Tuesday, November 13, 2007
BIG NEWS!!!
God had provided our team with an Executive Director! We have been praying for this moment for over 4 years now!! Andrae Robinson will start as of January 1st. However, he and his wife Lone (pronounced Luna) will not move out to J'ville until near the end of January. They are joining us from California! Andrae grew up in California while his wife grew up in Denmark. They met in an orphanage in Honduras. We are excited about the huge ways they will contribute to our team. Their giftings and personalities will mesh well with ours while filling much needed gaps!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tacoma/Seattle
I just spent 3 1/2 glorious days in Washington State. I spent time with incredible friends, hiked in crisp, chilly weather, took in the brilliant fall colors, went to one of the largest REI's in the nation and toured two beautiful cities! What a wonderfully refreshing little retreat!!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
What was that rainbow thing again?
I think God said that He set the rainbow in the sky as a covenant that He would never flood the earth again like He did in the days of Noah. By the end of 2 weeks of straight rain, I was starting to wonder if He had changed His mind. No, I wasn't in an ark floating, but the carpet in my sisters room was floating on top of the ankle deep water that filled her room.
300 gallons of water later...her floor is finally starting to dry. I would have taken pictures but I don't think she was in the mood. :)
Unfortunately, Sophia's flooded room was not the only thing ailing us at our house the last couple weeks. The roof was also leaking, our thermostat stopped working (not a good situation in an already hot and very wet environment) and we have an animal decomposing in the wall next to my room...yummy!!
The adventure continues....
300 gallons of water later...her floor is finally starting to dry. I would have taken pictures but I don't think she was in the mood. :)
Unfortunately, Sophia's flooded room was not the only thing ailing us at our house the last couple weeks. The roof was also leaking, our thermostat stopped working (not a good situation in an already hot and very wet environment) and we have an animal decomposing in the wall next to my room...yummy!!
The adventure continues....
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
One Tired Girl
So this year I took the plunge and decided to bring a student to school. Thomas is so gifted and talented - with the ability to do anything but he is not always very motivated...so I decided I would encourage him to be motivated by picking him up. This meant waking up at 6:45 a.m. and generally getting back to sleep by a little after 7a.m.
Well then Veronica -(I don't have any pictures of her) asked if I could pick her up as well. She lives near Thomas and is going to the same school. That seemed like a good idea because I really want to make in-roads into her family. This meant waking up at 6:40 a.m. and still getting back to sleep a little after 7 a.m.
Then I was talking to Amp (Thomas' brother) and found out that his bus stop is on the way to Thomas' school but it would be a 2-mile walk for Amp every morning to get there. The bus picks him up just a little earlier than the other two need to get to school so that means getting up at 6:30 a.m and getting back to sleep a little after 7:00 a.m.
Are you noticing the trend? The time is getting earlier and earlier...
Then...AJ has been having trouble at home and has been staying at Thomas' house. His school is 3 miles away. A bit of a walk to say the least. This didn't change my getting up time, however, it is 3 miles in the opposite direction...so now I'm getting home at 7:30.
Well then Veronica -(I don't have any pictures of her) asked if I could pick her up as well. She lives near Thomas and is going to the same school. That seemed like a good idea because I really want to make in-roads into her family. This meant waking up at 6:40 a.m. and still getting back to sleep a little after 7 a.m.
Then I was talking to Amp (Thomas' brother) and found out that his bus stop is on the way to Thomas' school but it would be a 2-mile walk for Amp every morning to get there. The bus picks him up just a little earlier than the other two need to get to school so that means getting up at 6:30 a.m and getting back to sleep a little after 7:00 a.m.
Are you noticing the trend? The time is getting earlier and earlier...
Then...AJ has been having trouble at home and has been staying at Thomas' house. His school is 3 miles away. A bit of a walk to say the least. This didn't change my getting up time, however, it is 3 miles in the opposite direction...so now I'm getting home at 7:30.
Well then...AJ has been having trouble at home and has been staying at Thomas' house. His school is 3 miles away. A bit of a walk to say the least. This didn't change my getting up time, however, it is 3 miles in the opposite direction...so now I'm getting home at 7:30.
I think the word must have been spreading that Miss Ruth is a taxi driver because I got to Thomas' house one morning and 6 boys came piling out of the house...all going to different schools. Now not only does that mean I am up longer and longer...but 6 boys and one girl (Veronica) don't all fit very well in my little Corolla...so you guessed it...I had to make two trips. Not arriving home until almost 8 a.m.
This definitely does not happen every morning...but occasionally I am greeted with some kind of surprise like this when I get to Thomas' house at 6:40 in the morning. And let me tell you this tired girl often turns into one yucky, grouchy girl when I am met with all these unexpected surprises that are cutting into my sleep.
I could say that I am just tired and excuse my grouchi-ness away as a result of that...or the fact that I am caught unexpectedly off-guard or the fact that these kids are only thinking of themselves and will most likely not even be grateful (like most teenagers)...I'm sure I could explain it away on a lot of levels if I tried hard enough but really it just reveals my selfish, impatient, sinful nature which resides at the core of who I am. Under the right conditions I am an evil beast in my responses. This has not been pretty.
Anyway, I would love your prayers that God would deal with my sinful, impatient self in such a way that allows me to deal with grace, gentleness and perseverance with my kiddos.
On a side note...I know most people in the human world are up at 6:30 or earlier on a regular basis but unfortunately, I work late often not getting to sleep until at least midnight and if you know me well you know that I need a whopping 9 hours of sleep. I know that is sickening but I think God made me that way on purpose.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Face Book
I just recently joined the millions who are addicted (I mean connected) to facebook. If you have an account...find me! :)
What Will We Do Without Him?
Cecil Smart (one of our team members who has a bit farther of a commute) was able to spend five weeks with us in J'ville this summer. He recently headed back up to Sterling University in Kansas where he is pursuing a youth ministry and exercise science degree.
What does one have to do with the other you may ask? Coaching is a fabulous way to connect with kids....an excercise science degree is an excellent way to connect with coaching!
While here, he fit right into the team as though he has been here all along. He helped lead a mission trip to New Orleans, led our weekly youth nights, hung out with kids - including often letting them spend the night, got students immunized, physicals, registered for school, onto football teams...the list goes on.
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But more than the things he does...who he is was a huge asset to us and our neighborhood. He has an uncanny ability to relate to students and speak truth into their lives. He is a great leader who takes initiative as he lives out the gospel while living among the students all day, every day.
We are so excited about the partnership we are developing with him and can't wait to see how God will continue to lead all of us in the next couple of years.
What does one have to do with the other you may ask? Coaching is a fabulous way to connect with kids....an excercise science degree is an excellent way to connect with coaching!
While here, he fit right into the team as though he has been here all along. He helped lead a mission trip to New Orleans, led our weekly youth nights, hung out with kids - including often letting them spend the night, got students immunized, physicals, registered for school, onto football teams...the list goes on.
.jpg)
But more than the things he does...who he is was a huge asset to us and our neighborhood. He has an uncanny ability to relate to students and speak truth into their lives. He is a great leader who takes initiative as he lives out the gospel while living among the students all day, every day.
We are so excited about the partnership we are developing with him and can't wait to see how God will continue to lead all of us in the next couple of years.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Involved in the mess
In his book, God in the Alley, Greg Paul describes the journey he has been on as he learns what it means to be and see Jesus in a broken world. Over and over again, he is challenged - and challenging us as Christians to get outside the safe confines of our own comfortability, our own walls that we've erected and to truly engage in the messiness of others lives.
He says, "This kind of active, fully engaged presence requires tremendous discipline....How do I practice this presence among people who are, much of the time, engaged in activites in which I can't - don't want to - participate? When I think of trying to be the presence o fo Christ in this fashion, it no longer seems benign and faintly condescending. Instead, it seems risky, uncomfortable, humbling. Giving money to some panhandler is something I know I can manage; it can even make me feel good about myself. But embracing him as a brother, literally putting my arms around his smelly, drunken, psychotic, and possibly bug-ridden person, grappling with the concept that he, too, is beloved of God, precious, and made in his image - well, this provides an unnerving peek into my own soul."
I read this book with great resonation. This is what Christ really calls me to. Not some glossed over, show me what I want to see kind of engagement but getting involved with peoples lives on a gut wrenching soul level. All these concepts look good on the pages of a book...but how do they look in the midst of real life? My real life...
This is what I have been faced with over and over again this summer. As I am involved with students lives whose anger and hurt goes so deep that they are just as likely to curse me out as they are to hug me. As I am faced with brokeness and tragedy in students lives that ranges from physical, sexual and emotional abuse. As I see the way that has shaped a mindset that causes those very same kids to not value their own bodies and lives.
There are a hundred pat answers I grew up learning in Sunday school and yet those answers seem to fall short when faced with the multi-layered web of pain, anger, demoralization and sin.
The questions have rung over and over in my head..."did I really mean it when I said that I really wanted to know you?" "did I really mean it when I said that I wanted the real you?" "did I really mean it when I said I wanted to be involved in your life - even with all of its disappointments and disgustingness?"
The answer - yes, I think I do, but Lord, I feel helpless and am desperate for you to walk with me each step of the way as I venture in - past the pretty stuff into the reality of peoples lives.
He says, "This kind of active, fully engaged presence requires tremendous discipline....How do I practice this presence among people who are, much of the time, engaged in activites in which I can't - don't want to - participate? When I think of trying to be the presence o fo Christ in this fashion, it no longer seems benign and faintly condescending. Instead, it seems risky, uncomfortable, humbling. Giving money to some panhandler is something I know I can manage; it can even make me feel good about myself. But embracing him as a brother, literally putting my arms around his smelly, drunken, psychotic, and possibly bug-ridden person, grappling with the concept that he, too, is beloved of God, precious, and made in his image - well, this provides an unnerving peek into my own soul."
I read this book with great resonation. This is what Christ really calls me to. Not some glossed over, show me what I want to see kind of engagement but getting involved with peoples lives on a gut wrenching soul level. All these concepts look good on the pages of a book...but how do they look in the midst of real life? My real life...
This is what I have been faced with over and over again this summer. As I am involved with students lives whose anger and hurt goes so deep that they are just as likely to curse me out as they are to hug me. As I am faced with brokeness and tragedy in students lives that ranges from physical, sexual and emotional abuse. As I see the way that has shaped a mindset that causes those very same kids to not value their own bodies and lives.
There are a hundred pat answers I grew up learning in Sunday school and yet those answers seem to fall short when faced with the multi-layered web of pain, anger, demoralization and sin.
The questions have rung over and over in my head..."did I really mean it when I said that I really wanted to know you?" "did I really mean it when I said that I wanted the real you?" "did I really mean it when I said I wanted to be involved in your life - even with all of its disappointments and disgustingness?"
The answer - yes, I think I do, but Lord, I feel helpless and am desperate for you to walk with me each step of the way as I venture in - past the pretty stuff into the reality of peoples lives.
Monday, August 06, 2007
A Summer of Firsts
While it wasn't the first time I brought a youth group to New Orleans on a summer mission trip, it was the first time that I attempted to bring a combined group from 2 very different youth groups - merging them into one united team to be a blessing to the people of New Orleans. Our group of students was made up of 8 students from a upper middle class, suburban church and 12 students from a lower income, urban youth group.
It was also the first time Urban Impact (the inner city ministry we went to) had ever had inner city youth come to them for a National Project Week.
There were lots of challenges. Many of my students from the city have only recently committed their lives to Christ...so in a way they were just a step ahead of many of the kids we interacted with in New Orleans.
However, they added a dynamic that brought life, energy and excitement to the week. I believe the week was a week of incredible growth and formation (beyond what anyone could even articulate at this point) for every person involved - not just the people from our group but the participants from other groups, the staff at Urban Impact and the people of New Orleans. We got to see a glimpse of God's glory in a way that we never had. Though it was perhaps the hardest trip I've ever led (revealing many of my own weaknesses) it was the best. Check out all the pix below!!
Me and my boy Dingo...although, now he is all grown up! This is his 2nd summer as an intern with Urban Impact. He will graduate from college next year and hopes to be a youth pastor!
A bunch of our kids excitedly awaiting their day ahead. :)
Some of the guys wrestling
One afternoon it rained and rained and rained....
So we played....
and played....
and played...
Sarah and I - happy to be home in our hood
Bradley - thinking he's a model or something! :)
Dani working hard gutting a house
You can't go to Cafe du' monde and not have a powdered sugar fight!
Bodai painting the walls of a school library
Our whole group at the end of the week. We were all feeling a bit crazy by then.
I love this picture of Tywanda and AJ
The boys just playin' around
Of course we had to get a flat at the worst possible time. :)
Great time in the morning with the Lord
It was also the first time Urban Impact (the inner city ministry we went to) had ever had inner city youth come to them for a National Project Week.
There were lots of challenges. Many of my students from the city have only recently committed their lives to Christ...so in a way they were just a step ahead of many of the kids we interacted with in New Orleans.
However, they added a dynamic that brought life, energy and excitement to the week. I believe the week was a week of incredible growth and formation (beyond what anyone could even articulate at this point) for every person involved - not just the people from our group but the participants from other groups, the staff at Urban Impact and the people of New Orleans. We got to see a glimpse of God's glory in a way that we never had. Though it was perhaps the hardest trip I've ever led (revealing many of my own weaknesses) it was the best. Check out all the pix below!!
Me and my boy Dingo...although, now he is all grown up! This is his 2nd summer as an intern with Urban Impact. He will graduate from college next year and hopes to be a youth pastor!
A bunch of our kids excitedly awaiting their day ahead. :)
Some of the guys wrestling
One afternoon it rained and rained and rained....So we played....
and played....
and played...
Sarah and I - happy to be home in our hood
Bradley - thinking he's a model or something! :)
Dani working hard gutting a house
You can't go to Cafe du' monde and not have a powdered sugar fight!
Bodai painting the walls of a school library
Our whole group at the end of the week. We were all feeling a bit crazy by then.
I love this picture of Tywanda and AJ
The boys just playin' around
Of course we had to get a flat at the worst possible time. :)
Great time in the morning with the Lord
Monday, July 30, 2007
Our First Mission Team
We had our first ever Jax mission week from July 15-20th. A group from Princeton, ILL came down to partner with us in the city. They were such a blessing as they worked hard, played hard and left their fingerprints on the lives of those in our neighborhood.
They did many things...among which was painting the laundry room and bathroom at the Collin's house.
They did many things...among which was painting the laundry room and bathroom at the Collin's house.
Curtis & Jessica Odell led the team...
Monday, July 09, 2007
Friends in Ministry
Marc Nettleton (pictured far right) has been a great gift to our team from the Lord. He is a college student from Madison, WI who is interning with us this summer. He has played ball with kids at the park, tutored kids in math and reading skills, discipled kids through Bible studies, and helped chaperone trips. But perhaps most importantly he has been available at our ministry house at all hours of the day for students to come hang out with. There they find a safe, stable environment which minimizes opportunity to get in trouble. Through this life-on-life relationship, he is possibly discipling them more than through any Bible Study (though those are important too!) :)
Jermaine Reynolds (just left of Marc) is a fun friend we met at KAA. He is a leader in a ministry down in Orlando, FL. He may just come and visit us in J'ville one of these days.
Continuing left...MaryAnn & Jason Foster (for those of you who may not recognize them) are permanent ministry partners with 2nd Mile Minisistries.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
National Conference
I just finished up at our EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) national conference. Leaders from all over America gather together for networking, equipping, resourcing, & to get a little business done. It was an incredible couple of days for us. At the conference 2nd Mile was given the "Courage Award" for:
- taking the path others have not and never losing sight of the dream.
- standing together and making tough decisions, all to meet the needs of others.
- holding onto unchanging principles while pursuing an ever changing path.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I'm Trying
I will try to do much better at keeping this blog updated...especially since I know at least 1 person reads it. :) I am setting a goal of updating it weekly...that might be a little ambitious but I will try! I also will attempt to get some pix up on the blog...to break up the monotony and to give you a visual window into my world! :)
8 Days at KAA
I recently returned from Kids Across America with 34 students from my neighborhood.
This camp is incredible. The facilities are great, the programming is excellent, and the staff are top of the line! Not only did the Lord accomplish alot in our kids lives - several gave their lives to the Lord for the first time, others were challenged about reconciliation in relationships, forgiveness and living their lives to please Christ not their friends - it was a wonderful rest for me from the battle that seems to be raging all around me.
The Lord brought me face to face with some of the things I had been "too busy" to think about and started the process of healing the hurt I have felt towards Him from him not meeting some of the expectations I have of Him. I realized through a game of spades (spades is a very spiritual game) :) how hard it is for me to trust someone when they don't make the decisions I am expecting or think they should make. So if you ever see me doing that...feel free to call me on it! :)
26 hours in a bus with 39 others (including other leaders) can be a very bonding experience. :) I returned home at 3:00 am only to re-awaken for a full day of class at 7:30 the same morning. It was a fantastic experience let me tell you! :) If I wasn't the ONLY student in the class, I might have stayed home...but since the professor flew in from South Hamilton just to teach me, I thought it might be important to roll out of bed and get to class. :)
Our whole group on our way home at our favorite eating establishment. None other than Micky D's.
Jason, MaryAnn, Cecil and myself. Cecil is a counselor at KAA this summer. He has been very connected with our kids...keeping in touch with many of them outside of camp. He is going to spend a month of his summer break hanging out with us in Jax (right after he leaves KAA).
Our fearless leaders!
The students loved spending time at the pool!
Our High School kids representin' their locker (cabin) numbers.
This camp is incredible. The facilities are great, the programming is excellent, and the staff are top of the line! Not only did the Lord accomplish alot in our kids lives - several gave their lives to the Lord for the first time, others were challenged about reconciliation in relationships, forgiveness and living their lives to please Christ not their friends - it was a wonderful rest for me from the battle that seems to be raging all around me.
The Lord brought me face to face with some of the things I had been "too busy" to think about and started the process of healing the hurt I have felt towards Him from him not meeting some of the expectations I have of Him. I realized through a game of spades (spades is a very spiritual game) :) how hard it is for me to trust someone when they don't make the decisions I am expecting or think they should make. So if you ever see me doing that...feel free to call me on it! :)
26 hours in a bus with 39 others (including other leaders) can be a very bonding experience. :) I returned home at 3:00 am only to re-awaken for a full day of class at 7:30 the same morning. It was a fantastic experience let me tell you! :) If I wasn't the ONLY student in the class, I might have stayed home...but since the professor flew in from South Hamilton just to teach me, I thought it might be important to roll out of bed and get to class. :)
Our whole group on our way home at our favorite eating establishment. None other than Micky D's.
Jason, MaryAnn, Cecil and myself. Cecil is a counselor at KAA this summer. He has been very connected with our kids...keeping in touch with many of them outside of camp. He is going to spend a month of his summer break hanging out with us in Jax (right after he leaves KAA).
Our fearless leaders!
The students loved spending time at the pool!
Our High School kids representin' their locker (cabin) numbers.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Yes, I'm Sure!
My sister and I have become the mom's/aunties of 2 puppies. Pitbull puppies to be exact. They are very cute. As soon as I remember to bring the digital camera in, I will put a pic up for you to see. We have gotten alot of questions to the affect of: "Are you sure you want to do that? Pitbulls are mean. You aren't safe."
Funny thing is - that was very similar to my dialogue with people when I decided to move into the inner city. "Are you sure you want to do that? There is a lot of crime. You aren't safe."
People often expressing fears based on our oh so reliable source of the money driven, sensationalistic media...not too much from real life experience.
Besides safety is relative...and a little bit boring. While it can be scary getting too near the edge of the cliff, the view is breathtaking, the feeling is exhilerating...I feel like I am really living. What was the famous brave heart quote? Every (wo)man dies but not every (wo)man truly lives... :)
I want to live today in a way that will make eternity just as breathtaking and exhilerating!
Regardless of whether the claims of unsafety are true or not (which I truly believe most of them aren't)...God hasn't promised me safety...not in this life anyway.
And so I respond with much confidence, "Yes, I'm sure!" :)
Funny thing is - that was very similar to my dialogue with people when I decided to move into the inner city. "Are you sure you want to do that? There is a lot of crime. You aren't safe."
People often expressing fears based on our oh so reliable source of the money driven, sensationalistic media...not too much from real life experience.
Besides safety is relative...and a little bit boring. While it can be scary getting too near the edge of the cliff, the view is breathtaking, the feeling is exhilerating...I feel like I am really living. What was the famous brave heart quote? Every (wo)man dies but not every (wo)man truly lives... :)
I want to live today in a way that will make eternity just as breathtaking and exhilerating!
Regardless of whether the claims of unsafety are true or not (which I truly believe most of them aren't)...God hasn't promised me safety...not in this life anyway.
And so I respond with much confidence, "Yes, I'm sure!" :)
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