Spirit Week Report

By Jenn Kingsley

After being here for a couple of weeks without her, my fellow intern Taylor finally got to Atlantic City on May 31. Right away, we were presented with a bunch of materials and given the assignment to determine a curriculum plan for Spirit Week at Ziegler School in the inner city of Philadelphia.

Taylor and I spent hours of work brainstorming and reading through the material that was given to us. We had no idea what was in store for us for the up coming week, but we wanted to be fully prepared for whatever came our way.

The Grace Falls family partnered with Northeast Community Outreach, with the help of three women from Dayspring Baptist in Mobile, Alabama, Ed from Heritage Baptist in Cantonment, FL and Toby and Kyleen of Impact International Ministries in Kentucky, worked hard to make this a fun-filled week for students and faculty.

I was terrified to get up in front of 200+ kids and teach them principles such as hope, individuality, self-control, and friendship. On Monday I quickly noticed that the curriculum that Taylor and I had put together was not going to relate to students in the urban environment. As a team, we all worked together to adjust our plans and come up with activities that would be best suited for these students.

I am a very structured person, I like plans, and to know what is in store. As I served at Ziegler, God really worked with me to trust in His plans and to be able to go with the flow. To be honest, I am so thankful that this is how things worked out. I learned that I do not need to rely on my own plans and schedule, but rely on the Lord’s plans for me.

Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.

Continuously all week long Exodus 14:13 kept coming to my mind. So often I like to have control over a situation I knew that God was reminding me to just stand still, don't stress out, because the Lord always has the right things planed.

Our team lead assemblies everyday that included interactive videos and games so we could reach out and get personal with the students. As the week progressed, we began to build relationships with these students. I would walk down the hallways and was bombarded with hugs from kids that were so excited that a group of individuals would come to their school everyday of the week to show them love, compassion, and most of all, have some fun! To say the least, I felt like a celebrity that week.

Out of the 550 students in the school, this one little kindergartner really stood out to me. Her name was Charlie; she has the brightest blue eyes and beautiful curly hair. The timid look on her face immediately got my attention. Throughout the week I was able to get to know more about her through talking, laughter, and dancing, of course! Every time we passed each other in the hallway we always gave each other this goofy face, followed by heart felt laughter. She really won me over.

Though our team was not able to teach theses principles in a biblical perspective, Christ revealed Himself throughout the week. The children really took in and understood what we were teaching. Though this was the first of many projects being done at Ziegler School, I am so blessed to just have been able to be apart of a great team that spent time at this school. Being able to come alongside the great kids and faculty to encourage, uplift, and just love on this community has really touched my heart.

I am excited to see what is in store in the future with Northeast Community Outreach and Ziegler School!

Celebrating Two Years

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since we left the comforts and familiarity of our family and friends to be on mission in New Jersey. On one hand, it seems like it was just yesterday, but on the other hand it seems like an eternity. I can honestly say for all of our team that it wasn’t at all what we expected, but it has been absolutely life changing for all of us.

We have witnessed the power of God move in so many incredible ways among us. We have seen God for who He is and what He has done in many up close and personal ways. We have seen Him as:

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide.

It seems like every time we needed something, God has, and does, provide in ways we could never expect. God has entrusted to us prayer warriors, finances, resources, relationships, encouragement, help, vision, hope, wisdom, and even obstacles... and the list could go on. We have learned that God is our sole provider and there is nothing we need, because we have Him and in Him is all we need!

Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Is There.

We must be honest and say that leaving all we knew and were comfortable with was much harder than we ever expected. We, even today, miss the ‘everyday connection’ with those we love and got to do life with in Tampa. Yet, God has not and never does abandon His children. He has been and is there with us every step of the way. We have just learned the value of looking to Him and not others and other things to find that peace. This is a constant learning journey but God is there guiding us daily.

El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty.

God’s power has been on display in so many ways throughout this journey and we have the privilege of getting a front row seat to see God show up and show off. We are constantly reminded of the words of Jesus in the book of John where He said, “apart from Me you can do NOTHING.” Our best efforts aren’t enough to move the hearts of folks and build a church. Yet, if we lay our agendas down and seek God’s will, we see what only He can do.

We have seen lives both changed and transformed by the gospel, marriages strengthened and saved. We have seen a community that looks to other things to sustain it realize that life is fragile if built upon its present foundation. We constantly get the opportunity to BE GOOD NEWS to a people and a community that is desperately looking for hope.

God is good, right and perfect.

He is Holy and all His ways are right and trustworthy. The God who SEES and KNOWS. The God who POINTS us in the RIGHT DIRECTION. The God who is both MYSTERIOUS and RELATIONAL. He is GLORIOUS, HE is GRACIOUS, He has a PLAN, He is LOVING and GRACEFUL.

I could go on and on about God and the ways that we have come to know Him and see Him at work, but what I hope you know is that it has been transforming! So, as I write this I just want to stop and give God all the praise! He alone is worthy and we thank Him for His faithfulness!

God's Timing

Post by Ashley Fierros

God has been so faithful to provide just what I need! That seems to be the resounding theme for me these days! For the last 3 years I have been blessed to be the curriculum coordinator for Pura Vida Missions in Costa Rica. It is seasonal job and a helpful source of income. So I will be wrapping it up this coming week as it will be the last curriculum I put together for this year which means that income will subside. But God is sooooooo faithful and good!

I felt that The Lord was moving me towards getting a part time job. So, two months I applied online for Carrabbas Italian Grill. I was a previous employee years ago and felt that I could make some extra money by working just a few days per week. However, I hadn’t heard anything from them after applying I assumed the Lord wasn’t opening up that door.

Then one day while I was taking a break in Philly I received a phone call from the proprietor of Carrabbas, Cheryll. She wanted to know if I was still interested in the position for the job! So, I went in and signed the paperwork.

The beautiful thing was when I had applied I still had 2 months of curriculum to do and being heavily involved in church plant I would have been overwhelmed. God knew though and took care of it! So now that curriculum is over for this season God has now provided another source of income!

Again, like Isaiah 55:8 says, His thoughts are not my thoughts and neither are His ways my ways! He has the way for me and all I need to do is just rest in His plan! He provides just enough for this day!! So please be praying that God opens up opportunities to shine His light in Carrabas as He reveals to me the need that is there! I am His servant on mission everyday as I go about my day and I want to use my time to do His will!