I'm a slacker :(

OK it's be over a week since I updated :( Sorry, I Have no good excuse other then I've been slacking!

A week ago Wednesday we had 14 kids! That's the most we've had so far and it was an awesome time of fellowship, Matthew spoke on the sovereignty of God and it developed into a great time of conversation. He tried to show a John Piper video but as technology would have it, it wouldn't play :( That opened the door for great conversation and we are consistently impressed with the questions being asked!

Sunday morning we had 13 and Matthew is working through the book of John. We're still seeing lots of kids in the worship service that aren't' coming to Sunday School so we're trying to personally connect with them and invite them to class. (Sunday school is first so it's easy for kids to float in for service and not come to class!)

In church news we had 2 people baptized on Sunday and there are at least 3 more waiting to be baptized! Almost every week people are coming forward to make decisions or join the church! It is so encouraging to see God working!

This Wednesday night we decided to have a "game night" and just a time for fellowship and developing friendships. We had 17 youth come! and 3 of them haven't been before! We're excited about upcoming opportunities and looking forward to God's working in and through our lives!

Please continue to pray for the youth, that they will bring there friends and become on-fire for God in their schools and communities, pray for Matthew as he ministers to the youth and their friends and as he seeks God's leading for lesson plans and times of fellowship. Pray for the church as a whole that it continues to grow in God's plan and that God continues to work there and grow His kingdom through us! Thank you!

Valentine (Sun)Day!

I didn't post on Wednesday because church was canceled again due to snow! It may have been a premature move but Wednesday morning it was coming down hard and the decision was made then. That being said we were able to spend some great time of fellowship (over mexican food!) with Tommy and Daina. They are incredible examples to us, as well as a great source of encouragement!

Today is Valentine's Day!! It's a bittersweet holiday for me because I spent 6 years working at a florist that closed about 15 months ago and I miss the people and the hussle of the business. That was a blessing tho because I know I couldn't work the crazy hours and be "mom" to my boys.

For Sunday School this morning we had 11 students and several more in the service that we're trying to encourage to come to class. 3 people came forward during the church invitation and two of them are youth age, (one was a 6th grader and one graduated last year but the college age is still closely involved with youth) it is so amazing to see God working in the little things! While it would be so easy to get discouraged by only having 11 in Sunday school we had two people make professions of faith and a new member join! Thats what its all about!

Matthew was also able to lead worship this morning since the person who usually does it was away! Please continue to pray for us, that we'll allow God to use us in any way he needs and that we will continue to find encouragement in the little things as we see Him working!

Official First Sunday

Would you believe that it started to snow on Saturday again and they were calling for 1-6 inches! WE only got about an inch so Sunday morning services proceeded as planned but Sunday night was cancelled since there was a lot of ice in the parking lot. Sunday nights they usually do awana's which is a program we are not familiar with so this still wasn't a "normal" Sunday!

Driving to church with the boys (running late as usual!) I heard this lyrics:

Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes it comes in the Spirit's breeze
You reach for the deepest hope in me
And call out for the things of eternity

But I'm a man of dust and stains
You move in me so I can say…

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of your plan
Here I am

When setbacks and failures and upset plans
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands
Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that You will finish what You began

And these broken parts You redeem
Become the song that I can sing…
Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness
And the fear that I'll fail You in the end
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces
I can't put this together but You can

How true, God is using our failures and upset plans to minister to these students and all along it was HIS plan! Matthew took the opportunity this morning to share his testimony and in doing so gave advice to the students on how to most effectively share their own testimonies. We only had 10 students since the weather was bad-ish but this is our "core" group and it was encouraging that they are coming and excited! They even made a cake for Matthew and brought it this morning! It's wonderful that they're accepting us!

Gibson is much better, his fever broke on thurday and he has steadily improved. Please continue to pray for us and the students at Fox Hill Road, pray for Matthew as he works on planning and scheduling events for the youth and for the boys and I as we adjust to our new positions in ministry!! Thank you! ;)

Wednesday #2

Well I'll start off by saying we must be doing something right because this week we've been under attack! It encouraging though! I feel the closer we get to God's will and fulfilling that will the harder the devil tries to discourage. After my wonderful snowy weekend I spent 3 1/2 hrs in the emergency room with my boys Monday to find out Gibson has pneumonia :( We've been battling that with antibiotics and painkillers but the recovery is slower then I'd like :( Tuesday Matthew left to take this grandmother to a dentist appointment and called about an hour later to say the car wouldn't start :( After having it towed one thing led to another and the repairs will be approx $700! (thats what we get for having cars older then most of our youth!) Thank God for our coming tax return!!
That being said, tonight with the youth group at Fox Hill Road Baptist Church was awesome! We were able to have a time for drinks, snacks, and games before getting into "lesson" time. I made a very quick visit since I didn't want to bring Gibson out (thank you mama for watching him) but Matthew said there were 13 students and they had a great, interactive conversation about the soverignity of God. The feedback he received was positive and it's exciting to see students that are interested and genuinely excited about God's word! Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we minister to these students, pray for Gibson as he is recovering also! Thank you so much! We love you!

Snow Day!

After a week of planning and preparing for our first Sunday morning it snowed and church was canceled!!! I absolutely love snow so while it was disappointing that we weren't able to have our first Sunday at Fox Hill it has given us a bit more time to pray and prepare and we got "free" time to enjoy God's awesome creation in 8 inches of snow!! This week we were able to get a fridge for the youth (thanks Frank!!) and an industrial size coffee pot (thanks mom and dad) as well as snacks and a few other things to help draw the youth in. Believe me when I say there was absolutely NOTHING for them. I am looking forward to Wednesday night to see who returns and also next Sunday since I know there will be a larger crowd on Sunday. Until then I'll be enjoying the snow! til it melts anyway...