Focus Journey: February 2010

Friday, February 19, 2010

FCA- Discovery Canyon Middle School

So Justin and I run two FCA middle school huddles. The schools are Monument Academy (a local private school) and the other is Discovery Canyon Middle School. We also help lead the Discovery Canyon High school huddles as well, every other Saturday, and pour into the high school leaders every week at their team meetings. My favorite aspect thus far in interning with FCA has been the times I get to meet with the girl leaders individually, and get to love and pour into their lives, which has been amazing! God has really used these girls to remind me of the significance of investing in the "eternal," and not being "about myself."

These pictures are all taken at a DCC Middle school huddle. Justin and I get up every Tuesday and Wednesday mornings around 5:30 and go to these schools where the actual huddles take place. Not going to lie it has literally taken since we have been here to get used to getting up that early then hauling back to Focus in time for class. Bottom line, I literally could not do it without my counterpart, Justin. He has been such a blessing and encouragement to me every morning. Ya some mornings we look at each other and hate our lives,lol, but Justin always has a smile on his face, and is ready to go. Between his love for life and my random humor, we really make a great team, so God really knew what He was doing with that one! HAHA!

The Lord is really doing some amazing things already this semester at these schools. This past Saturday, Justin and I, along with one of the FCA team leaders, did a Q&A session at the DCC high school huddle at one of the leaders houses. They are a recently new club and have never had more than 12 people come to their huddles. Last Saturday there were easily 30 kids at the huddle. We had a dating panel called "Bringing Sexy Back: Sex, Dating, and Relationships, Q&A with FCA." HAHA sounds a little absurd but wouldnt you know that their are plenty of high school kids interested in these topics. We had a blast and the Lord really answered prayers in covering the kids and the panel. Literally you could see the Lord open up the eyes and hearts of these kids in how to go about a Godly dating relationship. So honored that the Lord chose me and Justin to share our stories and love and encourage these kids. What an amazing experience that will be a highlighted moment for me this semester.

(Justin with two of the kids playing pictionary)

Yall these kids are incredible. Since being out here, I often am hit with the thoughts of "Why me Lord?" I cannot believe I am living in Colorado Springs going through the Institute at Focus and getting to pour and invest in these kids lives and earnestly beg and plead with the Lord to become real in their lives. I am learning very quickly that if we as believers accept the call to be "Roaring Lambs" in the environments he places us in HE WILL SHOW UP! I am so humbled and honored that He has chosen me to get to journey with these kids even if it is for a short season! Please partner with me and pray for the kids at Discovery Canyon Middle and High school and Monument Christian Academy!

Huddles basically consist of kids arriving, donuts and hang out, play games, then split into guys and girls and have our "talk and devo" time. It is a ton of fun!

Justin and I's crazy version of pictionary HAHA!!!

God is Good all the time!

So its been awhile since I've posted anything, mainly because of fighting a sinus infection all last week, but also because there is really not a whole lot of down time here lately. I absolutely love it here though. God has provided me with so many incredible people here, I cant imagine life without them now! I remember telling some friends back home that I really did not think I would fall in love with Colorado... well that's a lie... I LOVE IT HERE! Waking up every morning to Pikes Peak and the mountains covered with purely white snow is just unbelievable. It is a constant reminder of the Lords new mercies that he so graciously gives us every single day! The Lord and his majesty is everywhere you look here, as you can imagine. Colorado Springs is quickly becoming "home" and I'm am constantly overwhelmed with the Lords faithfulness and provisions in allowing me to be here this semester. There is no reason I should be here outside of the Lords faithfulness in guiding my steps and providing me with the family and friends to encourage me to come! Thank you to my family and friends- could not have done it without each of you! God is Good ALL the time!

My beautiful roommate Christine. I really do not know what I would do without her. The Lord has provided me with such a gift in Christine, she is my "Sam" like in Lord of the Rings. I know it sounds strange, but she is really walking through this journey the Lord is taking me through and I am so incredibly blessed to have her love, wisdom, and support in my life! I love you Christine!

My beautiful roommates at the Valentines Banquet the boys put on for us! They were incredible, they served us dinner and literally "wined and dined" us all night! Our boys are AMAZING!

So this is me right after our huge guys vs. girls snowball fight like a week ago. It was super intense, but I was already not feeling too well before the fight, so clearly I felt like DEATH when I came in afterwards. Christine was sweet enough to capture the moment for me ha but I ended up going down in the books as the first "sick kid" this semester. Felt terrible all last week but am back to 100%!

Ya this is literally walking in the door from the fight! It was crazy but a ton of fun!

We have family dinners every thursday night with the FLI staff and their families and its a really neat time to hang out and fellowship around the dinner table. Look forward to Thursday family dinners every week. In the pict is Christine and a daughter of one of our professors, me, Emily, Marie Claire, (our resident supervisor), Sarah, and Angela! Awesome group of girls!