Its our last day here in Moessen. I cannot believe we are actually leaving tomorrow. This is my final Greaterworks blog. It is harder to write this blog than I thought. God has taught me so much this year and I know that this is exactly where God wanted me this past year. That is always something that I worry about, am I really living out what God wants for me and now I can say for sure that this year was.
We were asked to write a final blog as a reflection of these past 8 months...heres my best shot at trying to put it in words:
- Being the hands and feet of Jesus
- True servanthood
- Passion
- Serving with all my heart
- Realizing I cannot do it all on my own/true dependance on God
- Humility
- Unforgettable Relationships
- Falling even more in love with God everyday
- Life Changing
- Indescribable
I wish I could explain it better, but words just cannot express what I have learned and how I have grown this year. If you really would like to hear about my time here in Monessen I would love to sit and talk with you!! Thanks for all the support and for following me through this amazing time of my life!
Showing posts with label Greaterworks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greaterworks. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Could I really get the job??
This week is going to be short and sweet. I found out that I have a job interview this Wednesday for the job at the Salvation Army. Things are finally moving along with that. I just ask that you will pray that the interview goes well and that God's will be done in whatever the decision is. I really would love the opportunity to stay here in Monessen and work with the Salvation Army and their youth, but I am willing to do whatever God has planned.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Continuing on My Journey
I am finding it harder and harder to find time to write a blog, I want to spend this last month as busy as possible with the people that I have grown close to here.
I was given an awesome opportunity this weekend. I got to go caving with the Salvation Army youth this past Saturday. It was so much fun! The place is called Larurel Caverns just past Uniontown (about 45 minutes south of Monessen). It's about a 3-hour tour, and hour and a half going down and the same going up. Not only was it a lot of fun, but it was also a great bonding experience. In some places you need to help someone out or get help from others to keep going and sometimes you need to encourage someone who might be getting a little nervous about a certain spot or about the bats. It was great getting to know the kids better, especially since I might be working with them in the future.
I applied for a job at the local Salvation Army here about a month ago and hope to find out soon if I got the job. The divisional headquarters are the ones that do the hiring for my position and the person in charge of hiring has had a relative who is in the hospital, so even though I would love to know if I got the job, I pray for the person's relative and the whole family.
God is starting to prepare me to leave, even if I don't know about my job yet. I would love to come back in August no matter what, but I will just trust God that He will put me where I am suppose to go. I was getting really stressed and sad that we are leaving in 3 weeks, but now God is working in me to remind me it's not suppose to be easy. If you read about Jesus's journey, I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to go and work with people and then leave on the rest of his journeys. Christians (me especially) have a lot to learn from that.
I was given an awesome opportunity this weekend. I got to go caving with the Salvation Army youth this past Saturday. It was so much fun! The place is called Larurel Caverns just past Uniontown (about 45 minutes south of Monessen). It's about a 3-hour tour, and hour and a half going down and the same going up. Not only was it a lot of fun, but it was also a great bonding experience. In some places you need to help someone out or get help from others to keep going and sometimes you need to encourage someone who might be getting a little nervous about a certain spot or about the bats. It was great getting to know the kids better, especially since I might be working with them in the future.
I applied for a job at the local Salvation Army here about a month ago and hope to find out soon if I got the job. The divisional headquarters are the ones that do the hiring for my position and the person in charge of hiring has had a relative who is in the hospital, so even though I would love to know if I got the job, I pray for the person's relative and the whole family.
God is starting to prepare me to leave, even if I don't know about my job yet. I would love to come back in August no matter what, but I will just trust God that He will put me where I am suppose to go. I was getting really stressed and sad that we are leaving in 3 weeks, but now God is working in me to remind me it's not suppose to be easy. If you read about Jesus's journey, I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to go and work with people and then leave on the rest of his journeys. Christians (me especially) have a lot to learn from that.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Where has thet time gone?
We just had our first Spring Break group last week and one on its way tomorrow. It is crazy that we have only 7 weeks after this week of Spring Break. It feels like we had just gotten back from Christmas break and were planning the Spring Break trips.
It was great to be able to show people what we get to do on a normal basis. The group that just left were such hard workers it was awesome to see 9 people with a huge heart for service. It was great having them here and getting to meet some great people, but
I am really excited for this week since they are coming from my school!
The only downside to having the groups here is that we can’t go to most of our ministry sites. It is hard not being able to see the kids at the STAR program for 2 weeks or see the ladies at the ACORN that come on Wednesdays. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to have the groups here to show them some place I have fallen in love with, I just wish I could be able to do both.
It was also tough this past week because we found out where we are going for our Youthworks summer and that none of us our staying here. It really took the focus off of the group and they didn’t deserve that. But, it was really hard having to tell the people around here that we won’t be here and see their reaction. It totally ruined my Thursday. I am just trusting that God knows what He is doing and that He knows where He is sending us.
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
- Luke 9:23
It was great to be able to show people what we get to do on a normal basis. The group that just left were such hard workers it was awesome to see 9 people with a huge heart for service. It was great having them here and getting to meet some great people, but
I am really excited for this week since they are coming from my school!
The only downside to having the groups here is that we can’t go to most of our ministry sites. It is hard not being able to see the kids at the STAR program for 2 weeks or see the ladies at the ACORN that come on Wednesdays. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to have the groups here to show them some place I have fallen in love with, I just wish I could be able to do both.
It was also tough this past week because we found out where we are going for our Youthworks summer and that none of us our staying here. It really took the focus off of the group and they didn’t deserve that. But, it was really hard having to tell the people around here that we won’t be here and see their reaction. It totally ruined my Thursday. I am just trusting that God knows what He is doing and that He knows where He is sending us.
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
- Luke 9:23
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What the future holds
I feel that lately what I am going to do after my Greaterworks year and Youthworks summer is up. I have been looking on some sights like Youth Specialties, Church Staffing, and Idealist to see what is available out there now that I could really see myself doing. When my "boss" Amanda came I talked to her about being worried and we talked about it and it made me feel better and so I stopped worrying about it as much. Then, soon after that I pretty much got a job offer from the Salvation Army for a full time position here in Monessen. It is pretty tempting to want to jump and be sure I have a job. It just scares me that maybe it is not what I am suppose to be doing. I was talking to my roommate Bryan about it and he said something really interesting- "Whatever you do as long as your serving God, even if it wasn't what you were suppose to be doing, He will work through you wherever you end up." It's just crazy that I could be in Monessen longer than expect.
It's so interesting the way God works in your life and put twist and turn in there and you just have to trust in Him to continue leading you through life. I just pray that I will listen to Him, hold on tight and go where he send me.
It's so interesting the way God works in your life and put twist and turn in there and you just have to trust in Him to continue leading you through life. I just pray that I will listen to Him, hold on tight and go where he send me.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Praise Him through everything
Today there was a lady who came into the Salvation Army who was having some problems with paying her bills on time and she was recently separated from her Husband. She was really struggling with not being able to provide with her family, but she kept saying "Praise god through the struggles" and "I'm not asking why God because why not" and just things that were so encouraging to hear. She knew that she was going through some tough times, but she was still praising God and knew that God wouldn't give her what she couldn't handle. It was such a blessing to see that and the attitude she had.
I find myself being so negative sometimes when I think things are not going well. To often I ask why God or get so frustrated when I am so fortunate and blessed and that no matter what I should praise God!
I find myself being so negative sometimes when I think things are not going well. To often I ask why God or get so frustrated when I am so fortunate and blessed and that no matter what I should praise God!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
God never ceases to amaze me
God never ceases to amaze me and show me awesome opportunities to serve him here. Even though I have my regular schedule in the day, which I can so often just go through the motions of the day and let the days pass me by. But when I really sit down and think about the week and what God has done in that week it blows me away. Just the compassion I see the people at the Salvation Army have for the people of Monessen and wanting to help them in any way they can, I hope that I can learn something from them and take that with me.
I also got the opportunity to spend some more time with the Jungs, the Captains at the Salvation Army, this week and get to know them on a more personal level. It has been great hanging out with them. They have really welcomed me in and made me feel so welcome. Just last night I got to spend the night with some of the youth that go to church at the Salvation Army and it was such a blast being able to hang out and get to know them more and really poor into them and see what God is doing in their lives.
Also looking back at the relationships I have made, I know it is going to be so hard to leave here and not miss the people I have made such strong connections with. (But I also had that struggle this summer.) When I think about it though, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Jesus to go into a place get to know someone and help them and then move on. I think if it didn’t affect us we would have a problem, but that is part of working in ministry, you go where God leads you, even if it’s hard.
One cool thing that we got to do today was go up to Pittsburgh and meet up with Ben and Eric from Youthworks and attend the last session of the Jubilee conference that they were working at with them. We are so lucky here in Monessen to have Pittsburgh so close and have some pretty cool opportunities. It was really cool to get to know Ben and Eric a little more and to be able to hang out with them. We went to Primanti Brothers for lunch and had some “real” Pittsburgh food.
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
- Luke 10:2
I also got the opportunity to spend some more time with the Jungs, the Captains at the Salvation Army, this week and get to know them on a more personal level. It has been great hanging out with them. They have really welcomed me in and made me feel so welcome. Just last night I got to spend the night with some of the youth that go to church at the Salvation Army and it was such a blast being able to hang out and get to know them more and really poor into them and see what God is doing in their lives.
Also looking back at the relationships I have made, I know it is going to be so hard to leave here and not miss the people I have made such strong connections with. (But I also had that struggle this summer.) When I think about it though, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Jesus to go into a place get to know someone and help them and then move on. I think if it didn’t affect us we would have a problem, but that is part of working in ministry, you go where God leads you, even if it’s hard.
One cool thing that we got to do today was go up to Pittsburgh and meet up with Ben and Eric from Youthworks and attend the last session of the Jubilee conference that they were working at with them. We are so lucky here in Monessen to have Pittsburgh so close and have some pretty cool opportunities. It was really cool to get to know Ben and Eric a little more and to be able to hang out with them. We went to Primanti Brothers for lunch and had some “real” Pittsburgh food.
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
- Luke 10:2
Monday, February 2, 2009
Many Blessing
This past week God has really given our team time to slow down. With school and Acorn being canceled Tuesday and Wednesday (which means mostly everything else is closed in the town) we had a lot of time on our hands. Having this time off I took a lot of the time to reflect on my time here and all that God has taught me since coming here and all the amazing people he has put in my life. Pastor John and Jethe are great people who truly have servant hearts and I have learned a lot from my conversations with them. The Fisher family members are all totally on fire for God and I really admire that in all of them. Jen has such great work ethic and trusts God with what she is doing with the Black Pants Project and I have learned a lot from her. The Jungs are great people to know around here and Amanda and I get along so well, I am truly blessed to know them. Jim has so much knowledge about the bible, I am just in awe when I hear him speak about it. All of the ladies at Acorn are really great ladies and I love going there every Wednesday to see them all. The Douglas students have really helped me to see that it doesn't matter what people think of you all that matters is that you are happy with yourself. The Fishgate and TWIGS kids have really been awesome getting to know and I hope that I can continue to pour into them. Hilda and Ronnie are great ladies who love the Lord with all of their heart, I am so blessed to know both of them.
Now to the people who have really taught me the most and I am very blessed to have met and get to share life with, my team. They have taught me more than they will ever know and I am so glad that God has put us together as a team! I know that when I leave here I will have three very good friends that I can call whenever and it is a blessing to know that!
Im guessing most of you don’t know a lot of these amazing people, so here are a few pictures that I have of them. Sadly I don’t have a picture of all of them.
Jen
Jono with Hilda
Ladies at Acorn
Group of kids from Fishgate
Now to the people who have really taught me the most and I am very blessed to have met and get to share life with, my team. They have taught me more than they will ever know and I am so glad that God has put us together as a team! I know that when I leave here I will have three very good friends that I can call whenever and it is a blessing to know that!
Im guessing most of you don’t know a lot of these amazing people, so here are a few pictures that I have of them. Sadly I don’t have a picture of all of them.
Jen
Jono with Hilda
Ladies at Acorn
Group of kids from Fishgate
Monday, January 19, 2009
True Community
This week was really good, I didn't have a normal week, it was actually a slow week, but still good. Monday was Hot Spot and then we got to help Jennifer haul in some racks that she got from Steve and Barry's since they closed for the Black Pants Project, we also helped her empty out her office, which was sad because it was becoming more real that there isn't much going on at the Schooner Center. At the same time Marsha was moving all of her stuff out, so CTC isn't in there either. Tuesday I was at the Salvation Army and that was fun, it was good to see everyone there again and catch up with Captain Amanda. Wednesday I went to Acorn and had fun catching up with everyone, especially Ginny. Thursday there was a pretty bad snow storm so schools were delayed and so the Salvation Army wasn't going to open until noon and since I had a meeting at 1 with Pastor John about Spring Break stuff I didn't end up going and got to sleep in, which was nice.
The came Friday and because of the cold weather they had canceled school the night before, so we knew we could sleep in and go to Starbucks later since we didn't have to drop Bryan off at the school. When I woke up I had a message from Jono to call Captain Mike and Amanda. So I called and they wondered if I wanted to go to their house for a women's group and surprise birthday party for one of the ladies that goes to their church and then go to see HSM3 with their family after. So instead of going to Starbucks, I got dropped off at the Jungs' house.
When I got there Amanda was just starting to cook so I got to help her cook- chocolate waffles with homemade chocolate sauce, strawberries, raspberries, and whipped cream, strawberry parfait, and raspberry soda with strawberries on the edge of the glass. We set the table like a really fancy restaurant. It was perfect timing, we just finished up everything and everyone showed up. We set out the food and everyone ate and enjoyed each others company. Janice was so surprised, she was also so touched we would do that for her. It was such a good time, there were 8 adults and 5 kids and it was a lot of fun.
After we all just hung out and fellowshiped, danced, and just had a lot of laughs. We also got into some good conversations. Then we all decided what movie we wanted to go to and made sure everyone had someone to go with and headed off to McDonald's before going to the movies.
After getting home from my day out, I realized how blessed I am to know these people and how today I felt that I was in true community with them and getting to know them on a deeper level. For one of the first times here I really felt that I belonged in the community.
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