Monvee!

Well what a shock to take a look at my blog and realize that it has been an entire year since I last wrote on here. I could not believe that it has been that long. Obviously I am in need of some new motivation to get on here and share some thoughts.

In fact, I am in need of motivation to do lots of things so I am making some changes. One of those is that I am headed back into the gym to get back in shape. I decided not to wait until New Years to make a change so this morning at 5:30am I was up and working out. Yes...I do know that is very early and yet once I got there I felt pretty good.

Another area that I am working on is a more consistent devotional and prayer life. Sometimes working in ministry makes it almost harder to want to be consistent in spending time with the Lord personally. I find myself viewing the Bible as part of work rather than as a letter from God to me so I knew I needed to make some changes in that area of my life as well.

So today I started working with a program called Monvee. It is a tool to help customize a devotional plan for 60 days that fits your own personal learning and creative style so that you are more motivated to be in the word. We are not all created the same and what speaks to me, might not mean anything to you so they help you develop a plan for spiritual growth.

For me, one of the things they suggested was that I blog. So here I am, back on my blog and in the coming days you can expect to find me posting new things I am learning as well as how this new tool is working for me in the area of motivation and creative ideas to help me in my spiritual walk.

So until later...

Fall Update!

Hey everybody! I have taken a bit of a break from the blog for most of the summer and early fall due to finishing up the last three classes on my Master's Degree. But the end is in sight and in a few weeks I will be back keeping this updated with all of the latest mission and local outreach project opportunites that you can be involved in at Colonial Woods.

I will probably throw in a few mental ramblings of my own as I am studying through the books of Luke and John this year. You just never know what you'll find on here.

So check back shortly and I will have a new design and layout as well as come great new content.

Until then....

12 Happy Campers!

Our luggage has arrived...all 13 pieces. Praise the Lord we can be clean again! :)

Travel to Spain

Well as many of you know, I am off on another trip with another team. This time I am in Villagarcia, Spain. We have arrived safely, and I wish I could say the same for our luggage. Unfortunatly it is still somewhere over the Atlantic. We are told it should arrive some time tomorrow afternoon. Please feel free to pray about that as all of the material we need for our drama and other ministry items are in those bags....as well as we won't mind having some clean clothes.

But today the story I want to share with you is our amazing adventure of how we got here in the first place. When we left Port Huron we only had seats for six of our 12 team members on the first flight from Detroit to Chicago. So we arrived 3 hours in advance to make sure we all got on the flight. We checked in and were given boarding passes, but still only had 6 people with assigned seats. So we went to the gate early and I asked the lady who was just finishing up loading a flight if she could help us make sure we had seats for everyone. When she pulled up our itinterary she told us our flight was overbooked and she couldn't be sure we would all get on it. But the flight she was loading was going to Chicago and she could fit six of the team on that flight so that we all got there before our connecting flight. That was great...she got seats for 6 and then asked if we wanted her to try and put the whole team on the earlier flight. She was able to get all 12 of us on the earlier flight. Total God thing, but we didn't know how important that would be just yet.

So we land in Chicago ahead of a big thunderstorm. We get our boarding passes for the rest of our connecting flights and eat some dinner. A huge storm rolls in and you can hardly see a few feet outside the window. Crazy windy and lightening. Storm blows over, our flight is still planning to go out, but a bit later....But the Detroit to Chicago flight that we were suppose to be on was delayed until 6:30. The plane for Madrid was long gone, from the gate by that time. God knew we all needed to be in Chicago early or half of the team would have missed the Spain flight.

Soooooo....it's not over yet folks....we get on the plane to Madrid and push away from the gate....two hours late, but we have a four hour layover so no problem....But....we are in line to take off and it's a bit backed up because of the earlier storm....we are number 48 in line to take off. How long does it take for that many planes to take off you may ask.....well over 2 hours. So now our four hour layover is gone and we will be pushing it to make our connection.

Get to Madrid, yep, misssed the flight. Stand in long line for over an hour to try and get on the next flight....12 people on one flight....what are the odds. Well they are good when God is involved. All 12 got tickets on the next flight to Santiago. Amazing!

When we got to Santiago...our luggage was not to be found...not surprising, but they were able to locate it and said it was in route to Spain and would make the connection and be here around 1pm tomorrow and then they will deliver it to us by about 4pm. That's the plan anyway.

Tomorrow for church we are going casual as each of us brought pj's and a change of clothes in our carry on.

Thanks so much for all of the prayers. We had safe flights, we saw God's hand in the details and we are also getting to learn valuable spiritual lessons on patience as we wait for our luggage. Isn't God just so awesome to provide all of that for us.

Starting tomorrow a different team member will be sharing with you about our day. Until then....this is Ann writing for the Spain 2010 team.

Sanuk shoes

Check out my friend Danielle's blog at yelliepooh.blogspot.com for an awesome giveaway of shoes from Sanuk. These are probably one of my most favorite brands of shoes ever and she is giving away a free pair. Who can beat a free pair of shoes?

Mexico 2010

Well it is that time of year....we are heading off with another team to work in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with the children of the Dump. This year we have a team of 6 who will be primarily doing work projects to improve the facilities for the ministry. Starting on Feb. 6th we will be updating you all on our daily adventures, mishaps , fun times and God moments. Please pray for this team and for our travel to and from Mexico. If you have ever read any of my other trip posts, you know that there always seems to be a travel story...and most of them are of delays. I appreciate any prayers leading up to the travel and throughout the trip. Thanks ahead of time for being part of the team through your prayer. We surely need it!

Yesterday....the 30 hour day.

Yesterday Leona and I got up, finished packing and Denny and Linda took us to the airport to fly home. Both Leona and I hate to fly so we were not excited about the 7.5 hour flight across the ocean that we had ahead of us, but we were headed home to our family and friends so that was good. Due to the time changes we were able to enjoy a 30 hour day and finally arrived at our homes sometime around what our bodies thought was 4 am, but the clock said was 11pm.

For me this trip was different because I did not have a team to take care of while in the country. Normally I will travel with 5 to 8 people who I am responsible for taking care of and ministering to their needs as well as those we are serving in country. This time I had the privilege of traveling with just Leona, who is more like my big sister (who therefore tends to look out for me), so I was able to spend more time talking with the ladies on the retreat and in prayer than I usually do.

Speaking of Leona...It was awesome to be able to share this trip with her. She is a great ministry partner and I look forward to more trips together sharing the gospel and encouraging women in Christ. I had the chance to watch as God used Leona's gift of music, her listening ear and caring heart as the women opened up to her and shared their lives. On Saturday night, as I mentioned earlier, Leona and I did a time of music and worship with the ladies and Leona shared some of her life story with them. She was extremely transparent and real and it led to a number of great opportunities for the ladies to open up with her and share some of their hurts and pains as well.

Overall this trip was a good one. It was great to see how many of the people I met during my first trip to Ireland, almost 4 years ago, are now believers and are growing in their journey with the Lord. Denny and Linda did a great job of taking care of Leona and I during our time there and we would ask that you pray for them as they continue to minister to the people of Ireland.

Next up for me is the Mexico team in February, but before I can even think of that trip I need to recover from yesterdays 30 hour day. Until later....thanks for your prayers, all that took place on this trip was a direct result of you lifting us up in prayer to our awesome Dad.

Tuesday at The Axis

Tuesday was the final day of ministry in Dublin. Leona and I worked on music for the time of worship and I put together a final message to share. I had an entirely different plan for that evening, but on Tuesday morning it seemed the Lord had a different idea so I changed my message. Sometimes God has different plans than us...so I tried to go with it.

One place I wanted Leona to see was a seaside village called Howth so we took a drive to the sea for lunch. Had some excellent fresh fish and chips in the harbor and then it was off to Ballymun to see the kids in the Asiling project and get set up for the evening service. For those who are not familiar with Ballymun...it is the very low income area of Dublin. The Asiling project works with disadvantage kids who live in this area. The first time I brought a team here we spent most of our time working with these kids so it was great to see some of the staff and check out their new location.

At the Axis we got set up and spent time with the people Denny and Linda are working with in small home groups around the area. Worship went well, Leona's song ministered to the people and then I brought the message I felt the Lord had for this group....overall we felt that God was honored and His truth was heard. Our prayer is that those who were there would take the message and apply it in their own lives.

After the meeting it was time to head home to pack up for travel the next day. We were tired!

The Free Day!

On Monday Leona and I had a chance to check out downtown Dublin. We were hoping for a beautiful sunny day, but then remembered we were in Ireland and settled for an occasionally saw the sun, somewhat rainy, fairly windy day instead. Fortunately for us, we seem to have fun and laugh no matter what the circumstances so we had a great day. We took the Hop on Hop off Bus that gives you a tour of the major sites of Dublin so we got to see most things as well as get a bit of shopping in as well. I also had an emotional mishap with a three legged dog, but that is another story...

I will try and post some pictures on here later today and there will be more posted on Facebook. Tuesday is another ministry day so we will be back at it.

Sunday night after the Retreat

Wow, what a great weekend. We had a brilliant time with the ladies at the retreat. Friday night started with a great meal and a good time of fellowship and worship. Saturday morning we had a morning session that started with worship and then Leona sang a few songs and I spoke to the ladies about Reflections of God. My theme was on having a correct view of who our God is: His character and nature.

The afternoon was free time. Leona spent part of the time in the prayer room meeting with people and praying with them. We had time to fit in a quick walk around the grounds and talk about the upcoming evening session.

The Saturday evening session was a time of music and reflections on life and God's faithfulness to us through the years. Leona shared some of her testimony and life's story with the ladies and we sang a few songs and led a time of worship. It was an emotional evening which led to a number of great conversations about how God can carry us through even the most difficult of life's circumstances. The evening ended with homemade pizza and conversation around the table.

Today the theme was Refections of Us with the emphasis on how God sees us and how he feels about us. So many women struggle with a low self esteem and need to be reminded of how precious they are to the Lord. Leona sang two songs that spoke to that theme and ministered to the ladies hearts through music.

After another good meal, we were on our way back to Drogheda to Denny and Linda's to catch up on our sleep. One thing we can say about the ladies in Ireland....they are great cooks and know how to treat a guest.

To me one of the highlights was talking with those I had met last year and hearing how they are doing. There were a number of great conversations about the Lord during our three days in An Tobar.

Tomorrow we are off to have a fun day of sight seeing in Dublin. Look out city we are on our way.

Here we are...in Ireland...eating cake!

Well we have arrived safe and sound. Today was a day of getting settled, working on music for the weekend and talking through the plans for the week with Denny and Linda. We are soon to head to bed to try and make up for the lost sleep on the planes. The flights went well, but I don't think either one of us got much sleep. Tomorrow we head to the retreat center to get ready for the weekend. The guest will arrive around 5:00pm and then it is a laid back evening of getting to know people. Saturday morning I will be speaking and Leona will sing a few songs, in the evening we will be doing a mini concert and sharing some of our lives stories. Then I will speak again on Sunday morning and Leona will sing again. We are looking forward to a good time with all of the ladies. I am hoping to connect with some of those who were at last years retreat and I am excited for Leona to meet them as well. Denny and Linda are taking great care of us: we have had some wonderful meals and we each have our own room at their house. We will try and write again tomorrow before we head to the retreat and then when we get back on Sunday night we will fill you in on all that has happened while we were away. Until then.....good night.

Oh, I almost forgot the cake part...tomorrow is Denny's birthday so we celebrated it with him tonight and had birthday cake...did I mention that we are having great meals?

Today is the Day!

Ready or not, Leona and I are heading to Ireland today. Looking back on all the obstacles and questions about whether or not we would be taking this trip...it seems hard to believe we are actually leaving. I am looking forward to all that God is going to do through us this next week. We will be doing some music, I will be speaking and Leona will be sharing her life story during one the sessions at the retreat. Please pray for her as she is not the public speaker in this team. I know that God is going to use her story and all that she has gone through to touch the ladies lives. Many will be able to relate to the challenges and disappointments she has faced over the years.

So, I better finish the last minute packing and get going, but before I do....let me thank you ahead of time for your prayers....they will mean so much the next seven days. Thanks to those who have helped make it financially possible for us to do this trip as well. All of you who gave and all of you who pray...this is your trip as well. Watch the blog to see what God is doing with your investment of time and money...it wouldn't happen without you.

Ireland...one week from today I am heading back to the Emerald Isle. Last year I had the opportunity to speak at a women's conference at a retreat center outside of Dublin. I must have done a decent job since they invited me back to speak at their conference this year as well. I am looking forward to reconnecting with those I met last year as well as meetng new people.

This year instead of taking an entire team, I have the privledge of traveling with my ministry partner, Leona Seller. Leona will be sharing with the ladies using her gift of singing as well as sharing her story with the ladies. I am looking forward to seeing all that God is going to do through Leona sharing her life with those who attend the conference.

Please pray for us as we finish up the final details and preperation on messages and music. We will be posting updates here throughout the week that we are gone.

Review of Fearless by Max Lucado

We live in a world where fear seems to always be right around the corner. What if I lose my job? Are the kids safe? Will I have put enough money away to retire? Wouldn’t it be great to live in such a way that fear didn’t run our lives. How do we learn to trust more and fear less…that is the topic of Max Lucado’s new book FEARLESS. Max shares with us that thru embracing the truths of Jesus’ teaching we can learn to fear less in this world and be people of courage.

I loved this book. It spoke to my heart in areas like the fear of not having enough, the fear of not pleasing God, the constant fear that I don't measure up to other people or the fear that maybe I really don’t matter. This book was truly a refreshing source of truth in an area that I would not have thought I was even in need of encouragement. But isn’t that life…we get so caught up in living day to day that we don’t even realize that fear has taken hold of us and is robbing us of the peace and joy that Jesus intended for us to experience.

I completely recommend this book. I don’t know too many people who couldn’t use the encouraging reminder that Jesus tells us over and over again…”Don’t be afraid. I am here.”

Rest in the Arms!

Have you ever had a restless day? The kind where you don't quite feel right. Not that anything is really wrong, but things just feel unsettled. You've tried to turn the other cheek and forgive, but keep getting slapped. Maybe little things just haven't been going right and it's all built up. Or you are working hard trying to do the right things and are just getting tired. Well if you can relate to any of that...I hear ya. I'm having one of those kind of days. Actually it's been one of those kind weeks or months or something, but whose counting...

Today I woke up and just laid in bed talking to the Lord for a long time. I didn't know I had so much to say. Then I came to work and clicked on iTunes and heard a song God had picked out for me today. I hope my secretary doesn't get sick of it as it is playing over and over this morning. It spoke to me even though I still feel "not quite right". At the end of the song the words say "Have no fear, I'll be here". What an amazing concept. No matter what, no matter how unsettled, no matter how tired...the words of our Savior are simply "I'm here". I can get through any day knowing that.

I was going to put a video of the song here, but have not been able to get it to work so I will just write down the lyrics. It's called Rest in the Arms and it is on the new Aaron Shust cd. You can hear in on www.youtube.com or Aaron's website www.aaronshust.com

When you're broken, when you're weak

When you've turned the other cheek

When you cannot speak

Of the bittersweet, the bittersweetness

When the floor gives out beneath

Any everything that you believe

Cannot bring you peace

You're broken inside, broken in pieces

You can rest in the arms of the One who holds you

Rest in the arms of the One who knows you

Rest in the arms of the One who won't let go

You can rest in the arms of the One who holds you

Rest in the arms of the One who loves you

Rest in the arms of the One who won't let go.

When the water starts to rise

And you've lost the will to fight

When you're losing light

Just close your eyes, close your eyes now.

Have no fear

I'll be here

Where are the book reviews?

What an awesome question...I am so glad you asked. So here is the thing...the first book I am suppose to review is in my messenger bag and I take it with me everywhere. However, it is summer (or something similar to it here in Michigan) and I just don't get it out cause there are too many other things to do. I am planning to get to it really soon...until then anyone want to have a cook out? :)

Book Reviews

Well I have been obviously absent from here in recent days, but am planning to change that in the near future. I will soon be doing a regular book review post on here to tell you about what I have been reading and what I think about it. I recently started doing book reviews for Thomas Nelson publishing and will be posting my reviews for them here on my blog. I will also be sharing with you my thoughts on other books that are a part of my summer reading. Sometimes I read a book that changes my "Way of thinking" and transforms my life and sometimes I read a book and I wonder "What was I thinking" wasting my time on that...In those moments I wish someone would have told me not to waste my time...so I will do that for you. Aren't you lucky?

So I'll be back soon.

My Friend!

Every once in awhile someone crosses your path and you are forever changed by the time spent with that person. For me, one of those people was Dean Core. Dean started out as a part of my life because he was the dad of one of my closests friends in the world, but it wasn't long before he was much more than just Leona's dad...he was my friend. I have been blessed in the last 7 years to sit and talk with Dean countless times about life. I have laughed at his stories of the past and he has listened to me share with him my experiences around the world. Each time I would come back from a trip, he would have all kinds of questions about what I did and what the people were like.

Dean was the kind of person who actually took an interest in the person he was talking to. When he asked you a question, it wasn't just to be polite, but he really wanted to know. He cared about people and he knew how to make you feel important. I never left Dean's presence without feeling like I mattered and that he genuinely loved me.

One of the things I have heard frequently about Dean is that he never had a negative thing to say about anyone. It was true. I can't remember hearing one critical thing from him. I'm pretty sure there are not too many people in this world that could have that said about them. I know it wouldn't be me. What a challenge that is for me to live a life of such graciousness that no one remembers me ever saying a negative thing about anyone. And this was just one of the many amazing qualities that was embodied in this wonderful man.

Unfortunately for those of us still here, the earthly life of Dean Core came to an end at 9:00am on Wednesday, April, 1, 2009. For Dean, his real life, the one he was designed and created to live for eternity, has just begun. He now knows fully what he could only imagine just a few short hours ago. He is finally in the presence of the One he served faithfully throughout his life.

Although we have been left with an empty place in our hearts, we also have an awesome legacy that has been left for those of us who knew and loved him. His life is a challenge to me to be a person who is an encouragement to others, to speak words of love and to be quick to see the best in others.

Thank you Dean for your faithful life following your Lord and Savior. Thanks for changing my life through the gift of your friendship. Whether you knew it or not....You were the kind we read about my friend. I miss you already.

The End...the Beginning

Well as most of you know...we made it home. Our Mexico adventure is now over, but hopefully all that God instilled in our lives while we were there will stay with us. We have fresh revelation of what God is doing in the world and hopefully this is the beginning of using that to make a difference here at home.

I have the privilege of going to Mexico each year and each year I learn something new. Each year I am challenged in a fresh way to use all that God has given me to bless others. Long ago there was an organization of women called the "Cent Society" They were women who gave their cents to missions so that they could send other women overseas to take the gospel to those in need. The goal of this organization was to take the gospel to the lands of heathen darkness and to teach their children what to do when you had more than enough. Unfortunately those groups no longer exist, but I am challenged by their goals. We do need to be taking the gospel to those who have yet to hear, but equally important is the goal to teach those of us in nations of affluence what we should be doing when we have more than enough...and let's face it...we all have more than enough.

Today starts the season of Lent...I am challenging myself to come up with a plan to use this time to take my "more than enough" and bless someone in need. I challenge you to the same thing!

My Turn

Since everyone else has been writing these posts, I have not had a chance to offer any of my thoughts on this trip. I decided since it is the last day here I would take a moment and share with you a few highlights for me.

There is no doubt that for me the highlight of the trip was the opportunities I had to speak at the ladies bible study on Tuesday and Thursday. I had been asked to preach on Sunday morning at one of the satellite churches, but our schedule did not allow for me to do that. Hopefully next year that can be worked into the week as well. Back to the ladies bible studies...This is my second year to speak and the group is growing. They are almost out of room in the back yard that they hold the meetings in. The church is trying to find a building so that they can accomodate more ladies. Twice a week the ladies come to hear the word and to then receive food to help care for their families. Tuesday was a great day with the ladies, but Thursday was awesome. They start with a few songs and then I get to speak. On Thursday things just flowed really well and the ladies were connecting with the message. After my speaking, a number of them came up for prayer so I was able to pray over them for different things in their lives. It was a very cool time.

After the prayer time, I was asked to help pass out the food items that were available for the ladies to take home and I recruited Dan to help me. The problem was that there was not enough of each item for everyone and Dan and I were told to just give it to who we wanted. So we have one box of milk and three mom´s who don´t have milk yet and we are suppose to pick someone to receive it. Dan looks at me and says "I don´t want to do this. Why did you bring me over here? If I pick one mom then I don´t pick two other moms. This is horrible." And horrible it is...but also reality for those who work in this ministry. There are always more families that need food than there is food to go around and one person getting milk means others don´t. I am thankful that we don´t have to make those decisions on a regular basis, but it is a reality that those who work here face daily.

Well I could go on, but I will stop for now. In the coming days I will share other thoughts on this trip and also add some photos for some of the events that the team has described for you. Thanks so much for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray as we travel home tomorrow morning.