Friday, July 30, 2010

Not as much time to blog as expected....

I'm sorry we haven't been able to update as much on the blog as possible. It has been a busy week but a great week!

Hopefully you have been able to follow us on twitter this week. I have been able to update more frequently that way AND we have pictures on the Twitter updates. If you have not been there please check it out:
Twitter.com/rockwallyouth

Pray for our students today as we are just now starting our last day of day camp. This is actually the last day of camp for the entire summer for these kids after 6 weeks of groups coming in to lead like we have done. Pray that God would work in the lives of the children as well as the hearts of our students.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

It's not about me...it's about the kids.

At the beginning of this week doing my job was what i was focusing on. I wanted to be the best craft leader i could be, and i was worried about what the kids thought of how i taught them the gospel. But as the week has gone on God has shown me that doing my job to be the best i could be should not be my focus. My focus should be the kids: loving the kids, having fun with the kids, talking with the kids and getting to know them. When i realized that i was going about my days wrong i started to fix it and God pressed on my heart that i needed to be loving on the kids. So i started doing that and my days have gotten less stressful, i'm still exhausted but i don't wear out as quickly, i have fun with the kids, the kids have more fun, it's just been much better! This mission trip has been a good experience because i have to put the kids before myself completely and give my all to the kids. It's not about how good i am or how good my craft or lesson is, it's purely about the KIDS.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Life...Love...Anti-depressants????

As the adrenaline pumps through my blood stream and my mind is fuzzy with excitement, I am sitting here blogging. There's something to be said about the advancements in technology over the last 17 years of my life, specifically about the capabilities for basically the entire world being able to read my thoughts as i record them on the world wide web...world wide indeed.
Anyways, about the mission trip. Ive been told my entire christian life to serve. But what does that mean? To open a door for an old lady?...to leave an extra big tip for a waiter?...or maybe to put 10% of your monthly wages into the offering plate on Sundays? I don't think so. Service isn't about whats easy to do...its about what needs to be done. You think that old lady couldn't open the door herself...or that the waiter will even notice the extra 50 cents in his pocket...or that the church would fall apart and the christian religion would forever be changed because you added a little to the collection plate. Nope! Now that can be service but its really a question more of motivation. Why are you doing what you are doing? Ive thought long and hard about my motivation for coming on this trip. And im also not 100% sure that my motivation was correct when i put down my deposit for this trip...or rather my mom put down the deposit i guess. But after the first day and after i collapsed on my bed from exhaustion my mind began to wonder. Sure i thought this trip was going to be fun. But if i thought it would be boring and grueling, not that it is but hypothetically, would i still have come? Would you have?...I guess that where the question of benefits comes into play. We start to ask ourselves what WE get out of our service instead of what OTHERS do. And thats when the idea of service is depleted and it becomes something else entirely...something terrible.
TARA MOFFATT

Reporting from Chicago (:

Up front this is my first blog in the history of ever. This is my second mission trip to go on with the youth and I absolutely LOVE Chicago. This has been an awesome experience so far (not including the extremely super-long, super-cramped bus ride). I am thankful for the opportunity to work with kids this week and I'm amazed at what God has already done in these two days we've been here. This week we are working with Inner City Impact and sharing the word of God with the kids that attend day camp. I have the opportunity to work in the craft department at day camp and love that I can share God with the kids here in an enjoyable way and I'm having fun in the mean time! It's just GREAT! Have a great day everyone! (:

My First Blog

Let me preface this with this is my first blog, EVER. I feel this is important enough to blog about. This is also my first mission trip. Even though I came as an adult leader, I was still nervous. One day into the trip, I knew I was here for a purpose. Satan tried to put many things in the way but I got through them. I have enjoyed spending time with our youth and getting to know some of them better. I have loved being with my small group girls and I'm missing the rest of them that are at home. Yesterday, I started off the day by taking care of one of our own then we got back to ICI and I got to meet the kid's. WOW, they are so cute and they are so willing to learn about Jesus. I have already fallen in love with a few of the kid's and I can't wait to get to know the rest of them this week.

My Expierence at Inner City Impact...So far

Hello from Chicago! We are preparing for the 2nd day of working with ICI and 140+ kids. It is such a wonderful experience. The kids are so full of energy, so full of joy, and just wanting to learn more. Personally, I get to work with a group of 30 girls ranging from grades Kindergarten to first grade. Yes, at first I was overwhelmed, but as the day went on, I realized that these girls are having such a great time, smiling, dancing in drama, getting the most fun out of making little foam crosses, and hitting Adam and Cory with dodge-balls, and honestly, it made me beyond happy. God is working so good in this organization and impacting the lives of children. I can't wait to have 4 more days with these precious kids. Please continue to pray for our team here as we serve these kids, serve Inner City Impact, and most importantly, Serve God. Have a great day:)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Training Week!

This week as we get ready for the trip - we are going through some small group training as we prepare to leave for Chicago on Saturday morning.

We have setup this blog so our students can keep a record of their trip. We hope you will check back daily to see how things are going.

Please be praying for our 34 students/adults traveling to Chicago and the work we will be doing with inner city impact.