Breakout

Last night was our first high school girls small group! I had two girls up to my apartment for dinner and brainstorming for what we want our group to be. I was encouraged as the girls told me about where they feel like they are in life and what how they would like to grow in their walk with Christ. We decided that they would both like a deeper understanding of Christ, salvation, and the Bible in general. (That doesn't leave much out!) The plan is to start working through John together next week.

Pray for the girls this week in:
-Keeping their commitments on not cheating and not talking to certain negative influences.
-Our passion to get in the Word together.
-Understanding and wisdom for me as I try to step into their worlds and do life with them.

The connection I have made with these two is already deep and genuine. There are a few more girls that possibly may be involved too! I'm already seeing them grow and I pray that it will happen all the more.

Horizons

Our middle school tutoring program at Sunshine is called Horizons. We have usually have about 15 kids that come twice a week for this program. I help out on Mondays, leading the girls reading group. We're working through a Christian novel about the dramas of middle school and take time after ever chapter to talk about how the issues relate to their lives.

These girls are great and make me laugh every week. We had a lot of fun yesterday on Valentines and dominated the reading relay!

Winter Camp '11: Elementary Truths

This past weekend we spent a very snowy Friday, Saturday, and Sunday taking our elementary and middle schoolers to Winter Camp 2011 at Sunshine Cove in Michigan. We arrived Friday night and by Saturday morning we were all bundled up and on the tubing hill. Lots of fun was had in the snow, but inside during chapel hours and cabin talks we uncovered with the kids what it means to "Stand Up" for Christ in their environments.

Four of our middle school girls came and were in my cabin. With small numbers we were able to go deep and hit on the core issues they're dealing with. It was a blessing and a challenge to hear their passionate hearts for Christ yet the extreme curveballs culture is throwing at them. I was moved deeply when we sat in a cabin breakout group and my girls shared with me their fears of "being a punk" as they would say- not standing up to the rumors and challenges to fight or be a part of drama around them. We sat and talked and they asked for my advice of how they could act in a Christlike way but still be respected. I was a little hesitant as the teenage culture in which I was raised didn't deal nearly as much with this. I gave them a few practical things and they were encouraging each other. I thought the conversation was clos

ing when one of the girls, who had been silent most of the conversation, spoke up and said, "Wait guys, all of these things are great, but what if we just prayed for our enemies at school?? God is the only one who really can make these situations better." I was blown away. Duh! Why hadn't I thought of this elementary element of our faith? Stop and pray. It is the best thing we can do in any situation. These girls constantly challenge me in their childlike but deep faith. Just when I think I am discipling them, God reminds me at how much they are changing my life too. We stopped and prayed right then and their for their enemies at school. Thank you girls for pouring into your counselor and reminding me what faith is.

Pray that these girls:

1. Will "Stand UP" in their faith amongst their peers. They face many challenges with being a "punk" and scared when not facing up and dealing like the rest of their peers do to the threats and drama around them. Pray for wisdom in how they should deal with people, especially other girls who challenge them daily in negative ways.

2. Pray for purity as the issues of teenage pressures weigh on their shoulders.

3. Pray that they will become women of prayer and evident time with Christ.