|
|
|
|
The Difference between Strategic and Important
by Pastor Bob
When Christ became flesh and dwelt among us, He came at a time described in Scripture as "the fullness of time". That means He came to earth at just the right time in terms of God's redemptive plan formed from eternity past. Was His coming important? Extremely, but perhaps more significant was the strategic value of the timing of His coming. He came at a time when the world was experiencing a significant period of peace. Rome had conquered most, if not all of the Middle East and had troops occupying most of the countries it had subdued. The result was historians now refer to as "Pax Romana" or Roman peace.
He also came at a time when the system of roads was more developed than ever before in history and much of the area now had a reasonably reliable postal system. The final piece of the puzzle is that the entire area had now accepted Greek as the "lingua franca" or trade language and this, coupled with the other things already mentioned created an environment for the rapid spread of information that had not existed before.
My point is this: Was Christ's coming important? Absolutely! It was also strategic in its timing, which made His coming and the spread of the Gospel after His death and resurrection more rapid than it would have been.
We all have times in our lives that are both strategic and important. Scripture refers to linear time as "kronos" the root of such words as "chronometer". It refers to time that is strategic and significant because of the timing and outcome of events in our lives as "kairos". With that as background...let me ask you a question: "Do you regard attendance on Sundays and inviting friends and neighbors to come with you as important?" Even if we secretly don't, we all know the "right" answer is "yes, I do".
We have a Sunday coming up in September that is both important and strategic. Starting Sept. 6th, we will begin a three sermon series on our vision statement. Each of those is important. The last Sunday...the 20th is also strategic. That's the Sunday we will have our ministry fair where people can find out both about ministries we have here at Hope and where they might serve within those ministries.
I want to ask each of you to pray about two things: First, if you are not already involved in a ministry, that God would provide you direction as you investigate opportunities at the ministry fair. Secondly, be praying about who God might want you to bring with you on that Sunday. The quickest way for people to find out about ministries here at Hope is to get them here so they can see for themselves. Dream with me for a moment: What do you think would be the outcome if half of our people at Hope brought someone new and that person got a chance to see who we are and what is here for their family? How about if everyone brought someone?
Every Sunday is important, but this one is strategic. Let's not pass up the opportunity. |
|
Resource Center News
Do you attend the 10:30 service? If you do, please consider staying a few minutes after the service to help in the library. We currently have two Library Aide shift openings, the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.
Training will be provided. If you are interested in helping please contact Shannon Nordgren at (815) 494-9470 or hefclibrary@gmail.com. Thanks!
We are still under a spending freeze, but we have received the following resources as generous gifts. We appreciate any donations, especially recently published resources.
Non-Fiction:
· 40 Days with Jesus by Randy Hurst
· Breaking Free from the Power of Lust by Steve Gallagher
· Castaway Kid by R. B. Mitchell
· Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado
· From One Widow to Another by Miriam Neff
· Moms on the Job: 7 Secrets for Success at Home and Work by Sabrina O'Malone
· Silent Witness: The Untold Story of Terri Shiavo's Death by Mark Fuhrman
· Sold Out Two-Gether: A Couple's Spiritual Growth Workbook by Bill & Lynda McCartney
· The Fulfilled Family by John MacArthur
Fiction:
· Take Two (Above the Line series#2) by Karen Kingsbury
· Coming Attractions (Katie Weldon series #3) by Robin Jones Gunn
· New Hampshire Weddings by Rachel Hauck
· Rescued by John Bevere
· Deceived by James Scott Bell
· Higher Hope (Tides of Truth series #2) by Robert Whitlow
· Road to Nowhere by Paul Robertson
· Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin
· The Shepherd's Voice by Robin Lee Hatcher
· The Spear of Tyranny by Grant R. Jeffrey
· The Story Tellers' Collection by Melody Carlson, Jerry B. Jenkins, and Deborah Raney
Juvenile:
· Faith Like Potatoes by Angus Buchan
· Guido's Gondola by Renee Riva
· Rock, Roll, and Run (Hermie and Friends) by Max Lucado
DVD:
· The Velveteen Rabbit
|
Adult Ministries
Fall Bible Study Offerings
Men & Women's Fall Bible Studies
Effective Parenting in a Defective World Mondays during AWANA - 6:30-8:00 pm
Facilitators - Brad & Valerie Schreiner
10 Weeks starting September 14.
(If married - both parents need to attend -
see Pastor Brad with questions)
Cost: $20.00
You can raise successful children even in this fallen world! In  this day and age, children face a far more defective world than the children of previous decades. Every day they are bombarded with the pressures and influences of drugs, sex, and violence. Parents are left helpless, as every godly principle they teach their children is contradicted by the corrupt principles of this defective world. But the truth is, God has a plan for effectively raising your children and you can learn it.
With penetrating truth and sincere honesty, Chip Ingram shares the life lessons from his personal experience of raising four children. He describes his failures and the challenges of teenage rebellion. And he teaches the principles for successful parenting as revealed through God's Word.
Sessions 1-4: Learn universally applicable principles that will change your understanding of your role as a parent and how to apply God's process for teaching and nurturing your children.
Sessions 5-7: Apply practical lessons about discipline, including a biblical understanding of punishment versus discipline, and the importance of maintaining the right attitude.
Sessions 8-9: Understand and implement simple biblical truths that you and your children can hold on to when all else fails.
Comments from the last class to those who would take this class:
This class is worth the time you would invest. The material is great. The lessons are practical and communicate such a Godly world view. It applied to every stage of parenting.
Open your eyes and be ready to face your weaknesses as a parent. You can't go through this class and not be affected. It helps you realize that the choices we make today can affect our children the rest of their lives.
Even if you feel that you are doing a good job as a parent already, you should take this class. You will find it very eye-opening.
Wednesdays - Family/Coed: 6:30-8:30 pm 
starting September 9
Financial Peace
Facilitator - Brad Schreiner - 13 weeks Cost: $100.00 Financial Peace University consists of a 13-week video curriculum taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey, that incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship. Most financial programs are boring, with confusing information and monotonous instructors.
Financial Peace is very different! It is highly entertaining for everyone, with a unique combination of humor, informative financial advice, and biblical messages. The course is easy to facilitate and there is no certification required to become one of our volunteer coordinators. Dave does all the teaching via video with volunteer coordinators leading the discussions after the videos.
See what others who taken the class here at Hope have said:
"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the Financial freedom class. This class really opened up some much needed communication between (my spouse) and I about our finances. We learned so much and are doing so much better than we were. We have struggled for so many years financially. This class came at the perfect time because now we finally have money to save and start paying off our debt. Thank you for all the effort you put into organizing and everything. I have really enjoyed the class and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to take it."
"We actually feel like we have a plan for the first time in our lives. As a couple we are communicating for the first time about money constructively. The stress of not being able to see a way out actually caused depression and divorce. But we are remarried and the relationship is at an entirely new level after 28 years. Thank you."
For a sample commercial video please link to:
http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/church/index.cfm?fuseAction=dspVideos&intId=4&autoplay=true or go to http://www.daveramsey.com/ for more complete details.
Men's Fall Bible Studies
Wednesdays - Men: 6:45-8:30 pm - starting Sept 16
A Contrarians Guide to Knowing God:
Spirituality for the Rest of Us. -
Facilitator - Jim Edmonds - 10 weeks
Cost: $15.00
 When Jesus walked the earth, God was anything but accessible. Spirituality was reserved for the elite---those with pedigree, education, and a commitment to rigid self-discipline. Jesus, countering with a different path, raised the bar of righteousness but lowered the bar to entry. A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God follows in Jesus' footsteps. Believing that the bar has been re-raised with our widely accepted ideas of what it means to know God, Osborne seeks to place spirituality back within our reach. Defining what spirituality is and isn't, he explores what it takes to get there and then looks in depth at what God wants and expects from each of us as individuals. If you've walked the "tried-and-true" paths and found them wanting, Osborne offers hope and some other ways to get there. If you have nagging doubts whether it all really works as advertised, you'll find the tough questions asked---and answered. If the spiritual disciplines work well for you, you'll better understand those who struggle with them.
Wednesdays - Men: 6:00-7:30 am - starting September 23
Winning at Work & Home
Facilitator - Mike Butts - 16 weeks -
covering Fall and Spring semesters
Cost: $10.00
 Winning at Work and Home is a 16-session study that focuses on the two areas that are central to a man's life: his career and his family. This journey builds the walls of manhood by dealing with such topics as understanding women, marriage, sex, dating, conflict, money, parenting and the world of work. The curriculum also comes with a host of practical applications. Women's Fall Bible Studies
Wednesday mornings 9-11 am and evenings 6:45-8:30 pm
starting September 16
Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman
DVD presentation with Discussion Groups
Cost: $17
It's Tough Being a Woman
Join us for Beth Moore's latest study: Esther, It's Tough Being a Woman
If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened, or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this study is for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther's day, it is tough today. Beth Moore peels back the layers of history and shows how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to us. LIFE DELIVERS ITS SHARE OF KNOCKOUT PUNCHES. You  bob. You weave. You try to keep moving. But what do you do when you inevitably find yourself on the ropes? Go into training with Beth Moore's newest study-Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. Facing heavyweights bent on her destruction, Esther trusted God and landed a blow that saved her people. Her destiny can be yours as you know more deeply the God who is in your corner.
Wednesday evenings 6:45 to 8:30 pm
starting September 16
5 Conversations You Must Have
With Your Daughter
DVD presentation and Discussion Groups
Cost: $13
Time to talk to your daughter about some tough topics? Looking for Scriptrue to help guide those conversations? Let's talk about the culture's lies - and God's take on issues girls face every day. Let's talk about what you need to be saying to your daughter and how to keep those conversations going.
This Bible study is for moms of daughters from the cradle to college. This six-session group experience will help you discover God's take on critical issues. Learn from Vicki Courtney and other moms who've been there. From growing up too fast to online chat rooms, Vicki covers the hot-button issues you're sure to face and gives you tools to navigate the land mines with confidence.
|
 |
|
Come meet some new friends (and reconnect with some old ones too)
College Age Meets during 9:00 service in Adult
Classroom
Taught by Todd Piefer
20's & 30's Meets in Fireside Room during 9:00
service
Taught by Andrew Schwenk
Mutigenerational Meets in Fellowship Hall during 10:30
service
Multigenerational Meets in Fellowship Hall during the
9:00 service
Taught by Mike Winebrenner
Prison Epistles
60+ Meets in Fireside Room during the
10:30 service
Taught by Pastor Ken
If you have never tried coming to an ABF - what is stopping you from checking one out?
|
Celebration Choir:
Love the Lord? Love to Sing?
Consider being a part of our Celebration Choir! Our choir is a worship-leading choir that meets on Thursday evenings 6:50-8:20 beginning Thursday, Sept 3. We would love to welcome you into our group which serves the Lord by providing vocal music leadership for worship as well as presenting the message of our Jesus Christ using music as the tool (concerts & musical dramas...).
Both men and women are welcome and encouraged to serve - all parts are needed!! Whether you are an experienced choir vocalist or someone who has never done it before, if you can carry a tune & have the desire, we will help you learn. Church membership is not required. Contact Pat Noble or any of our Celebration Choir members for more information. Sign up in the lobby ends this weekend for both new & returning members - OR email Pat at pnoble@charterinternet.com and we'll put you on the list.
Childcare is offered during rehearsal.
Looking ahead.... In addition to upcoming worship music, we will start right away on this year's December outreach event: the major musical "Canticle of Christmas" to be presented the weekend of Dec 11-13.
This is a beautiful retelling of the Christmas story in song. The music features a variety of styles and will be anchored by the Choir and Orchestra Ensemble. If you love the Lord and love to sing, you will not want to miss the opportunity to be a part of this ministry project!
Celebration Band: Dust off those instruments- get them cleaned up & ready to go! We are privileged to have a brass and woodwind band that accompanies our worship about once every six weeks & for some special occasions. If you are an adult or high school student (proficient in your instrument-we generally only rehearse once) who plays flute, trumpet, trombone, baritone, french horn, clarinet, saxophone, violin.... consider being a part of our Celebration Band! You are provided with music about two weeks before the date we are scheduled for worship so you can practice it at your convenience. Generally, we rehearse together as a band on the Thursday night before our scheduled Sunday. Interested?? Contact Pat Noble, Jerry Disney, or Deb Edmonds for more information!
Need Your HELP!!
Persons to do childcare during Thursday evening Celebration Choir rehearsals are needed beginning in the Fall. If you enjoy kids & would be willing to serve even one Thursday a month (we need teams of 2-3 for each week) that would be such a blessing to the choir members! Contact Pat Noble as soon as possible if you are interested in more information, or are willing to serve! Thanks!
TEEN CHOIR
Teen Choir is for teens ages 13-19 (if you are 12 and entering 7th grade, contact Pat Noble - you may still be eligible) WHO ENJOY SINGING & DRAMA.
Our Choir for teens meets generally on Sundays at 5 pm (before Freeway Youth Group). At times, when we are working on special programs and projects, we have extended or additional rehearsals to prepare for those events.
In addition to singing at worship, we do some outreach ministry & full concerts. Interested? Sign up will be in the Narthex. We'll let you know when we're going to get started...
| |
|
|
|
|
 Hope Free Church
Our vision is to be a church whose passion for God gives rise to a heart for the lost and is
demonstrated by our love for one another.
|
|
Thank You Notes
Thanks so very much for the lovely cut flowers and prayers that have helped return me to good health after my recent surgery. May God bless each and every one of you!! Sharon Vinson
Josh and I would like to thank everyone for all of their prayers and words of advice throughout my pregnancy. We have been enjoying every minute of little Brayden and are so thankful to have so many loving friends to share this exciting time with. Thank you to everyone for the generous gift baskets, thoughtful emails, and cards. Everyone's prayers and wishes have made this experience extra special! Tiffany & Josh Aurand
Thank you for the gifts. I love bubbles! I am feeling better! Chris Tichgelaar
Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. And the wonderful basket. You're such a blessing to us! Love the Tichgelaars
|
|
Membership Class
A membership class will be offered Saturday, October 3. If you are interested in learning more about Hope and pursuing membership at Hope this class is for you!! We will meet at 8:00 am and end by noon. Please contact the church office 815.623.6545 to register.
.
|
A TASTE OF HOPE the morning of Sunday, September 20
A TASTE OF HOPE is our annual Ministry Fair that takes place during and between both services in the Fellowship Hall. ABF's are cancelled for that day to give everyone an opportunity to check out the various minitries of Hope Free Church. Find out how YOU can be more involved and connected with the body!!
One of the more common reasons people leave churches is because they do not feel a sense of connectedness or involvement in the church. A TASTE OF HOPE is designed to answer your questions about participating in a ministry or being involved in some way in the body life of the church. We are a body and we need one another. How are you connected here at Hope? Mark your calendars and make A TASTE OF HOPE a priority. |
SMALL GROUPS
Have you ever wondered how you can engage your friends who are far from God in a non threatening way about the Bible? Well now you can. This fall, our small groups will be field testing the "10 Keys for Unlocking the Bible" DVD curriculum which looks at 10 predominant themes in the Bible to introduce people to the wonders of Scripture. There is also a very pertinent time within the study where one has the opportunity to share Christ with those who come as well as your testimony.
The study has been done by hundreds of churches as a way to connect with the community while trying to get the community to connect with God. This is an evangelistic study that will be tested by the current small groups in the fall then repeated in the spring with the idea of having more groups meeting after we have spent the fall praying for those who we will invite. Check out the Small Group table at the Ministry Fair for more information or contact Pastor Brad to inquire of how you can be involved.
|
|
SENIOR SAINTS LUNCHEON, SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 12 NOON.
The Senior Saints meets on the second Tuesday at noon for a wonderful meal, devotions by Pastor Ken, and an inspiring musical program. We hope you will come and bring some other Seniors from the community with you. We are seeking to reach out to the seniors of the stateline and you can help by inviting your friends to come with you. Call Betty Alexander by Friday, September 4th to reserve your spot and help the cooks know how many to prepare for. Her number is 815-623-2336.
|
|
WHITE CROSS UPDATE
Sharon Vinson & Connie Ruden, Coordinators
As our workers prepare more items to be shipped to TouchGlobal Ministries in September, we thank you for your donations of time, talent, and treasures. Recently we were able to donate 60 pillowcases to Rockford Rescue Mission and several quilts to area ministries.
Our September workdays are Tuesday, September 1, and Saturday, September 19, from 8-12 in Drake Hall so do plan to join us. We'll be tying quilts, cutting out dresses for the dress kits, cutting materials for receiving blankets and quilt tops, etc. Just bring your scissors and come enjoy some fellowship with other willing workers for Jesus.
Our needs this month include:
Blankets & mattress pads for inside of quilts (watch the estate & garage sales)
Lightweight flannel for receiving blankets
Rickrack, bias tape, thread, small scissors, pins & needles to include in the dress kits
Gallon storage bags (ziploc style)
Sheets, sheets, & more sheets for quilt backs (flat, any color)
Campbell's labels for education (for local schools)
We look forward to seeing many workers make a difference in God's kingdom as we try to supply for the needs of those in Congo, Tanzania, Bosnia, Romania, Mongolia, and more. We continue to deliver items to local ministries as the opportunity arises.
|
Judy Hewitt and Jerry Wubbena
INVITE
Hope Free Church to their wedding & reception.
When:
September 26, 2009 1:00 pm
Where:
Hope Free Church
Please no gifts
|
Moms In Touch
will be gearing up soon.
MIT's mission is to impact children and schools for for Christ by gathering moms to pray. We have a group for Hononegah, Kinnikinnick, Rockton, and Prairie Hill. Moms gather to pray for the students, administration, and teachers for their school. Please contact Kathy Dobson (815.624.2973) or Vera Juhlin (815.623.7761) for more information.
|
|
Fall Festival
Look for
Hope Free's booth
at the
Roscoe Fall Festival September 11-13
There are still slots open for those interested in working the booth!! Here is your opportunity to encourage our community by letting them know about HOPE . |
|
The Mission Board is pleased to announce that on September 6th our missionaries to Northern Wisconsin, Brian and Lori Rowe, will be visiting Hope Free Church. As many of you know Brian and Lori were members of HEFC before God put a call on their hearts to go to the mission field. Since that time God has opened numerous opportunities for them to serve and witness the gospel. They have an active nursing home ministry and are involved during the summer with Silver Birch Ranch summer camp. They are also witnessing the gospel to the Native American community and have started a clothing exchange.
Brian will be making a presentation sharing with us the details of their ministry to the combined Adult Bible Fellowship groups during both the normal 9 and 10:30 hours. Please join us in welcoming Brian and Lori on September 6th.
| |
|
Biblical Virtue to Pray for our Kids - As our children start back
to school, pray that they will grow in their willingness and ability to work. "Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Col. 3:23) September 6th is the big date - All of our fall Kids of Hope ministries will begin then. We follow the public schools in determining when to move children to the next class. Therefore, the breakdowns will be as listed below. Parents please pick up your children as quickly as possible after service or ABF. If your child will be staying for both services, let the teacher know and then you won't have to come back between services to move them. Nursery 9:00 & 10:30  Just outside the Sanctuary Infant Nursery 0-12 months Toddler Nursery 13-24 months Preschool 9:00 & 10:30
 2 Yr old room 2 yrs old as of August 31st , 2009
3 Yr old room 3 yrs old as of August 31st , 2009
Pre K room 4 yrs old as of August 31 & anyone not starting
Kindergarten 9:00 Sunday School K - 1st Anyone in K - 1st grade this year, right side of Drake Hall 2nd - 3rd Anyone in 2nd or 3rd grades this year, left side of Drake 4th - 5th Anyone in 4th or 5th grades this year, Center of Drake Hall
10:30 Worship for Kids
 For kids Kindergarten through 3rd grade who want an alternative to "Big Church". Worship for Kids meets in Drake Hall
We still need teachers and helpers for the following Sunday morning positions.
Please pray that these positions would be filled with before the fall quarter begins. teacher for 2 year olds at 10:30
helper for 2 year olds at 10:30
teacher for 3 year olds at 10:30
Co teacher for 4th-5th Grade at 9:00
Substitutes for all ages
Nursery workers at both services  AWANA has started another year of training the next generation to participate in the battle for the Lord. This is an exciting time and we have many special events planned for the coming year. Pray for all the dedicated volunteers and for all of the families being touched by this ministry. Also pray that God will bring a few more volunteers, ready to be used by God to serve in this growing ministry. Contact Vicky Steege, Amy Hill or Roger Glenn for more information about AWANA ministry opportunities. Monday nights 6:30 - 8:00 starting August 31st (no club on Labor Day) Cubbies 3 - 5 year olds Sparkies K - 2nd graders T&T 3rd - 6th graders
JUST AROUND THE CORNERHalloween is just around the corner...if you would like evangelistic tracts to pass out with your candy, contact Vera Juhlin at the church office. There is a cost of $2.50 for 25 tracts. Let's take the opportunity to change what Satan means for evil into an opportunity for many to hear the gospel. |
|
SEPTEMBER
04 - 06 - LABOR DAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA!! (F - SU) Details (TBA)
Possibilities include: movie night, extreme gaming, reality gaming, street preaching and
witnessing, "Combatmitten" and "non-stop, point of exhaustion Ultimate Frisbee"!!
13 OR 20 Possible guest speaker Lauri Higgins (Ill. Family Inst.) 23 - SYATP (see info
http://www.syatp.com/) or GoodSearch (see Joel Fuller for how our
youth group makes $$ when you use this search engine) SYATP 09 and click on SYTAP!
This year's theme, "ENGAGE: Go and Pray" 2 Kings 22:13a.
Looking ahead
OCTOBER
30/31 - Fri. & Sat: AVP
NOVEMBER
Code Blue Rally (WVW) NOV options - 07 Carbondale, 20 Peoria, 21 Moline, 22 Rockford
21- Saturday evening, Thanksgiving Special - Teens!
DECEMBER
06 - Possible Christmas Special - Teens
19 - TEEN Caroling? TBA
JANUARY
15-18 - Possible "Holiness" weekend at Cascade?
LOOKING AHEAD to summer 2010 - Creation Museum?, BUMP?, Challenge 2010 in
Ohio? (we'll see - keep praying for us!!)
Crossroads Youth Group Freeway Youth Group
|
Hope Family,
Thank you so much for all the support you have provided me and God's work in Kenya. Without your support, and Gods mighty hand, this experience would not have been possible. We were able to make a large impact in the areas where we were working, as well as receive so much growth and encouragement.
A team of nine other students and three leaders, and I, spend roughly four and a half weeks in Kenya. Our first week was spent in Nairobi, the capital which was a very large and busy city. For five days we had the opportunity to live in a Kenyan home. My team mate, Debbie, and I stayed with an older single Kenyan woman named Margaret. This was a wonderful experience. Margaret was a very lively woman; there was never a dull moment with her! The Kenyan culture is so beautiful, as they do not focus on time or work; instead they focus on relationships and hospitality. For almost every meal we were in a new house because all of Margaret's friends were so eager to meet and spend time with us. This experience definitely made me appreciate how blessed I am! But, although these people had virtually nothing they were some of the happiest people I have ever met. It was so humbling to go to church in Kenya and see people who had nothing, thanking and praising God for the little that they had, and seeing their unwavering faith that God would provide for them no matter how bad their circumstances seemed. After Nairobi we spent about two and a half weeks in LTK which was about a six hour drive on dirt roads from Nairobi. This was a small extremely rural town. This is where Homeless Children International compound was located. This was an amazing Christian organization that takes in street children from Nairobi who want to turn their life around, children in the community from abusive homes, and more recently Masai children. Masai are a very primitive tribe that lives outside of the rural towns. They still practice female circumcision at the age of ten and marry their daughters off at the age of twelve to the man in the tribe who will pay the most for her. Because of this practice many of the girls have been trying to run away from the tribe, and when they do HCI takes them in. While we were there, there were forty-two children, thirty girls and twelve boys. The children live together on the compound and go to school in the community. While we were there we had an opportunity to teach in the school. Out of our team of thirteen, four of us were elementary education majors and one of our leaders is a fifth grade teacher. At first we thought it was a strange coincidence, but after we got there we realized God designed it that way because the teachers HCI hired were in desperate need of encouragement and training. So they asked those of us who were majoring in education to come in and train the teachers and teach some of the classes while we there, to give the teachers a break and to allow them to observe more interactive teaching methods. This was one of my favorite experiences; I taught a third grade class for two weeks. This definitely gave me confidence in my major and showed me teaching is where God wants me to be. So, although we did do some physical tasks while we were there, our main goal was to build relationships with the children. There are forty-two kids in this program and they have four adults meeting their physical needs, however they do not have a lot of time to meet their emotional needs. So much of our time was spent giving these kids individual love and attention, and they desperately needed it, especially considering the background and families they are coming from. So we talked with them, played games, helped with homework, and did devotions with them. All of the kids were absolutely amazing; getting to spend time with them was such an enriching experience, not only for them, but also for our team. After LTK, we spent our last three days in Mombasa right on the beautiful Indian Ocean for debriefing and some relaxation.
Over all, this entire trip was such an amazing and life changing experience! Thank you again for all of your support. I ask that you continue to keep continue to keep Kenya and all of the children we worked with in your prayers. And, if you feel lead to continue to support Homeless Children International financially you can get more information on their website: http://hci-teule.org. Thank you again! God Bless!
Mallori Steege
|
Hope Free Church
5656 Elevator Road
Roscoe, IL 61073
| |
|
