You Are

This week, we are at Pump Springs Baptist Church in Harrogate, TN. I am staying with Danielle at Steve and Christy's home. They have two girls, Baileigh and Addison. We had some really great conversations with Steve and Christy already. It is so great to see what God is doing in this church. On Wednesday night, Laine was planning on speaking about Forgiveness, like normal, but God had other plans. Many people went up to confess sins and six base camp students went up to ask their parents forgiveness infront of the church. We normally dont do testimonies until the second week, but God really was moving in the church that night. Happy Heart City has had a great group! They are very energetic children and we have about 26 every night. Its great to have a big group, because most times we have super little ones. So me and Angela are enjoying it. Unfortunately, last summit, we missed two days of the summit due to ice storms. And this summit, we had to change the time of Home Life Cafe. It is normally at 9:00-1:00 but its going to be from 1:00-5:00. This is the biggest HLC we have had, and that Wilson has had. We are expecting 125 adults. That is so amazing. We set up 20 tables, and we are praying that they will all be filled.
God is still working in my life and teaching me many things. One thing He is teaching me right now is how to wait on His timing and to trust Him. It's so easy to find myself in a situation where I am doing things how I want to do them, but I need to catch myself and LET GO AND LET GOD. Don't get me wrong, I am still working on it. But I am farther than I was 6 months ago. This coming February, we all have to tell Head Quarters if we are returning next year. I have made my decision and am waiting for the date to tell them. I have prayed a lot about this, and I feel that this is where God has me for the next year.
This week I started a devotional by Matt Redman. It has really been good for me. The first day was about finding 10,000 reasons to praise God. When you think about it, it sounds like a lot, but he went through and explained it... Every single thing that God made is a reason to give Him praise. And he made everything, therefore, we wont ever run out of things to praise Him for.. I am so glad I worship a God like that.
One of the songs that I hear so often is You Are by Colton Dixon. It really makes me think about if that describes my life.. in the bridge he sings, "If I had no voice if I had no tongue, I would dance for you like the rising sun. And when that day comes and I see your face I will shout Your endless glorious praise." I am turning this into a prayer, one that can be fulfilled before that day comes. I want to be filled with His praise and shout it to everyone.
Please be praying for our team as they make the decision to travel next year or not. Also please be praying for my coteacher Matt, he is with his family for the time being. Pray for peace for all of them.

Never Once

Hey guys! Its been so long since I have updated. So here goes:
         Our last summit before break was in Athens, AL. It was such a great summit. However, the attendance for Happy Heart was very few.. towards the end of the summit, we only had the revivalists daughter. So we combined with Base Camp for a lot. The teens were open to what Michael had to say, and I think all around it was a good summit. I stayed with a really awesome family who had three kids. Jake, Hannah, and Mary Beth. I had such a great time with them.
        Once we left Athens, we went back home for the month of December. It was so good to be back home with my family and friends. I got to see my grandma and my brother. I really just now realized how easy it is to take family forgranted. Because the people you live with you see everyday, and now that I am traveling, I really realized how much I miss them. But I know that this is where God has me for now.
        Right now we are in Corinth, MS. Our summit started this past Sunday and we have had a pretty good group of kids in Happy Heart. We have about 10-12 on any given night. Base Camp has about 20-30. I am praying that God grabs ahold of their hearts and that the kids would really understand everything that we are teaching. Before we left for break we all switched up lessons. So we are getting back into the swing of things with new lessons. But so far its going good. My host parents at this summit are very sweet. They are an older couple, but its so awesome to see them together. They are coming up on 49 years of marriage tomorrow!
     Its such a blessing to be able to do what I am doing. God is so great and He has really been teaching me, and the team, that without Him, we are incapable of agape love. 100% sacrificial love, expecting absolutely nothing in return. Another thing He has been teaching me throughout this time is to wait on Him. Its not about what I want and when I want it... Its all about HIM and HIS timing. He is never late, and never early... always on time.
       If y'all could be praying for our team to stay healthy, that is much appreciated. We are trying to not get the flu, and where we are right now is where the flu is hitting the hardest. Also please pray for me as I just came off of break.. My mind is still back home, and I need to be 100% here.
      As I was sitting here writing this, I was listening to my music. One of the songs that I had heard a thousand times came on. It really hit me this time. Never Once by Matt Redman. Listen to that song when you get a chance.. really listen, meditate on the truth that is in the song. Prasie God for NEVER leaving us!

Do It To the Glory of God

Hey guys
So the last summit was very great and I really enjoyed sitting in the services! I really learned a lot more than I thought I would because we just had Life Action come in January. But let me be the first to tell you that once you are on the team, the services are that much harder. God was really showing me things that I needed to get rid of in my life so I can focus on Him; granted it's a day by day process. We, as a team, had some tough times, but with God's grace we got through them. God has really shown His mercy to our team. At the end of the summit we went to the City Museum. It's pretty much a playground for adults. We had so much fun with that. We also had our Fall Formal on our last day. It was a great time as a team. We had our ornament exchange and we did some games. It was an awesome end to that summit.
We are now in Goodlettsville, TN. The church is Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They are super great people and they have great accents. I am in a host home with Sarah B. And we are staying with Renee. This week, Matt Fredericks is overseeing all of the CMs. Matt is from the blue team and it's been awesome getting to see him again. Our first day of the summit went pretty well. In Happy Heart we had about 8 kids. I think that God will do something really great here, and I am really exited to see what He has in store for this church.
One of the verses that God hit me with today was 1 Corinthians 10:31... Whether we eat or drink, or what ever we do, do it ALL to the glory of God.  We are to bring Him glory in the small things and in the big things. Even things we dont think are important, we need to do it in a way that points to Him.

One end is another beginning

Hey guys! Its been a while, and the New Lenox summit was pretty good. The size of the group we had in Happy Heart shrunk from the first Sunday to the last by about ten kids. But we had a good group. They were pretty rowdy and wild most of the time, but we did get the lesson in.
    Inside the sanctuary, we had 28 testimonies! So that was pretty good. I really wish I could have heard some of them, but just knowing that God was working in the church was great!
   We got to have a fall cookoff at the church. What that included was, some people teamed up, and others did it on their own. I, however, did it on my own. We could either make a dessert or an appetizer. I made a turkey cheese ball. It took me like four hours to make, but I did win best Fall Theme. During the cookoff, we worked with our tables to make the best pilgrim village. And our table won :) Pictures are on facebook, somewhere...
We also got to go to Chicago!! It was so much fun and a great time to spend with the team! Even though we got rained on a lot, it was a great memory! (pictures are yet to come)
    We are now in Hazelwood, MO. We just finished the first night of the summit and it was very good. I have the privilage of sitting in for ALL of the services this time. I am very excited to see what God has in store for me to learn this time. Today was about our nation and why we need revival. Tonight was about Biblical family principles, and revival in our own lives and why we need it. We took the Complete Spiritual, which you can get online at www.lifeaction.org under the Revival Resources tab and under the Revival Worksheets, which is most definitly not made to pass... which is good, because I dont come close. One thing that I have been asking God about is surrendering. What have I surrendered? What do I need to surrender? Is there anything I am not willing to surrender? All those questions run through my mind. But God has been showing me some of the main areas that I do still need to surrender to Him. I want God to be the Lord of my life, not just someone I can talk to and ask for things from. I want to be able to let go of the reigns and know that God has everything in control. I am very excited about the rest of the messages this week!
    Oh, and the girl who I sent the Bible to has recieved it and started to read it! PRAISE GOD! Please pray for understanding and a willingness to read.
     Please be praying for Danielle, a base camp instructor and a great friend of mine, she was sent home this morning due to health issues. She had an allergic reaction to something a few nights ago, and she will be further monitored at her family doctor. Please be praying that everything will be fine. I know that God has it all in control, but its very scary when we dont know whats going on.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Summit #4

We are in New Lenox, IL this week. We had a great 4 day break at the camp! I really missed being there, so it was nice to be back. I got to catch up on some sleep as well! We arrived in New Lenox on Friday night. I am in a host home with Tara this time. We are staying with Rich and Ann. They have 4 children, but only two are still living in the home. Brett (19) and Alyssa (22) are in the house. Amber lives next door and has four children who come over to the house every day. So I have gotten to know their grandchildren as well as their children. This summit has been pretty good so far. In Happy Heart, we have had up to 28 kids! Angela is sitting in this week, so its just me and Matt teaching. I am so greatful for the helpers that we have. They are so great. During one of my quiet times I was prompted to write out what I had to ask forgiveness for, to write out all of 1 John, and to give my old Bible to one of my friends back in Wisconsin. Please be praying for her to accept it well and to read it daily. I am praying that God will do something great in her life. As far as other prayer requests, please be praying for my focus and attention to be aimed at God. Also for the team to have selfless love toward everyone. For the people at this church to have open hearts to what the Spirit will have to say. I know that God is going to do so many great things.
Thank you for your prayers!!

Sarah

Marion, KY

Hey y'all. We are in Marion, KY right now. We got here last Friday and this Sunday is our last day. This summit was only an eight day summit. Everything has been going pretty well. God was really moving in the church last night. In happy heart, we have anywhere from 5-10 kids. It has been different teaching this week because our head teacher is sitting in on the services. But God has definitely given me grace through it.
I am loving the host home we are staying in. I am staying with Hilary again and we are with Stuart and Pam. They have two girls, Maggie(16) and Mauri (12) It has been great getting to know them this week. It has gone insanely fast and I can't believe we only have two more days left. I am going to miss them once we leave.
After this summit, we have about three days off. We are going to the Life Action camp. I am so excited to be going back there! Please be in prayer for the rest of this summit and the previous summits. God is still working in the church in PA! praise the Lord!
Thank you all for your prayers!

Sarah

How a leaf changed my life

As I was sitting on a log, admiring God’s great creation, a leaf fell on my foot. It wasn’t a green leaf; it was a beautiful orange leaf. As soon as it fell from the tree and landed on my foot, I started to think about my life. We as Christians are so much like leaves. A leaf is only alive for so long. It is always attached to the tree; however there are certain things that can tear it off. There could be a storm that blows the leaves off, or people could decide to rip them off. The ones that are still on the tree change color when autumn comes. The leaves become beautiful once they begin changing. But once they have changed, they fall off of the tree. We need to become like a leaf. When we were born, God accepted us as His children even if we don’t accept Him. If we accept Him, we are on the “tree” and if we don’t accept Him, we always have a rope leading to the tree. The rope is Jesus and the tree is God. There are things that will try and take us away from the tree. People will come and pull us into the worldly side of things, or a spiritual storm will come and make us question why we are hanging on so tightly. The funny thing is, that when we are full of ourselves, and prideful and arrogant, we are a green leaf. We are like everything around us. But when we fully surrender to God and die to ourselves, we become a beautiful, colorful leaf. It is then that we can “fall off” of the tree and land on someone’s foot to change their life. Then, when they are finished with us, we can simply sit on the ground, on our faces and worship Him for His greatness and power. While we are waiting and worshiping, He will send someone else to pick us up, examine us and start the cycle all over. But if we don’t surrender, we won’t be completely effective for the work God has for us. Because we won’t be changed by God, so we will still be on the tree, watching people pass us by. We need to be like a leaf, die to ourselves, surrender to God, and LET HIM CHANGE US!

How have you impacted someone lately?