Our week got started early, with the beginning of our orientation for our summer interns Friday morning. Momma T, in Momma T fashion had us sitting in a circle, sharing stories with each other, alter filled with flowers from the garden and an old wooden cross standing tall. They spent Friday getting to know each other, Momma T hosted a dinner for them Friday evening. We have some returning interns and some new young faces, a great group of young people. Please go by and meet them all, they will be a blessing to our children.
Also, Friday afternoon we had a special group join us. A friend of Matt's is ministering to a group of young boys from the inner city of Bossier. Billy owns a gym where he instructs them on lifting weights and their souls. A part of his ministry to show the young boys part of serving Christ is serving others. So he brought them to us and they started the process of scrapping and priming the Bright House II. Amazing to see to these young boys climb the ladders, laugh, joke with each other as they worked. Billy asked if they could come back and continue their work.
Saturday, we had our family breakfast, complete with French toast, bacon, hash browns, fruit and almost hot coffee! All our new interns made it! or most of them, Lomax was arriving late as we were leaving, early for him! Thanks Momma T, Tim and Sonotra for making it all happen, delicious.
Chiggers, chiggers where are the chiggers?! They are on our legs! This is the summer for chiggers! As we walk through the grasses to get to the camps, the red bugs have been getting on us. We are now spraying our legs and feet to help keep them off. We got to visit with Turner, I mean Bernard, Richard, Brad, Charles, Daniel, Smokey. Tim and Matt go out to Catfish, then back to the Macroni camps. With the hot, humid weather, cold water is desired by the guys. So we are asking again this summer for water jugs. When you finish your milk, please wash out the jugs, fill it with water and freeze it. Then bring it by the center and we will give them out to the guys on Saturday.
Monday was filled with excitement and some reservations, as our summer camp got started. You never know what to expect, but as usual God has it under control and the afternoon was a great one as the children were introduced to each other. Lots of activities kept everybody busy and the camp got off to a great start. Camp is going on, Monday through Thursday in the afternoons, come by and hang out, a cool bunch of people!
Our summer feeding program is going really well. Pastor Eddie called and said everything is going good. He is pleased with the turn out of the neighborhood and the workers. We have some special ladies working with the program. They are doing more than just handing out food, but sharing their lvoe of the Lord with the children.
Tuesday evening, Mr Matt led the men's Bible fellowship in reading from Second Corinthians, talking about Paul asking God to remove the thorn in his side. Jesus saying to Paul, my grace is sufficient. We know God's grace is sufficient, but we still continue to do it ourselves? Patience with us Lord as we try to become the people of God you want us to be!
Forgot to mention last week, Joey and Lomax hosted a group of young people from the Yellow House of Highland on Wednesday. The Yellow House was started by one of our first interns, Anna. Anna and her friends wanted to live together and share community with their neighbors. The Yellow House is now a member of Community Renewal family. A group of young people, some going to college, some working, have committed to live in the Yellow house for a year and learn what it is like to be a community and sharing that with their neighbors. Joey and Lomax shared with our new friends their journeys with common ground and how they live in community. They gave them a tour of the gardens, the JJ houses, and the center, showing them what God is doing here. They all promised to get together on a regular basis to reflect on their journeys.
Thursday morning, I happen to drive by the center and could barely get down the street with all the young people running around! It was great. We had a big group of youngsters from Grace, working in the garden under the direction of Ms Patty. Others were playing basketball, some were just hanging out, some were climbing the tree. The area seemed alive, full of God's lvoe.
Thursday afternoon, we had our first challenge of the summer. It is hot, nerves are on edge, tempers are high, but God is in charge. Joey and Abbey were able to use their skills, with the help of our policeman friend to help get everything under control. Life is hard, many, many challenges. We have opened up our doors and our hearts and we can expect to have these challenges to be a part of our gatherings. Just because you are at "church" doesn't mean the troubles stop at the door. We have to be a community where those struggles can be listened to and prayed for. Thank you God for being in charge.
No better way to get our Thursday evening started than to hear Ms Abbie and our common ground choir sing their songs, then to have Joey share the Word about lvoing others, chapel doesn't get any better than that. Mr Tom cooked our meal, many folks helped serve and clean up. Ms Lisa, Ms Abbie and Momma T handed out the groceries. Everybody got fed, good food for the soul and the stomachs!
The image that comes to mind this week is seeing Joey walking hand and hand with one of our younger campers down the street as Joey took her home. Here this young man, shoeless! a big smile on his face, talking and joking with the little one as they shared their lvoe with each other. You can talk all you want about reading what others think you should be doing for God. You can go to church every Sunday and not have a clue what it is to be a Christian. We have young people who are living life as Christ lived, for others. Not wanting anything in return only lvoing them unconditional. I can only imagine what this little one must be thinking of this strange young man. Walking her home, caring for her, lvoing her like no one has ever lvoed her before. What an impression this single of act of kindness will make on this little girl.
What a priviledge we have to be a part of such a community. A community that is concerned for others, not themselves. A community where praying is first. A community where God is in charge. A community where when one of our young people is struggling with life, our community opens up their hearts to them. A community where there is hope for those who have no hope. A community that can come together to help each other. All of you are awesome children of God.
Hope everybody has a great week, many blessings to you all! Amen!
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