life as mrs. prudhomme

Going to Haiti

2010-07-05T23:02:00.001-05:00

Blake and I have the opportunity to travel to Haiti at the end of this month. We are definitely excited. But, lately I find myself a little nervous about the trip. This seems strange to me, because I so love to travel. I'm always eager to venture out into this huge and amazing world, especially when it's for a cause.

We will be going to help build houses for the Haitians who lost their homes during the terrible earthquakes earlier this year. I'm not the most experienced construction worker, but I'm ready to kick butt and get some houses built, whatever I have to do.

But most of all, I hope I'm prepared to meet the people...the individuals of Haiti. A man, a woman, a child who has suffered so much. A people, already having had so little, now having lost everything - including the lives of those they loved the most. How do you speak to that pain? How do you let them know your heart aches for them? How do you express, or offer peace? These are the questions I have as I prepare for this trip.

I'll let you know how it goes...

I'm Getting Married

2009-02-27T10:26:00.010-06:00

Hello Everyone,

I have been very distant from the blog world for the last couple of months. I'm writing now to direct you to our wedding website!

www.katherineandblake.com

Hurricane Gustav got us...

2008-09-03T14:53:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone...thanks for reading...

I finally found a place with internet and I'm writing to update you all on our situation here in Baton Rouge. This is the worst storm that has ever hit Baton Rouge. The widespread damage is not bad compared to the devastation of New Orleans by Katrina, however we have no power. Many of the beautiful, huge, and very old trees have fallen on power lines and many homes. Tarps are almost impossible to find. Because no one has power food, water, and gas are going fast and we are having a hard time replenishing.

Healing Place has been the hub for hurricane relief, this time serving the people of our own community who need shelter, a hot meal, and groceries. So far many have come to partner with us: Samaritans Purse arrived yesterday and set up a unit here to provide chainsaws, wireless internet, and other helpful necessities such as generators. Churches from Mandeville, Lafayette, and other places have already come to help as well.

All day we have been cooking and feeding people, sending out teams of guys to cut fallen trees and tarp peoples roofs.

Please be in prayer for everyone here. We prepared to help people in surrounding areas, but ended up getting the worst of it ourselves. It's another adventure, you know? Sandwiches, cold showers, extreme heat and humidity, is all part of the experience! I'll keep you updated!

"They" say we could be without power for the next 4-6 weeks! Eeeek!

Healing Place's New EPIC Album is here!!!

2008-07-11T10:09:00.004-05:00

The new Healing Place Church album is here . . . EPIC Worship is the heartbeat of the next generation of worshipers from Healing Place. The new album contains 13 original songs that can be found at the HPC Online Store, or you can download it from some great online music stores like: i-Tunes, amazon.com, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, etc. This album is incredible. Check it out today!

To My Friends and Family:

2008-07-01T15:57:00.010-05:00

My Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing my final support letter to let you know that I have been offered a job at the church I have been interning with! I began working at the end of May. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support over the last two years. I could not have made it for two years, without an income, if I didn’t have your love and generosity. I am so excited to be a part of what God has for me here at Healing Place Church, and you have made that possible.

Below are pictures from Elevate Graduation:

I am currently working as the assistant to the Communications Director. I have thoroughly enjoyed my job over the last month. It is such a great privilege to be in the center of the God’s will for my life. I will be making my home here in Baton Rouge until God calls me elsewhere.

Again, thank you for being used by God to launch me into the ministry He has called me to. I pray that God blesses your thoroughly in the years to come!

With love,
Katherine

INDIA

2008-05-31T17:58:00.003-05:00

I recently posted a video and some pics on our India team blog www.goglobalindia.blogspot.com. Check it out!

Meanwhile - check out this video i took while i rode on the back of a motorcycle! The driving in India was the craziest i have ever experienced - worse than Africa and South America! Literally there were buses, trucks, motorcycles, bikes, cars, little motor taxi's, cows pulling wagons, livestock and people in one big conglomeration of what was supposed to be a road...

The whirlwind begins...

2008-05-28T08:55:00.003-05:00

I returned from India a few days ago and started right in on the next stage of life. Graduation was on Sunday night. It was a wonderful close to the two year internship with HPC. I have had the time of my life learning ministry, serving the poor, and shaping my life around the calling of God.

Yesterday was my first day of work at HPC. I am so honored to be a part of what God is doing in this house.

And - I moved! ...twice actually in the last 48 hours. So if your wondering what my address is...so am I!

Love you all. I'll write an update about our time in India soon.

Off to India

2008-05-14T10:46:00.001-05:00

I'll be leaving for India in the morning. Who knows what I will find there. I'm looking forward to every challenge, adventure, and all the new things i will learn when i am there!

My Support Letter...

2008-03-12T16:45:00.005-05:00

February 27, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to give you an update about my internship in Baton Rouge. Last weekend we had an event in our Student Ministries called Amplified. The whole weekend was devoted to over 250 students from grades 6-12. Many received Christ for the first time and had their lives changed through intimate worship, relevant teaching, and community service. Your support allows me to be involved in planning and carrying out events like this. It is such a privilege to be part of life change in the next generation.

Please continue to remember us (Elevate Interns) in your prayers. Every weekend we are touching the lives of people in our city and around the world. On Thursday mornings the homeless are fed. On certain weekends roses are delivered to the strippers in local clubs. Everyday there are after school programs for the underprivileged kids who live in the inner city. The Mozambique campus we helped launch last May is running well and ministering to 100’s of children each week. These outreaches and so many more are the kinds of things your support enables me to continue.

I have three more months in this internship. Because of your support I have already been able to pay my bill in full to Healing Place Church. However, I am struggling with personal support. The program does not permit interns to work outside jobs so it is impossible to support myself each month without your support. It is humbling and somewhat awkward to ask that you support me directly instead of sending the money to the church; but any money that you send will help me with gas, food, and other unexpected costs (my vehicle needs $500 worth of repairs) that the church does not cover. Any little bit helps, and please continue to pray with me through the next three months of this program. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Each one of you has had a special impact in my life and I am so grateful for you.

Sincerely,

Katherine Sharkey

Hyderabad, India

2008-02-03T10:42:00.001-06:00

I am on my way to INDIA! Well, not exactly yet. I will be helping to lead a team of elevate students to India for two weeks on May 15. We are working hard to raise money! We will have to awesome opportunities to help finish building and launch a church, help with a crusade, and help with medical clinics. It will be such an honor to serve the poorest of the poor in this country. Please begin to pray for us as we prepare:

1) Pray that God will provide the finances we need.
2) Pray that God will prepare our hearts as we plan for ministry.
3) Pray that God will begin to open doors in India even now so that people will be receptive to the love of Jesus.

Thank you so much for partnering with me in prayer. Your support means so much to me!

(See more pictures of India @ http://www.pbase.com/wietsej/chhattisgarhselection)

2007-11-08T11:02:00.000-06:00

So this morning as i so graciously drove through Chick-Fil-A to get my boy a nice little chicken biscuit. To my surprise my drivers side window suddenly made a LOUD cracking sound and fell, crooked in the door. GREAT! It's like 40 degrees outside and my window is now disabled. Stupid...

Thankfully Blake was able to force it back into the closed position so I won't freeze to death this winter. But sadly...i will forever more be forced to get out of my car and walk into the restaurant, bank, and anywhere else there is a DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW...shucks.

SERVolution: A Revolution of Service

2007-10-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

About two weeks ago, Healing Place kicked off what we call a SERVOLUTION. On Saturday over 500 volunteers showed up at the church. From there we broke off into groups. We went out into the city and handed out water at major traffic intersections, did free car washes, painted houses, had a huge block party downtown in one of the poorest communities, handed out 4000 packs of gum to the LSU tailgaters, among many other things. God allowed us to touch over 6000 people that day. Two news stations did a story on it.

See SERVOLUTION.ORG!!

But, this is only the beginning! God has laid in on our Pastor's hearts to serve our community consistently! This is nothing new, it is the heartbeat of all that Healing Place is. We have started a Servolution that goes beyond one day of service. On Friday I was cleaning a poor widow's house. Later that day we (elevate interns) went downtown to Dreamcenter and helped give out hot meals and groceries to the poor in that community. And after that, we were painting houses. The giving doesn't stop at HPC. God is moving in Baton Rouge and we are trying to keep up with Him. It's amazing to be a part of what God is doing. As we are faithful and obedient, change will happen in our city, and we believe it will happen in our nation and eventually in the whole world!

What are you doing to make a different where you are? Don't pass up the small opportunities to show Jesus to strangers. Stop making excuses. Pastor said this weekend in his message about Social Justice, "Make time in your life for others." It's never too late to start changing your world.

Sorry...

2007-09-18T21:43:00.000-05:00

It's crazy how life gets so busy. You don't end up getting to those really important things you keep putting off because they need "a substantial block of time to accomplish." Like calling your friends, for instance...I think about them all the time but, I hardly ever call... It's sad to say, but true. I keep waiting till I have that free hour of time to chat. Or blogging. I haven't blogged in forever. I keep waiting for that profound thought. Oh well, maybe next time.

A New Entry

2007-08-20T16:53:00.000-05:00

Wow I can't believe it has almost been an entire month since i last blogged! So much has happened. My wonderful friend Amy came to visit me in Austin. We had a rip roarin' time for about three days. When Amy sends me some pics I'll post them... (hint hint Amy =). The day she left was also the day Blake flew in and we drove back to Baton Rouge together.

I have now been in Baton Rouge for exactly two weeks. I started Elevate last week. It is already going great! God has provided for me financially already. Thank you to all of you who are giving and praying!

I'll be posting more often now that I am all settled in to my apartment here in BR.

"Testing the Strong Ones" - Copeland

2007-07-20T11:45:00.000-05:00

My time in Austin has almost come to an end. I will be heading back to Baton Rouge in the first week of August. It will be hard to leave my mom, especially since her treatments will continue until September. I have to trust that God is in control. I have to do the last thing God called me to do. I will be heading back to Baton Rouge in August. Don't get me wrong. I love HPC! I'm looking forward to being back so much.

I'm including my support letter in this blog. If you want to you can read and pray about supporting me as I commit to the next 15 months of schooling and service through Elevate...

[As many of you know I moved to Austin this summer to be with my mom as she overcomes cancer. I was offered a job at Celebration Church for the summer months. I had a wonderful time working in the church and gaining ministry experience. Now I have the opportunity to do a second year of Elevate at Healing Place Church. The difference this year is that the program has become accredited. I will be able to earn a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies over the next 15 months. Please join me in prayer as I venture to accomplish this second year of higher education and ministry experience. I am writing because I need your help. The tuition for the second year program is $6,000. I have managed to raise most of the cost of my tuition. However, my monthly cost of living (including rent, utilities, phone bill, and food) will be an average of $500 per month. Since I won’t be able to work during my internship I have to rely on your sponsorship. Thank you for your prayerful consideration about how you can help! I am so grateful for your love and prayers during this season of my life.] katherine.sharkey@healingplacechurch.org

I love you all so much. I can't thank you enough for your loving encouragement and support over the last couple months. I am so blessed to have faith filled people like you in my life!

Finally a new entry...

2007-07-04T22:36:00.000-05:00

The other day in the movie theater I came to a new understanding about God...

I watched Evan Almighty. There was a profound part in the movie where God is talking to Evan's wife. He says something like - When you ask for patience, does God just give you patience or does He give you an opportunity to be patient? - On a bigger scale: when you pray to change the world, do you all of a sudden become someone great? Or does God give you opportunities to make a difference?

This realization struck home. It parallels what God is teaching me. At the beginning of my first year of Elevate at HPC I started praying hard for humility. When I first started praying I was fearful that God would cause embarrassing things to happen to me: like I would fall on my face in front of tons of people or something. But, against my silly fears I prayed for humility. However, lately as I've come to face the reality and the strength of my pride I've realized something! The Bible never says to "pray for humilty." It does clearly say, humble yourself (Col.3:12). All this time I've been asking God to do something He has promised ME the right to do. I've tried to take the easy way out by asking Him to do the hard work. But I must be the one to choose, in moments of extreme frustration, to be humble. I must choose in the moments where my pride tries to control my emotions, to be humble. In essence, I must choose to die to my flesh. I must choose to walk by the Spirit. God has given me free will and He will not infringe upon that even if I ask Him. Out of sheer love for Him, I must reject myself - no matter the pain - and trust Him. No matter how "spiritually ideal" this process sounds - I assure you, it's not pretty. It is a gruesome fight. A fight that reminds me of Jacob (Gen. 32). One that must be fought with the strength of the Holy Spirit. It is a daily fight. At times, a moment by moment battle. But, it is a fight I must choose to engage in no matter the cost, no matter the injury. It is a fight we all must fight if we desire to know Him more intimately.

June 14

2007-06-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

June 14 was my 23 birthday. Wow! I'm starting to get really old. Blake came to visit me for the week! He took me to lunch at this really cool cafe in downtown Georgetown called Wild Fire. My family also had a little dinner party for me. Here are some fun pictures...

I had such an amazing week! Blake and I had a lot of fun exploring Austin together. We found an awesome sushi restaurant downtown, went to Amy's icecream, saw Ocean's 13, shopped at the Domain (an outdoor mall), saw the bats under the Congress bridge, shopped at the outlet mall, and had some really fun times hanging out with my family. I am so blessed!

It's not about ME?

2007-06-12T15:42:00.000-05:00

Taking care of other people will teach you that it's not about you quicker than anything. Sometimes I get bummed cause I feel like people just don't understand how important I am. Gosh, I mean, don't they get it...

Apparently they already know what I have yet to learn...and that it is not about ME.

Living at home over the last couple weeks has taught me some very important lessons. I have never felt unappreciated. Just sometimes I feel like the "events" in my life get pushed to the back burner. When I realize how selfish I am I get so mad! Dealing with cancer is bigger than anthing going on in my life right now. I know that... but it's still so easy to get hung up on myself.

I'm realizing what a huge lesson this is to learn. It's so foundational to serving in minstry within the church. Praise God that He is rooting out a lot of the hindrances I have to serving Him.

Romans 10:10

2007-06-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

As I think about grace and faith - so much does not make sense about these foundational elements of our faith. They are entirely invisable. UNTIL I believe they are truth because God said so and walk in grace and faith, they will remain invisable. The - walking in it - is when it becomes "real."

Believing the truth is walking in it. Because I have not allowed myself to walk in it, I have limited its power in my life. When I step out on the limb of believing something I do not understand, it takes on its full power and authority in my life.

This all seems rather juvenile, but I'm glad I am coming to terms with it now. I am learning to embrace the full mysticism of the faith. And it feels pretty scary, but pretty radical at the same time. It's what the Christian faith is all about: believing BEYOND yourself. Besides, who wants God to fit in their own finite mind anyway.

KINSEY

2007-06-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I have a 16 year old sister named Kinsey. She is really fun and pretty hot. Anyway, went to the salon (is that what we call it nowadays?) to get her hair cut. She was sitting in the chair with the drape on and she whispers to me, "i feel like a volcano." Okay so i thought it was pretty hilarious. Here are her volcano pictures. She is going to kill me for this:

Anyway, here is the finished product. This is the drive through for McDonalds - that's why our dog Mini is a little preoccupied.

My summer dwelling

2007-06-05T15:11:00.000-05:00

I really don't have it bad off here in Texas. In fact, I like having my own room again... (not to say I don't incredibly miss all my roomates KATIE, COLLEEN, and most recently LAUREN BEST.) So here are some pics of my room. I got to pick out a new bed when I moved into the house. For some reason, black in the color I picked. I like it though.

I also got a new bookshelf from IKEA. I couldn't fit all my books on it. But, that's ok. It still looks cool.

I hope you all have strong stomachs...

2007-06-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

I've been getting out to see the town more. We live in Georgetown, a small town about 20 minutes outside Austin. The town square is a really cute, quaint place with boutique's, antique shops, and small restaurants. I also got to drive around downtown Austin a few days ago. I'm looking forward to going to some of the live music venue's. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the nation right now.

So the other day I went to a spa with my mom. (Thank you Nana for the pamper money!!) She wanted a little relaxation outside of the house. I accompanied her and decided to get a manicure. Why not? But, when I got there, I realized they offered this amazing thing:
Aqua Detox Foot Spa.
"The revolutionary way to detoxify, re-balance and re-energize your body." For those of you who have past experience with my "other detox methods" this is nothing like that! So you soak your feet in nice warm salt water while electromagnetic pulses pull all the impurities out of your body through the 2000 pores in each soul of your foot! Incredible and painless...

I'm sure you can imagine the water changes colors...
yellow - kidneys
orange - joints
green- gall bladder
black - liver
cheesy chunks - yeast
black flecks - hard metals

Okay...so here is a picture of my water after the 30 minute treatment... I went from yellow to black. I guess my insides were that dirty! I will be doing this again...

Friends and Family

2007-05-23T17:35:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone. I miss you all very much! Whether you reside in Florida or Louisiana...or anywhere else I MISS YOU ALL. Austin is nice. I am learning my way around. So far I know how to get to my house, and the hospital. Oh, and the grocery store...

We brought Mom home from the hospital today. She is doing well, in some pain as you can imagine. Thank you to all of you who are texting me! I am so grateful to know you are thinking about us and praying for us. Thank you for your encouragement.

I want to give a big SHOUT OUT to all the refuge kids at HPC. I'll miss you guys tonight!!! God is going to move and I wish I could be there. Direct all your hugs for me to Lauren...she will need them!

PLEASE GO TO THE "MOM" LINK TO THE RIGHT TO SEE HER BLOG AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW SHE IS DOING.

Going to Austin...

2007-05-20T10:35:00.000-05:00

Today i leave for Austin Texas. I am at my last Annex service for the next two months right now. I will miss it so much but I know this summer is going to be amazing. I will learn so much, be so challenged, and come to a deeper understanding of who God is. Not to mention, i'll be able to spend tons of quality time with my family during this hard time. We found out the my mom has breast cancer a few weeks ago. That is when all my summer plans changed. It is hard to leave all my friends and famiy and the work of the ministry here at HPC, but i will be back in August! Please continue to pray for my mom's quick recovery and hopeful spirits as she begins this battle with cancer. I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers and support! I'll keep you all posted...

Back from AFRICA!

2007-05-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

Yes I have been back for over two weeks now...
Check out this cute baby elephant we saw!

There has been so much going on since we returned. Elevate finished. It feels great to be done! Looking back I can see how much God has done in my life over the last nine months. I also see how much more He has to do!! That is why I am so excited about doing a second year of Elevate starting in August. I will be able to earn my Masters Degree in Biblical Studies. What an amazing privilege to gain such a good education and be trained so well for the ministry.

Although I am back from Africa a big piece of my heart remains there. I miss it so much. It seems strange to me how much I miss it after being there for such a short time. But, I believe that God has future plans for me there. One day I see myself planting churches all over Europe. My goal is an HPC in every capital city of every country in Europe... BIG - VERY, POSSIBLE - DEFINITLY. God is huge, I'm sick of underestimating Him. Anyway, I would love to be able to go back to help Isaac and Carol in Mozambique. I'm praying hard about this.

The child called "Plentiful"

2007-04-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

For the last three days we have been working in a village called Nkobe. It is about a 30 minute drive outside the city of Maputo, but the government doesn't have record of them. It is a pretty large village. As we caravan our three SUV's and a truck though the sand around the reed huts, the children run out to meet us. Today there were over 250 children. We came with four pretty tight lesson plans: dramas, games, puppets, songs, lessons, crafts...the works!! But you will learn something very fast here - TIA "this is Africa" (for any of you who have seen the movie Blood Diamond). TIA basically means, in Africa anything goes and anything can happen. So needless to say our days haven been anything but organized, but at the same time, extremely productive!

I held a little baby today, he fell asleep on my chest. As I stood in the sand holding the sleeping baby, colors faded away. I didn't feel white and the baby wasn't black. We danced with the kids today...danced like crazy. We all sweat the same, we all laughed the same, we all smiled the same. It is an amazing thing to feel unified with a demographic that is so far from mine. But that is what happens when you love, and hold nothing back. You become equal for a few minutes. Money doesn't matter, clothes don't matter, not even food matters...

I know these blogs have been long, but they are only a small portion of what my heart and head are overflowing with...

I saw a little girl today. She was carrying her baby brother on her back. This isn't uncommon. Children big enough to walk, carry their younger siblings on their backs. But I looked again and noticed something different. This baby was sick, he couldn't hold up his head. One of our leaders, Carol and I started talking to her. The "baby" is three years old, he is completely crippled or paralyzed. He can't talk or move... His name is hard to pronounce in Xangong, but it means "plentiful"or "replentishing". Later when I got back to the hotel, i balled my eyes out in the shower. So many of these children suffer from sickness and disease we don't even think twice about in America.

Well, anyway - sorry to depress you! The good news is that we have had the wonderful privilege to love these children. And also, to share in their joy. They have something I, and I dare to say, WE don't have. And that is complete joy, satisfaction, friendship, and companionship.

Until later...

Bem Vindo Moçambique!

2007-04-24T00:24:00.000-05:00

I'm writing from Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. We arrived here yesterday morning after a 15 hour flight from Washington DC, and a 1 hour flight from Johannesberg South Africa.

It's true what they say about Africa...it does find it's way under your skin. Somehow it burrows deep down into your core. It may even lie dormant for awhile - at least that is what happened to me. I didn't realize how much i missed it until we touched down in South Africa a couple days ago. I saw the tall grass out the airplane window, and it all came rushing back to me. Africa will never leave me now...for as long as i live.

Yesterday I saw and touched and smelled the Indian Ocean for the first time. That was an incredible experience! But, yesterday I also saw and touched and smelled hundreds of African children from the village of Nkobe. Their faces will never leave my mind... Faces of such happiness in the midst of HIV, starvation, being orphaned, living in reed huts. I felt to engulfed by my own selfishness and pride... But more than that I was engulfed by the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. I am beginning to understand a little more about how Christ loves...

I got to hold little babies with runny noses and play games with the children. I stood in line with 100's of children waiting with their empty bowls in hand for their meal of meager rice. I was holding Ushi, a one year old, for his sister (probably 6 or 7) so she could stand in line for food. For some, that is the only meal they eat everyday. This meal is provided by the Children's Cup care point. Check them out online (www.childrenscup.org). This is the organization that Healing Place works with in Africa.

Today we will go back to Nkobe, and we will go back the next day, and the next. Please pray for us as we work on the new church building and love the children in this village. This is one of the most incredible experiences anyone will ever have. I will try to blog again soon...

Welcome back to my blog!

2007-04-18T09:17:00.000-05:00

Many things have happened over the last couple weeks here in Baton Rouge! In order to raise MORE money for our trip to Mozambique we served jambalaya lunches to 1000 people! So...at 5:00 in the morning we met with the experts of jambalaya making (three old men from the heart of Louisiana!!) to cook up the grub. More than once i heard the expression "Lord get in that pot!" exclaimed in a perfect southern accent. Here is a picture of us stiring the sausage and pork in huge iron pots...

About a week after that our final paper was due! This is a picture of how my desk looked for a few days while writing my HERMENEUTICS paper. Thank God i finished on time! I ended up getting a really good grade too! So for all my supporters out there...please know...I am learning TONS! And having a great time doing it!

In other news... one of the final requirements of Elevate was to run a 5k race. The race was unashamedly called the FAT BOY 5K. We all ran our hearts out and had an awesome time! I almost lost my life because I ran the whole 3.2 miles. I finished in 27 minutes... and somehow I finished as one of the first 50 women out of 1000 racers... For this accomplishment i won this prize: a beautiful coffee mug! Woohoo!

2007-03-27T16:56:00.000-05:00

So it's probably about time i post again! I feel a little pressure now because i sent my blog link to a lot of friends and family! Now i have to write something interesting!!

Okay you have to hear about this! On Friday all my fellow Elevate interns and myself starting preparing for our garage sale. We had planned this huge garage sale and we had TONS of donations! So we gathered together at around 3:00 expecting to stay until about 7:00 or so. Well, 24 hours later we finally left. We were there ALL NIGHT setting up and then selling stuff and then cleaning up! We did end up making $2700 to go toward our mission trip to Mozambique! Woohoo!!

This is me sorting clothes...Some peole obvisouly felt compelled to give away their old underwear!!

This is pretty much the crazy stuff we do together all the time in Elevate! It's always a crazy adventure. And we always learn so much and have so much fun together!!

AMPLIFIED...

2007-03-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

As I write, we are right in the middle of Amplified weekend! So many people have helped to make it happen. I never realized how many people you really need to pull off an event like this. The blessing of a great team is crucial - and we got it!

Last night was the first Amplified service. We didn't finish until 11:15...
God really moved. All the hard work (and lack of sleep and dreaming about amplified) has definitely payed off 100 times over! To see students lives transformed before my very eyes, to see them worshipping the Lord, and surrendering to His call is THE MOST incredible thing. I can't wait to hear the stories of what God does in each life this weekend.

The way God works continually amazes me. There are so many times when I get stressed out over things that seem big at the time, but in the grand scheme of things... are so small! God's plans are HUGE and to be a part of them is what life is all about!!

So to everybody who has a hand in anything that has to do with Amplified... THANK YOU. From the hosts who are opening their homes, the student ministries team to organized so much, the Pastors who make it happen, the church members who tithe, the volunteers who serve and love the students tirelessly, and the person who took out the trash: you are having KINGDOM impact! You guys are awesome!

It is a privilege to serve with each one of you!

This is officially my first blog entry ever...

2007-03-13T17:01:00.000-05:00

So...I have been avoiding this moment for quite sometime now. I have desired to blog, but never really sat down to do it. Writing something that I know everyone is going to read kind of intimidates me. But, I decided to overcome my insecurity and write.