I don't know how many people read this blog but Thanks for your thoughts, encouragement, and prayers!
SUPPORT:
Mission Indy has agreed to pay me a $2000 stipend with the agreement that I raise half of the $2000. I am more than half way to my goal. I'm also half way through the summer. If anyone has been reading my blog and If you would please prayerfully consider giving financially I would greatly appreciate it. However, I know not everyone is blessed in this area, so even more importantly I would appreciate your prayers. Please pray that God will continue give me compassion for the areas we will be reaching out to in the urban and rural areas of Indianapolis. Please pray for those we come in contact with would see our good deeds and praise our father in heaven. And pray that our team of interns will work well together and stay motivated for Christ. If you feel led, any payments can be sent to the following address, as it will be easier for tax purposes. Please be sure to include my name, thank you for your support!
Mission Indy Inc.
57 N. Rural St.
Indianapolis, IN 46201
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Mission Indy Week #1
VBS & The never ending scrapping job
Today was our first official day of the Mission Indy weeks! We arrived at North Liberty Christian Church, our home for the week around 11 on sunday. Before we unloaded our bags we prayed for the week and got a tour of the church. An elder welcomed us and was very happy to have us at their church. Each of the interns was assigned a job to perform each week before the youth groups arrive and once those jobs were done, we anxiously waited for the kids to arrive. When Clear Creek got there we were a little nervous and hestitant about what to do next. Then New Hope arrived and after the tours we ate dinner. It's easy when you first meet a group of people to stay in your comfort zone with the people you already know, but as an intern part of what we're expected to do it branch out and make people feel welcomed. It's not always my first instinct to sit with people I don't know. However, I decided to sit with some junior high boys from New Hope and got to know a little bit about them. I find it's usually rewarding to take the time to learn about others. During orientation we did some funny skits, but they didn't really know us at the time so the laughter was few and inbetween. IT took them awhile to get comfortable enough to laugh with us...well mostly at us. My job for the first week of mission indy was to help with VBS in the mornings and lead a work site in the afternoon. It sounded like something I could handle. It was easy to see on the first night that both the groups were very receptive, so already the makings of a good week were in order. -Even on the first night I thought about the Damar boys and will be looking forward to seeing them again.
The VBS was at a church on the East side of Indy called Full Gospel. They are a small church that has stayed in the same area despite many trials in their surrounding community. The church asked for some help with starting a VBS so that's where M.I. came into play. Joe and Tracy led the lesson. Jen is the VBS coordinator making sure everything is in order. Megan and I were the VBS helpers. And New Hope was the youth group to help with the kids, games, lesson, and crafts. (Pretty much wherever they were needed.) We were expecting anywhere from 50-150 kids in attendance. However, we ended up with 20 at the most. It made for a good VBS though because we were able to get to know all the kids. The first day I noticed a few girls who were about 13. They were obviously not having a good time with the younger kids. I overheard them saying they wouldn't be coming back the next day so I decided to ask what I could do to change that. They said they just wanted to be seperate from the kids. I decided to make bracelets with them if they promised to come back the next day. They were pretty excited. We made bracelets and talked through the lesson instead of having it taught to them like little kids. I actually enjoyed it a lot. And I pray that those girls got something from it. Overall the VBS week went really well and every single person was a huge help.
After lunch we would head to the worksite where instead of being the helpers Megan B. and I would switch to the leaders. The first day we arrived we thought we could conqure this little house in no time. All we had to do was scrap, sand, prime, caulk, and paint it. It seemed like a little house. On the contrary, it was no easy job. The scrapping pretty much took the whole week. Whoever painted the house before us must have figured the scrapping was not important because the paint was coming off in sheets. Each time we thought we were done scrapping, we were wrong. Despite the humidity and the rain, the kids were great. I heard no complaining and I even heard some people say they enjoyed scrapping. I was impressed with New Hope and the work they did this week. Even though we didn't get to finish it, I know they were a huge help and took care of the dirty work. I've learned scrapping is almost the most important part of painting a house with wood paneling. The lady we were scrapping for had just had her house painted 3 years ago, but because they didn't scrap it was already peeling. We ended up priming the front and the back of the house, but we'll have to finish the rest another mission indy week.
Today was our first official day of the Mission Indy weeks! We arrived at North Liberty Christian Church, our home for the week around 11 on sunday. Before we unloaded our bags we prayed for the week and got a tour of the church. An elder welcomed us and was very happy to have us at their church. Each of the interns was assigned a job to perform each week before the youth groups arrive and once those jobs were done, we anxiously waited for the kids to arrive. When Clear Creek got there we were a little nervous and hestitant about what to do next. Then New Hope arrived and after the tours we ate dinner. It's easy when you first meet a group of people to stay in your comfort zone with the people you already know, but as an intern part of what we're expected to do it branch out and make people feel welcomed. It's not always my first instinct to sit with people I don't know. However, I decided to sit with some junior high boys from New Hope and got to know a little bit about them. I find it's usually rewarding to take the time to learn about others. During orientation we did some funny skits, but they didn't really know us at the time so the laughter was few and inbetween. IT took them awhile to get comfortable enough to laugh with us...well mostly at us. My job for the first week of mission indy was to help with VBS in the mornings and lead a work site in the afternoon. It sounded like something I could handle. It was easy to see on the first night that both the groups were very receptive, so already the makings of a good week were in order. -Even on the first night I thought about the Damar boys and will be looking forward to seeing them again.
The VBS was at a church on the East side of Indy called Full Gospel. They are a small church that has stayed in the same area despite many trials in their surrounding community. The church asked for some help with starting a VBS so that's where M.I. came into play. Joe and Tracy led the lesson. Jen is the VBS coordinator making sure everything is in order. Megan and I were the VBS helpers. And New Hope was the youth group to help with the kids, games, lesson, and crafts. (Pretty much wherever they were needed.) We were expecting anywhere from 50-150 kids in attendance. However, we ended up with 20 at the most. It made for a good VBS though because we were able to get to know all the kids. The first day I noticed a few girls who were about 13. They were obviously not having a good time with the younger kids. I overheard them saying they wouldn't be coming back the next day so I decided to ask what I could do to change that. They said they just wanted to be seperate from the kids. I decided to make bracelets with them if they promised to come back the next day. They were pretty excited. We made bracelets and talked through the lesson instead of having it taught to them like little kids. I actually enjoyed it a lot. And I pray that those girls got something from it. Overall the VBS week went really well and every single person was a huge help.
After lunch we would head to the worksite where instead of being the helpers Megan B. and I would switch to the leaders. The first day we arrived we thought we could conqure this little house in no time. All we had to do was scrap, sand, prime, caulk, and paint it. It seemed like a little house. On the contrary, it was no easy job. The scrapping pretty much took the whole week. Whoever painted the house before us must have figured the scrapping was not important because the paint was coming off in sheets. Each time we thought we were done scrapping, we were wrong. Despite the humidity and the rain, the kids were great. I heard no complaining and I even heard some people say they enjoyed scrapping. I was impressed with New Hope and the work they did this week. Even though we didn't get to finish it, I know they were a huge help and took care of the dirty work. I've learned scrapping is almost the most important part of painting a house with wood paneling. The lady we were scrapping for had just had her house painted 3 years ago, but because they didn't scrap it was already peeling. We ended up priming the front and the back of the house, but we'll have to finish the rest another mission indy week.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Ready. Set. Go!
The first official week of Mission Indy starts tomorrow!
Well for the interns it started almost a month ago. So much time and thought has been put into this up coming week. I'm praying for the kids that come to have servants hearts and for it to be a fun week. We are all praying for the weather, because it's suppose to rain a lot this week. We are planning to do a lot of painting, so we need nice weather. I'm excited to meet the kids and for them to see our orientation video we all thought of and Jenna put together. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. It's pretty great! I'm almost done packing, but of course I will double check in the morning because there is always something I forget. I have no idea what God is going to do this week, but I pray I have the right attitude to let Him use me. Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
-During the Mission Indy weeks,we stay at different churches around the indianapolis area. This last week was at North Liberty CC. They were kind enough to open up their church for us to sleep in various rooms in the church, worship in the sanctuary, and provided people to cook for us. (the food was amazing!) Everyone sleeps at the church and goes out to their different work sites in the morning.
Well for the interns it started almost a month ago. So much time and thought has been put into this up coming week. I'm praying for the kids that come to have servants hearts and for it to be a fun week. We are all praying for the weather, because it's suppose to rain a lot this week. We are planning to do a lot of painting, so we need nice weather. I'm excited to meet the kids and for them to see our orientation video we all thought of and Jenna put together. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. It's pretty great! I'm almost done packing, but of course I will double check in the morning because there is always something I forget. I have no idea what God is going to do this week, but I pray I have the right attitude to let Him use me. Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
-During the Mission Indy weeks,we stay at different churches around the indianapolis area. This last week was at North Liberty CC. They were kind enough to open up their church for us to sleep in various rooms in the church, worship in the sanctuary, and provided people to cook for us. (the food was amazing!) Everyone sleeps at the church and goes out to their different work sites in the morning.
Monday, June 8, 2009
1st Day at Damar
Damar was interesting to say the least. It was an overall fun day! When I arrived, Molly met me for a picture for the news letter and my "official" Damar intern badge. After that I followed her to the nurses station because I had to get a TB test done. It wasn't bad, but I was a bit nervous. My arm did bubble up, but it went down soon after. I guess you have to get that test if you're going to be working with Kids.
After that I went to my the unit of boys 15-18. My unit is locked down and it's called right field. There are 9 boys in the unit and at first I was very intimidated by the ones that were there, but it got better throughout the day. Then Richard ("My Boss") had me file paper work for most of the morning. 9:30-11:30 ish. It was not very fun, but I learned how much behind the scence work is done. Seriously, who knew how much paper work there can be on one person? The binders I was dealing with were pretty much a summary of the boys lives.
Then I finally got to interact with the boys a little bit. I ate lunch with them. I brought my own, but since they were all eating the same thing I had to have what they were having. It didn't really appeal to me...(it looked like bb-que mush) so I didn't have much. And the boys were already done eating by the time I got done with paper stuff so I didn't have a chance to talk much.
Then I got to sit in on a class with them and boy was it CRRAZY! Most of the boys were wondering around the room and being disruptive. It will be interesting when we do V.B.S. with them. Then the ones that had their work done got to come outside on the playground. I went with them. One boy was listening to Janet Jackson and dancing like crazy! It was great. He was so into it...and it was definitely Michael JAckson style. He said, "I'm pretending I'm at the Grammy awards." It was so funny! You just have to be there to understand. Some of the things they say/do are priceless. Then I went back to my unit of boys and they seriously just sat there for about an hour. Then a couple of them asked if I wanted to play monopoly. I said yeah, but didn't really know what I was in for. Apparently, monopoly takes a LOOONG time.(I didn't play much as a child...or ever for that matter.) I had a really good time. I ended up winning, but apparently they "let me win". And I said, "well, I let you let me win!" hah
I ended up staying later than I was suppose to to finish the game. I know every day will be different at Damar, but I'm looking forward to it!
It's hard to see them lose so many privilages, but that's what Damar is for, to help them earn them back. I already have a heart for the kids and I know I will be sad to leave.
After that I went to my the unit of boys 15-18. My unit is locked down and it's called right field. There are 9 boys in the unit and at first I was very intimidated by the ones that were there, but it got better throughout the day. Then Richard ("My Boss") had me file paper work for most of the morning. 9:30-11:30 ish. It was not very fun, but I learned how much behind the scence work is done. Seriously, who knew how much paper work there can be on one person? The binders I was dealing with were pretty much a summary of the boys lives.
Then I finally got to interact with the boys a little bit. I ate lunch with them. I brought my own, but since they were all eating the same thing I had to have what they were having. It didn't really appeal to me...(it looked like bb-que mush) so I didn't have much. And the boys were already done eating by the time I got done with paper stuff so I didn't have a chance to talk much.
Then I got to sit in on a class with them and boy was it CRRAZY! Most of the boys were wondering around the room and being disruptive. It will be interesting when we do V.B.S. with them. Then the ones that had their work done got to come outside on the playground. I went with them. One boy was listening to Janet Jackson and dancing like crazy! It was great. He was so into it...and it was definitely Michael JAckson style. He said, "I'm pretending I'm at the Grammy awards." It was so funny! You just have to be there to understand. Some of the things they say/do are priceless. Then I went back to my unit of boys and they seriously just sat there for about an hour. Then a couple of them asked if I wanted to play monopoly. I said yeah, but didn't really know what I was in for. Apparently, monopoly takes a LOOONG time.(I didn't play much as a child...or ever for that matter.) I had a really good time. I ended up winning, but apparently they "let me win". And I said, "well, I let you let me win!" hah
I ended up staying later than I was suppose to to finish the game. I know every day will be different at Damar, but I'm looking forward to it!
It's hard to see them lose so many privilages, but that's what Damar is for, to help them earn them back. I already have a heart for the kids and I know I will be sad to leave.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Love Your Neighbors
I have really been challenged by the church that hosts Mission Indy.
Englewood Christian church has been around for over 100 years. They truly live life with each other. They make an effort to know their community and reach out to the neighborhood. I really hope to glean from their example as a church. Many churches have been caught up in wordly things and are more an institution rather than a place to worship God in community. The people of the church have been praying for a long time and are slowly starting to break barriers and be real with people. It shows not only in the church but in the neighborhood. They live as a community and share all their possessions. Lawn mowers, cars, chickens, ducks, kids. They all help to raise one other. This may seem like craziness, but the families are all well provided for and happy. That's what loving your neighbor looks like. I desire this kind of community!
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