Spring Break

God is so Great!! Spring break was truly amazing. I have not gotten the opportunity to go on any of the Bridge mission trips…I tried to go on fall break but it did not work out for me. So this was great my first Bridge mission trip. Though hard to find my place since my role within the church has changed from being on staff to just a support person. But God has shown me so much over this short time. I have really been able to see why we are still in oxford. I was able to connect with some of the students which was great since I feel like I rarely get a chance to see anyone.

o About the trip: The Bridge was forever changed. We took 39 student and 4 adults on a Mission trip to Jackson, Mississippi. For many of us we were just happy to hear that the weather would be in the 70's. But God had much more in store for us. We stayed at Mission First, a mission started by First Baptist Jackson. They had various jobs for us, including putting up a ceilings, digging trenches, cleaning and jumping on dirt. On this trip we worked, worked and worked some more. Though many were tired God continued to show Himself to us each night as we came together to worship and share 'our stories'(testimonies). We went from a group of disconnected people that knew each other on the surface to a family that is real with each other. Please pray for Mission First as God continues to use that ministry. Pray for the each of us that went on the trip that we can bring back the passion and share it with the Bridge.

o We only have a few months left until summer break, the children's ministry and youth are still growing. The leadership team for next school year as been assembled and has begun planning. Be in prayer for that team that they will stay connected and focused as the break approaches. Thank you for your Love and Support!

o Please Pray for the students as we return home and go back to the normalness of college and work please that we will not lose the passion that God has filled them with.

Finding Joy in the Hard Times

·              I miss my husband. It is so true that absence makes the heart grow fonder! But God has been ever present in my time of need. I can lean on Him when I am lonely and not sure what to do next.

One More Car Issue...Please

 Our cars are blessings and curses all the same. So I have been driving in to work for a few weeks now. The one thing I don’t need is car trouble…well here it comes. Monday was my day off!!! Fabulous except it had to snow and really snow. I had breakfast plans with Mrs. Pitsenbarger since her school was closed on account of the snow. So we headed to get pancakes and oj. I was going to stay in town but the flakes were big and they said it was going to be bad so I left around 11am. My drive to my parents should of only taken me 2.5 hours but the roads were so covered that the lines were not visible and this was on 275.  My drive took me a little over 4 hours, oh no fun, no fun at all. But the story gets better. We went to work that week as normal and I left on Friday to head home. Well headed south on 71 I get a flat tire…great. I call AAA but you see the snow is piled up and I cannot see any signs, so I don’t know where I am on the highway. I gave the guy my best guess and he started to search. Eventually a Highway Patrol Officer stopped and gave me the mile marker. I was pulled off the side but since the snow was piled he had me reverse on the highway to the emergency turnaround. The tow truck arrived changed my tire and pulled away, I went to start the car and the battery was dead!! You have got to be kidding me. We called AAA back and they had to resend the guy to jump my car. Oh what a night it took me 5 hours to get home. Please not another car issue I don’t think I can take anymore.

One More Car Issue...Please

 Our cars are blessings and curses all the same. So I have been driving in to work for a few weeks now. The one thing I don’t need is car trouble…well here it comes. Monday was my day off!!! Fabulous except it had to snow and really snow. I had breakfast plans with Mrs. Pitsenbarger since her school was closed on account of the snow. So we headed to get pancakes and oj. I was going to stay in town but the flakes were big and they said it was going to be bad so I left around 11am. My drive to my parents should of only taken me 2.5 hours but the roads were so covered that the lines were not visible and this was on 275.  My drive took me a little over 4 hours, oh no fun, no fun at all. But the story gets better. We went to work that week as normal and I left on Friday to head home. Well headed south on 71 I get a flat tire…great. I call AAA but you see the snow is piled up and I cannot see any signs, so I don’t know where I am on the highway. I gave the guy my best guess and he started to search. Eventually a Highway Patrol Officer stopped and gave me the mile marker. I was pulled off the side but since the snow was piled he had me reverse on the highway to the emergency turnaround. The tow truck arrived changed my tire and pulled away, I went to start the car and the battery was dead!! You have got to be kidding me. We called AAA back and they had to resend the guy to jump my car. Oh what a night it took me 5 hours to get home. Please not another car issue I don’t think I can take anymore.

Easy?

·        I guess I thought it would be easy. But then I seemed to forget that I would not get a paycheck for 4 weeks. If you know anything about me and finances; no money for 4 weeks when I have bills equals a not so good month. Our savings account is very sad right now. I had plans of saving money, paying off debt and that is not what is going on right now. We are still barley making it, but yes somehow we are…the somehow is by the grace of God. Each week as I look at our situation and see the stress and the strain I have placed on my family and our finances I ask myself was it worth it. A friend reminded me that God does not call us to be comfortable all the time, sometimes things are hard but if we trust and allow God to be glorified we will be blessed. So for now I pray for Peace.