On Saturday June 4th, Corey and I will be loading a plane headed towards Nicaragua for a short term missions trip. Our church has partnered with Mustard Seed Missions in Managua and during our trip we will be participating in on-going construction projects in the Aduano Dos community as we continue to build relationships with the people who live here. We will also be hosting a VBS for the children who come daily to a central feeding program at the church. Along with VBS supplies, we are bringing 1,000 pairs of prescription eye-glasses to give to those in the community.
Over the past two months, our team has been meeting and praying about our trip.
I can't believe it's already here!
I'm very excited to hear stories of victory from the missionaries Michael and Lisa Perkins.
I'm can't wait to see how God is working in Nicaragua.
I'm looking forward to serving and working with our team (especially my husband).
I know that God is going to teach me through this experience; I pray I am open to His lessons.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The end of the world?
The world was supposed to end this past Saturday. I'm sure you heard as it was plastered all over Facebook. I hesitate to write about it because it seems to be all I've heard about on social networks, but I've had three thoughts I can't shake and would like to share.
The first- I had no doubt that God was not coming back. But what if He had? And not because of some mathematical equation a man forced on Him, but because those who believed it acted in such a manner to bring back Christ. What if those who thought the end of days was near did everything in their power to spread the message of salvation to those who did not know Christ and in doing so created the conditions necessary for Christ's return? Saturday has come and gone. I guess their efforts weren't enough.
The second- In college I created a list of "Things to do before I die." The list includes things like
Build and camp-out in a tree house.
Leave someone a $100 tip.
Ride a camel.
Learn to change the oil of my car.
Crash a wedding.
Since moving to Georgia, I have accomplished (unknowingly) two of the things on my list. Oddly enough both were in the same week!
Learn to knit.
Bake an apple pie from scratch.
I had forgotten about this list until all the hub-bub about the end of days. Many I will not accomplish unless I purposely set out to do so. Guess I better start cracking on my list and live intentionally!
The third- How awesome would it be to be in the baptistery at Christ's return?!?
As so many on Facebook have pointed out, the end is indeed near and we should be acting as such all the time.
I had forgotten about this list until all the hub-bub about the end of days. Many I will not accomplish unless I purposely set out to do so. Guess I better start cracking on my list and live intentionally!
The third- How awesome would it be to be in the baptistery at Christ's return?!?
As so many on Facebook have pointed out, the end is indeed near and we should be acting as such all the time.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Lessons at the Rodeo
Over the weekend Corey and I attended a local rodeo with the Lambs- Shawn, Sheri, and their two children. While Sheri and I were sitting in the stands watching cowgirls attempt to rope calves, there was a sudden clash of noise behind us. The bleachers were your run of the mill sporting event stands, cold aluminum with large openings where you can see from the seat to the ground. So when we turned toward the source of the noise we saw an over turned baby car seat with infant strewn across the lower planks, suspended by forehead and armpit.
Everyone around us gasped as I am sure you are and jumped to their feet as if they could catch the child. Her mother scrambled to save her, utterly embarrassed.
Sheri and I just rolled our eyes.
Earlier we had noticed something no one else saw. The "mother" was actually a teenage girl in the midst of a school project- she was to care for a high-tech, life-like baby doll. Sitting with her friends at the top of the bleachers, the girl sat the car seat carelessly next to her without strapping the doll in. As the evening went on, she gave it less and less attention and BUMP it fell.
After informing everyone that it wasn't real and rocking the fake child till it stopped crying, the teen returned the baby to the seat and again sat it next to her on the bench.
I get that it is just a doll, but did she not learn the first time? This is why teens should not have children.
Everyone around us gasped as I am sure you are and jumped to their feet as if they could catch the child. Her mother scrambled to save her, utterly embarrassed.
Sheri and I just rolled our eyes.
Earlier we had noticed something no one else saw. The "mother" was actually a teenage girl in the midst of a school project- she was to care for a high-tech, life-like baby doll. Sitting with her friends at the top of the bleachers, the girl sat the car seat carelessly next to her without strapping the doll in. As the evening went on, she gave it less and less attention and BUMP it fell.
After informing everyone that it wasn't real and rocking the fake child till it stopped crying, the teen returned the baby to the seat and again sat it next to her on the bench.
I get that it is just a doll, but did she not learn the first time? This is why teens should not have children.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Why Georgia, why?
Why didn't someone warn me about Georgia?
Before we moved from North Carolina to Georgia, the only thing I was cautioned about was the summer heat. Heat I can stand so I wasn't concerned. But since moving here I've come to know other things about Georgia that I wish someone would have told me about!
Tornadoes- Is it common knowledge that tornadoes rip through Georgia? I'm geographically impaired; someone should have told me. I didn't know moving to Georgia would also be committing to hiding out in the bathroom in the event a mile and a half wide tornado would tear off the roof of my house. I didn't know I would have to adjust the volume of my movie to hear it over the 3 tornado sirens I can hear from my house. I didn't know my plans to go to DQ would be cancelled on account of intense winds.
Spiders- All the spiders I've seen thus far seem to be fairly average and the only excessively large arachnid was at the local pet store. But the ability of Georgia spiders to make their way into my home is uncanny. Even worse, we've spotted several inside our car!
Pollen- The first few weeks here I was miserable because of the pollen. Everything is dusted with yellow as plants begin to bloom. This isn't the first time I've experienced something like this, but the pollen period does seem to be longer than I am used to. And they say it only gets worse. Lovely.
Kevin Jarrett- Deanna tried to warn me on this one, but I just wouldn't listen. Obviously I'm joking. Even though there are some things about Georgia that are seriously scary, freaky, and annoying there are lots of really great things. The square, Carrollton dining, tank tops, skirts, and dresses, Six Flags, the Atlanta attractions, hovering bees, mulberries, our life group and stories of bushes, the friendliness of Georgians, Southern Hills community, and yes, the Jarretts.
Before we moved from North Carolina to Georgia, the only thing I was cautioned about was the summer heat. Heat I can stand so I wasn't concerned. But since moving here I've come to know other things about Georgia that I wish someone would have told me about!
Tornadoes- Is it common knowledge that tornadoes rip through Georgia? I'm geographically impaired; someone should have told me. I didn't know moving to Georgia would also be committing to hiding out in the bathroom in the event a mile and a half wide tornado would tear off the roof of my house. I didn't know I would have to adjust the volume of my movie to hear it over the 3 tornado sirens I can hear from my house. I didn't know my plans to go to DQ would be cancelled on account of intense winds.
Spiders- All the spiders I've seen thus far seem to be fairly average and the only excessively large arachnid was at the local pet store. But the ability of Georgia spiders to make their way into my home is uncanny. Even worse, we've spotted several inside our car!
Pollen- The first few weeks here I was miserable because of the pollen. Everything is dusted with yellow as plants begin to bloom. This isn't the first time I've experienced something like this, but the pollen period does seem to be longer than I am used to. And they say it only gets worse. Lovely.
Kevin Jarrett- Deanna tried to warn me on this one, but I just wouldn't listen. Obviously I'm joking. Even though there are some things about Georgia that are seriously scary, freaky, and annoying there are lots of really great things. The square, Carrollton dining, tank tops, skirts, and dresses, Six Flags, the Atlanta attractions, hovering bees, mulberries, our life group and stories of bushes, the friendliness of Georgians, Southern Hills community, and yes, the Jarretts.
Monday, May 9, 2011
On the Trail
Last week we started a new series in All stars, the children's program at Southern Hills Christian Church. We are using the Elevate curriculum made by Fellowship Church which can be purchased at www.creativepastors.com. Each series lasts for 8 weeks and we are currently "On the Trail" with Cookie and Tex, learning about how Moses was obedient to God.
Here are some pictures of the stage set.
This back drop, cacti, and burlap sack were the only props I made for this series. The backdrop is acrylic paint on canvas. I free handed it based on a picture included with the curriculum. The cacti are made with insulation foam board and the stands with scrap 2 by 4 pieces. The rest of the props were gathered from around the church and from church members.
I also consider ourselves props as we dress the part. This encourages the sponsors and kids to as well. With all the cowboy get-up and the stage, it really does feel like you just stepped into the wild west!
Here are some pictures of the stage set.
This back drop, cacti, and burlap sack were the only props I made for this series. The backdrop is acrylic paint on canvas. I free handed it based on a picture included with the curriculum. The cacti are made with insulation foam board and the stands with scrap 2 by 4 pieces. The rest of the props were gathered from around the church and from church members.
I also consider ourselves props as we dress the part. This encourages the sponsors and kids to as well. With all the cowboy get-up and the stage, it really does feel like you just stepped into the wild west!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Lost and Found
Have you ever lost something?
There are items of necessity that when we lose it's annoying. We search for these everyday items, the remote control, the car keys, left socks (where do they go?!?), in all the normal places and typically find them just slightly out of place.
There are possessions when we notice their disappearance we panic. When we misplace a debit card, we search the house, the car, the house again, the car again, and call all the stores we had visited that day. We cancel the card just to be safe and for months we check bank statements for charges we did not make.
Then there are items that we treasure and when we lose these items we act as if nothing else matters, like the world is coming to an end. The dog runs away and you spend hours driving up and down streets, knocking on doors, posting signs, calling animal pounds. I have a ring that Corey gave me when we first started dating; it is among my most prized possessions.
Once in college, I noticed that is was missing from my left pinkie finger. I tore apart my dorm room, scoured the sidewalks and grass, I was completely distracted in class. Finding my ring was the only thing that I cared about. Today was the first time in five years I didn't know of its location and in the moments it was missing, I was a wreck.
Why is it lost things put us into such a tizzy? Is it possible that we are made to care for what is lost? When Jesus shared three stories about lost items he didn't call it materialism and scorn those who searched. He used these stories to demonstrate God's heart for those who have not accepted Him as Lord. He uses all the resources at His disposal in His search for those who are lost and celebrates when one is found.
Do we share God's heart for His lost items? Are we annoyed with the number of those who are lost? Are we in a frenzied panic searching out for those who don't know Christ? Because soon this world will come to an end and nothing else matters but finding those who are lost.
There are items of necessity that when we lose it's annoying. We search for these everyday items, the remote control, the car keys, left socks (where do they go?!?), in all the normal places and typically find them just slightly out of place.
There are possessions when we notice their disappearance we panic. When we misplace a debit card, we search the house, the car, the house again, the car again, and call all the stores we had visited that day. We cancel the card just to be safe and for months we check bank statements for charges we did not make.
Then there are items that we treasure and when we lose these items we act as if nothing else matters, like the world is coming to an end. The dog runs away and you spend hours driving up and down streets, knocking on doors, posting signs, calling animal pounds. I have a ring that Corey gave me when we first started dating; it is among my most prized possessions.
Once in college, I noticed that is was missing from my left pinkie finger. I tore apart my dorm room, scoured the sidewalks and grass, I was completely distracted in class. Finding my ring was the only thing that I cared about. Today was the first time in five years I didn't know of its location and in the moments it was missing, I was a wreck.
Why is it lost things put us into such a tizzy? Is it possible that we are made to care for what is lost? When Jesus shared three stories about lost items he didn't call it materialism and scorn those who searched. He used these stories to demonstrate God's heart for those who have not accepted Him as Lord. He uses all the resources at His disposal in His search for those who are lost and celebrates when one is found.
Do we share God's heart for His lost items? Are we annoyed with the number of those who are lost? Are we in a frenzied panic searching out for those who don't know Christ? Because soon this world will come to an end and nothing else matters but finding those who are lost.
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