Busy. Non-stop. No break. Can’t catch my breath. All phrases to describe our life from May to June. At the beginning of May, my cousin Kristie married JR! It was a sweet celebration, but not too long after that Josh’s grandpa passed away and we had to fly to Michigan for a few days. When we returned we had a full month ahead of us!
I have been on on the student ministry staff for just over 4 years, meaning that the seniors that graduated this May were in 8th grade when I began my ministry with them. Needless to say, they are a very special class to Josh and me. Their class is committed to each other, to God, to our student ministry and to serving! They are awesome! Nine of them that graduated served on our student worship band – WOW! Half of those have been leading worship for 3 or 4 years!
All that to say, May was packed with graduation parties. We had at least two almost every weekend and a couple during the week, but it was worth every visit. I even had a chance to steal four of my girls away and celebrate with just them. These four girls have been close to me all four years (but I’ve know them all longer than that–and babysat a couple of them)!
Clockwise: Joy, Betty, Hillary and Jessica on our day-trip to Pappasitos. A very special day with my girls!
I wish I had pictures with every graduate, but we were only able to snap a few. I have one with each of these four girls, but will save you more pics of the same faces. Here’s one we got with another one of our student worship leaders (and someone I’ve known since he was born)!
Us with Sean at his graduation party! He and his family have always been precious to me and now to Josh, too!
I can’t wait to see how God keeps using this amazing group of teenagers as they continue their journey with him!
A couple weeks ago, we had a SERVE night at DSM and because the girls brought more stuff than the boys (clothes, nonperishable food, etc), I got to pie Daniel in the face! A special thanks to the anonymous guys (cough, cough, Sean and Luc) who donated their belongings to the girls’ side! What gentlemen! I had just washed my hair that afternoon so that I could wake up the next morning bright and early for our mission trip and throw it in a ponytail. I was not wanting to get pie in my hair and mess up my plan!
Luckily, Daniel had just shaved his head so I was able to make sure the whip cream got all over his face and the top of his head. Ah, student ministry.
Last week, I took a group of adult leaders and students to work with a year-old church plant in Memphis. They have built much of their ministry around investing in the people of a neighboring apartment complex, and our students put on a VBS for the kids there! It was moving to see our students work together, love each other and love the kids that they met. Five kids came to know Jesus because of the direct personal evangelism done by our students! Yay, God!
Most of the group on our last day in front of Graceland!
Yes, we had a little extra time at the end of the last day and where else would you want to go while in Memphis?! I have always loved Elvis and his music…and it’s been a dream of mine to visit Graceland. We had to explain to the teenagers why Elvis was so significant — I think a few of them got it. Not that I would ever WISH to go back to Memphis, but if I do, I’d like to take the actual tour of the home.
Whew! A lot of miles to cover in one post. Josh and I just spent our first Saturday at home in over a month with nothing to do! It was a GREAT day. Trying to store up some quality time and rest for beach camp in a little over a week…thankful for my husband who graciously perserveres through a student minister’s summer schedule.
