Shake It Up Cafe

Sorry for the delay in updates.  It's been a crazy couple of weeks with VBS, subbing at Top Flight Gymnastics, and saying very tough goodbyes to very dear friends in the Cincinnati area.  Though I will miss them all dearly, I know their support can and will (because it has before) stretch across land and ocean, reaching to and comforting my heart within the coming year's adventure on which God is taking me.

These past 2 weeks I traveled to Cincinnati to be the missionary at a Vacation Bible School at a church in the area.  The VBS was called Shake It Up Cafe where the children learned the secret ingredients for the recipe God has for our lives.  Full of energy and tasty treats, the preschool through fourth graders helped raid their parents' pockets, coin purses, and couch cushions to bring in a total of $210.67 during the penny war we were having to raise money for the work in N. Ireland!  My friend, Katy Havran, is the Director of Children's Education and brought together one of the best VBS weeks the church has seen.  Her creativity to see a cafe while walking around the hallways and raiding the rooms of the church building brought together a cafe full of life, delicious aromas, and fun-filled events.

I was given 20 minutes with each group (Preschool, Kinders, 1st & 2nd, and 3rd & 4th) to tell stories of N. Ireland, as well as bring experiences and tastes of Ireland to the cafe.  During these mission moments the youngsters got to hear about St. Patrick's life story, the legend of Giant's Causeway, color shamrocks and place them in our pretend Tollymore Forest, and taste a bit of blackcurrant squash (the Irish equivalent to our Koolaid).  The older ones not only got to hear stories of St. Patrick and Giant's Causeway, but also learned about the ministry The Kairos Centre does, games they play in N. Ireland, and had a bit of taste testing of tea and biscuits from the other side of the pond.  The enthusiasm was brought to a climax for me when one of they young leaders (probably 5th or 6th grade) gave me a piece of paper and told me it was for the youth over in N. Ireland.  On it he wrote that they should come to the church's VBS next year, and not because they don't have one.  Now to clarify, something that I was telling them is that over in N. Ireland, they don't always have someone like Ms. Katy to put together something like Shake It Up Cafe, so teams from different churches in America come and put VBS type activities on for the youth in the area.  When I asked the young-ins if they wanted kids like them who live in N. Ireland to get to have VBS and such activities, they started screaming "YEA!"  After that, the pennies started rolling in and clanging into the buckets we had set up in the front of the sanctuary for them. 

The best part of them raising money was that the group that raised the most were the preschoolers.  It reminds me of the passage where Christ is questioned on who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven:

¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" ²And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4 ESV)

These preschoolers were the youngest, but they gave earnestly, seeing the importance that all children their age, no matter their location, needed the chance to know Christ.  They may not have realized the impact of their actions; for all I know they only raised that much so their leader could pie me in the face, but one thing is for sure, they gave enthusiastically and gave from anywhere and everywhere they possibly could.  And because of their enthusiastic offering we are $210.67 closer to the total funds needed to raise.  Children have always been an inspiration to me as I have been blessed to work with them throughout the years as a gymnastics instructor, camp team member, and youth sponsor.  They continually teach us about selfless living and breaking down barriers we adults tend to put up.  I challenge you to allow yourself to be taught by a child today.  It may be something small or monumental, it may be realized right away or something that dawns on you hours later, but just as much as you teach and influence children to become who God calls them to be, don't think he won't use the little ones to teach us big lessons.  Give a kid a high five today (and if you're lucky, give them a foot five <<--they love those!)

In Christ Alone

Footprints

There's a place on Lake Michigan where I go to "just get away".  It has the most beautiful view, especially atop the highest dune, which just happens to have a tree with a perfect sitting branch to overlook the scenery.

Well, on the way up I was looking down because of how bright the sun was and couldn't help but notice the footprints in the sand.  There were several different ones.  But what I noticed was that even though I had just been there yesterday evening...my footprints were already nowhere to be seen.  It may sound silly, but that little moment reminded me of how tiny I am, how insignificant what I do is, yet even with that realization I know that even though the world may not remember what you or I do in this life, we will still stand in front of God one day.  Would you want to watch even the "highlights" of your life in His presence?  I've gotta be honest, I'm not too keen on the idea, not with The Almighty.

I just happened to read Ecclesiastes the other day and you know it's famous for "vanity of vanities!  All is vanity."  But what came to mind were the final words after all of its explanation.  Verses 13 and 14 of Ecclesiastes 12 says, "The end of the matter; all has been heard.  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (ESV)  I know what I do won't change the world, but the footprints I hope I leave are footprints in people's hearts, footprints of Christ, that leave an eternal impression.

If Christ has left an imprint on your heart, shouldn't it be apparent to the world, the people, around you?  There are times when I get frustrated with myself because I don't truly feel like what I do matters (which, by my own strength it can't and won't), but I feel like that is satan taking swings at me, getting me to focus on how small I am rather than on how great God is and how, if I'm willing to be a vessel, He can work through my life (even when I screw up).

The view above is taken from my favorite spot in the dunes.  God created all this beauty, but He chose to sacrifice His Son so that He could have a relationship with us.  Where it just needed to be functional, God made it beautiful.  Where judgment is justified, He offers us grace and mercy through Christ.  Where we see sinners, He sees sons and daughters.  When we're weak, He carries us, leaving footprints in the sand.  Do you see His footprints?  Do those around you?

Looking Back...

Have you ever been spending time in a place from your past and start to realize not only how lucky you are, but after being there for a while realize how much you're going to miss it and the people there?  Well, I've been away from home pretty much the last 5 years.  Sure I came home for a week or 2 here and a week or 2 there, but for the most part I've been living either in Cincinnati, OH or Northern Ireland the last 5 years.  But now that my visa process (on my end) is coming to a close and the reality of its outcome is starting to hit me.  Especially these last few days.  I've been spending a lot of time with some old friends from high school and church and my family and I'm starting to already miss them.  I know that sounds weird, but as much as I'm soaking in all the moments, I'm dreading having to say goodbye soon.

Yesterday seemed to be a lot of old memories replayed and hashed out all in one day.  My friends and I stayed the night at my friend's house the night of Memorial Day, then some of us got together at the beach and hung out there during mid-day, went to the dog park with some of their dogs, went to the root beer stand for lunch/dinner, then went our separate ways to get cleaned up.  Later on in the night some of us were texting and while 2 of us were hanging out after a walk down the pier to the lighthouse one of our other friends text and said he needed to talk so we all went back down to the pier to walk and talk about life and frustrations and such.  It's nights like that I'll always remember, never forget, and I'm starting to realize that friends like mine are hard to come by, and some how I've been blessed with so many, both in Michigan City and Cincinnati.  I've never liked saying goodbyes, but I have a feeling these ones will be more difficult than past ones.

Something else I realized is how much I'm going to miss my dad and sister.  On Memorial Day my sister was going to go wheel around the neighborhood for a little bit to get a work out in and I told her to let me know when she was going so I could walk with her (I was reading out on the front porch swing).  When she came to get me we started talking and I said, "Wouldn't it be funny if I went downstairs and got your old wheelchair out and we went wheeling together?"  Of course she responded by encouraging me, which led to me going and getting it...and wheeling around the neighborhood with her hehe  Then there's my daddy.  I've realized that when you're little you don't notice how there are things your dad does solely with you.  It's not something he necessarily shares with your other sibling(s) or his spouse or girlfriend...just you.  Now that I'm older the one thing that daddy and I do together that's "our thing" is grocery shopping.  But the best part is, even though our grocery shopping usually consists of literally going up and down every aisle, it doesn't always have to be.  I hadn't seen my dad all day yesterday because, like I said, I stayed the night at a friend's house and then was out all day until I came home to clean up.  But when I got home (and realized how burnt I was) I asked my dad if he needed anything from the store.  He said he needed shaving cream but asked if I needed anything and I of course said sunscreen and aloe lol so we went to Walmart.  It wasn't a long trip, but it was a time for dad and I to talk and spend time together.  I know it might seem petty and maybe silly to you, the reader, but I cherish those moments because it's a special bonding time with my dad.  And I know I'm really going to miss having those while I'm gone for a year.  Yes, I know they'll happen when I get back, but that doesn't make me miss them, or him, any less.

If you're reading this and you're from the States, know that you have blessed my life.  Whether you were in it for a season or continue to be a part of my journey for a lifetime, you have blessed my life.  You have helped shape and mold me into what Christ wanted me to be for the mission in Northern Ireland, and I thank you, the reader, for being who God has you be because it has helped me become who I am today.  Never underestimate the influence and impact you may have in someone's life.  It may not be instantaneous, you may never know it, but along the road a word of encouragement you spoke, a harsh truth you knew a person needed to hear, an embrace when things were tough...they all make their mark.  What mark are you going to leave in the lives you touch today? Tomorrow?  Are they eternal or for the moment?  Who knows...God may use what you see as a moment as an eternal turning point in someone's life.  So be choice with your words, abundant with love, and always true to self.