On the 16 hour drive down to Pawley’s Island two weeks ago I had no idea how God was going to be at work in my heart and the heart of my team. My hope as you continue reading is for God to be at work in your heart as well as you share in this experience. As God continues to teach us what His grace looks like in everyday life, may we learn to extend His grace to even those who we deem undeserving. In reality are we not all undeserving of God’s grace.? Yet He extends it to us, in hope we will do likewise. I pray you may find ways to extend grace to all you may come into contact with each day.
LeaderTreks has led several trips down to the area to restore homes in this poverty stricken area as well as restore broken relationships due to racism. Here is a story of some of the work in progress done by LeaderTreks...
Donella Smith is 24 years old. She has 5 children ages 3, 4, 7, 8 & 10. The father of those children is in prison for abusing the children and their mother. She has spent the last 10 years living in a run-down trailer that is easily 30 years old. It is a two bedroom trailer but one of the rooms is unlivable so all six people live in one bedroom! The trailer was considered condemned living, where no one should be allowed to live in it.
LeaderTreks partners with a local ministry called Nehemiah Project who’s goal is to share the love of Christ in an area where racism is still rather prevalent. They do so by following Christ’s example of not only investing in the spiritual well being of people, but by meeting physical needs as well. Over the past two summers, Christ’s love has been shown through Jr./Sr. Highers’ extensive labor on building them a brand new house. I was blown away by the work accomplished by 12-18 year olds, those who are so often viewed as too young to change the world, have changed the world for Donella and her five children.
THOUGHTFUL R EFLECTIONS...
Many of you have heard of the show Extreme Makeover. In the show, people are chosen for the most part because they have given so much and sacrificed of themselves to this world or even to their own families but have not gotten much in return and so they are finally cashing in so to speak on their good deeds. What we did was completely different and I learned it was never meant to be like that show. Donella wouldn’t qualify for Extreme Home Makeover; she’s made some poor choices and she’s paying for them, she struggles with having the means or even the know how to help herself and her family, not to mention the people around her. So why didn’t we find somebody who has the capacity to do more for the community and their own family, who deserves it more? Well, Donella qualifies for our work because she has intrinsic value. And on the surface, it might seem like Donella’s life isn’t worth very much, but that is not the case at all. The highest price possible was paid in fact for Donella’s life, infinitely high. The Son of God sacrificed himself on a cross so that Donella’s life and her children’s lives might be spared, immediately giving an incredibly high value to her. Donella rose to the surface as somebody in desperate need and God called us to her; not because she has great church attendance, sings in a church choir, or teaches Sunday school and makes few mistakes in life, but because God loves her. And that is where real hope and true grace actually begins. Being loved by God not because of what we have done or accomplished with our lives but because we are His children. Our daily interaction with the Smith family, the conversations we had, the hugs we gave, the labor we poured out only had any permanent impact on the Smith family because it was done in the name of Christ. Without that it doesn’t have the capacity to truly change people’s lives at all.
May this story of God’s grace truly challenge us to seek opportunities to share His grace in all of our relationships.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING…
As we have been out of the office a lot lately my training has been very experiential. Once again holding true to the LeaderTreks philosophy of Principles + Experience= Transformational Change. Throughout our time in Pawley’s Island, my eyes were opened to another aspect of leading trips. Logistics are not something we tend to get excited about but are an essential part of running a successful trip. Realizing how prepared I must be as far as running a worksite, getting materials needed on time, being several steps ahead of the students, recognizing the
greatest need of the team of students, discerning the balance between challenge and encouragement, and seeking partnership with the youth pastor can be overwhelming to take in all at once. However, the training of principles as well as gradually taking on more and more responsibility in each experience is truly preparing me for transformational change in the lives of students as well as my own life. Recently I was informed I will be leading my first trip in February with all responsibility minus the work site. Excitement, anticipation, and a continued
desire to pursue God for strength encompass my thoughts as training continues.
STAFF RECRUITING TRIPS...
We are in the midst of recruitment season. On a surface level it looks like long car rides to various universities, lots of fast food, being gone for half of the week, and a busy schedule of speaking in classes. There is so much more going on! Our staff team is bonding as we have an over-abundance of time together. While it is often easy to get irritable on long road trips and constant travel, instead we are engaging in deep challenging conversation, lots of laughter, and shared memories. As far as recruiting goes a continued excitement for the ministry of LeaderTreks especially among college students grows within each of us. If you have spent anytime talking with me about LeaderTreks, I am sure you already have heard how transformational it has been in my life and in the lives of students. As I look at taking more responsibility in the recruitment process I am excited to share this opportunity for transformational change. In the next few weeks we will continue to travel to Cedarville, Indiana
Wesleyan, Huntington, and Moody. If you know of any college students, recent graduates, or anyone who may be interested in LeaderTreks, please contact me! I would love to give them more information about the work God is doing in and though LeaderTreks.
CONSIDER JOINING THE MINISTRY OF LEADERTREKS...
Over-emphasizing the need for prayer within the ministry of LeaderTreks is not possible. We know God ultimately is the one at work and is simply using us to advance His kingdom. Without Him our work is in vain. As we look to our current and future ministry, God must consistently be at the center of our lives. For those of you who are already praying on a regular basis, thank you so much! God is very much at work! If you would like to join my ministry at LeaderTreks in prayer please email me and let me know!
Right now there are eight full-time staff at LeaderTreks. We are at a time were recruitment is incredibly important. You can partner with LeaderTreks by spreading the word in churches and among young people. Feel free to give out my name, email, phone number, to anyone who may be interested as well as direct them to them to the website.
Asking for more people to partner with me at LeaderTreks in financial support, is hard, humbling, and faith stretching. Knowing the economy continues to struggle and the stress it puts on all of us is completely understandable. With all that said I want to express my deepest appreciation to those of you who have been able to make my time at LeaderTreks possible through your financial support. I also ask that you prayerfully consider joining my ministry at LeaderTreks through monthly support.
As we have been out of the office a lot lately my training has been very experiential. Once again holding true to the LeaderTreks philosophy of Principles + Experience= Transformational Change. Throughout our time in Pawley’s Island, my eyes were opened to another aspect of leading trips. Logistics are not something we tend to get excited about but are an essential part of running a successful trip. Realizing how prepared I must be as far as running a worksite, getting materials needed on time, being several steps ahead of the students, recognizing the
greatest need of the team of students, discerning the balance between challenge and encouragement, and seeking partnership with the youth pastor can be overwhelming to take in all at once. However, the training of principles as well as gradually taking on more and more responsibility in each experience is truly preparing me for transformational change in the lives of students as well as my own life. Recently I was informed I will be leading my first trip in February with all responsibility minus the work site. Excitement, anticipation, and a continued
desire to pursue God for strength encompass my thoughts as training continues.
STAFF RECRUITING TRIPS...
We are in the midst of recruitment season. On a surface level it looks like long car rides to various universities, lots of fast food, being gone for half of the week, and a busy schedule of speaking in classes. There is so much more going on! Our staff team is bonding as we have an over-abundance of time together. While it is often easy to get irritable on long road trips and constant travel, instead we are engaging in deep challenging conversation, lots of laughter, and shared memories. As far as recruiting goes a continued excitement for the ministry of LeaderTreks especially among college students grows within each of us. If you have spent anytime talking with me about LeaderTreks, I am sure you already have heard how transformational it has been in my life and in the lives of students. As I look at taking more responsibility in the recruitment process I am excited to share this opportunity for transformational change. In the next few weeks we will continue to travel to Cedarville, Indiana
Wesleyan, Huntington, and Moody. If you know of any college students, recent graduates, or anyone who may be interested in LeaderTreks, please contact me! I would love to give them more information about the work God is doing in and though LeaderTreks.
CONSIDER JOINING THE MINISTRY OF LEADERTREKS...
Over-emphasizing the need for prayer within the ministry of LeaderTreks is not possible. We know God ultimately is the one at work and is simply using us to advance His kingdom. Without Him our work is in vain. As we look to our current and future ministry, God must consistently be at the center of our lives. For those of you who are already praying on a regular basis, thank you so much! God is very much at work! If you would like to join my ministry at LeaderTreks in prayer please email me and let me know!
Right now there are eight full-time staff at LeaderTreks. We are at a time were recruitment is incredibly important. You can partner with LeaderTreks by spreading the word in churches and among young people. Feel free to give out my name, email, phone number, to anyone who may be interested as well as direct them to them to the website.
Asking for more people to partner with me at LeaderTreks in financial support, is hard, humbling, and faith stretching. Knowing the economy continues to struggle and the stress it puts on all of us is completely understandable. With all that said I want to express my deepest appreciation to those of you who have been able to make my time at LeaderTreks possible through your financial support. I also ask that you prayerfully consider joining my ministry at LeaderTreks through monthly support.
1 comment:
hey lori!!!!
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