A Wife's Testing Ground

Hello Church Family,

Follow this link to read a great article from the Resurgence website entitled "A Wife's Testing Ground":

A Wife's Testing Ground

Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 126

Hello Church Family,

Here is a link to Aaron's message from Sunday, August 28th on Psalm 126.

Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 126

Announcements for Sunday, August 28th

Title: Restore Our Fortune, O Lord
Text: Psalm 126

Move-up Sunday
Hey, kids! Are you ready to M-O-O-O-V-E on up? September marks a new season of children’s ministry, and we’re planning a special celebration today during the regular Sunday school hour. Children ages 3-10 are invited to take part in the festivities that will include music, fun and a few special guests.


CM Teacher/Helper Schedule
Please stop by the New Member’s Service table to pick up the new 2011-2012 Teacher/Helper Schedules. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.


Financial Peace University
FPU is a 13-week program designed to teach you and your family how to manage your money. The cost is $100.00 per couple, but if you attend 11of the 13 classes, the church will reimburse you $50.00. If you have any questions, please see Gary Whalen.


Water Baptism
Everyone is invited to attend the baptism today at 2:00 p.m. at the Andrew’s home. There will be a time of prayer and worship.Directions are enclosed.

The Ultimate Big Brother

Hello Church Family,

Here is a link to Sunday's message from Aaron Campbell from Luke 15.

The Ultimate Big Brother

Announcements for Sunday, August 21

Guest Speaker

Please welcome our guest speaker Aaron Campbell from Midlothian, Virginia. Aaron graduated from the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastor College 1999. He and his wife, Colleen, have three daughters.


Move-up Sunday
Hey, kids! Are you ready to M-O-O-O-V-E on up? September marks a new season of children’s ministry, and we’re planning a special celebration on August 28 during the regular Sunday school hour. Children ages 3-10 are invited to take part in the festivities that will include music, fun and a few special guests.


CM Teacher/Helper Schedule
Please stop by the Children’s Ministry table to pick up the new 2011-2012 Teacher/Helper Schedules. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.


Financial Peace University
FPU is a 13-week program designed to teach you and your family how to manage your money. The cost is $100.00 per couple, but if you attend 11of the 13 classes, the church will reimburse you $50.00. If you have any questions, please see Gary Whalen.


Resurgence Pool Party

Join us this evening for our Resurgence pool party at the Andrews’ home from 6:00 –8:00 p.m. Snacks will be provided.


Water Baptism
We will be having a water baptism on Sunday, August 28. If you are interested in being baptized, please sign up at the New Members Service Table, and we will contact you about scheduling a pastoral interview.

Book Highlight: Give Them Grace

Hello Church Family,

This week's book highlight is Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson.

How are parents to raise children so they don't become Pharisees (legalists) or prodigals (rebels)? It's all about grace-filled, gospel-driven parenting, says the mother/daughter team of Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. Christian parents, in their desire to raise godly children, can tend toward rule-centered discipline. There is, however, a far more effective method--a grace-motivated approach that begins with the glorious truth of God's love for sinners.

In Give Them Grace, parents will learn how to connect the benefits of the cross--especially regeneration, adoption, and justification--to their children's daily lives. Chapters address topics such as our inability to follow the law perfectly, God's forgiveness and love displayed at the cross, and what true heart obedience looks like. Fitzpatrick and Thompson also discuss discipline, dealing with popular culture, and evangelism as a way of life. Parents will find this book a great resource for raising grace-filled, Jesus-loving kids.

208 Pages
Published June 2011

About the Author: Elyse Fitzpatrick holds a masters in biblical counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary. She is a member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors, is a retreat and conference speaker, and is the head of Women Helping Women Ministries. Fitzpatrick has authored nearly a dozen books, including Because He Loves Me.

Jessica Thompson is a member of an Acts 29 church and has been homeschooling for the past two years. She is married and has three children.

FOI Welcome Picnic-This Saturday

Yesterday (Monday), there were about 80 new students at the International Student Orientation at KSU. Add to that the 70 new students at SPSU's orientation last Friday, along with all the returning students from last year, and we have lots of opportunities for friendship and the Gospel before us! We are anticipating that many of these students will come to our FOI WELCOME PICNIC this comingSaturday, Aug 20, from 4:30-8:30 pm.

Location: "Liberty Park" at Liberty Church. (Directions: Going south on Hwy 41, Liberty Church is on the right side, about 1/2 mile south of Barrett Pkwy, just before you get to Bells Ferry Rd. Look for all the flags flying!)

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with some students and begin a friendship. This is also the time when we invite them to participate in our investigative Bible Studies.

Basic schedule:
4:30 pick up students at SPSU and KSU
5:00 cookout at Liberty Park
Group mixers and games to connect Americans with int'l students
8:00 clean up and take students back home.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:
Pray . . . for Holy Spirit-directed connections with students and for many to sign up for the Bible Studies.
Come . . . bring your family and build some new friendships for the sake of the Gospel.
Transportation . . . to and from the universities. (We need several cars/vans and drivers.)
Provide FOOD (please bring to the Friesens' home by 2:00 or to Liberty by 4:00).
-- The Liberty Church folks will be providing the burgers & dogs, buns & condiments, paper goods.
-- The CBC folks will be bringing chips, salads, & some desserts.
-- All the rest of us (including SGCers) have been asked to bring DESSERTS(either cookies or brownies) and DRINKS (either cans of soda or bottles of water). (If it is easier for you to contribute $10 for the drinks, we would be glad to purchase them, since we'll have to do some shopping for other things anyway.)

If you are planning to participate in any of these ways (or if you have any questions), please let us know. Thanks so much!

Trusting that our labors of love will bear much fruit for our great Savior,

Phil & Carol Friesen

cell 770-617-2840
prfriesen@bellsouth.net

Guitar Lessons

Hello Church Family,

Riley Watkins is now giving guitar lessons. Interested parties please contact him by phone at (770)883-3264 or by email at Riley.Watkins@sgcatlanta.org.

Loosening Our Hold

Hello Church Family,

Here is the link to Brett Campbell's message on Hebrews 11:

Loosening Our Hold

Move-up Sunday

Hello Church Family,

Here are the new classes for this year in Children's Ministry. If there are any issues, please email Kathie Singleton at the church office: kathie.singleton@sgcatlanta.org.

Nursery
(6 months and up)
Lily Greene
Violet Holm
Julianna Martin
Lily Sanford

Samuel Tanner

Toddlers

(walkers through 2)

Jordan Battaglia

Noah Battaglia

Silas Battaglia

Violet Dougherty
Susanna Gralnik
Ava Gunderlock
Ansley Jackson
Arrow Samstag

Norah Beth Snell

 
2’s
Joseph Campagna
Celia Claxton
Sofia Claxton
Grant Freeman
Josiah Greene
Luca Hall
Dahlia Holm
Hadassah Howard
Noelle Snell
Gracie Summers

3-4’s
Arden Battaglia
Virginia Battaglia
Mikayla Gralnik
Lia Griffin
Emily Gunderlock
Arabela Hall
Alexia Holm
Lily Howerton
Grace Lancaster
Joel Martin

Brody Mostyn

Emily Pamplin
Jordyn Roberts
Moses Samstag
Jacob Sanford
Noelle Snell

Emmaline Snyder

Jack Stewart
Owen Summers
Elijah Tanner
Casey White
Emma Williams

5-6’s
Ben Anderson

James Anderson

Amelia Battaglia

Gianna Claxton

Caleb Dougherty

Ally Gralnik

Liam Griffin

Isabelle Lott

Jon Lawrence Martin

Chloe Mostyn

Abby Pamplin

Sydney Roberts

Raven Sanford

Kendal Snell

Madeline Snyder

Cecelia Stewart

Jordan Stewart

Peyton White

Davis Windham

7-8’s

Charlie Anderson

Aria Claxton

Hadassah Davis

Lily Griffin

Elsa Hall

Ansleigh Holm

Isabelle Lott

Jacob Pamplin

Mika Pfaller

Reagan Roberts

Rezin Samstag

Kelsey Sanford

Carter Snell

Abigail Snyder

Savanna Stewart

Caden Summers

9-10’s

Mea Anderson

Anthony Campagna

Bridgette Ellise

Emme Gralnik

Elijah Hall

Katherine Lott

A. J. Mostyn

Riley Mostyn

Trey Nielson

Trevor Sanford

Sawyer Snell

Caroline Watkins

Chloe White

Rielly Windham

Announcements for Sunday, August 14th

Guest Speaker

Brett Campbell from the Sovereign Grace Church of Chesapeake, Virginia will be preaching today. Brett oversees the discipleship classes. He and his wife, Michelle, have four children.


Move-up Sunday

Hey, kids! Are you ready to M-O-O-O-V-E on up? September marks a new season of children’s ministry, and we’re planning a special celebration on August 28 during the regular Sunday school hour. Children ages 3-10 are invited to take part in the festivities that will include music, fun and a few special guests.


Water Baptism

We will be having a water baptism on Sunday, August 28. If you are interested in being baptized, please sign up at the New Members Service Table, and we will contact you about scheduling a pastoral interview.


Financial Peace University
FPU is a 13-week program designed to teach you and your family how to manage your money. The cost is $100.00 per couple, but if you attend 11of the 13 classes, the church will reimburse you $50.00. If you have any questions, please see Gary Whalen.


Resurgence Pool Party

Join us next Sunday for our Resurgence pool party at the Andrew’s home from 6:00 –8:00 p.m.!


Ladies’ Movie Night

Put on your jammies and grab a lawn chair, a pillow, and a package of your favorite candy. All ladies (college age and up) are invited to join us at 6:30 TONIGHT in the King’s Academy gym for fellowship and fun at the last women’s event of the summer. Popcorn and drinks also provided. In addition to movie-watching, we’ll have plenty of time for visiting as well. Bring a friend and get to know your fellow sisters in Christ!

Book Highlight: The Greener Grass Conspiracy

Hello Church Family,

This week's book highlight is The Greener Grass Conspiracy by Steven Altrogge. 
Here is a trailer for the book: 

Publisher's Description: There is a cosmic conspiracy affecting every person who has ever lived. The world, our hearts, and Satan himself conspire to steal our happiness. These powerful agents breed discontentment with our possessions, relationships, jobs, and circumstances.

Altrogge writes from his own experience. He argues that while discontentment assaults us from every direction, its promises are empty. “If only’s” may offer happiness, satisfaction, or a better life, but on their own they can’t deliver.

With humor and honesty, Altrogge helps us do battle with discontentment by steering us back to the central truths of the gospel. He addresses issues like complaining and idolatry and reminds us of all that we have, and will have, in Christ. Readers will be drawn to his winsome writing and practical application. Discussion questions follow each chapter, making this book a useful resource for small groups.

144 Pages
Published April 2011

About the Author: STEPHEN ALTROGGE serves on staff at Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA, where he oversees small groups and leads worship. He has written several worship songs for musical projects produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries and is the author of Game Day for the Glory of God.

The Garden Needs

Hello Church Family, 

Here is a list of items needed at The Garden shelter: 

Needs List: 8/8-8/14

- We are really in need of vehicles and transportation. Sheila's van is down as well as one of our 15 passenger ministry vans. We know that most people do not have the resources to help us with a vehicle but we know that God owns everything and is in everything and we are asking you to join us in praying for this need. 
- We need cleaning supplies right now- Think about all the things you run your house with and multiply it by 100! 

- Hygiene items for both the Garden and the streets- this week we are able to pass out hundreds of hygiene items to those living on the streets of Atlanta but there is still much need. Those that receive food stamps can usually by food for their families but not hygiene items. Think about living under a bridge and not even having access to a bar of soap!
- Kitchen needs: ground ginger, hand grater, rolling pin, pastry cloth, wax paper, heavy cream, shredded coconut, brown sugar, season salt, fennel seed, beef and chicken stock, evaporated and condensed milk, molasses, corn syrup, salad dressings, aluminum foil, butter, eggs, cheese, dish soap
- Clothing Closet needs: jeans for women sizes 6-20, men's shorts, little girl shirts up to 2T, underwear for men, women and children
- Monetary gifts and gas cards
**All donations are tax-deductible! Just ask for a receipt if needed***

Mission X: Dominican Republic/Haiti (Continued)

Prayer Request: Worship God 2011

Hello Church Family,

Our dear worship leader, Rich Gunderlock, is in Gaithersburg, Maryland this week for the Worship God 2011 conference. He will be learning about how to better serve the Lord through worship and also will be leading worship during main session Thursday morning. Please keep Rich in your prayers this week and especially Thursday morning.

Follow this link to read more about the Worship God conference:
Worship God 2011

The Lord Surrounds His People

Hello Church Family,

Here is a link to the message Aaron preached on Sunday, August 7th, 2011:

The Lord Surrounds His People

Announcements for Sunday, August 7th

Text: Psalm125

Title: The Lord Surrounds His People

New Day for Ladies’ Prayer

Please join us as we move to a new day and time. We will now be meeting on Wednesday mornings from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Padgett’s home.

Ladies’ Movie Night

Popcorn and movie night! Mark your calendar for Ladies’ night on August 14, right here at TKA on Sunday evening. More details to follow.

Financial Peace University

FPU is a 13-week program designed to teach you and your family how to manage your money. The cost is $100.00 per couple, but if you attend 11of the 13 classes, the church will reimburse you $50.00. If you have any questions, please see Gary Whalen.


Bookstore

Please check out our bookstore! All resources have been carefully chosen to promote godliness through the application of biblical truth to our lives. Also, if you would like to serve at the bookstore, please stop by and signup!


Water Baptism

We will be having a water baptism on Sunday, August 28. If you are interested in being baptized, please sign up at the New Members Service Table, and we will contact you about scheduling a pastoral interview.

Job Opprotunity

Hello Church Family,

We received this information from a friend of Nick Campagna who is looking for some help. If you are interested, send an email to nick.campagna@va.gov

"Hello friends... I have a favor to ask you. I have recently been offered a wonderful promotional opportunity with my employer, GE. The new role is exactly the role I have been wanting and praying for and I am very excited that it was offered to me. The only concern is that I would have to travel about 50% of the time - maybe every other week, primarily to the business HQ offices in Connecticut.

Given my current situation, it would be difficult for me to take this role with the travel requirements unless I am able to find someone who can live with me and my family to help out when I travel.

Therefore, I am looking for a mature Christian female (over the age of 21) who would benefit from free room & board in exchange for helping out around my home with my two kids (Christian - 16 and Olivia - 12) when I am traveling for work. The helping out would include ensuring the kids are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there (including some driving to/from afterschool activities), ensuring their homework is completed, they eat a decent dinner, have what they need for school in the morning and that they get up and out the door in time for school. Their would be no problem with working a day-time job, and she would not have any responsibilities on evenings/weekends when the kids are with their dad or when I'm home... it would just be her home. We live in Towne Lake Hills East in a roomy and comfortable home. The accommodations would be the guest bedroom in the basement for the time-being, but would likely be the guest room on the main floor eventually, since that room has a full-bath and the basement only has a half-bath.

There would be a possibility of earning some money in addition to free room and board if she is interested in doing extras around the house such as some laundry, cooking, picking up, etc. - and if she's good at math, tutoring for my 12-year-old would definitely be something I'd pay extra for! Mileage or fuel for driving would also be reimbursed. There would be some restrictions while the person is here... no drinking, no smoking, no over-night guests... but really, other than that, it would be a pretty flexible arrangement. The ideal person would be a post-graduate student, or a student in grad school who is just starting out in their professional life who has either a full-time or part-time job during the day, but plenty of flexible time in the evenings."

Book Highlight: Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church

Hello Church Family,


The book highlight for this week comes from Larry McCall entitled Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church. 

Publisher Description: Men need models. Some men have grown up with dads who were good role models for how to love their wives. Sadly, most have not. From the cruicible of real-life experience and study of God's Word, Larry McCall delivers a powerful message that there is a model of perfect husband-wife love. Here is help for any husband or band of brothers who desire to grow as husbands. It is Bible-based, Christ-centered and grace-promoting. Ephesians 5:25 opens the door.. come on in...

200 Pages
Published February 2009

About the Author: Larry E. McCall has pastored Christ's Covenant Church, Winona Lake, Indiania, since 1981. He is a graduate of Grace College (New Testament Greek), Grace Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (D.Min.) He is the author of Walking Like Jesus Did. Pastor McCall and his wife, Gladine, have three married children.

Mission X: Dominican Republic/Haiti

Hello Church Family, 

Here is a link to a slideshow of pictures from the trip: 


Mission X: Dominican Republic/Haiti


Here are some awesome testimonies from people who participated in Mission X: 

Lauren Andrews

Considering the countless ways God revealed Himself during my mission trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness in my heart. July 18th-25th, I joined a team of 10 individuals and traveled to Santiago, Dominican Republic, and to Haiti to encounter the plans God had in store. One of the first stand-out blessings of my trip was the privilege to serve alongside the team of people God carefully and purposefully put together. It was no coincidence that God allowed me and my sister, Jordan, to share the experience with each other, as well as side-by-side our new friends who desired to carry Jesus' name to the ends of the earth. The first part of my trip, was spent in Santiago where our team was hosted by Iglesia Cristiana Oasis Church; a church family who had hearts that reflected the ultimate Servant. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday my team and I held a VBS at a nearby park in the downtown area of Santiago. Children who were forced to work in the streets gathered at Parque Duarte to sing worship songs, learn Bible verses, hear the Gospel message preached through a puppet show, and escape their rough home lives, if they even had home lives at all. The children who came to the VBS meetings ranged in age from 5-16, but each and every one was attentive to the activities our team organized, but more importantly to the Word of God being proclaimed in their language. None of the children who attended the VBS spoke English, like the majority of other people we encountered in the Dominican. Yet, God used the language barrier not as an obstacle, but as a reminder of my incapability to accomplish anything in my own power. God was so faithful to give me the words to speak and the means of understanding His people who He ultimately desired to minister to. Our team's leaders, Carmen and Miguel, guided our team with their compassionate hearts to reach others with God's love.

During the evenings of our time spent in the Dominican, our team joined the Oasis church in speaking to teachers in the church and community, spurring on the small group leaders of the church body, and sharing with the youth and young married couples of the church. On Wednesday night, my team and I attended a small group for the young people in the church. The Godly character of the younger individuals was evident to all and boldly glorified Jesus Christ. During the meeting, the group sang familiar songs like, "Glories of Calvary" and "Blessed Be Your Name" in Spanish while my team sang the same songs in English. It was such a powerful moment of witnessing two cultures, languages, and peoples joining together to praise the name of the Lord. God spoke to my heart with the Scripture in Philippians saying "every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Lord of all." I walked away from the meeting resting in the promise that I will be worshipping with my brothers in sisters in the Dominican Republic again one day in Heaven. The Oasis church body quickly gained a precious place in my heart as their Biblical example of humility, hospitality, and unconditional love challenged me and encouraged me greatly throughout my time there.

The last half of my trip was spent in Haiti. I do not even possess the words to speak of all God did in my heart during my time in one of the poorest countries in the world. My team and I had the humbling opportunity to visit and minister to a village in the outskirts of the city. We partnered with a missionary couple who have given up their comfortable lives in the US for the sake of the Gospel, as they serve everyday in the Haitian village we visited. Faced with yet another language, Haitian Creole, God was faithful to provide translators to share the Word of God with the hundreds of children who gathered together. God showed me just how powerful His love can be, even without any words involved. One of the most compelling moments during my time in Haiti was when the team and I provided medical attention to the mass of needy children and women in the village. The Haitian people were desperate and welcomed all the medical assistance we could give them, even the simplest of tasks, like cleaning and bandaging a cut. The shelters, surroundings, and lack of resources the people were faced with, challenged my perspectives and my heart of gratefulness. I found myself more amazed than ever before at the thought of God choosing me, a lowly sinner and an enemy, to be welcomed into His perfect Kingdom and seated at His table. The people in Haiti will always hold a unique place in my heart. God became greater in my eyes throughout the course of my trip, worshipping alongside brothers and sisters who speak another language, yet trust in the same unshakable truth. Experiencing His kingdom going forth to all peoples first-hand, the Lord allowed my eyes to be opened to my selfishness in my own little world, and revealed the mercies of His great Kingdom on a grand scale. No matter what language Jesus' name is spoken, it has power to save. Whether it is said "En el hombre de Jesus," like the Dominicans, or "Nan non Jezi a" as it is said in Haitian Creole, may all that I do and say be done "In the name of Jesus."

Chas Walters
The time I spent in the Dominican Republic will never be forgotten. I met many new brothers and sisters in Christ, from both the church there and the teams from churches in the Southeast US. My host family was the head pastor of Christiana Iglesias Oasis. Unfortunately the girls took up too much space in the house so three other men and I stayed in an apartment close to his house. Each day at 7:00 we met at the church, packed into a van and headed of to Villa Alta Gracia, a large yet poor community crammed onto the side of the mountains. Even though the majority of my time was spent building a school, laboring with the Dominicans was a unique experience. I couldn’t even talk to most of the people there properly, but we all soon worked together without needing to speak much. One day I went out to spread the gospel with Jesse, a man from one of the teams. That man had absolutely no fear of man; if anybody said hi to us, he would bring us over to them, ask them how they were, and then ask if they were saved. One time he led us to a group of young men playing pool. Jesse pretty much walked over, said ‘hey, how’s it going?’ then pulled out his Bible and read John 3:16. I was blown away by his boldness; I aspire to be like him. Among the people that I might there I made many good friends that I will never forget. I am thankful for God and the people that made this mission trip happen.

Jordan Andrews

My trip to the Dominican Republic was fantastic and better than I ever imagined it would be. God blessed my trip so much and was with me every step of the way. I am so thankful to God for letting me have this experience and protecting me through it.

On the last couple of days before I left, I began to feel anxious and nervous. I surprised myself with feeling this way because before, I had been so excited that I hadn’t even thought about how I was going out of the country and going into a whole other world. I spent a lot of time praying to God for peace and the verse Philippians 4:6 immediately came to me. This verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” This verse was just what I needed, it reminded me that God is in control of everything and the best thing for me to do when I was feeling anxious was to take it to him through prayer.

While I was in the Dominican Republic, we did a VBS for four days for kids who live on the streets or are very poor. Kids have a very special place in my heart so I loved getting the opportunity to spend time with them and give the kids the care they needed.  We did many fun things with the kids, we taught songs and bible verses; we gave them food, and just talked to them and cared for them. These kids did not have a lot but were all so joyful and always had huge smiles on their faces. One day, we got a chance to go and see where some of the kids that came to the VBS lived. This was a very eye opening moment for me. They all lived in small wooden houses and in very bad environments. Just seeing all this made me appreciate my family, where I live, and everything else God has given me.

One of the nights my team and I were in the Dominican Republic, we were given the opportunity to go to a youth group for a church that helped us through the trip. This was an amazing experience. The first thing we did was worship God. Everybody except for the people in my group spoke Spanish, so when we worshiped they sang in Spanish. Fortunately, they sang many songs that we sing at Sovereign Grace. So while the Dominican people sang in Spanish we all sang in English. You would never know how beautiful this sounds until you are right there in the moment. We all described it as a little glimpse of heaven. We are both from totally different countries but we all praise the same wonderful God.  The youth’s passion for the Lord was incredible and so evident in every single one of them.  One of the qualities that stood out to me, which was in a lot of the teens there, was their no fear of man. They did not care at all what others thought of them, they only cared what God thought of them. I know God brought me to that youth group to show me that example and to encourage me to work on it in my own life.

That last two days I was on my trip, I was given the opportunity to visit Haiti. This was a little intimidating at first for me. I was anxious to get there but I was also trying to prepare myself for the state of poverty I would see. When I was in Haiti, we went to a village for both days. This village had so many kids in it that we couldn’t even count them all. These kids all ranged from the ages of 1 to 14. They all lived in a total number of four huts that wouldn’t even be considered a house. It was so heartbreaking to see how little these kids had. Some of the kids there didn’t even have clothes on because they didn’t have any. They were dirty, malnourished, and unhealthy. But again, even though they had nothing they were still as joyful as they could be. Their joyfulness is God’s light shining through them. While we were there we did a lot of the same things that we did at the VBS. We played with them, taught them songs, did a puppet show for them, and also cleaned their cuts or did any other medical treatment they needed. We mostly just wanted to care for these kids and love on them. They enjoyed every little thing we did and were so grateful for it. These kids will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget their joyful spirits.

Being back here in America for these past couple of days, I have become so much more grateful for everything I have. My trip far more exceeded any of my expectations. This was the one trip that I did not want to leave when it was time to go. I made many long-lasting relationships and am so grateful to have met all those wonderful people. God has shown me just how big he is during this trip. He is made known to everyone whether it’s us here at sovereign grace, the church in the Dominican Republic, or a small village in Haiti. He is so great and I feel so honored to be able to worship the one true God. 

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." 
- Luke 9:23-24