Abby Deinert
As I prepared for my time in Denver I was filled with a variety of emotions. I was both excited and nervous for the adventure I was about to embark on as I considered the many new things I would encounter: public transportation, life in a larger city, new people, new cultures, and new ideas. However, it was in the midst of my uncertainty that I experienced a peace that transcended all understanding as God reminded me once again of what it means to trust Him when he says, “Come, follow me.” I was reminded once again of the overwhelming faithfulness God has for His children.
Hannah Watters
During my first week in Denver I felt lost, insignificant, small, and poor. Being directionally-challenged, navigating the bus system was terrifying. I soon became one of "them" - relying on the number 9 to get to work, running after the 15L, sitting in the hot sun, surrounded by pigeons and clouds of cigarette smoke, waiting for the next bus to come. The first weekend in Denver, I made my own dinner from the meager non-perishable groceries I had picked up at King Sooper's. Never having made a supper without the help of a friend or supplies from my mother's fridge, I sat down to a lukewarm can of Minestrone soup, Ritz crackers, and water. Oh how I longed for that Northwestern College cafeteria food.
Mych'layla Mathis
Becoming a Transformed Woman
Imagine that you have lost faith in love, life, and true laughter and you feel alone and empty. Satan has attacked you and by collaborating with him, you have brought harm to yourself. Imagine...
This was my life from February 7, 2009 until May 31, 2009. I had come off of a semester of lost love, friendships, and hope. My physical body was attacked with a severe migraine and I had contracted strep throat. I had 18 credit hours and I was beginning to give up. I was spiraling downward into a deep depression that only I truly knew about. I would attempt to appear happy to some, angry and sad to others. I was so hurt that a bullet in my heart would have been a splinter in my finger. Then I thought about my future summer in Denver, CO.
Austin Winter
I’m Austin Winter and while I was at Wheaton College I did an internship one summer at Joshua Station. When I chose to do the internship I would not say all my intentions were that noble, but I did have a sincere desire to learn from and about the poor and to try and serve them and bless them in whatever way I could.
My time with Mile High Ministries was not some mountain-top experience but it was very good. There were times where I could see things that I had never seen before as my perspective changed. There are things more easily said than done, and for the people who live with the poor all of the time (Resident volunteers) I see how they have really sacrificed things in order to reach out to the disadvantaged (instead of the comfort of the suburbs).
Carolyn Courtade
Last summer I had the opportunity to visit and engage in life as a student participating in the Denver Urban Semester Program. I spent three weeks not only learning about God's heart for the people in the city, but also His heart for me as a growing student pursuing His call.
Courtney Holm
Dear Perspective Denver Urban Semester Students,
I had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2008 in Denver, CO doing an internship with Mile High Ministries. I worked with Joshua Station, a transitional home for homeless families and I lived at Issachar, a community apartment building for college students to help them become urban leaders in their communities.
This summer was not the summer I was expecting. I was expecting to be working at home at a temporary, boring job. A month before the summer actually, began I received an email asking students if they would want to do an internship for the summer. I applied not really sure what I was getting myself into, but willing to try something new. I was chosen as one of eight students doing an internship through the Vocare program.
I was selected to go to Denver to work with Mile High Ministries. The college was not sure about what I would be doing or even the conditions I would be living in for two months. I decided to go through with it and I am glad that I took this uncertain chance.
Sarah Francois
She is alternating between hiding behind religion and rejecting it altogether. She feels God doesn't see the real her and doesn't hurt like she does.
I came from an environment where all Christians did was talk and pray. They weren't relevant or practical. They didn't notice drug use or gang banging. The saying is you leave your problems at the door. I came to Joshua Station to go through the motions and instead what I ended up doing was experiencing real and raw transformation. I didn't come to save anyone or be a do-gooder. I came because I had nothing else to do.