Friday, July 15, 2011
We arrived!
We've finally got home at around 4:30pm. It was a long drive back, but the fun and camaraderie didn't stop. I think if you asked anyone of the students if they would want to continue to drive and serve somewhere else the answers would have been all a resounding, "Yes!" It was a great trip. A memorable one. An awesome one. God Bless all of you and thank you for being a part of it.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
"Where are the posts?"
I received a text message today from a parent wondering why there haven't been any posts lately. I want to let you know that my students, your children, have been being transformed in such amazing ways. There has been little time to do much of anything other then serving the people here in the Quad Cities. We have one team serving at the Salvation Army Family Resource Center. We have been meeting and hanging out with children of homeless families allowing their parents to go and look for jobs, housing, and help. These kids come with an amazing amount of baggage. This baggage was being unpacked all week by your children and they didn't take it lightly. They were nothing but serious in trying to help these kids break down their walls and allow us in to love them. The success we've had has been astounding and not only did we impact the children that we watched but the impact on us was incredible.
We also served at a place called Lydia House. This was another place that provided programming for young children who's parents can't afford daycare. It's a place were children are introduced to who Jesus is and it's a place that some of your children served at. The students would come back and just talk about these kids and all that they were doing to reach and impact these young lives.
Day after day we served at these places, pouring our lives into theirs'. Loving them when even some of their parents didn't. Holding them and hugging because they would ask for it. A lot of love is vacant from their lives. We were hear providing the love that Jesus shares with us, with them. We were here loving from the overflow of our hearts. Children's lives where changed. Students lives where changed.
We closed the day, the week, with a passage from John. We talked about how Jesus washed the disciples feet. Then we had the opportunity as leaders to wash your childs feet. This moment was sacred. After serving along side the students all week long, living life with them, sleeping in the same rooms, working hard together, sweating together, eating together, doing life together. We washed their feet. There is something about feet washing, something deep and biblical and sacred. Many students could not control themselves as they cried. As they shed tears of gratitude and joy, sorrow and pain. The students understood what it meant to be a servant this week and by the end of it didn't feel worthy to be served. I asked at the end of this night if students wanted to blog and they laughed at me. It wasn't because they thought it was stupid or a waste of time. It was because they were living in this sacred moment away from some of their so called friends, some of the troubles of school, the pressures of life, the weight of sin. They were and are at this moment truly free. Facebook, Twitter, and blogging is not something they want to do at all. They want to live in this moment free in His Grace and Love and Mercy. I wish all of you could have been here to witness the tears that flowed, the rejoicing that happened, and the loved shared with each other because the students felt the presence of God. They know that He is what is most important and that they truly served others in response to what God has already done for us.
I'm so proud of your child, my students. I'm truly blessed to be able to shepherd them. I wouldn't trade my flock for anything. Thank you for allowing these students to come here. Thank you for being the encouragement you are. And please thank God when you read this. He is doing amazing things in your child's life. God bless you all. I'm exhausted. It's been a long week and we have a long ride home tomorrow. Please pray for safe travels. Thank you!
P. Mike
We also served at a place called Lydia House. This was another place that provided programming for young children who's parents can't afford daycare. It's a place were children are introduced to who Jesus is and it's a place that some of your children served at. The students would come back and just talk about these kids and all that they were doing to reach and impact these young lives.
Day after day we served at these places, pouring our lives into theirs'. Loving them when even some of their parents didn't. Holding them and hugging because they would ask for it. A lot of love is vacant from their lives. We were hear providing the love that Jesus shares with us, with them. We were here loving from the overflow of our hearts. Children's lives where changed. Students lives where changed.
We closed the day, the week, with a passage from John. We talked about how Jesus washed the disciples feet. Then we had the opportunity as leaders to wash your childs feet. This moment was sacred. After serving along side the students all week long, living life with them, sleeping in the same rooms, working hard together, sweating together, eating together, doing life together. We washed their feet. There is something about feet washing, something deep and biblical and sacred. Many students could not control themselves as they cried. As they shed tears of gratitude and joy, sorrow and pain. The students understood what it meant to be a servant this week and by the end of it didn't feel worthy to be served. I asked at the end of this night if students wanted to blog and they laughed at me. It wasn't because they thought it was stupid or a waste of time. It was because they were living in this sacred moment away from some of their so called friends, some of the troubles of school, the pressures of life, the weight of sin. They were and are at this moment truly free. Facebook, Twitter, and blogging is not something they want to do at all. They want to live in this moment free in His Grace and Love and Mercy. I wish all of you could have been here to witness the tears that flowed, the rejoicing that happened, and the loved shared with each other because the students felt the presence of God. They know that He is what is most important and that they truly served others in response to what God has already done for us.
I'm so proud of your child, my students. I'm truly blessed to be able to shepherd them. I wouldn't trade my flock for anything. Thank you for allowing these students to come here. Thank you for being the encouragement you are. And please thank God when you read this. He is doing amazing things in your child's life. God bless you all. I'm exhausted. It's been a long week and we have a long ride home tomorrow. Please pray for safe travels. Thank you!
P. Mike
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
P. Mike's First Post.
I had asked a leader to post on our blog but Colleen is outside sharing the gospel with two neighbor hood boys and Kyle is reading his bible. Both of these activities are probably not worthy of interrupting to ask if they could please blog. The week has just started in a lot of ways and to be able to comment on how this group of students from Manitowoc are doing would be hard. I can say that our church time together tonight was really amazing and students lives are definitely being changed. It's amazing at times to be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in these young lives. I'm absolutely sure and confident in God and His plan for us this week. All of the students have been well behaved and kind and respectful to everyone we have come into contact with. But these are just the least of things. I'm excited and humbled by our Creator. I'm amazed and I marvel at how He works all things for His Glory. Please continue to be in prayer for the students of Faith Church.
- Pastor Mike
- Pastor Mike
QC Adventures of KB and MK :)
Dearest dear Blog,
I have found delight in having no air conditioning in where we are staying, washing our hair and body in the sink, and walking around with a fan. With the different surroundings and atmoshpere it has been a GREAT learning experience and its only day one!
Today i played with adorable children and did paper mache....WATER PARK TONIGHT.
Time to eat mi pasta :)
<3 Kendra
Whoo! What a day. It wasn't too hot today, unlike yesterday! I got to go to the Lydia Home today and play with some kids. I built some transformers with some awkward Lego's. FUN! I needed help from a friend because I was building it wrong, oops. Then I built some cool glasses Jillyan and I wore. Then we got to go play at a church where there was a big gym and a nice air conditioned basement with some fun games. We then returned to the Lydia House to hang for a few minutes before the kids left. Now we're back at our housing unit and just hanging out before dinner. PASTA TONIGHT! HURRAY!
More updates to come, I promise.
Mikayla :]
I have found delight in having no air conditioning in where we are staying, washing our hair and body in the sink, and walking around with a fan. With the different surroundings and atmoshpere it has been a GREAT learning experience and its only day one!
Today i played with adorable children and did paper mache....WATER PARK TONIGHT.
Time to eat mi pasta :)
<3 Kendra
Whoo! What a day. It wasn't too hot today, unlike yesterday! I got to go to the Lydia Home today and play with some kids. I built some transformers with some awkward Lego's. FUN! I needed help from a friend because I was building it wrong, oops. Then I built some cool glasses Jillyan and I wore. Then we got to go play at a church where there was a big gym and a nice air conditioned basement with some fun games. We then returned to the Lydia House to hang for a few minutes before the kids left. Now we're back at our housing unit and just hanging out before dinner. PASTA TONIGHT! HURRAY!
More updates to come, I promise.
Mikayla :]
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Our 1st Day
This morning we went to Willow Creek and it was great! It was like being in a stadium filled with people all worshiping the Lord. After church we went on our way to the Quad Cities. When we got to the Quad Cities we realized that it was a lot hotter than we had all planned for. And to make it worse we realized that the place we are staying in doesn't have any A.C. and then we had worshiping time with our friends who come to the quad cities from different churches.
- Alemayehu, Nati, Anthony
- Alemayehu, Nati, Anthony
Our Day in Chicago!
Yesterday was fun, the best part was visiting the John Hancock building we bought souvenirs and Ben bought a pink shirt and a pink monkey.Then we went to lunch at Foodlife where we were able to choose many entrees. After that we went to Navy Pier, Navy pier is an amusement park where you can ride rides, eat junk food, take boat rides, and a maze; that we all finished. The train ride was interesting. Then we went to the hotel, and went for pizza and then we came back and went swimming! Breakfast was amazing too! We ate waffles with whip cream, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and caramel with soda to drink! Healthiest breakfast ever!
- Jonny, Jake, Justice, and Nati.
P.S. This is Pastor Mike. Though I ate with the boys at the same table, I was extremely tired and out of it and can in no way be held responsible for the breakfast the above listed boys ate. Thank you!
- Jonny, Jake, Justice, and Nati.
P.S. This is Pastor Mike. Though I ate with the boys at the same table, I was extremely tired and out of it and can in no way be held responsible for the breakfast the above listed boys ate. Thank you!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
In preparation...
Hello Quad Cities Mission Trip Followers,
This is a blog that students and leaders will be using to post what is happening in the Quad Cities on our Mission Trip that is fast approaching.
Before we leave, I would ask for your prayers for all the students and leaders that are going. Here is our team:
Jonathan Adsit Anthony Leitner
Colleen Bauer Dalice Metoxen
Kendra Brendemihl Jillyan Nichols
Adam Goessl Kyle Rice
Hannah Hoffman Jake Risse
Justice Hollahan Ben Tuttle
Mikayla Kirt Hannah Tuttle
Alemayhu Lehman Allison Vance
Nati Lehman
This is a blog that students and leaders will be using to post what is happening in the Quad Cities on our Mission Trip that is fast approaching.
Before we leave, I would ask for your prayers for all the students and leaders that are going. Here is our team:
Jonathan Adsit Anthony Leitner
Colleen Bauer Dalice Metoxen
Kendra Brendemihl Jillyan Nichols
Adam Goessl Kyle Rice
Hannah Hoffman Jake Risse
Justice Hollahan Ben Tuttle
Mikayla Kirt Hannah Tuttle
Alemayhu Lehman Allison Vance
Nati Lehman
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