Monday, January 17, 2011
Will it really fill you up?
This world has nothing for me and this world has EVERYTHING! This song was played on the prayer tour on my mission trip in Chicago and it hit me hard. We had just seen the poverty stricken side of Chicago ran down buildings, gangs everywhere children out in the cold, people standing around on the streets and our guide Abby played this song when we were on Michigan Ave. Which is the highest revenue street in Chicago. The Gap, Coach, Louis Vuitton, nice restaurants its was hard to even think about enjoying after knowing that less than four miles away people were hungry, cold, lonely and needing so many things. I plan to write more about what I learned and saw but for right now this is what I want to share. Enjoy this is from me to you.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
CHICAGO?
Chicago: The largest city in the state of Illinois? Population 2.8 million? Founded in 1833? Best known as the "Windy City"? Nope Where I am going on .......
My first mission trip! I have always wanted to go on one. I want to make a difference in the world. But to be honest...... I have NO idea what to expect, and that is O.k.. I just want to help some people and make and impact on the world. If I can help people somewhere else that excites me. I serve here at my wonderful Ginghamsburg Church and if it were not for them I would not be able to go on this trip I am so thankful. I really think that God is going to do something special with me on this trip it has been a long time coming. I just can't wait to see what it is! He truly is an AWESOME GOD!
If you could pray for the safety for the children and our leaders I would appreciate it. The weather is showing for some snow but it doesn't look like it will be too bad. I pray that they are all truly touched by God and that they touch someone.
My first mission trip! I have always wanted to go on one. I want to make a difference in the world. But to be honest...... I have NO idea what to expect, and that is O.k.. I just want to help some people and make and impact on the world. If I can help people somewhere else that excites me. I serve here at my wonderful Ginghamsburg Church and if it were not for them I would not be able to go on this trip I am so thankful. I really think that God is going to do something special with me on this trip it has been a long time coming. I just can't wait to see what it is! He truly is an AWESOME GOD!
If you could pray for the safety for the children and our leaders I would appreciate it. The weather is showing for some snow but it doesn't look like it will be too bad. I pray that they are all truly touched by God and that they touch someone.
Broken, Death, and Dirt
So since I have written last I think a lot has happened. I woke up one morning roughly around 6:30 am and went to the bathroom to find my glasses in two separate pieces on the floor. I ask Noni who did it and she says Ky. I ask Ky who did and she points to Noni. Lets be honest I may never know. Truth be told they probably played tug-o-war with them. I got them when I was pregnant with Kymmeri so it was time for a new pair anyhow. Not that we can by any means afford a new pair right now. So that will be put on hold. I think later today I am going to try and super glue them back together. I have the plastic kind with the thick part across the nose. They don't have the metal nose bridge piece so I am thinking I may at least have a chance. Who knows.
Saturday night I go out to the van to head to work and it is covered in snow, it is not bad but I didn't brush it off I just hopped in. Before I got in I waved to my two new neighbors a female and male, no I don't know their names. I am sure they have told me but I am horrible at remembering names until I have heard them about 15 times. That is besides the point I waved at them said hello and got in the van like I said. I turned it on and sat there waiting for it to warm up then not even a minute later I scream out like some little girl! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Someone is at my passenger window. Are they attacking me? Are they breaking it? Nope, they are brushing the snow off of my van. I am so wrapped up in my life and what is going on with me that I didn't even notice that this new neighbor had put his cigarette out. Got in his car got his scrapper/brush out and already cleaned ALL of my van off except the passenger window and the front window. I thanked it him very much. It meant a lot that someone took the time to help me when first of all they don't really know me and second of all it was cold, really cold, and third they could of done well anything else.
I was in the Treehouse at the 5 o'clock service and all I want to say is those kids touched me. They didn't want to play, they wanted to hear their Bible story. They wanted to read the Bible verses. They were excited about the Lord. You could just see the passion. It was nice. It made me love my job that much more and it made me proud to be a disciple of Christ.
That same night a very generous lay pastor gave me a pair of his old reading glasses and offered to pray with me. On Sunday at Church he introduced me to an optometrist. God has an amazing way of putting people in our lives when we need them.
Went to The Gathering Sunday night at the Avenue. Oh, It felt so good to be back. I am just going to be honest with myself. I didn't feel like there was a need to go. Other than the message, I mean Nick always delivers a great message that makes you think. I didn't feel that I was reaching the kids for a few Sunday nights and I think I just got discouraged. But I have decided that can not be a factor. If God didn't want involved in these kids lives he would not have put it on my heart so strongly to be involved in the student ministry. I have to realize that I am not going to be able to reach all of them but maybe I am suppose to be there to reach the ones that God wants me to reach. I will keep praying and I have complete faith that God will show me what to do.
We found out that a friend of the family passed away this week. I still don't know all the details and I am not completely sure I want to. I just know that now he out of pain. He had MS and the last time I saw him he wasn't him self he was so miserable. He was so drugged up that that he couldn't hold his head up. The "Mongo" that I knew was always laughing, smiling, and poking at somebody. While I will miss him and his laughter I can honestly say I am glad he is not in pain anymore. Is that wrong?
I am leaving Thursday for a few days and my house must be in tip top shape before leave. The people in my life that really know me know that I have a slight touch LOL OK maybe not I have OCD. Not like wash your hands 15 times, touch the door knob, put your shirt on backwards then on rightways kind of OCD. But the everything has its place, left to right, shortest to tallest, color coordinated, oldest to newest, alphabetical, nothing on the floor, blinds have to be turned up, toliet paper roll over, milk on the bottom self, shoes hung up kind of OCD. Which means everything has to be organized and put up. Which three small children this does not happen all the time. So I am taking today to do so. I fear that if I don't then I will come back and my husband and children will all be dressed in loincloths gathered around a Cassano's pizza gnawing on it like a pack of rabid dogs.
Saturday night I go out to the van to head to work and it is covered in snow, it is not bad but I didn't brush it off I just hopped in. Before I got in I waved to my two new neighbors a female and male, no I don't know their names. I am sure they have told me but I am horrible at remembering names until I have heard them about 15 times. That is besides the point I waved at them said hello and got in the van like I said. I turned it on and sat there waiting for it to warm up then not even a minute later I scream out like some little girl! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Someone is at my passenger window. Are they attacking me? Are they breaking it? Nope, they are brushing the snow off of my van. I am so wrapped up in my life and what is going on with me that I didn't even notice that this new neighbor had put his cigarette out. Got in his car got his scrapper/brush out and already cleaned ALL of my van off except the passenger window and the front window. I thanked it him very much. It meant a lot that someone took the time to help me when first of all they don't really know me and second of all it was cold, really cold, and third they could of done well anything else.
I was in the Treehouse at the 5 o'clock service and all I want to say is those kids touched me. They didn't want to play, they wanted to hear their Bible story. They wanted to read the Bible verses. They were excited about the Lord. You could just see the passion. It was nice. It made me love my job that much more and it made me proud to be a disciple of Christ.
That same night a very generous lay pastor gave me a pair of his old reading glasses and offered to pray with me. On Sunday at Church he introduced me to an optometrist. God has an amazing way of putting people in our lives when we need them.
Went to The Gathering Sunday night at the Avenue. Oh, It felt so good to be back. I am just going to be honest with myself. I didn't feel like there was a need to go. Other than the message, I mean Nick always delivers a great message that makes you think. I didn't feel that I was reaching the kids for a few Sunday nights and I think I just got discouraged. But I have decided that can not be a factor. If God didn't want involved in these kids lives he would not have put it on my heart so strongly to be involved in the student ministry. I have to realize that I am not going to be able to reach all of them but maybe I am suppose to be there to reach the ones that God wants me to reach. I will keep praying and I have complete faith that God will show me what to do.
We found out that a friend of the family passed away this week. I still don't know all the details and I am not completely sure I want to. I just know that now he out of pain. He had MS and the last time I saw him he wasn't him self he was so miserable. He was so drugged up that that he couldn't hold his head up. The "Mongo" that I knew was always laughing, smiling, and poking at somebody. While I will miss him and his laughter I can honestly say I am glad he is not in pain anymore. Is that wrong?
I am leaving Thursday for a few days and my house must be in tip top shape before leave. The people in my life that really know me know that I have a slight touch LOL OK maybe not I have OCD. Not like wash your hands 15 times, touch the door knob, put your shirt on backwards then on rightways kind of OCD. But the everything has its place, left to right, shortest to tallest, color coordinated, oldest to newest, alphabetical, nothing on the floor, blinds have to be turned up, toliet paper roll over, milk on the bottom self, shoes hung up kind of OCD. Which means everything has to be organized and put up. Which three small children this does not happen all the time. So I am taking today to do so. I fear that if I don't then I will come back and my husband and children will all be dressed in loincloths gathered around a Cassano's pizza gnawing on it like a pack of rabid dogs.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Today is the day. Why not today?
I have seen and heard about so many people starting blogs and never really gotten into the whole scene. I still may not be. I decided to make this one for me and my journey, my faith walk, a log for me of some sorts. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three beautiful girls. I love my job and I love my life. Some times I just wonder about all the things in the world that are so wrong and wonder why God chose to bless me with the things that I have after all the sins that I have sinned and will probably will still continue to do.
So last night I had one of the best cell group meetings with my girls in awhile. It was good to see them again after being on a break after so long. Some opened up and it warmed my heart to see others offer advice to their peers. You can tell how they really care for each other. At the same time, it breaks my heart because I can see some of them sit back and be quiet. They think I don't notice, When they try and hide their feelings or something it always shows through. I love them so much but I don't want pressure my girls, I just want them to know that I am here for them and they can always come to me and when they are ready to talk about whatever is bothering them I am sure Jenn or myself will always be available to talk.
So in exactly one week I will be on my first mission trip ever! I can say that I am so super excited to do the Lords work and be the hands of feet of Jesus, but to be honest that doesn't even begin to express how I really feel. I started tearing up when I found out that I got to go. I am so looking forward to going to Chicago and helping others, getting to know some of the teens better.
I am hoping to get to call Kerrilynn for coffee or lunch tomorrow. Nathan is off work so as long as the kids don't go crazy and she is available we should be able. I am looking forward to it. We have been trying to get together and do something since October. She was such an amazing help to me on the Hocking Hills camping trip and is such an amazing person I look forward to getting to know her better.
For now this is me blogging :o) We live by faith not by sight ~2 Corinthians 5:7
So last night I had one of the best cell group meetings with my girls in awhile. It was good to see them again after being on a break after so long. Some opened up and it warmed my heart to see others offer advice to their peers. You can tell how they really care for each other. At the same time, it breaks my heart because I can see some of them sit back and be quiet. They think I don't notice, When they try and hide their feelings or something it always shows through. I love them so much but I don't want pressure my girls, I just want them to know that I am here for them and they can always come to me and when they are ready to talk about whatever is bothering them I am sure Jenn or myself will always be available to talk.
So in exactly one week I will be on my first mission trip ever! I can say that I am so super excited to do the Lords work and be the hands of feet of Jesus, but to be honest that doesn't even begin to express how I really feel. I started tearing up when I found out that I got to go. I am so looking forward to going to Chicago and helping others, getting to know some of the teens better.
I am hoping to get to call Kerrilynn for coffee or lunch tomorrow. Nathan is off work so as long as the kids don't go crazy and she is available we should be able. I am looking forward to it. We have been trying to get together and do something since October. She was such an amazing help to me on the Hocking Hills camping trip and is such an amazing person I look forward to getting to know her better.
For now this is me blogging :o) We live by faith not by sight ~2 Corinthians 5:7
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