2 Months

It's been two months since the Tuscaloosa Tornado.

Since that normal day that quickly turned violent

and

tore my college town apart. 

Homes destroyed

and

lives destroyed.

Two months since.

Some days it feels like it has only been a few days.

Other times is seems like a year.

Two months since. 

However, now, I am even more thankful for

God's provision

and 

His protection. 

When I Feel Small

There is a moment in my life when I feel truly small. 

It happens a lot 

and 

isn't a bad thing. 

I actually really like it. 

It is humbling. 

Whenever I pray to my Father God, I get this feeling that I am super small. 

Like I'm in a big, bright, white room with huge ceilings.

And there I am, along a wall or in a corner, surrounded by hugeness. 

With a feeling of being small.

I can feel God's power and how mighty He is.

I feel the sense of being surrounded by Him. 

I know that He is here with me! 

I got that feeling tonight as I was praying with fellow staff members. 

I was asked to open us up in prayer 

and 

I gladly did. 

I tend to not pray out loud unless asked 

or 

if I really feel the Holy Spirit leading me. 

Sometimes I wish that I was the first to volunteer, but being who I am, 

I hesitate and let someone else do it. 

Because the devil tells me that prayer isn't good enough 

or 

that I am going to sound stupid

and

stumble over words

or

that I'm not going to make sense.

Well, you know what?

God hears my prayers. 

He understands them. 

He knows my heart.

He knows how to answer prayers. 

Tonight however, I prayed to my Father as I joined hands with not just staff members, but sisters in Christ. 

I once heard one of my youth pastors or someone say that if we pass up the opportunity to speak out loud when we feel led, when we feel God telling us to speak, that we may not be letting God use us as He could. He might want us to speak or say something that He wants someone else to hear, but if we are silent, they won't hear it. 

It is the same with the Gospel. 

We can live it out all day and say that we believe it, but

if we don't actually speak the Gospel 

then how will people hear it? 

How will they come to know?

I pray that my boldness of the Gospel will just spill out.

That everything I do or say

and 

everywhere I go 

will just be a picture of the Gospel. 

There is nothing else that I should live for as a believer in Christ. 

I pray that I will speak out when I feel the Holy Spirit leading me.

That I will not be hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. 

That I will be vulnerable 

and 

allow God to use me as He wishes. 

I pray, Father, that You will use me as You see fit. 

Surround me with Your mightiness. 

Help me to feel small. 

Everything by Tim Hughes

Lately, this has been my constant prayer. 

Happy Father's Day!!!

My Dad is one of the greatest people I know. 

I am so thankful and blessed that God allowed him to come into my mom's life and my life. 

He has done so much for me

and 

has become one of my best friends! 

I love you, Dad! 

Thank you for all that you do. 

You are wonderful 

and 

I love you! 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Thanksgiving 2009

2010

Clothes

I hardly ever buy new clothes.

Like, it is usually awhile before I go shopping 

and 

actually get anything. 

Well, I recently went shopping to Forever 21 and Target.

And I walked away with bags! haha

Just one bag from each place, but I got some good stuff that I am excited to wear. 

:-)

Here are some pictures of things that I got, they may not be exactly alike, but they are similar.

I love all of my purchases, but there is one more purchase that I am absolutely in LOVE with!
If you know me, then you know how excited I am!
:-) 

I also bought a new pair of TOMS!
We found a place that sold them
and
me and another staffer got a pair!

I love love love them!

:-) 

Favorite Moments From This Week

Just thought I would share with ya'll some of my favorite moments from this week.

Most deal with camp 

and 

some are moments with other staffers. 

I loved one conversation I had with a girl who I asked if her parents were missionaries. She responded with yes they are and so am I! I was like yes, you certainly are. Then, she also told me that she wants to go to Africa and Chile one day to tell the people there about Jesus. 

Me too L., me too. 

Another moment is one that I had with the same little girl above, L. We were working on a craft (making crowns) and I heard her singing. What was she singing? Mighty to Save. 

Needless to say that I joined in! 

:-) 

There is one moment that I didn't enjoy, but later turned memorable. 

It involves a little boy, T. He is so great and has definitely become my buddy these past few days. 

Well, yesterday was the first day that I had to get on to him. 

I saw him hit another boy, just in play, but still. 

It happened right in front of me and I was told him, no sir! We do not hit our friends. You need to say sorry and not to hit again. 

Well, he did apologize and then he walked off to a chair by himself. 

I looked over at him and I see him starting to cry. 

I. Felt. Awful. 

I did not want to get on to him, but I also know that all the kids need to be treated the same. 

He didn't cry for long and went back to playing. 

I called him over and told him that I was sorry for yelling at him, but I needed him to know that it is not right for us to hit friends. He said he understood and I asked him if he could forgive me. 

He shook his head no. 

I was like okay, knowing that most likely he would change his mind. 

I let him go play and went to go pick up some toys and clean a little 

and 

when I stood up, T. came running over to me and gave me a big hug! 

My buddy was back. 

:-) 

I also enjoyed that while I was outside, the same boy above, T., wanted me to help him as he hung from the play place. Our play place doesn't have monkey bars, but the kids discovered today that they could make something like it, by just hanging from one part of the play place and crossing over.

Well, I was helping T. cross over the makeshift monkey bars and then lift him down because he didn't want to jump down and then I had walked away to do something. He came running up to me, wanting me to follow him back to the play place. But, I was busy doing something then. T. told me that he just wasn't going to show me if I didn't come right then. So, I went with him and he told me to watch him. 

I watched as he climbed up and shimmied across the "monkey bars" and let go falling to ground and landing on his feet.

All by himself! 

I was very proud! haha

I gave him a high five 

and 

then he showed me again how he could do it.

All by himself. 

That above story just shows me a little bit of how I am going to watch these children change over the summer.

A lot of change happens in these years (4&5)

and 

it is exciting to see what is going to take place.

They are going to grow so much. 

I also love that I can pinpoint some of my Child Development knowledge in these kids. 

Looks like I am learning something during class! Ha!

Another favorite moment from camp happened when I was leaving work and walking back to my dorm. 

The children that were still there were outside playing on the playground 

and

I was walking past the fence. 

I got into the parking lot next to the playground and I heard a kid say, hey that is Ms. Jessica!

I turned around and some of the kids were yelling at me! 

They were telling me bye and that they would see me on Monday! 

It was very awesome.

Definitely a favorite moment. 

Another favorite moment that is not in camp, but is instead with Staffers! 

There is Camp Nola Kidz staff and then MissionLab staff. 

We have gone to the movies with them and gone to eat with them, but 

this past week has been like bonding week for us all. 

We have gone to church and worship during the week with them. 

Wednesday was one of our staff member's birthday, so we all went to eat and MissionLab came with us. 

Thursday was the birthday of a staffer from MissionLab so we had fun with that.

Today we are planning on going to play Laser Tag with them

and 

it is also another staffer's, from MissionLab, birthday.
So, we are going to eat for his birthday. 

It has been great getting to know them and hang out with them.

They are so much fun and it is great that we all have this bond going on. 

Okay, well I think those of most of my favorite moments from this past week. 

I know I have many more, but these are the ones that I could remember right now.

Week 3 of Camp went by really fast 

and

I am really tired! 

:-) 

Another favorite picture of me and my Dad! 

:-)

This was taken the first time that Dad took me hunting. 

:-) 

For the next couple of days, I am going to post some of my favorite pictures of me and my Dad in honor of 

Father's Day coming up on Sunday. 

Enjoy! 

:-) 

This was taken after we had went to a rodeo
and
there is where we bought our hats!
:-)

Like a Child

This past week, I feel like God has been wanting me to pay attention to the mind of a child. 

They are so creative, funny, unafraid of some things and afraid of others, imaginative, 

passionate, temperamental, demanding and loving. 

They are untouched by the world in so many ways, but some have seen things far beyond their years.

I constantly want to keep them the innocent 4 and 5 year olds that they are, but I know that eventually

 (and that may come sooner than I wish)

they will no longer just see what is on the playground.

They will grow up and learn all the things that are going on in this world.

They will know what I know and maybe even more.

They will see that the world is filled with evil, lurking all around them. 

Trying it's best to get a hold of them.

Trying to tear them away from the innocence that they know now.

They will see the death, the violence, the racism and discrimination, the sex, drugs, alcohol, and money.

They will see everything that I don't want them to see.

I love how at this age they are unconcerned with the color of people's skin.
To them, they are all the same.

I want so badly to shelter them from the evil that is out to steal, kill, and destroy.

I know that, for right now, I am only here for a summer.
I will only be with them for 8 more weeks.

What happens after?
Only the Lord knows.

I pray earnestly that He will protect them in all their many situations.
I am confident that He will.

I pray that all of them will come to know the Lord and have a saving, personal relationship with Him.

I pray that the seeds planted in their young lives this summer will continue to be tended to
and that one day, they will say yes to the Savior and let Him be their King.

I know that work done for the Lord is never in vain
and that His Word is faithful and true.

I know that He saves lives
and
changes hearts.

I know that He loves the little children.
That He loves all of us.
That He wants a relationship with all of us, even though some choose to say no.

My Jesus saves.

I know that these children are no different.
And I am praying for them, that one day,
 they will say yes to Lord
that is calling them to do great things.

I pray that we can be like little children.
That we can look beyond the differences of our skin, language, or culture
and just see the person in front of us.
I pray that we will not pass anyone by because of the way they are or how they look,
but instead that we will see through the lens of Christ.
We will see their heart
and tell them about Jesus.
I pray that we continuously plant and nourish seeds.
I pray that we never lose faith that our God can do great and mighty things.
I pray that we remember that He is still changing lives
and
that He won't relent.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this is my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." 
-- Matthew 18:1-6

A Giveaway!

Hey Everyone!  

Check out this awesome giveaway that my friend Becca is having over at her blog, She Becomes! 

You can win some awesome prizes 

and 

learn more about women in Tanzania 

and 

how we can help them. 

Go check it out here! 

:-)

Learning from Acts -- Part 7

This is Part 7 in the Learning from Acts Series, for Part 1, click here.

Peter's Imprisonment, the Power of Prayer and Herod's Death

• In chapter 12 of Acts, Herod imprisoned Peter after he had executed James, Jesus' disciple not brother. He saw how the people were happy that James was killed, so he intended to do the same to Peter.
• "He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also...After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each." --vs. 12:2-3,4
• The Church learned of Peter being in jail and prayed for him continously.
• "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." -- vs. 12:5
• "...where many people had gathered and were praying." -- vs. 12:12
• The night before his trial, an angel of the Lord came and rescued him.
• "Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell...Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision...Then Peter came to himself and said, 'Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish poeple were anticipating.'" -- vs. 12:7,9.11
• The power of prayer is evident in this passage. Although God knew all along how Peter's story was going to unfold, He no doubt heard the earnest prayers of His Church. They had gathered together for Peter, most likely praying for his safety and his release.
• Peter told them of the release and then went on to another place.
• "Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. 'Tell James and the brothers about this,' he said, and then he left for another place." -- vs. 12:17
• Herod then saw that Peter was no longer in the prison and he sentenced the guards to death.
• "After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed." -- vs. 12:19
• While Herod was giving an address to the people, they said he was like a god, not a man, showing their loyalty and that they approved of him.
• "They shouted, 'This is the voice of a god, not of a man.'" -- vs. 12:22
• Herod was pleased, but he did not give praise to God and was immediately struck down.
• "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." -- vs. 12:23
• Where does our allegiance lie? Who do we give our praise to? Our heavenly Father who has blessed us with where we are, what we have, or what we have accomplised? Or with the worms, those who aren't God, the things or people that we fall victim to and look to for affirmation and worth?
• The Word of the Lord was still preached, it increased.
• "But the word of God continued to increase and spread." -- vs. 12:24

I pray, Heavenly Father, that our allegiance would be to You. That we would turn to You to find satisfaction and affirmation. That we wouldn't look to the things of the world, but instead toss them in the ocean. I pray that we would recognize the things that steal our thoughts from You and learn to ignore them. We know that You remain true through the ages, enduring forever and that the things of this world won't always be here.I pray that we cling to the Truth that You are and neve underestimate Your power.  

Camp NOLA Kidz in Pictures!

Here are some shots that I have taken from camp so far! 

Enjoy!

:-)

Nap time!

Listening to Mrs. Debbie tell a Bible story!

Me and Bailey with our "crowns"

Kennedy, he like's trains!

 Mason!

 Lea!

We had a police officer come talk to us!

Tia!

Larry!

Madison B.!

Amari!

Dandre!

JC!

Jaionne! 

Life Here at Camp Nola Kidz

Hey Everyone!!

Life here at Camp Nola has been crazy busy for the past couple of weeks, so I have not been able to get on here and write a post.

We are into our second week of camp right now and things are going great!
I'm not sure how many kids we have had in the Pre-K camp, but I know that it is around 30.
The other part of the camp that is all the older kids, they have had many more, with close to or over 100 children.

I have around 10 campers in my group!
We are the Yellow or the Sun group!
They are absolutely precious and I love them, however they can most certainly be a handful.

I had this notion in my head at the beginning of camp that most of the kids were in some way associated with the seminary, because we have camp here on campus. Then, I quickly remembered that that is not true. Only a handful of kids have parents that are either students or professors. The rest are here from the community or have attended the preschool throughout the actual school year. So, the kids that are coming to our camp truly do see many different things and have different lives. They are true inner city kids, living just a few blocks from downtown New Orleans. Who knows what these kids experience when they go home. They look like they are well taken care of, but we of course don't know. Most are dropped off by parents and some are dropped off by grandparents.

A big number of the children are also ADD or ADHD. This in fact changes the way that we have to do some things with them. Whether in the way we teach, discipline, or just talk to. It can be hard. It has been hard. Definitely a new challenge for me. It is also easily frustrating, which stinks because you know that it isn't their fault! Especially at the age of 4 and 5 it also has to be hard for them as well. They also have so much energy! I wonder where it all comes from! There is just so much! haha It can be hard to transition them from one activity to another. Some days it is awful, while other days it is very easy and they are so into everything that we do!

I have two main prayer requests for right now. One, that I will be able to teach, discipline, and be a friend to these children in the way that they need it. They are all different so it can be challenging, but so important I believe. Second, that I will have more than enough energy to keep up with the kids. About every day my 30 minute break time is spent taking a nap in my bed. I want to be able to keep up with the children and be fun all day, not just in the middle of the afternoon, but also in the morning when I am tired and at the end of the day when I am getting tired or may be frustrated with something that is happening.

A great thing can take place at this camp this summer. I pray that everyone here or associated with camp will be completely overwhelmed by the Spirit of the Lord and that a great revival will happen. That children, parents and even the people of New Orleans will see the one, true God and accept Him as their Savior.
I pray that we put aside our own ambitions and dreams and start truly living on fire for Christ.
That in everything we do, He will be seen.
I pray that through everything we do, the Gospel will be seen.
I pray this for everyone and myself.

Lord, be my all consuming fire.