I know its been awhile since I have blogged anything. I do apoligize for that. Many of you know that my mom has been struggling with reaccurance breast cancer for the last 5 years. It truly has been a bumby road. As soon as we think she has beaten this deadly disease it roars its ugly head up again.
For awhile she was taking 3 different kinds of kemo a week. During this time it was taking a huge toll on her body. She would spend acouple of days a week in bed trying to recover so she can work the next week and then go through the same routine. While doing this her cancer markers were going up which told us that the kemo was not doing its job.
My mom decided that she would stop two of the treatments and stick with just one. You know quality verses quantity. This had to have been a tough decision for my mom to make and it was hard for our family to take. For this past year my mom has trusted in the Lord and only has done one treatment a week. Ever since she has made this decision her markers has dropped below normal. Just recently her cancer markers have dropped lower then what they were before her first surgery.
I can only say that I am simply amazed in how good God is. When we stop fight there is still one that fights for us. When we think there is nothing left God shows that He is all thats left. There is nothing like trusting fully in the Lord. It's not the easiest but it's the most rewarding. So don't give up. You have someone on your side that is truly amazing. His name is Jesus.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Going Home
This summer has been absolutely amazing. Since summer camp I have been on the road with my family in California. We not only have been able to spend some much needed quality time with family but have been busy raising our support.
This adventure has taken us all over. We have been able to meet great people along this journey and have rekindled a lot of relationships from our past. One of my highlights this summer was being able to go back to Tehachapi, Ca. This was our first full-time position in youth ministries. To be honest with you this is where the seed was planted in reaching schools.
We were able to see a lot of our old teenagers who aren't teenagers anymore. This was truly a gift. We also had the opportunity to share our ministry to the church that we were on staff at and see a lot of familiar faces we have not seen in years. When I look back on my life it is amazing on how many people have poured into my life and help shape me into who I am today. I thank God everyday for the people who have been apart of my life one way or another.
Finally we are coming home. I can't wait to be home even though going home means that school is starting and life is really going to get busy. I can't wait. I am looking forward in meeting new people along this path that God is taking me on. Please pray as we are actively raising our support in a time that finances are tight for everyone. I know God is faithful. He always has and always will be.
This adventure has taken us all over. We have been able to meet great people along this journey and have rekindled a lot of relationships from our past. One of my highlights this summer was being able to go back to Tehachapi, Ca. This was our first full-time position in youth ministries. To be honest with you this is where the seed was planted in reaching schools.
We were able to see a lot of our old teenagers who aren't teenagers anymore. This was truly a gift. We also had the opportunity to share our ministry to the church that we were on staff at and see a lot of familiar faces we have not seen in years. When I look back on my life it is amazing on how many people have poured into my life and help shape me into who I am today. I thank God everyday for the people who have been apart of my life one way or another.
Finally we are coming home. I can't wait to be home even though going home means that school is starting and life is really going to get busy. I can't wait. I am looking forward in meeting new people along this path that God is taking me on. Please pray as we are actively raising our support in a time that finances are tight for everyone. I know God is faithful. He always has and always will be.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Summer Camp--Camp Davidson
Once again God never lets us down. We just had an amazing week at Camp Davidson. Once again God was pouring out His Love and Hope to a generation that Satan is trying to destroy. It was amazing to see the faces of the campers as they were coming into camp and the difference when they left to go home.
I had the oppurtunity to pray with a young man who was in middle school. He came up to me and asked if I would pray for his wrist. He had sprained it before coming to camp and it was hurting him badly. I said a quick prayer and just like that God healed him. This young man looked at me with the biggest eyes as he starts to rotate his wrist with no pain.
Earlier that night I noticed that I had a spider bite on my right arm. For some people this isn't a big deal however for me the smallest bite usually puts me down for at least 3 hours. Right away I confirmed my bite with the nurse. As I was going into the service I was starting to feel the results of this bite. I decided that I wasn't going to let this destract me from worshiping God. We had an amazing worship time and God was moving among the students down at the altar.
When Mark, our speaker, was coming up to speak I headed to my seat. I looked at my arm to see how my spider bite was doing. I didn't see anything. It was gone. I showed one of our leadership team members who was there when I first discovered the bite. He couldn't find anything as well. I then showed the nurse and she as well couldn't find this spider bite. God had healed me.
However probably the most amazing part of camp was for me was when Mark asked all the pastor and Missionary kids to come to the front. He then proceeds to pray for the Pk's and Mk's that God would restore their hearts and take away their hurts. I would have to say that God renewed a lot of our PK's and MK's that night. We were able to get the contact information to our PK's and MK's so that we can stay in constant contact with them. I cannot wait to build great relationships with our PK's and MK's all across our state.
I had the oppurtunity to pray with a young man who was in middle school. He came up to me and asked if I would pray for his wrist. He had sprained it before coming to camp and it was hurting him badly. I said a quick prayer and just like that God healed him. This young man looked at me with the biggest eyes as he starts to rotate his wrist with no pain.
Earlier that night I noticed that I had a spider bite on my right arm. For some people this isn't a big deal however for me the smallest bite usually puts me down for at least 3 hours. Right away I confirmed my bite with the nurse. As I was going into the service I was starting to feel the results of this bite. I decided that I wasn't going to let this destract me from worshiping God. We had an amazing worship time and God was moving among the students down at the altar.
When Mark, our speaker, was coming up to speak I headed to my seat. I looked at my arm to see how my spider bite was doing. I didn't see anything. It was gone. I showed one of our leadership team members who was there when I first discovered the bite. He couldn't find anything as well. I then showed the nurse and she as well couldn't find this spider bite. God had healed me.
However probably the most amazing part of camp was for me was when Mark asked all the pastor and Missionary kids to come to the front. He then proceeds to pray for the Pk's and Mk's that God would restore their hearts and take away their hurts. I would have to say that God renewed a lot of our PK's and MK's that night. We were able to get the contact information to our PK's and MK's so that we can stay in constant contact with them. I cannot wait to build great relationships with our PK's and MK's all across our state.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Summer Camp-Camp Elkanah
7/17/08
Tonight, the Lord spoke to our speaker to pray for specific healings. Before he even spoke we had a young lady be prayed for that had knee problems. She couldn't do simple knee bends without being in pain. Mark our speaker asked her to come up to the stage after she was prayed for and have her do something that she wasn't able to do before. She proceeded to do knee bend after knee bend. A young lady from one of the college PR teams was praying for a teenager and she felt her own back pain go away. This was a huge break through for all the teenagers.
Our speaker started his message about how God has made us the way he meant too and that the devil is throwing out lies so that we do not use the gifts that God has given us. More specifically, that we would give up on our dreams. He passed out two cards from a deck of cards to each person. He used the small numbered card that each person had as an example of the lies that Satan as put into their heads. Thoughts in which caused them to give up their dreams. He then used the higher number card as an example of the talents and potential that God has created them to be. One by one teenagers came to the altar to throw down their low number card and proceeded to hold their high number card as a symbol of giving God everything and letting God take the lead in their lives. Tonight teenager after teenager had their dreams restored into their lives as they were dancing on their low cards that had been delt into their lives.
For me, this was a reminder of why seven project is so important. You see our school assemblies is just what took place tonight that is encouraging young people to dream big dreams and that no matter what happens in their lives they need to make good choices so that they can see their dreams come true.
That night it hit home for me as I realize that there might be a young person in one of our school assembly that has given up on their dream however maybe somthing that is said gets them back on the right track to see their dream come true. What if their dream was to find the cure for cancer or maybe ms. What if the healing my wife will recieve someday is through a treatment that was discovered by a doctor who grew up in Oregon and almost gave up on their dream. What if that dream was brought back to life because of a school assembly called the seven project. What if...
Tonight, the Lord spoke to our speaker to pray for specific healings. Before he even spoke we had a young lady be prayed for that had knee problems. She couldn't do simple knee bends without being in pain. Mark our speaker asked her to come up to the stage after she was prayed for and have her do something that she wasn't able to do before. She proceeded to do knee bend after knee bend. A young lady from one of the college PR teams was praying for a teenager and she felt her own back pain go away. This was a huge break through for all the teenagers.
Our speaker started his message about how God has made us the way he meant too and that the devil is throwing out lies so that we do not use the gifts that God has given us. More specifically, that we would give up on our dreams. He passed out two cards from a deck of cards to each person. He used the small numbered card that each person had as an example of the lies that Satan as put into their heads. Thoughts in which caused them to give up their dreams. He then used the higher number card as an example of the talents and potential that God has created them to be. One by one teenagers came to the altar to throw down their low number card and proceeded to hold their high number card as a symbol of giving God everything and letting God take the lead in their lives. Tonight teenager after teenager had their dreams restored into their lives as they were dancing on their low cards that had been delt into their lives.
For me, this was a reminder of why seven project is so important. You see our school assemblies is just what took place tonight that is encouraging young people to dream big dreams and that no matter what happens in their lives they need to make good choices so that they can see their dreams come true.
That night it hit home for me as I realize that there might be a young person in one of our school assembly that has given up on their dream however maybe somthing that is said gets them back on the right track to see their dream come true. What if their dream was to find the cure for cancer or maybe ms. What if the healing my wife will recieve someday is through a treatment that was discovered by a doctor who grew up in Oregon and almost gave up on their dream. What if that dream was brought back to life because of a school assembly called the seven project. What if...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Here We Go!!
I remember when I was a teenager at summer camp. It was a time that I will never forget because it was there that God called me to be a youth pastor. Maybe that's why I love camps. This is a time to get away from all the distractions of our everyday lives. Like the cell phone, t.v., and yes for us adults those annoying bills.
I leave tomorrow to head off to camp for the next three weeks. After all the hard work that my coordinators have put into their camps the time has come to enjoy the ride. This is probably the hardest part about camp is to step aside and let God have complete control in what He wants to do. For the next three weeks teenagers will be dedicating their lives to God, Drawing closer to God, being healed, Baptized and called into ministry. There is nothing like being apart of something like that.
I just ask that you please pray for our camps, camp coordinators and team leaders, the youth pastors and all the teenagers that will be at camp. I believe that God is going to show up like never before. I believe this will be a summer camp that we will never forget.
I also ask that you pray for my family as this will be the longest stretch away from home. Not only do I have camps for the next three weeks but we will be in California raising our support for the rest of the summer. Thats right Today is my last day at home until the end of Aug. I am thankful that my family will join me in California. Please pray because this trip is vital for us in pursuing full missions status.
Thank you for your prayers and support. We do not exist without our ministry team and that's you. I pray that God will bless you and uplift you and give you strength each day. And know that you are loved.
I leave tomorrow to head off to camp for the next three weeks. After all the hard work that my coordinators have put into their camps the time has come to enjoy the ride. This is probably the hardest part about camp is to step aside and let God have complete control in what He wants to do. For the next three weeks teenagers will be dedicating their lives to God, Drawing closer to God, being healed, Baptized and called into ministry. There is nothing like being apart of something like that.
I just ask that you please pray for our camps, camp coordinators and team leaders, the youth pastors and all the teenagers that will be at camp. I believe that God is going to show up like never before. I believe this will be a summer camp that we will never forget.
I also ask that you pray for my family as this will be the longest stretch away from home. Not only do I have camps for the next three weeks but we will be in California raising our support for the rest of the summer. Thats right Today is my last day at home until the end of Aug. I am thankful that my family will join me in California. Please pray because this trip is vital for us in pursuing full missions status.
Thank you for your prayers and support. We do not exist without our ministry team and that's you. I pray that God will bless you and uplift you and give you strength each day. And know that you are loved.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Nicolas
It's official Nicolas is now 5! Time has gone by so quickly. This year we were able to have an actual birthday party. For those of you who don't know Nicolas was born June 27th (Donna Walker's birthday) which is right in the middle of Fireworks season. The youth group sold fireworks every year in a huge tent at Wal-Mart. So every year we were at Wal-Mart for 2 weeks which to him meant 2 weeks of birthday. We celebrated his first birthday at our house but from there we never had an official party...we just kinda fit one in.
This year as soon as the tents started going up he started telling us that it was his birthday. We did have a birthday party on his birthday...a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party. Nic's friends from school and church wore their Ninja Turtle masks. Meme, Wes' mom, had filled the TMNT pinata with tons of candy and prizes and the kids loved it. We also had a Ninja Turtle cake (thanks Aunt Lana). Of course the wind was blowing so hard that we couldn't decorate anything. I don't think any amount of tape could have held down the decorations.
Wind aside it was so much fun. Nic had a blast with his friends and of course presents. It was nice to have an actual birthday party.
My love to all,
Carrie
This year as soon as the tents started going up he started telling us that it was his birthday. We did have a birthday party on his birthday...a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party. Nic's friends from school and church wore their Ninja Turtle masks. Meme, Wes' mom, had filled the TMNT pinata with tons of candy and prizes and the kids loved it. We also had a Ninja Turtle cake (thanks Aunt Lana). Of course the wind was blowing so hard that we couldn't decorate anything. I don't think any amount of tape could have held down the decorations.
Wind aside it was so much fun. Nic had a blast with his friends and of course presents. It was nice to have an actual birthday party.
My love to all,
Carrie
Getting Started
I've officially made a blog move from MySpace. I figured it's much easier for friends and family to read this especially because many don't have MySpace of Facebook.
I will continue to blog as often as possible about what is going on in our lives and ministry. We are excited about the journey we are on. Although it may seem challenging and even difficult at times our focus remains on the Lord. He has called us to the 3rd largest mission field and to the least church state in the United States. Oregon roughly has 385,000 of which the vast majority do not have a relationship with the Lord. They feel as though they are a hopeless generation. We want to see that change!
Please pray for us as we work on raising our budget. The sooner we are fully funded the sooner we can focus on the mission that God has called us to.
I will continue to blog as often as possible about what is going on in our lives and ministry. We are excited about the journey we are on. Although it may seem challenging and even difficult at times our focus remains on the Lord. He has called us to the 3rd largest mission field and to the least church state in the United States. Oregon roughly has 385,000 of which the vast majority do not have a relationship with the Lord. They feel as though they are a hopeless generation. We want to see that change!
Please pray for us as we work on raising our budget. The sooner we are fully funded the sooner we can focus on the mission that God has called us to.
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