Dear church,
Our students are BEASTS with power tools, hammers, scrapers and paint brushes! We are so PROUD to be here and call them "OUR" kids! Sunday we arrived around 4pm - just in time to meet our groups and head off to our sites. There are 22 homes in the mix this year receiving new windows, paint, roofs, or some combination of such. Homes are located in four towns - most in DeLeon and Commanche. Our students have been stretched a bit when many were placed on teams where they had no Crestview buds with them - but by the end of the day the first day, most had made lifelong friends with students from all over - Baytown, Canton, Plains, DeLeon, Commanche, Bedford and even a group from Alabama! (probably more towns I'm forgetting)
Our nights are comprised of yummy dinners, worship with Nick (I can't remember his last name, but he and his band have led worship for Crestview a few times.) The spiritual focus of the week is "Reality" and learning to live out the reality of God's Word. After worship, we have a Crestview time and then our regular "Allsups" runs for Dublin Dr. Peppers! (Our youth minister spoils us!) We have been so proud of how our students have stepped up to take on leadership jobs with some leading the crew Bible studies and/or our RainbowExpress (back yard Bible clubs).
Getting them to sleep is not an issue (at least not with the girls). Lights are out at 10:30 and most are ready to crash. The major challenge of the week is having 150 PAINTED on girls getting in to one of the 4 portable showers and getting clean in the 5 minute time limit! (We won't mention the guys AMAZING showering situation.....NO, NO....bitter??? Us?? NO WAY!) =)
Keep us in your prayers as God is moving through our students. Seeing them sacrifice and sweat with smiles in the name of Jesus is a blessing to all.
I have tons of pictures to download but I am going to have to get a new way to download them...sorry. Stay tuned. Nate said he'd give it a shot for me tonight!
Love to all of you!
'Mama' Donna
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Community Rehab Update...
We leave for Community Rehab on Sunday!!! We have changed our departure time to 11:45 AM (right after 10:31 Worship). Our group will be recognized during the 10:31 service. Then we'll eat some pizza and head out! Please wear your D-Now shirts to worship and if you don't have one...we have some extras. We will load our luggage and sleeping gear on Saturday @ 5:00 PM at the EA. This will allow us to have a "stress-free" worship time on Sunday morning. You can find tons of additional information about Rehab at communityrehabproject.org.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Crestview Parental Recharge (CPR)
Summertime has arrived! In an effort to keep our youth parents connected to what's happening in our student ministry we'll meet this Sunday, May 31st at 5:00 PM. Join us in the Trinity Center Youth Room as we unpack information about Community Rehab, DFW Dive, Student Life Camp, Rock The Desert, Wake, Shoreline and THE MOVE! You'll also get the chance to meet our Summer Intern...Nate Peace.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year! Headin' back to Texas!
We had a wonderful new year's eve here! We dispersed and everyone did exactly what they pleased. One group snow sledded at the park, the hard core skiers jockeyed for unused lift tickets and got an extra day of skiing in, a few even snowmobiled from 1300 feet up, and a big group of us headed to a nearby outlet mall for some fun shopping! I, for one, had a VERY successful shopping excursion!!!!! This has been a fun trip for all!!!
We had such an incredible time of worship tonight and God has been revealing His "Crazy Love" for us! What a blessing! After worship we all headed out to see the fireworks over Maggie Pond and the mountain . We were right under them. It was AWESOME!!!!! The evening is ending with some crammed (and well supervised, I might add) rooms full of kids playing games and counting in the new year's across the country. Fun times!
Most students are packed and we are leaving out early in the morning at 6am (7am Texas time) The drive is about 12 hours and we will have several stops, so we are estimating about 9 or 9:30. Thankfully the bad roads cleared before we arrived and the forcast calls for clear and dry road for our final travel day...Praise the Lord!
See you all NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!! :)
Love you all,
Donna
We had such an incredible time of worship tonight and God has been revealing His "Crazy Love" for us! What a blessing! After worship we all headed out to see the fireworks over Maggie Pond and the mountain . We were right under them. It was AWESOME!!!!! The evening is ending with some crammed (and well supervised, I might add) rooms full of kids playing games and counting in the new year's across the country. Fun times!
Most students are packed and we are leaving out early in the morning at 6am (7am Texas time) The drive is about 12 hours and we will have several stops, so we are estimating about 9 or 9:30. Thankfully the bad roads cleared before we arrived and the forcast calls for clear and dry road for our final travel day...Praise the Lord!
See you all NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!! :)
Love you all,
Donna
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Ski Breck Tuesday
Whew! Full day! Everyone did exactly what they wanted today. So much fun. Some of us went to a local park and took sleds. Never had so much fun for FREE (at least the activity...not the trip!)....We had a ball. Brock and Samuel DeLaCruz built a fort in the snow in a beautiful wooded area while a few of the youth soomed down a park hill with lots of the locals. It was beautiful. Our hard core skiers just got more hard core! They left early and did not come in until the last lift made it's run. We are happy to report no injuries and no major sicknesses. Not even any major altitude problems. YAY! Thanks to Jesus!
On a sad note: Please keep our family in your prayers. Rob got a call from the doctor today saying that his daddy has cancer of the liver, pancreas, back, adrenal glands, lymphoma and maybe more. We knew his health was poor but nothing prepares you for that kind of information. The next few weeks will be difficult as it is expected to move very rapidly. Please pray for Rob and that his daddy does not have to suffer. He is a believer and has eternity waiting for him. We are just so thankful that we moved them out to Midland in October so we can be here for them.
Zach is working on downloading my pics but most had problems downloading. I'll try to have more tomorrow.
MUch love to you all!
donna
Monday, December 29, 2008
Ski Breck Report
What a BEAUTIFUL place this is!!!! The Christmas lights still on every store of the quaint town were something special that I was not expecting! The mountains are glorious! Our God is the master painter! Yesterday did not seem like Sunday since we were not at church...so strange. We all talked about, however, how seeing God's creation in this way - from the mountain tops - is the most AMAZING worship experience that we have ever experienced. WE HAD CHURCH - no doubt about that!
It was a busy day yesterday. Everyone was up bright and early to get skis, etc They all stopped by my room and I sent them all with breakfast. The mountain situation started a bit rocky as half of the mountain was closed due to high winds. That made for long lines, not to mention what that wind does to you in sub zero temps! By noon, it had cleared off and the skiing was fabulous for all (except a few newbies who were a little uncertain at first.) There were fun stories...one (who will remain unnamed) had a fall and lost her ski pants - they came undone and down! haha (thank goodness for layering!) Most did a morning of ski school and were off on their own after lunch. Lunch is fun for me...I had the marathon lunch with kids coming to the room from 11am-3:30 or so as they made it down the mountain. I had a fun time talking with them and making tortilla wraps on the griddle. - but....today...lunch from 11:30-1:00 and I made sack lunches for the die hards.....I plan to do lots of playing in the snow today! --- By 4pm the indoor pool and outdoor hot tubs were FULL with our kiddos. Such fun!!!! This is what bonding and memories are made of!!!!!
Dinner last night was a fiasco, I must admit. The town is PACKED with skiers since it is the week between holidays. The wait at our restaraunt where we shutled to was 3 HOURS - so we ditched it and dispersed....finally ended up at Subway, etc. We will know better tonight - MUST have reservations!
Some of them slept in this morning and are still there but most of them have already picked up lunches and hit the slopes. Michael Fordinal and the band flew in last night. We are SO excited to have them for worship for the next 3 nights. Pray for our students as we are talking about "Crazy Love" (An AWESOME Francis Chan read) - It is about loving God without reservation and is amazing. Where better to learn to love God more than while being in such surroundings where we see is love for us in His creation!
So.....the main thing.....no injuries....PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!
I'll keep you posted and am trying to get some pics posted.
We love you guys!!! Thanks for sharing your kiddos with us. They are - each one - such treasures!!!!!
Donna
It was a busy day yesterday. Everyone was up bright and early to get skis, etc They all stopped by my room and I sent them all with breakfast. The mountain situation started a bit rocky as half of the mountain was closed due to high winds. That made for long lines, not to mention what that wind does to you in sub zero temps! By noon, it had cleared off and the skiing was fabulous for all (except a few newbies who were a little uncertain at first.) There were fun stories...one (who will remain unnamed) had a fall and lost her ski pants - they came undone and down! haha (thank goodness for layering!) Most did a morning of ski school and were off on their own after lunch. Lunch is fun for me...I had the marathon lunch with kids coming to the room from 11am-3:30 or so as they made it down the mountain. I had a fun time talking with them and making tortilla wraps on the griddle. - but....today...lunch from 11:30-1:00 and I made sack lunches for the die hards.....I plan to do lots of playing in the snow today! --- By 4pm the indoor pool and outdoor hot tubs were FULL with our kiddos. Such fun!!!! This is what bonding and memories are made of!!!!!
Dinner last night was a fiasco, I must admit. The town is PACKED with skiers since it is the week between holidays. The wait at our restaraunt where we shutled to was 3 HOURS - so we ditched it and dispersed....finally ended up at Subway, etc. We will know better tonight - MUST have reservations!
Some of them slept in this morning and are still there but most of them have already picked up lunches and hit the slopes. Michael Fordinal and the band flew in last night. We are SO excited to have them for worship for the next 3 nights. Pray for our students as we are talking about "Crazy Love" (An AWESOME Francis Chan read) - It is about loving God without reservation and is amazing. Where better to learn to love God more than while being in such surroundings where we see is love for us in His creation!
So.....the main thing.....no injuries....PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!
I'll keep you posted and am trying to get some pics posted.
We love you guys!!! Thanks for sharing your kiddos with us. They are - each one - such treasures!!!!!
Donna
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Save Journey! Praise the Lord!
We made it!!!! Praise God for clear roads and the miracle of adding gas to our tank (like the loaves and fishes) as we traveled the pass!!!!!! He is so good. Everyone is tired after the long drive and hitting the sack. Ski rentals/fittings are at 7:45 in the morning! The snow is WONDERFUL And the town is so picturesc with the Christmas lights still lining each quaint little shop and window. Our rooms are fabulous - even though the views are not great.....no biggie b/c everything is first class. If you want to keep up, go to http://http://www.snow.com/discoverourresorts/breckenridge/landing.aspx
We are at the Great Divide Lodge.
I'll try to get some photos up tomorrow.....these computers are really slow and there is a line for them so I am not sure....
Pray for safe skiing and safe travel as the band flies out to join us tomorrow. Pray also that God will use the beauty of his creation and relationships strengthened to grow His kingdom.
Love in Christ!j
Donna
We are at the Great Divide Lodge.
I'll try to get some photos up tomorrow.....these computers are really slow and there is a line for them so I am not sure....
Pray for safe skiing and safe travel as the band flies out to join us tomorrow. Pray also that God will use the beauty of his creation and relationships strengthened to grow His kingdom.
Love in Christ!j
Donna
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