Yesterday I was working in the ESL nursery and we had music playing, and even though it was directed toward children the music was hymns that Pastor Greg played at C2... my heart just jumped bc I got excited thinking of the church and the family I had there. But for the first time in the last 4 months, it finally hit me. What I am doing isnt something temporary and I will be returning to Charleston after a few months, I actually left and as much as I love the church I know I left to follow God to the next steps He has planned for me. What is so difficult is knowing that I wont be an active part of the church anymore and that so many GREAT things are happening that I dont get to be a part of. I mean I still feel so loved by the family there and will always have family waiting on me to visit, and I truly am content with following God where He leads.... but there is a sad part of my heart, finally realizing I am saying good bye and walking away from the church that has been so dear to my heart and has walked with me as I grew closer to Christ!
Nothing extraordinary this week in ministry... Gano had to switch days for Kid's Club because of the kids schedules so now on Mondays I will go to the other kids club at joy!!!! It was so great because those little ones actually remembered me and Christian, who I adored that summer, stuck by me and I loved just being able to get to know him all over. And Regina, who honestly tested my patience that summer, was another one that liked to follow me everywhere and she even taught me some games.. she has grown up so much and she actually speaks english now and she will listen, AMAZING i tell you... so you can see, I am a big fan of the change. I get to go to joy for 2 kids clubs though, both so very rewarding. I also did another interview with the senior adults and it was so great hearing her testimony on how God has worked throughout her whole life and gave her such strength........ oh and someone I helped last week get baby stuff together had her baby this week! so much to rejoice over!
Okay, so I will now give you the amazing story of Sunday, that just gave me so much joy ... so I have been looking for a church and I finally visited the journey class last week at First Baptist, which is a church that is so big I didnt want to try but finally gave in. and I enjoyed the class so I decided to go back for a second visit. So even though the class has 50-60 ppl, the teacher actually remembered my name and made me feel so welcome. and another girl was there that I met from the previous day at an ESL seminar I had to attend for Fletcher. AND I sat down at a table with all new people so we had that in common, but 2 were from SC and 1 was actually from CHARLESTON.... so we bonded quickly and they invited me to sit with the class in church and though I was nervous, I did so and we got to talk more and it was just fun!!!! THEN they invited me to eat lunch with them and my first instinct was to say no but I didnt have any good excuses and I didnt want to be rude so even though I was really scared, I said yes....... at lunch, there was like 30-40 from the class and so since I was one of the last, I didnt know anyone in the line. well the two girls I was between started talking to me... one even went to college in SC!!! but yea, they made me feel so welcome and at the table, I sat with one of the girls and 3 guys sat with us and they were friendly and welcoming and started talking to me about Clemson since I am from SC and all and they wanted to include me in conversation... I was so encouraged that day that I think I will go again on Sunday and pray that i have another great experience! I even tried their bible study last night but 40 ppl were there and it was a little overwhelming but God is breaking me from small groups quickly here so we will see!
Prayer Requests:
1. The hospital is calling from when I went there this summer (the foot stuff). They havent received payments bc i thought my insurance company is going to take care of it. Since I have been in Houston, my mom was suppose to mail the bills but she forgot... and with the time lapse and stuff, the situation hasnt been resolved yet.... the bill is in the thousands but i cant remember how much
2. I am being sued, I think Jazz might be as well but i dont know yet, for over $5000 for damages she caused (the wreck this summer) to the landscape in FL. The letter said since i am the owner of the car i am responsible, and unless my insurance pays then I have too.... if my insurance pays, it will go up so much more forlonger... but of course i dont have a lot of money sitting around....... and after praying and considering all options, I know what i need to do but now i just need to be brave enough to do so
3. This summer I was having a lotof issues with my feet and sores and stuff.. and i went tothe doctor a couple of times in florida and at home and they tried to take care of it. They said it could mean a couple of things though if it doesnt heal... both kind of major... so if the sores dont heal i need to be tested and they need to look at it a different way... well the past couple of weeks my toes have gotten bad again...... so unless miracles happen in the next few days i am going to have to set up appointments for tests.......
Now, mainly just pray that I will stay focused bc a million things are going through my head and since I am a thinker I am thinking about everything and considering every aspect of everything... which is slowly preoccupying me from the here and now........
I love yall, thanks so much for your support!!!
Sep 20, 2007
Sep 11, 2007
God Amazes Me
So I decided to go ahead and put in midweek thoughts bc God has been amazing the past couple of days... but by the end of the week I forget some things... but also it will make the entries shorter...
Okay, anyway... So I tried a Sunday School class Sunday Morning at First Baptist, which is the church i wanted to avoid bc of the size and such, but it is close to the center and it has options for young adults. I chose a Journey Sunday School, which focuses on young adults entering the real world for the first time (out of college)... and the range is 22-26, which is perfect. The class is still big, like 40 or 50 ppl but the teachers were nice and the class has a small bible study at their house on Wednesday nights so I think I may try that. and I love the Pastor, he is so real and down to earth and he knows how to keep my attention. and 1 girl even spoke to me after Sunday School so they was encouraging..... it is funny bc it goes along with my pattern of me thinking what is best and what is not and then finally giving in and God does amazing things. So keep praying, I will try Wed night and next Sunday morning, bc I want to find a church to be a part of.
Yesterday was amazing!!! So we separated the nursery and I was in the toddler room and I just keep falling in love with them. So they are learning how to say please (in english!) and how to clean up after themselves, and they are so stinking cute! We even tell them bible stories in there and it is cute when they actually get some of the things we are trying to teach them......
Then when we went home for lunch, we had a table full of groceries that a church went and bought for us missionaries. Things we can cook and specific things we each like... it was amazing!!! THEN after lunch I went to the clothing closet and we had a char load of clothes donated, mostly men's clothes... which we were in need of the most. Then there was Gano Kids Club, just an amazing time in itself. The kids are starting to recognize me and want to play with me and I love teaching them the memory verse..............
BUT THE MOST AMAZING PART OF THE DAY was Teen Club... these kids usually come for the basketball and snacks and just sit silently as we try to talk to them. We are going through the Case for Christ (student edition) on how to prove Christ is real. This was my week to teach (first time) and i started out by asking a simple question, do they think Christ is the real son of God...... wow buddy, did i start something. Questions started being fired at us and comments of 'proof' that the bible and Christ werent legitimate. We sat for about an hour just talking about things. They dont see the proof and such and they want to be atheists and such. But they didnt hold back, and a lot of those questions were TOUGH and i didnt know how to answer all of them. Kristen and I tried but it was challenging.... BUT THEY ARE OPENING UP to allow us to have these conversations... such a big step.
Okay, still the same prayer requests...... got to go, Fletcher Kids Club starts soon!
Okay, anyway... So I tried a Sunday School class Sunday Morning at First Baptist, which is the church i wanted to avoid bc of the size and such, but it is close to the center and it has options for young adults. I chose a Journey Sunday School, which focuses on young adults entering the real world for the first time (out of college)... and the range is 22-26, which is perfect. The class is still big, like 40 or 50 ppl but the teachers were nice and the class has a small bible study at their house on Wednesday nights so I think I may try that. and I love the Pastor, he is so real and down to earth and he knows how to keep my attention. and 1 girl even spoke to me after Sunday School so they was encouraging..... it is funny bc it goes along with my pattern of me thinking what is best and what is not and then finally giving in and God does amazing things. So keep praying, I will try Wed night and next Sunday morning, bc I want to find a church to be a part of.
Yesterday was amazing!!! So we separated the nursery and I was in the toddler room and I just keep falling in love with them. So they are learning how to say please (in english!) and how to clean up after themselves, and they are so stinking cute! We even tell them bible stories in there and it is cute when they actually get some of the things we are trying to teach them......
Then when we went home for lunch, we had a table full of groceries that a church went and bought for us missionaries. Things we can cook and specific things we each like... it was amazing!!! THEN after lunch I went to the clothing closet and we had a char load of clothes donated, mostly men's clothes... which we were in need of the most. Then there was Gano Kids Club, just an amazing time in itself. The kids are starting to recognize me and want to play with me and I love teaching them the memory verse..............
BUT THE MOST AMAZING PART OF THE DAY was Teen Club... these kids usually come for the basketball and snacks and just sit silently as we try to talk to them. We are going through the Case for Christ (student edition) on how to prove Christ is real. This was my week to teach (first time) and i started out by asking a simple question, do they think Christ is the real son of God...... wow buddy, did i start something. Questions started being fired at us and comments of 'proof' that the bible and Christ werent legitimate. We sat for about an hour just talking about things. They dont see the proof and such and they want to be atheists and such. But they didnt hold back, and a lot of those questions were TOUGH and i didnt know how to answer all of them. Kristen and I tried but it was challenging.... BUT THEY ARE OPENING UP to allow us to have these conversations... such a big step.
Okay, still the same prayer requests...... got to go, Fletcher Kids Club starts soon!
Sep 8, 2007
3rd week
Okay, this entry will not be as long as the others... Not much to say. This week was short because I had labor day off. The clothing ministry was slower this week and I had a lot of free time on my hands...
I did teach this week, at fletcher and Joy. I had so much fun doing that, I love just getting to know the kids and talking to them and asking them questions and telling them about the Bible (we are going through the book of Acts). Ruth has given me more responsibility, I will teach more often and I am in charge of certain little things, like books that come in, some of the Christmas store, and donations to enter into the computer. Also, I got to interview people for the first time, a procedure we do for anyone new with senior adults to get their information and see where they stand with Christ and present the Gospel to them, so I enjoyed that. It was an adventure. I interviewed 4 senior adults and boy did they give me a run for my money, but I just love getting to know them. One lady from the week before found me just to give me a hug... I never knew I would love this ministry so much.
Other than that, everything is the same. I have adjusted to the ministries well and love them.
Prayer Requests:
** I really need to find a church. I went to 2 last week, one in the morning and one at night (the church is so big there are services throughout the day)....... I think I will try a morning sunday school class at the one i tried that night... It is really big and a little overwhelming but there is a class offered to people right after they finish college and this is their first year in the real world kind of thing, so I am hoping to meet ppl there.
** I am homesick for the east coast, whether it is where my family is, charleston, or Orlando... i am missing the places so much and the people in Charleston and Orlando (or the ppl that were there when I was there) I am missing like crazy. I keep having these reoccuring dreams that primarily have the ppl I miss the most. Even though they are happy dreams, I wake up missing these friends more than ever..... this with a few other things mixed in made this week rough and hard. So be in prayer this week, I will stay more focused on God and my relationship with him and my ministry here, because I know this is where God has called me for now.
I did teach this week, at fletcher and Joy. I had so much fun doing that, I love just getting to know the kids and talking to them and asking them questions and telling them about the Bible (we are going through the book of Acts). Ruth has given me more responsibility, I will teach more often and I am in charge of certain little things, like books that come in, some of the Christmas store, and donations to enter into the computer. Also, I got to interview people for the first time, a procedure we do for anyone new with senior adults to get their information and see where they stand with Christ and present the Gospel to them, so I enjoyed that. It was an adventure. I interviewed 4 senior adults and boy did they give me a run for my money, but I just love getting to know them. One lady from the week before found me just to give me a hug... I never knew I would love this ministry so much.
Other than that, everything is the same. I have adjusted to the ministries well and love them.
Prayer Requests:
** I really need to find a church. I went to 2 last week, one in the morning and one at night (the church is so big there are services throughout the day)....... I think I will try a morning sunday school class at the one i tried that night... It is really big and a little overwhelming but there is a class offered to people right after they finish college and this is their first year in the real world kind of thing, so I am hoping to meet ppl there.
** I am homesick for the east coast, whether it is where my family is, charleston, or Orlando... i am missing the places so much and the people in Charleston and Orlando (or the ppl that were there when I was there) I am missing like crazy. I keep having these reoccuring dreams that primarily have the ppl I miss the most. Even though they are happy dreams, I wake up missing these friends more than ever..... this with a few other things mixed in made this week rough and hard. So be in prayer this week, I will stay more focused on God and my relationship with him and my ministry here, because I know this is where God has called me for now.
Sep 1, 2007
My address
Oh and my new address is
1815 Gano St
Houston, TX 77009
in case anyone wants to send me anything :)
1815 Gano St
Houston, TX 77009
in case anyone wants to send me anything :)
2nd Week in Houston
Ever since last Sunday, I wanted to write in this, bc it helps me organize my thoughts on what is happening and helpsme see where God is at work. but I always get preoccupied or distracted, very Rachel I know.
Okay, so I tried a church on Sunday, I went with Larissa to her church. I hadnt been to church the previous three weeks bc something came up each week so when I got there and started worship, I realized how thirsty I was for it. It was the greatest feeling, a surreal feeling in a way. I loved it! And the service was okay, it was justso big and for some reason I feel uncomfortable in big crowds, but still it was good. THEN we went to Sunday School, since there isnt a young adults class she goes to the college class. It was small but I still felt a little out of place. The teachers were welcoming though and the lesson taught blew me away and gave me a new way at looking at how we, as Christians, are suppose to welcome anyone and love all types of people. My overall experience was good, I loved the music and what was taught, I just felt uncomfortable around most of the ppl... Most of them didnt seem to care who was there or not so developing relationships seem a little harder than I am used to..... it really made me miss C2 and GO so bad, miss the hugs when I walked through the door and the people to talk to.... So in the morning, I will try a new church... it is going to be a little smaller so I am hoping I will like it better... the only bad thing is the smaller the church the less chance of there being a young adults class.... but I did research and I am kind of excited to try Easthaven...., So please be in prayer for me bc I want to find a church that will challenge and encourage me and I can become a part of the family of Christ.
Ministry is doing great... I did a lot better this week. I knew what I was doing so my time seemed to be more productiive. I still worked in the Nursery and am falling in love with the babies and Kids Club (all of them) were amazing! I loved playing withthe kids and getting to know them. I start teaching them next week!!! So exciting!
Other than that, just the normal giving out clothes and fighting the language barriers and doing lots of paperwork... they have found my strengths :)
I did get to talk to one of the senior adults on Thursday for a long time and I read her her devotionals... and she commented on how she gets lonely and wishes she had someone to share life with, bc everyone needs that...... so please pray for her.
I am getting to know the other missionaries better, we spent most of last night at Ginger's playing these crazy games and it was hilarious. They always have me laughing, just keep praying that I will open up more and that our friendships will grow. We arelike a family bc we live together and work together... but I am still the quiet new one... so we will see what this week holds!
The only other thing to pray for is an unspoken, nothing worth getting in to but something that I am looking for God's guidance and will in bc I dont see it.
Also, I miss my friends and family terribly, but that is a normal thing, I just keep praying that I continue to stay focused. :)
Okay, so I tried a church on Sunday, I went with Larissa to her church. I hadnt been to church the previous three weeks bc something came up each week so when I got there and started worship, I realized how thirsty I was for it. It was the greatest feeling, a surreal feeling in a way. I loved it! And the service was okay, it was justso big and for some reason I feel uncomfortable in big crowds, but still it was good. THEN we went to Sunday School, since there isnt a young adults class she goes to the college class. It was small but I still felt a little out of place. The teachers were welcoming though and the lesson taught blew me away and gave me a new way at looking at how we, as Christians, are suppose to welcome anyone and love all types of people. My overall experience was good, I loved the music and what was taught, I just felt uncomfortable around most of the ppl... Most of them didnt seem to care who was there or not so developing relationships seem a little harder than I am used to..... it really made me miss C2 and GO so bad, miss the hugs when I walked through the door and the people to talk to.... So in the morning, I will try a new church... it is going to be a little smaller so I am hoping I will like it better... the only bad thing is the smaller the church the less chance of there being a young adults class.... but I did research and I am kind of excited to try Easthaven...., So please be in prayer for me bc I want to find a church that will challenge and encourage me and I can become a part of the family of Christ.
Ministry is doing great... I did a lot better this week. I knew what I was doing so my time seemed to be more productiive. I still worked in the Nursery and am falling in love with the babies and Kids Club (all of them) were amazing! I loved playing withthe kids and getting to know them. I start teaching them next week!!! So exciting!
Other than that, just the normal giving out clothes and fighting the language barriers and doing lots of paperwork... they have found my strengths :)
I did get to talk to one of the senior adults on Thursday for a long time and I read her her devotionals... and she commented on how she gets lonely and wishes she had someone to share life with, bc everyone needs that...... so please pray for her.
I am getting to know the other missionaries better, we spent most of last night at Ginger's playing these crazy games and it was hilarious. They always have me laughing, just keep praying that I will open up more and that our friendships will grow. We arelike a family bc we live together and work together... but I am still the quiet new one... so we will see what this week holds!
The only other thing to pray for is an unspoken, nothing worth getting in to but something that I am looking for God's guidance and will in bc I dont see it.
Also, I miss my friends and family terribly, but that is a normal thing, I just keep praying that I continue to stay focused. :)
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