Friday, April 9, 2010
and now the fun begins!
it has only been 2 weeks, but at points it seems like months! i can't believe that what everyone worked so hard to do is finished :)! what a ride it has been though! i have wanted to finish this blog for sometime now, but have simply been on a rollar coaster ride myself :). today is literally the first day that i feel like i can breath easy for a couple of hours! it has been an emotional last couple of weeks. if anyone saw me on Sunday after we came home, you would have not been able to talk to me without me at some point crying. so from there we went straight into the school week. there was no break for many of the kids, as they immediately started dealing with stuff. it was as if the enemy tried to erase all the joy that we had. it was during those first few times though that i got a glimpse at just how much your kids grew. i started getting texts for prayers left and right...and so i would mass text the team and engage everyone to keep fighting for each other. the responses that i would get sounded something like this"i got this one"..."i'm on it"...etc. it was awesome!
as i continue to talk to the kids, i begin to see more and more of what God has in store for them. Luke and I both feel like this mission trip was different than all the others. the reason is that these kids are our mission...and it's not a mission to just show them how to get to Heaven...although we want to make sure that that is in place...it's a mission to get them to see that they are empowered by the Holy Spirit! Ephesians 3:20-21"now to Him who is able to do immesurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His Power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen! we are expecting God to work big in the kids' lives. i stand in awe that i get to be able to watch it...already, they have grown soooo much, more than i think they even know. to watch them these last couple of weeks, many of them have impressed me more than i can say! i see the seeds that have been planted start to grow. they are making decisions that blow my mind and choosing to stand firm and set apart!
what the next year looks like for us is sort of still in the vision stage, but fast approaching the hit the road running stage :)
we are needing prayers and prayer partners! God has really given me an excitement at what i feel is His path He is setting us on.
luke and i will be starting our own ministry at the end of the month called "Rebel Ministry". rebel came from a word that God placed on my heart last year. It has everything to do with my testimony and my personalitly trait that really got me in trouble when i was younger, but realized through becoming a Christian, that i could turn around and use it for God instead of against Him! (that is just a summary)....
with this ministry in place, we want to start recruiting kids that choose to rebel too. the definition of rebel is to fight against the ruling power. we want to help these kids to understand that there is a ruling power destroying people all around them. The ruling power of this day seems to be drugs, alcohol, sex, greed, etc...while kids will say that they are saved, the actions they choose do not always match up to their commitment to Christ. what we want to see happen, is kids choosing Christ and having their actions match that to set themselves apart and reap the blessings that come along with a life fully committed to serving Him!
what we want to see happen, is have your kids commit to helping out with this vision! i feel strongly that more kids will want to say yes to this way of living, if they see other kids living it out!
we want to see your kids step up and help with the training of next years trip. part of what rebel ministry's will be about is challenging kids to step up and be in charge of bigger things. we feel that they will be able to step up to most challenges that will be placed in front of them! my ultimate goal would be to see a mission trip ran completley by kids (with us overseeing of course)!
this year, the team will be probably bigger than last year, but i am excited for this because it sounds like we will have several repeats. and every time they repeat, they will be able to be challenged and trusted with more and more responsibility! we would like for all of the kids to come along for the ride that this year will bring! even if they can't come on the trip, we want them to be a part of the team from this end of things. not every year, will their mission to be to actually go, they might be the prayer leader, or the service project manager, etc. we are looking to add several new things to training this year!
so you can see that my mind is spinning, and hopefully soon, i will be able to give you more clearer of a picture of when this will all begin! in the mean time, please be praying about yourself and your kids possible role in what God would want you to do, if anything, with our vision for next year!
we have been so blessed to have the team that we did, go for this first trip! we feel that there will be many more to come...but it won't happen without prayer!! we will be having an evening in the very near future to get together and have all the kids recap what they saw and felt. it will be an incredible evening that will be so neat for the kids! i will give you more information on that when we have the date set! at that time, we will be able to give our account of the overall trip a bit more clearly too!
thanks again for trusting us with your kids! we have been blessed because you have said yes! we love you all and just praise God for putting us in the middle of people who allow us to do what God has told us to do! We can't wait to see what 2010/2011 has in store!
as i continue to talk to the kids, i begin to see more and more of what God has in store for them. Luke and I both feel like this mission trip was different than all the others. the reason is that these kids are our mission...and it's not a mission to just show them how to get to Heaven...although we want to make sure that that is in place...it's a mission to get them to see that they are empowered by the Holy Spirit! Ephesians 3:20-21"now to Him who is able to do immesurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His Power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen! we are expecting God to work big in the kids' lives. i stand in awe that i get to be able to watch it...already, they have grown soooo much, more than i think they even know. to watch them these last couple of weeks, many of them have impressed me more than i can say! i see the seeds that have been planted start to grow. they are making decisions that blow my mind and choosing to stand firm and set apart!
what the next year looks like for us is sort of still in the vision stage, but fast approaching the hit the road running stage :)
we are needing prayers and prayer partners! God has really given me an excitement at what i feel is His path He is setting us on.
luke and i will be starting our own ministry at the end of the month called "Rebel Ministry". rebel came from a word that God placed on my heart last year. It has everything to do with my testimony and my personalitly trait that really got me in trouble when i was younger, but realized through becoming a Christian, that i could turn around and use it for God instead of against Him! (that is just a summary)....
with this ministry in place, we want to start recruiting kids that choose to rebel too. the definition of rebel is to fight against the ruling power. we want to help these kids to understand that there is a ruling power destroying people all around them. The ruling power of this day seems to be drugs, alcohol, sex, greed, etc...while kids will say that they are saved, the actions they choose do not always match up to their commitment to Christ. what we want to see happen, is kids choosing Christ and having their actions match that to set themselves apart and reap the blessings that come along with a life fully committed to serving Him!
what we want to see happen, is have your kids commit to helping out with this vision! i feel strongly that more kids will want to say yes to this way of living, if they see other kids living it out!
we want to see your kids step up and help with the training of next years trip. part of what rebel ministry's will be about is challenging kids to step up and be in charge of bigger things. we feel that they will be able to step up to most challenges that will be placed in front of them! my ultimate goal would be to see a mission trip ran completley by kids (with us overseeing of course)!
this year, the team will be probably bigger than last year, but i am excited for this because it sounds like we will have several repeats. and every time they repeat, they will be able to be challenged and trusted with more and more responsibility! we would like for all of the kids to come along for the ride that this year will bring! even if they can't come on the trip, we want them to be a part of the team from this end of things. not every year, will their mission to be to actually go, they might be the prayer leader, or the service project manager, etc. we are looking to add several new things to training this year!
so you can see that my mind is spinning, and hopefully soon, i will be able to give you more clearer of a picture of when this will all begin! in the mean time, please be praying about yourself and your kids possible role in what God would want you to do, if anything, with our vision for next year!
we have been so blessed to have the team that we did, go for this first trip! we feel that there will be many more to come...but it won't happen without prayer!! we will be having an evening in the very near future to get together and have all the kids recap what they saw and felt. it will be an incredible evening that will be so neat for the kids! i will give you more information on that when we have the date set! at that time, we will be able to give our account of the overall trip a bit more clearly too!
thanks again for trusting us with your kids! we have been blessed because you have said yes! we love you all and just praise God for putting us in the middle of people who allow us to do what God has told us to do! We can't wait to see what 2010/2011 has in store!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
We r all loaded and crammed like sardines in our bus...emotionally spent...spiritually beat up...physically drained!! As we get off the bus I can just picture the home coming of solidiers tht come home after fighting in iraq...every time without fail I get choked up as a son is engulfed by his mother or some mom is reunited with a child...it is the same with this bus load of ppl...you sent out high school teenagers and what you r getting back is an army that is beat up and bruised...but let me tell you all tht when you first get a glimpse of your child...you r beholding a soldier tht knows how to fight and win...I will not ever look at these kids the same...and I gladly without hindrance choose them over and over to fight along side me.
I was tsalking to luke and dawn this morning and realized how different tht this trip is than all the rest tht I have taken...the reason is tht all the other trips we all get close and promise to keep hanging out...but the reality is tht we don't...this trip is different in the fact tht these kids r our calling...we r not only going to keep in touch but r going to get to watch and help them hear God more clearly and watch as they develop into a person tht says yes to God! I can not wait to see you all and hope tht I will have an oppurtunity with each of you to share more specifics on your kids...we love them like they r our own and we ... Luke bob dawn and me...ALL thank you more than you can imagine for letting us take them with us!! It took a yes on your part too to allow God to work fully. I amsure tht you will all feel tht the sacrifice on your part was worth it!
I was tsalking to luke and dawn this morning and realized how different tht this trip is than all the rest tht I have taken...the reason is tht all the other trips we all get close and promise to keep hanging out...but the reality is tht we don't...this trip is different in the fact tht these kids r our calling...we r not only going to keep in touch but r going to get to watch and help them hear God more clearly and watch as they develop into a person tht says yes to God! I can not wait to see you all and hope tht I will have an oppurtunity with each of you to share more specifics on your kids...we love them like they r our own and we ... Luke bob dawn and me...ALL thank you more than you can imagine for letting us take them with us!! It took a yes on your part too to allow God to work fully. I amsure tht you will all feel tht the sacrifice on your part was worth it!
Friday, March 26, 2010
last minutes in jamaica
Ummmmmm its been a whole two days and I haven't tokd you anything! I am so sorry! Thingsit seriously has flown by!! We r sitting in our room with 12 ppl crammed in just
Needing to hang on so desparetly bad! I wish tht this little bubble we haved lived in
During this past week could b life...it would have to b with each of your kids though...
We had an eventful day yesterday...we got to go work on a farm and dig bout 50 holes for
Banana trees...ties 100 tomato plants to sticks...with dried plantain leaves as string...
Plz try to picture an 11 acre farm all on a hillside...we were slanting the whole day!all
During the day the owner who was over 50 and in better shape than half of us was constantly taking different groups of us on tours...he was so proud of his ground he wanted to make sure tht we all saw it...he would stop several different times and a couple different times during the day would show up with fresh fruit for all of us to share...it was a good day...we did end the day with a soccer game tht was so much fun to watch...our boys did so good...logan Y did hurt his knee again which so hard to watch...I honestly had such a hard time with it...I cried and cried for him... One point it was just him and I...he shocked me with some pretty profoundd words...he said tht maybe God was protecting him from the falls...maybe sonmething would have happened bad while climbing it...then he said tht he would never b mad at God because evryhting he did was for His glory...as I was crying he put his arm me and just said tht it was going to alright...and with those last words he made a decision to make it just tht...besides a slight limp you would never even known tht he hurt himself...it was amazing!
As I look back over the week I just can't believe how many times satan tried to bring us down...many many...and each of these kids went to battle and I can tell you without a doubt tht each one of them won a battle this week...
We were supposed to go the falls today but felt lead tht the best thing to do was to go to a beach instead...luke during the same game tht logan got hurt in felt like he broke his foot...no joke!!! We had quite the day!! But with the injuries it was time to make a decision bout what r fun day was going to look like...every one of those kids just said cool and went on like it was nothing...
We finished the night with a time of praise and worship at the fire pit...the sky was clear and the stars were amazing...I knew the Spirit was moving when during the first couple of song...tears were starting to flow...it just conituned as we all encouraged each other and shared what God did this week...we ended with a song bout being changed so so we need to b changed
So now what?? What is it going to b like for these kids?? I will tell you honestly tht I pray with all my heart ttht those kids will never b who they were before this trip...we expected big things and He showed up big...I will share my heart right now with all of you and tell you tht God hass been telling me for a while tht He is moving in our school...during this week He has given me a passion to get home and get it started... His plan will come to fruit...I am convinced of tht!! I told the kids tonight tht if they wanted to say yes to God they would b in for a ride!! God will use someone...do they want it to b them???
So here we come...ready or not!! We can't wait to see you all and talk your ears off...plz b patient if it tks a whole night to get through all thestories!
Derek just told me somewords of wisdom so I will leave you with those. "He who is resistant to change is destined to perish". Be ready for for kids ready to go to battle! Pray for us on the journey back to you!
Needing to hang on so desparetly bad! I wish tht this little bubble we haved lived in
During this past week could b life...it would have to b with each of your kids though...
We had an eventful day yesterday...we got to go work on a farm and dig bout 50 holes for
Banana trees...ties 100 tomato plants to sticks...with dried plantain leaves as string...
Plz try to picture an 11 acre farm all on a hillside...we were slanting the whole day!all
During the day the owner who was over 50 and in better shape than half of us was constantly taking different groups of us on tours...he was so proud of his ground he wanted to make sure tht we all saw it...he would stop several different times and a couple different times during the day would show up with fresh fruit for all of us to share...it was a good day...we did end the day with a soccer game tht was so much fun to watch...our boys did so good...logan Y did hurt his knee again which so hard to watch...I honestly had such a hard time with it...I cried and cried for him... One point it was just him and I...he shocked me with some pretty profoundd words...he said tht maybe God was protecting him from the falls...maybe sonmething would have happened bad while climbing it...then he said tht he would never b mad at God because evryhting he did was for His glory...as I was crying he put his arm me and just said tht it was going to alright...and with those last words he made a decision to make it just tht...besides a slight limp you would never even known tht he hurt himself...it was amazing!
As I look back over the week I just can't believe how many times satan tried to bring us down...many many...and each of these kids went to battle and I can tell you without a doubt tht each one of them won a battle this week...
We were supposed to go the falls today but felt lead tht the best thing to do was to go to a beach instead...luke during the same game tht logan got hurt in felt like he broke his foot...no joke!!! We had quite the day!! But with the injuries it was time to make a decision bout what r fun day was going to look like...every one of those kids just said cool and went on like it was nothing...
We finished the night with a time of praise and worship at the fire pit...the sky was clear and the stars were amazing...I knew the Spirit was moving when during the first couple of song...tears were starting to flow...it just conituned as we all encouraged each other and shared what God did this week...we ended with a song bout being changed so so we need to b changed
So now what?? What is it going to b like for these kids?? I will tell you honestly tht I pray with all my heart ttht those kids will never b who they were before this trip...we expected big things and He showed up big...I will share my heart right now with all of you and tell you tht God hass been telling me for a while tht He is moving in our school...during this week He has given me a passion to get home and get it started... His plan will come to fruit...I am convinced of tht!! I told the kids tonight tht if they wanted to say yes to God they would b in for a ride!! God will use someone...do they want it to b them???
So here we come...ready or not!! We can't wait to see you all and talk your ears off...plz b patient if it tks a whole night to get through all thestories!
Derek just told me somewords of wisdom so I will leave you with those. "He who is resistant to change is destined to perish". Be ready for for kids ready to go to battle! Pray for us on the journey back to you!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday morning part 2 :)
Hi Guys! i apologize for not updating last night...i was simply spent....there have been so much going on and so much that we get to see and do, but no words to be able to really explain it all...there are going to be a ton of inside stories and inside jokes....we are all getting very close....but to be able to tell you all what that is like is really hard! i guess you just gotta be here! haha!
our day yesterday was spent on the base doing whatever needed to be done around here. some of us scrubbed the pool deck, some scrubbed the jerk chicken center, some of us were in an assembly line passing rocks all morning, and come were laying a new surface for the walkway and enterances to the base. all in all, it was hot and exhausting! but awesome too! we did have some scrapped knees that required no more than bandaids (so don't worry moms :)) but liv was able to help clean everyone up, and she was in her element....we now have all medical questions going to her...you should see her, she is a high school student in the H.O.E. program, but you would have thought that God just annointed her to be a nurse down here! she told me after the day was done that she was so filled. i love hearing that!
dawn mann and I are sharing a room and i love that it is on the bottom floor....if it was on the top, then no guys could come up....i think i counted just this morning, at least 5 if not more kids that wondered in for one thing or another. we never lock our doors and one morning i walked in to find 3 of our guys raiding the snack drawer :) it took all of about 5 minutes for them all to realize that the stash was in there....thank the Lord my suitcase came, because we would have ran out a long time ago had it not! the missing suitcase was filled with food!!! they are doing a very poor job rationing though....they want to stay up all night on friday adn there is going to be no way if they keep going the way that they are....there will be no sugar to help keep them awake!
with the lack of sleep, we have had to dorkiest kids emerge :) last night i came up from the rock after an amazing talk with derek to find austin A and Logan Y in their "bobo and obo" mode....they refused to talk normal and had a jamaican accent...and they talked in 3rd person....like i said, you just had to be there! logan totally got his second wind, and to look at him, he looked like a walking zombie....his eyes were completely blood shot....but man were they on a role!
as we go into our last work day, i pray that these kids learn how to finish strong...we are tired (have i said that yet?:) but today we get to work on mr. edwards's farm...this is such an experience!! i think that we will get to plant banana tree's for him. this will not be a normal indiana farm. this is a farm on a hill. we will be at an angle almost the whole day. but it is beautiful!
tomorrow we will go to ocho rios and climb the falls and shop at the market...
i can't believe that it is almost over...but this morning i felt God give me such an excitement to get home because of what He wants to do with us there! this is only the beginning for most of these kids...some it will be a middle ground...and maybe a renewed kick start...but whatever stage they are in, i feel confident that God handpicked each and every one of them for a purpose. we are a small army, and i have watched countless times these kids...all of them, lock arms (figuratively), and march forward....together! as parents, i want you all to be prepared for what God is going to be doing in your kids and how that is going to be effecting your family! thank you thank you thank you for sending them and entrusting them to us....i will tell you a million more times over, that seeds have been planted!....i have asked several what they think life is going to be like when they get home....how it's going to be different. i get almost the same initial response of i just don't know....but i feel strongly and i have told them this, that this is just the starting point....when we get home...the mission continues! HE is doing mighty and great things and i believe that He handpicked each of the kids to go becaues HE knew that they would say yes! so our prayer focus is still on this trip, but be ready to switch it to "bring to fruit" the seeds that are there! we love you all....sadly, i don't think any of the kids miss you though :) hahah!! i am sure that they do, but we are having a blast....
oh...one funny story...after going to the soccer game last night, we got pulled over for a routine traffic stop...the cops stand on the road and point for the vehicles to pull over...anyhow...all the kids saw this and i turned to them and asked if they all had their passports? you should have seen their faces!!! i told them that they needed their passports whereever we went and i that i had told them all this! (in reality, we took all their passports on the first day and locked them up!) somehow...they didn't remember this little detail, because they were freakin out! it was hilarious!
o.k. that's all! have an awesome day and pray hard!
Joshua 1:9
our day yesterday was spent on the base doing whatever needed to be done around here. some of us scrubbed the pool deck, some scrubbed the jerk chicken center, some of us were in an assembly line passing rocks all morning, and come were laying a new surface for the walkway and enterances to the base. all in all, it was hot and exhausting! but awesome too! we did have some scrapped knees that required no more than bandaids (so don't worry moms :)) but liv was able to help clean everyone up, and she was in her element....we now have all medical questions going to her...you should see her, she is a high school student in the H.O.E. program, but you would have thought that God just annointed her to be a nurse down here! she told me after the day was done that she was so filled. i love hearing that!
dawn mann and I are sharing a room and i love that it is on the bottom floor....if it was on the top, then no guys could come up....i think i counted just this morning, at least 5 if not more kids that wondered in for one thing or another. we never lock our doors and one morning i walked in to find 3 of our guys raiding the snack drawer :) it took all of about 5 minutes for them all to realize that the stash was in there....thank the Lord my suitcase came, because we would have ran out a long time ago had it not! the missing suitcase was filled with food!!! they are doing a very poor job rationing though....they want to stay up all night on friday adn there is going to be no way if they keep going the way that they are....there will be no sugar to help keep them awake!
with the lack of sleep, we have had to dorkiest kids emerge :) last night i came up from the rock after an amazing talk with derek to find austin A and Logan Y in their "bobo and obo" mode....they refused to talk normal and had a jamaican accent...and they talked in 3rd person....like i said, you just had to be there! logan totally got his second wind, and to look at him, he looked like a walking zombie....his eyes were completely blood shot....but man were they on a role!
as we go into our last work day, i pray that these kids learn how to finish strong...we are tired (have i said that yet?:) but today we get to work on mr. edwards's farm...this is such an experience!! i think that we will get to plant banana tree's for him. this will not be a normal indiana farm. this is a farm on a hill. we will be at an angle almost the whole day. but it is beautiful!
tomorrow we will go to ocho rios and climb the falls and shop at the market...
i can't believe that it is almost over...but this morning i felt God give me such an excitement to get home because of what He wants to do with us there! this is only the beginning for most of these kids...some it will be a middle ground...and maybe a renewed kick start...but whatever stage they are in, i feel confident that God handpicked each and every one of them for a purpose. we are a small army, and i have watched countless times these kids...all of them, lock arms (figuratively), and march forward....together! as parents, i want you all to be prepared for what God is going to be doing in your kids and how that is going to be effecting your family! thank you thank you thank you for sending them and entrusting them to us....i will tell you a million more times over, that seeds have been planted!....i have asked several what they think life is going to be like when they get home....how it's going to be different. i get almost the same initial response of i just don't know....but i feel strongly and i have told them this, that this is just the starting point....when we get home...the mission continues! HE is doing mighty and great things and i believe that He handpicked each of the kids to go becaues HE knew that they would say yes! so our prayer focus is still on this trip, but be ready to switch it to "bring to fruit" the seeds that are there! we love you all....sadly, i don't think any of the kids miss you though :) hahah!! i am sure that they do, but we are having a blast....
oh...one funny story...after going to the soccer game last night, we got pulled over for a routine traffic stop...the cops stand on the road and point for the vehicles to pull over...anyhow...all the kids saw this and i turned to them and asked if they all had their passports? you should have seen their faces!!! i told them that they needed their passports whereever we went and i that i had told them all this! (in reality, we took all their passports on the first day and locked them up!) somehow...they didn't remember this little detail, because they were freakin out! it was hilarious!
o.k. that's all! have an awesome day and pray hard!
Joshua 1:9
Thursday Morning
3-25-10
Just a quick not to the parents that the kids and everyone are doing fine. Yesterday was spent mainly on the grounds. Details to follow later :). Today we will be all working on a farm.
Just a quick not to the parents that the kids and everyone are doing fine. Yesterday was spent mainly on the grounds. Details to follow later :). Today we will be all working on a farm.
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