It is a cloudy, cold day in San Diego.Not the typical, sunny warmer weather one might be use to in Southern California. Nevertheless, that does not stop us from doing our work here at the Transitional Living Center. Many of the boys have been moving furniture out of some of the rooms to get them ready for the next tenents that will be moving in. Lots of work but it gives them a chance to see the small space a family (or two) have to live in.It is smaller than some of our bedrooms! They have also been cleaning out large (restaurant size) refrigerators.
This afternoon we will be street evangelizing with a planted church here in San Deigo call "The Body." We will be the minorities!!!! A great opportunity for our kids.Most of our kids want to do evangelizing. We have done alot of work around the Transitional Living Center so they are pleased we will be going out on the streets..We will eat dinner with this church and fellowship with them this evening.
Well..... tomorrow we head for Phoenix. We have alot to pack up and clean up. I plan on getting back to the school between 6-7pm. I will have your son/daughter call you when we are around 45 minutes away. Thank you for entrusting them to me, Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Sharpe. They did very well. You can be very proud of them.It was a trip that we were in the dark alot so it taught us flexibility and patience. I also don't think it was exactly the trip alot of the students thought it would be but "you plan and then life happens." It is not a fast moving world here at the Center and most of us are use to a "speedy lifestyle." this has been a week of changes and not always a set schedule. If we remember to ask the Lord what He wants for us each day and to direct that day according to His will then if things don't go as planned it wasn't our day to begin with; we gave it to our Lord. If we do not give our days to the Lord then frustration and confursion can take our eyes off of Him. This was absolutely a lesson anyone can learn on a mission trip.
The chaperones and I want to thank you for your prayers. WE HAVE FELT THEM! There is no doubt we have been protected and covered. Again, thank you.
Today is a day filled with a lot of accomplishments as we serve the Transitional Living Center. The people here are very loving and giving in spite of their struggles with life. The boys have been busy painting the fence and gazebo area around the pool. The weather is beautiful today! The girls have been busy helping in the office, playing with the children and various odd jobs that need attention. The Bible Studies have been "life changing" and so filled with the truth; challenging all of us to live in the Spirit not the flesh.
We did a "Cross Walk" evangelizing on the streets this morning around the Center. Met with some homeless people; some with open hearts and some resistant.
Some of the boys will serve the dinner meal and after we eat we will all go to the beach. This will be a fun time of activity and fellowship to enjoy God's beauty and give the kids some " down time." We will get some pizzas as they will be hungry again in the evening (The Transitions Living Center eats early; 4:30pm)!
Ms. Estrada
We were served a delicious lunch at our last meeting. Thank you Mothers! The students are writing their Christian testimony. Mr. Hewitt and I have asked them to spend some time contemplating about what their life was like before they heard about God’s plan of salvation. This is not an easy task. It can bring joyous feelings because we know Him as our Savior, feelings of regret if we are not walking with our Savior, or maybe there is no relationship with Him at all. Again, very thought provoking………..but necessary. We are talking about our eternity and who we will serve while on this earth. “Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” If it were not for the early Christians living out their testimony, would the news about Christ and the Christian faith have made it to our generation? Thinking about our testimony nudges us to focus on before we knew Christ, how we surrendered to Him, and the difference since we have been walking with Him. We look forward to walking beside each member of our team as they decide what their relationship with Christ is and what their story is.
Thursday, February 9th we will meet our mission prayer buddies. They are from Ms. Gudhus’class, first graders and Mrs. McArthur’s class, second graders. They will be wearing gold wrist bands to remind them to pray for us. We are looking forwarding to meeting them!
Until next time……………………….
"Faith moves mountians but prayer moves God......" When I heard this I was moved by its powerful contents! We have faithful, persevering moms praying for our team.
Our prayer moms are Lynne Ault praying for Ms. Susan Estrada, Mr. Tim Hewitt, Kyle Johnson, Dan Peters and Charles Larson. #2 Margo Johnson praying for Mrs. Susan Sharpe, Hailey Suter, Noah Nobley, Ruben Mesa. #3 Marilou Nobley praying for Michael Huls, Emily Ellingsen, Michael Sendra. #4 Ann Peters praying for Noah Ault, Nancy Jacobson, Cameron Sharpe, Richard Yu. #5 Amanda Yu praying for Joshua Warren, Kwon Jeong, Susan Jacobson. #6 Kathie Sendra praying for Megan Deleon, Cavin Sherman, Alec Garcia.
Below please see the outline of our itinerary.
Facilities:
First Baptist Church
3219 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 273- 4642
*Need to bring sleeping bags/pillow; Showers available.
Schedule (subject to change):
Monday:
4:00 PM Arrive/Settle
5:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Evening project
9:00 PM Family Time
Tuesday:
9:00 AM Serve at East County Transitional Living Center
3:00 PM Waiting on information
Wednesday:
9:00 AM Serve at East County Transitional Living Center
3;00 PM Waiting on information
6:00 PM Participate in the FBC youth program
8:00 PM Waiting on information
Thursday:
9:00 AM Serve at East County Transitional Living Center
3:00 PM Waiting on information
7:00 PM Participate at San Diego food bank filing food delivery orders
9:00 PM Back to church for Family Time
10:30 PM Bed
Friday: Clean up church before departing
Meal Plan: Team will purchase and prepare meals at Church. YF will help coordinate.
Until next time..............Ms. Estrada
This is where we will post updates about our missions’ trip. Our trip will begin on Monday, February 27 through March 2. Mr. Tim Hewitt, Mrs. Susan Sharpe and, myself, Ms. Estrada will be the chaperones. Our prayer team, led by Lynne Ault, will be receiving prayer requests daily as we depend on God’s protection and provision. Our team consists of 19 students.
The first week of January the leaders and prayer coordinator attended a meeting with Kevin Meyers (SCA missions’ leader) and Brian Aaby of Youthmark. Youthmark is the missions’ organization that SCA is partnering with this year for our trips. Brian and his team have years of experience in youth ministry and missions. Their desire is to see our lives transformed for Jesus Christ. Brian talked about the real mission – “Mission 51” - the next 51 weeks following the missions’ week. As we reach out and help others in need may we grow a passion to live a lifestyle that will serve our Lord throughout the year.
There is homework to be done! Workbooks were given to be filled out and the contents studied before our trip begins. Our first training class will begin on Thursday, January 19 during chapel time. We will continue meeting every Thursday until we leave for our trip.
SCA is sponsoring a rummage sale on Saturday, January 28. If anyone is in need of financial assistance they can help before and during the day of the sale.
More to come…………………….
Ms. Estrada