from Beautiful Chaos, more thoughts have piled up in my brain that I could not find an outlet for. Writing a blog provides me a way to do many things. With it I can talk about my travels, tell the stories of an American living in Northern Ireland. I am able to process what God is speaking to me and communicate it with others. With the blog I can share what inspires and challenges me. It allows me communicate with people from home when I can’t stay on top of replying to emails, Facebook or Skype. The blog also helps me develop skills as a writer. By taking it away from myself, I actually began to notice my head starting to explode with ideas that I could not quite get out other ways.

I have learned that I love words. I love stories. I love describing the wonder that is in my mind and hearing the wonder that is in other’s minds. I love learning the skills that God is calling out in me, especially when I thought they were the absolute last things He had planned for me. I never thought I would call myself a writer. I use the term very loosely for now. Much improvement could be made on what I do, but it is process I am embarking on once again.

A few months back, I was at a retreat with my Encounter School of Mission Team. We were at the end of a long night, but we were all huddled in groups praying for one another, and I clearly heard God speaking to me that the arts were mine to take. I have always loved the arts, focusing mostly on design and art, but music, writing and theater have always intrigued me. That not only is design and art an area that God wants to expand in my life, but writing and music are as well. He was speaking to me that the world I see—one that sometimes seems so fantasy like, unusual, beautiful, difficult, far-fetched, confusing, and inspired—is something that is the basis of the arts for me and I needed to start writing again. After I heard this from God, a friend who was praying for me said the same thing, she spoke “Katie, it’s time to take the pen and paper out again.” It was a confirmation to me.

Confirmation yes, but finding the courage to step into again was another thing. It has taken a few months to act on instructions and desire. I know I shoved this blog on the shelf when it was never meant to be.  I was wary of making mistakes, filling my time too much, and focusing on the wrong things. Yet, I keep coming back writing, thinking about it, feeling the urge to write, and hearing the prompting to do so. So here I am, finding myself finally searching my shelves for one of those lost items that are treasured to me. It’s coming down and being dusted off. There needs to be some oil added to make it work again, but it’s being restored. The knicks and scratches don’t take away from anything but add to the charm. I know I have a unique perspective on life, we all do. I see chaos, yet I also see beauty. It’s time for sharing in the clean up of my mind.

Trying to not feel guilty here...

There's been a big period of silence here. I want to be blogging, I truly do. It makes me feel guilty and disappointed in myself. Both are feelings I don't want. There feelings I have had a lot lately and I am trying to fight.

I am in the last 5 weeks of my master's course. It involves programming a website, amongst other things. So I am sitting at a computer a good 12hours a day. I just don't want to be doing anything else here that isn't necessary.

It's a short update for you but here it is.

It's been a crazy, amazing, blessed, difficult, roller coaster, of a summer. School never really stopped. I've been to Switzerland to see some friends. I had 14 people from my family at Vineyard Church Gilbert come see me. I have moved houses yet again.  Friends that I've made since being here have left to go home. Homesickness kicked in again.

I love it here, but I miss loads of things. Give me a few weeks to get my head above water and an I'll be good again. That's the hope anyway. I hope none of you, my readers have felt disappointed in my lack of posts, but that's my reality right now.

What have I been up to?

It's been a good amount of time since I've written a post about what is happening over here in Northern Ireland with me. Well there is a reason for that. I have been so busy with my university work and have had such a drive to get things done that it's left me at point where I felt I needed to make some time management choices. I have not wanted to leave the blog without posts, but it takes me so much time to write, that I just did not get a post up. But also, as I said in another small blog, I needed to share some things with my family before I posted it here and catching each other on Skype seems sometimes difficult for us to do.

So back to my university work ... it's what's kept me very busy. Right now, I am finishing the second semester out of three for my master's degree. This course has had it's ups and downs but I've found that it is pushing me further than I ever thought it would have.

Before coming to Northern Ireland I had very little information in regards to the program I would be undertaking. Looking back it's probably good that I hadn't know much about it, had I any clue what that course would really be, there is high probability that I wouldn't have applied. It's called the Master's of Design Communication. I had many questions from people when I began what the communication part meant. I now know—it means business. This is a design and business course. In this semester, I am finishing a few classes about being an entrepreneur. I have and am searching for funding options. I am writing a market analysis. I have written sales pitches. I have used the terms 'customer' and 'user' far more than I thought I ever would. There is the design part of it all and that has been fun and challenging, but it's the easier part of it all. Business is not my thing. These types of things do not align to how my brain easily functions. But this challenge—it's an opportunity. It is a door being opened to me. It is an invitation from our creator to be take a spark, an idea, a hope He's placed in me to and make it more than just course work. SOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE!

I am part of a church here in Northern Ireland called Causeway Coast Vineyard, and it's a wonderful community that really embraces this idea that we are God's Trusted Rulers. We are people chosen to carry the message of God into all areas of life- our jobs, our homes, our schooling— any place we go. In the evenings, once a month they've began a gathering called Sacred Space for 20s/30s and it has the on-going theme of How Can I Change The World? Back in February when then first one occurred, I sat listening to the speaker talk about politics and affecting the outcome of our cities with the decisions we make at the polls and through initiatives we follow or ignore. I was really intrigued and my brain was working overtime. How can I change my world? How? My course work was on the forefront of my mind. I began praying about it during that service, and then I overwhelmingly sensed God as he began speaking to me. What He spoke was that the work I was completing, yeah, it wasn't going to be just course work, but a project His hand is on. It's something He has put in me. He showed me, it is among the reasons I'm in Northern Ireland in this program I didn't know much about and in this community of Coleraine. And, it's only beginning. I left Sacred Space that night, excited and scared. I knew I needed to begin talking and sharing about the work I was doing.

The project I am working on is called The Community Hope Project, and it is an interactive website that holds the premise that a city can be changed and transformed through Hope. It works on the idea that when people participate in simple actions of storytelling, service, and appreciation, the face of city will begin to reflect a hopefulness that can then change economies, schools, neighborhoods, friendships and more. The support of the project is that when we place value on the hope we carry as a community, the hope will begin to reflect back to us, and the whole dynamic of a community can change. The project begins as a website that bridges the people of the community—the organizations and the individuals. It is a gathering place where stories of hope and inspiration can be shared in written or photographic form. It hosts a database of community organizations throughout Coleraine, listing their contact information and descriptions. The site will offer a listing of volunteer opportunities. These opportunities will satisfy the needs of the organizations but also allow the volunteers to be involved where they have more interest and feel they can make a stronger contribution. Finally, the site includes a place were you can simply say thank you to a community organization or another person, just because they’ve done something good for you.

I have gotten many questions on why I am doing this project. Why complete an entire masters course on Hope? At first I it was hard to answer that. It was just something I was so drawn to. I could not think of another topic that was going to keep my interest for an entire year, but the words 'Community' and 'Hope' rang in my thoughts all the time. These words were the only thing I could begin to think about. At the time the course was beginning, Hope was what I was clinging to myself, and I needed help to find it.

When I moved into Coleraine, as I often do in a new place, I went out and explored. I saw that Coleraine is an incredible community, and one that has a lot to give. But in my experience coming to Coleraine, there were and are people who don't see that value.

I feel that in that night at Sacred Space, God was telling me that the value of this town, the outlying areas, and all of Northern Ireland need to be shown and told what that value can be, but it needs to be from the voices of all who are here.

My project, until that night in February, was a case study– something I did not think would go further than September of this year. But as a believer, as one who sees and know the Hope of God— how could I talk about Hope, how could I study it, and research its affects, and purpose ways to spread hope in a community, but then drop it? I can't.

With my teachers at the uni, I began talking about it the project as something I was going to make a real go at instead of a case study. I was basically told that they'd been waiting for me to say that. It had potential that could not just be left at the end of the program. I shared the project with a few of the Pastors at the church, and as encouragers of trusted rulers, they have given so much support. They have prayed for me and they have motivated me. They have also introduced me to key figures of who could help me make this go further. I have shared this with my family. They needed to hear about these thoughts and plans before I announced it to the world, but they too are supportive.

I am excited to say that I'm trying to make The Community Hope Project a live program. I'm not sure how it's going to happen– be it an initiative through the Coleraine Borough Council or a non-profit organization. However, to make it a live thing, it changes my plans for after school is complete. I have felt that school was the beginning of my time here and that there would be more, and maybe this is it. My actions are moving towards staying in Northern Ireland to see what God is going to do with this project. It will take skill, it will take money, and it will take many other people.

It’s been a struggle to wrap my head around it all. My human nature says I am not qualified, but My Saviour says I am. The course has taught me skills I would not have had before and it's equipping me. If I had known about the business aspect of this course I wouldn't have been in this program. Nevertheless, the path God has sets us on is only fully seen when we look back isn't it? He brought me thus far.

Since this shift in February, I have had a strong purpose and drive in this project, and I'm seeing so much favor on it. It makes me want to go higher, push further, and walk blindly, because it's under control.

So what's next:
I finish the semester this week, but I'll continue with the programming and the research of the site. I will continue to look for funding. I will begin a process for my next visa. I look for other people to get involved, which seems to happen. I will complete semester three.

In the last few weeks, I have searched for funding, and been pointed in a couple of strong directions. And I'm trying to follow through with them. One I sent an inquiry to, they wanted to hear more, and wanted to know how much money I would need. Their award limit was £5,000 and I have asked for that. It will not be enough for it all, but it's a start. That was a nerve-racking moment pressing send on that email as £5,000 is a lot. A LOT.

Another direction is the Coleraine Borough Council- the governing body of the town. This coming Tuesday, I've been invited to a meeting with them, to present my project. This is a huge step.

I need your prayers for this project. On Tuesday, I need prayers for wisdom, eloquence of words, and ease of nerves.

This has been a really long post, so thank you for your attention if you've made it this far. I so appreciate the thoughts and kind words I've received as there's been a quiet period from me. Things are slowing down for a short bit before another crazy period. I hope in that time of the next few weeks to post more about the travels I've done, and will be doing and just about some other things that are happening with me. Please as always, send me updates on you. I love to hear how things are in your lives, and how I can be praying for you. Selah.

If you want to see the background work on my project, smaller glimpses of the thoughts and processes I’ve been going through, have a look at the uni blog I’ve been keeping.
http://kmilburn-mdes.blogspot.com

Sacred Space

I keep getting questions from home on what is happening with me here in Northern Ireland. I want to write a proper blog, but the reality is that I am in the last two weeks of the semester for my Master's course. I'll get a small break before summer session starts and I can't wait.
It's been a very challenging and rewarding semester.  It course work I am doing became something so much more than I every expected. I realized it as I sat in Sacred Space with others in my church.

The message is all about how we can change our world. Until I can write more about how I am working fervently to change my world, I highly suggest listening to these videos and clips and be challenge as well.


This is the description of Sacred Space.
Sacred Space provides a variety of different environments for those in their 20’s and 30’s to become involved in Causeway Coast Vineyard. Our passion and desire is to gather, equip and empower young adults to be everyday revolutionaries in changing the world around through living radically for Jesus.

Our core values are:

1. A passionate love for Jesus – it all begins and ends with Him
2. Living and cultivating a supernatural lifestyle which demonstrates the kingdom of God in power
3. Pursuing a radical life of generous justice and mercy
4. Creativity that changes the culture around us

April's Sacred Space:

March's Sacred Space:

February's Sacred Space: 

http://soundcloud.com/dave-lynas/20120219-193414

This makes it hard to do work.

The Car's Not Stopping For Me To Get a Better View.

When you're the passenger of a car, the perspective is different than when your the driver. Primarily being the driver in the last 10ish years and not so much the passenger, I've come to find this time in Northern Ireland to be an interesting experience. I'm the passenger but I'm still sitting on the side of the car where I would have driven in the States, but I've no control. I'm on the wrong side of the road, yet traffic moves freely and I'm the only one trying to find comfort every time I get in. Though I know how to drive I don't get to drive. The perspective isn't bad, it's just different. Sometimes I hold my breath or grab on to something because the driver's actions aren't what I would have done. When some one else is the driver you have to trust their abilities, for better or for worse. There are times I think I'd much rather be the passenger in the back seat than in the front. Yet, the back seat comes with it's own issues.

Yet, I've done a lot of sitting in the back seat of a car in the last week as I travelled all over Ireland. A couple of friends just came to visit me from the States and while they were here, we took advantage of the time and a car, and we toured in a ring around the Emerald Isle. I was in the back seat for this trip. These 5 days, while we were traveling, I realized the perspective from the back isn't always great either.

"Look!" yells my friend driving as he sees one thing. With a pointed finger, my other friend who's in the front seat passenger says, "Do you see that over here?" Meanwhile I'm in the back, scrambling to turn my head fast enough, or bend low enough, to see whatever "it" is. Even If I was lucky enough to be on the right side of the car, I found there just no great perspective for anything except the head of the person in front of me.

My multiple views that weren't quite as amazing from the back.

This situation could be anyone, but it describes my friends and I, several times over our holiday travels. As the back seat passenger, I knew I was on this awesome road trip. I had small glimpses of cool things but never the full image.

This is where I've been feeling that life is lingering lately— in this state of trusting, and changing perspectives, and tiny glimpses, all the while knowing that I'm on an incredible adventure.

It's actually been incredibly difficult to sit and write a blog recently for many reasons. I want to but there's been guilt, there's been lack of time, there's been more pressing matters, there's been holidays, there has been fear. Honestly, there's been more than I can write about. It seems like every week, I became excited and sat down to write a blog about the awesome things are happening, but then I'd be struck with a change of thought. It's like I caught the glimpse, and wanted to see and explore more of it, but it went by.  Suddenly the next thing is coming up, and I barely saw the last thing, so I wonder if it was really there at all.

I wrote previously that I was having some reoccurring dreams of crashes and speeding cars. In some of these dreams of speeding cars, I've found myself in the driver's seat with no control, or in the passenger seat/back seat while the car goes without a driver. This is life now currently. It is truly an incredible adventure I'm on. It's one I keep trying to control and I can't. My perspectives are changing constantly.

It's a good time, but it's an unknown time. It is transition. It is forward motion.

On Sunday, during worship, we sang the song "Come Away With Me." It's a Jesus Culture recording. The lyrics go:
Come Away with me,
Come away with me  
It's never too late 
It's not too late 
for you I have a plan for you  
It's gonna be wild 
it's gonna be great 
it's gonna be full of me

This is my reassurance and my constant—God has brought me on this wild adventure. I know he's the driver with the plan.