Week 3: A day or two late

Well. Again, so much to do this week, but this week I did a lot of fun stuff. 

Sunday we taught our second week at a youth group. I got to talk to a few students about coming to CYIA and they seemed interested. None of them signed up, but we were encouraged to see the excitement about teaching children about Christ. 

Monday we went on a walk by the Arkansas river. It was very hot. The river was muddy. That night we went to a VBS to talk to them about CYIA. 

  

Tuesday we took a lazy day.

I did laundry. My little scooter helped me get the clothes to the wash and back. 

 Then I went shopping for dinner. One thing that I have observed about the south is that everything is done slower. Just getting a few ingredients took forever because the checker was talking and going slow. When I finally got back I made potato soup.

 For never having made it by myself before it turned out really good. 

Then in the evening we met with a youth director about their youth coming to CYIA. She said that there were very few youth, but that she would look into it. 

Thursday the people who work in the office with CEF had a community lunch. The building that the CEF office is in also houses many other ministries. During the lunch we got to hear about what God is doing in Little Rock. One thing that really stuck out to me was just the need for volunteers. When I got back to my desk I was inspired to write something. So, here it is, in no way a perfect song, but the meaning is there: 

An anger burns behind my eyes

Do they even realize

The way they live their lives defies

The very call of our Lord, Jesus Christ

We talk so big, but we do so little

We work so hard, but we have just started to whittle

At the millions of people who need the Lord

Oh people, please, could you just do a little bit more?

People cryin’

Children out there are dyin’

But you would rather stay in

Your bubble with your friends

This all starts me to wonderin’:

We talk so big, but we do so little

We work so hard, but we have just started to whittle

At the millions of people who need the Lord

Oh people, please, could you do just a little bit more?

The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few

Lord please show us what to do!

Prepare us for the work about to ensue 

What this whole world needs is You!

In the evenings I have been trying to learn Computer programming. I am also trying to brush up on my math skills. I am really rusty. 

Friday we worked on cleaning the rooms that the CYIA staff will be sleeping in. It was a huge mess, I spent about 2 hours working on cleaning one room. We were no where near done when we had to leave.

We had to leave to teach a four hour training at a church for their youth. It was really fun to teach, but when we got home we were very tired. So, we made a cake and watched a movie.

My brother's 18th was on Saturday so we made the cake for him and sent him pictures of me eating it. 

Saturday we went to a church party down the road. 

This DJ was showing me how the board kinda works. He was really encouraging about doing sound tech stuff. He kept telling me that the sound board is the best thing to do.Without them there would be no show. "Technology is where the money is." "Everyone ignores the sound guys, until something goes wrong." So true!  

Part of the party was the black church inviting the police to come. The church really wants to reach out and show their support of the police and firemen. It was so cool to see them just hanging out with everyone and letting the kids (and me) sit in their cars and such. It was so cool!

Then we went to Peti Jean National Park. 

Looking out over the Arkansas river

Monarch butterfly 

How do I get out now?

Rock House Cave

Now, how do I get down?

Arkansas has its own kind of beauty 

LIZARD! 

On Sunday we were finally able to get two students to sign up for CYIA! We are really excited. We are doing a different schedule than we originally planned, but it will work.

Thank you all for praying!

Week 2: So much to do, so little time

I guess you could say that this week was also very busy. Just a few weeks ago I was wondering what to write, but now I am wondering where to start. Let's start at the very beginning. (A very good place to start)

Last Sunday night we did a training for a youth group. That went really well. I forgot how much I love working with teens. They were great and seemed to really pick it up quickly.

Monday we started working on the details of CYIA. We figured out the schedule and who would teach what. Now just to get some students signed up. Please pray for that. We have been talking to many people, but no one has committed to coming. We have everything ready, but no students yet. 

This week I also made some amazing food. I am an amazing cook. Ha Ha Ha. French toast is the best. 

And I found a scooter! 

It needed some fixing up, but now it works pretty well. Still needs some care, but works great for riding around in the building. 

Thursday we took a trip to NW Arkansas. We got to visit a 5-Day Club on Thursday. It was really great to see how much CEF is growing in the state. 

At night I got to stay at a very nice house in the country. It was so wonderful to just listen to how quiet everything was at night and enjoy the fireflies. YES! I saw fireflies! They are REAL! 

Then waking up to this amazing view was so refreshing. The back window looked over into Oklahoma and Cherokee territory. 

Then I got to ride a horse. I am now regretting my decision. I guess I need to ride more. Walking is hard today. 

Of course we took some time to study...

And eat some amazing food. This was called a Chocolate Mess. Even the glass was covered in chocolate. I was unable to finish it all unfortunately. 

On Saturday I attended the CEF of NW Arkansas committee meeting. I got to share my testimony and hear about the work that CEF is doing in NW AR. It was so encouraging to see these people fired up to reach the children. It was great that even though they were just going through the "boring stuff" they still kept the focus on the children. They always talked about why they were there. 

Thank you all so much for reading my ramblings. Please continue to pray for:

15 Students to sign up for CYIA

Energy

Homesickness/culture shock to not be so strong

Week 1: Busy, busy, busy...

Well, this week has been a crazy one for sure. I flew out of Spokane last Friday and arrived at my cousins' house that evening. Flying into Denver we had to circle around to the opposite side because of a storm. 

After spending a few days resting and exploring with my cousins, I got on the plane to Little Rock, Arkansas. 

The ride was very interesting. I could see a storm coming in and the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Then we got up above the clouds and flew over the flattest land I have ever seen. It must have been Kansas or something. 

Then, after a stop in Dallas, we flew on to Arkansas. Once we got into Arkansas there was so much water and greenery. 

I was very pleased to see mountains on the horizon again. Sometime I need to get out to them and explore.

After many hours of travel I finally arrived in Little Rock...

and got settled in my new home. Jean and Gary helped me get unpacked then took me to dinner. I was well ready to go to sleep that night when the time came. 

On the other side of the building is the state police headquarters. I guess no partying in the parking lot for me. 

Tuesday I got up, studied and set up the Sunday School room. Then we had a meeting with the Sunday School coordinator, then dinner with a volunteer teacher from the church. 

Wednesday we worked on the room more and taught how to teach a Bible lesson at a small group. We also got to visit the CEF office. 

It was actually more like a cubical, but it was fun to work in a real office. On Saturday I worked in the office making CYIA brochures for a few hours by myself. That was pretty cool. 

Friday thru Saturday Jean and Gary were gone, so I stayed at a board member's house. I actually spent more time at the office than there, but it was good to be staying with someone. 

Last night I was trying to finish up all the last minute things that I had put off Friday. Let's just say I did not get a lot of sleep last night between working on stuff and worrying too much to sleep. This morning I was in charge of making sure two Sunday School classes ran smoothly. It was the first week of doing a GNC for Sunday School at that church, but considering that I was the blind leading the blind I would say it went pretty well. There are many kinks to work out, but it was just the first week. Tonight we are going to a little city outside of Little Rock to teach a youth group and promote CYIA. 

Thank you all so much for all your prayers and financial support. Thanks to you I will not be needing to get a job while I am here this summer and can comfortably survive. Prayers are still very much needed as I know that life will not be getting any less busy this week. Pray that I could:

Get enough restful sleep

Keep healthy

Be growing in my Spiritual walk

Do everything to the best of my ability and to the Glory of God!