First of all, and most appropriately, I was able to visit home and see my family. I miss them a lot and it was very nice to spend a few days with all of them. Thanks to my dad, some repair work was done on my car (the T-bird is thankful!) Also, I got to see my two nephews and niece. On Monday, I took Evan to the beach. Although it was too cold to swim, we had a lot of fun flying his kite and playing in the sand. He fell asleep on the drive home, which I am pretty sure means I did my job at the beach. Here he is buried in the sand.
Here is an updated picture of Lucas as well. I can't believe how much he has grown in just four months. He fell asleep while laying in front of me one afternoon.
Secondly, my spring break can be described as "Welcome Home" as that was the theme of this years Crosstrainers Retreat. For those of you who don't know, Crosstrainers is a ministry that I have been blessed to be a part of for the past 8 years. It is a Christ-centered mentoring program which connects inner-city kids in Athens, GA with college students from UGA. I was blessed to be a coach(mentor) for four years as a student and helped to lead the program for two years while working at the Wesley Foundation. Last year I was blessed to return and attend their annual retreat. Likewise, this year I notched my eighth Crosstrainers Retreat into my belt. I honestly cannot put into words the joy and delight in my heart from seeing all of the kids again, as well as their coaches. I must admit that I also miss the kids which are no longer involved and wonder where they are in their lives.
I was asked to help speak to these kids this year and our message came from John 15:4. In the Message Remixed, a contemporary interpretation of the Bible, this verse reads "Live in Me. Make your home in me as I do in you." All weekend we wanted the children to understand what it means for them to live in God, make their home in him, as well as to understand what it means that God lives in us and makes his home in our hearts, thus no longer only residing within the temple.
I do not have time to share the many stories and emotions from the weekend. I will suffice to say that it was a great time. The kids have matured so much and when I hear stories of families that have broken the cycle of poverty in their lives and moved into new homes, or seniors in high school that are hard at work trying to decide where they will go to college, my heart melts. This ministry is truly a discipleship based ministry which is one of the reasons my heart is burdened with it. Below are a few pictures from the weekend. I did not get to take many pictures, and hope to have more to post as soon as I get them.
I have known all of the kids and coaches pictured above for quite a few years. To see them still together blesses my heart so much. Below, is a picture of a friend of mine with one of the newest members of the Kingdom of God. Praise the Lord! Knowing that Rebecca will continue to disciple this newest child of God whom has been welcomed home is so very encouraging.
And finally, "Welcome Home" is appropriate because during my few days spent around friends and students that I have been blessed to minister to and disciple over the past several years, I was able to spend time catching up with them and hearing what the Lord is doing in their lives now. I am so encouraged by hearing each of their stories. And as I sat with each one of them, I felt alive. More alive than I have in quite a while. I felt as though I was once again doing the very thing I was created to do. Before me sat those whom the Lord has given me an enormous heart for and I was able to truly love them. It is true that I mostly just listened to them. However, whether my words impacted them or not, I could not have been happier. I was able to listen to the Spirit intercede for them as they shared with me, and whether it was through words that I spoke aloud or through prayers that resonated in my heart, I felt anointed to speak life to and over them. There were a few conversations in particular which so moved my heart that it was hard to say good-bye again. I am more thankful than there are words to express.
Overall, it was good to be home. I still hate that my original spring break plans fell through. Ironically though, those plans would have taken me out of the country and instead I was welcomed home into my family, into friends and children whom I love as greatly as I know how, and into the very presence and working of the Holy Spirit. May you encounter such a blessing as you reflect upon and experience Him in this Holy Week. Happy Easter!
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