I've been running full tilt since before NOLA and now after coming home, there hasn't been a free minute. I MUST finish unpacking today and making some sort of order to my clothes! Thankfully, the delay of being locked out of my house when I got home last Saturday (the fam assumed I had a house key...silly silly), so the laundry was unpacked directly into the Laundromat. What a blessing!

Things never seem to settle on the work front. Every spring, I have to meet with each student's parents to devise their educational program for the coming school year. I've waded through most of my meetings with only 2 left to go! It will be good to get the paperwork settled so that I can put attention to planning for next year and getting organized. I have never felt like I've had this year under my belt. There are some new things I'd like to try as far as organization and data collecting for the fall- so I'm excited to get that set before the summer. There will be NO time to think about school over the summer!

Summer plans-

We have a number of events scheduled for the teens over the summer. I'm excited about our new format for ministry that we'll start hopefully in May. Once a week, the teens will be in their various "ministry teams" and begin to build a repertoire of presentations that can be used in a variety of settings. We want to focus them on service and not competition (TI). We've been asked to do a few different outreaches with other churches- which is really awesome! So the timing is perfect. Right now, we have a youth choir, puppet teams, drama teams and hopefully a quiz team. It is exciting to see them getting involved and learning. Pray that more teens will step forward and that many will look for individual ways to serve (story telling, solos, instrumental etc..). We are also looking to plan a week long work week for the teens in August. We will work on the youth building- hopefully painting/decorating as well as projects at the church. I have to work on this and get it organized but it is all to "prep" them for a possible missions trip next summer- perhaps overseas or back to NOLA!

My personal summer plans-

I hope to be in Haiti for a week- depending on the safety issues there. We need $25,000 to pour the ceiling. This is a job that has to be done in one shot- so we really can't move forward until that money comes in.

Another plan is to head to VA for a bit to see Alicia and Matt. Not sure if I'll drive or fly- but I have to go!

Then, July 26-Aug 11th, I will be going to Germany to teach at a youth camp. I'll teach English to christian teens. Tomorrow is our first team meeting and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. The curriculum is intense and requires ALOT of planning on my part- pray I can do this. At first I thought, "no problem" but then things started to get emailed to me with more details and I got overwhelmed. I know God works through our weakness- and this will be good for me! I can't wait to see all that I learn in the process and what I am able to transfer to our youth and ministry here in general.

Otherwise- I plan to relax, get caught up, read, take some drives, walk, visit the ocean more, spend some time with my family, finish a few projects....

And I think I will listen to

Discovered her in NOLA, while working, and I really liked her style. This may be my Summer album.

In my quiet time two weeks ago, I came across these verses-

Proverbs 23:17-19

"Do not long for what sinners have. But always show great respect for the Lord. There really is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off. My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right path."

A friend reminded me a few months ago about the amazing opportunities I have. It is truly a blessing when I consider the travel I've been able to do- and the opportunities coming in the near future. And then, I consider the ministry situations I find myself in and I am overcome. And yet, there are still the quiet moments where I feel hopeless. The public life is amazing, but my heart longs for fulfillment in other areas- and these verses reminded me that there is HOPE- my responsibility is to honor the Lord and listen, be wise and keep my heart on HIS path.

I needed this reminder today.

SAVE NOLA

Looking back- I'm not sure where the last month has gone- but it has been very busy!

The week before April Vacation was a blur and exhausting as there was so much to accomplish. I headed out Sunday the 13th for New Orleans with a small team of students from my high school to work for a week on homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. We worked with St. Bernard Project (check them out!). They were amazing and are doing great things! St. Bernard Parish, where we worked, is a wonderful community. All homes and businesses were destroyed in the storm and many people have not yet returned. Homes and businesses are abandoned, jobs are scarce but the hope and tenacity of these people remain. They are actively seeking to start over- return to normalacy and are helping one another get on their feet. We were amazed by their appreciation and positive attitudes and sweet spirits. Each person we met shared their story- and it was exciting to get so many different perspectives.

The destruction was horrible and there is still so much to do. Thousands of homes are being prepared to be demolished- many more houses are in various stages of repair and thousands of people need the resources to make that happen. It was a joy to work with St. Bernard Project who is tangibly helping one family at a time get back into their homes. So many feel like they have been abandandoned and forgotten by the greater community. And in many ways, they have. We don't hear the news reports, life has gone on for us- but these people mark time as to if something happened before/after Katrina. They've not only lost loved ones, their homes and possessions- but their culture has changed, their communities have been disrupted and the effects this will have in years to come is still unknown. Environmentally, the challenges are great as well. They asked that we not forget them.

Look to see what you can do to make a difference! We can all and must do something!

We had an amazing night at youth group this week. We had a guest speaker who gave an incredible plain but challenging gospel message.

We have a number of kids who aren't saved- and they were certainly challenged to make a decision.

He talked about letting God be the "boss" of your life- and I know that even our saved kids have to think about that and surrender.

I spoke to my small group after- and my two unsaved girls were so honest about not wanting to surrender to anyone! Not wanting to give control of their life to anyone else- even God.

I asked them- "How do you define God?"- they said He is all-powerful, he keeps the world running, made all things.

So I said, "Basically, you believe He can create the world, and decide when it will rain or have lightening and He is able to keep us safe and not allow the earth to self-combust. But, you're not willing to trust Him to be in control of your little life?"

Today, my heart has been so burdened for the girls. I know some of our kids get nervous that they will get turned off to the Lord. But- we have a responsibility to teach truth and to challenge them to a decision- while remaining loving and focused on the relationship we are trying to build.

Both girls wrote some pretty impressive stuff on their myspaces today. They both acknowledge their need for Christ- but the area of submission is holding them back. It was neat to read their impressions- that their perspectives are being changed and they do feel feel loved and accepted.

Please pray for these gals- and the others who are unsaved. My heart is so burdened for them. I know that God can reveal His truth and take away the blindness from their hearts. They have come so far. Pray we have wisdom as we minister to them. Pray that this challenges our kids and that it increases their faith.

Always~
Elisabeth

The last few weeks have been super busy- I'm enjoying a day of just relaxing and catching up.


Teens Involved was a great day! The kids did a great job with their presentations- had great attitudes and really supported one another! We were proud of them. Teens Involved always allows for teachable moments and it was good to challenge them in service and presentation.

The gang- don't we look good!

Not sure what Matt is doing here.....

Last weekend was our Mission's Conference. It was challenging and great to hear from a variety of our missionaries.

This year, I was asked to plan a youth meeting for the conference. One night, as I was laying in bed, God clearly gave me the idea of a Ministry Fair for Youth. It seemed like an incredibly daunting task and I'm sure a few people thought I was crazy. With Katie's help, it turned out to be amazing! We had 20 different ministries represented and 4 youth groups attending. There were about 160 people there! Everything ran so well! The teens had the opportunity to visit the displays and then they choose 2 presentations that they wanted to know more about- meeting over dinner and dessert. How great to hear the kids say, "there wasn't enough time to see it all!". They were all so engaged and interested! Everyone seemed to walk away encouraged- the teens, youth leaders and presenters. Many got excited about serving the Lord and are actively pursuing opportunities.

Some of our kids with a presenter-



We ended the night with a large rally- worship band, youth choir, drama team, testimonies, media presentations and our speaker. With so many players, I was wondering how it would all flow. And- it was all great! Everything was seamless. There are always some technolgy glitches but everything worked out.



I am overwhelmed by the event- how everyone helped out- how things were received- how it all flowed. It was amazing! God is so good. We are pumped to do another fair next year- actually considering turning it into an all-day conference for youth/youth leaders. Very exciting.


I've really been challenged to step up ministry with our teens- I think it was it lacking and allowing them to be apathetic. They do a lot of ministry- but we have not "forced" them out into truly uncomfortable situations where they have to rely on God- we have not sufficiently trained them to share the gospel. So- this will be our goal in the coming year. Pray we have wisdom as we pursue our purpose.


Everything else is coming along- New Orleans in a few weeks. I did decide to go to Germany this summer- July 27-Aug 11th. That will be exciting. I should be in Haiti in July sometime to.

We just received a large gift for Haiti- awesome! I'm praying that God uses 1 person to meet our financial need. A big request- but I know HE can do it!


We are heading into the very busy season of annuals at school- lots of meetings to attend. But- three months until summer break! Yippee!

I heard this song at our Youth Rally and I've been meditating on it since...

Here Am I Lord by The Micah Tawkls Band

You are the Lord of sea and sky, You have heard Your people cry

all who dwell in dark and sin, Your hand will save

You who made the stars of night, You will make their darkness bright,

You will give Your light to them, who will You send?

Here Am I Lord? Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if You lead me, I will hold Your people in my heart!

You are the Lord of snow and rain, You have bore Your people's pain,

You have wept for love for them, they turn away

You will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone,

You will speak Your words to them, who will You send?

Here Am I Lord? Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night!

I will go Lord, If You lead me, I will hold Your people in my heart!

You are Lord of wind and flame, You turn the poor and lame

You will give Your life to them, Who will you send?

That's it for now- thank you for praying for me and checking in to see that I'm still alive!
God is good and He is daily challenging me.
Always~
Elisabeth