
Class of 2018
Outreach Among Marginalized Children and Youth in Germany Track: Youth Development
Region: Europe
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Diamond's Blog - My Updates from Germany

Oh You of Little Faith
Posted on February 11, 2019
Faith. A 5-letter word that could easily make you or break you. The thing about faith though is we get to choose how it affects us and other aspects throughout our lives. But what is faith? The author of Hebrews defines it as this: “...the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen (11:7).” Faith is not fleeting but is substantial enough to generate confidence. In simpler terms: faith leads to confidence. When we look throughout the Bible, nearly everyone who accomplished anything succeeded because of the faith that they had in God. Of course, their faith wasn’t always... Read more
All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Posted on January 22, 2019
“Wait.” A word that most of America can’t bear to hear. We are so used to getting the things we want with the snap of our fingers -- whether it’s the newest iPhone or something we bought on Amazon Prime -- that we are just annoyed with the idea that we possibly have to wait. Don’t believe me? Let’s brainstorm. Have you ever found yourself getting annoyed when a 10-second AD rudely interrupts your YouTube or Facebook video or when you’re playing your favorite game on your phone? Do you get irritated when your favorite show on Netflix won’t release another season for the next 3 months? Have you... Read more
A Written Letter
Posted on December 1, 2018
Freshman Year Dear Diamond, Welcome to college! I know you wish that you were at a 4-year University AWAY from Carbondale, but trust me, it’s better if you attend community college first for free before you decide to go into student debt (AH!). You can survive a couple more years in Carbondale. Besides, it’s almost like a whole different world on campus. You won’t even remember that you’re only 15 minutes from home (well of course until you go outside to get in your car, or look out the window). Speaking of your car: Yes, I know you’re having troubles with your old car that your stepdad has... Read more
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag (Happy Birthday!)
Posted on November 22, 2018
WHOA! Thank God for another year! As my 23rd birthday comes to a close and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, a thought comes to mind: By this time next year, I’ll be 9 months into a new life in Berlin, Germany -- celebrating my 24th birthday away from the people I love and have known for years. Does that scare me? Surprisingly, no. It actually excites me! It excites me to know that I have the honor of celebrating a birthday in the midst of doing a work that God has called me to. Now what about Thanksgiving? Well, Germans don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving - at least in the American... Read more
Living Worthy of the Call
Posted on October 25, 2018
“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received.” -Ephesians 4:1 Before we begin, I would like to define the word prisoner and clarify what it means to be a “prisoner in the Lord.” Prisoner: a person captured. After Jesus died on the cross, he renewed the covenant between man and God that we broke: he redeemed us to himself. He captured our hearts and our souls so that we might remain in him and have eternal life. He wants to keep us with him: he wants to protect us. So when we are a prisoner of Jesus, we are captured and protected by him... Read more