Day 4: This morning we were at Chase agin in the morning, I worked mostly on AR Data Entry fro Ms. Ryan and talked with a couple of the students they are working on the Three little Pigs story from the wolfs point of view and had to compare to the traditional story. The two children I talked with were two that I helped the day before with practicing sight words. I also talked with MS Ryan when the children went to lunch about teaching she had previously worked at an Alternative High School with severly behavioral disorder students, and has been at Chase a few years. She was telling me all these amazing places to visit in Chicago so I am hoping to go back someday and visit some of these places. After the School we were again given a map (ha ha) and taken up town to "meet a need". With this project we were given $5 and some boundries as to where we could and could't go. So Alecia, Drake, Michael and I headed off. I think my theme for the trip was getting lost, because we realized after a few minutes of walking that we had gone one street over the boundry lines. We turned around and headed back in the right direction. We walked for a few minutes and talked a little bit about what we thought we might do to meet a need, not one of us had a clear idea so we walked. We came upon a school and we all knew instantly that we wanted to do something for the children playing on the playground. Alecia went and aked if we could buy popcicles for the children and the the playground moniters said yes. I went across the street to Aldi's and bought two boxes of popcicles. We passed them out to the school children, and had a box and a half left so we decided to pass then out as we found our way back to our meeting spot. Most everyone we asked was thankful for the cool treat on this unusually warm afternoon. We passed all the popcicles out and met at Mc Donald's. We stoped to get a snack since we wouldn't be having dinner till late. During this Michael had bought a cheeseburger, fries and a drink. When I saw him again his food was gone I asked where it was and he said "Mom, there was someone outside who needed it more than I did." So he had given someone else his food. I was so proud of him and offered to but him more food and he said "NO, She really needed it more than me!" I was very proud that he could see someone elses need above hi own and he was willing to act on it. After this we headed over to Crossroads Community Center to serve food in thier kitchen. We walked in and it was dark and dirty and sad. Very institutionalized. Not very welcoming. We quickly doned aprons, gloves and hairnets and set to work. We had the kids work the serving line and I went to the back to wash dishes. We saw very quickly that there was not a lot of love for those being served and it saddened me. We were told it was ok that the trays werent coming clean as long as thier wern't big chucnks of food on them. It made me sick to my stomache to think that it was ok for these families to eat off of dirty plates and have food cooked in dirty pans. Some good things came of us being there Debi connected with a mom and her children and was able to make sure she got back what she lost thier. We saw God at work even in this dirty little room.
After CCC we went to Vietnemese for dinner and The Mom's all sat together, it was nice that we had an opportunity to do this. We laughed and ate and shared and just thoroughly enjoyed each others company! I feel so Blessed to get to spend time with them and get to know them each better.
Day 5: Our last day at Chase, was bittersweet many of us purchased things for the individual rooms we were in, and to hear the stories of the children's reactions to the sports equipment bought was incredible. I think each one of us wanted to stay and work and do more but we couldn't. I know I wish I had, had more money to help supply more of what they needed. Today I was able to talk with MS Ortea the teachers aid in Ms. Ryans class and she is a wonderful person. We shared about our children, and the struggles we have trying to get them to see that they are blessed to have what they do have.
After working at Cahse we went and had Chicago Style Pizza and it was so delicious! We then went ot the Chicago Food Depository. It was such a fun place to work there were 100 + volunteers and we went into the wharehouse were they had a u shaped conveyor belt and we boxed food. We packaged over 1,100 boxes that would feed a family of 5 for 3 days thats like 20,000 + meals! They had such a rythm going that your could hear the beat it was really neat to see everyone at work and truly wanting to be there and serve. I got to see Michael in action!
After debriefing we came back to the house and finished up for the night Debi and I went to the basement to wash a few things and we cleaned the staff bathroom, boy did it need it! We got to giggeling and headed upstairs and just when we get the girls quieted down Debir, Christy and I get to giggeling and can't stop, I think exhaustion takes over cause we finally get to sleep and prepare for our departure the next morning!
Day6: We get up and take our final showers at CSM and Christy and I walk over to get a Coffee at Starbucks, it was nice sharing with her and getting to know her so much better on this trip. Busy day of Sight seeing visiting the Science and Industry Museum, then to Navy Pier and dinner at Bubba Gumps. After our long day we head over to the Church we are stayin at and get settled in for the night! We palyed some cards, and really enjoyed our last night of Chicago!
Day 7: We get up make breakfast and clean up the church. It was so neat to see each of us take an area and really work at cleaning. My favorite part of this day was Valen getting in the Baptismal and scrubbing it! We drive to our final stop along the way. As we are driving we (all the Girls) have some discussions and its really neat for me to see these girls open up and share from thier hearts. We get to the Church we are staying at and they have fried Chicken for us for dinner! Yummy Yummy! We eat, get showers and have some fun time. Even here at our final stop we knew and felt God with us.
Day8: Driving, Driving, Driving..... That's basically what we did all day! I feel like I have gotten so much out if this trip. I have gotten closer with some of the students and many of the adults. I feel like I could and would do this again tomorrow! I feel blessed to have been a part of the team that went! I am excited to see how God will use this experience in each one of us.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Give me Your Eyes...
This past week I had the privileged to go on a mission trip with the Youth of FBC here is Augusta. 24 of us left Saturday morning and began an adventure that would change all of us forever. I have been on Mission Trips before and they have always made me come back feeling on fire to serve and each time I get more involved in serving others in some way, so I am excited to see what else God has in store for me and for each one of that were changed by this trip. As you read through this I included those things that may seem boring to others but I wrote it as I remembered it I hope you will take the time to read through the entire post, and I promise to finish the story...
DAY 1: Saturday was spent driving, driving, and a little more driving. Praise: No one got sick! However it did take us a about an hour and a half to leave the church parking lot! :) There was a light out on the trailer and we needed it to work. We did make it to our First stop right on time and enjoyed some Basketball, Volleyball, and Hot dogs with the youth at FBC Highland MO. Some of the group went to showers and a couple of the mom's stayed behind and got snacks ready for the evening and lunches ready for the next day's departure. Our first night Christy and I were in a room together and I am so thankful she had an air mattress I could use on this trip because we were sleeping on cold tile floor, and someone forgot to set the heat so that we would have it all night and we were freezing in the morning! We survived the giggles, ticking clock and squeaky air mattress!
Day 2: Sunday we woke up had a yummy breakfast prepared by some of the ladies at FBC Highland and then attended their service. After the morning service we loaded up the vans and lunches and got on the road. (it was after this, that Pastor Dick realized he had left his Debit card in the machine the night before). But we pressed on! and drove.... We arrived in Chicago right on time. We quickly unloaded then had a leaders meeting to go over the weeks schedule. Then as if we hadn't been in the van's long enough we load up again for a prayer tour of the city. We drove around Chicago, getting a feel for several of the different neighborhoods we would be working in and praying for the work that would be done and those that would be helped. We returned to the CSM house tired and ready for the week to begin.
Day 3: Monday was our first full day of work in Chicago. We were separated in to two groups, Group one: The High School Students, Dick Jake & Lacey. The Second Group was the middle schoolers, the Mom's(Christy, Debi, Alecia, & Myself) and Kip. My group went to Chase Elementary and we were able to choose from several classrooms as to where we could go. I chose to work with Ms. Ryan she teaches Special Education. When I first came to the classroom, Mrs. Orta (Teachers Aid) had me working one on one with students going over their sight words. I loved doing this! I think I may have ignited a new passion! (I will be praying about this) After working at the school we went back to the CSM house for a quick break to wait on the other group. Our task for the evening was called Immersion. This had to be one of my most memorable nights. We had a teams of 5 and we were given $10(total) to purchase our dinner, a map(ha ha) and a scenario(we were uneducated, working minimum wage and couldn't afford both housing and food for our family) Our Group consisted of Me, Alecia, Michael, Drake, and Stewart. We left the CSM house and made our way to the train. We got to our stop and got off. As we were walking we came across a man named DJ Mike, he was a street performer and very obviously homeless. We talked to him for a few minutes and he touched each one of us. As walked we noticed that many of the people seemed to be in such a hurry, they all had cell phones or headphones on like they didn't want to hear anything that was going on around them. And I tried very hard to smile and make eye contact with everyone we came across and the majority wouldn't look at me or anyone else. This surprised me, and I am not sure why. It saddened me as well. We finally decide where we are going to get our dinner, 7-eleven. So we go in and look at Ra men Cups but decide on the Pizza instead we can get 6 slices for $7.00 and that means we can help someone else eat who may not have had the opportunity to eat. We all knew that we wanted to take the extra slice of Pizza back to DJ Mike. We even throw in a chocolate donut to go along with the pizza, plus the $2 and change we had left over. We head outside and eat our cardboard pizza(it was really bad!) and turn to go back to where DJ Mike is. But we quickly realized that we couldn't we hadn't made it to our final destination yet and we had to make sure we were back in the allotted time. So I said to the group that it's OK I am sure that God will show us someone who really needs this food. (and He did). We continued on our path and this man had come out of a store with a small brown bag, we were all stoped at the corner together and we were looking at our map to figure out how many more streets till we came to the Subway entrance we needed. He was very friendly and began talking to us and told us we had about 8 blocks to go. We began walking and talking for several Blocks, then we came upon this man digging in the trash (I didn't see this, I was talking to our new friend) Stewart looked at me and I nodded to go ahead, so we stopped and the boys went to the man searching in the trash and asked if he wanted the pizza. He seemed surprised and then very happy. He told Stewart that he was looking for something to eat. So he accepted the Pizza, donut and money and went along his way. As we came to the next intersection my new friend said goodbye and we went the next few blocks to our subway entrance point. We were in awe of how God had put someone in our path that really needed the food we had, and I lead us on the wrong train. Now anyone who knows me knows I have no sense of direction! And I can not read a map! So we are on the train for about 15-20 minutes before we realize that we are going the wrong direction. I sorta laugh because this is very typical of me, and I said to the group it's OK we have time and I don't believe that God allows these things to happen with out a purpose. We may see the purpose and then again we may not, this time we did. The next stop we got off and the were able to get on the train going the right direction. As we all sat down we kinda laughed, and we knew we were going to be cutting it close time wise but we should still make it back in time. The next stop a a man and his son got on. He looked at all of us and said: "I don't do drugs, or drink alcohol, I have fallen on some hard times and my son and I are homeless, if you could do anything to help God will bless you." No one moved and so he moved on to the next car. At the same instant Alecia and I looked at one another and we knew we had to do something. (you ever get that feeling that you were supposed to do something and you didn't and regretted it?, Well I knew this was one of those moments!)We began to dig in our bags and each took out some money and the three boys went to the next car to give it to the man and his son. As they came back I found a tic tac toe game/notebook in my bag and some colored pencils and so they took that to them as well. As the man and his son came back through our car he kept saying Thank you and God Bless you. I knew at that point that God used my weakness my lack of sense of direction to help this man and his son. Had we gotten on the train going the right direction form the beginning we would have never come across this man and his son. I believe that sometimes God can allow those roadblocks, times of running late etc.. to see Him in others. I prayed before going on this trip that God would open my eyes to those around me, that He would allow me to see them as He does. He did that time and time again on this trip. I will share more very soon! Have a Beautiful Day and Know you are Loved, Thought of, & Prayed for!
Love Christina
DAY 1: Saturday was spent driving, driving, and a little more driving. Praise: No one got sick! However it did take us a about an hour and a half to leave the church parking lot! :) There was a light out on the trailer and we needed it to work. We did make it to our First stop right on time and enjoyed some Basketball, Volleyball, and Hot dogs with the youth at FBC Highland MO. Some of the group went to showers and a couple of the mom's stayed behind and got snacks ready for the evening and lunches ready for the next day's departure. Our first night Christy and I were in a room together and I am so thankful she had an air mattress I could use on this trip because we were sleeping on cold tile floor, and someone forgot to set the heat so that we would have it all night and we were freezing in the morning! We survived the giggles, ticking clock and squeaky air mattress!
Day 2: Sunday we woke up had a yummy breakfast prepared by some of the ladies at FBC Highland and then attended their service. After the morning service we loaded up the vans and lunches and got on the road. (it was after this, that Pastor Dick realized he had left his Debit card in the machine the night before). But we pressed on! and drove.... We arrived in Chicago right on time. We quickly unloaded then had a leaders meeting to go over the weeks schedule. Then as if we hadn't been in the van's long enough we load up again for a prayer tour of the city. We drove around Chicago, getting a feel for several of the different neighborhoods we would be working in and praying for the work that would be done and those that would be helped. We returned to the CSM house tired and ready for the week to begin.
Day 3: Monday was our first full day of work in Chicago. We were separated in to two groups, Group one: The High School Students, Dick Jake & Lacey. The Second Group was the middle schoolers, the Mom's(Christy, Debi, Alecia, & Myself) and Kip. My group went to Chase Elementary and we were able to choose from several classrooms as to where we could go. I chose to work with Ms. Ryan she teaches Special Education. When I first came to the classroom, Mrs. Orta (Teachers Aid) had me working one on one with students going over their sight words. I loved doing this! I think I may have ignited a new passion! (I will be praying about this) After working at the school we went back to the CSM house for a quick break to wait on the other group. Our task for the evening was called Immersion. This had to be one of my most memorable nights. We had a teams of 5 and we were given $10(total) to purchase our dinner, a map(ha ha) and a scenario(we were uneducated, working minimum wage and couldn't afford both housing and food for our family) Our Group consisted of Me, Alecia, Michael, Drake, and Stewart. We left the CSM house and made our way to the train. We got to our stop and got off. As we were walking we came across a man named DJ Mike, he was a street performer and very obviously homeless. We talked to him for a few minutes and he touched each one of us. As walked we noticed that many of the people seemed to be in such a hurry, they all had cell phones or headphones on like they didn't want to hear anything that was going on around them. And I tried very hard to smile and make eye contact with everyone we came across and the majority wouldn't look at me or anyone else. This surprised me, and I am not sure why. It saddened me as well. We finally decide where we are going to get our dinner, 7-eleven. So we go in and look at Ra men Cups but decide on the Pizza instead we can get 6 slices for $7.00 and that means we can help someone else eat who may not have had the opportunity to eat. We all knew that we wanted to take the extra slice of Pizza back to DJ Mike. We even throw in a chocolate donut to go along with the pizza, plus the $2 and change we had left over. We head outside and eat our cardboard pizza(it was really bad!) and turn to go back to where DJ Mike is. But we quickly realized that we couldn't we hadn't made it to our final destination yet and we had to make sure we were back in the allotted time. So I said to the group that it's OK I am sure that God will show us someone who really needs this food. (and He did). We continued on our path and this man had come out of a store with a small brown bag, we were all stoped at the corner together and we were looking at our map to figure out how many more streets till we came to the Subway entrance we needed. He was very friendly and began talking to us and told us we had about 8 blocks to go. We began walking and talking for several Blocks, then we came upon this man digging in the trash (I didn't see this, I was talking to our new friend) Stewart looked at me and I nodded to go ahead, so we stopped and the boys went to the man searching in the trash and asked if he wanted the pizza. He seemed surprised and then very happy. He told Stewart that he was looking for something to eat. So he accepted the Pizza, donut and money and went along his way. As we came to the next intersection my new friend said goodbye and we went the next few blocks to our subway entrance point. We were in awe of how God had put someone in our path that really needed the food we had, and I lead us on the wrong train. Now anyone who knows me knows I have no sense of direction! And I can not read a map! So we are on the train for about 15-20 minutes before we realize that we are going the wrong direction. I sorta laugh because this is very typical of me, and I said to the group it's OK we have time and I don't believe that God allows these things to happen with out a purpose. We may see the purpose and then again we may not, this time we did. The next stop we got off and the were able to get on the train going the right direction. As we all sat down we kinda laughed, and we knew we were going to be cutting it close time wise but we should still make it back in time. The next stop a a man and his son got on. He looked at all of us and said: "I don't do drugs, or drink alcohol, I have fallen on some hard times and my son and I are homeless, if you could do anything to help God will bless you." No one moved and so he moved on to the next car. At the same instant Alecia and I looked at one another and we knew we had to do something. (you ever get that feeling that you were supposed to do something and you didn't and regretted it?, Well I knew this was one of those moments!)We began to dig in our bags and each took out some money and the three boys went to the next car to give it to the man and his son. As they came back I found a tic tac toe game/notebook in my bag and some colored pencils and so they took that to them as well. As the man and his son came back through our car he kept saying Thank you and God Bless you. I knew at that point that God used my weakness my lack of sense of direction to help this man and his son. Had we gotten on the train going the right direction form the beginning we would have never come across this man and his son. I believe that sometimes God can allow those roadblocks, times of running late etc.. to see Him in others. I prayed before going on this trip that God would open my eyes to those around me, that He would allow me to see them as He does. He did that time and time again on this trip. I will share more very soon! Have a Beautiful Day and Know you are Loved, Thought of, & Prayed for!
Love Christina
Friday, March 13, 2009
Chicago here we come
Well as I write this we have less than 24 hours before we leave for our trip to Chicago, to work with CSM. This is not my first and I hope it won't be my last missions trip. I am excited and nervous at the same time, but I know and believe that God is with us on this trip. Not sure who all reads this but if you are reading this be praying for the team that is going, 24 students and adults leaving Augusta to head to Chicago for this week ling mission trip. We will be working everyday in two schools helping students with tutoring and whatever else may need done, we will get to eat lunch with these same students and spend the entire week serving them. In the afternoons/evenings we will be working with two local shelters to help prepare and serve meals to the homeless and then one night we will be working in a food bank to help organize, sort and give out food to those in need.
I am so amazed at how God works sometimes. When we think we have nothing God shows us we have all we need, and more. As we prepare for this trip I have so many memories of two previous trips I took with the youth at Stonebridge, of course Atlanta which changed my life... I will never look at a pair of socks with out thinking about the men and women we interacted with there, but my hear always thinks of Chuck. He was living on the streets of Atlanta and had been for several years, originally from Alabama, his smile, his eyes will be in thoughts forever. You see we did these mission walks where we filled backpacks with needed items: socks, T-shirts, toiletries etc... and then walked the streets of Atlanta. On my first and only mission walk in Atlanta we met many, but Chuck is the one who touched my heart. When we first met him he was very quiet and wouldn't look at us directly. We had been surrounded by men who need items and they knew what we had. So as we were talking with these men and passing out supplies I looked at Chuck and asked what he needed and he said if we had some socks to spare he would take them. I found him a few pair of socks and a t-shirt and some toiletries, as he was fumbling to get these items in his backpack I offered to help and he refused and quickly walked away. I thought that was the last I would see of him but God had other plans. We gave out what we had then continued on down the street we were on, and stopped a few more times, about a half a mile from where we first me him Chuck, he was sitting on the side of the road putting on a pair of the socks we had given him, our students called out hello to him by name and that's when I saw he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I asked if I- could sit with him for a minute and he said yes. So I did. We sat there and I asked if he needed anything else and he said no he had everything he needed. (and we think if we dont have the latest and greatest of everything we are missing out!) So as we talked I learned a little about his family and that he had been in Atlanta about 2 years and he had children in Alabama, that he missed. He also said he hadn't had new socks since around Christmas. We were there in July. I asked him if there was one thing I could pray about for him and he said yes that he would get a job so that he could see his family again. As we stood up the team came around us and we prayed for him, I looked up as we were praying and he had tears gushing out. He couldn't believe that we would take the time to talk with him, to share what we had with him and to call him by name. And that made me cry. We all want to belong, to be wanted to be loved! I know I do. I went to Atalanta thinking I was gonna change someones life and I did, MINE! God can work in us in ways we don't even know. I truly believe that I will see Chuck again someday, not because of anything I did but Because of God's Love in me. And as we prepare to leave for Chicago, my prayer is that God will use me. That I will see others with his eyes, and I will Love them as He does! My Prayer for you out there in cyber land that you will begin to see people with God's eyes that you will see past what's outside but that you will see their hearts. Have a Beautiful Week, and I look forward to posting on the Amazing things God does in Chicago!
Know you are Thought of, Loved & Prayed for!
Love Ya
Christina
I am so amazed at how God works sometimes. When we think we have nothing God shows us we have all we need, and more. As we prepare for this trip I have so many memories of two previous trips I took with the youth at Stonebridge, of course Atlanta which changed my life... I will never look at a pair of socks with out thinking about the men and women we interacted with there, but my hear always thinks of Chuck. He was living on the streets of Atlanta and had been for several years, originally from Alabama, his smile, his eyes will be in thoughts forever. You see we did these mission walks where we filled backpacks with needed items: socks, T-shirts, toiletries etc... and then walked the streets of Atlanta. On my first and only mission walk in Atlanta we met many, but Chuck is the one who touched my heart. When we first met him he was very quiet and wouldn't look at us directly. We had been surrounded by men who need items and they knew what we had. So as we were talking with these men and passing out supplies I looked at Chuck and asked what he needed and he said if we had some socks to spare he would take them. I found him a few pair of socks and a t-shirt and some toiletries, as he was fumbling to get these items in his backpack I offered to help and he refused and quickly walked away. I thought that was the last I would see of him but God had other plans. We gave out what we had then continued on down the street we were on, and stopped a few more times, about a half a mile from where we first me him Chuck, he was sitting on the side of the road putting on a pair of the socks we had given him, our students called out hello to him by name and that's when I saw he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I asked if I- could sit with him for a minute and he said yes. So I did. We sat there and I asked if he needed anything else and he said no he had everything he needed. (and we think if we dont have the latest and greatest of everything we are missing out!) So as we talked I learned a little about his family and that he had been in Atlanta about 2 years and he had children in Alabama, that he missed. He also said he hadn't had new socks since around Christmas. We were there in July. I asked him if there was one thing I could pray about for him and he said yes that he would get a job so that he could see his family again. As we stood up the team came around us and we prayed for him, I looked up as we were praying and he had tears gushing out. He couldn't believe that we would take the time to talk with him, to share what we had with him and to call him by name. And that made me cry. We all want to belong, to be wanted to be loved! I know I do. I went to Atalanta thinking I was gonna change someones life and I did, MINE! God can work in us in ways we don't even know. I truly believe that I will see Chuck again someday, not because of anything I did but Because of God's Love in me. And as we prepare to leave for Chicago, my prayer is that God will use me. That I will see others with his eyes, and I will Love them as He does! My Prayer for you out there in cyber land that you will begin to see people with God's eyes that you will see past what's outside but that you will see their hearts. Have a Beautiful Week, and I look forward to posting on the Amazing things God does in Chicago!
Know you are Thought of, Loved & Prayed for!
Love Ya
Christina
Friday, February 20, 2009
Busy Busy.....
Hello out there it has been weeks since I have been on here sorry! :( So lets see whats been happening at The Cox Household....
Earl went to San Diego, CA for a Children's Pastors Conference and had a great time. He got some new resources and even won a few things to boost the Children's/Preschool ministry. Met the Guys from GO FISH, and chose their VBS program for the Children at FBC to do this year. So the kids will get a backstage pass into the bible, I am excited to see the resources for this program. While in California he got to visit with his brother Tom.
Midterms came out and we had parent Teacher conferences with all three schools/teachers and the kids are doing AMAZING! Yeah! That is definitely a praise.
Michael and I are gearing up for our mission trip to Chicago, so please be praying about that for us. I seem to always get very sick just before I do any major trips with the youth, and I am not wanting this to happen here. We are busy getting last minute donations for the Youth Auction, and preparing for that, next Saturday and Sunday (February 28th & March 1st) BTW if you have anything you want to donate or you want to sponsor anyone of us or even get tickets to the Auction let me know, before Wednesday! :)
Rebecca has been preparing for her senior year picking out classes and getting ready for the ACT. She will be going on the Musical Mission Trip this summer and is gearing up for all the work that this will entail. She is such an amazing young woman, and I am so proud of her. It's hard to believe that she is growing up so fast, and will soon be a senior!
Michael and Katie tried out for the local community theater here in Augusta and both got parts. They are doing Suessical Jr. Michael will be playing JoJo, the mayors son from Horton Hears a Who, and Katie is going to be a Who. I am so proud of both of them, more than 75 kids tried out and some unfortunately didn't make it. I will post some pictures when they start having practices in March.
Kansas is great, the weather is pretty unbelievable many days of 60 and higher in February, sorry to all the snow loving* (:)) friends in Ohio!
I have been keeping pretty busy, and I sometimes feel busier now that I am a Stay a Home Mom again, than I did as a full time working mom. I am leading Middle School Girls Group, and we are meeting just about every Sunday. I have so enjoyed getting to know and luv these girls. God is good! We had a sleepover in January with 20 or so Girls, and last week did a combined group with the High School Girls and had a Fondue Party! So much fun, and wonderful yummy food, in fact it was such a great success that we are going to have an adult Girls Fondue party in march when I get back from the trip to Chicago. Bible Study is awesome as always we are doing Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself (The Fruit of the Spirit) and every week I think she somehow can see into my life. I am learning more and growing every day.
We have been here almost 7 months, and the time has really flown by. I still my family and friends in Ohio, but it's not as much of an ache. God is really working in me, and for the first time in a long time I am open to it.
So I have to get going, I am going to try to finish reading The Shack this weekend, I will write an update on the book when I am done, I have had to put it away because its very hard for me to read about the abduction of the little girl. But everyone keeps telling me to keep reading its worth it. I will let you know!
Know you are Loved, Thought of &Prayed for!
Love Christina
Earl went to San Diego, CA for a Children's Pastors Conference and had a great time. He got some new resources and even won a few things to boost the Children's/Preschool ministry. Met the Guys from GO FISH, and chose their VBS program for the Children at FBC to do this year. So the kids will get a backstage pass into the bible, I am excited to see the resources for this program. While in California he got to visit with his brother Tom.
Midterms came out and we had parent Teacher conferences with all three schools/teachers and the kids are doing AMAZING! Yeah! That is definitely a praise.
Michael and I are gearing up for our mission trip to Chicago, so please be praying about that for us. I seem to always get very sick just before I do any major trips with the youth, and I am not wanting this to happen here. We are busy getting last minute donations for the Youth Auction, and preparing for that, next Saturday and Sunday (February 28th & March 1st) BTW if you have anything you want to donate or you want to sponsor anyone of us or even get tickets to the Auction let me know, before Wednesday! :)
Rebecca has been preparing for her senior year picking out classes and getting ready for the ACT. She will be going on the Musical Mission Trip this summer and is gearing up for all the work that this will entail. She is such an amazing young woman, and I am so proud of her. It's hard to believe that she is growing up so fast, and will soon be a senior!
Michael and Katie tried out for the local community theater here in Augusta and both got parts. They are doing Suessical Jr. Michael will be playing JoJo, the mayors son from Horton Hears a Who, and Katie is going to be a Who. I am so proud of both of them, more than 75 kids tried out and some unfortunately didn't make it. I will post some pictures when they start having practices in March.
Kansas is great, the weather is pretty unbelievable many days of 60 and higher in February, sorry to all the snow loving* (:)) friends in Ohio!
I have been keeping pretty busy, and I sometimes feel busier now that I am a Stay a Home Mom again, than I did as a full time working mom. I am leading Middle School Girls Group, and we are meeting just about every Sunday. I have so enjoyed getting to know and luv these girls. God is good! We had a sleepover in January with 20 or so Girls, and last week did a combined group with the High School Girls and had a Fondue Party! So much fun, and wonderful yummy food, in fact it was such a great success that we are going to have an adult Girls Fondue party in march when I get back from the trip to Chicago. Bible Study is awesome as always we are doing Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself (The Fruit of the Spirit) and every week I think she somehow can see into my life. I am learning more and growing every day.
We have been here almost 7 months, and the time has really flown by. I still my family and friends in Ohio, but it's not as much of an ache. God is really working in me, and for the first time in a long time I am open to it.
So I have to get going, I am going to try to finish reading The Shack this weekend, I will write an update on the book when I am done, I have had to put it away because its very hard for me to read about the abduction of the little girl. But everyone keeps telling me to keep reading its worth it. I will let you know!
Know you are Loved, Thought of &Prayed for!
Love Christina
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Happiness v.s. JOY
Can you have joy and not be happy? I use to think that they coexisted but the closer I get to God the more He opens my eyes to his truths. I have been reading through the bible and a few weeks ago the one of the scriptures was from Psalm 4:1-8 and this psalm really stuck out to me because David is crying out to God and he knows and Believes that God is listening to him. ~*~ v.7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound ~*~ David is saying that he was filled with a Joy greater than the happiness they felt when all thier crops came in and thier wine overflowed with abundance. He has an inwards Joy that can only come from his relationship with God.
So whats the difference between Joy and Happiness? Happiness, according to the Oxford English dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. Joy on the other hand, is described as a vivid emotion of pleasure. Thus, happiness depends on circumstance; joy, on our emotional well-being.
So can you have Joy in difficult circumstances? Yes I believe so. I think that the world puts a lot of focus on feel good now and we think that to be happy things have to feel good now. But thats not necessarily true. I think our focus on happiness can cloud our view of the Joy that we have with God. The inward Joy that we have with God is steady, and complete when we trust in God. That inwards Joy can defeat discouragement, happiness only tries to cover it up. In ward Joy is everlasting and happiness is temporary.
~*~Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He care for those who trust in Him.~*~ God care for us he is there for us in all times but especially in times of trouble.
Recently I got a pretty scary call from somone I love very much who had lost all hope, in this life. He couldn't believe that God could or would Love him where he was, especially since he had made some pretty bad choices in his life.See he chose to believe that feel good now was better than the peace and Joy that God can bring you! He had been slowly turning further away from God, because it was easier to be in the world. On the night of this call I had just finished reading the above scripture and thinking about Joy and Happiness and I really don't believe in coincidences so anyway when the call came I was prepared well sorta. So after an hour on the phone I knew there was nothing I could do to help, I was prayin d and talking and praying and finally I was able to get professionals involved. I ended up having to call the Police in the town he was and they sent a officer. I later found out that the officer that came there had been in his situation not so long ago. and was able to speak more truths to this person I love. He is slowly getting the help he needs, and is starting to see that you can have a Joy in your life inspite of the outside circumstances. While on the phone he asked me how can you be so happy when youve been through some crap in your life and I told him like I will tell everyone. I have Peace that I can't explain, because its no of me but of HIM. I Believe that inspite of the troubles here on earth we will one day have answers to all of these questions. ~*~ Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.~*~
And I know and believe that my worst day with God in my life is still better than my best day with out him.
I hope this wasn't to much rambeling.
Know you are Loved, Thought of & Prayed for!
Love Christina
So whats the difference between Joy and Happiness? Happiness, according to the Oxford English dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. Joy on the other hand, is described as a vivid emotion of pleasure. Thus, happiness depends on circumstance; joy, on our emotional well-being.
So can you have Joy in difficult circumstances? Yes I believe so. I think that the world puts a lot of focus on feel good now and we think that to be happy things have to feel good now. But thats not necessarily true. I think our focus on happiness can cloud our view of the Joy that we have with God. The inward Joy that we have with God is steady, and complete when we trust in God. That inwards Joy can defeat discouragement, happiness only tries to cover it up. In ward Joy is everlasting and happiness is temporary.
~*~Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He care for those who trust in Him.~*~ God care for us he is there for us in all times but especially in times of trouble.
Recently I got a pretty scary call from somone I love very much who had lost all hope, in this life. He couldn't believe that God could or would Love him where he was, especially since he had made some pretty bad choices in his life.See he chose to believe that feel good now was better than the peace and Joy that God can bring you! He had been slowly turning further away from God, because it was easier to be in the world. On the night of this call I had just finished reading the above scripture and thinking about Joy and Happiness and I really don't believe in coincidences so anyway when the call came I was prepared well sorta. So after an hour on the phone I knew there was nothing I could do to help, I was prayin d and talking and praying and finally I was able to get professionals involved. I ended up having to call the Police in the town he was and they sent a officer. I later found out that the officer that came there had been in his situation not so long ago. and was able to speak more truths to this person I love. He is slowly getting the help he needs, and is starting to see that you can have a Joy in your life inspite of the outside circumstances. While on the phone he asked me how can you be so happy when youve been through some crap in your life and I told him like I will tell everyone. I have Peace that I can't explain, because its no of me but of HIM. I Believe that inspite of the troubles here on earth we will one day have answers to all of these questions. ~*~ Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.~*~
And I know and believe that my worst day with God in my life is still better than my best day with out him.
I hope this wasn't to much rambeling.
Know you are Loved, Thought of & Prayed for!
Love Christina
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Just an Update!
Ok so its been a few weeks so here's an update on the family.
Earl is back to work after our long trip to Ohio, and gearing up for a conference next month that will take him to San Diego (in February, he's so lucky!:)) He is also back to the grindstone with meetings, Kids Club, Children's Church etc... and starting to think about and plan for VBS.
Rebecca is in her third semester of her senior year and the college letters are pouring in, she is preparing for the summer missions trip and supposed to be looking for a job! (I might just pass out if that happens! :)
Michael is now doing Choir and Band and has worked hard getting sponsor letters out to help with his mission trips. He is counting down the days till his 13th Birthday (1/25).
Katie is still loving fourth grade and has been talking about cheer leading more and more so I guess I am going to have to break down and start looking for something like that for her. She also is considering trying out for a musical at the Theater they are doing Suessical: The Musical.
I have been busy getting the house back in order after the Christmas holiday and have been doing pretty good with reading through the Bible and memorization. I am also getting back in shape and will start running this week. (I think I may have gone crazy agreeing to that one! :)) So we will see how that goes I ma just praying that the weather will cooperate with me at first to make it a little easier.
I am planning more youth Girls Events and I have started having Middle School Girls Group every week now and I think the Girls Love that. I know I am because it makes it so much easier toget to know them. This Sunday we have a Sleepover and I am so Excited!
Tonight is our Sunday School Christmas Party and Earl and I will be going, still trying to decide what to make but I know it will come to me! Other than that not much has changed.
I am a little glad we are not in Ohio Freezing as I keep hearing about the cold and snow. We got snow a few days ago and it was bitter cold for two days but it's warming up very nicely today! So until we meet again!
Know you are Loved Thought of & Prayed for!
Love Christina
P.S. I am working on a post about Happiness vs JOY so be looking for that in the next few days!
Earl is back to work after our long trip to Ohio, and gearing up for a conference next month that will take him to San Diego (in February, he's so lucky!:)) He is also back to the grindstone with meetings, Kids Club, Children's Church etc... and starting to think about and plan for VBS.
Rebecca is in her third semester of her senior year and the college letters are pouring in, she is preparing for the summer missions trip and supposed to be looking for a job! (I might just pass out if that happens! :)
Michael is now doing Choir and Band and has worked hard getting sponsor letters out to help with his mission trips. He is counting down the days till his 13th Birthday (1/25).
Katie is still loving fourth grade and has been talking about cheer leading more and more so I guess I am going to have to break down and start looking for something like that for her. She also is considering trying out for a musical at the Theater they are doing Suessical: The Musical.
I have been busy getting the house back in order after the Christmas holiday and have been doing pretty good with reading through the Bible and memorization. I am also getting back in shape and will start running this week. (I think I may have gone crazy agreeing to that one! :)) So we will see how that goes I ma just praying that the weather will cooperate with me at first to make it a little easier.
I am planning more youth Girls Events and I have started having Middle School Girls Group every week now and I think the Girls Love that. I know I am because it makes it so much easier toget to know them. This Sunday we have a Sleepover and I am so Excited!
Tonight is our Sunday School Christmas Party and Earl and I will be going, still trying to decide what to make but I know it will come to me! Other than that not much has changed.
I am a little glad we are not in Ohio Freezing as I keep hearing about the cold and snow. We got snow a few days ago and it was bitter cold for two days but it's warming up very nicely today! So until we meet again!
Know you are Loved Thought of & Prayed for!
Love Christina
P.S. I am working on a post about Happiness vs JOY so be looking for that in the next few days!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! As the new year begins, I think about the past year and how quickly it went by and all that I have learned from, this past year! So I have had some heartaches and disappointments, but all in all I can say 2008 was a good year, it was a year of change and new beginnings, and definitely growth. We (Earl & I) really learned to seek out God's will for our lives, individually and together as a family. In January I had the opportunity to go to Mars Hill Church in Michigan and hear Pastor Rob Bell speak/preach and was very moved by the whole experience, I heard from God that weekend and He (God) gave me a burning desire to serve him in a Bigger way, I also felt that something bigger than me was on its way, at the time I wasn't to sure what it was but I knew that if it was from God that HE would provide. In February Earl and I celebrated 12 years of Marriage. In March we decided to give up the ministry search and to re focus on what God wanted for us, and not so much what we wanted for ourseleves. In June we received a call from a church that Earl had previously interview at to re interview. He resubmitted his resume and interviewed, we went for a visit and we asked to join the staff at First Baptist Church in Augusta, KS. (Where we are currently at) We got the call the first weekend in July that Earl would be the new Director of Christian Education and Leadership Development. Oh and that we would be moving the first week of August! So in a little less than a month with 2 mission trips in between we were to move form Findlay, Ohio to Augusta, Kansas. Rebecca left for her trip to South Dakota and we began packing, and packing and packing. When she got back we go the call that Earl's mom had passed. She had been struggling for the last year and a half and finally went to be with her Heavenly Father and would suffer no more! We spent a week in Texas for the funeral and spending time together with family. In this we became a little closer with Earl dad and brother. I think this is the first time since we (Earl & I) have been married that we were all together. We came back from Texas and Michael & I went to Niagara Falls, NY for our mission trip. We spent a week serving the homeless and poor, and spent my last week in Youth at Stonebridge with some AMAZING middle schoolers. It was bitter sweet. We returned from that and left a few days later for our new home in Kansas! Earl got to work right away and the kids in school after being here just a week. Everyone has adjusted and It's hard to believe that we have been here only 5 short months. We Love our new home, our church and the town of Augusta. It's a bit smaller than Findlay but everyone is so nice and welcoming. Our new Church is Amazing! Rebecca was in the fall play at School (Once Upon a Mattress) and won a medal in Debate! She is in her Junior year @ Augusta High School and is doing great. She is in Choir, and taking some tougher classes this year! Preparing for College! Michael is in 7th grade @ Augusta Middle School. He is the Manager for the boys basketball team, and is in Band and Choir. He is still playing the trumpet but also is expanding his music ability with the Oboe and piano, this year! Michael and Rebecca are both involved with the youth @ FBC. Katie is in 4th grade and is excelling at Ewalt. She has made many new friends since being here and Loves going to Kids Club @ FBC. She is growing into a Beautiful Young Woman. I am so Proud of all of them. Earl began his first ministry position and is loving it. I have taken the longest to adjust to the move, but I can truly say that I think of this as our home now. I attended a women's retreat, helped with the Children's Christmas Program and the Women's Ministry Luncheon. I have begun to work with the Youth here @ FBC and am leading Middle School Girl Group. I still have the passion to work with and encourage middle school girls, to see their true Beauty in God. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving here in Augusta with My parents (Joe & Julie) and Earl's dad (Bob), this was the first time they ever met and spent time together. For Christmas we trekked back to Ohio to visit with my family and all our Wonderful Ohio Friends! We spent New Years Eve Together as a family snuggling, watching movies in front of the fire. (OK some of us fell asleep :)) But as we begin 2009 I pray that we will grow more in God's Love, that we will grow close together, and that we will seek God's will. My goals resolutions for this new year are to get Healthy (and stick with it), to be in God's word every day, to get more organized, and finally to keep better contact with those we love so dearly near and far! This blog is one way but I also hope to write more letters and send more pictures! And some day soon, I hope to add some pictures to this blog. So until then!
Know you are Loved,Thought of & Prayed for!
Love Christina
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! As I write this post I am in OHIO (yeah) and I am seeing how truly blessed I am. We arrived Monday and tried to surprise my mom but the ground was covered with ice so every step we made was SO loud and so we began to laugh, I am certain this is from delirium form being in the car for 14 hours! :) So needless to say she heard us coming! We all went to breakfast at cracker barrel then home to rest for a quick bit. I got to surprise one of my favorite girls (Sophie) who screamed when she saw us. (she thought we were just leaving Kansas) Did some more running around and got the last minute Christmas shopping almost done, had a Deitches Ice Cream! (YUMMY) Then to the mall where I ran into some more friends. Then to surprise Tiffany at Swim practice! Then the headache came. I thought it was from traveling and all the running around, so I took some aspirin went to bed. Woke up Tuesday with the same headache. Well the headache wouldn't go away and then it made me sick very sick (throwing up yucky sick) so finally about 8 pm Earl and I took a trip to the E.R. (OK Earl forced me but I am glad he did) After blood work, lots of IV fluids and some Amazing medicines, the CT scan and a few hours we were back at my parents and the headache was gone! I slept and slept and slept then we attended the Christmas Eve Service at Stonebridge last night and we able to see and speak with so many of our friends! In the short amount of time we have been gone it's amazing to see how much everyone has changed. Many of the students I used to work with now tower over me, so I am not sure if I shrunk in Kansas or they really grew that much. But it was so great to walk into the church to be greeted by hugs and the warm beautiful smiles of those we love. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I saw them again. We were greeted with so much love! I can only Thank God for that. He allowed us to share so much of our lives there for five years and we are truly blessed to share in the lives of those wonderful people at Stonebridge! I think sometimes I wonder if what we share is as meaningful to others as it is to me and God always shows me it is. And this trip is defiantly showing me that the time we were at Stonebridge was for His purpose and not ours and that when we follow his leading he will Bless what we have. We just have to allow God to work and he does! In his timing not ours. And so as we continue to share this special time with family and friends I feel Gods blessings with each friendly face, smile, hug, and even the few shedded tears! and I know that our God is an AWESOME GOD! So as this day of celebrating the birth of Christ draws to an end, I Hope you will continue to see God's Blessings in Your life, Things don't always work the way we think they should, but God's Plan is so much bigger than what we can see. and as I get these tiny glimpses into His Bigger Picture I am Thankful! May You Feel His Blessings Today and Always!
Know You are Loved, Thought of & Prayed for!
Love ya Christina
Monday, December 15, 2008
God has Bigger plans for us!
I have been sitting here trying to decide what to write and I am not sure if this is going to be anything more than me rambling on but Here goes. After talking with a good friend today, about me coming back to OHIO to visit and the changes at the church and the programs there, she said something about you know last year about this time Christina you said you felt God was prompting you for something more, something deeper than what you have now. And at the time (January 2008) I couldn't even imagine that less than a year later that I would be living in Augusta KS, that I would be a pastors wife (Yes I know that's what all the schooling was for:)), that after leaving everything I knew and Loved that in just a few months that I would be feeling so connected so a part of things so much like this is where I belong. After all that I put into things there I never felt as part of it, as connected, as appreciated, as I do here. I have heard Thank You more here in the past few weeks than I did there after almost three years of service, not that, I was only doing it for the recognition but we as humans I think or at least I do need to know that people care. Please don't get me wrong I love and appreciate all the things that I experienced in that time because I have grown and learned to trust in God so much more because of my experiences there. Since we have been here I have had, no wait I have made the time to connect with God and to seek out his will for me. It's funny to think that a year ago today I was happy with where I was and thought I would always be there, funny thing God does he begins to prepare our hearts for change but sometimes we are so closed off that we can't see it. Last year when I went to Mars Hill Church (January) and saw their program and heard the way they worship and the way Rob Bell preaches, I realized that I needed more than what I was getting I just couldn't see any way to get more, to experience more. I was already loaded with all that I could possibly handle. And that's the problem I was looking for what I could do not How God could work. He (God) put somethings on my heart that weekend away in Michigan and I was faithful and followed through, only it didn't have the outcome I expected, does that mean God wasn't in it? No I believe that He (God) gave me certain tasks to do and I followed through, and he slowly reviled to me more and more that He has bigger things for me, for my family. In March 2008 we (Earl and I) began feeling God moving, at this time we had no Idea what He (God) had in store for us but we both could feel a change coming. And boy did it! June 2008 we got the call to Interview for a position at First Baptist Church in Kansas of all places, I thought~ seriously God Kansas home of Dorthy the Yellow Brick Road and Tornado's, No Thanks!~ But we knew that this calling had to be from God you see Earl hadn't submitted a resume in almost three months and this was a church he had interviewed with the previous fall, and it was a bit of a different position than what he had originally interviewed for. So we prayed about it, talked about it as a Family and applied for the position... and you know the rest of the story we are currently serving at FBC. And when I compare what I had then to what I have now I see that God has brought us to something deeper, our Worship at FBC is Amazing there hasn't been a week that has gone by since we have been here that I don't feel God at work here, feel His presence with me, with the Church. And He (God) is continuing to show me more and more that when we will let go and allow Him to work through us He will! We have to get out of our own way sometimes to do this. So as this year 2008 comes to and end that's what I hope to do in the coming year. Get out of my own way and Allow God to work through me. And that in the coming year I will see my experience as an opportunity to Love deeper, to Live better, and to be the Woman God has called me to be!
I truly Believe that we serve an AWESOME GOD! Who Loves us in spite of us.
I truly Believe that we serve an AWESOME GOD! Who Loves us in spite of us.
So Love God, Love People (all people) and all the rest will work it's self out!
Know you are Loved, Thought of & Prayed for!
Christina
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