Lancaster Alliance Youth

Friday...

2011-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

It's Jeremy's birthday

We were challenged this morning by Pastor John Meyers during devotion time

to embrace the hardships and thorns of life and allow them to shape us into

vehicles that God can use for His glory.

He spoke of

Humility

and

God's grace

of His goodness towards those who will depend on His strength.

The kids listened intently as he spoke of his heart for the people of the City of Hammtramck

and saw the desire he has to transform the whole community.

We've been blessed to be loved on by both John and his wife, Janell...

There's a reason for these orange Crocks. John wears them EVERY day and they are a tool he uses to talk to those he meets about God's love. He wears orange ones because it represents the mix of red and yellow.

Red= God's blood

Yellow= humanity

...and their son, Seth

As I type the students and leaders are spending the morning

cleaning

the church

the church vans

and the church property

I have WiFi and time to download the videos and pictures that I've not had time to the last few days.

So here's a quick glance of

our week

and

our kids...

{Kali's lament}

{A view of the workshop where we've been building a wheelchair ramp}

{attempts...and fails}

{A trip to the ice cream shop...and thievery}

The plan is to finish up our cleaning and packing and be back on the road by 3pm.

We'll head back to Toledo where we will be attending

a Toledo Mudhen's game and fireworks.

We'll then head back to the Helton's house for the night

and be back on the road tomorrow morning around 9...

If we're lucky, we'll have a little of this to look forward to:

Thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf...
there's more fun to be had and we're going to soak it all in until the last minute!

A little of yesterday and today...

2011-07-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

It's mid-afternoon and I've finally been able to check for a wifi connection. It's been on-again, off-again all week and I decided to take advantage of it while I can! Thanks for those of you who've been leaving messages for your kids...if I can keep the connection, I'll make sure I have them sit down and read them.

Yesterday was a busy day for our kids. The older kids spent another long day building the deck, but we were blessed with a cool breeze and no humidity, so they returned with more energy than they had the day before. They ended their day with a cook-out for the Acts 29 youth group.

The 9th and 10th graders split up their day with construction of a ramp, Bible clubs, ESL and ended their day in the park with some of the middle school kids from the community. The local kids were full of energy and had seemingly endless amount of room for food. They had a great time playing games with our kids and putting together banks that they will use to save $30 to attend the Acts 29 summer camp. Our kids were surprised at how eager the local kids were to play and interact.

We all hit our beds with about as much eagerness after such a long day. Before we knew it, the alarm was going off and it was time to start again.

{The girls enjoyed the "Broadway" rendition of "Rise and Shine" performed by Wendy.}

After a breakfast of pancakes and sausage, we were split back up into our groups to continue on with the different projects we'd been working on.

Parents, I think you would be really proud of the way your students have worked hard and conducted themselves. They are having a BLAST working alongside each other!

Each day we have been led in devotions by one or two students. We've been working through the Fruit of the Spirit and the kids have done a great job researching their assigned "Fruit" and sharing with the rest of the group. We've also gathered for a time of prayer over the students, two at a time...they are sweet times of circling together in one accord.

.............................................................................

It's evening now...as it is, it seems I get about five minutes at a time to sit here...and then the moment is gone.

SO...now it's dinner time and we're headed out to a Middle Eastern Restaurant-having absolutely no idea what to expect, except FLEXIBILITY.

We're getting good at it...seriously, just ask your kids.

From now until FOREVER, they will be flexible to do

ANYthing and EVERYthing

you want them to do-

I promise.

Because I'm pretty sure my five minutes is about to end,

I'll post a bunch of random pics of the last two days...

Enjoy!

......................................

Yep...as I suspected...I've just been called away...

This is only about 1/3 of the pictures I wanted to post.

there's always tomorrow...

Good morning...

2011-07-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

I had trouble sending a post last night....no matter what I tried, I could not connect to wifi.

After a good night's rest

we are all gathered together at the church...

The smell of bacon has drifted to every floor of the church

as we all wait in anticipation of breakfast and a new day of work.

{Chef Kim and Chef Renee}

We've been split into three groups.

Today,

Team one {All 11th-12th graders} will continue to build a deck

Team two will begin constructing a wheelchair ramp for one of the church members

and later will do an event for Middle Schoolers

{Kierstin, Emma, Kali, Drew and Jason}

Team three will put on a Kids Camp for a nearby neighborhood

{Kelly, Courtney, Emily, Faith, Wendy and Terri}

We'd appreciate your prayers throughout the day.

We've had no major injuries

{Kierstin's big, bad blister injury}

{SOMEone must be praying,

we have power tools!!!}

All is well...

2011-07-13T05:09:00.001-07:00

No pictures tonight...I have about 21 seconds to write and push send before we are loaded up

and sent over to the apartment where we will be staying for the next few nights.

The boys will be going in one direction, and the girls in the other.

It's been a very hot day, but the kids have worked hard through every minute.

This evening we sat through a class with the church that was very interesting and the kids were challenged to know what they believe and how to share their faith with those around them. We just returned from a tour of a Mosque down the street where we sat through the call to worship and the prayer time.

Your kids have a lot of things to share, I'm sure!

I'll try to get a few minutes to update tomorrow with some pictures...

until then, please continue to pray for health and safety tomorrow.

*A group of kids will continue to work on a deck nearby

*Another group of kids will take part in a children's day camp

*The last team will do an event for Middle Schooler's in the park

Thanks so much for checking in on us...

leave your kids some comments, they love checking to see who's reading!

Day 1...

2011-07-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let you all know we've made it safely to Toledo.

We met this morning bright and early...

Packed up the vans and the trailer

were covered over in prayer by Pastor Doug

~~endured~~ enjoyed hugs from friends and family

And finally we were on our way...

{with only one mishap}

we napped a little

ate a little

played a little

laughed a little

posed a little

{and a lot}

all in all it was a fantastic day...

We're staying in the home of Renee's friends.

They've been generous enough to open every floor to us...

and we are sprawled out EVERYwhere!

They fed us...

and allowed us to enjoy their beautiful yard

I'm sitting alone at a booth in the local Burger King

{"stealing" a little WiFi}

while Renee does a little grocery shopping next door.

Just wanted you parents to know

we're here...

we're having fun...

and we're ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

{The plan is to be back on the road at 8:30am and, as I understand it,

we are about two hours away from Hamtramack}

Thanks for your prayers throughout the day,

we covet them greatly throughout the next few days.

Oh, note to Pastor Carl...

you should probably know that Jason may need some disciplinary action

based on the depth of his competitiveness

and his scare tactics...

just saying...

teamwork...

2011-07-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

We've been making lists and piles

our bags are packed up and waiting to be loaded...

We're sleeping one last time in the comfort of our air conditioned homes...

Tomorrow at 9am we'll be packed into two vans and a trailer...

waving our last

goodbyes

and

see ya later's

.....

We're ready for whatever lies ahead.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,

you must clothe yourselves with

tenderhearted mercy,

kindness,

humility,

gentleness,

and patience.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you,

so you must forgive others.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love,

which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

And...

whatever you do or say,

do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Colossians 3:12-17

We're looking forward to traveling and serving together this week!

In union there is strength. ~Aesop

{google images}

Be intentional....

2011-07-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

FOR US:

"Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention...."

FOR THEM:

"Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand..."

Philippians 2

Be prepared...

2011-07-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

"But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully."
I Peter 3:15

We cannot give out what we do not have.
So, Today,
devote a longer time to sitting with the LORD
and
growing in HIM...
so that you are ready to give an answer
for the HOPE that is IN you.

Draw near to HIM
and
HE will draw near to you...

Today's scripture...

2011-07-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Michigan team:
If you're doing your homework,

{AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE!!!!!}

then this is just a review of what you read this morning

when you were praying for Faith and Nathan...

But it's good stuff, and I thought it worthy of being reminded of:

{Plus, I like to read in several versions and I really liked this version}

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters,work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

II Peter 1:3-11 NLT

So, today, as you read the WORD, don't just read...obey.

Ready yourself for whatever God has in store for the next 9 days, and beyond.

He's given you EVERYTHING you need for godliness.

COUNT DOWN: 4 more days!

New Chapter...

2011-07-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

For 4 summers in a row we have been blogging here as we've taken our youth on

various missions and conference trips.

We're about to embark on a new adventure as we pack up

2 vans, 16 students and 6 leaders

and travel Westward to Hamtramack, Michigan.

Hamtramack is located inside the city of Detroit.

We will be working alongside a C&MA Church called Acts 29 Fellowship

Here's what the church has to say about their communityy:

"The city of Hamtramck is home to five major people groups: African American, Polish, Arab, Bosnian and Asian Indians (from Bangladesh). The two square miles of Detroit that are within our target area for ministry is 80% African American. This empowerment community represents some of the lowest standard marks in the nation in terms of family structure, economics, education, employment development, and housing. The Christian faith is proclaimed by some, but not lived out in any way. More prevalent is the Islamic faith, which is proclaimed by nearly 60% of the population of Hamtramck."

We have the opportunity to join Acts 29 in reaching their community for Christ this week. We are going as willing hands and feet, ready to do whatever tasks we are given. For some of our students, this will be their first trip away from home in which there is not a "schedule of events" set in stone. They will be stretched in ways they have not had to be before and will need to practice

FLEXIBILITY and SELFLESSNESS

...but we are confident that this is GOOD and that they are up to the challenge!

Click HERE for a look at what other teams have been doing at Acts 29 Fellowship

Would you join us in praying for our group?

We go as as servants of Christ,

but we are not unaware that the enemy would like to trip us up along the way and distract us

from serving and from growing.

Pray for the students {and leaders} as they prepare

their hearts for service

and

their bodies for travel...

We'll update here whenever we have free time and free wifi

Join us...

I can't seem to stay away...

2010-07-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

I find myself back here this morning...because, though my body is back in Lancaster, so much of my heart is still sitting back in Kentucky with our students. I woke thinking of them and praying that transition for them is easier than it is for me. God always blesses me with the ability to be fully present each time I go on a missions trip, conference or retreat with our youth...while still my top priority, "home" is left there for just a little while.{Alex, Nick and Emma...you still matter MORE!!!} This year I left behind an impending move and all that it entails in the next few days...I barely even thought about the fact that I'd have my head in boxes and cleaning....I forgot all about the fact that I had to work out Alex's student loan information...forgot about the bills that were waiting for me to get home...forgot about the fact that I'm still looking for a job....for one blissful week, my focus shifted from resonsiblility at home to responsibility with our students. But now I'm back...and all those things are staring impatiently in my face!

So...I figure if these things are battling me, probably they are doing the same for our other leaders and students too. I'm hoping they all had the ability to sleep in like I did...not sure I'm caught up...we estimate the leaders had about 3-4 hrs of sleep each night.

{Picture courtesy of Amber Jacoby Photography}

Like I said the other day, it's hard to get right back into things when your heart has been focused in another area...when you've heard great teachers and music and encouragement for 5 straight days. For that reason, my day is paced slowly and worship music is blaring in the background.

I'm excited to see the kids again at the end of the week. I'm so encouraged to see that the Lord is working in each of them...and I'm praying they'll keep letting Him. Often after a conference like this the enemy likes to put his dirty mitts in the middle of our stuff and twist us all up with distraction. I'm praying that while the kids get back into their schedules and real life that they will be on guard and aware the the enemy would like to use busyness and people to shift their focus off of what God has been doing in them and RUN the other direction before he digs in.

Students...keep both feet in the fight towards becoming all that God is laying out for you. Pursue Him continually. Invite Him to be a part of every corner of your life. Ask Him tough questions...and let Him answer. Never stop running towards Him and the things that are close to His heart.

Listen.

Worship.

Be amazed.

Holly, Rob, Steve, Kim and I are so proud of each one of you. We see possibility and anticipate great things in your futures. You've been set apart for God's use...we pray you will allow Him to lead you forward...

Saturday evening...

2010-07-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where to start this post...the last 2 hours have been a bit of a whirl...and alot emotional around here. And I'm not sure I can articulate clearly why...but I'll try.

There's been alot of things brewing through the hearts of our students this week. Some of them have brewed silently, and a few have spoken to some leaders about the thoughts they've been having and the things that the Lord has been speaking into them. Our group discussion before dinner was the beginning of something good happening among us. The kids felt a real freedom to share their hearts and open up in front of each other. Holly asked them if they'd be willing to share what God has been doing throughout the week...and here's some of their responses:

"I am beginning to realize how big God's love for me is"

"God understands my pain"

"We're at war and we need to be prepared"

"I need to let Jesus live through me so my friends will know that I love Him"

"I know what I should be doing...I just need to do it"

"I'm trying to wrap my head around my faith-and my eyes are being opened"

We felt a sense that the LORD has been working among us all week...and He has.

During the closing ceremony this evening we had a time of worship and celebration for the way the Spirit has moved among us and done His work to draw us closer to Himself. We were challenged by Jason Ostrander to continue on in the things that God has been speaking to us and allow Him to finish His work. He then extended an invitation to those who had made salvation decisions throughout the week to stand and be welcomed into the Kingdom of God.....all over the arena students stood to their feet and were cheered on and clapped for. It was a really moving moment.

Afterwards Jason invited those who have been wrestling God this week over a call to ministry- whether it is full-time or part-time- to stand in commitment to this call. There was movement around every corner of the room as students stood, some before he had even finished speaking, and others almost reluctantly-as if continuing to wrestle. Four of our own students were among those who made commitments to ministry of some sort. Three of them stood to obey a call to pursue missions and one to a call towards music ministry. It's hard to explain the feelings and emotions among our group...hard to put into words from my perspective, too. Nick was among those who stood, and watching him struggle to obey God tugged at my mother heart...it brought back to me thoughts of so many Missions Festivals when I have repeatedly given each of my kids back to the Lord to use as He sees fit. Nick's heart has always been tender towards mission work..and yet he's struggled throughout the week to distinguish his voice from the God's. And, even up to the moment he stood was sure that he wasn't going to stand...in his words,

"Mom, I wasn't going to stand...I didn't want to, it scares me...but even though I didn't want to, without thinking about it, I was standing."

That same story was repeated in several of the kids. THAT's what God has been up to this week...and so much more. Remember our earlier prayer for unity? God is doing a new thing in that regard, too. As often happens with our groups, living together 24/7 can do lots of things; it can cause friction and frustration...but it can also cause friendship. I'll be honest, I think we had a fair share of the first two earlier in the week, but as the week has progressed, it's been a really neat thing to see the kids learn to love each other and encourage each other. I've seen it happen after previous LIFE Conferences, and I had hope that it would happen again with this group.

God has been really good to us this week. I can't tell you how sweet it has been to watch the progression of each student throughout the last few days. Every one of them has had a new root planted in them...for some it was more obvious and clear, and for others it was another step towards understanding God. For us leaders it has been a great thing to watch.

Parents, I KNOW you would be so proud to see your kids this week. We agreed that it's a privilege to have been allowed to spend this week with them. We're ready to head back...but it has been a wonderful time for every one of us.

So, here's the schedule for tomorrow morning:

We plan to pull the bus out of the parking lot at 6am {yikes, 4 1/2 hours from now!} we will travel a few hours so the kids can sleep, stop for a late breakfast, travel some more, have a late lunch, a potty break, and hopefully will be home around 8pm.

*Pray that Rob and Steve get the rest they need in the next few hours...they're emotionally drained from meeting with a few of the boys this evening to talk about commitments made, etc.

*Pray for safety as we travel

*Pray that we would transition well to our regular schedules

Can I also give you a heads-up about something else? A warning, I suppose, your kids have had a really exceptional week. They've had some freedom to be {somewhat} independant from you this week, they've heard alot of messages, they've learned alot of new things, and they've lost alot of sleep! For that reason, I'd like to encourage you to hold back on questioning and probing them about their week for a day or two. I can tell you only from my experiences that there is a sort of low that you go through when you walk back into your life after being in a "Jesus bubble" for a week. Real life is hard, and it's not easy re-entering it. Please be patient and let them process...in time they will be ready to spill out everything, but it may take a while. As an adult it's still difficult for me to go right back into mom roll - and I know that it'll be even more difficult for them. You've got great kids...in time they will process their thoughts and begin to share.

thanks again for letting the leaders serve your kids this week...we love what we do!

Saturday morning...

2010-07-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

We all woke with bittersweet thoughts about this being our last day of LIFE. On one hand, it's been such a great week of living in a totaly "Jesus bubble" and it's been great....and on the other hand, it's time to get home-back to reality and get on with summer. {And, some of us are kind of missing our families!}

The day started like all the rest...by meeting at 7am for breakfast. {*Note to parents: Just thought you should know your kids are REALLY good at getting up before 7am, showering and sitting at the breakfast table before 7:30 on a summer day} Our first session included a parade of nations with all of the home assignment missionaries. The kids gave them a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes...We also had communion together....all 7,000 of us...and took an offering for the Great Commission Fund...it was an AWESOME morning!

After the session, we split up to go to small seminar groups, then met back together for lunch. Right now we're all crashed out at the hotel...napping or playing games or just sitting around and chatting. We all needed some down time before we meet at 4 for some group time and then back to the arena for dinner and the closing ceremony.

Please continue to pray for all of us as we finish out this evening.

We want to finish well and continue to hear God's voice.

...back again later for pictures and information about our departure tomorrow morning...

A few pictures....

2010-07-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

Again...I'm too tired to think. We started our day at 5:45 and are finally settled in the hotel at 11:52. WE'RE BEAT!!! Sorry, I'm opting for a quick post and getting some sleep.

Today is Nathan Staherski's 15th birthday...

he celebrated with a box of Swiss Roll Cakes!

Nick, Kyle and Jared hanging out at the band booths...

{with Bradley Hathaway}

{with Trace Bundy}

{stealing a picture behind Logan Martin}

{poser}

I didn't take alot of pictures, but it was another great day with the kids. We continue to have some really interesting speakers and worship times and I believe there is some stirring in the hearts of some of the kids. It's been really neat to see the kids so eager to choose seminars to attend and hear them processing the information afterwards. As leaders, we spent some time together praying for one student who is wrestling with the possibility that God is calling them into ministry in the future...we are so excited to watch some progression in this student and see their hesitation and fear turn to curiosity and possible openess.

So much of the talks this week have been on listening to what God has to say about how we should live and then doing those things. I pray these messages will be forever embedded into the hearts of the students and their faith will become part of every corner of their lives. We've heard testimony from several former LIFE attendees who have made about-face changes in their lives after LIFE and are now living lives completely sold-out to Christ. The students have been told over and over this week that following God may mean alot of hard choices. It may mean doing something you're not comfortable doing, giving something up you don't want to or loving someone who is impossible to love. They've heard that God likes us to be in impossible situations for the sole purpose that He would be glorified when we give up our will to follow His.

The night ended with a missions theme and a call to offer our help to Alliance projects in need. The Alliance Youth Project offering is going to be taken tomorrow morning and the kids were left with a challenge to give what they can and see what great things the LORD will do with it.

Oh! I almost forgot. The group of 6,500 people in the arena made it in the Guiness World Records. We played the largest game of Rock, Paper, Scissors ever recorded. Funny!

My eyes are closing as I type...no sign of making up that lost sleep anytime soon!

Tomorrow is our last day here. It's a pretty packed with activities and speakers and fun. We're all thoroughly enjoying the week, but I think we'll be ready to head back home when the time comes.

For now, GOOD NIGHT...

{back again tomorrow if I get a chance!}

Thursday with Derwin..

2010-07-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

So..part of the problem of having such a full schedule is that I don't get a chance to sit here until late at night, and then I'm too tired to have complete thoughts. BUT...if I had all my wits about me, I would share about how awesome our speaker, Derwin Gray, was this morning. He spoke about the incarnation of God. How He came down so that we could have relationship with Him. He talked about how God is our relentless pursuer and how He wants to be the One who we get our worth from.

"Don't surrender your Divine Birthright to other people's opinions and plans for you"

"You are my treasured possession"

"You are a chosen people"

Derwin challenged the kids not to underestimate the power that they have to change the world around them.

"God's objective for young people is this: that they are ambassadors to this world and HE wants to change the world through them."

Derwin also shared the deep love God has for each of us and His desire for our lives to collide with His. You can't imagine how it looks to see over 6,500 teenagers bending their bodies forward to listen intently to this man speak. He challenged the kids in some very practical ways.

We also enjoyed some great worship music, as well as poetry by Bradley Hathaway

The afternoon was spent at the Louisville Slugger Stadium, where we enjoyed a concert by the band, "Kutless", dinner, and a baseball game. During the middle of the 5th inning we were called on to do a little dance that all 6,500 of us have been working on all week. Just a few minutes ago Joe Burchill called to say that our "dancing" had made it on the News! It had to have been over 100 degrees outside, but it really was alot of fun!

Kutless

A bunch of kids ate HUGE sno comes to cool off...

Anyway, if I had my thoughts together...or maybe if I just had a tiny bit more sleep, then I could tell you story after story about the ways the kids have been getting along and enjoying being together. These really are some great kids, and I believe they are being challenged and transformed.

The song playing in the background is one of the songs we've been singing all week, it is another message of God's greal LOVE for us.

Before I go...two short messages to the kids I left at home...

ALEX:

I didn't get much of Trace Bundy's performance, but here's a little clip for you!

{It won't download!!!!! Sorry, Alex, here's a picture instead...}

Emma...

It's possible...MAYBE I bought this shirt for you.

I thought it was cute...and a little funny!

{Miss you guys...thanks for keeping things together at home!}

I'm off to bed...the other leaders have beaten me to it!

Wednesday morning...

2010-07-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

A quick look at our day so far...

starting the day out with worship

{The Logan Martin Band}

Opening session w/ Francis Chan

{love him!}

FUN in the Activity Room

Janae bungie jumping

Isaiah and Austin in the sumo suits!

Heather, Janae, Holly and Kim

Our first large group session:

2010-07-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

I thought you would enjoy a glimpse of our first session before we head off to bed for some much needed sleep...you'll probably need to stop the music that is playing in the background first.

WARNING: this is LOUD....but if we sat through it, you can too!

The evening ended with the CM&A President, Gary Benedict giving us a blessing, asking the LORD to work for us, in us and through us during the week. We met as small groups to discuss the evening and pray together...and now we're heading to bed!

More to come tomorrow...

Good night!

we've arrived!

2010-07-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

After a VERY long ride with VERY little sleep among us, we have FINALLY arrived safely.

After a time of prayer, we posed and

anxiously awaited departure...

the bus ride went smoothly- lots of sleeping, laughing, and fun!

We awakened to a beautiful sunrise and headed to Cracker Barrel for an EARLY breakfast...

{waiting...}

{and waiting...}

{LARGE sodas for breakfast!}

{Plates of carbs...gravy, grits and biscuits!}

We're off to a good start...ready for things to get off the ground in about two hours. There's a sense of excitement among the kids--and many of them are at the LIFE Store as I type spending MONEY...prepare for loads of tshirts and sweatshirts to be coming your way soon!

Thanks for your prayers for safety...

Continue to pray for unity and open hearts for each student...

Loading up and heading out

2010-07-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

In 23 hours we will be well on our way to Kentucky. I have a HUGE list of things waiting for me to do in the morning...but for tonight, I'm going to bed with this thought on my mind:

She just said what I'm praying each student will be able to say after this week...a prayer uttered from their gut- a surrender of self and an invitation to allow nothing to be off limits to the LORD. I believe that is God's heart for these students too...and I believe it can happen.

I woke up with LIFE on my mind...

2010-06-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

like so many other times in the last few days, I woke up thinking about our trip next week, and especially our group of students. {they are never far from my mind...is that weird?} During my quiet time this morning I spent some time thinking about some of the relationships that our students have with each other, and that was the topic of my prayer time....I looked at my list of individuals and marveled at how awesome each of these kids are. They are so unique! Their personalities come flying out on and you don't have to spend too much time with any one of them but that you've got them pegged....and put them in a group together....they are hysterical! But, sometimes personalities don't mesh easily and there becomes a division of groups among them.

So, here's my thoughts on this this morning. I'm praying for unity among these kids. I'm praying that the LORD would begin a good work of connecting this group as one body. Not just by appearance, but thoroughly through each heart. Freshman with seniors and girls with guys. I'm praying that the guys would accept and encourage one another...that they would also have patience with the girls {even IF, dare I say, there may be a little drama throughout the week...it could happen}. I'm praying that the girls would encourage and embrace each other...that they would appreciate the differences in personality and really love each other with a Christ-like love {AND not get totally annoyed with the crazy ways boys communicate and express themselves...it's going to happen...no doubt in my mind, I live with teenage boys.} I'm praying that not only will there be an overhaul of individual hearts, but that there will also be an overhaul of the group collectively. And that by the end of the week, after spending 24 hours together, each individual student will see the others the way God does.

Among these students is great potential. There are musicians, artists, athletes, scholars, comedians and more...individually they are something else. I pray that together they would be even more powerful for God. I believe HE is working out some pretty awesome things for this youth group. I see it happening and I'm anticipating that the week ahead of us will mesh personalities, cause them to see each other with God's eyes and begin to really unify them as ONE group, instead of several. I know it can happen...because I believe it is God's heart for them.

As individual believers we can be strong in this world, but put an army of other believers behind us and our strength grows immeasurably. That's what I want for each of these students...I want them to know that they always have a group that has their back and will walk beside them throughtout these difficult teenage years. I believe in their ability to be that group...and I'm anticipating that GOD is in the process of working to make that happen even in the coming week.

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity..."

Colossians 3:14

So, if you wake up with LIFE on your mind...please pray for us. Pray that each student would come with open hearts and be moldable. Please pray for the leaders to give wise counsel throughout the week...to give an atmosphere of openness so that the students will free to share and express themselves, if need be. There's no doubt in my mind that there will be ALOT of laughter and fun throughout the week- we thoroughly enjoy this group- but more than anything, we hope that every single student will arrive home more in love with Jesus and each other than the day they stepped on the bus...

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus..."

Romans 15:5

8 days, people!

2010-06-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

In 8 days and two hours we will be pulling out of the church driveway with a busload of 23 students, 23 suitcases, 23 carry-ons, and 5 leaders {and probably 5 cups of coffee}.

We're excited and ready to go! The students have been looking forward to LIFE for about a year...some of them for three years, since they attended the last LIFE Conference and spent an unforgettable week in Orlando, Fl. I hear it's just about as hot in Kentucky these days, so for those who missed out on Orlando, you'll possibly get a taste of it when you walk out the hotel doors in KY. It's funny, I think the leaders are just about as excited for the trip as the students are- I'm not exactly sure how to interpret that...either we are crazy or we really, really love spending time with these kids...or both.

As an adult I know that it takes preparation to really get the most out of these conferences. Scores of people have been working behind the scenes at Life Impact Ministries to set this conference into full swing. And as far as conferences go, my experience has been that the LIFE conferences are done with excellence. There is a permanent vision in my head of the last LIFE conference...it goes like this:

5,ooo teenagers

a dark arena

worship music

communion

glow sticks

It was an unforgettable evening...

I'm also aware that it's not enough for all of the people behind the scenes to be preparing and working...all of us who are attending have a responsibility to prepare, too. We can show up Tuesday afternoon ready to be entertained and taught, and I'm pretty sure that will happen. But, if we really want to be changed and renewed, then we have a part to play, too.

To the students:

The time is almost here. I know you're excited to start packing at the end of the week. I know you can't wait to spend a week w/out your siblings {and dare I mention your parents?}. I know you've been waiting all year for this trip- some of you have even mentioned to me that you are really looking forward to seeing what God wants to teach you during LIFE. Some of you are hoping God is going to say something BIG to you that will help you change the direction you are going in. I hear a desire to follow God...and alot of depending on the speakers and worship leaders to get you to listen to Him.

I couldn't help thinking of all these things this morning as Pastor Carl was teaching on Jonah. I thought of many of you by name as he was retelling the story of a Prophet who ran away from God's voice. Hear me clearly when I say this - I'm not saying that your questioning is ANY different than some of the questioning that comes from adults at times. But, I've recently spoken to many of you who know what it is to be obedient to God, and who spend alot of time running in the other direction from Him. I don't think it's an intentional running...I really don't...but I do think it's easier to run than it is to stay and take instructions.

So, why bring this up?

Here's the deal. I KNOW you want to do what is right. I KNOW you are attending LIFE not just because your friends are going and because it's great entertainment. I KNOW that you are going because you want to be open to God's voice. And because I know these things, I'm making one request of you this week:

Amidst the busyness of your week- the time spent on your ipods, computers, and with friends- set aside an allotted amount of time with God THIS week. Ask Him to meet with you this week so that next week you can meet with him as friends....not strangers. Ask Him to spend time with you as you prepare your hearts to be open to His whisperings. Ask Him...I dare you! I promise He will show up, be glad to join you, and will guide you as you ask Him to help you be faithful to Him. I'm going to do the same this week - and I hope that you'll find it makes a difference in me as it also makes a difference in you. {You can be assured that your leaders are praying for you all by name...we want nothing more than to see you fall in line with God's plan for your lives and your futures}

Rest up this week a little, too...I'm pretty you'll find you will need it!!!

Have a great week, you guys!

See you at the bonfire at the Herr's on Wednesday!

one month shy of a year...

2010-06-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

...since I've posted on this blog! I just looked at the date of the last posting - unbelievable how fast a year has gone by. Last year at this time, a team of students and leaders were preparing for a two week trip to Gabon, Africa...and again this year, we are planning and preparing for a new trip together. This one is a little closer to home- a 10 drive by bus instead of almost 24 hrs start to finish by plane. Our destination - LIFE 2010 Conference. One of the most amazing opportunities our students have to gather together with other teens of our denomination under one roof. We're gearing up for a week of some awesome speakers, great times of worship and abundant opportunities to connect within our own student ministries. Our kids {and, I might add, our five leaders} are excited and ready to begin our road trip and stand poised and ready to be challenged and changed during this week.

In past LIFE conferences many of our students have gone forward to receive Christ for the first time, recommitted their lives to God and committed to fulltime ministry & missions. This week is all about growing and changing. Our students will be stretched as they listen to deep speakers, worship in music with thousands of other teens and connect with the rest of the group {four teens to a room, folks, that's real connection!}. There'll be lots of listening, learning and certainly ALOT of laughing!!! {Seriously, if you have not taken the time to get to know our students, you are TRULY missing out on alot of laughing!}

The theme of this year's conference is

COLLIDE...what happens when your world meets God’s world?

The LIFE 2010 website describes the conference like this,

"Imagine thousands of students authentically experiencing God and being inspired to expand His Kingdom. Imagine worshipping and growing closer to Christ. Imagine connecting with new friends, serving together and helping church plants. Imagine tons of seminars and workshops, awesome concerts and incredible experiences. That’s what LIFE is all about."

We're excited to have Francis Chan back with us as our main speaker again this year.

Many of us have read his books "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God" and know that God is working with him to present some pretty challenging messages to our students. We'll also have the opportunity to worship with some great musicians - some of which are playing in the background as you read this.

Check out the LIFE website {click on the link above} and stop one of our students in the hallway - they're REALLY excited for this trip and would be glad to tell you about it! We'll be blogging here throughout the week of LIFE to update with pictures, stories and prayer requests so stop by often. PLEASE pray for our students as they prepare for this trip. Pray that the LORD would grip each heart and transform each one of their lives to mirror HIS. These are students with GREAT potential to change their worlds, pray that the pressures around them would diminsh so that they will choose to follow hard after Him with a radical faith.

Thank you, parents, for allowing us to accompany your children and love on them as they reshape their lives for Christ...each one of us take our jobs seriously and look forward to seeing what God has in store for each of them. We do what we do because it is our desire to raise up a new generation of Christians who follow daily after Christ with total self-abandonment. We're so privileged to be a part of their lives

Inside out...

2009-07-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

So, I just found this little bit from Francis Chan about the song that seems to have become the "theme song" of our team....I LOVE Francis Chan so I downloaded the 8 minute clip for your enjoying pleasure, too! He's spoken at the last few LIFE Conferences and has blessed me each time. Apparently the song that has spoken to each of us also made an impact on him. Actually, I guess for me, the song continues to speak to me...each time I hear it I think it's message sinks deeper in me. It's encouraging and convicting all at the same time. Mostly it just makes me want to be more and more real....let the real me stand up and take notice.

I've been thinking alot about our time in Africa...now that I'm 10 days back in the states I think I'm beginning to have a better perspective! Strange, though, how these 10 days have gone by so quickly. The 10 days in Africa were so rich and filled with new discoveries that it honestly felt more like a couple of months for all the relationships we formed and the experiences we had. That's really hard to explain to someone who waited stateside for 10 days for us to return. 10 days here are so different than 10 days overseas. It's hard to explain that you could love something or someone so much after only knowing them for 10 days...but I think each of us would attest to such deep feelings for the love of the Country of Gabon and its' people. It's a surreal experience in a surreal amount of time.

But, really...now we're home...our families have eased back into the routine of having us home, and we have no choice but to fit back in, too. So how do we fit? How do we squeeze the piece of the puzzle that is our life into the same space it used to fit in...our piece has changed shape..it's been pulled and stretched and no longer takes on the same form. So how does it fit?

It brings me back to the song that is probably still playing in the background. How do I, as a resident of Lancaster County, live my life in a way that the things of Africa that I've tucked away inside me begin to flow out of my everyday life here? How do I let those most private workings that the Lord has whispered inside me pour out into my everyday life? What does it really look like to live "inside out"?

I guess that's the challenge we all must face when we come home from a mission's trip with our worlds rocked off their foundations...the challenge is not just to listen to what the Spirit is showing us, but to put it into action and live it out. Sometimes the listening is the easy part...it's the acting out 24/7 that is the challenge. It doesn't come easy for any of us...I don't think it's supposed to, though...our struggle to do and be what God calls us to is our reminder that we need Him every second, minute, and hour of our day. Were it too easy, we'd have no need to invite Him along.

The older I get the more I realize I can't do this life-thing alone. I stand at a place right now where I must make some big decisions on some things that will affect the rest of my life, and my family's lives. I can't make them alone...and I wasn't meant to. I'm learning that in order to live "inside out" in the way Christ calls us to, I'd better be intentional about putting the right things "in". So, I'm reading...and listening...and asking...and waiting.

Let's resolve to live Inside Out...not just to say it each time the song comes on the radio, but to allow it's message to consume us and control our every move. The message is God's call to arms for each of His children...so that the world may know Him.

really? are you sure???

2009-07-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

So, we're scheduled to give an update about our trip tomorrow morning in church....and we're all thinking NOW??!! We met together last night to discuss what we'd be presenting, and we agreed that it's so soon to be able to process and even verbalize all that is going through our hearts and minds. How do we share the details when we're still trying to absorb them ourselves?!

I think we came up with a good plan of sharing a few individual thoughts, and we're trusting that the Lord will touch our lips to speak what we feel so inadequate to communicate. I, personally, am struggling to put the right words to the thoughts I want to share...I can't seem to get them down on paper. Can't seem to have a coherent thought much of the time! I decided that part of the reason is that I went back to work too soon...didn't give my head a chance to process and download.

So, I locked the doors and left work early today...didn't even care that it's not the proper thing to do! I stopped at Costco to develop my pictures, and while waiting for them to be processed I walked around. I had the strangest urgency to get out of there...and I can't really figure out why. I tried to explain it to my kids, but all I can think of is that the last time I walked into a store, it was in Ebel-abunga.....and it was SMALL, and DIRTY, and had only NECESSITIES. It was nothing like the mega warehouse I was wandering around in, and it just didn't seem right....it didn't seem right that we should have SO much in such a big space, when they had SO little in such a tiny space. Two weeks ago walking around Costco was normal....I never thought twice about it. I know better than to think that means I need to pack my bags, denounce my citizenship and head East...but it does get me thinking of what I call "normal". Who said the American "normal" is right, and who decides what the norm will be anyway?

I don't know, maybe I'm over-reacting and should just get a grip....or maybe I'm processing more than I thought I was. We are a stuff-loving nation...and we have WAY too much to choose from. And, yet, we don't even know it. We're on visual overload and all we want is more. What I wouldn't do to grab an armload of that "stuff" and shove it into Mr. UPS mans arms and ship it to that little shop owner in the village...he wouldn't know what to do with himself! His customers wouldn't know what to do with it. And, actually, it would never sell because they buy only what they need....there's no extra money for anything else.

We could learn a thing or two from our village friends....they have so much need, and yet they don't even seem to know it. I want to live like that. I know that today's reaction will lessen and I'll once again walk the aisles of Costco...and even buy a thing or two, but I hope I never again take for granted the magnitude of choice we have at our fingertips. I mean, who cares how many different kinds of blenders or microwaves there are??? We have so many choices that we waste half our life away trying to figure out which one will work best for us. If we had less choices we'd have more time to do the things that really matter.

I'm rambling now...and beginning to sound judgemental...not what I meant to do. So the best thing to do would be to slip into my comfortable bed with clean sheets and thank the Lord -He's been WAY too good to me.

Home...

2009-07-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

We're here...still torn w/mixed emotions, but our bodies are back in the US, safely back in our own homes. Nick and I had a great night's sleep in our own beds. It wasn't as hard as I expected it might be to sleep INSIDE and in a QUIET room ALONE! Clean sheets have never felt so good! And the shower....the water bill may possibly be a little high this month!

I'm sitting here this morning with so much laundry to start and life to return to....just not sure where to begin. I know from past missions trips that this is a struggle for me...to somehow transition from life a world away to an immediate thrust back into my own reality of life. It's hard. I've got worship music playing through the house in an attempt to keep my mind where it needs to be and not allow frustration and a sense of sadness spread. As one of the team members said yesterday to me, it is almost as if we're dealing with a death.

It's really a hard emotion to explain...that you can be right in your own life and what was once familiar seems foreign....and what is foreign somehow feels like home. We were prepped for such emotions, but they're still surprising each time you feel them.

I'm sitting with the phone beside me right now...dialing and redialing AirFrance in an attempt to recover my journal that was left on our flight yesterday. I spent hours and hours writing and reflecting while we were gone....it is my way of connecting to my environment and writing down the things the Lord is showing me. I can't tell you the weight I felt yesterday when I discovered it was missing-I know right where it sits. I figured it was just gone and there was no use even trying to find it...until this morning I was going to just let it go. But, I figure I'll make one effort to recover it....then let it go. There's something comforting about that little book...it holds words and feelings that I can't seem to say outloud right now. It makes no sense to me that it should be left behind...it seems to hold a key to my remembering the things He's doing in me. SO, until I'm told it's impossible to find, I'll keep calling!

I'm not sure how many of my teamates will think to look back on here, but if you're reading, I want each of you to know how impressed I am with you! You made it through some of the toughest circumstances of your life...and made it through well! I saw in many of you a new spark...the beginning of something that God is planting in your lives. I know each of the leaders were blessed and privileged to join you on this trip...and we look on in anticipation as we watch what God is doing in your lives.

Settle in...be free to enjoy home. THIS is where God has you today...find joy in being where He has you. Take your time...before long the new you will mesh with the old you and home will be home again...

on our way...

2009-07-07T22:50:00.000-07:00

The internet was down at the Brokopps before we left last night, so I didn't get a chance to let you know we were on our way. We left there last night around 7pm to catch our 9:55 flight out of Libreville.

There were MANY, MANY tears shed as we left. The students really bonded w/several of the African Christian teens...there were 2 young men who travelled w/us throughout the week that joined us at the airport to say goodbye. They were just as tearful as our kids. There is nothing more moving than teenage boys shedding tears over new friendships....but they unashamedly said their goodbyes. And then AGAIN when they all showed up around the corner while we waited in line....and AGAIN when they stood outside a window as we waited in another line!!! By the end, we were all BEGGING them to leave so the tears would stop!!! But some of the students entered the plane w/heavy hearts anyway.

Our flight was 6 hrs long and a few caught some sleep during that time...I did NOT! We're waiting in Paris right now for our flight to Dulles in about an 1 1/2hrs. (I was surprised to find a little internet cafe, and am enjoying a GREAT cup of coffee as I type! yay! Comfort of home!!!)

Just a heads up for all the parents and family members...your students are really torn about heading home. While they are so excited to see you, there is so much processing that still has to be done in the next days and weeks. They are hesitant about reacclimating...and even about all the questions that you will inevitably have for them. Please be patient with us all...we are struggling...torn between two worlds. Know that in time we will be able to spit out all that we've been through...but it may take a few days. Just keep praying for us as we are thrust back into our old lives starting first thing tomorrow morning....we are exhausted, and will need time to adjust both to the time and to the lives we've left behind.

To Alex and Emma...I'm sitting looking out of the window in Paris!! Wish you were here with me! Looking forward to seeing you in a few hours...I can't even figure out how MANY hours that is, but sometime today! Love you guys!

My time is running out...love to all, thanks for your continued prayers and support!!!

...Emma...

2009-07-07T00:19:00.000-07:00

I laid in bed last night and remembered that I didn't post the best picture for you....Jumpshot has a new home. You asked that I give it to one of the orphans, but that was not possible, since there were so many of them!!! But...one afternoon in the village the sweetest baby showed up. I don't know if it was her sisters who were carrying her around, or just village children taking care of each other....but she was BEAUTIFUL. I thought it appropriate that she should have your Jumpshot!

(Jumpshot has a new home in Africa...the village girls will enjoy him!)

Love you, Em...see you soon

how to put into words...

2009-07-06T14:02:00.001-07:00

We're back from a PIZZA dinner!!! Gabonese pizza was totally what we all needed after our week of interesting African food! Everyone else is blowing up air mattresses for one more night (And, will be putting their DIRTY sheets back on them!)....and I'm wondering where on earth to begin to explain what we've been through the last 5 days. It would take way too long to download the amount of pictures I'd want to show you...and I'm in desperate need of sleep...inside...in a quiet room! So, I'll download a few and let your students show you theirs when they return home.

The drive to Ebel-abunga was one of the highlights of my week...it provided a good picture of the people and villages we were about to fall in love with. Admittedly, there were some nervous kids and leaders, just wondering what kinds of conditions lay ahead of us. I, personally, had a picture in my head of what the jungle village would look like....and it was really primitive, and a bit intimidating! Surprisingly, we found there were houses around us....most w/electricity, but none w/running water. The place we set up camp was overwhelming when we first arrived. The bathroom was a VERY primitive outhouse that has probably NEVER seen a cleaning product. EVER. We were provided a room to keep our bags and food, but everything else was outside.

(a neighboring house...the outhouse is the building immediately to the left of the house)

Our first sight of some of the kids who would hang out with us for days....they were so curious about us, but quickly received the students love and spent every possible minute with us.

(The house beside our camp that held an ALL NIGHT party...complete with African tribal music that started at midnight, and went on til 6am! It was a really surreal event to wake up to in the middle of the night! )

(unpacking and blowing up the mattresses again!)

(setting up our mosquito net village)

(After setting up camp we took a walk into the jungle to visit our bathing site. This woman was working on her laundry right where we bathed each day. The picture in our mind was a little more of a babbling brook...but at the end of a hot, sweaty day, this felt like nothing you can put in words!)

Every SINGLE night and morning we were tormented by the roosters that roamed around the village. They worked in cahoots, simaltaneously crowing all across the village! One was the "caller" and the rest of them...seriously, THE REST OF THEM IN THE VILLAGE would proceed to answer him...continuously. Last night one decided to roost on the roof next to us and crowed on and off all night! Needless to say, we have not had a good night sleep in days and days.

We spent two days clearing land and digging the foundation for a new Alliance church plant. Pastor Moses has left his life in Libreville and set out on his own, with the help of some of his church members, and will live in Ebel-abunga by himself as he reaches the people of the village. Some of the youth group from the Alliance church in Libreville came to help us work, as did many of the local people. They are extremely hard workers, and while we each stopped many times for water breaks,they just worked continually, barely resting at all. Men, women, and children worked alongside us...very few speaking the same language, but all of us working towards the same goal. The people were SO receptive of us. They are the kindest, most generous people. After setting up camp on the first night we set out to walk door to door and hand out tracts in the village.

The young men from the youth group who joined us were so impressive to me...the joy of the Lord exuded from them. They spent hours talking to the students in broken English and finding out what worship songs we all know. We taught each other songs, worked together, ate together, and sat around the campfire each evening. Our circle grew every day as more and more locals joined us. Watching our students bond with the teens and the young children was one of the highlights of my week. There is something we all have in common that does not require speaking the same language.

By far, though, the best part of my week was seeing how much the Christians in this village love the Lord. They pray over EVERY thing they do...and when they pray, they pray simultaneously. The first time I heard them pray like this it caught me off guard and I was surprised by the tears that came to my eyes. When we were invited to join them in praying aloud together it struck me how awesome it is that God hears each one of us, each time we pray, and in our own languages. He plays no favorites, but favors us all.

We spent some time around the fire one night doing a Q and A time with some of the Christians from the village. It was so interesting to me. Though we are worlds apart in many ways, we also struggle with some of the very same things. I think it cleared up some misconceptions on both ends. The pastor has so much to hurdle in order to reach this village, but as was proved on Sunday at the morning worship service, these people are looking for a Savior. After MUCH singing and dancing, Randy gave the message...spoke about the foundation of the building we are building, and worked it into how we need Christ to be the foundation of our lives. The message was interpreted into several languages and after an invitation 17 people came forward to receive Christ! It was an exciting morning! Afterwards we walked down to the church site where we were able to be a part of putting in the first bricks, the cornerstone of the foundation of the church. There is such ritual and tradition in these people. They explained the history of how the church came to this village and honored the people who played a part in each step. But, most importantly they gave the Lord glory for enabling them to serve Him and share His love to these people. Seeing this made every bit of the difficult days we spent in the village worthwhile.

The details of what we've been through this week will continue to pour out of each of us for days and weeks ahead. We've spent alot of time talking through our experiences and trying to prepare the students for the emotions they will be feeling in the coming days. It is SO hard to put words to the things God is doing in our individual hearts. But, He is working, and He is speaking a message into each one of us. He continues to show me, personally, that He wants me to love people more. He wants me to see people...all people, the way He does. And He is using this trip, as He's used other ones, to refine me....to refine each of us into vessels He can use at home. The process is not over...we've much to work through and understand.

Tomorrow morning we head to the local market, and to the beach...and then head to the airport to begin our journey home. Pray for us as we say goodbye to the interns we've come to love and to Tim and Meredith who have blessed us so much this week.

...we're here!!!

2009-07-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

I only have a quick minute...the shower and clean clothes in my bag are calling me. We just walked in the door after our 3 hr ride back to "civilization" and are off to shower and clean up before a long session of debriefing. I don't have time to download pics or even begin to tell you the things we've experienced, but I knew you'd want to know we are back and all safe. No real illnesses, no real issues of any kind.....just alot of great experiences that we are still processing through. Thank you for the 39 posts that awaited us!!! We were crowding around to see who's parents logged on!!!

Back later to give more details!

quick prayer requests...

2009-07-02T01:21:00.000-07:00

we're packing up the vans, getting ready to leave for the bush. Could you remember us this morning? Bethany and I are both feeling a little queasy this morning....the thought of a 3 hr ride in the van does not sit well with an upset stomach. Please pray for us if you are up at this early hour! We've got water ready for the trip and hope to close our eyes and when we reopen them, be out in the bush!

Pray, too, for our attitudes...a few nights with little sleep, little water, little personal space could prove to make us all a little testy. Pray that we remember the reason we are here and choose to serve the Lord...even when it's hard.

Thank you for your prayer support and care!!!

home for the night...

2009-07-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

A quick update...

We've just finished a debriefing time w/Tim and the interns. The kids had alot of thoughts about their day...a few emotions as they're processing through the magnitude of all of the things they are seeing each day. Our lives are so different....and mostly in a convicting way. We've seen poverty and desperation in the faces and lives of the joyfilled people we've met in the last few days....poverty, desperation and joy. Something that is not lost on the kids or the leaders. More than one student mentioned how blessed they've felt as we've driven through and met some of the locals. (**A certain female student mentioned that she will never again complain about going to Walmart and seeing how dirty and disorganized things can be. Up to you to figure out if it was YOUR student....if I recall, she PROMISED to never complain again...you have it in writing!

Here's some pictures of our time at Hope House...

(the twins)

(the kids had the best time w/our cameras! The one on the right spent most of the time w/the camera pointing the wrong way, taking pics of himself instead of the person he thought he was shooting! He was so pleased with himself!)

Nick with the most adorable little girl! He was enamored by her!

(Halle gave the sweetest testimony about how the Lord has stood beside her while she lost a series of important people in her life. Tim translated in French for the kids....of all the kids with us, Halle was the most qualified to share her heart to kids that can understand what she has been through. They saw the testimony of a young lady who has chosen joy over sorrow in some really difficult situations. Sue...you'd have been so proud of her!)

(The Hope House next door neighbor)

(The boys are apparently gluttons for punishment, as they insist on playing soccer with these boys!!! I believe the score is 2-0...two games, zero wins! But, they did have fun!!! Nate B. mentioned tonight how cool it was to watch the local kids outside the Orphange looking in on the game and wishing they could be a part....they probably do not look upon these kids with envy on most days, but today they did.)

(Nick and Nate AFTER the soccer game that was played on red dirt! Mixed with sweat it makes a sort of clay on the legs!)

(Emma...this young girl made me think of you. She is 13 and lives at the Hope House because her parents have abandoned her. She had the most beautiful eyes, and though she was very shy, she lit up when asked what she enoyed doing. Reading. My heart went out to her...every little girl needs a mom to love her and show her how to become a young woman. I prayed while I sat next to her that someone would be that for her. I miss you Em, but am so thankful for you and all the joy that you bring to our family!)

The students were really moved by these kids and showed some emotion tonight when they talked about their thoughts for the day. The Lord is pricking their hearts in so many areas....they are being stretched and pulled in ways they did not expect. (It's 11pm here, but while I type, Nick, Jared, and Drew have come into the room to find some quiet to write in their journals....LOVE these boys!)

I'm sure the kids will want to check in here in the morning to see all of your comments, but this will likely be the last post until Monday. I think we are all actually excited about our trip to the JUNGLE. Our anxiousness has mostly been replaced with a sense of adventure- now that we've had details explained to us we feel a little more prepared. We're leaving here at 10am to head out to the village which is about 2 1/2 hrs away. The roads here are not anything like Rte 30...more like a 100yr old back lane on an Amish farmer's property! Some are paved, some are not...all have bigger potholes than Pendot would know what to do with!! I'm sure my mom is reading into that, and yes, mom, they all know I have permanent claim to one of the front seats!

Did I tell you before that the drivers over here are CrAzY?!?! Seriously, like nothing I've ever seen!!! I've had the privilege of sitting in the middle seat behind the driver of both our taxibus and Tim. They are EQUALLY as CrAzY!!! Surprisingly safe...but CrAzY!!! You would not imagine that so many cars could fit on the road at the same time. Let me clarify that...ALL of the cards are vying for their own space in the MIDDLE of the intersections...fully believing they have the right of way!!! All at the same time! The ride alone promises to be somewhat of an adventure for us!!! The next being the unpacking and hanging of 25 mosquito nets! Where??? Not sure, but they will be somehow rigged up in the trees above us so we can enjoy the beauty of the night sky and the sounds of the critters....for four nights!

Each of us is allowed to pack a small bag with 2 pairs of clothes (yes, for 4 days and we WILL be working and sweating in them, too!), a bathing suit (for bathing in the stream---it is clean!) pj's, and our bedding. (Tim gave us a little hint that we should put our sheets on in the jungle, and then be prepared to turn them inside out when we get back so we can use them again!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW you're laughing! Not funny!) We are definitely in for an adventure that is not likely to be repeated in any of our lives in the near future! I, for one, am excited to be a part...although I'm quite aware that SOME of the guys have a little plan up their sleeves to play the ole' rubber snake trick on the girls. (shh...I already told the girls the stupid rubber thing exists, so they are aware it's going to appear at some point! As I always say at home, the key is to NOT react...foils the plan every time!)

So....I'm now in the room alone...you have no idea how long it takes to upload these pictures! I'm doing 2 at a time....each set taking about 5 minutes! I'll take a second to say goodnight to my favorite 18 yr old who is keeping the house so clean and neat in my absence. I'm so impressed that he has washed and vaccumed my car as well as gone through the house and cleaned every single room to prepare for our arrival back home. Alex....what on earth did I do to deserve you?! Thanks, bud...I owe you! I love you!!!

(Jumpstart hanging out on the water filter)

the first part of our day...

2009-07-01T05:47:00.001-07:00

We've all had fun reading your responses this morning!

A few disclaimers I must point out:

Melissa Herr....Holly would like you to add her to your list while you pray for Leah...I believe her exact response was, "WHAT?!?! Out of HER comfort zone?!??!?"

Maria...Leah is taking her meds, and wants you to tell Buddy she misses him, too.....the Brokkops dog, Titus is playing second fiddle.

Sue...Halle and Jared are faithfully journalling to you AND taking their meds!

Vivien...Harry's good....waiting for his mom to log on and see that he's still alive and well!

Rob...I was just conversing with Holly about a recent question you posed to her. I believe the question was, "Would you consider going to the mission field w/me?" I want you to know a few hours ago she told me that if she HAD to, she would LOVE to do what Meredith is doing this week....being an AWESOME hostess to everyone who enters her home. Just thought you should know now might be a good time to make your plans. Just saying.

Mom...I bought you something REAL special at the market this morning! I was advised you should not actually USE it, for hygiene purposes, BUT...I was thinking of you!

Dawn...Nate's in good hands and all the extra paraphenalia that you packed him is working!!!

Now, for the morning at the market. I, for one, REALLY enjoyed it, it was a true taste of the African culture. Tim explained before we left that it is like the African Walmart! It truly

was! You could pick up anything from your WARM raw meat, a new shirt, a pair of shoes, fabric, fresh fruit and nuts, tp, or any number of items! The amount of people roaming the streets was a little discomforting to some of the students...I didn't realize until we got back that some of the kids actually felt anxious about the amount of people that stopped and stared at us as we were the ONLY white people in the vicinity! We truly do make a scene everywhere we go, but the people are so welcoming and friendly to us.

Some blogging thoughts were going through my head as we walked through the market...one of them being that, Parents, remember all the years you've put into teaching your kids manners and respect for those around them...putting others first???? Not one of them was allowed to follow that advice this morning...if they had, they would have been left stranded apart from the group! Chivalry is totally dead at the market, as are manners, and selflessness!!!! Pushing, shoving, and stepping in front of people is the name of the game. Fend for yourself, or be sorry!

We just finished the BEST American lunch (pizza!) made by Meredith...

(and, YES, they are ALL eating their veggies)

and are getting ready to leave for the Hope House for the afternoon. We're looking forward to playing and loving on the 20 orphans that live there. I'll try to get back here again tonight when we get back, as it will be the last time for a while. Suprise, there's no electric and WiFi in the jungle! After talking w/some of the interns who went to the village last week, we are feeling more at ease to know that there is a make-shift toilet, and a creek of CLEAN running water just about a minute's walk away. We will be sleeping under the stars (and a mosquito net), but if it rains, there are houses nearby that we will be paired up in. We will attend church in this village and are prepared for a sermon MUCH longer than Pastor Carl offers us each Sunday!

Thanks for your continued care. Hope all is well on that side of the ocean...everyone is healthy and good on this side.

GOOD MORNING!!!

2009-07-01T01:39:00.000-07:00

Bonjour...
Because some of you are checking back here several times a day, just wanted to say good morning. We're getting ready to head out to the local market...then back for lunch before we head to the orphanage. We're unable to take cameras to either place, so I'll try to get some of the students pics when we get back so you can see your lovely children's faces.

Linda...Harry has been leaning over the computer every day waiting in anticipation of your saying hello!!!

All of the kids have been crowding around the computer each time I sit here in hopes of hearing from home. They are LOVING all your comments! Thanks for making their mornings!

Love to each of you from way over here...we miss you, but are thoroughly enjoying each experience. The girls have begun to voice a little apprehension over spending 4 nights in the village....sans tents and bathrooms. All will be well and we will possibly be better for having had the experience!

Last night we sat around and talked over how the experience in the village was affecting us. The students opened up their hearts and you should know they are changing...they are seeing the hand of God working. But, they're also seeing how blessed each one of them are. We have so much...and seem to always want more. These children have so little...and seem to want for nothing.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support....love to each of you on the other side of this screen! Back later to tell you about our day!!!

mobile medical clinic...

2009-06-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

We just got back from spending the day in a nearby village doing a mobile medical clinic....but first, yesterday's pics....

Yesterday morning we walked down the street to a warehouse owned by the Alliance- used for medical supplies. Along the way we spied some neighborhood kids having a tea party....one of those universal things, I guess!

One of our jobs when we got there was to move these boxes of medical supplies out of the shipping container...

and into the warehouse

It looked overwhelming and like we'd be there all day, but many hands make work light and we were done alot sooner than expected, with time to relax before dinner!

We ended our day by meeting with the missionary doctor and nurse that we worked with today, and even learned "This is the day that the Lord has made" in French! It was alot of fun and a great introduction into the hearts of Pastor Jacob, Mama Janine, her husband.

We started the day at 7:15 this morning w/a quick breakfast, then headed out in 2 vans to a school in a village about 45 minutes away. It was the first time we'd seen Gabon in the daylight from a vehicle. The scenery was AWESOME! A true picture of the diversity in this country. We saw all kinds of homes, businesses and markets. Some pretty shabby and some quite lovely...all very interesting.

We all really enjoyed our day getting a glimpse of Libreville and the people who live here. The children at the school fell in love with our students. There was an impromptu soccer game that I believe our students LOST...badly! But, it was really so much fun! The highlight of the day was when Sydney gave her testimony followed by one of the Pastors sharing the gospel. Over 90 students came forward to accept Christ at an invitation and recited the sweetest prayer in French w/him. The local church will follow up with them in the coming weeks...What an awesome sight, and a great way to begin our week!

We're back at the house now, waiting for dinner and then a debrief time. Tomorrow's plan is to visit a market and then spend the afternoon at the Hope House orphanage...goodnight to all, and thank you for all the comments, the kids LOVE reading them!!!

Touchdown!

2009-06-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

After a tear-filled goodbye on Saturday morning...

a time of prayer with the parents and family...

loading LOTS of luggage...

and many hours of waiting around two airports...

and waiting...

....and waiting....

(Syd's first Gabonese friend, Florence who travelled from Dulles to Paris to Gabon with us)

...we finally boarded our last plane in Paris, headed to Libreville, Gabon....

We've touched down on African soil and had our first good night of sleep in two days! From the time we left Lancaster on Saturday morning til the time we unpacked last night, we'd been on the move for almost 30 LONG hours!

The moment the plane made it's final landing, we were SO excited and ready to begin our time here with Tim and Meredith! We were met by Tim and two of the interns at the airport...good thing, because he knew just what to do to fend off all the young men who were fighting over the right to transport our luggage to the vans!!!

(Our luggage being transported w/bungee cords!)

We had a FAST ride (fairly SHORT too..but the operative word is FAST!) to the missionary house where we were greeted by Meredith and the rest of the interns who are working with them for the summer...had a short time of orientation (SHORT attention spans after missing a night of sleep!)...blew up 18 air mattresses...and finally SLEPT the night away! (or for some of us, attempted to!) Mom's, you'll be glad to know each room has FANS!

As may be the case throughout our stay, the internet was down when we got here, so parents, forgive our inability to contact you!!! We are ALL here...as is ALL our luggage...and we've ALL fared well through the hours of travel. Be proud of your kids!

(Emma, Jumpshot made it here, too!)

We're up now, having just finished a breakfast of freshbaked bread, cereal and fresh pineapple we're ready to face whatever lies on the outside of this walled compound! The plans for the day are to continue our orientation (which I believe includes preparing for some skits to be used tomorrow when we head out w/the medical clinic) and this afternoon we're heading out to begin cleaning and organizing a warehouse for the Bongolo Hospital supplies.

*************

The view outside our window this morning:

(the neighbor's outdoor "seating area")

(rooftops and banana trees!)

(in the Brokkop's yard)

(Missionary puppies!)

**I've been uploading pics as we've been going through orientation and having a time of worship. Tim has started our day off with a challenge: To listen for and hear the voice of the Lord as we are here. He challenged us to use all 5 senses to experience what God is doing around us while we are here, and throughout our lifetimes. Our time of singing together was lead by one of the interns, Lyndsay, and was a sweet time of regrouping our thoughts and connecting with the Lord this morning.

Thanks for your prayers throughout the last few days. Continue to remember us as we clean today (in the HUMIDITY) and tomorrow head out to do the mobile medical caravan, Hope House on Wednesday, and HEAD TO THE BUSH ON THURSDAY-MONDAY!!!!

Tomorrow's the day!!

2009-06-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

SO...we had our last meeting last evening. Just one last chance to finalize details and just be together. We had a great time of hanging out and having some prayer time together before heading home to start some packing.

We're meeting at the church tomorrow morning at 10 to pack up several cars and head to Dulles Airport for a flight at 4pm-ish. As far as we can tell, we've done all the preparing we could possibly have done, and we are as ready as possible to get going! What lies ahead is unknown, but we are grateful to all of you who have told us you'll be praying us all the way through.

We found out last night that one of the things on our itinerary is a 4-day stay in the "Bush" of Libreville- clearing some land for a future church plant. I believe Tim called it "camping"...but I'm pretty sure he was using that word in the lightest way possible! Our church did some "camping" last weekend....but that included tents, air mattresses, and BATHROOMS (and a yummy all you can eat ice cream machine!)....I'm guessing it's possible this "camping" trip will include NONE of the above!!! I know for a fact that all of the girls are packing a SUPER pack of baby wipes for the possibility of squatting in the BUSHes and going shower-free for 4 days....we like to be prepared...not sure if that even comes close!

My plan is to update here as close to daily as possible. The internet can be unpredictable at the Brokkops, so that may not be possible (and, I'm guessing again that the BUSH does not have access to a computer, so for those 4 days we'll be absent here). If possible, I'll give the parents a heads-up when we find out which days we'll be setting up "camp"....which will be code for CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO PRAY LIKE CRAZY- WE'RE CAMPING OUT IN AFRICA!!!!

I say all of that with somewhat of a chuckle...and somewhat not. We are in this for the experience and for the chance to serve the Lord in any way we're asked to...But, we'd totally accept whatever prayer covering you'd pour upon us as we go!

Thank you, parents for sending your awesome kids with us and entrusting them to our care. We promise to love on them as much as you do and bring them back in one piece with nothing broken, but perhaps a few hearts...we pray He'll break each of us in some way.

To my parents who are loving on Emma and Alex while we're gone...THANK YOU! Em...have fun with Bailey, and Alex...could you please clean up your room, I could hardly walk in the door this morning!!!

Stay tuned...tomorrow's the day and my camera is loaded and ready!

Don't miss today...

2009-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

I was reminded in my quiet time this morning how important TODAY is. In the busyness of packing, trying to organize all the loose ends and focusing on the details of our trip to Gabon we can easily miss what the Lord has for us today. I was convicted not to waste a moment God's given me today...the need to look around me and see people. The need to listen to His whispering, His instructing. There's something He wants to show me today...here in the USA, in the County of Lancaster, in my little town of Strasburg.

On my own I can only think about THEN....but I may miss a glimpse of Him today if I avert my eyes and my attention away from Him. I'll miss Him again if I start looking for something BIG that He'll WOW me with...when all along He's whispering, waiting for me to be still and quiet long enough to hear Him.

So...I'm tuning in to today...being careful not to wish it away and miss being a part of whatever it is He's got in store in the here and now.

Gabon comes in two days...but those two days matter in the life of those around me...

OuCh!!!!!

2009-06-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, my....my head hurts thinking about all of the details that must be covered in the next 3 days! On my own strength they will NOT get done!!!

...thankfully none of us must go through the next days in our strength...

"I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me. I am self-sufficient in CHRIST'S sufficiency."

Phil. 4:13

(Jared Feister's verse)

I think I speak for each one of my teammates when I say we are so blessed to be going on this trip. The details that have already come together are only because of God's hand of mercy was upon them. We are so incapable of pulling off a trip this big. He's up to something much bigger than us. We've walked through a few hurdles and had a few minor blips along the way, but as only HE can do, He's intertwined those things into a greater picture. And in the places that we've failed, He's covered over with His great faithfulness.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW EVERY MORNING, great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

(Holly's verse)

We believe He is behind us and all the details that are still to come regarding this trip. We approach a nation that is in mourning over the recent death of their longtime President. There are unspoken risks...but we believe He is moving us forward to proceed, and our HOPE lies in Him..not in what remains unknown. He has gathered 18 of us, taken care of EACH and EVERY need, and we believe He has orchestrated a journey that we will individually discover along the way. He's up to something big IN us...He's uprooting us from what is comfortable and planting us in a foreign land that will require us to need Him more than we ever anticipated.

My prayer is that not one of us comes back the same way we left. What has been uprooted often struggles to go back to the same exact place that was once comfortable. That is my hope for each one of us. That what we offer in these 10 days is never again to be taken back. May we leave behind the part that fights for "ME"...and return with hearts that yearn for "THEM"...My prayer is that in giving and loving like we've never done before we will start a revival that flames into everyone we come in contact with. May it be so.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and Holy sacrifice..."

(Nate Burchill and Bethany Holler's verse)

EiGhT dAyS!!!!!!

2009-06-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

That's right...only 8! My mind is cluttered with all of the last minute details....

"The bags have to be 62"...measure height, width, length. But the second bag can only be 50 inches. Don't go over 50lbs. Leave room for the food and bedding we're packing."

HUH?! My mind cannot accept these details right now. It's already on overload...what with working, packing for the church camping trip, and trying to organize where my other two kids will be while I'm away for 10 days...it's too much!!!

So....I know I'm not the only one feeling the last-minute overload of details, would you pray for us as we fuss over the nitty-gritty of this coming week? The teens will have it a little easier in that once they're packed they're ready to go...but there are 5 adults who have houses to close up, children to pack for and settle, jobs to complete, yards to mow, and who knows what else that will pop up in the next few days!!

PLEASE PRAY

*That we will use our time wisely

*That our families will be supportive and helpful

*That each team member would have good quiet time w/the Lord, away from the overload of details

*That as we begin to take our Malaria pills this week they will settle well in all of us

*For Randy, Holly and Melissa as they wrap up the details between the Brokopps and us

*For settled minds and hearts as we approach departure day next Saturday...there's a feeling of excitement that is also mixed with anxiety

*Pray that the Lord will remind each of us this week that He cares about the details and that He's called us to this time and place of service.

*That the enemy would not be able to distract us and pull us away from staying focused on Christ

I, for one, THANK YOU for your prayer support this week...on our own, all of this IS too much. We're SO thankful that we've made it this far and our trip is so close in the future. We're blessed by each one of you who cares enough to remember us to the One who is ABLE to settle all of these details in our hearts.

Thank you!

On the home stretch...

2009-06-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Well...our graduation celebrations are officially over...and we're wrapping up lose ends as we look towards our departure date NEXT SATURDAY!!!!

Yesterday morning during the church service the team was commissioned with prayer by Pastor Carl and the whole congregation. We felt cared for and encouraged by the words that were spoken over us. And FINALLY...FINALLY we were able to hear the precious words we've been waiting to hear......."OUR FUNDRAISING IS DONE!!!!! WE'VE REACHED OUR GOAL OF $54,000!!!" We praise the LORD for His faithfulness to our team. $54,000!!! That's more than some of us make in a year!!! God is ever faithful.

The reality of the trip is sinking in quickly and we're each realizing how much there is still left to be done. I was thinking yesterday about how much preparation we are doing as a team. Randy, Holly and Melissa have been working diligently behind the scenes making phone calls, emailing, and making lists to keep the team on track and I feel completely prepared with what I need to be doing in the next two weeks...and I pray each one of us is taking that same amount of time personally to be preparing our hearts as efficiently as we are preparing our suitcases.

With the busyness of the summer, the layed back schedules and the routine of life that keeps us busy and sometimes distracted, are we putting as much effort into relationship with Christ as we are in our relationships to our friends? Have we committed to setting aside a period of time EVERY day in which to quietly listen and sit in God's presence? Are we giving Him time to speak to us? To convict us in ways He wants us to grow...to hear the encouragement He wants to whisper in our ears?

I know around my house it is VERY evident when one or many have chosen the busyness of the world over the solitude of sitting in God's presence. When we turn our attention away from Him it shows...it comes out in ugly attitudes and selfish motives. It comes out in complacency and hypocrisy. And the enemy has a feeding frenzy in our lives...

My challenge to my teammates...and the same challenge I give to myself...is to carve out time every day in which you will steal away with the Lord. He didn't get us this far in order for us to take this trip on our own strength. He stands by patiently waiting for us to individually invite Him along on our journey to Africa. I, for one, plan to make this a priority...I don't for one minute want the enemy to convince me I'm good to go, having already done all I need to do. The journey is just beginning for us...we've so much to learn, so much to give out, so much to expand in our own lives. Let's go out prepared and strong...having nothing between any of us that could cause us to be anything but a unified team. Each of us have made a commitment to this team...that we would do what it takes to build one another up and stand beside each other in LOVE.....let's continue on in that--but only after we've been equipped in the silence of extended time with the LORD. It is only at His feet that we will be prepared, that we will overflow with an abundance of LOVE for each other and those we will meet along the way.

Let's push forward...our time is almost come...

we're on the home stretch, but there's still work to be done.

The time approaches...

2009-06-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

The moment I turned the calendar over to June it HIT me...we've made it...we're finally going to do it....the time has come....we board the plane to Gabon in exactly 23 days!!! Between now and then there is still much to do.

Our fundraising is getting closer every day...God has been so generous.

School is ending this week...graduations...parties...supply-shopping...packing...So so much to keep track of and remember. I forget how much is involved in our missions trips...none of us have the luxury of stopping the rest of our lives to focus only on this aspect.

Herein lies this week's prayer request:

Please pray for us not only as a team, but also as 18 individuals who have much to care for and accomplish before we step foot onto our Air France plane on June 27th. There are jobs to tend to, businesses to deal with, families to provide for and many loose ends to tie up. My own mind overloads with the details I must see to for those I'll be leaving at home and for the one I'll be taking with me. Only by God's grace will I accomplish them all with any sort of excellence. Would you pray God's abundant wisdom over each of our 18 team members and their families? Even after so many months of anticipating and preparing there is so much that COULD cause us to turn our eyes away from the One who has called us to this place. And the enemy delights in knocking us off center.

We thank you for covering us in prayer and remembering us to the Father who watches over each one. May we be worthy of the calling He's placed upon us...

...more shots...

2009-05-21T10:11:00.001-07:00

I'm heading out the door for more immunizations...not looking forward to them, but they're better than getting Polio or Hepatitis or Meningitis!!!

I found this today...loved it enough to post it here....

"The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers! I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication innumerable times. What have I asked for? I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains! I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides! My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask." --J. H. Jowett

Working, resting and celebrating...

2009-05-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

The calendar says we have 5 1/2 weeks til our departure date! After months and months of planning and preparing, the end is in sight!

While we wait...

We're working. The adults and students are working hard to reach our goal of $54,000! This week we have more painters, mulchers and mowers out there! As a team we are somewhere around $44,000...which is quite staggering if you consider the time in which the amount has been raised! We were blessed with quite a bit in last Sunday's offering...even though the focus was on the Great Commission Fund. What an unexpected blessing!

"Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place."

Proverbs 16:3

While we work...

We're resting. Resting in the promise that He who began a good work will see it to completion. While the $10,000 still to be raised seems like a daunting task, we choose to believe the desires of our hearts will be accomplished. So while our bodies work, our spirits rest.

"Let be,and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

While we rest...

We celebrate. Between now and the 27th of June there is so much celebrating to be done! There are 12 seniors among our youth group who are ending their high school careers and graduating in the next few weeks! Many of those seniors will be traveling to Gabon with us, so in many ways, the month of June will be one big, long month of celebration! We celebrate the lives of these kids we've come to love almost like our own! We've been blessed to walk along side many of them all the way through their middle school and high school years. I may be biased, but I would say we have some of the best kids Lancaster County has to offer! In my own celebrating there will be a few tears, too...graduating not only these great young people, but one of my own, too!

It is a bittersweet time for us all...but celebrate we will!

"Look at what's happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us!This God, the one we waited for! Let's celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation.

God's hand rests on this mountain!"

Isaiah 25:9

The countdown...

2009-05-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

We're about 6 1/2 weeks from our departure date and there is a great amount of excitement among the team members. There is still so much to do...so much money still to be raised...so many details to be taken care of.

Fundraising is one of the hardest things about a big trip like this one. Raising $3,ooo a person is overwhelming at times. But, I'm impressed by the work that's being done by the students and adults. This week alone there were several people selling flowers, several painting and several doing yardwork. Our last meeting really rallied us and made us take a good look at the reality of how far we still have to go to reach our goal. The kids have taken up the challenge and are working harder than ever to meet their $3,ooo goal. I believe the trip will mean all the more to them because of the sweat they've put in to making it happen.

We're preparing in other ways, too. We've recently received a list of items we are to take with us to Gabon, we're waiting on our Visa's, and working on some personal goals, too. This week we are to write out our testimonies and be prepared to share them with the group. This seems to be a harder task than any of us anticipated! I can see the kids are nervous and a little anxious about completing them...

but I believe each one of them has something worth sharing and will connect with at least one person in Gabon who needed to hear it.

A prayer request for this week:

I've been told that by the end of this week we are to send a large sum of money ahead of us to Gabon for some of the preparations for our coming. It is an overwhelming figure since our airfare tickets are also to be purchased in the next few days. God knows how impossible it looks from my vantage point...but He also knows that He's got it all under control and will work it out according to His plan.

And so, we work, we wait and we trust...all in His time.

A weekend well spent...

2009-05-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

It's taken me all week to update...not sure why, but here's just a glimpse of some of the great times we had last weekend at the retreat...from my point of view...

Two very beautiful mornings on the dock preparing for the day ahead....

Sunshine, water, beach, birds singing, and my favorite book....

heavenly....

Friendships were formed and strengthened...

Male bonding...

Times of sweet worship...

Sillyness and laughter among friends...

An afternoon of wild and crazy basketball!

The longest game of dodgeball EVER!

Girl's photoshoot!

One last retreat group shot with the SENIORS!

Instructions: "Last picture, just be yourself!"

Another great time together.

Great speaker...great music....great memories...

I think the theme of the weekend that the students took home with them is "being real" before God. Not just SAYING we believe, but ACTING like we believe. Not just following the rules because we're supposed to...but because we WANT to. We talked about the way we spend our time...the things that take our attention from God....
My prayer is that this weekend was the beginning of a NEW BEGINNING for some of the students who are struggling to understand what they believe in. The word the Lord set on my heart for the students during my quiet time was TRANSFORMATION.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." IICorinthians 3:18

Today's the day!!!

2009-04-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

We wait all year for this day....we anticipate it...dream over it...plan for it...and finally, it's here!!! NO, it's not our Gabon departure date...it's RETREAT WEEKEND!!!!! While only a few of us will have the privilege to fly to Gabon together, the whole gang has the opportunity to spend the weekend at the District Retreat in North Bay, MD. And, what an unbelievable weekend it always is!!! We've been so blessed with great speakers and worship bands in the past..and we expect nothing but the same this weekend!

And the weather....can we talk about the weather?? While we've had other weekends at North Bay with sunny days, I don't think we've ever seen a forecast quite like this one! Over 80 degrees and sunny...you've got to be kidding me! Heavenly....

I know the subject of our talks this weekend is Romans 12...which happens to be some of my favorite verses. Some of our kids have claimed vs 1&2 as their life verses. There's a feeling of excitement among the students (AND LEADERS!) in anticipation of what the Lord has to teach us in these next few days.

I've already requested that we have extra tissues on hand for Holly and I as we enjoy this last retreat with our Seniors...and mourn their passing! We are both continually surprised every Spring that we can possibly love someone else's kids so much and cry over them just thinking about their graduating and leaving us! This year is even more bittersweet for me as I send forth my own firstborn. But...we will not even go there in this post.

For these next 2 1/2 days we will focus only on these precious teenagers who have stolen a piece of our hearts forever...we'll laugh with them, play with them, and walk alongside them on yet another journey in their walk of faith. And we'll be blessed with yet another year of retreating away from our everyday lives with them.

(NorthBay Adventure dock....where you'll find me early tomorrow am!)

Ahhh...retreat...sweet retreat!

Cultivate these things...

2009-04-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

I spent some time alone at Panera this morning. It seems to be the place I can focus best--go figure--a cup of coffee, a bagel and my Bible and I'm all ears!

I'm finishing up a great book on Paul's Journey of Faith (by Beth Moore--my favorite!) and I thought so much of all of you, my teamates, as I read. These words were written for Timothy..Paul's words of encouragement to him. But, they are for us, too. For those who struggle...those who wait...those who trust...and those who wonder what God's up to. We may be in an unknown place in this world, but our lives teach. And, because of that, we have a responsibility to "keep at it"...to live lives of offering and worship.

"Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—

keep that dusted off and in use.
Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation."

I Timothy 4:11-16

(The Message)

"...one of God's priority goals is to raise up and encourage passionate, persevering servants who are completely abandoned to His will..."

we are living proof that He exists...

We're well past our half-way mark!!!

2009-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give an update on our team funds. As of this week, we are at $31,000!!! Our total goal is $54,000 before June. We're excited to have 3 people completely paid for! Our accounts are growing each day, and we're trusting the Lord who called us will faithfully supply what is needed in His time....which is NEVER too late!

A few weeks ago each of us was challenged to find a verse or passage of scripture we wanted the rest of the team to be praying for us...they've been put together as a set of prayer cards so that we all have each team member's verse. I was so blessed as I typed out each student's vs...recognizing something in each one that spoke to a need or heart's desire. We're getting to know each other's needs, praying for one another AND

learning 18 of the coolest verses of scripture!

Together we've chosen a team verse:

"Therefore...I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace..."

Epesians 4:1-3

SUB SALE!!!

2009-04-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

*Sub Sale*

Fundraiser for Gabon

Just a reminder...

Our sub sale ends April 12th. Subs to be delivered April 22nd.

Subs: $3.50

Subs w/meal: $5.00 (for eat-in only)

Thanks, Kim, for heading this up for us!!!

Some thoughts on serving...

2009-03-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Worship the Lord your God, and only Him. Serve Him with absolute single-heartedness."

Matt. 4:10

This verse jumped out at me while doing a search for a verse on serving. I'm not a big grammar-lover, but I know the words "worship" and "serve" are both verbs. And I know that a verb requires action.

In light of our trip to Gabon, I think this short verse can speak volumes into our lives. It's not enough to sign up to GO...from this day until "departure day" we must put action into our everyday lives. We will not worship or serve God by accident. We WILL worship and serve SOMETHING every day...but true worship and serving God happens when we are intentional about it. God doesn't just want our service to the people we meet in Gabon. He wants that to be one more mark on our calendar...a trip resulting from a natural outpouring of something that we are daily doing for Him.

May we CHOOSE to worship God in the way that we live our everyday, ordinary lives TODAY. That means putting my SELFish desires off. It means I can't REACT everytime I want to...I can't give someone a piece of my mind (even when I think I'm right!). It means HE gets more of me than anything else in my life....anything else.

May we CHOOSE to serve God today with single-heartedness. The definition of single-heartedness is this: sincere and undivided in feeling or spirit; dedicated; not reflecting mixed emotions.

How often do we reflect mixed emotions in our worship and service to God. We are so conditional. We WANT to worship Him and we WANT to serve Him...but only when the conditions are just right for us.

My prayer for our team is that we will grow to individually give God our undivided worship and service. That we will each live lives worthy of our calling every day. In our schools, our homes, our jobs, and in our neighborhoods. Let's not accidently fall into a place of worship or serving others...let's run after it. Let's be so intentional in all that we do that no one we meet will ever be surprised to find out we are going on a missions trip to share Jesus.

Worship: to feel an adoring reverence or regard. (Synonyms: adoration, adulation, devotion, homage, admire, adore)

Serve: to act as a servant

Our short term missions training....

2009-02-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

Holly and I are spending the weekend in Philly for an Alliance Short Term Missions training event. We've been so blessed by the sessions, the worship time, the cultural food and the fellowship! The only minor mishap we've encountered is being left on the subway with no real idea where we were supposed to end up! How we managed to miss 15 loud people getting off w/out us, we have no idea!

Our worship leaders...

Matt Peace, our host...

I know you're laughing..wondering why on earth we are wearing head coverings and looking so strange! The story behind this picture is that we spent some time at a Sikh Temple as part of the cultural experience of the weekend. We were required to take off our shoes and wear a head covering before we could enter the Temple. (MY covering is from the extra bin that the Temple provides in case you forgot your own....Holly conveniently brought hers from home--hoping to avoid a possible case of lice from the community coverings!)

It was a great experience...sad though, as we realized there is so much of the world....of OUR part of the world even.. that lives in such spiritual darkness. Tomorrow we head back to the church for more leadership training, food, and fellowship!

This is one of our "cultural experiences"...it's called a Durian fruit from Asia. Not only is it strange looking fruit, it's widely known for its' SMELL....which can only be described as sewer-like! Seriously...cut into one of these bad boys and you would swear you're standing in a port-au-pot!!! It does not lend itself to being appetizing! (I must admit, we passed on this delicacy-hoping no one would notice...and stuck with the fried rice and salad!)

Holly and I are blessed beyond words with the training we've sat under. Mel and Deb from the DayBreak Alliance church have been AWESOME speakers! We're inspired to return home to the students and pass on all that we've learned in preparation of our departure!

Ouch!

2009-02-26T10:58:00.001-08:00

This shows only a small area, but I wish I had gotten a shot of the whole table...it was one big load of needles and Bandaids! The women from the Travel Center came prepared for all 18 of us...even brought a bag of lollipops! While I wish I had video-taped the whole ordeal, I only snapped a few shots. Let's say it is to spare those who ended in tears, those who yelped in pain, those who went completely white.....and the one who asked for a Dr's excuse to skip gym class the next day!!! It was really quite entertaining!

...a somewhat nervous smile from Drew, pre-injection...

...the color in Nate's cheeks is indication of the nerves that were exploding inside him!!!

We each left with a prescription for Malaria pills....and a choice as to which type to choose.

Choice#1: Doxycycline -take during the trip plus 4 wks afterwards and

costs about $1 a pill....but comes with side effects that might not be pleasant while travelling!

Choice#2: Malarone- take during trip plus 7 days afterwards....less side effects,

but $12 a pill!!!

And...another prescription for Zithromax for something called "Traveler's Diahrrhea",

which needs no description.

Needless to say, these prescriptions represent more reasons we need a team of pray-ers behind each and every one of us. There is potential for stomach issues and other unwanted illnesses and again, we'd covet your prayers for protection over our bodies. The enemy would love nothing more than to plant fear into the team members and their parents over this issue, and he'd love to plague us with illnesses upon arrival in Gabon.

We greatly appreciate all the support we are getting throughout this process....may the LORD bless this trip for the church-wide effort it has become.

Tomorrow's the day.....

2009-02-23T17:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, the time has come...it can be put off no longer...it must be done....

It's our IMMUNIZATION PARTY!!!

Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Malaria, Hepatitis....we're going after it all!

At 6pm we'll be gathering at the church for a mass torture-event! It's torture no matter which angle you look at it! We'll leave there a few hours later with sore arms and empty wallets...although the momentary pain is worth every bit, as it brings us closer to our departure day.

By the way...departure is set for 4 months and 3 days from now!

2009-02-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our "Night of Africa"

A tour of our African Experience and the Silent Auction tables...

**Forgive my commentary in the background, by this time of the night my voice was shot and I should have known better than try to be heard!**

A tour of the FOOD...

The Dinner...
(Unfortunately, you'll have to put on your spectacles to actually see this one! The candlelight does not lend itself to good pictures!)

The Everything Skit...

I've seen this skit many times as the kids have been practicing and refining it...and I've never once watched it without being moved to tears...The tears come for several reasons. First and foremost because it has such a powerful message of God's unending pursuit to win our hearts; secondly because I hold a deep love for each of these students and know they acted out of a genuine desire to share what God means to them. The skit was completely student run and poured out of the depths of each of their hearts...

**Unfortunately, my camera battery died right at the end, so the video ends a little too abruptly! I'll replace it w/a better one if someone wants to send their copy to me!**

The evening was alot of fun for all of us and I think gave a glimpse to all who attended of why we have chosen to go to Gabon. We had a great time afterwards sitting with Meredith Brokopp's parents as they shared some of what we should expect and encouraged us to look for the LORD's hand in the planning process. We all walked away with a renewed excitement for what lies ahead. There is so much work still to be done and we desperately need your prayers over these next few weeks and months.

THANK YOU to all who helped us set up and put on such a great event!

The makings of an African Dinner....

2009-02-20T09:40:00.001-08:00

From 2 in the afternoon until well after 10 last evening there was busyness in every corner of the church in preparation for tonight's fundraiser Dinner.

Bethany was a HUGE help to me as we began to put together a

walk-thru African Experience Display.

SOMEONE suggested we put those large pictures in the elevator to save ourselves

from running back and forth to the basement...SOMEONE had no idea how

small the elevator is and how LARGE the pictures are!!!

The pictures, though vinyl, were really alot harder to put up than it looks! We used
more than the normal amount of staples and thumb tacks for this project!
Mike Rankin's supply of Duct Tape rescued us a few times, too!!!
(THANKS MIKE, I'm pretty sure we owe you!)

Can your heart just melt over that little boy in the background?!? So precious....

....the beginnings of an African hut!

....the beginnings of a hospital....

There are still last minute touches to be completed...another afternoon of details...but we are so grateful to each one who has given up ALOT of time to these details in the last few weeks. I believe with my whole heart that God is in this evening...we hope to raise a good amount of money towards the $54,000 we need to raise, but beyond that, we've been blessed to work together and grow as a team. Whether or not the evening is as "profitable" as we'd like, we pray those who enter the building will be blessed because they've been there. Blessed because they've caught a glimpse of why we're going to Africa in the first place. Blessed because they've seen people through a different set of lenses....lenses of 18 plain, ordinary people who have a desire to take God's LOVE to the people of Africa.

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."

Luke 10:27

Preparations...

2009-02-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

With 4 days left until our African Dinner, there is much anticipation, busyness, and work being done behind the scenes. Judging by some of the texts, emails, and phone calls I've received this morning, there's a little bit of anxiety under the surface, too!

*myself included*

So, here's a word from the One we do it all for...a word for my heart and for every one that is reading...

"...and cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ -the Message- have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

Colossians 3:16-17

It's much easier to worry, stress out, and feel overwhelmed than it is to rest and cultivate thankfulness in the midst of our work. How many of us automatically SING OUR HEARTS OUT when we'd rather scream our lungs out!?! Our natural reaction is to REACT. God asks us to sing and have an attitude of thankfulness. He asks us to make every action done, an action of worship. An offering from our heart to His.

So, today, in my overwhelmingly detailed day...filled with responsibilities, expectations and impossibilities...I choose thankfulness and singing. And, I think God will honor that in all of us, because it takes an intentional effort of release of whatever is holding us. In that release we have made room for Him to move in and take over.

...all the more reason for Thankfulness and singing! If you haven't done so, click on the link above and listen to "Everything". We have free will to choose who will have our everything. Today I choose Him.

"A Night in Africa"

2009-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

There are 11 days left until our African dinner and Silent auction! There's so much work being done behind the scenes...and so much more left to do in- such a short period of time!!! The kids are working on a skit and some talent and the adults are working on food prep, displays, and childcare. The church will be alive with "controlled chaos" next Thursday setting up and tweaking last minute details!

We'd ask for prayer as we finish up all the last minute preparations...and then again on the 20th that the night would go on without a hitch.

The Silent Auction is surprisingly large this year...we've gotten more donated items than we thought possible. Local businesses have donated some pretty awesome stuff, and the kids and parents are donating some of their talent and sweat.

All are welcome to attend this evening....

"A Night in Africa"

Friday, February 20, 2009

Lancaster Alliance Church

210 Pitney Road

Lancaster, PA 17602

394-1121

reservations needed!

Who are we really???

2009-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Ever since Wednesday night youth group, I've been thinking about this word-integrity. I think it's a very appropriate topic for the youth group as a whole...but especially for the 18 of us who are heading to Gabon this summer. There's a tendancy to look at a trip like this as a big EVENT in our lives...like going there will be this grand gesture we deposit into our "life account". The months leading up to the EVENT are spent raising funds, getting immunizations and applying for Passports and Visas. But, do we recognize our desperate need to set ourselves apart today...right now, months before the EVENT?

As defined on Wednesday, integrity is who we are when no one is watching. It's what we do with our time when no one is watching. It's what we type in a text when only a certain friend is watching. It's how we spend our money. How we respond to a crisis. It's so many, many things.

How are we doing today? If we wait until June to put on our "Christian-duty" jackets to head out and serve, we will have missed many, many opportunities to BE Christ today.

Preparing for a missions trip is so much more than raising funds and checking off a To-Do list. It's intentionally living TODAY for Jesus. It's seeing that the creepiest kid in school needs a friend, or a kind word. It's noticing that your little brother needs help studying for his Science test. It's sacrificing your favorite tv show because you haven't had QUIET or STILLNESS in your life for a month. It's respecting your parents rules even when they seem unfair. It's doing what is right BECAUSE it is right...all the time.

It's not possible to do what is right ALL the time...but we can certainly make it a conscious decision to TRY. No matter how old we get, we'll struggle with fitting in too snuggly in this world. We'll struggle with tearing ourselves away from the seemingly harmless things that distract us from lives of Holiness and Integrity.

It is the plight of every Christian...to see Him in every corner of our life and respond to Him with our full attention and obedience.

Let us be people who don't accidently do what is right...but people who intentionally strive to BE who God commands us to be. People of Integrity with HEARTS that beat like His...today, where we find ourselves--not just on a foreign field where it's expected.

We're at it again!

2009-01-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

In 5 months and 7 days we'll be packed and on our way to the airport...headed on another adventure....this time to Libreville, Gabon in West Africa.

At the writing of this, June seems so far away, and there is still SO much to do in order to actually make the trip a reality. There are funds to raise (many, MANY funds to raise!), immunizations and Malaria pills to be taken, VISA's to receive, and alot of questions to be answered!

On this end of all of these tasks, they are absolutely HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE! Each aspect on it's own is totally overwhelming and has so many details attached to it. But...we LOVE and SERVE a God who loves to reveal Himself to His children through the impossible. He loves to show His Strength, His Compassion, and His Faithfullness to those who will but choose to look His way and depend completely on Him alone.

We are a group of students and youth leaders who come to Him in just such a way. We look with anticipation at the impossibly huge amount of money we each need to raise, and know that not one of us has the ability on our own to do raise this amount from now until June. We'd be lying to say there is absolutely NO fear in this at all. Truthfully, we've all gone through a host of emotions before signing on to this trip.

Our faith is being stretched...the faith of our families is being stretched. Do we REALLY believe what we SAY we believe? Do we REALLY believe that the God who has called us to "GO" this summer can and will provide each need? We say the words easily...because that's what's expected...but when it comes down to it, we're scared and skeptical and full of "what ifs". The stretching of our faith is part of this journey...we look with anticipation to see how the Creator of the Universe will stoop down to provide for this small group of Americans who have a heart to follow Him wherever He leads....

His leading has brought us to Africa...we're on a journey of FAITH and we wait with anticipation to see the great things He has in store for us along the way!

Join us...we'll share what we're learning and be blessed by any comments

you have along theway!

(*this is an incomplete picture of the team...we're missing 4 students, so we'll update it soon!)

We're home!

2008-08-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

I think it was with mixed emotions that we drove up the church driveway last night just before 9pm. I heard several students and adults say they could have stayed in LA to work a few more days, but by the last half of yesterdays trip, I think we were all thinking HOME sounded pretty good after all!

I can't say too many times how great of a week we had! Both in relationships among the team, as well as relationships formed with the community of New Orleans there was very little negative reaction or attitudes. The students displayed a genuine love for the people they met AND worked alongside. They worked as hard as the adults...sometimes harder! They ate what was put in front of them, slept wherever a spot was available, volunteered whenever help was needed, and just in general, displayed very mature attitudes.

Thank you, students, for making this trip such a delight to be on! I speak for all the adults when I say we are proud of you....proud to say you were with us and represent our youth group! There was a buzz all week about NEXT year's missions trip.....you're already starting to think about signing up for Gabon next summer!

I think sometimes the hardest thing about going on a missions trip is coming back home. Not because we don't love it here...or because we don't WANT to be here...but, because what we experienced was life changing, and if we're not careful, we can be tempted to step back into life as we knew it here and forget all that we've commited to changing in our own lives. We had a remarkable example of "friendship evangelism" this week....both in Pastor Willy's life, as well as in Troy's life. We've seen that when we choose to live as Jesus lived....loving people where they are, not judging and condeming them with our words, but loving them because Jesus did first...people turn to that like magnets. They are drawn to love and acceptance....it's different than tolerating they're lifestyle....it's showing them that God wants to meet them right where they are and begin a new thing.

We saw a picture of what it looks like for God's House to be open to all...not just the lovely or the beautifully dressed....but to the needy and the hopeless. And we were challenged that maybe this is not the way we are in Lancaster...maybe we'd rather have the cleaned up, not the dirty. Maybe we'd rather keep things safe and predictable. Maybe we are still in the process of learning what it means to truly live as Jesus lived.

My prayer for each of the 33 team members is this:

May we be marked for life because of where we've been and what we've seen. May the generous spirit of those we've met along the way, the selfless attitude of Pastor Willy, the search for acceptance we saw in Troy, and the sense of community we saw every day etch a permanent mark in our lives and flow out wherever we are.

Our last team picture

2008-08-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

After a good clean up, a series of team pictures, and a circle of prayer with the pastors and locals....we were back on the bus this morning at 8:30. We made a lunch stop and arrived back in Chattanooga this evening at 6. A quick bathroom stop, then we boarded BACK on the bus and headed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. The kids enjoyed their steaks and ribs...then we headed back to the hotel to do team devos. Bethany was up tonight and shared an emotional devotion about God's perfect timing. Her grandmother died just before we left, and she was unable to attend the memorial service today. She thanked the Lord for His perfect timing in which she was able to say goodbye and spend time with her grandmother before she died. It was hard to miss the service today, but she shared her gratefulness to God for showing her He is in control.

The kids are either watching the Olympics or swimming in the pool right now. We'll be back on the bus in the morning at 7:30 and hope to be back in Lancaster around 8:30 or 9pm tomorrow night. We're not looking forward to another 12 hour ride, but are ready to be back home!

Thanks again for praying for our week and for driving safety tomorrow!

...a picture says a thousand words....

2008-08-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Rejoice with us.....Troy has a new birthday!

8-08-08 is the birth of a new day in his life!

Every sweat that dripped, each long ride on the bus, every unfinished house, every moment of intense heat and humidity....every project that took more out of us than we thought we could handle...every moment was worth this last half hour! If for no other reason THIS one is why we are here.

Thank you for your prayers this week....thank you for sacrificing a week with your kids. It is BECAUSE they were here that this young man will join us in eternity.....

GOD is GOOD....and we've been blessed....

A final day....the end of a very good week...

2008-08-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Our day started with a farewell to our working partners, the Alliance Church from Waco, Texas

Then, we were off with more painting crews, a shed finishing crew, a house siding crew, and Steve finished installing Butch's shower.

Drew, Nate and Sam painting with the neighbor boy

The girls and Isaiah finished painting the inside of a house....this is the END of the day, and they were HOT and EXHAUSTED again!

This evening the students planned and worked the church's Game Night. They did a great job setting up a fun event and loving on the kids in the neighborhood. The kids have come in and out of the church all week, excited to have another team here. We are the last team to come for the summer, and I think the neighborhood kids will surely miss them!!!

One of the students most favorite parts of the week has been coming back to the church after a hard days work and being greeted by Troy and his puppies!!! They have "pottied" on this floor more times than we can keep track of....but THEY ARE CUTE!!!! (Last chance, parents, to call your children and give permission to bring one home!!! My own daughter has been texting me all day begging me to change my mind and pack one in my bag!)

The kids have really reached out and accepted Troy this week. He is a 17 year old school drop-out, who apparently has not felt loved or accepted by anyone for a very long time. He has left notes for our kids (taping them to the walls!) telling them how much he appreciates their accepting him. He told them he is trying to change his life and is beginning to realize there is hope for his future. The alcohol and drug use started when he was 5. (**He's sitting across the table from me right now, telling Steve he's never been to this church before...didn't even know the church was here)...I'm praying and typing as I listen to Steve encourage and witness to him. This boy is so personable and has so much potental....He needs Jesus and has sat with us every night as the kids shared their devotions w/the group. He is SO curious...listening So closely to what Steve is saying.

("Oh, God, this young man who is still partly boy needs what you offer...needs to know that you love him for who he is - past and all. Needs to know that you don't pick favorites based on how we perform...or don't. Grab hold...gently tug his heart...break the walls that are still standing...clean what can be cleaned by nothing other than your blood. Bring new life to this young boy, that tomorrow may be a new start to his future....")

There are so many great things to say about this week of serving in Louisiana. Again, I'll tell you how proud I am of your kids!!! They are the BEST group of kids!!! They are hard working... respectful...full of life...and HYSTERICAL! I think all the leaders would agree with me that the students have worked harder than we expected they could and stepped up continually to volunteer for WHATEVER was needed. It has been a privilege to serve with each and every one of these team members!

..a quick update on Kim....

2008-08-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks for praying for Kim last night. She slept all through the night, and is sitting next to me now without a headache! THANK YOU for praying for her. We all thought we'd give her a quiet day alone at the church....but she's fiesty and has decided she's NOT staying!!!!!!! We've had a slow morning, and are just now finishing breakfast and getting ready to head out to paint...in the rain.

Thank you again for praying her through the night!!!

another day of hard work....

2008-08-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

(**unfortunately I sat here for quite a while waiting for new pics to download, but the internet connection just isn't going to let me do it!!! If I can get back to the computer tonight I'll try again...otherwise I'll try again tomorrow)

We spent another day split up between 5 different sites. We added a new painting site today; a crew returned to the demo house; Randy and Steve returned to install the shower for Butch's family; Rob and Nathan B returned to work for "Gloria", and a group stayed behind at the church to clean, organize the church nursery and kitchen, and prepare for the next few evenings neighborhood outreaches.

We've had a great opportunity today to meet the church's neighbors today....the night is still young, and we are preparing for a cookout w/ the community and a Bible study later on this evening. We've had some kids wandering in and out of the church all afternoon. The students have been having a great time playing outside with them in the INTENSE HEAT and sun......even after a long day of working!!! They're troopers, these kids never get tired!!!!

I was having a few moments of quiet time a bit ago and came across a verse I had highlighted in my Bible, but somehow caught my attention in a new way today. Bethany brought The Message and I chuckled outloud when I read it in that version!

"Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship - a different kind of "sacrifice" - THAT TAKE PLACE IN KITCHEN AND WORKPLACE AND ON THE STREETS." Hebrews 13:16

Your kids are performing acts of worship today....and God is taking particular pleasure in them...we came here to serve, but have found that we have been greatly served by others along the way. We have learned that we have SO much more to learn about being a good community of believers. We've learned that we don't always LOVE the way Jesus did...unconditionally. We've learned that when we think we've done all that we can do, there's still a little more left in us to give back. Today we've learned all of these things IN THE KITCHEN AND THE WORKPLACE AND ON THE STREETS.

God is good to open our eyes to see what we've closed our eyes to in the past.....

(PRAYER REQUEST....AS I'M FINISHING THIS, KIM BUCHANON IS LAYING IN THE BED BEHIND ME. IT'S ABOUT 6PM HERE AND SHE IS SUFFERING FROM THE BEGINNINGS OF A MIGRAINE. SHE HAS WORKED REALLY HARD THESE LAST 3 DAYS AND TODAY WAS FEELING THE AFFECTS OF YESTERDAYS MOLD AND TODAYS PAINT FUMES. PLEASE PRAY THAT WHEN SHE WAKES THE HEADACHE IS GONE COMPLETELY. THANK YOU!)

the end of a very long day...

2008-08-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Our day started out a little slow this morning....both the students and the adults are beginning to feel the affects of our long days of hard work. After a breakfast of eggs and bacon, we all climbed aboard the bus.....and promptly fell back asleep!

We had teams at several locations again today.

A group stayed behind at the church to continue building the shed...

Rob and Nathan Burchill continued their work at "Gloria's" house...when they are completely finished with their job of laying carpet, hanging doors and doing the trim finishing, the church will be able to have a new Bible study started. (Incidently, this house is directly across the street from "Ya-Ya's Auto Repair".....it's a happening street with alot of curious onlookers who will
hopefully find their way into these doors)

(These are yesterdays pics from our lunch at Ya-Ya's....many of these same people are the ones who will attend Gloria's Bible study...this is a very hospitable community.)

(Prayer in the street at Ya-Ya's)

The largest team of students spent the day gutting out a house....

The team was put on a break schedule during the demo....every 30 minutes there was a 10 minute break....

Nate won the "hard worker of the day" award!

Randy, Steve, Terri, and Kaitlyn went to "Butch's" house to work on putting a new shower in for his family. We found the bathroom was alot smaller than we anticipated, so while the guys worked in the bathroom, the girls spent time with Butch's wife, children, and grandchildren...hearing their "Katrina story".

It was a really long day...but a rewarding one. It took seconds for everyone to return to sleep on the bus ride home!!!

Syd thought today was "extremely sad to see a person's past life be demolished, however it was a good team-bonding experience!"

Amber said, "today brought me back to our trip 2 years ago....seeing people's lives frozen in place...and the smell of mold. But it was awesome to help people in that way and use my beastly demo-skills!!!!"

Day 2 of working...

2008-08-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

OK!!! So, apparently we are back in business with the pictures again! I'm trying to update quickly before we head out to the French Quarter for the evening. First, some pics from yesterdays work site...

...the girls work site...when we got there, the house was white...

...the progress...

....I was so impressed with the way these girls got right in there
and started painting this house for Charlie!

This is part of the group with Janet yesterday...

Today we headed back to work on the house (on the right) that we started on yesterday...and some of the guys went to the house on the left to begin wiring for electric...

One of the highlights of our afternoon was spending time with a group of the locals who so generously provided us with a barbeque lunch. We were "serenaded" with awesome, LOUD Gospel music, and we nearly closed down the street in front of "Ya-ya's" auto repair, with our large circle of prayer with "Jackie" leading us out in the Lord's prayer. Jackie was quite a character and the group really enjoyed her embracing personality! (sorry...my camera was in the bus at the time, and I have no pics of Jackie....Amber may have some, so I'll post them later) Lunch ended with a watermelon seed battle!

Holly's reaction to the day was that she "felt more blessed, than she could have blessed others. It was a sweet day."

Randy's highlight of the day was using the bus as a ministry!!! Two of the local boys wanted to see the inside of the bus and were delighted to sit in the driver's seat and blow the horn! They were AMAZED at the fact there was a bathroom on board!!!!

I think one of the things that stands out to me about the last two days is the sense of community that we've seen between the neighbors. If someone doesn't have lunch or dinner, the neighbor makes sure they have some. We marvel at the local's idea of community....how close it is to the way Christ calls us to live...giving our neighbor a cup of water...lending a helping hand...blessing those who have less. Amazing....some of these people have absolutely nothing, according to our standards, and yet, what they have....they give.

I'd like to get some of the students to sit here and write down some of their thoughts and reactions....so keep checking back for their updates!

Thanks for your continued prayers!!!

2008-08-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

SO.....I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO DOWNLOAD PICTURES FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!

Amber's word for me is BE FLEXIBLE...so I will.

You're not going to see the way Kim looked at breakfast this morning before she was completely awake. NOT going to see the way the bedrooms looked after we rolled out of them. NOT going to see us load onto the bus and split up into our work groups. AND you're DEFINITELY not going to see the pics of how hard your kids worked throughout the day!!!! No....you're NOT!

But...since I'm being flexible....I'll just take the opportunity to share about a woman that the girls group met today. We spent the day painting a house for a man named Charlie. (This is where I would have inserted some stunning pictures of our ladies covered in pale blue paint!) The day was warm but a nice breeze blew through the streets, making the work very relaxing. We all fell in love with Charlie's 3 month old puppy who played between our legs all day....and at noon the woman two doors down made us some lunch. Janet served us a GREAT hot lunch of TURKEY NECKS, AND RICE AND BEANS. After we enjoyed the meal, we walked over to thank her for serving us, and were treated to about an hour of her memories of Katrina. Not only did Janet and her family leave before the storm hit, but they packed their 15 passenger van with about 10 elderly people who's families had abandoned them. Three years later, Janet and her husband are still recovering financially after spending years worth of savings just trying to get their life back to normal. They've only been back in their beautiful house for 2 weeks, and it is obvious relief at being home. The neighborhood is sparsely inhabited but the ones who are there really look out for one another. We spent a few minutes praying for her and her community. She was one BIG hearted woman!

Some of team stayed at the church to begin digging the foundation for a shed....and the rest of the team gutted a house, and will return tomorrow to continue cleaning up the floors and preparing to lay carpet.

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for safety on the sites, as well as continued opportunities to speak with the locals who are watching as we work. Thank you for all your comments....the kids really enjoyed reading a message from home!!!

We'll be back here earlier tomorrow evening...hopefully with pictures!!!

WE HAVE ARRIVED...FINALLY!!!!

2008-08-03T19:02:00.001-07:00

Whew!!! After 21 hours, 1200 miles, 4 potty breaks, 3 fastfood stops, and 2 coffee breaks....we have exited the bus for good!!!

Welcome to New Hope Alliance Church!

We've picked our beds....

...staked claim to the showers...

and met our host, Pastor Willy.

***As of this writing, we are awaiting the arrival of Kaitlyn Jordan who is stuck in an airport waiting for a seat on a flight to LA. We took a few minutes to gather together to pray for her protection and someone to come alongside and help care for her as she waits.***

The girls did some coloring...

...and the boys started a football game w/the neighborhood boys...

By far, the highlight of the evening were the puppies that one of the locals brought by!!!!

....Would anyone be opposed to them coming home with us!?!?!

It's been a good day, we've gotten a glimpse of the city, the forgotten destruction....and there is an air of anticipation as we begin the job we came so far to do.

May our hearts and hands be instruments of praise....

We're Halfway here!!!

2008-08-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a long day...

after packing the bus full...

...spending some time in prayer....

...Randy had us off and rolling!

We finally arrived at the Country Inn and Suites in Chattanooga, TN about 8:30pm. We unpacked our bags quickly and were back onboard for dinner! We enjoyed an AWESOME meal and are back now to enjoy the pool for a few minutes before it closes. Thank you, parents for coming to see us off and praying for us throughout the day! We'll be pulling out of here tomorrow morning at 7:30 to finish out the trip to New Orleans.

Next stop Chattanooga, Tennessee!!!!

2008-08-01T12:24:00.001-07:00

Please pray for us as we meet at 7am tomorrow morning and load up our bus. Apparently we've had a "bus upgrade" and will have a little more room than we originally thought we would....AND a bathroom on board!!! (Yippee, coffee for all the adults!!!)

We will be driving about 12 hours tomorrow and stopping in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the evening before resuming the ride on Sunday for another 12 hours!

Thank you, family and friends for your support and your prayers for this team. We pray we will represent each of you well!

Next stop Chattanooga!!!

Our last team meeting...

2008-08-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

We all gathered at the Buchanon's house last night for a final team meeting.

We spent lots of time just hanging out...

We enjoyed GREAT food...

(How many grown men DOES it take to make a grill full of chicken?!?!)

...and the rest of the night was spent playing "team building" games...

(WE HAVE TO FIT THROUGH WHAT HOLES?!?!?)

Mr. B explaining the "cow snot" game...

Willy, Holly, and Randy listened VERY closely to the instructions....then tried their hand at getting the whole team across the field on those little bitty boards w/out touching the grass........

They truly are gifted at balancing themselves...

...although ONE of them may have gotten ahead of herself and been a little TOO self confident!!

It was a great night of laughter and fun...

we've been blessed with a GREAT group to travel and serve with.

May the love and care we have for each other spill over on all those we meet this week...

The theme of LOVE...

2008-07-30T08:42:00.001-07:00

Continuing in my reading of the book of John....it seems the one word we must consider is the word LOVE. It's everywhere in this book! But do we do it??? I so appreciated Christine's words below...and they fall right in line with what we've been reading. We might as well unpack our bags and park the bus if we do not get the fact that we go, because we LOVE. And, we LOVE, because we're commanded to.

We have no problem at all getting excited about the trip, the good times with our favorite people, the free time away from home, the good food! But...have we stopped to realize that our work, our serving others in really mundane, unclean ways is LOVE? Have we thought more about getting enough sleep, being in the A/C, sitting next to our friend on the bus, or which restaurant we're going to stop at....than we have about scrubbing the toilets, pulling weeds, sweating, and getting gross and dirty in someone else's house? While it's an added bonus that we will have lots of laughter and fun....let's not forget that there WILL be uncomfortable conditions, there WILL be alot of heat, and there WILL be alot of things we just wish we didn't have to do.

But, let us remember that every one of these things is our way of showing Christ's LOVE to a city that needs it. Remember that each distasteful job we do without complaining, and with a servant's heart is a form of worship that we perform for the One who LOVES us. We don't deserve it...we didn't choose it...it was a gift to us. May our hearts, hands, and attitudes lavish that same gift onto those we meet.

Amber shared a song with me yesterday on the beach...a song that has meant so much to her in the last few weeks. It's called "Unfailing Love" by Chris Tomlin. Look it up on youtube or itunes....the words are a beautiful reminder of His unfailing Love toward us. It is because of that unfailing LOVE that we can have the ability to LOVE back this week...

"A new command I give you: LOVE one another. As I have LOVED you, so you must LOVE one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples

...if you LOVE one another"

John 13:34

A message from Christine.....

2008-07-30T08:12:00.001-07:00

I sometimes get "blogger's block" when I sit here wondering what to write next...but this morning I got an email from Christine asking if I would post some words to you all. I've been updating her on the trip details and she's been reading the blog and praying for us all. Here's her words to our team as we prepare to head out this week:

"May I encourage you in this:

Lately I have been challenged with the idea that each of us are made in the image of God and as we view ourselves and all others, to look at them as though we're viewing the image of God- no matter the outside look or inside person, no matter if they are wealthy or poor, a CEO or unemployed, living large or homeless, no matter a pastor or a prostitute, no matter a conservative or liberal, no matter straight or gay, no matter sober or drunk...all are created by God- in His image-and unconditionally loved by Him. And as a fellow child created by Him in His image, I should look on all and see God- His love and desire for them.

So, as you all go to serve people from every walk of life, I want to encourage you to see them in God's image. Love on them like you can't love enough...listen, enjoy, learn and be open.

Also, remember your teammates are all created in God's image- encourage each other. Love on each other, find the person you know the least and work with them for a day and get to know each other. Be a community of Christ like New Orleans has never seen before!

Know I am praying for you all! I would love to hear from each of you when you get back and tell me what God has dne in and through you."

-CQ

ONE MORE WEEK!!!

2008-07-26T08:02:00.001-07:00

Next Saturday morning we'll be packed tight and pulling out of the church- headed South!!! At just about this time I HOPE we'll be getting ready to make our first stop for lunch!

So...how are you doing preparing, students? Are you DAILY bringing this trip to the Lord, asking Him to change you, to fill you, and live through you? Parents...how are YOU/WE doing preparing your teens? Is reading the book of John changing us? Have our homes been a more peace-filled place to be because both teens and parents are living out what we're reading in this book?

"A new COMMAND I give you: LOVE one another. As I have LOVED you, so you MUST LOVE one another. By this EVERYONE will know that you are my disciples....if you LOVE one another." John 13:34

May we be people who are changed...not just for this week or month, but forever. Changed because we've been emptied of all that causes us to dwell on ourselves and filled with all that causes us to see people through God's eyes...

Serving the Lord....

2008-07-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

"Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
John 12:25 (NIV)

"If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me." John 12:25,26 (The Message)

I hope you all are realizing more and more that this is what you will be doing in Louisiana. As you've read through this book in preparation, I hope God is teaching you something new about what it looks like to serve Him...and follow Him. I really like the Message version of the above verses. I like the reminder that if we want to serve Him we have to first follow Him- so that we'll be where He is...and we'll be ready to serve at any given moment when He shows us an opportunity. The first step is ours- aligning our feet to where His are. That's what we're all doing next week....going where the need is- following where He is.

I really believe that God is preparing a path for us. There are people ready to meet us..people He's been preparing for our arrival. Will we be willing to be vulnerable and respond at a moment's notice? Let's pray that we are...pray that we don't miss a single opportunity that He's set up for us already.

Keep reading....keep praying...keep asking the One who's sending us to show us His footsteps.

Just an fyi...be praying for Bethany's family. Her mom is in the hospital, and may be there for the week. Pray that Mrs. Holler will be well by next week and that Bethany will be able to leave without any hesitation or anxiety.

It really is only a simple conversation...

2008-07-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

...still working through the book of John....

2008-07-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I must confess, I had not finished reading through the book of John at our last meeting - I had gotten about halfway through...sometimes I get stuck on some of the details and it takes me twice as long to complete a chapter! I've learned not to just glance past something that confuses me or speaks to me, but to take the time it takes to read several versions, commentaries, or whatever-until it finally settles right. Because of that...I just finished chapter 11 this morning!!! Slow, yes...but I'm finding new treasures in this book that I've read many times before......

Chapter 11 is a story we've all heard a hundred times....the first time being in our preschool Sunday School classes! The death of Jesus' friend Lazarus. Here's what got me this morning...

Lazarus is sick, and the sisters (Mary and Martha) send word to Jesus because they know He loves them and would want to know....they figure if they get word to Him in time, He can come and prevent Lazarus' death. Here's the part that held me this morning---vs. 5 says this:

"Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus...SO when He heard that Lazarus was sick,HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS for two more days..."

I happened to be sitting in my car this morning (with my Starbucks!)having my devos- long story, but it works for me...and when I came across this verse all I could think of was "WHAT?!?"
After finishing the rest of the chapter I came back to this place and came to this conclusion about the importance of this story...

We spend most of our lives asking God to make our life nice and neat...clear the way in front of us so that our walk will be easy, thereby giving us a wonderful testimony to show those around us...and many will come to know Him. End of story, no one got hurt, and all's well.

But, Jesus intentionally stayed behind and allowed Lazarus to die BECAUSE He loved Lazarus and the sisters. He knew it would mean much weeping and heartache...He knew there would be sorrow and scars....but still He stayed back and allowed Lazarus to suffer and die. Allowed the sisters and the community to mourn and weep.

BUT...when the day came that the time was right for Him to show up He not only showed up, He showed up as the only One who could save the whole mess! The One who would wipe away the tears, restore the dead...and remarkably gain glory beyond what He would have had He showed up earlier. The tears were allowed for a season, the pain was permitted...questions were asked, but it was the end He was looking at. In the end "many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in Him."

Ouch...this story hurts all our theories and plans. While we hope and pray for a life void of pain and suffering, Jesus waits behind...lets the pain fester....and then shows up valiantly to receive greater glory. Our part??? Let Him. Receive the pain and discomfort because we know His way is higher...His plan is better...and in the end, many who watch will put their faith in Him.

We've had our share of uncomfortable situations...so what are we going to do about them? Run away...or run to God?

I can tell you from experience...I'd rather run from the pain - sometimes it just hurts too much. But it's only been in the staying that I've been able to SEE that the end result was for Him to receive glory. So let's take the running shows off...store them in the back of the closet and wait. Watch and see Him receive the glory He is due....

Carwash/yard sale pics!

2008-07-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

When it was all set up side by side...we had alot of stuff to get rid of!

Though the sun was beating down on us...

and, at times seemed unbearable....

There was hard work from everyone...and maybe a little splashing to keep things cool!

Becca and Isaiah kept things fun w/a little dancing and clowning around!

Visits from the sweet "little people"!

And, finally....after a hard days work....a little resting...

Thanks for all the hard work, guys!!! To Leah, Heather, Kristen, Amilla, and Dan- thanks for all your help!!! We know you didn't have to help...but you worked hard helping us raise our funds!!! THANK YOU...your hard work did not go unnoticed!!!

Thank you to all of you who stopped by to donate, shop, eat, and get your cars washed!!! Because of you, we raised a grand total of $696!!!!

Car Wash this weekend!!!

2008-07-18T08:20:00.001-07:00

We're having a car wash, yard/bake sale this Saturday at 8...we need all the help we can get, students!!! I know it's early for a Saturday morning, but we're all in it together...and we can go home and take a nap when it's over!

Does anyone realize that our bus pulls out headed South in exactly 14 days from tomorrow!?!?