The goodness of God ceases to amaze us. Psalm 107:8-9 say,"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfied the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."
We testify to that! Stephen had a breakthrough in the downtown community this afternoon as he was prayer walking. The three little girls we have been taking to church- it turns out that one of their grandmothers is the secretary of this group in the downtown who is trying to help get the gangs, drugs, and prostitution out of their community. Stephen and her were able to talk for awhile and she invited us to come to their Saturday meeting they have once a month. They also are going to be throwing a block party in September for the city and need more help. The Lord is so faithful in providing opportunity. It is amazing that little four year old Shykia the Lord would use as a link to a woman who is a great influencer in this community. So much is happening- the Lord is moving by the minute- but the work is great!
I was folding laundry one Friday afternoon when I get a knock at my front door. I open the door to find my parents jump out to surprise me. I was so excited, but when I embraced them is when I broke in tears at just how much I missed them. There is nothing like a sweet embrace with your parents after a long time of separation. They stayed the entire weekend, which was great because there was so much to catch up on. Stephen and dad built horseshoe pits in our backyard. Mom and I cooked dinner and shopped for odds and ends. My parents surprised us with our first grill. It was really sweet being able to worship with them on Sunday and just share what the Lord is teaching each of us.
The next weekend we were on the road to Pennsylvania for LC and Dave's wedding. She looked stunning. The goodbyes to them were bittersweet since we will not see them because they will be teaching in China. It is amazing to watch them walk in faithful obedience to where the Lord has led them. Watching their ceremony was a reminder of what Stephen and I had committed to one another just 7 weeks ago. Wow- what a continual reminder of the grace I need the Lord to show me. We are learning to pick our battles and not to sweat the small stuff.
One of our favorite times of the weekend was getting to be with my little Lucas for his 2nd birthday party on Sunday. Elmo was the theme- cake, decorations, and party hats! Ty-ty is getting so handsome but growing up way to quick. I felt special when he chose me for his kickball team he said, "I choose Aunt Bika (that's what he calls me) with her on our team we will win." Talan is my cute butterball. His facial expressions are hysterical, he will be walking anytime now.
Stephen is loving his riding lawnmower and is out in the backyard with Gaither riding it right now. He is like a little boy with a new toy. He wipes it down every time after he uses it- and his lawnmower gets to be safely placed in the garage instead of our car- go figure!
Thank you for your prayers and look forward to hearing from you. We love you.
Love, Mon and Stephen
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Love Pursuit
Things are winding down as I write at the Weeks house. Stephen is in bed reading and I realized its been awhile since we have written. At church tonight, Stephen was blessed with the opportunity to preach to the youth group. He taught from the passage in Matthew 9:1-13. We have been begun to pray that the Lord would open doors to give Stephen more opportunity to share and He certainly is the next few weeks he has several opportunities. It was so neat to hear my husband pour his heart. I even had my pen out jotting down points he shared. He is definitly filled with the grace and knowledge of the Lord. I am excited to see the Lord continue to develop a shepherds heart in him.
Powerzone camp went well. Stephen and I got to pick up and drop off the three sweetest girls all week long. We met them as we were prayer walking the downtown. All three were part of my cheerleading sessions. Their names are Alexis, 10, Asia, 7, and Shykia, 5. It was neat to see how through us taking these girls to the sports camp it opened up great opportunity to talk with the family. It is a very rough home situation and these girls just melt when you love them. Alexis said to us the last day, "alot of people do things with us and then forget us...please dont forget about us." So tonight, we went back to their house and picked them up for Wednesday night church. It is so fun...like our own little family- all piling into banana and we sing songs, laugh, and tell stories.
I just want to share a short story that is teaching me a huge lesson. Last thursday night, the last night of powerzone camp. This was the night that all week the girls had learned the cheers, dance, and stunts and now it was performance time for their parents. Well, Stephen and I pulled up at 5:30 to pick our girls up. Normally, they are sitting on the front porch and are running to our car before we can even get out; but this time there was no one. One man walked out of the house and said that the girls were not home and he thought they went to the park with some friends. Immediately Stephen and I began to get worried because we couldnt believe they would miss this night they have been looking forward too. So we went to go find them. We drove down a couple blocks looking down every alley in hopes of seeing their beaded braided hair. As we pull up to the park, we drive around to where there is water sprinklers. We see Asia climbing up the slide so we run to the fence to yell for her name. We say "Asia", she turns around and here comes Shykia- they are both smiling and waving holding onto the slide. We ask them, arent you guys coming tonight? and they both look at us with huge smiles and say "but this is so much fun" and they run off down the slide. I just break tears running down my face as we walk back to the car. I was a little upset that they were not coming but what really broke me was that this is what we do so many times to Jesus, my Savior. We get so blinded by things that seem so "fun". As I sat there in the car, Stephen looks at me and says, "Mon, what does Christ do to us when we stray from Him?" and in silent agreement we both knew it. Christ continues to pursue us. Wow! What a beautiful picture of His unconditional and steadfast love for you and I. I have alot to be humbled about, but specifically it is that I could even learn to grasp how much Christ loves us and desires to have an intimate relationship with us.
We would definitly love your prayers for these girls as we do feel the Lord has given us the ability and time to pursue after them. We love you guys. Psalm 33.
Love, Monica and Stephen
Powerzone camp went well. Stephen and I got to pick up and drop off the three sweetest girls all week long. We met them as we were prayer walking the downtown. All three were part of my cheerleading sessions. Their names are Alexis, 10, Asia, 7, and Shykia, 5. It was neat to see how through us taking these girls to the sports camp it opened up great opportunity to talk with the family. It is a very rough home situation and these girls just melt when you love them. Alexis said to us the last day, "alot of people do things with us and then forget us...please dont forget about us." So tonight, we went back to their house and picked them up for Wednesday night church. It is so fun...like our own little family- all piling into banana and we sing songs, laugh, and tell stories.
I just want to share a short story that is teaching me a huge lesson. Last thursday night, the last night of powerzone camp. This was the night that all week the girls had learned the cheers, dance, and stunts and now it was performance time for their parents. Well, Stephen and I pulled up at 5:30 to pick our girls up. Normally, they are sitting on the front porch and are running to our car before we can even get out; but this time there was no one. One man walked out of the house and said that the girls were not home and he thought they went to the park with some friends. Immediately Stephen and I began to get worried because we couldnt believe they would miss this night they have been looking forward too. So we went to go find them. We drove down a couple blocks looking down every alley in hopes of seeing their beaded braided hair. As we pull up to the park, we drive around to where there is water sprinklers. We see Asia climbing up the slide so we run to the fence to yell for her name. We say "Asia", she turns around and here comes Shykia- they are both smiling and waving holding onto the slide. We ask them, arent you guys coming tonight? and they both look at us with huge smiles and say "but this is so much fun" and they run off down the slide. I just break tears running down my face as we walk back to the car. I was a little upset that they were not coming but what really broke me was that this is what we do so many times to Jesus, my Savior. We get so blinded by things that seem so "fun". As I sat there in the car, Stephen looks at me and says, "Mon, what does Christ do to us when we stray from Him?" and in silent agreement we both knew it. Christ continues to pursue us. Wow! What a beautiful picture of His unconditional and steadfast love for you and I. I have alot to be humbled about, but specifically it is that I could even learn to grasp how much Christ loves us and desires to have an intimate relationship with us.
We would definitly love your prayers for these girls as we do feel the Lord has given us the ability and time to pursue after them. We love you guys. Psalm 33.
Love, Monica and Stephen
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