a small part of my thoughts lately.

I’m not really sure how to sum up the last month of DIVE school and India into one blog entry.

I have this problem with being so wrapped up in significant moments/trips that I fail to take good pictures and journal often. It’s as if I don’t want to press pause on what’s happening in front of me, I’d rather just experience it. Of course this comes back and “bites me in the butt” most of the time, so let me just say this: If you’re interested in knowing more, let’s make arrangements to get coffee or something. I’ve been jot-listing my thoughts in this head of mine, and I may be able to spit it out to you in some sort of rationalized order better in person.

All that being said,


I’ll share a small part of what I came away with:

There are times when obeying God requires much more sacrifice than we Christians are OK with. (Don’t worry. I won’t go off on a rant about American Christianity. For now let’s just say Christians.)

This sacrifice may be in the form of giving up money.

Fashion.

Food.

Close vicinity to family and friends.

Dignity.

Comforts.

It may ask that you learn a new language.

Be content with not receiving your desires.

Give up something of worth for the sake of gaining another’s soul to the kingdom of God.
You may not be completely leaving your home and selling all you have to move to Angola, but I believe dedication in ministry does require sacrifice of some kind. And if you’re not feeling that, you’re probably doing it wrong.




Effective ministry isn’t always our idea of beautiful. Or maybe I should use the word prosperous. It isn’t enjoyable at times. Sure, there is joy in fulfilling and obeying what God requires of you, but joy is not always equivalent with prosperity. You may not have success in numbers. Even conversions/salvations may be minimal.

Yeah, I know. I’m not the first to say it. It’s just been in my face lately.

And it may be a very trying process, requiring years of consistent acts of love to the unlovable.

Sometimes I look up simple words that I’ve grown accustomed to just knowing, to see if the dictionary definition brings new life to it for me. I looked up loveable.

Loveable: inspiring or deserving of love or affection.

Now, reverse that.

We’re supposed to love those that are uninspiring/undeserving of our love.

I’ve met people in the last two months that have inspired me. They’re real. They’re ministering in completely different atmospheres, but they’re equally effective in loving people in their vastly different environments, and bringing glory to God in all of it.

They’re lives are messy at times. But, it seems that every trial they face brings them closer to an understanding of why God has them in their present place. They’re fueled in their pursuits through times of hardship.

In all of this, they don’t believe they deserve to be honored and praised. Even honored and praised by God, as we sometimes tend to think. It’s just what the Lord asked of them. Why wouldn’t they keep doing what they’re doing?

Luke 17:7-10 7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

I needed to see this.

I needed to meet them.

It’s beautiful really. Dying to self.

And, it’s taken on a completely different meaning in my life.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say it scared me some. I just know it’s expected of me.

And whether I get my huge “thank you” or not, I’ll do it.

Do it out of my love for Him.

here we go.

Crystal and I are sitting in the Newark airport trying to kill our 8-hour layover with a deck of cards, magazines, and quite a few hours of people watching (our favorite). Airports really are the best places for that.

We've even spied our favorite flyer of the day: a man displaying a red thong out of his surprisingly "dad-like" attire. Crystal caught this treasured moment, and I'm not sure I'll be able to compete with her on this one. This guy wins, hands down.

Ok, yes we're feeling a bit delirious at the moment from the traveling and this unexpected encounter, but we are ecstatic about this trip. We just spent a few moments reflecting in the speed at which God supplied the funds for this endeavor, and it's quite surreal and humbling to actually be in this place about to board this flight.

There's an expectancy about us. It's going to wreck us. We know that. But, our minds can't comprehend what's to come. We're ok with that though, and we can feel your prayers already.

While we are in Nainital, India, we will be living in a girl's orphanage and teaching, playing, ministering and falling in love with the kids there.

Please pray for our safety. Yes, traveling such long distances can cause some apprehension, but pray for our encounters with people. May they be safe, meaningful and favorable.

Pray for receptive minds. We want to share the Lord with these people in a way that makes them feel loved, cherished and purposeful.

Pray for our hearts. That we may grow daily in compassion for the lost and hurting. That we may be changed and effected.

Most importantly, pray for the people of India.

We can't wait to share stories of his faithfulness and beauty. We love you.

-Allyson and Crystal

P.S.- I spared you all a photo of red thong man. Yeah, you're welcome. ;)

plates.

“Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” -Acts 10:34-35

There’s no specific type of person that God is longing to reveal Himself too. He’s open to all.

Just one of those days I’m so thankful God doesn’t think like me. I’d be serving out plates of grace to a few, and the majority would be left chewing on an exceptionally large portion of leftover resentment.

That may have been too honest.

get it together.

Many men go fishing all their lives not knowing it is not fish they are after.
–Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes I have to remind myself that there’s not another Al Hurndon.

There never will be.

No one will think like I do.

No one will make mistakes like I do.

No one has or will have the same responsibilities that I do and will.

Not everyone will come in contact with the same people that I do.

And, if you think this is a cocky post, you’re wrong. It’s a terrifying post.

Knowing that I, Allyson Hurndon, have one chance to get this whole “life” thing right.

yes, question your motives.

Kara Crosby and I met over coffee the other day. It had been months since we’d talked, so we found ourselves discussing everything that came to our minds. We hit the important stuff first: jobs, love lives, families, etc. And to an outsider, it must have been entertaining to listen in, as we packed months of life into about thirty minutes of dialogue.

But like most conversations I have with this woman, we found ourselves spilling out God’s pushes, shoves and uncomfortable movement in our lives.
I don’t remember the context, where it came from, or how we ended up stuck on it for so long, but suddenly we both began to confess our distaste for what we both called modern day Pharisees. My distaste followed with a serious heart-check and a realization that at times my motives have been like these men.

These verses from Matthew 23 sum up quite a bit:

“1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b] 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c]

8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.[d] 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I’d be foolish to think that these men only lived two thousand years ago, and that I can’t relate to them at all. I truly wish I could say that. But there are times where I’ve lived for that earthly exaltation alone.

Holiness does not have to be proven. No need to parade it around for your Christian friends to get a glimpse of. Your “supreme” knowledge of the ways of God isn’t helping anyone. It’s distasteful. It’s disgusting. Few can trust or relate to you anyways. Don’t share simply to gain recognition.

But gosh, if we are doing something semi-beneficial to humanity, the least we can do is “instagram” that moment real quick, add a nice filter, post it on twitter, feel good about ourselves, and call it a day.

Share things with the intention of building the church.

Of expanding the kingdom.

And even at the end of all this, I sincerely question my own motives for even writing it.

dave.

Dear Dave Lapham,

I didn't feel like I gave you a proper goodbye, so...

My favorite memories are of us throwing Frisbees til’ three in the morning while playing Tempur Trap over and over.

Going to downtown Orlando and photographing everything and everyone we could.

Acting like we’re talented enough to host our own reality show.


You are:

One of a kind.
Reliable.
Driven.
Sarcastic.
Dashingly handsome.
Awkward.
One of my favorite people in the world.


I don’t deserve such a good friend.
Love you, brother.
Miss you.
See you in Nashville soon. (I’ll make sure of it.)

-AL

(P.S. This is my brother, people. Don’t take it out of context and make it weird.)

India.

OK, so I introduced it briefly in my last post, but here is the big news I’ve been holding out on fully saying.

I AM GOING TO INDIA! (Yes, I am shouting here…those were intentional capital letters.)

Not forever folks, but for two weeks. This July I’ll be working and living in an orphanage with a co-worker/friend of mine, Crystal Kemper.

I had never planned on going to India. I had never desired to go to India. In fact, this became a place in my mind that I had written-off as “somewhere I need not venture to”. Nothing about this country drew my attention.

That is until recently.

My heart is heavy for these kids that I haven’t met yet. I can almost see their smiles in my mind and picture the details of their individual faces. I am itching to be there. To be with them and love them. To somehow express Christ through my actions towards them. To serve these people that I once was so apathetic towards.

I am in awe of the Lord on this one. For those of you that know me, I am usually pretty practical (perhaps overly so) when it comes to trips and money and being responsible with what you have been given. But on this one, I’m letting God take it.

Now, don’t hear this wrong. I am not saying it is good to be irresponsible with money, knowing that God will provide anyways. Not at all!
For me, God is testing my faith. He’s allowing me to trust. Forcing me to rest in a time when my initial reaction would be to become overwhelmed, anxious and stressed.

The Kicker: I need to raise $2600 in less than two months. I’ll be selling headbands, hosting a game/Bingo night and putting on a benefit show in order to make this trip a reality. Your help means more than you could possibly realize. It would make my year to be able to raise more than this amount and bless this orphanage with extra funds.
Be on the lookout for a video I’ll be posting soon with updates on the events I’ll be hosting.

I leave you with this: Be on the look out for what the Lord may have in store. Expect the unexpected.

And just maybe, He’ll use something you had no intention of doing in order to show His glory through you.