We have started the small group study workbook Living Crazy Love by Francis Chan on Sunday nights with our small groups. Yesterday we talked about distractions and things that keep us from honoring God. I wanted to share an excerpt from the workbook that really settled in my mind and dug at my heart....
"But if you find yourself so focused on these things (good distractions ie: family, friends, church activities, work, etc.) that you aren't enjoying God's presence in the midst of it, consciously trying to honor God through the way you do these activities and pursuing the things that you know God wants you to pursue, then these things have become distractions."
This really hit home for me. Being on the mission field there are always a lot of hats to wear. EK and I both teach at the college, I work at the preschool, EK helps with student issues, we are both campus coordinators, we have fellowship with the students, help lead student council....
All of these roles are important and we know God had chosen to place us in these roles for a reason. I find it very easy to go through my day to day routine and NOT "enjoying God's presence in the midst of it." Frankly, I forget to even invite him/acknowledge him in these activities.
Today I made it a point to enjoy God's presence while I was at preschool, and boy did I see a difference. I had more patience with the kids (though there is still always room for improvement :) ), I tried to see them as God sees them, as his dearly loved children which helped me to dearly love them.
I invite you to evaluate the distractions in you life and to identify if there are areas
you are not enjoying God's presence. I am going to continue this challenge throughout the week to see how I do and what difference it can make while I work and interact with others.
Now go and enjoy God... and from the words of Paul "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Phil 4:4
We are excited to share with you we are faithfully trusting in God and moving to St. Vincent, in the Caribbean August 13 2012. Here we will be developing leaders in the church and teaching the Gospel to students at Windward Island School of Evangelism (WISE)! We know God has been preparing us for this opportunity and we desire to faithfully follow His calling.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sixteen Singing Students...
This was during a night of fellowship. I asked one of our students, Bro Jusme, to sing a song he wrote for our visiting group from Forum Christian Church. I love it when our students sing they are so talented and always have a lot of fun! The title of the song is "I Love Jesus!"
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Our Sweet Home Church
We had a great visit last week from Forum Christian Church, from Columbia,MO. I (Maddie) grew up at Forum. EK and I attended there together for 4 years, before we came to St. Vincent. It was refreshing to see new faces on campus and comforting that those faces were familiar to us! Even better my grandma came on the trip! It was so nice to spend time with her. I was use to seeing her often before we moved to SVG so having her here in the flesh to give a big hug was awesome.
The group did a lot while they were here, the men worked hard at the preschool, preparing a new space for next year, others in the group helped paint around campus and helped in the office. My grandma brought me 60 rolls of tulle so we could make tutus for my dance girls.
I am so thankful to all the people that donated money to my dance class so they can have real tutus and leotards when they do their spring recital.
We also got to have a fun day with the group and took the ferry over the Bequia-a great afternoon in the sun! Forum took us all out to our favorite restaurant, Driftwood, it was such a treat to spend the evening with everyone and to fellowship over yummy food and a gorgeous view of God's creation, we even had the sounds of chickens in the background, since there were several below us from where we were seated :).
Our evening at Driftwood filled with good conversation!
Thanks mom for buying washable paint for the kiddos-they had a fun time trying it out for the first time and only one 1 kid got it all over him, good thing it will come out :)
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The group did a lot while they were here, the men worked hard at the preschool, preparing a new space for next year, others in the group helped paint around campus and helped in the office. My grandma brought me 60 rolls of tulle so we could make tutus for my dance girls.
I am so thankful to all the people that donated money to my dance class so they can have real tutus and leotards when they do their spring recital.
We also got to have a fun day with the group and took the ferry over the Bequia-a great afternoon in the sun! Forum took us all out to our favorite restaurant, Driftwood, it was such a treat to spend the evening with everyone and to fellowship over yummy food and a gorgeous view of God's creation, we even had the sounds of chickens in the background, since there were several below us from where we were seated :).
Our evening at Driftwood filled with good conversation!
Story time with Miss Gwynette AKA Grandma, as you can see she had a pretty captivated audience
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I took one finished tutu to dance class to begin "bribing" the girls to make sure they show up every week to dance class so they can get one if they learn and preform the recital dances-they were ecstatic and couldn't stop twirling
Where we spent every afternoon last week-tying tutus in a sea of pink and purple, thanks Emery and Julie Crockett for your help and you too grandma! We even got a couple of the students to help, they were much faster than us...
On the ferry arriving at Bequia
Thanks again Forum Christian Church for being such a supportive and loving Church Family! It was so encouraging having you all here and to see your service and sacrifice while working with WISE and our students-WHAT A BLESSING!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Big Things in Small Groups
Every Sunday night we have small groups with our students; it is a great time to study God's word and to get to know our students on a deeper level. A couple of weeks ago I asked our students to share their testimony with the group, so far we have gotten to hear 2 of our students and it has been awesome!
The first student opened by saying "I am special" I think this was a great reminder that all of us were made as part of God's plan. What an uplifting attitude to have about yourself and your Creator-that he makes us all special.
Another student shared about his experience in the Haiti earthquake of 2011. He was visiting his 2 best friends when the earthquake hit, he survived, unfortunately his 2 friends did not. Again, this student feels God has a plan for him because he survived and he knows he must do great things for God.
It is such an encouragement to see the strength and courage that so many of our students have. Many of them have overcome many hurdles in their lives. I am overwhelmingly thankful for each and every one of our students and that they are all here to learn more about God and their purpose.
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people." Philemon 1:4-7
I hope this encourages you to share your testimony and faith with others so they may see every good thing comes from Christ!
The first student opened by saying "I am special" I think this was a great reminder that all of us were made as part of God's plan. What an uplifting attitude to have about yourself and your Creator-that he makes us all special.
Another student shared about his experience in the Haiti earthquake of 2011. He was visiting his 2 best friends when the earthquake hit, he survived, unfortunately his 2 friends did not. Again, this student feels God has a plan for him because he survived and he knows he must do great things for God.
It is such an encouragement to see the strength and courage that so many of our students have. Many of them have overcome many hurdles in their lives. I am overwhelmingly thankful for each and every one of our students and that they are all here to learn more about God and their purpose.
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people." Philemon 1:4-7
I hope this encourages you to share your testimony and faith with others so they may see every good thing comes from Christ!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Trees and Flowers and Parrots Oh My!
Last week we took our preschoolers on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens. We all piled in the van and truck and drove through town to reach our destination. The kids had a great time on the bus pretending to drive in their seats and saying "my car done beat you back!" AKA "my car is faster than yours!" We were able to have a nice time walking through the gardens using all of our senses as they have learned about in school. We got to smell a tall cinnamon tree and look at the fish in the lily pad pond, and listen to the St. Vincent Parrots squak and even say "hello".
Our only incident was when we asked all the preschoolers to stand on the roots of a tree to take a picture...They all stood their smiling and having a good time. When the kids began to break from their poses I noticed one of our boys was facing towards the tree "relieving" himself, I guess it was better than him wetting his pants :). Little boys will be little boys, and it was a somewhat funny too. All in all it was a successful day!
Our only incident was when we asked all the preschoolers to stand on the roots of a tree to take a picture...They all stood their smiling and having a good time. When the kids began to break from their poses I noticed one of our boys was facing towards the tree "relieving" himself, I guess it was better than him wetting his pants :). Little boys will be little boys, and it was a somewhat funny too. All in all it was a successful day!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Dancing Queens
As most of you know I teach a dance class once a week to approximately 15 girls in the community. Every week seems to have its blessings and challenges; as does everything in life. Sometime the girls come very early to class or show up late, they always have a lot to say, which some weeks makes for more talking than I would like rather than dancing. But every girls leaves with a smile and seem to be filled with joy from the art of dancing.
I mostly teach ballet and a little jazz. The girls are learning the technique of ballet and then I try to teach them a dance every week...this is their favorite part. They also get really giddy when I let them "free dance" or to play "freeze dance" where they get to dance while the music is playing but have to freeze in a position when the music stops.
Recently my dance class was TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED by Columbia Dance Academy (CDA), from my hometown Columbia, MO. Before I came to SVG I taught at CDA for 5 years. I cannot say enough good things about this studio. It has such a wonderful family feel and a close community. Jeanne Szkolka, owner and teacher, was my childhood dance teacher. She and others at the studio were so supportive and excited for our move to SVG, and very excited for me to teach a dance class here. When Miss Jeanne and others found out that none of my girls had any dance clothes (there is no dance supply store on the island and secondly these girls would not be able to afford those things) they decided to have a clothes and shoes drive.
Words cannot describe the girls faces when they saw the shoes, leotard, skirts, etc. I don't think their smiles could have gotten any bigger. They all enjoyed picking out and trying on their very own shoes and dance clothes. Everyone got a pair of tights too, I told them they didn't have to wear their tights every week if they didn't want to because where we practice has no ac and can get pretty hot and sticky. However, the next week they all showed up with all their dance wear and put everything on.
I can already tell they are taking the dance class more seriously because now they feel like real dancers with their clothes.
My main goal of this dance class is to show each girl the love of Christ, and I am so very thankful for everyone from CDA who donated to my class and for showing them love as well.
I am reminded when the children came to Jesus and some of the disciples tried to stop them. But Jesus said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children"...then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16.
Even though supporters my be thousands of miles away, thank you again for taking these girls in your arms, placing your hands on their heads and blessing them!
I mostly teach ballet and a little jazz. The girls are learning the technique of ballet and then I try to teach them a dance every week...this is their favorite part. They also get really giddy when I let them "free dance" or to play "freeze dance" where they get to dance while the music is playing but have to freeze in a position when the music stops.
Recently my dance class was TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED by Columbia Dance Academy (CDA), from my hometown Columbia, MO. Before I came to SVG I taught at CDA for 5 years. I cannot say enough good things about this studio. It has such a wonderful family feel and a close community. Jeanne Szkolka, owner and teacher, was my childhood dance teacher. She and others at the studio were so supportive and excited for our move to SVG, and very excited for me to teach a dance class here. When Miss Jeanne and others found out that none of my girls had any dance clothes (there is no dance supply store on the island and secondly these girls would not be able to afford those things) they decided to have a clothes and shoes drive.
Words cannot describe the girls faces when they saw the shoes, leotard, skirts, etc. I don't think their smiles could have gotten any bigger. They all enjoyed picking out and trying on their very own shoes and dance clothes. Everyone got a pair of tights too, I told them they didn't have to wear their tights every week if they didn't want to because where we practice has no ac and can get pretty hot and sticky. However, the next week they all showed up with all their dance wear and put everything on.
I can already tell they are taking the dance class more seriously because now they feel like real dancers with their clothes.
My main goal of this dance class is to show each girl the love of Christ, and I am so very thankful for everyone from CDA who donated to my class and for showing them love as well.
I am reminded when the children came to Jesus and some of the disciples tried to stop them. But Jesus said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children"...then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16.
Even though supporters my be thousands of miles away, thank you again for taking these girls in your arms, placing your hands on their heads and blessing them!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Our New Rommie
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