Update - January changes to February

Wow. Today is the last day of January (unless I don't post this until morning, then it would be the first day of February). January seems to have flown by so fast. 
February first marks the day that I am officially moving out on my own. I am not going to be living with my family anymore; I am going to be living by myself. It kinda scares me, but I am also super stoked about it. Right now I am in the middle of finishing moving all my stuff and  unpacking it. It's kinda crazy, so if I start walking around pulling my hair out, you will know why. 
I am also volunteering with my local CEF chapter. I am currently working on casting a puppet show, studying for teacher training on Monday, working on a fundraiser, and working on another project that is not to be revealed yet. I am so excited about teaching Monday. If you remember, you could pray for me. It is so exciting, but also terrifying. 
Another big thing is that I finally finished all my TCE 1 and TCE 2 practicums. I already received my TCE 1 certificate, and now I just need to send in my request for my TCE 2 certificate. 
Thank you all for your prayers. You have no idea how much they are appreciated. 

CEF USA Prayer

USA Ministries Child Evangelism Fellowship® February 2014    "Just as the business of the tailor is to make clothes, and that of the shoemaker to mend shoes, so the business of the Christian is to pray." ~Martin Luther People often need a reminder to pray. We have a visual reminder here at CEF International Headquarters. It is the USA Plaza in the Kraft Prayer Garden where state flags fly representing the children living in those states and the workers needed to reach them.  See the video at cefonline.com/usaprayerplaza. Praying for State Directors State coordinators/directors are key leaders in the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship®. One is needed in each of these states/metro areas: Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C. Please pray for God to send His chosen, called leaders. This month our intercession is particularly focused on Hawaii, our target state. Please Continue to Pray for Missionaries  We are thankful for the thousands of CEF® volunteers across the country.  Still, we are in need of full-time workers. Please be praying for 100 new CEF missionaries for the United States this year.  Hawaii - Target State Praises: Praise God for expanding our prayer ministry and for expanding the vision of our staff and board. Praise God that we have Good News Club® in schools on three out of five islands and for newGNC™ trainings coming up on Oahu and the Big Island. Prayer Requests: Pray for the opening of two new schools on the island of Kauai and one on Maui and for our staff as we recruit teens for Christian Youth In Action® this summer. Pray for the upcoming Hawaiian Island ministries conference in March, that we could develop many new relationships with churches statewide. Arkansas - Gary Atkins, State Coordinator Praises: God has recently provided a state treasurer. The state office in Little Rock has moved to a more central and convenient location. Prayer Requests: Pray that God will provide a local director for the newly formed Northwest Arkansas Chapter. Pray that God will provide a training coordinator who is a graduate of the  Children's Ministries Institute®. Northern California - Cindy Brown, State Coordinator Praises: Praise God for providing a new state coordinator as Sue Spillman, the state director retires. Praise for two new chapters being formed (Southern East Bay Chapter and Northern East Bay Chapter). Prayer Requests: Pray that God would send us directors for Sonoma County, North Bay Chapter, San Joaquin and Tulare-Kings chapters. We need additional staff throughout our large state to reach the many children. Florida - Chuck Martinez, State Director Praises: Praise the Lord for a meeting with a superintendent of schools who is a Christian. She wants Good News Club in all the elementary Schools. Praise the Lord for a church in Panama City that is adopting a school for a Good News Club. Prayer Requests: Please pray for a director for our Collier Chapter. Please pray for committee members for two future chapters: Broward County and for Citrus/Hernando Counties. Idaho - Robert Smith, State Director Praises: Praise God for the three volunteer Good News Clubcoordinators in southern Idaho He has given us. Praise God for the work He is doing in hearts, raising up volunteers burdened for the children. Prayer Requests: Pray that God will raise up a local director for eastern Idaho. Pray that God will raise up a field worker for the Treasure Valley (Boise area). Tennessee - Keith Lamb, State Coordinator Praises: Praise God for 140 Good News Clubs in 2013 with 67 public schools participating! Praise God for initial contacts to begin Spanish clubs in Tennessee! Prayer Requests: Pray that God would send a director for the Nashville Area Chapter. Pray for new committee members across the state, especially three new committee chair persons and three treasurers with QuickBooks experience. West Texas - Janet Johnson, State Coordinator Praises: Praise God for the strong bond He is building among our West Texas staff, committee and board members, as we pray together and get to know each other better. Praise Him for all the children He brings to our Good News Clubs and for our volunteers. Prayer Requests: That God would provide a local director for the South Plains Chapter in Lubbock. We also need a local director for our Panhandle Chapter in Amarillo. USA - Moises Esteves, Vice President, USA Ministries Praises: Praise God for again giving us several new state leaders this year.   Praise God for all that is being done in Portland in preparation for Good News Across America® 2014. Prayer Requests: Pray for God's continued protection on the ministry of CEF and the Good News Clubs as the season continues in the second semester. Pray for the spiritual and physical well-being of our workers.  There is illness, loss of loved ones and as always, spiritual warfare.

Winter Advance Youth Camp

Have you ever tried to make an impact on another person’s life, yet ended up being changed yourself?

This last weekend I was at a youth camp leading worship with my band. I went there to be a leader and have an impact on the junior high and high school kids. While I was there I met a girl. Her life was a mess to say the least; she was full of pain and questions. I saw me in her. I saw her searching for answers to questions that I have been asking. I pulled her aside and talked to her. She opened up and told me about her life. I was shocked; such a young girl, but so much pain. I couldn't answer her questions. I feel like I left her without much hope. But I left her with a few words and verses from the Bible and I prayed for her. I don’t know what else I can do. She was looking for answers; she poured herself out to me. I pulled her out to help her, but instead she helped me. She has impacted my life in a way I could never explain; I won’t even try to. If you feel called, please pray for her. She is hurting and there is nothing I can do right now. All I can do is pray, and ask you to pray for her. 

The Home Adventures Continue

Today I get to give a presentation at my local chapter board meeting. I will be telling them what I want to do with the training I have received. I am hoping to get to work with CEF full time. I want to work with them for a year or two while I do my required Bible classes and then take over as local director when that is done. Please pray that I will not be nervous and that I will present clearly and in a way that is easy to understand.