Ok you guys. I have started up a new blog that is going to be about life rather than just what I am doing over the summer. I will still try to post about once a week or so depending on the week. Thanks for being so AWESOME!
chris
http://iamreconformed.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, August 22, 2011
Week 11. the last week of the summer
Well. I have officially moved back to Las Cruces and getting back into the swing of things down here. Last week was the last week of the summer and it was great. The first half of the week we had a group from Socorro come down and hang out. The were a campus ministry team with InterVarsity on the New Mexico Tech campus. This group just happened to be the ministry that my little brother goes to! How cool is that! They spent the majority of their time discussing different ministry ideas and events so the only time I really got to hang out with them was durring meals and one morning when we went down to the beach. Turns out 2 of the 3 guys my brother is living with came to the retreat so that was really cool to get to meet them.
The second group of the week came up from El Passo. I cant remember the name of the church they were with but te kids were really cool. As it turned out, most of the kids that they brought didn't know what it was like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, so it was really cool watching God work through them and how he used the leaders to plant seeds in their lives. One of the kids that I got to know over the week was OJ. He was that kid that likes to see how far he can take it before he popes your personal bubble. I know you know what I mean and I'll leave it at that. Anyway, OJ befriended me for the week and it was cool ministering to him though actions rather than words because one, I thought he was getting a lot of words durring the teaching times and I thought it was important for him as well as all of the other kids there to see how a personal relationship with Jesus plays out in really life. At one point he straight up asked me if I was a Christian out of the blue, but just after I said yes he started to try and dunk me or something like that so I didn't get to dig any deeper with that but it was cool to see that the gears were turning and that he was thinking about God one way or another.
Over the coarse of the summer I have been provided with an endless supply of opportunities to grow in my relationship with God and He has taught me many things like how to be a leader for extended periods of time and how to completely rely on Him, even if it is just to have the motivation to get to work at 5 in the morning. He also hid many of the things he has taught me and I have been digesting the summer and realizing how many things he taught me and is still teaching me as I reflect on the summer. One of the cool things that I have been looking at today was how he takes care of us even if we think that we got it. I knew that when I moved back down to Las Cruces that I was going to need a job to help pay for some of the senior project stuff I am going to need as well as to pay off a loan I got to buy a video camera and still on top of that to start saving up for life after college. I basically went into a place called Durango Bagels and asked if they had an application, filled it out, and God did the rest. That was 2 weeks ago. Last week I received a phone call from the owner and she asked if I could come in the next day for an interview but I couldn't because I was still at camp. So I asked if it would be ok if we waited until Monday (today) to do the interview. Well I am not sure how it happened but several people found out that I dropped this one and only application off and they went in or called I am not sure but the owner already had me on the schedule for this week when I went in! So here I am with a job that God supplied me with in a town of 30 thousand plus college kids all trying to find a job and I got one without even really looking. God is so awesome!
I really do appreciated how much each of you supported me throughout the summer. Another thing that God showed me this summer was the power of prayer and he showed it to me though all yall. If you dont know what it is like to be prayed over, you are missing out on one of the most powerful tools you have access to! I could tell the days that people were praying for me and the days that people didnt. But more importantly I could tell when prayers were being answered. Every week I posted a "pray stuff" list and yall prayed for them and they were answered every single time. Every thing from attitudes to keeping us safe from ourselves was answered. So, I guess what I am trying to say is thank you so much for being a instrument in God's will for my summer, I couldn't have done it with out you and your support.
As many campers throughout the summer got to read on my sign as they drove out on the last day of camp, 'Stay Riggin' and remember that 'It doesnt end here.'
May God continue to Bless each and every one of you,
Chris
The second group of the week came up from El Passo. I cant remember the name of the church they were with but te kids were really cool. As it turned out, most of the kids that they brought didn't know what it was like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, so it was really cool watching God work through them and how he used the leaders to plant seeds in their lives. One of the kids that I got to know over the week was OJ. He was that kid that likes to see how far he can take it before he popes your personal bubble. I know you know what I mean and I'll leave it at that. Anyway, OJ befriended me for the week and it was cool ministering to him though actions rather than words because one, I thought he was getting a lot of words durring the teaching times and I thought it was important for him as well as all of the other kids there to see how a personal relationship with Jesus plays out in really life. At one point he straight up asked me if I was a Christian out of the blue, but just after I said yes he started to try and dunk me or something like that so I didn't get to dig any deeper with that but it was cool to see that the gears were turning and that he was thinking about God one way or another.
Over the coarse of the summer I have been provided with an endless supply of opportunities to grow in my relationship with God and He has taught me many things like how to be a leader for extended periods of time and how to completely rely on Him, even if it is just to have the motivation to get to work at 5 in the morning. He also hid many of the things he has taught me and I have been digesting the summer and realizing how many things he taught me and is still teaching me as I reflect on the summer. One of the cool things that I have been looking at today was how he takes care of us even if we think that we got it. I knew that when I moved back down to Las Cruces that I was going to need a job to help pay for some of the senior project stuff I am going to need as well as to pay off a loan I got to buy a video camera and still on top of that to start saving up for life after college. I basically went into a place called Durango Bagels and asked if they had an application, filled it out, and God did the rest. That was 2 weeks ago. Last week I received a phone call from the owner and she asked if I could come in the next day for an interview but I couldn't because I was still at camp. So I asked if it would be ok if we waited until Monday (today) to do the interview. Well I am not sure how it happened but several people found out that I dropped this one and only application off and they went in or called I am not sure but the owner already had me on the schedule for this week when I went in! So here I am with a job that God supplied me with in a town of 30 thousand plus college kids all trying to find a job and I got one without even really looking. God is so awesome!
I really do appreciated how much each of you supported me throughout the summer. Another thing that God showed me this summer was the power of prayer and he showed it to me though all yall. If you dont know what it is like to be prayed over, you are missing out on one of the most powerful tools you have access to! I could tell the days that people were praying for me and the days that people didnt. But more importantly I could tell when prayers were being answered. Every week I posted a "pray stuff" list and yall prayed for them and they were answered every single time. Every thing from attitudes to keeping us safe from ourselves was answered. So, I guess what I am trying to say is thank you so much for being a instrument in God's will for my summer, I couldn't have done it with out you and your support.
As many campers throughout the summer got to read on my sign as they drove out on the last day of camp, 'Stay Riggin' and remember that 'It doesnt end here.'
May God continue to Bless each and every one of you,
Chris
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
week 10.5
Well this post is pure prayer request. I feel like poop. My head wont stop pounding and I cant stop sweating. So, I am going to do what I should have done when all this junk started, surround myself in prayer. Will you lift me up as you read this, I have a long drive tomorrow and it is no fun trying to drive when it hurts to be in the light. It is really not that bad but its bad enough that I am tired of it and I cant be myself with this hinderance. That being said, let God have all the Glory and all the Honor and all the Praise tonight as he draws us gently to our knees. Thank you family. Night
Friday, August 5, 2011
Week 9 &10
Wow. What a crazy awesome past 2 weeks it has been! Two weeks ago we were blessed with the Resound youth group! They are a quickly growing youth group from Albuquerque. I have had the privilege of getting to meet a few of the kids on and off over the past few months before camp and I can say that God is doing some pretty amazing things in this group! I could see God in each and every one of their faces and that is a rare thing for a youth group to have. If yall are reading this, dont let that EVER go away.
During the week that Resound was with us I had two people that I know past away. One was my cousin's grandpa (not related to me) and the other was my best friends grandma. I was only able to make it to one funeral and it was the happiest funeral that I have ever been to. It was a celebration of Grammies' life and how she is now home. It was really awesome. But still keep both of those families in your prayers for the next few weeks. We all know it is tough to loss a loved one.
This last week we had a MEGGA HUGE BIG (insert other word for large here) from Roswell and Tuson. The tuson group was led by Pastor Scotty and the Roswell group by Pastor Branden, they are a Father son combo team of awesomeness for God. Their kids were extremely different at the beginning of the week but they all grew/got to know each other and by the end of the week you couldn't tell the difference between the two groups. God worked in these kids and you could see it by the attentiveness they had in the teaching times. Even if they ran too well over 2.5 hours.
Both groups had several first time dedications to God as well as some re-dedications. It never gets old of seeing new brothers and sisters joining the family! Pray for these kids that they will continue to walk with God in every aspect of their lifes and that they dont fall back into the old ways before camp started.
This week was the end of the summer for my dear friend and sister (well I claim her as that anyway) Taylor (left). She had to go back to school for her RA job at school. We will miss her. She has done an amazing job this summer despite how hard it was for her. God worked in her life in crazy ways. One being public speaking. She HATES it but she had to do it a few times this summer and God now has her giving a message to the Resound group tonight in ABQ! How awesome is that! After getting to spend a week with those kids and then getting the opportunity to go back and teach them something new! Any way, pray for her tonight because thats when she is talking to the kids and pray for a safe 20 hour drive back to school for her next week.
As for Jesse (middle) and I, we still have a little ways to go. Next week is a work week for a few days then we are off then two weeks from now we have our last camp. It is a small group and I have class on one day durring that week so I will have to drive down for an afternoon to Las Cruces to go to class and then head back and finish out camp. As of right now I couldn't have withed for a better summer. God has shown me some awesome stuff and possibly provide me with a job or two after I graduate in May, awesome! He has also shown me a lot of other things that I knew I had in me but just didn't know how to tap into just yet. And I am sure that He has taught me so many more things that I just haven't realized yet and wont till I have some time to process everything that has happend this summer.
Pray Stuff
1. for the kids that have made decisions this summer
that they continue to walk the good walk no matter what they come up against
2. for the staff, both here and gone
that we will find rest in God and God alone, and maybe in that awesome stuff God made called sleep
3. for the last week of camp
That the kids will be open to everything God has in store for them as they come
that is the week that ACA is coming to inspect camp and renew our accreditation (loads of paperwork to be done)
Thank you again and again for everything yall have been doing for me and the rest of the staff. We honestly couldn't have done it with out all of the support we get from people just like you. You are fueling the work of God by helping us and for that I thank you.
During the week that Resound was with us I had two people that I know past away. One was my cousin's grandpa (not related to me) and the other was my best friends grandma. I was only able to make it to one funeral and it was the happiest funeral that I have ever been to. It was a celebration of Grammies' life and how she is now home. It was really awesome. But still keep both of those families in your prayers for the next few weeks. We all know it is tough to loss a loved one.
This last week we had a MEGGA HUGE BIG (insert other word for large here) from Roswell and Tuson. The tuson group was led by Pastor Scotty and the Roswell group by Pastor Branden, they are a Father son combo team of awesomeness for God. Their kids were extremely different at the beginning of the week but they all grew/got to know each other and by the end of the week you couldn't tell the difference between the two groups. God worked in these kids and you could see it by the attentiveness they had in the teaching times. Even if they ran too well over 2.5 hours.
Both groups had several first time dedications to God as well as some re-dedications. It never gets old of seeing new brothers and sisters joining the family! Pray for these kids that they will continue to walk with God in every aspect of their lifes and that they dont fall back into the old ways before camp started.
This week was the end of the summer for my dear friend and sister (well I claim her as that anyway) Taylor (left). She had to go back to school for her RA job at school. We will miss her. She has done an amazing job this summer despite how hard it was for her. God worked in her life in crazy ways. One being public speaking. She HATES it but she had to do it a few times this summer and God now has her giving a message to the Resound group tonight in ABQ! How awesome is that! After getting to spend a week with those kids and then getting the opportunity to go back and teach them something new! Any way, pray for her tonight because thats when she is talking to the kids and pray for a safe 20 hour drive back to school for her next week.As for Jesse (middle) and I, we still have a little ways to go. Next week is a work week for a few days then we are off then two weeks from now we have our last camp. It is a small group and I have class on one day durring that week so I will have to drive down for an afternoon to Las Cruces to go to class and then head back and finish out camp. As of right now I couldn't have withed for a better summer. God has shown me some awesome stuff and possibly provide me with a job or two after I graduate in May, awesome! He has also shown me a lot of other things that I knew I had in me but just didn't know how to tap into just yet. And I am sure that He has taught me so many more things that I just haven't realized yet and wont till I have some time to process everything that has happend this summer.
Pray Stuff
1. for the kids that have made decisions this summer
that they continue to walk the good walk no matter what they come up against
2. for the staff, both here and gone
that we will find rest in God and God alone, and maybe in that awesome stuff God made called sleep
3. for the last week of camp
That the kids will be open to everything God has in store for them as they come
that is the week that ACA is coming to inspect camp and renew our accreditation (loads of paperwork to be done)
Thank you again and again for everything yall have been doing for me and the rest of the staff. We honestly couldn't have done it with out all of the support we get from people just like you. You are fueling the work of God by helping us and for that I thank you.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Week 8.2
Well this blog is all most late but that's better than never. Our second group last week was a blast! They were from a church in El Passo, Tx and man were they fun! Their leadership did an outstanding job with teaching and helping us provide an environment that is free of distractions (well as much as you can with a buch of teenagers).
Right off the bat, I noticed that there were several clicks with in the group and those clicks were isolating some of the kids. But, by the end of the week it was difficult to see a clearly defined click wich was an answered prayer. I knew if the clicks continued, camp was not going to be any fun for the kids.
Ok, I cant hold this back to much longer. I know that God was working hard in some of these kids life's because there were a few new members added to my family this week! I will never get tired of finding out that I have a new brother or sister in Christ! Those kids that God called into the family is all that I need to know that every single week that we have poured into these kids was worth it and I will do it all again just so that one person will come to know God as their personal Savior!
I am going to cut this one short because thats all that really needs to be said about the week. God did his thing and that is what really counts.
Pray stuff:
1. for the kids that seed were planted in and for those that are new believers! let God work through their life in crazy awesome ways!
2. staff
THANK YOU! you would not believe the rested and restored we are! your prayers are being answered so dont stop!
3. this up coming week
resound abq is coming up tomorrow for a 5 day camp. pray for the kids that they get here safe and without getting lost (Bryne Palmer is driving them here...) pray that they will be open to anything God has planed for them this week (tack the staff to that too) and pray that they will take what ever they learn and apply to their life when they get home with out lossing any of their zealousness for God!
Right off the bat, I noticed that there were several clicks with in the group and those clicks were isolating some of the kids. But, by the end of the week it was difficult to see a clearly defined click wich was an answered prayer. I knew if the clicks continued, camp was not going to be any fun for the kids.
Ok, I cant hold this back to much longer. I know that God was working hard in some of these kids life's because there were a few new members added to my family this week! I will never get tired of finding out that I have a new brother or sister in Christ! Those kids that God called into the family is all that I need to know that every single week that we have poured into these kids was worth it and I will do it all again just so that one person will come to know God as their personal Savior!
I am going to cut this one short because thats all that really needs to be said about the week. God did his thing and that is what really counts.
Pray stuff:
1. for the kids that seed were planted in and for those that are new believers! let God work through their life in crazy awesome ways!
2. staff
THANK YOU! you would not believe the rested and restored we are! your prayers are being answered so dont stop!
3. this up coming week
resound abq is coming up tomorrow for a 5 day camp. pray for the kids that they get here safe and without getting lost (Bryne Palmer is driving them here...) pray that they will be open to anything God has planed for them this week (tack the staff to that too) and pray that they will take what ever they learn and apply to their life when they get home with out lossing any of their zealousness for God!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Week 8.1
Well here I am again. What a blast the past few days have been! Shane and Chelsea O'Neal's wedding was SO MUCH FUN! They had an out door wedding at Laughing Sheep Farm in Lincoln NM. It was beautiful with the pond in the back ground and the geese swimming this way and that. And the food... oh the food. We ate alligator ribs and qual and even rattle snake sausage! (This is Taylor... Chris left his blog open, went to do laundry, and allowed me to get on his computer. If he doesn't catch this... hello blog followers of Chris!) Well... yup. thats true, I did leave. Oh well. anyway the wedding went off with only one hitch, and that was the one that counted.
The past few days we had a mission group come in from Fort Worth. They went to the Navaho reservation near Socorro NM for a few days and did a ton of humanitarian work there. While they were here some of the slept but most of them played on the water for a day. After dinner they discussed what they thought was cool about the trip or how they saw God move in one way or another. I was talking with Jeff, there Lone Tree team leader, about how the trip went and he said it went well but he was more concerned about the lifes that the kids were returning to. From what I understood, these kids have it way worse then I could even imagine so keep them in your prayers.
In the morning we have to do some "staff training" out on the water and then we are going to finish getting camp ready for our next group that will be showing up sometime tomorrow afternoon. It is going to be a church from El Passo if I am not misstaken and its going to be a regular 4 day camp. Other than the fact that they are bringing 32 people (biggest group yet), I really dont know much about this group. I guess for now just pray that they will be open to what God has in store for them in the next few day and that they will take it home and use what they learn in every day life.
Thanks so much for keeping us in your prayers. It really means a lot to me when I go and check the stats and see so many people reading and praying for everything that is going on in my life. YOU ROCK!
Pray time:
1. For the Mission kids
- that they continue to have a servant's heart long after they get home
- about whatever they are going through and that they lean hard on God through it
2. For the kids to come
- for safe travels as they come to camp tomorrow
- that the are open to everything God is going to be working on them as they are here
3. For Staff
- we just crossed the mid way point of the summer (we are exhausted), so energy and sound sleep
- that we find God working in and through us even though we are doing the same stuff over and over
4. Shane and Chelsea
- that God will continue to bless them and their marriage
The past few days we had a mission group come in from Fort Worth. They went to the Navaho reservation near Socorro NM for a few days and did a ton of humanitarian work there. While they were here some of the slept but most of them played on the water for a day. After dinner they discussed what they thought was cool about the trip or how they saw God move in one way or another. I was talking with Jeff, there Lone Tree team leader, about how the trip went and he said it went well but he was more concerned about the lifes that the kids were returning to. From what I understood, these kids have it way worse then I could even imagine so keep them in your prayers.
In the morning we have to do some "staff training" out on the water and then we are going to finish getting camp ready for our next group that will be showing up sometime tomorrow afternoon. It is going to be a church from El Passo if I am not misstaken and its going to be a regular 4 day camp. Other than the fact that they are bringing 32 people (biggest group yet), I really dont know much about this group. I guess for now just pray that they will be open to what God has in store for them in the next few day and that they will take it home and use what they learn in every day life.
Thanks so much for keeping us in your prayers. It really means a lot to me when I go and check the stats and see so many people reading and praying for everything that is going on in my life. YOU ROCK!
Pray time:
1. For the Mission kids
- that they continue to have a servant's heart long after they get home
- about whatever they are going through and that they lean hard on God through it
2. For the kids to come
- for safe travels as they come to camp tomorrow
- that the are open to everything God is going to be working on them as they are here
3. For Staff
- we just crossed the mid way point of the summer (we are exhausted), so energy and sound sleep
- that we find God working in and through us even though we are doing the same stuff over and over
4. Shane and Chelsea
- that God will continue to bless them and their marriage
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)