Maggie Martel

http://aliatalay.net/ady/txgvluyv0q3yop6at01povq=ismh2kk9m 

We may be home but we are not done!

Safely home Saturday night and most of the team at church on Sunday AM!  What a praise.  But we are not done yet.  We had such a great time cleaning up around Queens that we are working on getting together as a crew and cleaning up parks right here in Knoxville.  Thanks to Cameron Ramsey we are getting organized and working together right here in our back yard.  As you can see....lives have been changed! 

Home

After a fun day in Manhattan, Broadway's Mary Poppins, Juniors for an awesome dinner and cheesecake we headed home Saturday. We are all exhausted but there is a great sense of accomplishment of a job well done. After a good nights sleep we are up this morning looking forward to reuniting this morning at the Hub and praising Gods name with a sense of thankfulness for our blessings and safety as we traveled. Thank you for your prayers.

Thoughts from Zach

This week has been an incredible week to say the least. We've had lots of adventures, seen many sights, done many things, and learned more about God. Our theme for this week revolved around being "here." Not just, here on a mission trip, but here in our lives at this time and place. The big question surrounding the "here" is "what's God's purpose for my life?" "Why does God need me here?" "Why am I here?" These questions are tough to answer, but there are a few things that can help solve these age old questions

New York City: roughly eleven million people. Eleven million! Each of these people have a story, a background, and a future. Many rush about their day enveloped by their work schedules, or other daily activities. Some are rich, some are poor. Some are happy, some are sad. Some are Christ followers, some are not. Regardless of what side of the spectrum they are on, they are all here in this moment. As we drove into the city back on Sunday, I couldn't help but thinking how much materialism has been put into this city. How many people walk around this city, and place their hope and trust in a city, job or other object.  Each morning would start with a devotional time. During these devotions we would take a look at some of the reasons we are "here." I'm quickly going to paraphrase these answers, so we can get a better understanding of why we are "here."

1. We are here to worship. Worship is essential to our faith. We are made to worship our Creator, made to worship God. Worship is the one thing God cannot give Himself, and He deserves worship so much. We learned this week that there is more to worship than just singing. The definition of worship is "an act designed to pursue, adore and give honor to another." If you think of things in this context, anything that brings honor to God is considered worship. Along with singing, praying, reading your Bible, and serving others are all forms of worship. Our first purpose for why we are "here" is to worship God.

2. We are here to invest. This is a know brainer in some respects. We are here to invest our time, talents, abilities, feelings, and actions into serving God. We learned this week that investing our abilities and talents bring worship to God. We are here to invest in other people. Why should we invest in others? Look at Jesus. He had every reason not to invest in us, but He was willing to come down and die on a cross because He loved us. Investing can be done in many ways, but it should always point back to God.

3. We are here to unite. We are here to unite with others and God. Most importantly, we need to unite under the body of Christ. A body cannot function if our heart decide it didn't like the brain. It needs to be united. Same goes for the body of believers. We need to unite our talents and abilities for God. This also looks different in many ways, but if we work for God's will, then we are doing what is pleasing to Him. Just as a body cannot function if it doesn't work together, so the Body of Christ cannot work together if we aren't unified. 

4. We are here to serve. We are here to serve others! Jesus' earthly ministry was about serving. We are here to follow His example, and serve others. Serving is an incredible way to reach others for Christ. Some ways  we served during the week included going to nursing homes and cleaning a park. I challenge all of us in this part to be more open to serving. Look for opportunities, and then do it. Jesus' earthly ministry was serving, shouldn't that be ours if we are following Him?

Each of these ways answer the previous questions in one way. Ultimately we are here to do God's will. As long as we live our lives according to the Bible, we will be walking in His will. As we get back from this trip, it is our goal to not become complacent, but continue to serve, unite, worship, and invest. Each and every person on this trip has learned something, and I know God has big plans for all of us. I have learned that serving God will bring about a worship that cannot be matched. If you would like to read more about this you can read Romans 12:1-12. Each verse corresponds to one of these points.

Zach

What's next

As we finish up at sites this afternoon we will be putting on a neighborhood BBQ....it is a street party of sorts sponsored at the church up the street.   We will have a great opportunity to meet community members again tonight.  Pray for opportunities to spread Gods word and give us the strengths necessary to speak up at every opportunity and not hide in our comfort zone.
Thanks
Robbie

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Wednesday high and lows

Good morning... One of the gals was feeling ill this morning and I stayed behind (not a biggie parents...don't worry) so I am going to catch up our highs and lows from last night. I know that you are anxious to hear all about how God is working in these kids lives!!!!! DANAE...H: Ester at the Senior Center...I was so excited when I invited her to come back again after lunch and she smiled and said yes. You could see that Ester enjoyed being invited and being wanted by my aimple invitation. L: I just hit my elbow on the chair LOL..... JAMES...H: Eric and I stayed up late talking with the group from Indiana,SLEEPOVER. L: Elm York more challenging than other facility. OLIVIA...H: We each have a wristband with something we wrote on it Monday. Something I wrote on my wristband caught my eye today and it was a reminder and affirmation. L: I asked a gentlemen named Mark about his beliefs and he said he was a Jew and I asked him about his faith and he didn't know what it was to be a Jew. It made me sad to think how many people claim to be Christianbut don't know what it means. CAMERON...H: Kenny at the Sr Center. Awesome guy with great stories. Can't wait to play chess with him on Thursday, L: my card loaded with $$ for trip diddn't work but we are getting it straightened out. ALEXIS C...H: getting to talk with people today after two days of garbage duty. L: Guy named Dan who was recently widowed after 63 years of marriage. KAYLA...H: beat Alberta at a game today (she is really good and rarely looses). L: sad about Dan who lost wife. NAOMI...H: worship this evening was awesome!!!!! L: some people just could not find any job in trash collection....disappointing. SHERRY...H: getting to sit with 2 ladies at dinner at soup kitchen. One lady said. "if you are a believer you are not lucky, you are blessed". My mom says that too...it touched me that she should say that to me. L: none...awesome day . JACKIE...H: Kenny with Nazi salute during apples to apples games. Such a sense of humor. L: Jackie with corn rows at senior center didn't come back after lunch. Missed her. JACOB...H: talking to Sheila and Henry at the Assisted Living the happy couple of just one month! L: Dan talking about missing his wife. MINDY...H: This new location is much more challenging which is good and bad. L: lady who I spoke with at quit smokin so she would live longer it then said she had nothing to live for. So sad. NOLAN....H: Dave,Henry and Sheila were so fun. Really enjoyed playing cards with Dave. Dave shared with me he missed work the day the World Trade center was attacked and he worked right across the street. L: none. ERIC..H: getting close with kids from Indiana. I am going to miss them L: not getting a shower today. KARA....H: worship tonight. Emily's photo bomb at the park today. L: none MATTIE...H: getting closer to people. Like stabbing trash. L: feet hurt. MCKENZIE..H: Katie from Youthworks said to me "I know that just sitting there watching TV with them meant something" was such an encouragement today. RYLIE...H: apples to apples was awesome. It was so funny when scolded Robbie when she didn't know how to play "their" way, lol. L: rec room in senior center VERY hot. ALEXIS L...H: can't work im high grass because of allergies but Sherry R worked with me to find other ways to serve at the park. L: very ugly scary squirrel came too close to me. BILL...H: enjoyed talking with people and getting closer. L: look on Olivia's face before she was ill(she recovered quickly after a nap, praise God) MARYBETH....H: Really love ❤ Youthworks staff. Have gotten closer to several, what a joy and blessing they are. L: metal bottle caps don't cooperate getting on the poker to be picked up! LINDSAY...H: two teams joined together for a bottle cap stabbing competition. The record is 20 water bottle caps on one poker. L: pushing that poker so hard I think I got a bruise. COURTNEY...H: great day at assisted living and bonding during lunch. L: changing in sauna room is just way too hot! ZACK..H: enjoyed great conversations with Youthworks staff. They are just the most awesome people. L: none EMILY...H: street corner vendor with Indian food. Mindy and I shared chicken and rice. It was amazing!!!! L: none. ROBBIE....H: by noon Wednesday this blog has had over 1000 views since we left Knoxville Sunday morning. All that has been shared here is not only a blessing to the folks back home but the Youthworks staff at have worked so hard to make this happen. They get the opportunity to get some great feedback. Junie and Sophia at the senior center were so excited that we have this blog and can't wait to read all that the students have to say about their time here. The reaction to this blog is it's own ministry! L: what could we possibly have to be low about! ABBY..H: fans at soccer game were watching us clean the park. A soccer player came and thanked us. L: awkward conversation SEAN...H: forgot my pillow and MARK ANDY went and bought me one...thank you. L: got tired out today. SAM...H: connecting with people during dinner at soup kitchen. L: the girls taking a long time at the shower....they got competitive and all 6 girls were out before the 2 guys, how could that be? COZETTE....H: speaking french with lady for Haiti. L: seeing my best friend going pale and being under the weather. MARK ANDY...H: what a great job my team did working together at the park L: weird guy a park. DEREK...H: great conversation and connecting. L: none MAGGIE...LOW: talking with a guy that was very harsh and opinionated...HIGH: right after got talk with someone who lifted me up.wow!

So what did we have to say on Wednesday at church time

WHAT IS COMMMUNITY? CAMERON...bonding as a group and helping each other out. RYLIE...picking up trash TOGETHER made it better OLIVIA...we play off each other, a chain reaction BILL...Olivia and Cozette were able to use their French language skills to speak to an women from Haiti in her native tongue which gave her such joy. LYDIA...so many people to encourage each other. Anytime I have felt low during this trip someone has come along and lifted me up. Thank God for this community lifting each other up. OLIVIA...it was a real low when I was feeling ill earlier today (note: some sleep and she was all better in a couple of hours). Everyone was so supportive to me and a great source of strength. MATTIE...youth on this trip bonded regardless of age. Much more connection! WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT HELP FROM OTHERS? CAMERON...pride gets in the way. LYDIA...we are here to help others not be seeking help ourselves. MAGGIE...I should be the helper not the helped OLIVIA..sign of weakness. Don't want to be seen in that light. HOW CAN WE TAKE IT HOME...WHAT TO DO?? NOLAN...offer more encouragement be more proactive KELLY...reaching out in our own community and especially at the HUB. MARY BETH...appreciate others more. Determined to appreciate those around me more. SHERRY...bonding with each other it we have to keep cultivating and keep these relationships growing and developing. Trust is so important when you need to reach out for support and that is found by cultivating those relationships. They just don't "happen". ABBY...finding a partner today during devo time and praying for each other very powerful. How great it felt to pray with and for each other. Knowing I can text a friend and ask them to pray is comforting. CAMERON...not just at church. We need to be an encouragement at school and be a light in a dark world.