MOWA Choctaw Friends Center

Thankful Praise to God and His Servants!

2012-01-12T18:23:00.006-06:00

Happy New Year to all,

 Thanks so much for the wonderful toys and food items you either 
sent or brought to the MOWA Choctaw Friends Center.  We were so blessed 
this year and were able to meet the needs of nearly all who came our 
way.  The families were selected from a mobile pantry sponsored by the 
MCFC and Mobile County Food bank.  We were able to serve 125 families an 
average of over 50 lbs of food per family.  As you know these were 
targeted at risk families. You helped make a difference this Christmas 
in the lives of these families.

57 families received Christmas boxes and a 97 children were able to have 
a gift this year.    In most cases we were able to put 2 toys in each 
box for each child.  The adult count is a little less clear, we placed 
items for families in each box like shampoo and body wash and other 
essential items.  Last year we were able to pass out to 30 families and 
this year was nearly double.  Thank you for sharing and caring.   Gods 
love in action speaks louder than all the preaching in the world.

(Auburn's Christian Veterinary Fellowship)

(Boxes full of toys ready for families to pickup)

(MCFC Staff, Youth, and Community Volunteers)

After finishing such a blessed and busy Christmas season, the time has come to catch you all up on events happening around here and what we look forward to in the new year! On December 10th, the youth were able to serve God by visiting the local Nursing Home as mentioned on the previous post!

Weeks followed with our Community Christmas Dinner, ASP Christmas Party, Youth Christmas Party, Our food and toy drive and the ASP's Christmas Program. Friends and family of the children came to watch their loved ones perform the story of Jesus in a matter of music, comedy and tradition with "Drummer Boys", a dance done by the young ladies, an Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas with the K-2 class dressed in the manger scene! Check out the Picasa page -----------------------------------------------> to see photos from this Christmas season!

Christmas time is here; Happiness and cheer

2011-12-10T21:08:00.001-06:00

Matthew 25:40 And the King will say 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

With the Christmas spirit still mingling here, we figured that as a youth group we would share it with those at the nursing home in Citronelle, Al. To prep for this we made a mess while making cookies for the folks there and also prayed and shared about what we were going to do at the nursing home! It was a great time of fellowship and fun while we pounded out some cookie dough and some cookie cutters (shared by Mrs. Ann, thank you!) while we listened to some Charlie Brown.

This afternoon we took some of the Sanktown youth and lived out the service of those in need as spoken about in verses 35-46 of chapter 25 in the book of Matthew. The youth were nervous at first but once we got on the way and we all began sharing stories of our lives with each other it was a great time of community. Connections were made with the residents as well as the youth and it was apparent after speaking with them on our way to McDonald's! We offered a time of crafts and our home-made cookies and our brothers and sisters were very happy and joyful with the youth coming in to spend some time with them! This was a huge step for the youth and am so proud of them! They asked to do more stuff like this and am so excited to be able to pray for more opportunities to give them!

Check out the pics on our Picasa web album of our trip!

Acts 20:35

A Time to Give and a Time to Thank

2011-12-02T17:45:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving Box Delivery and Bonfire!

On the 17th of November, we were blessed to have the means to help out the Sanktown community with some of Sanktown's finest .... the Youth! This opportunity was shared together as we packed boxes for families in need in the immediate area. The children that came out and volunteered their time had a blast stacking boxes and pairing up to fill each of the 70 boxes. It soon became a competition between each pair of children. After helping serve their own community, everyone was rewarded with a BBQ dinner in front of a fire. We sat an ate while we joined in fellowship with one another. Towards the end of our night we had a game of "Sardines" before everyone went home.
The next day we opened our doors for families to pick up their boxes. This was a great opportunity for our interns Hunter and Stefanie to introduce themselves to local's who may not be involved otherwise with programs here at the center. It was a great time to give to those in need and to see the joy in their faces. We here at the center would like to thank those who donated their time and money to assist in the purchase of food for those here in Alabama. We praise God for every opportunity he has given us at the center to serve Him and his people and thank Him for the help from everywhere this year!

*Pictures in Picasa Album! Check them Out

Young Mom's Gathering

November 19th we had been planning a Young Adult gathering for those in the McIntosh community. We had a Chili Cook-Off while we were going to watch a football game and talk about new things that these young people would like to do in the future. While it did not turn out exactly how we had hoped, it turned out how God needed it to and it was apparent. We had 6 people show up and 2 of which had newborns. This was great because we had babysitting offered by some of our Senior Youth group which gave them a chance to practice responsibility and leadership. We were able to talk about not a young adult group, like FCM's in NC, but a young mom's group as many of the newborn's mothers are still in school and work and are not able to get the proper education they need for raising their children. So beginning in the new year we are starting a Young Mom's group with hope to have a small group join together in fellowship that will help instruct young mothers on parenthood based on experiences from each other, God's instruction and also different readings.

AA Meetings

In early November our Intern Stefanie headed up on the creation of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. God definitely had his hand in the middle of it all and when we began our first week had a great turn out! It will continue every Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm in the back classroom of the Turner Hall School Building. Pray for the individuals involved and for God;s hand to be in the midst of it all.

Yaaayyy! For Christmas!

Christmas began early this year as we began listening to Christmas music around the center a week before Thanksgiving! This was great because when we returned from our Thanksgiving break we would all put up our Christmas trees and also those in the classrooms of Turner Hall and in the dining room of our Quaker Lodge. We hope to share our Christmas spirits with visitors, our community and those we serve. December 3rd we are having Auburn University's Christian Veterinary Missionary Team drop off their donated items for our Christmas Deliveries! We are so thankful for those who donated and are also volunteering their time to drive a few hours south to help unload their shipment! December 10th is FCM's Jingle All the Way 5K and pray and hope it goes well! That same weekend the youth have planned a service trip to the Nursing Home in Citronelle. We hope and pray that God will lead the youth's hearts and minds into servant like bodies of Christ. This event is to share our time with those who may not have friends and family visit them during this time but also just to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ by doing crafts with the folks at the center, giving out home-made cookies, and possibly sing some carols (This will be interesting to see who will actually sing!) But we know it will be a fun and glorious time.

Upcoming Events

If you are a church leader, you know how busy schedules become this time of year! We ask for prayer for all these upcoming events. Prayer for our Jesus to be seen in our actions and that others will be able to see Him in a way that will change their lives. We ask for God's guidance in events and changes throughout the new year. We thank you all for your support, prayers and encouragement this year and for the year to come!

December 10th : Youth Nursing Home Trip 2pm
December 17th : Community Christmas Dinner 6 pm
December 21st : After School Christmas Program 7pm (at Oak Hill)

...Half Cherokee and Choctaw...

2011-10-28T22:53:00.002-05:00

As we rolled into October, the weather has made a great change to being warm in the afternoons and cool in the evenings. This had made it to be perfect weather for our Sunday Night Games and our trips as staff or as a youth group. We had the opportunity to travel to Lucedale, Mississippi to attend an annual event named "Praise in the Park" where local and mainstream Christian artists perform. Such artists included Jeremy Camp, Leeland, and Building 429. Hundreds of youth groups were there and joined together in an amazing time of worship and praise to our God. Our kids had a blast as they ran about with each other and sung with the "congregation" of tons of youth and young adults. As the night ended the group began to pass out of exhaustion one by one on our way home. Who knew 7 hours of praising God could be so tiring?

A week earlier the staff had the chance to go to the local Pow-Wow where a majority of the community came together to watch loved ones compete in traditional dances of the tribes. Tribes included a Mississippi Cherokee group, an Alabama Choctaw, and a from the Northwest (I apologize of the inability to remember this particular groups name). Many of the MOWA Choctaw individuals were there participating and enjoying a time of festivities. It was interesting to learn the techniques, traditions, history and culture of the groups. As well as a opportunity to learn about the Native's, we had the chance to speak to individuals about our ministry here at the Center.

As November is about to begin we will be starting an AA Meeting for the community by the second week. As travel is preventing from many in the community that need it to travel to meetings, we hope to provide an opportunity for those to complete the program and create relationships that may not have been prior to; relationships with each other as a community, with us at the center, and most importantly Jesus Christ. Furthermore we are also anticipating a development of a Young Mom's Group and a Young Adult Group to assist in this boosting of a single community in Christ. Development of a Young Adult Group has begun and a time of fellowship will be held on the 19th to introduce this group. We will be having a chili cook-off while watching a football game. We hope that this brings in the 18-30 year old that we need in the growth of this neighborhood. This will be a prime time to share ideas to get this age group involved. We anticipate on starting a bible study and being able to reach out to this group of adults. We ask for prayer in all these new ministries and possible ministries in the future and ask for continuous blessing in our current ministries of Youth, Community Outreach, and our After School Program. Thank you all who are already supporting us in every way you do! We are grateful and praise God for your blessings in Him.

Upcoming Events:

November 4 - Multi-Cultural Fair held at the Elementary School
November 19 - Young Adult Chili Cook-Off

Community Community Community!

2011-09-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

After such a busy summer, filled with camps for the community to mission work from other Friends Meetings, school began and so did our after school program. We opened our after school services and have been very successful in assisting the children with homework, projects and extracurricular activities during the afternoon such as music theory, art and organized activities from touch-football to some free time on the play set.

This program gives an opportunity for those to get the help they need with work from school that they may not receive at home or school but also in a christian environment where we begin each day with a devotion, worship and prayer.

We have begun an intern program with junior high students that will hopefully turn into an opportunity for youth to gain leadership, understand the value of volunteerism, and give them opportunities to work with other children and in turn, help with their own education.

We had the opportunity to invite the parents of the students in the program to a parent night where we held snacks and a time of fellowship with one another. During this time the children played sports outside while the parents spoke with tutors and the directors of the program about their child's efforts, success, improvements and opportunities while in the program. It was a great time of fellowship with fun, food, and friendship.

In mid-September we had a community dinner where we had deliscious brisket, hashbrown casserole, green beans, and dessert that the community had brought ranging from banana pudding to honey-bun cake to brownies. It gave us the opportunity to use our new porch that groups had built over the summer and introduce the great weather this fall has already brought in. It was an amazing time of fellowship and those arrived appeared to have a great time.

Last night we had a community cookout which was composed mainly of our junior and senior youth with younger siblings as well. We began early with a game of football and when others arrived began a game of softball, We had 21 in total and had a very competitive game that was lots of fun. As the Kendall's opened up there back yard for a hot dog roast with their new fire pit, we had the time to have fun and get away from school and busy schedules. As the night air came in, we began to make smores and listen to music.

Beginning after Labor Day, MOWA restarted youth programming for those in 4th grade through 12th. We have had a great turn out and a wonderful time of bible study and topical studies with the youth of the community. With snacks and games we introduce and welcome youth as they arrive and follow it with a time of personal insight of how we should live as Christians and allow our lives to portray so. The children have great responses and questions and we can not wait to see what God will pull through this year!

The SOUL 2011 staff visit Alabama

2011-03-20T07:45:00.000-05:00

Sometime during the night of March 10th the staff for SOUL 2011 arrived for their orientation retreat.

Even though they were only here for 2 days they packed them full. Our Lord has selected a fantastic groups of young adults to head up the SOUL program this summer.

Pray for the staff as they plan their activities for this summer. Also pray for the participants, both from North Carolina and Alabama, that hearts will be touched this summer.

Their last evening with us we had a dinner so the community could meet the new staff. A great time of food and fellowship.

Christmas Box Giveaway

2010-12-22T17:00:00.001-06:00

Thanks to donations of food, gifts and money from all over the US we have been able to spread some Christmas cheer in the Sanktown community.


Food Donated from NC

Food purchased with money donated

Food all sorted and ready to be boxed

Two of this and One of that - item by item the boxes are filled

Almost full

Filled and stacked ready for distribution

Christmas Gifts all boxed and ready for their families

Kendall boys in the loaded sleigh

"Santa" visits Nicole & Jesse

Christopher carries a box of gifts

"Santa" visits Ms Vallie

Christopher & Jonathan unload the sleigh

"Santa" visits Ms Whitehead

After delivering gifts to Ms Jenny & Ms Irene, "Santa" gets directions for his next stop

"Santa" visits Gilbert's family

"Santa" visits Ms Alberta

How do you say "Merry Christmas?"

2010-12-09T21:43:00.000-06:00

How many ways can you say Merry Christmas?

Chinese & Athiest

Welsh & Catalan

Indonesian

Spanish

Afrikaans

Hebrew

Russian

Filipino

English

Portuguese

German

Italian

Japenese

Finnish

Haitian Creole

Community Christmas Party

2010-12-09T20:11:00.001-06:00

We had 34 adults and kids that participated in our Community Christmas Party. The kids had their faces painted by Starla and Ann. Will, Sterling, Bryce and Dwight helped kids cut out paper snowflakes. Then everyone enjoyed a cake walk. Following that the older kids watched "The Nativity Story" and the younger ones were entertained by several Veggie Tales movies.

Lumiere's light the way

Starla is ready to paint faces

the tree is ready for the cake walk

Will and Ann adding some finishing touches

Whitehead and Ann help the kids decorate a gingerbread house

How many ways can you say Merry Christmas

Sterling and Dwight help make paper snowflakes

Bryce works with his table

Gracie adds some finishing touches to the ginger bread house

the older kids take their turn making snowflakes

Christian with her snow princess face

Austin gets a candy cane on his cheek

Chance taking his turn

Gracie the snow princess

Christian and Austin

Destiny

Who will win the cake (not Bryce)

Thanksgiving Box Project

2010-12-06T19:52:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the generosity of friends all over the US were able to provide food boxes to 80 families at Thanksgiving

Here are the boxes all packed with the dry goods

The recipients check in with Ann

then sign a thank you card

Peggy Long gets a frozen hen to add to the boxes

the boxes head home

John Carroll helps carry boxes to waiting cars

Holly Spring sponsored Work Team

2010-12-05T19:56:00.000-06:00

Holly Spring Friends Meeting organized a group to come down from North Carolina. While here they helped take care of several projects around the center as well as helping hang drywall in a community home.

Here are some pictorial highlights.

Ken Spivey, Duane Long and Joe Allen work on a new counter top on the island in the director's house

Ken and Duane check out the finished project

John Carroll and Joe Allen replace the tub surround in the director's house.

Sterling and Bryce dig holes to install new fence posts

Billy Hedrick and Joe Allen came behind and installed the new posts

Carol lives just down the road from the center. She and her son live in this camper

Carol is trying to get her new house finished enough to move into

first step was to finish leveling the house

finishing up some framing

then Billy Hedrick and Jimmy Spivey could start measuring for drywall

Will Allen and Corey York get a piece cut

Duane Long and Ken Spivey get it nailed to the wall

Pat Cheadle and Phyllis Belle sort clothes for our weekly Re-Sale

After a day of hard work, everyone enjoyed our evening meals

We're not sure why Billy was eating by himself

Our evenings ended with a time of worship & prayer
Thank you Lord for a safe and productive week.

A special thanks to the entire team:
Joe Allen
John Carroll
Corey York
Bill Hedrick
Duane & Peggy Long
Pat Cheadle
Phyllis Belle
Ken Spivey
Jimmy Spivey

and then there was our awesome staff
Will Allen
Bryce Kincaid
&
Sterling Brown

Water Day

2010-08-17T13:28:00.001-05:00

lil' water, little soap, 3 hours in the rain = great fun = Back to school blast

Its not grainy, it's raining

"I'll never tell"

Krislena, Jonathan, (back to camera)
Chance and Austin

Come ye who need rest

2010-08-16T23:21:00.000-05:00

Ashboro Friends Meeting visited this weekend to bring a little Room Makeover Wonder to the Lodge.

The room formerly known as the "cooks" room is now a beautifully appointed guest room, due to their generosity and vision. Given a jumping off cue working with existing paint job, God and our "Friends" came into perfect harmony and serenity in this new/old space.

Our room now named "la voile" mean "the sail"

Taken from scripture, when Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

Luke 8

'Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep.'

Jesus was busy, very busy. He taught and healed and served and performed miracles. Just after this scripture we read, about the "storm" where He is called to wake up and "fix" it quick.

In our many years of ministry we have found that Pastors and Missionaries often need to "sail away" and get some rest. So we invite you to come, down to the quiet rural Alabama, lay your head on a pillow. Rest, for you don't know what storm God may allow to come into your path next.

It is our desire to bless the weary and worn, those traveling through. We are close to Mobile airport, 40 minutes off of I 65, Gulfport MS, and Pensacola are all within reasonable driving distances. While we are not the Hilton, we will do all we can to enable you to recharge and restore for a short while.

The space has sitting space, private bathroom with shower. Our lodge kitchen is available for your meals. Several small town cafe's are available with in a 10 minute drive. We are 1 hour from Historic Mobile, and 2 1/2 hours from the Beautiful shores of the Gulf. (yes, they are beautiful here). There is limited wireless email (you are supposed to be resting after all) We are working on TV, but still have glitches there. We have a library with vintage books of all sorts.

Please contact us by phone or email to check availability. 251.829.6507

La Voile - Sail Away

2010-08-16T14:50:00.000-05:00

I hope these pictures tempt you to come and spend some time with us

Back to School Bash

2010-08-14T23:53:00.001-05:00

Rain, rain rain. Our Back to School Bash was rained out. This didn't hamper lots of kids having fun on the giant slip and slide on Saturday. Around 15 kids, upwards of 20 drifted in and out for 3 hours straight as they finished off our worn piece of plastic from SOUL.

Mr Tim braved the weather and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for 50. The plans to eat outside were switched to indoors and everyone seemed to have a great time.

VBS Slideshow

2010-07-21T17:21:00.005-05:00

SOUL '10: VBS
from MOWA Choctaw Friends Center on Vimeo.

SOUL is...

2010-07-21T15:26:00.000-05:00

...now in Matamoros, Mexico to do VBS.
Please keep them in your prayers.

Thank you.

Work Week Video

2010-07-20T18:24:00.004-05:00

SOUL '10: Work Week

from MOWA Choctaw Friends Center on Vimeo.

Thursday Worship

2010-07-15T23:15:00.004-05:00

Cedar Square and Pilot View,

thank you for your presence this week at VBS.

We couldn't have done this without you.

Will, Lyndsey, Bryce, and Edna perform their chair mime.

TJ, an area youth, shares his testimony

SOUL staff and volunteers share their Cardboard Testimony

click for more pictures

VBS- Day 4

2010-07-15T22:44:00.000-05:00

Here are pictures from the last day of VBS:

Joe with Jonathan and one of the neighbourhood boys

reading the day's memory verse

sweet dance moves to "Days of Elijah"

motions to "Dive"

Starla and Danielle

VBS- Day 3

2010-07-14T23:01:00.009-05:00

More pictures :-)

VBS- Day 2

2010-07-13T23:01:00.010-05:00

Click for more pictures :-)

VBS: Day 1

2010-07-12T22:14:00.000-05:00

And today begins VBS!

view more pictures here

Sunday Worship

2010-07-11T22:24:00.019-05:00

Below are pictures from evening worship:

T-Minus 3... 2... 1...

2010-07-10T20:45:00.022-05:00

...blast off!

Welcome to SOUL 2010 VBS: Galactic Blast! We want to welcome our teams from Pilot View and Cedar Square and thank y'all for being so willing to come down and help make this week a success. Please keep us all-- the community, the staff, the volunteers-- in your prayers, that God will move in mighty ways this week.

Up Next: VBS!

2010-07-07T23:07:00.002-05:00

Hi friends. We hope y'all had a good Fourth of July weekend. We took the weekend off; SOUL staff went home to North Carolina to visit family, part of the Kendall family left for camp at Quaker Lake. That just left the rest of the Kendall family and i here at the Center to kick back and relax for the weekend. Now we're all back together and workin' hard to get the place set up for VBS.

Thank You Brannon Friends Volunteers

2010-06-30T19:07:00.001-05:00

Y'all built a porch, painted a trailer, and put a new roof on a house...
...all in only two and a half days.

Thanks for all your hard work.

You've made a big difference in our community.

Jonathan, Kathy, Bobby (homeowner), Katie, Edna, Stefanie, Joyce, Laura

Nancy (homeowner), Lyndsey, Stefanie, Dwight, Will, Dan, Katie, Bryce

Edna, Jonathan, Janie (homeowner), Sterling, Garrett, Joe, Nickolas, Zach, Phil

Work Week Volunteers

Let's Also Shingle A Roof!

2010-06-29T13:34:00.045-05:00

Stefani cuts shingles down to size

(f-b) Bryce, Lyndsey, Dwight, Katie, Dan

Will and Tim

Lyndsey, Bryce, Dan, Katie, Dwight, Stefanie, Will
(bottom to top, left to right)

Click for more pictures :-)

And Let's Build A Porch!

2010-06-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Sterling saws off part of a post

and Phil (left picture) and Zach (right picture) dig holes for the posts

See the rest of the pictures

Let's Paint A House

2010-06-28T19:34:00.001-05:00

We've begun work on this week's projects: the porch to build, the house to paint, and the roof to shingle. We should finish the house tomorrow; the porch and roof should be done by Wednesday afternoon. Please keep all staff and volunteers in your prayers, that we may be able to accomplish much and stay safe. Thank you.

Stefanie paints the rafters

as Jonathan and Laura work on the trim

Click for more pictures :-)

Welcome to Work Week

2010-06-27T22:54:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Work Week! We have five volunteers from Brannon Friends Meeting. We have three projects for them to work on: a porch to build, a house to paint, and a roof to shingle. Our speaker this week is Stefanie; she is from South Fork Friends and NC State's campus pastor. Stefanie will build upon our theme of the "Narrow Road". Here are pictures from our time of worship:

More Pictures!

Goodbye Sports Camp... Hello Work Week

2010-06-25T20:54:00.001-05:00

We've said goodbye to our Sports Camp volunteers
and now await our new volunteers for Work Week...

Y'all made Sports Camp a big success,

thank you

Sports Camp Slideshow

2010-06-24T18:59:00.001-05:00

SOUL 2010-- Sports Camp
from MOWA Choctaw Friends Center on Vimeo.

Water Day!

2010-06-24T16:14:00.005-05:00

Sports Camp came to an end today with Water Day

Say hello to our campers :-)

See the rest of the pictures :-)

Volleyball!

2010-06-23T23:30:00.047-05:00

We taught volleyball skills:
serve, set, spike.

More Volleyball Pictures

Football!

2010-06-22T23:30:00.149-05:00

What sports camp would be complete without a day of football?

(...especially a sports camp in Alabama!)

So today began with drills and came to an end with flag football.

click for more pictures

And Sports Camp Has Begun

2010-06-21T20:14:00.004-05:00

Our volunteers got here Saturday. SOUL staff led ice breakers (a maze scavenger hunt and a game of Ninja) so staff and volunteers could get to know each other. After a snack, we had a time of worship. Our speaker this week is Sarah, of Poplar Ridge Friends; songs are led by Bryce, Christopher, Edna, Lyndsey, and Will. Sunday, we split into teams so we could represent the Center at each area church: Oak Hill, Mt. Moriah, Liberty Baptist, and Fairford Free Christian. That afternoon, we did a flyer blitz of the neighborhood for Sports Camp. SOUL staff led another round of games meant to promote teamwork among the volunteers. Our day came to an end with a time of worship.
And now that it's Monday... Sports Camp has begun :-)

Today, we taught the kids basic basketball skills. We had four stations set up so the kids could learn to dribble, pass, shoot, and play defense. Before lunch was practice, after lunch were half court and then full court basketball games. We also taught basic cheers; the cheerleaders gave a good show in the afternoon.

Sports Camp has gotten off to a fantastic start...
...check later for pictures and more updates!

SOUL Kicks Off...

2010-06-18T14:29:00.006-05:00

...tomorrow!
With the arrival of four teams from Back Creek Friends Meeting, Centre Friends Meeting, Concord Friends Meeting, and South Fork Friends Meeting, SOUL will be all set to kick off this summer's programs. Up first is Sports Camp, where community youth will learn basic sports drills as they also learn to follow God on "the Narrow Road".

Please continue to keep the staff, the volunteers, and the community in your prayers.

MOWA Choctaw in June

2010-06-17T13:30:00.006-05:00

Hello, this is Ally.

Summer may be upon us, but the Center is still full of activity. Two weekends ago, we had a brunch in celebration of the men in the community. We've had the computer lab open each day to help maintain skills throughout the summer months. We've also set aside time in the afternoons three days a week to show a movie to the neighborhood kids. And SOUL staff have spent their last two weeks in preparation their first program week, Sports Camp.

Below are pictures of the last two weeks at the Center:

Check out all the pictures at MOWA Choctaw Friends Center

June will be a jumping

2010-05-29T15:16:00.000-05:00

Hello one and all.. This is Ann, we are beginning to get our feet under us and have time to do things like blog.

We are expecting June to be an exciting and challenging month for the Friends Center.

Ally joined the team here in Bama in late May and hit the ground running. Interns are vital blood to many programs and we suspect it will be the same here.

Irene and Ally and I will begin our first ever "summer reading program" this starts on Tuesday June 1st and every Tuesday following when it doesn't interfere with SOUL programming. We may have many come, we may have none, we'll see. We hope to raise awareness of how wonderful books can be, and that they are located right here in our neighborhood.

Ally and Dwight have spent hours working in the computer lab, checking out the inventory of learning software and the conditions of the computers. This program also is to begin on Tuesday. 2 hours a day the lab will be open for people to come and keep their summer learning skills on track. So if you are interested, come join us from 10 to 12.00

Saturday will be our first endeavor into a community meal. (mine and Tim's) that is. Brunch will be served in celebrations of the fathers in our lives. Biscuits and Gravy and pancakes and yummy stuff will be served... Interns coming in from NC.. beware that's your first morning here.. be ready to jump from bed and be ready to serve!!

Womens Bible study begins at the lodge on Thursday at 9:00 am.

So there you go... plug in if you can we'll see you soon

Montreat College Visits MOWA Choctaw

2010-03-31T14:24:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago a college group from Montreat sacrificed their spring break to travel down to Alabama and serve the Friends Center and the community. We all had an absolute blast! Led by Lyndsey Wall and Chaplain Steve, this group was a model of hard work, servanthood, and a Christ-centered heart.

Here are some of the things this group worked on during their week-long stay:

Built a ramp on a trailer in the community
Put up gutters on Quaker Lodge
Tilled the garden at McIntosh Elementary School
Worked with kids in the After School Program
Led Youth Group
Hosted a community meal and Bingo night
Visited homes in the community (with cookies & brownies!)
Stained a porch in the community
Organized the Re-Store building

On top of all this, we also had a few ladies in the community who, along with Pat Cheadle (who does it all), cooked meals for us every day. Personally, that was one of my favorite parts of the week! But I also enjoyed and appreciated the fellowship, devotion, and hangout/debriefing time very much. How great a blessing it is when God sends brothers and sisters into your life to lift you up! And we have been lifted here at MOWA Choctaw.

Let us not give up meeting together... but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(Hebrews 10:25)

Everyone at the MOWA Choctaw Reservation Museum

The ramp building crew

Yes, we're still here...

2010-03-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Sorry for the lack of activity over the past few months. There has been a lot going on! I hope that I will be able to catch you up on some of the things we have been up to recently, but first things first.

THANK YOU JENNIFER AND COREY!!! The directors of the center over the past two years have completed their calling here and have moved back to North Carolina. I could try to tell you all how much they mean to this community and how much they have accomplished, but my words would fall way too short. Take a look at all of the posts on this blog to catch a glimpse of their impact. We miss you both so much!

We have had a lot of visitors in 2010, including Montreat College just last week, but I will save them for their own post and tell you about a few other individuals.

Pat Cheadle has been down with us multiple times, teaching pine needle basket weaving and quilting classes. All of the people that meet and talk with her absolutely love her - that goes for us, too! She has made an amazing impact on a lot of people, but especially some of the ladies near the center. They even forced her to do a Bible study with them one day last week so that they could see her one more time before she left for home! Thank you Pat, your willing and gentle spirit is welcome with us any time (and your cooking too!).

Anne Humes from Pennsylvania visited in January and February during her annual trek south to Alabama. She did crafts with our kids in the After School Program, which they loved, and she also joined us for a community meal. Her commitment to this center is amazing - she has been down every winter since the mid-1980s! Thank you so much Anne for your dedication!

Finally, Dale and Janet Smith came for a visit in early March to help us paint the inside of the director's house. They are very close friends with our interns Sterling and Bryce, and I know they loved having them down with us, as did I. They were such great and talented workers and painters that they pretty much finished the house in one day. Thanks Dale and Janet for your generosity and friendship - we had a great time with you!

Lots of other things have been happening in the midst of all our visitors, but hopefully this will satisfy some of you that have been calling for updates! Thank you for your interest and support in this ministry and community. It is challenging for us right now without our fearless leaders Jennifer and Corey, but God is still working in awesome ways in and through the lives of the people here. We are enjoying the opportunity to be a part of it!

MOWA In 2010 - College Missions And Cold Weather

2010-01-09T11:27:00.000-06:00

Happy 2010! I hope everyone is having an awesome new year, because ours started off with a real bang! A college missions group of 20 came down for the first week of January to serve the center and the community, and even though the weather was frigid (yes, even in southern Alabama), we were all so blessed and filled by God's Spirit during our time together. It was great to see old friends from Western and NC Yearly Meetings and to make new ones as well.

I'll try to list some of the projects and activities they accomplished, but they did so much I'm sure to miss something. We will have to get some pictures up soon, but until then...

Visitation to the local jail
Volunteered at McIntosh Elementary School
Tutored, organized games, and led devotions at our After School Program
Led Youth Group
Painted/redecorated part of the lodge
Home visitations in the community
Replaced underpinning on the lodge
Massive amounts of yard work around the property
Daily group devotions, which were personally so challenging, encouraging, and literally dripping with God's presence - I'm serious, there was nothing that could have served us as staff here more than those simple worship times

Thank you so much, all of you who were a part of this trip. I hope you received as much of a blessing as we did here at MOWA Choctaw! I'll leave you with a piece of God's Word that really lingered on my heart after one of our devotions - ahem, sermon - led by Steve Pedigo.

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. -1 Corinthians 2:15-16 (emphasis added)

Christmas Time at MOWA

2009-12-05T21:59:00.000-06:00

So, wow...it's been a few months since anyone has updated our page. We didn't forget about our faithful readers, we only got to busy to take the time to write, so please excuse us.
We have had many things going on including Corye and I being out of town for a few weeks in October, to visit family. We left Will here to take care of the property, handle after school, take the youth group on trips, and head up a Halloween movie night. Will said that the van was full of teens for the youth group outting to the "hell house", and he said that everyone had a great time. Will also said that the Haloween movie noght went great and that there were over 50 people in attendance for it. He was able to give a way prizes to everyone and serve lots of yummy food.
After Corey and I got back, we enjoyed a Thanksgiving community meal with around 50 people, including men, women, and children from all over the community. We were able to give away a bunch of door prizes and even some folks were able to take home some food since we had almost to much to fit on the table.
This past week we were blessed by several visitors. Andy Lambert and Larry Doub from Forbush Friends Meeting brought presents for 12 of our After School kids, along with items for our christmas sell. We also had John Carroll and Ken Spivey, along with two other friends bring down gifts for all the rest of our ASP kids and the rest of Christmas re-store. We are so thankful to everyone who sent down items both as gifts for kids and for christmas re-store.
We are also so blessed to have Patsy Cheadle down for the next couple weeks. She is going to be teaching pine needle basket weaving and quilting to anyone willing to learn. So far we have had 6 ladies, four teenagers, one child, and corey, will and myself learning how to make these things. We are having a blast learning how to weave baskets. Patsey also went out to pizza hut with the youth group the other night. We had such a great time, and ended up having to take the van and our car because we had so many people.
Coming up this week, we are looking forward to more basket making with Patsy, and starting quilts with her. We will be having our Christmas re-store sale on Tuesday. We are excited that we will be visiting the jail again this year, on wednesday, to take "Goody bags" including a couple cookies, razor, toothbrush, and a Bible. with this visit we are hoping to also be able to pray with the inmates and possibly see what some of their needs are. We will be having our youth group Christmas party this week to, so that Will can join us since he leaves for home on Friday, pray for no rain so that we can have our bonfire as planned. Then on Saturday we are looking forward to our last Community movie night of the year. We are going to be watching a Christmas movie and having lots of food. The last couple things that we will do before our christmas break is to give out christmas "cheer" to the community folks that live right around us, i believe hot cocoa is going to be it again. And we will be having our ASP christmas party, where all the kids will recieve their gifts that everyone has sent down.
We can hardly believe that the year is almost over as things have flown by so fast. Things have been so busy here, and there is always an activity going on that requires lots of energy and time, but we must be having fun because time has jsut flown by.
We hope that everyone has a fantastic and blessed christmas. We sure do feel blessed already through all your prayers and support of us and the community. We hope that our next blog won't take as long as this one to be posted, but be patient as we are staying busy at this wonderful time of year.
Merry CHRISTmas to everyone <><

What Do Doughnuts, Parades, Concerts, And Service Have In Common?

2009-10-14T12:23:00.000-05:00

Give up?

Answer: Youth Group.

Yes, these are just some of the things our youth have been up to the past month. Let me explain a bit. Doughnut sales are going on to raise money to send some of the youth to Tremors (!) this year in December. Several of them have been to Quaker Lake in the summer over the past two years, so it will be interesting to see how they compare that to late December weather - especially if it's below freezing like last year. One of the places where we peddled our glazed edibles was the McIntosh Homecoming parade, which was a lot of fun despite the 92 degree weather (yeah, apparently the temperature can still get over 90 in October). Some of our kids and youth were in the parade, too. Jennifer cleaned up collecting candy and beads.

One thing before I get off this topic - if you've never sold doughnuts on the side of a highway at an intersection, go do it. Right now. Yes, I was like you, expecting that it would be a totally awful experience. Not so. I don't think I can really explain it, but there's something about cars pulling halfway off the highway, dangling money out the window at a red light (or green, in some cases) that gets my adrenaline pumping. Or eyeing people sitting at a red light while they mess with something in their laps, trying to guess whether they're texting on their phone or getting cash out to buy doughnuts - that's awesome, too. Maybe God was giving me some divine inspiration to help me stay positive, I don't know for sure. I do know I'd do it again, though.

Ok, back to the youth happenings. During a Hollywood Stars theme youth meeting, we were able to practice a little philanthropy by stuffing supply baggies for the teachers and staff at McIntosh Elementary School. Forty bags were prepared containing everything from pencils and crayons to staples and paper clips to tissues and stickers. It was good for the youth to see that helping others in need is worthwhile, and indeed, God is pleased by it. The teachers are truly in need, as they have no budget whatsoever for office supplies this year due to budget cuts. And where did all of these supplies come from, you ask? Virtually everything in these bags, plus two big totes full of paper, pencils, and crayons that were given to the school, came from our latest rummage shipment. So if you or your meeting donated school supplies for our ReStore - THANK YOU!!! You have no idea the impact it has made on these teachers and this school. I'm serious, when we delivered them you would have thought we were giving them bags of gold. They and we are deeply appreciative of your generosity.

Finally, Jennifer and Corey took the youth to a Christian concert this past weekend. I believe Hawk Nelson and Skillet were two of the bands there, and all reports were that they had an amazing time.

We will try to keep you updated more frequently from here on out. Thank you always for your thoughts, prayers, and support. God bless,
Will
<><

Hey, Long Time No See!

2009-10-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Sorry to have waited so long between updates - I guess we must have been busy! This is William Allen posting again. For those of you who don't know, I have moved back down to serve as the Director of the After School Program for this school year. I'm really excited and already being challenged by this awesome opportunity and responsibility! Since there is a lot to catch you up on, I'll talk about school in this post and let you know more about other events in a separate update.

At the moment we have right at 25 kids in the After School Program, ranging from preschool age to 5th grade. Though we may not have every kid show up every day, attendance is very stable compared to last year, which is a huge improvement and blessing. A few weeks ago, most of our kids brought in their first quarter report cards, and they were very good overall. We still have improving to do, but they are doing a great job! Another positive accomplishment has been our reconnection with McIntosh Elementary, where most of our kids go to school. Jennifer and Corey were heavily involved with them last year, and I am excited to see that relationship continue to grow! We have had opportunities to talk with the principle, guidance counselor, and some teachers about our program and their students. We are volunteering weekly to help students with reading and plan on being a part of their upcoming special events. Also, we were able to give ALL the teachers and staff supply packets. (More on that later!!!)

I want to share with you quickly a comment made to us last week by a wonderful lady who works in the office at the school, and I don't mean to boast on what we are doing at the center, but rather on what God is doing in the lives of these kids. Here is part of what she said:

"I thank God for you. I really do. These kids that you're working with, it's making a difference. I can see it. And a lot of the ones you work with really need it. So I just thank God for you."

This lady is also the bus driver that drops our kids off every day, so you know she knows what she's talking about! And her comment was directed towards our older kids in youth group, too. Isn't it nice when God lets you know He's present and active in the world around you?

Updates

2009-09-12T18:11:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!

First... Tony, the best thing for you to do is to email us at york@ncym-fum.org . We would love for you and your church group to help out here at the center, there are tons of things that need to be done and can be done at the center and in the community. I have a broucher and some other things that i can send you if you'll email your address and what church your a part of.
Thanks so much for your intrest!!

Things are going great here, we just got back from Yearly Meeting where we presented about the center and hopefully stired up some intrest we also got to spend some really good time with people we hadn't seen in a while. It was so much fun and God was truely at work, the theme was sowing seeds and well in the youth worships as well as the one adult session i attended God was really sowing seeds, and i could feel the Holy Spirit moving pretty strongly. Some of our SOUL staff, along with some young adult helpers, got to perform to of the skits from this summer, the Lifehouse "Everything" skit and the "chains" skit both of which were very powerful.

Here at the center we have no less than 21 kids a day in after school, it's been really awsome having so many kids to play with, teach and love on...their are all doing really well and the older ones are excited about the preschoolers being there, and have been helping us with them everyday after they finish their school work and tutoring.
Be praying for Gwen Headen, John Carroll, and Will Allen as they will be traveling down this monday to deliver Re-Store items and help with a few things and Darlene Pittman will be coming down this week too to spend some time with us... so please be praying for their safe travel and for their time here at the Center.

Thanks for everyone's support and for all the wonderful re-store items and back to school items you have donated, it means so much to us and to the people here in the community... God bless

School is Back

2009-08-20T22:51:00.000-05:00

We just finished our first two weeks of after school and have 23 children in the program. We have not only K-6th grade this year but have also taken on a 4 year old class that starts 30 minutes before the other kids get there and lets out at 6 with everyone else. It haas been a really great start to the school year, we have been having a lot of fun and have already taken on a Fall service project, collecting change from the kids to adopt a child from the Angel Tree.
Right now there are only four staff members including myself and Corey teaching in the after school program but luckily there are two teens that have committed to bring there everyday to help with whatever we need help with and to help me with the 4's class. Little kids are so cute and complicted, you never know what is going to come out of their mouths, cute, wired, and really bad, but mostly cute.
Please be praying for all our families in the community. There has been a lot of sickness going around, strep and flu, and several of our children and elderly have been down for several days now, with this crud. It really affects our programs and being able to be in the schools because when everyone is sick people don't come to things, and programs have to be cancelled. We know folks will get healthy soon enough, we just pray it's before people's lives are really affected.

Last thing, I hope to get a picture of our kids up sometime this week, we got one of them the other day, we had about 16 kids there at the time, i will warn you it's a really cute picture =)

Have a Fantastic Night !!

More Work Week Pictures and a lil' more

2009-08-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

Sorry i had to do this in two different stages, the other day the internet was really slow and it took me seriously 3 hours to get what few pictures i got up up becuase of the slow connection.... i hope ya'll enjoy the photos, they came from 5 different cameras over the course of work week. It was a really great week and a lot of work got done dispite power outtages, storms, lightening strikes, and other small complications - Praise God for all His goodness!

Some Work Week Pics - EnJoy!

2009-08-07T15:05:00.000-05:00

Blessings!

2009-08-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that God has been answering our prayers down here. We have been praying for another freezer, in order to help with the overload of food we have to purchase in the summer, and Praise GOD that prayer has been answered! We have had a couple out of Brannon Friends offer us a chest freezer that they don't need anymore and want to donate. Praise God for people who think about the center and what the needs here might be, it makes such a huge difference in the ministry that happens here. Thanks to everyone who has blessed us and this ministry!

Also i haven't forgotten about Work Week and VBS Pictures i just have had some unexpected stuff come up and haven't had the chance to sit down and upload any pictures yet...but no fret i will be doing it before school starts or it will never get done, so be looking for them before next week.

Oh and by the way we had our Sanktown ReStore Back To School sale last night and had over 35 families come out for it, so thanks to all those who sent backpacks over the past year, and for those who have or will send money to help support our backpack / school ministry.

Praise God for all the things He has done!!!

The summer

2009-07-30T11:22:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody, sorry I haven't found time to blog, but here I am now. I wanted to say hey and write a little something about the summer. First of all, it was wonderful!!! I miss the SOUL staff already, they left yesterday. They were all so amazing the whole summer.

It was a challenge, but wonderfully so, to host our largest group ever for Sports Camp. Sports Camp was a great success with many many kids running around the center playing all the different games. Our first year with volleyball went wonderfully.

Work Camp was amazing, but maybe I say that because I was in charge. No, I really say that because we had wonderful groups that completed some pretty big projects. Two roofing projects, the painting of a house, and the building of a porch. Plus, when some groups finished up they did various things around the center including, but not limited to, cleaning up trash and some yard work. I want to thank everyone for their hard work. We were blessed to see the gratitude of the homeowners and to see how much our work did for them.

As for Vacation Bible School, I didn't understand a thing that went on the whole week!!! Well, for those of you that don't know, I guess that was because I was in Mexico for Bible School. Thats right, I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to go to Mexico this year for their Vacation Bible School and blessed enough to have a crew here in Alabama that had no problems carrying on Vacation Bible School without me. Mexico was wonderful, and I would love to go back sometime.

All in all, the summer was wonderful and I hate that it's over. I hope everyone that came enjoyed themselves and I hope that you truly came face to face with Jesus.

New Pictures - Sports Camp

2009-07-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hi All!

Posted on the Right side of this page are tons of photos from Sports camp. I will be posting more photos later on today and tomorrow from the other two weeks (work week and VBS week). If you have any photos that you would like to share please send those to me at york@ncym-fum.org and i would be glad to post those on here as well.
Please make sure to continue to pray for the center and the upcoming school year along with all the many people who will be involved from the community and from all over the country here at the center over the next year.

Corey and I would like to thank everyone who took part in SOUL 2009, from our amazing staff, the caring and energetic volunteers from NC and Indiana, and all the wonderful helpers from the community and of course all the Kids (155 different children from this area). God has greatly blessed us here this past summer and we pray that those blessings will be continued on and shared back at home.

Keep an eye open for our next post of pictures ..cause you never know who might show up in them.....

Love Jenn and Corey

Jungle YeAH!!!

2009-07-19T23:59:00.000-05:00

Hey. Sorry we've gotten behind a little on the blogs an all. What between the storm cutting the Internet off, an "work-week" keeping us crazy busy. Its been pretty tough finding time to get on without having something else that needs to be done asap. I'm here though, and I just wanted to say hey and let you all know kinda whats been going on down here at SOUL 2009. Oh yeah!!! THIS IS EDNA!!! ^^

So.............. work week was AWESOME!!!!
All four projects we set out to do were completed, and they look totally amazing! We had two different roofing projects: the tin roof, and the shingles. Then there was a painting project and a porch project. The roofing took the longest, but everyone had fun. We got really icky and sweaty every day, especially being so close to the sun on the roofing projects, and it was pretty warm. Lyndsey and I helped work on the house with the shingles. It seamed really high up looking down, but Sterling showed us how short a fall it would be from roof-to-porch just by reaching up and touching the edge. We didn't try jumping off though, just left that to one of the kids who always seamed to drop a broom off the edge several times in a day. I'll have to admit that I wasn't that much better what with setting my hammer down and forgetting the word called....

...

.... gravity. ^^

It was awesome getting to work up on the roof. I think we had one of the most hard-working, and toughest group a shingle roof ever required. Everyone put in a hundred percent, and it came out looking pretty good. The worry of rain kept us on our toes for the first day or two, but then we started praying to God asking him to hold off the rain until we were done and He did. God's protective hand was on us. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or hurt throughout the entire time. I could feel God's presence throughout the week: holding back the rain, keeping everyone safe, and also keeping the Mexico and friends disaster teams safe on they're way through Alabama and the MOWA Choctaw Friends Center. Oh yeah. And another thanks that no one up on our roofing project swallowed a nail. ^^ *Bryce.

We had a "wasp-war" with the non-friendly residence at the shingled house. Sadly enough, a group never seamed to die an was always bringing back others. Thomas(2) plural, were the co-directors on the shingle-roof project, and they totally helped us figure out how to do everything. Some of us got to be pretty good at pulling out nails in record time. We tended to leave behind a trail of nails like some roofing graveyard.

So, time has passed. ^^

The groups for JUNGLE VBS arrived Saturday evening. One of the vans was slow. They say it was probably doing 40 all the way down. Sunday, Sterling an Bryce were there to meet the sad fate of "Ol' Betsy". But Bryce and Nate tinkering around with it this afternoon might lead to a working vehicle. They say it only needs a couple of easy parts. The slow van might have a problem similar to "Ol' Betsy", but that would need a little help from all of you. You see, we really need every vehicle we can to pick up and drop off kids. Two are now trying to leave the picture. Any help you can give or send would be incredible right now.

Oh yeah. Everything has to have "JUNGLE" before it. Just to keep us in the spirit of things. Like "Jungle" Someone, or "Jungle" fun, or "Jungle" awesome.^^
Well, its kinda late and I'm going to need all the sleep I can get for tomorrow. Bye!!!!!! Hope you had fun reading.
-Edna (SOUL STAFF 2009)

Work Projects Moving Along Despite Lightning Storm!!!

2009-07-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

I know many of you have heard reports about storms moving through our area Monday afternoon. We did have a rough storm blow through with some rain and lightning, but all is well! The male staff trailer went without air conditioning due to a small power problem from a lightning strike, but luckily, Charlie Routh was down that day to fix it for us! The Friends Disaster Team joined us that night on their way to Mexico, and their timing couldn't have been better!

The Work Projects teams are doing a great job so far. We're working on two roofs, painting a house, and have already finished building a porch for a trailer next to the center! Everyone is doing well, and I know that at least I am having a lot of fun! Remember us and the Mexico teams in your prayers as we work and travel - there will be another group traveling through on Thursday. Corey will be joining them for the Mexico VBS trip as they continue down on Friday.

Thanks everyone for all of your concern, support, and especially your prayers!

Oh Bama

2009-07-01T07:45:00.000-05:00

Hey all, its Lyndsey again.

Well we made it through sports camp. Because I have never planed or even been to anything like this previously, I had nothing to compare it to. But I thought it was absolutely amazing. Though we had different challenges throughout the week, I really felt overall it was a successful camp. I was really pleased with how well volleyball worked, especially since it was the first time we have done that sport. Most of all, I was so excited to see how God had his hand on the sports camp all week.

Throughout the week there were different challenges and setbacks, but overall we were ready and willing to adapt to the changes. In fact I believe that God used the entire week to teach some of the staff how to adapt and be flexible.

I also saw how God used some 'emergencies' to teach us how to step up and lead. Now seeing it in hind sight, I am blown away by how amazing our God is. He has everything under control, but he still chooses to use us, not for His sake, but for ours.

I am completely astonished and amazed when I look back on last week and see all the work God has done. He has touched me in so many ways already, I cannot wait to go back and see what else my precious savior will do in the future.

Please continue to pray for this ministry, for the groups coming down, for the community, and especially for the staff. Last week, I realized quickly that we, the staff and our work, are so little, but our God is extremely BIG. Pray that God will continue to do His work, and that we are willing to listen to His leading.

Blessings!

Lyndsey

Back in NC!

2009-06-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

So we're all back in NC now after a super busy week with Sports Camp. It's great to be home seeing family and enjoying the cooler weather, haha, but I miss Alabama already. Sports Camp turned out to be really awesome though. All of the participants did a great job, and I feel like God really blessed us all, through the kids in the community and the youth and adults from NC and Indiana and all that went on. I think we had something like 125 different kids from the community come out. I hope that we get a turnout that great for VBS too! Thanks for all your prayers, and grace and peace to you all!

-Katie (:

Sports Camp Kicks Off!

2009-06-23T01:04:00.000-05:00

It's really late so I'll be brief, but I just had to share a bit about our first day of Sports Camp! We had 97 kids today. WOW. I believe that's easily a single day record for SOUL. All of the participants did a wonderful job leading the community kids through a day of basketball and extreme heat. Pray for us tomorrow, as it will be in the triple digits - we have to be vigilant about keeping the kids (and ourselves) hydrated and cool!

Anyway, thanks to you all for your prayers and thoughts. We praise God for them and for you!

-Will

<><

Saturday Orientation

2009-06-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Wow. Today went by so fast, and yet it seamed that it would never end.
Hey, everyone. This is Edna. ^_^

So, today was actually the first official day that the NC people finally arrived. The van-loads arrived around 6:45 p.m. We totally ran out and surprised them, lol, but we were put to work carrying bags and such stuff. Whoop, whoop. It was really hot outside today, but we all survived. ^^ So yeah, I was kinda really nervous all day. I'm so glad I didn't even think of some of the things I would be doing or I would have hid under my bed. I lead devotions tonight, and I actually switched my song and had to go play by myself... bad decision. Thankfully, God took control and it didn't totally flop. That's just one of the really cool things about God; He's so amazing at taking something so insignificant and poorly put and turning it into something totally awesome. So we all have group names and such, like family groups. Lol. So totally random even for me. ... There's: Marigold, Teal, Periwinkle, Crimson, Baby-Blue, Indigo, Tickle-me-pink, Lime Green, and Mango. (Which is me! ^^)

The staff performed the "lifehouse everything skit", and it was sooooooo good. So many youth afterwards said they were touched. Others said they'd seen it before, but this one was the best they'd ever seen. ... So cool how God works. But the staff did an awesome job, and i hope it will get put up maybe in the near future. ... lol. I'm pretty happy with my muscle work of flicking the light switch for the fight seen. ^^

It's going to be really cool getting to know all these amazing kids that gave up their summer to come teach a sport camp. ...In 102 F °. ^^ (Insert "whoop, whoop") Lol. It's not that bad though. But seriously, today could not have gone any better than it did. ^^

Keep SOUL 2009 in your prayers, and pray for hearts to be moved and for a fire to be lit in the community here in Alabama. ...

ps. oh yeah. If you feel a need to give, or that God is telling you to contribute something... It's to help pay for an official industrial dishwasher so MOWA Choctaw Friends Center won't have to spend so much on paper plates and such. ^^ I know it'd help out so much, and we'd love!!!!

Well, it's kinda late. 12:41 p.m. But today was awesome, and I'm so excited about what's going to happen for SOUL 2009 - Sports Camp!!!!! WHOOP, WHOOP!!!! ^^ peace out, and goodnight peoples!!!

Hiiii!

2009-06-16T23:24:00.000-05:00

Hey! It's Katie. It's so great to be down here for the whole summer on staff. I'm so excited to see what God has planned for us! As Bryce and Lyndsey have said, we have been really busy preparing for the groups to get here for Sports Camp. And the food has been great especially the biscuits and strawberry cake, which I may have eaten more than my share of, haha. Also, today we had the rummage sale. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the people in the community and to let them know about Sports Camp. We're hoping a lot will send their kids out! Tomorrow morning we're fixing breakfast for the Womens Bible Study, and that should be great. And on that note, I should probably quit writing and go to bed because it is getting late.

Please pray for our ministry while we're down here! Remember the church groups that are coming next week, and pray that God will open their hearts and the hearts of the kids in this community. We appreciate any way you can support us and the Center!

-Katie :)

Staff Pictures - The first 6 days

2009-06-16T22:17:00.000-05:00

Hope Ya'll Enjoy These as Much as We enjoyed takin' 'em!! Keep Praying for Us!

2009-06-15T22:49:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone i am Bryce Kincaid this is my first time in Alabama. The first five days have gone great we all get along so great. I think we love picking around with other which makes the days so interesting. Wow i never thought that any buddy could keep me busier then my boss back home but i was wrong. Its fun though you don't have to worry about being bored. Everyone I have met so far has been so friendly. It is as hot as i was told it would be but yet i havent seen all the rain i was told about. We had some Taco Soup yesterday that a few of us might have eaten alittle much for all the activities we done later in the day. All the food has been so good. I like food and so its good cause every group can cook. katie and Lindesy cooked this strawberry cake it was double layered (ummmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SO GOOD) Well its kinda a late so im going to go but i will be back Sunday. Please be praying for all of us and the plans for this summer. Thank you Love you all

Lyndsey's First Blog!!

2009-06-15T22:38:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

This is Lyndsey, well it has been a busy five days here in AL. The entire staff has been working hard at getting ready for the youth groups to come down this summer. Besides preparing devotions and worship for the groups, Bryce and I have been putting together the sports camp for next week. I am really excited to see how it goes, because this is the first time ever that we will have volleyball as one of the sports.

We really appreciate you praying for us and this ministry. Please continue to be praying for God's leading with the devotions, that it will be His words, not ours. Pray for His blessings on the upcoming sports camp. As well as for traveling mercies for the groups coming down.

God bless,
Lyndsey

Welcome to SOUL 2009

2009-06-12T17:49:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! It's Will again, though today I'm posting as the Assistant SOUL Director, a new and exciting challenge for me and the program! I just wanted to let you know the staff made it down safely this past Wednesday, and we are already busy prepping and having some fun with one another. Keep us in your prayers through the next week as we get ready for Sports Camp - it's shaping up to be bigger, better, and crazier than ever! Hopefully the rest of the staff will be giving you the inside scoop on things soon, but until then we love you all and thanks so much for remembering us!

-Will

<><

In one Day

2009-06-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Just thought i would let all of our readers know that our staff arrive tomorrow evening, for a wonderful and exciting summer.

You all will no longer have to read only postings from me but will have the chance to read post written by our SOUL staff, hopefully on a daily basis.

We would love to hear back from you as well..your questions and comments...we wanna make this blog as interactive as possible so let us know waht you wanna hear about!

Have a wonderful day... and you should be hearing from a staff member here in a couple days.

One Week.. Then

2009-06-03T15:11:00.000-05:00

One week from Now our staff will arrive from NC and we will yet again be in the whirlwind that is SOUL! Corey and I are so excited! We have been preping for this time, along with our SOUL director Will, Darlene and Darrin, and the SOUL staff for many many many months and it is finally here.
The whole community is a buzz, every kid and parent i see out at the store, the mexican resturant, the gas station, wherever we may be is always asking, "when is sports camp? When is VBS? What are we doing this summer?" It is truely a blessing! I have had 50 or so new families ask me about our camps, and they want to tell their friends and family members about it...everyone wants to be here during the summer.
It's really awe inspiring and if we weren't careful it could more than likely make or heads swell, because well , "aren't they coming because of what Corey and I have been doin?" or "Aren't they coming because of what NC Yearly Meeting is doing?" Even writing these ridiculous sentences makes me laugh! I know and Corey knows and i'm sure every single one of you reading this know that it's not because of us or the programs we offer it is however All Ultimately and Completly because of God and who He is and what He does that makes the center the "success" that it is. It is because of Jesus Christ and Hie sacrifice!
This summer is going to be truely exciting and i trust life changing for many people..i mean just for Sports camp week we are expecting 125 kids and 60 particpants from not only our groups from NC and Indiana but from the community as well. Truely exciting, and a tad bit overwhelming, but exciting!
Be praying that every person no matter their reason or stay will come face to face with Jesus, the life changer, the grace giver, the biggest bear hug ever given...Pray for the staff, pray for corey and I, pray for our volunteers, and pray for the community...Then allow God to do what He does and change lives

Last youth group meeting tonight.... Gotta go

Rainy days of May

2009-05-25T18:07:00.000-05:00

Well i can't remember a single time in my life where i have seen it rain 5 days back to back, knowing that the rain is suppose to stick around for another 4 days.
Its an amzing thing,rain, it is the thing that brings everything life and yet it can cause so much havoc and dismay because it causes plans to be changed and cancelled and for things, like my cactus, to become slimmy and die.
It is not that i am ungreatful for this wet source of life ,because i am, it's just not my favorite thing to have to deal with when there are so many things that need to be done outside, like finishing a flower bed, mowing and triming trees and on the computer, when it rains we have no internet. Friday at the May Day event at McIntosh Elem. it was a tiny bit anoying that i had to stand out in the rain taking up wet tickets from wet kids who wanted slide and bouce on wet inflatables. As most know who have been down here, right after the rain it gets sticky and humid and is just not a lot of fun.

When i think about water and rain i also think about what water means to Christians. I think about the woman at the well who was asked for water by Jesus who then offered her living water. I think about when one of the blind men that jesus healed, was healed by Christ use of water, His spit, and dirt to rub on his eyes. I think about the first miracle that jesus ever performed, turning water into wine. And i think about the first baptism, when jesus was baptized by john the baptist. Also, i think about the Mexico teams theme this year,"Rain", which seems very apporiate after the past couple years and their constant struggle to stay head of the rain and the water.

Water is a beautiful thing, it is a biblical thing, and it can be a dangerous and mysterious thing... what is water to you? What feelings and emotions does it bring rushing up in you?

I pray that God shower down upon you grace and love and that through His outpouring that you may water the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Happy May!

2009-05-21T11:51:00.000-05:00

Happy May and...

Sorry that i haven't written in a while, but i haven't had time. Corey and i went to NC to help with intern training and to be at a board meeting, and to see our families. We have also been trying to get a lot of things done around here while we still have the chance before summer starts, and before the tropic downpour hits us tonight.

We have been having a great time the past few weeks including youth group last night in our house, messy, noisey and i have to admit a crowded with 14 kids plus us, but totally worth it! It was cozy to and we really had a lot of fun, especially when we played our game and watched the end of American Idol and everyone got into it. We also did Bible study, don't worry we always do! We watched the Flyleaf video of "All Around Me" and talked about the woman who washed Jesus's feet with her tears and hair and how she came before Him just as she was broken and open and how she left a different person. It was a really great study!

And...

It was really cool when the after school program helped us out yesterday by making their community project for this month cleaning up the flower beds here at the center and then learning about the being one of the four soils from Matthew 13.

Just a side note into our life...

Corey is out mowing the yard today, again before the topic downpour comes rushing in tonight, and sticks around for the next 6 days...crazy weather! So i am in the house trying to catch up on internet stuff, mainly posting on here.. and getting keys sorted for our staff this summer...etc, etc... Fun stuff to read about, huh?!

Ok and..

We are excited that school is almost out, just five more days left, and that summer programs are fast approaching..which the kids keep asking us about every day, they say, "when is camp..who is coming... is so and so coming... our we going to do this or are we going to do that?" The kids here look forward to summer programming all year round!

I never know exactly what to write on here... i feel like our life is pretty boaring and normal and that the happenings here at the center are just common now... so i'm sorry if i bore you but i feel like it is important for me to write and to at least tell you about some of the small things happening around here. If there are things that you would like to read about just let me know... or ask me a question and i would be glad to answer it.

Please keep us and our community in your prayers... have a great fantastic day!!

Easter Things and Prayer Request

2009-04-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

Corey and I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter, we sure did. We enjoyed a wonderful Easter service at Fairford Free Christian, where the Holy Spirit was truely moving.
We also enjoyed hosting a community Easter egg hunt and party for the whole community and had right between 40 and 50 children and adults come, not to bad for our first one. We had a lot of fun, and over loaded on sugar, and took time to remember the reason for Easter by reading "The Three Trees", a great story about allowing God to use you no matter waht your plans for your life might be.
We also, just this past saturday night had a community meal and Bingo night and had a little over 20 folks show up. We had a Big Ham, and lots of fixing, provided by the people in the community, and everyone loved playing Bingo for some fun prizes.

Please be praying for...

The families here in the community several of them are going through some rough stuff,within the family, and some of it involves legal matters.

Our SOUL summer staff, Will Allen, Bryce Kincaid, Sterling Brown, Callie Eller, Lyndsey Wall, Edna Stuart, and Katie Brintle, that they will stay safe, and that they will be able to plan things out for this summer with wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. And for the groups that are planning on bringing groups down for a week of SOUL.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog... and keeps us in their prayers.

Basketball Tournament

2009-04-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of our Bball Tournament Winners - Old Skool

The center held its fourth Basketball Tournament that past Saturday. We had around 14 teams with all but a few having four players on the team.

The youth group helped with keeping time, score, and with the food sells. We did pretty well as far as selling food goes, and everyone seemed to enjoy the nachos, hot dogs, pickles, popcorn, and assorted candy and chips.

The winners of this tournament were by far the oldest winners, and their team name appropriately being "Old Skool".

Also please being praying about some of our upcoming activities like.....

Our community Easter Egg Hunt and Party this saturday. We have invited every church in the area and everyone in the community. It should be a lot of fun....

We also have our BIG Benefit Dinner coming up on May 9. We are asking for folks in the community who are involved with the center to donate a side dish, dessert or drinks to go with our BBQ Chicken, and things are looking good right now.

Things are going well and God is really blessing us here, we have really had to trust on Him the last week, it has been hard... but it has been a wonderful and exciting time.

Back in Bama =)

2009-03-29T18:14:00.000-05:00

Alrighty... well i know that it has been a long while since i wrote anything on the blog and i deeply ask that you forgive me for that. As you may or may not know Corey and I were in NC much of the month of March, and mostly had no internet service while there, and honestly i don't know if i would have taken the time to write even if we had because most of our free time was spent with family.

The trip was wonderful we had the chance to speak with seven meetings either in a forum or coffeehouse style and both Corey and I feel as though all of our engagments were beneficial to the ministry here at Choctaw. God seemed to be right by our side, step by step and even blessed us through words or other wise just when we needed it. We also met the nicest people with the most graceful hearts that not only fed us but welcomed us into their homes.

Returning home has almost seemed odd, getting back into a regular routine has suprisingly come easy and i must admit, it has been easier getting up since we gained an hour coming back. We have many great things coming up like the basketball tournament, and an end of year Fiesta for the whole community... and for the first time in many many years the center is hosting a community/church wide Easter Egg Hunt which with the Lords help will go off without a hitch and will bring people and churches together in a way that again has not happened in many many years.

Corey and i feel so blessed to be here... and after one year it still seems like we are exactly right where God wants us to be. I must admit there are days when i want the comfort of my parents arms, and the knowing that if something happens to a family memeber that we are only a hour to two hours away... but i also know that God has great amazing plans for the center and for us and that He is my comfort and my strength and that He is taking care of our families in a way that, even if we lived in the same house, Corey and and I could not.
I have been reading Seth Hinshaw's "the spoken ministry among Friends" and through this reading i have come to learn that early Quaker ministers often dreaded going on trips because of missing their families but that they knew that they had to still go, that the power of the Holy Spirit would not rest if they didn't go and most importantly they knew that they must go because of the love of Christ, they wanted to go and spread the word of the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Corey and I both want to thank everyone for everything they offered us on our trip and God for His unfailing love and protection.

May God's Grace and Love find you wherever you may be

Prayers answered and NC speaking schedule

2009-03-02T09:16:00.000-06:00

Just wanted all of you out there to know that God has been so good to us here, and has just in the past two weeks really answered some of our prayers.
First we have been praying for a way to fix the old brown truck, which has had a problem with the transmission, and just last week one of our neighbors came by and talked to corey about having two transmissions and only one truck and wanted to know if we would take the other one, and if he could help put it in. How great is that, he just gave it to us and wants to help fix it.
The second thing is that we have been trying to raise funds for the the kids going to camp, throughout the community and beyond and have been asking and praying for a game system that we could use at a fundraiser dinner we are going to have in May. Yesterday Corey found an Xbox 360 elite and a Wii on Craig's List, with games and sticks, and whatnot. Well it just so happened that both the folks still had the systems for a very very low price and since we were using them for a good cause they called us first, so we got both systems to use at our dinner.

God works in His own time, even though it is hard to wait... but once God does answer you're prayers it is so much better than if you had rushed ahead of Him and done your own thing. I just praise God for His faithfulness and for answering some of our needs.

Oh and in case you didn't know Corey and I are going to be in NC March 5-23 so i might not be able to write on here, hopefully i will get too but no promises. We are going to be speaking at several Meetings which includes:

Forbush Friends -March 8 @ 10:30AM;
Asheboro Friends -March 8 @ 6:30 PM;
Spring Friends - March 10 @ 6:30 PM;
Hollyspring Friends- March 11 @6:30 PM;
Poplar Ridge-March 15 @ 8:30AM; and
High Point Friends -March 15 @ 11:00AM
(Hope to see you at one of these Meetings)

Sad news

2009-02-27T14:31:00.000-06:00

(Momma Tadd and Minnie Knapp at Thanksgiving)

For those of you who know the community well, i am sad to tell you that Unis (Momma Tadd) Weaver passed away this past tuesday evening from internal bleeding in her stomach. Momma Tadd was a warm, tell you like it is type of person. She had a great sense of humor and always was willing to give great hugs. The comfort that her friends and family have is that she is with the Lord as she was a christian and a regular church atteneder.

Please hold her family and love ones close to your heart and in your prayers.

Winter Jam 09

2009-02-19T20:59:00.000-06:00

(Rhea, Sierra, "B"-drummer of Toby Mac, Stephanie, Danese, and Savanna)

Our youth group, well five girls, corey and myself, went to the Winter Jam 09 Concert this past Sunday night, and had the best time!
We waited in line for like an hour, got seats on the third level, BEHIND the stage, and spent an hour taking pictures and having things, All kinda Things, signed by the artist after the concert.
We jumped around and sang, and laughed - it was just a lot of fun! Maybe one of the best things we have done as a youth group since Corey and I have been here, and best of all, out of the five girls, four of them accepted Jesus, thanks to Tony Nolan.

We hape everyone has a great weekend and Happy Mardi Gras!

Good News From NC

2009-02-11T12:54:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, I wanted to tell you a little about some of the work that's being done for the Friends Center up here in NC - specifically, work that's being done by some kids here. The fourth grade class at High Point Friends School, taught by Mary Porter, started a pen pal project with the After School Program at the center late last year, and the kids were really excited about it. Recently, that fourth grade class along with some of the other elementary classes have been working on a service project: to raise money for the center by donating spare change.

This past Monday, I was able to visit the school and receive their gift of nearly $400! I was amazed at their generosity and interest in the center as I showed them some pictures and spoke a little about the After School Program and the kids. I know that their gift will be a blessing to many!

Oh, and if you were wondering how heavy nearly $400 worth of change might be, the answer is 80+ pounds, by my estimation... haha.

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."

2 Thessalonians 1:3

AWww

2009-02-10T11:30:00.000-06:00

Just in case you need to do a warm heart check, check out this cuttie-pie Felicidy, she is in our 1st grade class.

Valentine's Dinner and Bingo

2009-02-10T11:00:00.000-06:00

We had a great time this past Saturday night at our valentine's dinner and bingo night. We had about 12 or so folks in attendance and enjoyed a "romantic" meal of Lasagna and whatever everybody else brought, oh and there was this homemade chocolate cake that was just SO good.
Everyone seemed to have a great time, most of all with the Bingo. When the BINGO cards came out people geared up for a serious game, some folks even moved to another seat so they had room to play. It was so funny watching peoples faces when they were just one number away from winning, and the teenage boys were hularious when they won, they sounded like little girls.
It was a lot of funny, and even Corey and I won a prize each. The prizes were stuffed animals and mugs stuffed with candy out of rummage, or course they all had the "love" theme going on.
It was a fun night, and more or less none stressful except when i spilt some grounds of coffee and steaming hot water on me and the floor, oh well later on i'm sure i'll look back and laugh, you know after the burns go away, just kidding i didn't get burned but it did sting a little.

Keep on praying for us, and if you're ever curious about anything or want me to write about something specific just let me know and i'll be glad to.

<>< Happy Valentine's Day

Another week

2009-02-04T16:12:00.000-06:00

Well i hate that it has been so long since i wrote but things here have been pretty normal and somewhat average. We did have some random visitors over the past couple weeks, the group from mexico stopped here, actually we had three different groupings of folks within the one Mexico team, to stop by. Then we also had Ms. Anne stop by to do crafts with the kids on a sunday afternoon, she is from pennsylvania and has been coming down here every winter for the past 23 years. It was really nice to see folks and get to talk to them no matter how short the time.
We are gearing up for a Valentine's dinner and bingo night this saturday and we are right in the middle of selling krispy kreme doughnuts.
Everyone is doing well here and the weather is actually starting to warm up, it won't be long before it's 90 degrees here.
Please continue praying for Corey and I and for the ministry here and have a great day.

All Better

2009-01-20T09:33:00.000-06:00

Thanks alot Will for fixing the website back to normal for me. It looks much better this way.

Exciting news from Will is that he may be able to go and speak to meetings in Indiana sometime in the month of February. I think it's great that if he can't be here at least he can be sent out to speak about his time here. We do miss him, and Emily alot but we know that the real fight right now is getting the support we need on a monthly basis to continue the ministry here. Unfortunatly funding has to happen and be fluid in order for the center to florish and grow. Oh God can use anything and will move through anybody. And God for sure is using what He has but think about what more HE could do through us if we had enough funding to start our emergency relief back, or could feel free to give freely to those who needed it. I am not saying that we are not doing anything here or that we are not giving, because as those who have been down here can tell you there is more going on here, more giving, then there is time for in the day, sometimes.

I only mention this to mention how important it is that Will is going to be speaking for the center, and how important, if you have been down here, for YOU to speak about the center every chance you get. Corey and I are going to be up the first of March and would love to speak to any group or church, or organzation that will have us.

Keep praying for the work here. Pray for the monthly donations to continue coming and growing. And keep praying for intrest for the center to explode beyond NC Quakers, and Quakers altogether.
Much love <><

Ooops

2009-01-16T15:55:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the web page right now. I was playing around with the layout and background and accidently changed things, i've gotta get in touch with Will about changing it back to the original background and format. So please bear with the strange lay out and the half chopped pictures at the bottom.
Sorry a ton,
Jenn

Wheew

2009-01-15T11:32:00.000-06:00

Can it really already be the middle of January, it seems as though time moves so fast for us here. It's hard to believe that it has only been a week since the UNCG group and Will were here, and that the kids are out of school monday for MLK day.

The past couple weeks have been good ones, we got to spend more time with the community, and started back to school with a few new students, and Sarah, Mary Ashley, Heather and Will were here doing a fantastic job. So much love was shared and i feel like God is really moving here. I can't tell you how much the work and the group bonding meant to us with the young adult group here. They were a small group but ya know sometimes that is when the most good is done. There is no way we could have gone into people's homes with a larger group, it would have been crowded, and maybe uncomfortable, but with the group we had it seemed just right and you could feel the power of God's love really bringing things together.

I that everything i have written so far seems "mushy" but it is where my heart is this morning.

Please be praying for our youth group kids. A few of them are really outwardly struggling with their faith, and they are sitting on the harsh fence of to "believe/or not believe in Jesus". I just pray that God speeks through Corey and I and that they see not us but a loving and caring Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please also be praying for some of the upcoming fundraisers and activities that we have coming up at the center.

Enjoy the new pictures i posted of the UNCG group and the youth group!!!

BAMA Bound!

2009-01-08T19:36:00.000-06:00

Hi,
So this is my first time visiting the MOWA Choctaw Friends Center and I had a blast. Some of our group from our UNCG campus ministry came down for the week. We had tons of laughs and worked hard the entire week. It was really cool because we were able to meet all kinds of people who live in the community and use the center. Tuesday the kids went back to school so we were able to help the kids in the after school program each day we were here. We would start after school out with a little devotion and a fun game for the kids to play then they would go to their classrooms and work on their homework. On Wednesday we went to the homes of a lot of the elderly women in the community we took them coffee and just sat down and talked with each of them. Wednesday night we were able to do youth group for the middle and high school aged kids in the community. They were so much fun at youth we played games then did a lesson and then we all ate dinner together. On Thursday we were able to visit the elementary school that most of our after school program kids attend. When we were walking down the halls of the school and saw some of the children their faces lit up they were so excited to see us.

This week we not only meet the community but we also did some projects around the center. We painted a room in the school and then fixed up the bulletin boards and put the room back together. We also worked on a secret project for Jennifer and Corey in the lodge! We fixed up the bathroom upstairs. It looks so GOOD! This was a great week and this ministry is doing great things down here in Sanktown! Can't wait to return!

Heather Harris

A New Year, A New Trailer

2009-01-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

I've been blessed with the opportunity to visit the Friends Center one more time this past week with a group from UNCG, and we've been having a blast. I'll let the rest of them elaborate on what's been going on, but I would like to talk to you about one big thing we witnessed this week.

Saturday, we helped out with a benefit lunch for Ms. Whitehead in an effort to raise money for her new trailer (she lost her old one in a fire). It was held at Home Gospel Church right up the road, and we served food as people came through with their orders. I believe the original hope was to raise enough money to make the down payment so that they could go ahead and move in the new trailer. The down payment was half the total cost of $5,000, and she needed somewhere around $1,500 to reach the down payment. To our amazement, not only did the benefit lunch (and singing that night) result in enough to make the down payment, the total amount raised was right at $4,000 - virtually enough to make the entire payment! When I think about the financial state of this community, on top of the US economy right now, it was nothing short of a miracle to see that kind of response. It is so awesome to see God work to provide a home for this special lady!

The new trailer is already in place, and several people are helping clean, paint, and set it up. Corey and I were able to help get a refrigerator in the kitchen just the other day. I know Whitehead is excited to see her new home come together!

Happy New Year from Alabama

2009-01-05T09:39:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Corey and I had a great christmas and a very relaxing new year down here in Sanktown. We hope that all of you out there did as well and that you took time to embrace the meaning of Christmas.
We are so pleased to have a group from UNCG down (Sarah, Heather and Mary Ashley) along with one of our past interns (Will). We love having them down and hope that they get a lot out of being here.
Corey and Will got the big room in the school ready to paint, before christmas, and the group from UNCG hit the ground running by getting the first coat on Saturday, and are working on the second coat today. They are such hard workers!
On Saturday before they started painting we all went up to Home Gospel Church and served food for the benefit luncheon for Ms. Whitehead (which by the way, they raised enough for the guy to go ahead and start preparing the land for the new trailor today) and had a great time serving together and greeting the community in their out pouring of love for Ms. Whitehead. Please continue to pray for Ms. Whitehead and her family during this time of transition.
Well this is the last you will hear from me this week because the girls that are down, and Will are suppose to be posting here on the blog while they are here. This is going to be a new tradition, hearing from the people and groups that come down and getting their point of view, hopefully all good (=
So until next week <><

Alone Again

2008-12-23T16:39:00.000-06:00

Alas, Corey and I are alone once agian. It has been wonderful having Emily and Will here for the past 5-7 months and Merryn, and all the other people who have been down.

The last few weeks have been filled with Spiritness and an out pouring of God's love. It has been a wonderful past four weeks. Will, Emily, Corey and I just really started to spend time together in a spiritual way, as i was reminded, over my weekend retreat, the souls of the workers are far more important than the work of the workers. Corey and i deeply cherish are time together as i hope Will and Emily do.
Beleive it or not it is easy to love the people and love the work so much that you forget about yourselves and about the spiritual fuel you need to keep going. I'm talking about something more than Sunday morning church, and monday night young adult bible study, and even more than prep time for teens and childern's bible studies; i'm talking about a true gathering of the workers hearts and souls and spending time sharing and listening and praying together seeking out Christ will for our lives and work. Praise God for this time with the Lord.

In case you are curious over the past few weeks we have been able to minister to people in the community in a way we haven't before, using Christmas as the reason. We had the blessed chance to take cookies and oranges to the Chatom jail and were able to pray with all the inmates there. We also had a chance to take oranges and a christmas note to the teachers and staff out at the elementary school. And we were able to deliver homemade hot cocoa to all the folks that live around the circle here in the community. Corey and i were also able to send out christmas cards and photos to all the churches and folks that have been down since Corey and I have been here. I'm sure that there are other things that I have fogotten that we have done, like having christmas parties, baking endlessly, and still managing to deal with the day to day stuff, where God has awsomely and amazingly worked.

Although Corey and I will miss our wonderful families this Christmas we feel more than blessed to be here to share in the community Christmas festivities and to be doing the service of the Lord. We are going to be "out of the office" starting tomorrow through the 27th but are looking forward to the UNCG group coming down in January and hopefully Joe and Sean the week after Christmas.

So to everyone in North Carolina, and to those others spread around
have a very Merry Christmas from here in Sanktown.

That "G" Word

2008-12-17T21:52:00.000-06:00

Saying goodbye insures the opportunity to say hello in the future.

Well, time has indeed flown by. Emily and I will be driving back up to NC this Friday, our internships complete. We'll both be coming back down with a college group for a week in January, but it still feels like we are saying goodbye for awhile. And I have always been bad with goodbyes.

I'm going to be honest with you, and for all of us here at the center, when I admit that we have been pretty slack as a group for a good amount of time. Not because we don't work hard (trust me, we can't avoid that here) and not because we don't care (also unavoidable for us), but we have really lost opportunities to have worship/devotion times with one another. We do have Bible study every week with the young adult group, Kid's Club, and Youth Group as well, but until the past few weeks, we hadn't really set aside the time to be together in the spirit of worship. It hurts me to type these words, but it is the truth. The wonderful thing is that it's never too late to do the right thing.

So, since Jennifer was convicted in this matter after her time at the Youth Workers conference, we have taken steps to rectify our mistakes. And I can't tell you how much I have cherished our private worship times together. It really made a big difference for me in our other weekly activities, and I think that we have learned a valuable lesson about priorities - one that I pray I will remember as I leave this place. I love my brother and sisters here at the center, I am in love with my God and Savior, and I feel like I'm having to say goodbye right here at the beginning!

But I have been reminded recently of the joy that I am afforded in all things, even the sad ones. It is sad to say goodbye, but it serves as proof to how much these people and this place means to me. As Jesus told his followers, you will be sad when I leave, but that sadness will be replaced with a joy that never ends when we meet again (see John 16:22). So it is with all followers of Christ. For us, saying goodbye insures the opportunity to say hello in the future. And I do enjoy saying hello.

Thank you all so much for being a part of our lives! I pray that God blesses and keeps you until we meet again.

Will <><

shopping day:)

2008-12-12T18:32:00.000-06:00

Hi again...

So today happened to be errand day.
lovely.

We spend years in movie stop b/c i'm guessin were all movie fanatics.
but anyways we got the movie santa clause 3 for movie night tommorow with the community.

i'm siked, it looks good...
if you already saw it, its ok to say wow shes behind...
hahaha.

alright, sorry to be so short, it's dinner time.

yum yum:]

Well we love yall and things of that sort.
thanks for everything, yall are great.

<3>

Burrrr... It's Cold down here.

2008-12-11T13:24:00.000-06:00

hey everyone!

wow, it's almost Christmas time again.

i cant believe i'm going home in a week.

honestly it's kinda sad for me.

but the Lord knows what he's doing.

So anyways..

It is extremly cold down here, or maybe i'm exagerating.

i neverr would have thought it cold be this chilly.

i cold see my breath today walking out of the jail.

Oh...:) to tell why we were at the jail...

We baked cookies and took oranges to the inmates for the holidays.

We also prayed with them as well, which i enjoyed.

I would love to go back soon.

but..

I hope everyone is doing amazing and thanks for all the support;)

Love ya,
Emily

Wonderful visitor

2008-12-01T14:16:00.000-06:00

We were just blessed by a visit by Kevan, a member at Poplar Ridge.

Kevan had some vacation time to spare and decided to come down and

help us out. Kevan didn't work on any large projects, mostly tiny

everyday ones, but the difference that it has made in our daily lives

has been ginormous. He fixed heaters, showers, and doors, trimed limbs

and bushes, and played basketball with neighborhood kids. It was great

being able to share our thanksgiving with someone else, someone who

gave us a lot to be thankful about.

and Kevan, just in case you read this, thank you so very much for all you

did and for the wonderful heartfelt conversations and most of all for just

coming down and spending time with us.

In case we don't say it enough, Corey and I love our interns and all the many visitors that take time out of their lives to come down here to Sanktown and who manage to always spread the love of Christ Jesus through word and deed.

God Bless

<><

More Bug News

2008-11-20T22:54:00.000-06:00

I figured it had been too long since I wrote about the Sanktown bugs, so here's what I've been dealing with the past few weeks...

The weather has been very wintery-like lately, though today it warmed back up, and so most of the bugs have started to hunker down and hide out. I have noticed a severe decline in the volume of bugs that sneak into my trailer, with one notable exception. Apparently, a large colony of wasps have decided that my trailer will make a good home for the winter, so they have began their invasion. Corey thinks it's payback for our wasp hunting this summer before SOUL started, but that's another story altogether.

Anyway, wasps have been coming into my kitchen and living room at an alarming rate, and since I don't have a flyswatter, I've resorted to using other weapons - namely the dustpan and an oven mitt (not at the same time, though that does conjure up a nice mental picture). The most effective measure has been the use of Raid, however, and so I have doused the outside of my trailer several times. I have also found the main location of entry into the kitchen and spray it regularly - I've plugged about half a dozen other holes as well. I killed 25 in just five days last week (inside only - God only knows how many died outside and in the walls). But this week has been much better - only two so far.

I know writing about killing things doesn't make the most appealing reading material, but since hunting for wasps has become a regular part of my daily life, I figured I'd let you hear about it. Just pray I don't get stung. So far, so good in that department!

Please keep in your Prayers

2008-11-17T12:11:00.000-06:00

This morning we found out that we lost a child of the Sanktown community and of the McIntosh Elementary School family. Nathan Reed, a forth grader at the school was killed in a car accident, on his way to school, when another car ran a stop sign and the airbag came out and broke his neck. He is the son of Evie Reed and the grandson of Ms. Judy Faye and the cousin of one of our students,Evie, in the after school program.

Please keep this family and the school in your prayers, during the upcoming holiday season.

<><

SOUL DATES

2008-11-10T14:48:00.000-06:00

Guess What Ya'll??

The S.O.U.L. dates are out!!

June 20-26 Sports Camp

July 11-17 Work Week

July 18-24 Vacation Bible School

Tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW the SOUL DATES are OUT

Make sure you help your church find the right date to send its youth and young adults , then raise that money and come on down

i'm still alive:)

2008-11-10T13:03:00.000-06:00

hi everyone.

its emily.
sorry i havent been posting but honestly it confused me.
haha.
just kiddin.
so... serious note....
everythings going great down here in good ol' sanktown.
bible study is awesome, were actually all going out tonite to dinner and bowling possibly.
im siked.
whoop whoop
but sorry im being short but merryn and i have to sort some rummage. oh yeah.
haha.
<3>
God Bless
Emily

After School

2008-11-09T21:31:00.000-06:00

For those of you who have been praying for the After School Program, i have a great update for you. It seems like it would never come but, we will have our 20th child starting the program on Monday. Actually we will have number 18, 19 and 20 starting. I am so incredibly excited, not just for our numbers but for the family that is starting, the grandmother who is raising the children talked about what a gift from God this program was and that it was just what she had been looking for. And guess what? The grandmother would have never known about our program except for our involvment at the elementary school every week, and getting to know the teachers.

Above you will find a picture of all our kids from last week, except for three, and the three starting on Monday. Aren't they cute? Please continue to pray for the After School program and for all the kids and teachers involved in it.

God Bless

We're Back... In School!

2008-11-06T12:16:00.000-06:00

I don't know how many of you are aware of this, but the Friends Center has been making a concerted effort to build a connection with McIntosh Elementary School. Most of the kids we have in the After School Program go to this school, so it's great to have relationships with their teachers, counselors, principle, and fellow students. We have tried to support them in different ways, such as donating backpacks to students who need them and volunteering during special events like their fruit festival and their upcoming book fair.

But probably the biggest outreach effort has been to volunteer as assistants during normal school days. Jennifer, Emily, and Merryn have been volunteering at least once a week for over a month now, and I know that it has made a difference in lots of lives. It is so cool to see our kids get off the bus for after school and say things like, "Ms. Jennifer, I saw you at my school today!" The teachers receive a big blessing as well when they have someone else in class to help kids that are struggling. Simply being around people can show them that you care about them.

Last week, I had the opportunity to go along with the girls for the first time. We arrived just as lunch was winding down, and I was placed in a fourth grade class. The teacher told me that they were working on math just before lunch and that I could help some of them that were having a hard time with it. So I figured that I'd take a few of them to the side and work with them while she continued on with the rest of the class. Well, that's not exactly what happened. We walked into class, and she said, "Here's my book. You can use the projector or the whiteboard or whatever you need. Now class, pay attention to him." And she sat down at her desk. So, to my complete surprise and amazement, I proceed to teach math for the next hour and a half! It was a fun experience, but I must be careful to thank God for getting me through it without any problems or severe anxiety.

Looking back, I really believe that it was important for me to be there, not because I'm effective at teaching or work well with kids, but because I'm male. I know that in the community we're in, male involvement in family life isn't exactly stellar. And at that school, I haven't once seen a male teacher, administrator, or any other staff. Jennifer may know more about this than I, but I don't know if any of those kids have ever seen a male authority figure at school. So maybe it was a big deal that I stood up in front of a class of fourth graders.

Pray for the schools down in Washington County, Alabama. I think the girls would agree that the term "our kids" is changing from "the ones who show up around the center" to "all the kids we see at school each week." Corey is volunteering today, as I type, and I hope that at least one of us can make it out with the girls each week. We trust that God takes our small gifts and turns them into big blessings!

<><

New Pictures

2008-11-04T11:39:00.000-06:00

Hey Ya'll i just wanted to point out the new pictures posted just this week on the blog. They are all very recent events or outtings here at the center. Please share the blog with others and spread the news of the work happening here.

God Bless

We're Back... IN ALABAMA

2008-10-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry that no one has written the last 16 days, things have been really busy since we got back from North Carolina. We had all kinds of exciting happenings happening last week, we went to the Exploreum in Mobile with the After School kids, helped Mount Moriah Baptist Church hand out their Angel Food Ministry, and held a Fall Festival for the community. Wheww.. last week was a lot of fun!
This week has been pretty average we had after school, rummage, youth group, young adult bible study, and work of course. Today, being Halloween, we are having a halloween party for the after school kids, and a scream fest movie night with the teenagers. So as you can see we have got our hands full again today.
I did want to stop and thank all the churches that allowed Corey and I to come and speak and for the warm hospitality that you all showed. Please keep holding us in your prayers and in your thoughts. We are so blessed here to have three interns,currently, Will, Emily, and Merryn, and of course our after school program teachers, whom without we could not function. Corey and I are so pleased to be here and to be serving you in Your ministry here at the Friends center in Sanktown, Alabama.
Please don't forget to get all your Christmas Rummage items to the YM office no later than the Friday before Thanksgiving, that would be November 21, make sure to check with the Yearly meeting office for any changes in that date. And please please consider making a one time gift to the center, or joining in our Hands On Help program and becoming a monthly sponser, remember as you bless us God will continue to bless you.
Well as always check out the new pictures, and the list listed to the right of the blog.

God Bless, and Happy Halloween

We're back...

2008-10-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Hey friends, we made it back up to NC safely on Monday, and I think I can speak for us all when I say I'm very glad to have some time to spend with family and friends. I love being down in Alabama, but I miss seeing you people too!

I thought I'd give some updates on some of the stuff we've been doing behind the scenes. So basically, everything that Corey's been working on for the past few months, haha. There have been some vast improvements in the back rooms of Turner and the shop. Thanks to the groups we had down for SOUL's work projects week, a lot of stuff has been moved out of those rooms and into the new storage building. So, for those of you that don't understand the full scale of that impact, we can now walk through the back rooms without stepping/squeezing/crawling over stuff on the floor. Plus, thanks to the help of the Western Quarter work group, one of the rooms has finally been transformed into the new youth room (shown on the left). Very exciting!

The shop has also been cleaned out and organized to a degree I've never seen. Corey's worked hard on getting it to the point where he knows what he has, how much of it there is, and where it's located. And not only can you walk through the room without traversing a maze of machines, supplies, wood scraps, and countless other things, but he's actually been able to park the lawn mower and trailer inside the building and - get this - even the van! (Not at the same time...) I can't tell you how much these seemingly tiny blessings excite me, but perhaps if you've had to deal with those rooms in particular at some point in the past, you can understand how I feel.

Another thing: we've been able to get benches built on the new porch at the rummage building (again, thanks to SOUL for the porch). I know the ladies that show up early for rummage sale have been enjoying them. Corey and I are both pretty proud of them... especially me since I'm construction and tool-challenged. I'm just glad they're still standing and providing a little more safety for people up on the porch.

Lastly, I'd just like to offer a big, overdue thanks to the work group that came down from Western Quarter awhile back. They were hard workers and continually displayed hearts willing and determined to follow God's calling. They were a pleasure to have down, and I'm convinced that God will continue to use the work they put forth to bless us and others at the center. The bunk beds they built are great - I know because I sleep in one every night. May God bless each of you in your service to Him.

Random

2008-10-07T10:32:00.000-05:00

So we haven't had anything to exciting happen lately except for a little boy, Mason, slicing his big toe open playing hide and seek. He was screaming so much even the guys playing basketball stopped and came to see what happened. He was fine, we elevated his foot, cleaned it up, and his mom took him home. Emily and I both thought the kid was dying the way he was screaming, and the other kids were yelling, but he was fine, he was more scared about "getting a shot" was going to feel than about the cut. Oh and by the way he was wearing those shoes called Crocs, and a stick went into one of the holes.
We are gearing up for the Basketball Tournament coming up this Saturday. Each team is three players with one sub, if they want, and they play until they lose twice. The winning team gets a prize and all the rest get the pleasure of having a fun day of playing basketball. We are going to be selling full concessions this time, hot dogs, french fries, candy bars, blowpops, soda, and of course gaterade. The youth group is helping run this event, in hopes of raising money to go to tremors and summer camp. Over all it should be a good day!

We will be coming to North Carolina on Monday October 13. Corey and I are speaking at Springfield Friends on Wednesday October 15 at 6:00pm, South Fork on Sunday October 19 at 11:00am and at Archdale at 6:30 pm, on the same day. We would love to see everyone, we are going to be giving a presentation about the center, and its programs, and answering questions.
Thanks -

LOVE OF GOD

2008-09-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks Philip Andrews, this really gave me a lot to think about and consider.
Hang in there, read the math stuff, and all will be revealed

Mathematics
Absolutely amazing!
Beauty of Mathematics !!!!!!!

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Now, take a look at this... 101%
From a strictly mathematical viewpoint: What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to
GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

If: H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And: K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But: A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there,
It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
It's up to you if you share this with your friends & loved ones just the way I did..
Have a nice day & God bless!!