Fall, Facepaint, and Fun!

This past weekend we, the BRDC HPKids Team, put on an awesome fall party for our kids. We had facepaint, crafts, games, basketball, football, and popcorn! We also had volunteers from the Highland Campus and from our main BRDC service come to help make this a fun fest for the kids. One thing in paticularly, stood out and touched my heart this weekend. Before we went outside for our party, we prayed over breakfast. We usually have a child volunteer to pray. So I picked out a little boy about six years old. This was his prayer: "Father God, please bless this food and bring my daddy back back home." Now, thinking back, I realize the motivation for a small, seemingly insignificant thing like this party came from the Lord. These kids need a fun break...something to bring joy into their lives. I know this little boy will go home and again be faced with the fact that his father is not present, but maybe the party that day was a little extra boost of joy and "the joy of the Lord is our strength." I remember the first time I went to a Fall Fest at HPC. I think I had only been to service one time before that, but something changed in my heart when I saw the love of the church displayed in such an event. I couldn't believe all of it was open to the public and free! I brought my girls and was truly awed. Believe it or not, that Fall Fest was the beginning, the open door, to what Christ started and has continued to do in my life. It's another testimony of why our church does block parties, and outreaches, and women's nights. And in the end God get's all the glory because He really is the motivator behind it all!

Jr. Volunteers

Here are the handsome faces of some of our boys. These boys do not have parents that bring them to church. They hop on a bus, and come Sunday after Sunday on their own accord. I will admit these boys have spent some time in our "time out room." But this past weekend they did great! I was so excited to just see them in the service the whole time...and participating. Not too long ago we started a "Jr. Volunteer Program" for some of our older kids, ages 10-11 yrs. We gave them a volunteer lanyard, laid out some guidelines, and gave them jobs serving through out the service. Brad (in red shirt) was our first jr. volunteer. At one point his job was to clean up and sweep the floors after our craft, which he did. But Brad surprised me. During the service I looked back and saw Brad with a mop and mop bucket...mopping the floor...going the second mile! I found the children are eager to serve...but more importantly eager to have a purpose and value in their lives. We try to instill in the children each Sunday that God has plans for each and every one of their lives..plans to prosper and not to harm them...plans for hope and a future. I fully believe these children are going to be the generation to bring change to their community. We, as the Baton Rouge Dream Center, are here to teach them the promises God has for their lives in order to send them out, to be the light of Christ, to their own community.

It's Been a While

So, its been a while since our last blog, and much has happened since then, but I am feeling compelled to share. Not just share about us, but about the people around us and ultimately about God's faithfulness in all of our lives. Kevin and I are now working with the children at the Baton Rouge Dream Center, ages 6-11. When I think about how this came about, I can only credit the hand of God in our lives. I remember at a volunteer meeting, about a year ago, one of the leaders saying to let her know if we wanted to work in a different area than where we were currently serving. I was greeting at the time, and although I was fine with it, I had a hunger to work with the children. So I let her know, and the first weekend I went back with the children, I went with the intentions of hangin' out, and lovin' on some kids... that's it. But, God had more planned for me...and Kevin. Does He not always exceed our expectations? Before I knew it, I was sitting in Mrs. Sherri's office (Lead Children's Pastor), being told she had been praying about this, and leading this children's ministry was something she believed was for Kevin and I to do! I still can't believe how blessed we are to have this opportunity of investing in the lives of this next generation. It is daunting, trying to make a difference in the lives of children who have probably faced more adversity in their few years hear on Earth than I have faced in my 29 years, not to mention the constant nag of not feeling adequate enough for the job. But then who is? And if we were adequate enough for the job, where does that leave God's place? This job is ALL about faith. I have to trust that God has placed us here according to his will. Not only is God leading, guiding, and teaching us, but seeds are being planted in these young lives, and His purposes ultimately reign. So, I want to share what God is doing in the lives of the children. I will try to post weekly, although I have not been great at this in the past. As you read and hear the stories of the children, please keep them in your prayers...they need to be surrounded with all of our prayers.

Easy to Say, Hard to Do, and Sometimes Even Painful

So this week has been quite a tough one for me. Between feeling out of place, longing to be in africa, and trying to find contentment in where God has us right now, I feel like i'm in an emotional whirlwind. I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this period of waiting. I know the Lord led me to 2 Thes. 3:5 "May the lord lead your hearts to a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ." I am always praying that the Lord teach me to love the way He does and now I see that God's love and patient endurance, or as I would say, patiently waiting, go hand in hand. How long did the Lord patiently wait on me to give my life to Him? How much patience does He have with me as I make mistake after mistake? How often does He forgive as I continue to sin? His patience never ceases to amaze me and I know He promises to wait on us forever, for He will never leave us or forsake us. And then when I was feeling little contempt for the waiting process I came across a scripture that read something a little like "does the clay pot argue with its maker?" This actually makes me laugh just because I love how the Lord can put us right in our place when needed. So, I know we have put our lives in His hands and God is in control, molding, making and preparing us for the future. As Pastor Neilson (from Sweden) said last weekend at church, speaking on the story where Jesus calms the sea, Jesus said they were going to the other side! It doesn't matter what comes along in the process, it won't stop you, YOU ARE GOING! But at the same time, we must take and learn what God is giving us now, not waiting to live. What can I do with what is in my hand right now? Jen

We're Home

So we're home from Africa and I don't know where to begin. The trip was sooo exciting and yet so overwhelming (speaking for both of us) as we get home and begin to process what we've experienced. Our team was so great and I miss them all every time I think about the trip. Can you believe 30 people and not one argument or drama? That's a God thing in itself. I know we made some life long friendships. And I can not say enough about the people of Swaziland. They are so open and hungry for love, real love, Christ's love. I experienced so many emotions on this trip, and afterward, with the constant question going through my head of whether or not we may move to Africa in the future. God showed me I really just had to take it one day at a time and focus on the moment that God was giving us and the people He was having us encounter at that very time. I had to make this trip about others and not about myself. Isn't it amazing we can somehow make everything about ourselves? As we get back into the routine of our life, there is one thing I can walk away from this with for sure-- I just want to be closer to my father in heaven. I want to love people the way He loves people and I want to give of myself the way He gave His son. I want Him to teach me and my prayer is that He lead and guide us in all we do.

Trip Blog

We are heading out today for Africa! This is just a quick post to let everyone know about our team blog. This is where the team will be posting almost everyday with updates and pics. Here's the link http://swazilandsummerteam2008.blogspot.com/ Please continue to prayer for us and the team. Can't wait to see what God is going to do.

Why Are We Going?

Need I Say More???