This week has gone by so quickly. Coming home from our missions trip, we had Saturday and Sunday off to rest and get laundry done. On Sunday afternoon, my roommate Danielle and I found a lake (a huge deal in Atlanta, because there is hardly any) and went out for some sun and swimming. While we were laying out and getting tans, I heard it was snowing in Nova Scotia... sorry guys!
Later that night, Beth and I headed to the airport to pick up Pastor Mike for cadre!!! It was so exciting to have him here, and see him get poured into by one of the greatest youth pastors in America. He left early Wednesday morning, but at least I get to see him in June! Speaking of cadre, we had another one on Monday and Tuesday. This one was extra special because it was the 2nd year members last one. We had a lot of surprises for them, and it was a bittersweet goodbye. To be a part of something that strengthens youth pastors all over America really is a priviledge. They will go home refreshed to reach out to all of their youth... it such a cool thing!
Wednesday we got back into the swing of things and had regular classes, followed by Oxygen that night. Pastoy Corey brought the fire with an incredible message on controlling your mind. We all went home with something to think about and apply in our own lives.
Thursday night was definitely a highlight of the year for me. We went to clean Jeannes house after cadre, and by the time we were done, we were tired and ready to go home. Just then, Pastor Sam came in with groceries and a big smile on his face. Jeanne and Bethany are gone to Rhode Island, so he was going to be home alone for the next few days, and he was so appreciative of our hard work cleaning he invited us to stay for some mac and cheese. Of course we couldn't decline! As he was cooking for us, he told us stories of all the things he has cooked before, and we were surprised at his experience. Despite his skill, he cooked the noodles far to long, causing them to fall apart and clump together. Then he added Vanilla soymilk to the mix; and a ton of butter. He was so excited for the meal that he got out the Christmas tablecloth and placemats! We called the guys doing yardwork in to join us, and we all sat down together to enjoy our "meal". Needless to say, none of us finished our super cheesy, clumpy macaroni pudding with a hint of vanilla. We all had a good laugh over it though, and I can say I had dinner with Pastor Sam!
Yesterday we had class and a leadership meeting as a small group. It was great to reflect on how far we have come, and what we can improve on, as well as having fun! The next few days we are working at a Microsoft conference to raise money for our tuition. I'll admit, not one of the things I would love to do... but our food is catered and buffet style, so at least I will be eating well!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Missions Trip to California
What an amazing time we had in California! Thank you so much to everyone who supported me through prayers and finances. God did a great work with our team, and you were a part of it! In a little over a week we had fed over 1500 families, and did various kids ministry programs. Here is a day to day look at our intinerary:
Thursday: Depart from Atlanta at 4am, arrive in Los Angeles at 12 am. We drove an hour or so to Isaiah's Rock, a food distribution centre right in the King families home. The family takes shifts around the clock, feeding anyone that comes to their door, as well as handing out groceries twice a week. They were such a blessing to us! They shared heart about their ministry, and then we went to Operation Blessings warehouse. We finished off the day with a time of worship, Jody shared a few words, and then we had the rest of the night to settle in.
Friday: We helped put on a service and hand out groceries at Isaiah's Rock. Over 400 families showed up, and even though the majority spoke Spanish, we got to pray with some of them for healing and salvation. That lasted a good part of the day, and after we went up to the mountains of California and had a cookout- it was a great time! Operation Blessing has their own cook on hand, so we ate really well the whole week. We had another time of worship and drove home late in the evening. It was a great team bonding experience, and I will remember that night for a long time to come!
Saturday: We worked with RedEye: a ministry Jeanne's son Justin Mayo started at the LA Dream Centre. Their main mission is to work with Hollywood youth and get them involved in their community by volunteering and having a positive impact. We went to the governmental housing section of town to pick up trash, and play with the kids at the playground. They were adorable, and I loved the experience. Justin gave us a tour of the entire Dream Center, then we went hiking up the Hollywood mountain! It was a great exercise, and a great time to get to know the staff and what they are all about. We got stuck in traffic for a few hours, but managed to make it home in time for worship and a few words from Clifton, the cook!
Sunday: We went to Saddleback Church- you might know their head Pastor, Rick Warren. He wrote The Purpose Driven Life! Israel Houghton is their worship leader, and their membership is at 40 000! We had a tour of one of their 40 campuses, needless to say I was impressed. After church. Operation Blessing treated us to lunch at Johnny Rockets, an old fashioned burger joint. We finished off the day by visiting Laguna Beach and Newport Beach to have fun, fellowship, and a nightly service led by Raymond.
Monday: This was our "Fun Day"! We spent it wandering around Hollywood Boulevard, seeing the sites and finding stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We found Billy Graham's! After that, we came home and had a delicious meal and evening service with Haley speaking.
Tuesday: We worked with a food distribution center at The Rock Church (coincidental, I know!) Their church has over 17 000 members, and their campus was equally amazing as Saddlebacks. We fed over 600 families that day, and then we went to the Yorba Linda Vineyard for our evening worship and speaking. This church had less than a hundred members, but it was funny how this church was where God spoke to me the most. It really is not about numbers! It was this night that God really spoke to me about the fear in my life, and how I was letting it hold me back from God using me for great things. I prayed and let go of my fears, deciding to trust God instead!
Wednesday: We went to the Fred Jordan mission, a food distribution center located in the roughest area of all LA. We had a service for the women and their children, giving them a meal, clothes, and groceries after. I got to work with their children, and it was amazing to me the state that they were in. Many were homeless, dirty, and we could hardly communicate with them because they all spoke Spanish. We managed to show them God's love though, and by the time they had to leave, many didn't want to! After the Fred Jordan mission, we went to a park in the lower income housing section of town. One guy told us of the gang shootings that take place frequently there, and how a nine year old boy was shot there only weeks ago. It broke my heart. A few hours later, nearly 200 kids showed up for our MetroKidz service (remember Bill Wilson?) and some of them were only a year old, with their parents nowhere in sight. The entire time, I had kids hanging off me. I fell in love with this little boy named Ernie, only four years old. He was so precious, and every kid I met that day has a piece of my heart. We ended the day with a service, and Dan shared a few words.
Thursday: Operation Blessing surprised us by taking us to DISNEYLAND! It was fun to relax and just be together and share the experience. After our fun filled day we came home and had evening service, going around and thanking each other for their hard work.
Friday: We said our goodbyes and went home!
God really moved on our missions trip. By helping all of these people, I realized that my whole life I asked God what I am supposed to do with my life. I realized this trip that it's not about me, it's about the people in need. I see homeless people in a whole new way now. There is so much need in this world, and I am challenged as to what I can do about it. Are we really doing all we could be?
Below are some pictures of our trip:
(Isaiahs Rock: the backyard where the hungry are fed, a line of families waiting for groceries, me at the MetroKidz service, the mountain we hiked and Hollywood sign, Justin Mayo and our team, us and the LA Dream Center, me on the teacup ride at Disneyland, me in front of Isaiah's Rock saying a big THANK YOU!)
Thursday: Depart from Atlanta at 4am, arrive in Los Angeles at 12 am. We drove an hour or so to Isaiah's Rock, a food distribution centre right in the King families home. The family takes shifts around the clock, feeding anyone that comes to their door, as well as handing out groceries twice a week. They were such a blessing to us! They shared heart about their ministry, and then we went to Operation Blessings warehouse. We finished off the day with a time of worship, Jody shared a few words, and then we had the rest of the night to settle in.
Friday: We helped put on a service and hand out groceries at Isaiah's Rock. Over 400 families showed up, and even though the majority spoke Spanish, we got to pray with some of them for healing and salvation. That lasted a good part of the day, and after we went up to the mountains of California and had a cookout- it was a great time! Operation Blessing has their own cook on hand, so we ate really well the whole week. We had another time of worship and drove home late in the evening. It was a great team bonding experience, and I will remember that night for a long time to come!
Saturday: We worked with RedEye: a ministry Jeanne's son Justin Mayo started at the LA Dream Centre. Their main mission is to work with Hollywood youth and get them involved in their community by volunteering and having a positive impact. We went to the governmental housing section of town to pick up trash, and play with the kids at the playground. They were adorable, and I loved the experience. Justin gave us a tour of the entire Dream Center, then we went hiking up the Hollywood mountain! It was a great exercise, and a great time to get to know the staff and what they are all about. We got stuck in traffic for a few hours, but managed to make it home in time for worship and a few words from Clifton, the cook!
Sunday: We went to Saddleback Church- you might know their head Pastor, Rick Warren. He wrote The Purpose Driven Life! Israel Houghton is their worship leader, and their membership is at 40 000! We had a tour of one of their 40 campuses, needless to say I was impressed. After church. Operation Blessing treated us to lunch at Johnny Rockets, an old fashioned burger joint. We finished off the day by visiting Laguna Beach and Newport Beach to have fun, fellowship, and a nightly service led by Raymond.
Monday: This was our "Fun Day"! We spent it wandering around Hollywood Boulevard, seeing the sites and finding stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We found Billy Graham's! After that, we came home and had a delicious meal and evening service with Haley speaking.
Tuesday: We worked with a food distribution center at The Rock Church (coincidental, I know!) Their church has over 17 000 members, and their campus was equally amazing as Saddlebacks. We fed over 600 families that day, and then we went to the Yorba Linda Vineyard for our evening worship and speaking. This church had less than a hundred members, but it was funny how this church was where God spoke to me the most. It really is not about numbers! It was this night that God really spoke to me about the fear in my life, and how I was letting it hold me back from God using me for great things. I prayed and let go of my fears, deciding to trust God instead!
Wednesday: We went to the Fred Jordan mission, a food distribution center located in the roughest area of all LA. We had a service for the women and their children, giving them a meal, clothes, and groceries after. I got to work with their children, and it was amazing to me the state that they were in. Many were homeless, dirty, and we could hardly communicate with them because they all spoke Spanish. We managed to show them God's love though, and by the time they had to leave, many didn't want to! After the Fred Jordan mission, we went to a park in the lower income housing section of town. One guy told us of the gang shootings that take place frequently there, and how a nine year old boy was shot there only weeks ago. It broke my heart. A few hours later, nearly 200 kids showed up for our MetroKidz service (remember Bill Wilson?) and some of them were only a year old, with their parents nowhere in sight. The entire time, I had kids hanging off me. I fell in love with this little boy named Ernie, only four years old. He was so precious, and every kid I met that day has a piece of my heart. We ended the day with a service, and Dan shared a few words.
Thursday: Operation Blessing surprised us by taking us to DISNEYLAND! It was fun to relax and just be together and share the experience. After our fun filled day we came home and had evening service, going around and thanking each other for their hard work.
Friday: We said our goodbyes and went home!
God really moved on our missions trip. By helping all of these people, I realized that my whole life I asked God what I am supposed to do with my life. I realized this trip that it's not about me, it's about the people in need. I see homeless people in a whole new way now. There is so much need in this world, and I am challenged as to what I can do about it. Are we really doing all we could be?
Below are some pictures of our trip:
(Isaiahs Rock: the backyard where the hungry are fed, a line of families waiting for groceries, me at the MetroKidz service, the mountain we hiked and Hollywood sign, Justin Mayo and our team, us and the LA Dream Center, me on the teacup ride at Disneyland, me in front of Isaiah's Rock saying a big THANK YOU!)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Leading up to and including Spring Break!
Before break I found out some exciting news... I have been accepted back for a second year!!! I am so excited, and I am glad that most of the girls will be back next year with me. I can’t wait to come back and learn even more. After we found out, we had family time: we went to Kroger to buy groceries, and made dinner together, watching The Blindside. It was the perfect way to celebrate the news!
I am sure glad that spring break came when it did, because the past week involved late, late nights, and early mornings. On Thursday we had our trimester exam, and had to memorize 32 scriptures. It’s funny, because in high school, I hated to study; but learning these verses will help me for the rest of my life. I don’t mind studying here at Masters at all! It’s great to know that I am learning something that I can actually use.
Friday night we had a Bible study for our O2 girls; only two of them ended up showing, but it was great to help them dig into God’s word. We went through Ephesians 2, stopping every few verses to talk about what they thought it was saying. After that, we had fun! We joked around, and spent some good time together. I love how we are growing closer; and how I get to help them prepare for next year.
On Saturday, Melissa, Faith, Crissy, Lyn, and I drove off to Florida for spring break! We had so much fun, it truly was a week of relaxing. We went shopping at the Mall of Millenia, and The Loop; and got some great deals! We also went to Melbourne Beach, The Dolphin Resort at Disney to swim, and Clearwater Beach in Tampa. Yes, I did put on sunblock, and yes, I did burn anyway! I also enjoyed going to Downtown Disney with the girls as well as Universal Studios to see a movie and walk their Citywalk. I loved how much we got to sleep as well; we would go to bed early, sleep in late, and take naps! On Easter Sunday we drove back after church and came home late Sunday night.
Today I am unpacking, doing laundry, and repacking, ironically. We leave for California THIS THURSDAY!!! I cannot believe how it is already time to go on our missions trip. Once again, thank you all so much for your support, whether it was financially or through your prayers. We all have a heart of expectancy for this trip, and I am so excited to see how God will use us. I come home next Friday, April 16th, so you can expect pictures and an updated blog then!
I am sure glad that spring break came when it did, because the past week involved late, late nights, and early mornings. On Thursday we had our trimester exam, and had to memorize 32 scriptures. It’s funny, because in high school, I hated to study; but learning these verses will help me for the rest of my life. I don’t mind studying here at Masters at all! It’s great to know that I am learning something that I can actually use.
Friday night we had a Bible study for our O2 girls; only two of them ended up showing, but it was great to help them dig into God’s word. We went through Ephesians 2, stopping every few verses to talk about what they thought it was saying. After that, we had fun! We joked around, and spent some good time together. I love how we are growing closer; and how I get to help them prepare for next year.
On Saturday, Melissa, Faith, Crissy, Lyn, and I drove off to Florida for spring break! We had so much fun, it truly was a week of relaxing. We went shopping at the Mall of Millenia, and The Loop; and got some great deals! We also went to Melbourne Beach, The Dolphin Resort at Disney to swim, and Clearwater Beach in Tampa. Yes, I did put on sunblock, and yes, I did burn anyway! I also enjoyed going to Downtown Disney with the girls as well as Universal Studios to see a movie and walk their Citywalk. I loved how much we got to sleep as well; we would go to bed early, sleep in late, and take naps! On Easter Sunday we drove back after church and came home late Sunday night.
Today I am unpacking, doing laundry, and repacking, ironically. We leave for California THIS THURSDAY!!! I cannot believe how it is already time to go on our missions trip. Once again, thank you all so much for your support, whether it was financially or through your prayers. We all have a heart of expectancy for this trip, and I am so excited to see how God will use us. I come home next Friday, April 16th, so you can expect pictures and an updated blog then!
Below are some pictures of our adventures in Florida :)
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