Advent conspiracy project!

I first heard about doing the Advent conspiracy project years ago through a youth leaders idea website!  I loved it and we adopted the idea, changed some things and added it to our 7th grade Impact trip!

Tuesday morning we had one more yard to rake the leaves!  I have to tell you all 4 homes where we raked the leaves, we got hugs and tears!  It seems like a small thing, but when it would take 8 – 21 of us 2 – 3 hours to rake a whole yard or area, how long would it take the lady of the house to get it done?  A week?  And how exhausting with so many other things not to mention for a couple of them it would have been an almost impossible task, physically!

After we finished our last house we divided into 3 teams and worked on our conspiracy projects!  A conspiracy – an plot to bring harm to unsuspecting people or groups.  Advent conspiracy – a plot to bless unsuspecting people or groups – one that will hopefully point them to the story of the ‘coming’ of the Christ child!

Group 1 –  Make a ‘Thank You’  bag for the Marble Falls Police Dept.   It certainly surprised them and the officer told the kids to continue to do good right on into adulthood – We need people that will serve others!

Group 2 –  Make a ‘Thank You’ basket for an Urgent Care break room.  People that are serving others – sick others!  It was a blessing to them

Group 3 –  A hotel worker that has come upon tough times – blessed him with Christmas $$ to help with his financial crisis – He was a little overwhelmed and didn’t know what to say!

We had a great time – I pray that each of the students will realize that it doesn’t take a lot to bless others – you don’t have to spend $$ either!  You can serve them.  Package up food – wrap up presents – sing songs – rake a yard …

May your Christmas season offer you many opportunities to ‘ bless and serve ‘ others – straight from your heart to theirs!

mrs g

We are Blessed to be a Blessing

Trail of Lights and Debriefing!

After enjoying the Trail of Lights in Marble Falls tonight– we took time to walk back through and the second time we spent time in prayer, practicing prayer walking. Walking on sight with insight! I love seeing student begin to learn to prayer walk.

When we returned back at Camp Buckner we had our evening debrief!

During the debrief it was really cool to hear a couple of them talk about how prayer walking the Trail of Lights was a favorite time for them, and the things that they prayed for. For those with not much for Christmas and for those that are having problems this time of the year. Very tender hearted. We talked about how this is something you can do anytime, anywhere!

For many raking the leaves and seeing how much it meant to the people we were helping. It didn’t take us that long but the kids realized for the ladies we were helping, it was have taken them very long and for some, they aren’t really able to do it any more so it was even more of a blessing. It made them happy and made us feel good. One student shared that it really got him how appreciative the people were and we had done so little, and it made him realize how much he has and how he grateful he is for what he has!

Many really enjoyed singing at the nursing home, even though we made a lot of mistakes with our lyrics, the people there didn’t mind. It was fun to see many of them sing along. I was very proud of the kids and how they worked through their nervousness and began to visit with the people. That brought even more joy to the elderly. It really was a sweet time.

At the Meals on Wheels, the kids were impressed with how the workers took such care in preparing the food, and noticing how much attention was paid to making sure each meal pack was packed exactly right. It is too important to the people that are waiting for that one hot meal a day! Their dedication to their cause was very impressive!

This is a great group of kids!

We talked about the Christmas Story and all the people involved and how each one responded to what was going on. Was it a positive reaction or a negative reaction. We talked about the personalities of the people. We talked about the people we each know. How do they respond to the gospel? How can we pray for them. What are creative ways we can pray for others and bless them.

Our bedtime reading is Romans 10: 12-15 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Beautiful feet – bringing good news! May we each desire to have beautiful feet!

God has created each of us so uniquely different. Yet he created each one of us to glorify him. I am praying that each one of these students will begin to realize how uniquely amazing they are and that they have the ability to bring the light of Jesus into the world around them, using the talents they each possess! Blessed to be a blessing!

That’s my prayer!

We have one more yard to rake in the morning. It was cool to see the kids excited to help one more lady with a big task.

Then our Advent Conspiracy Project- we’re going to turn the word conspiracy into a secretive good thing – the kids are thinking and praying about how we can bless someone and them not know it was us! This is always such a fun creative part of the 7^th grade Impact trip!

We’ll see you tomorrow at the school.

3:30pm

Mrs. g

A Little Bit Goes A Long Way

A little bit goes a long way

If we haven’t learned that today we sure missed a good chance to!

Starting the morning off with Meals on Wheels we helped pack the coolers with drinks and the breads ready for the hot meal to finish in the oven and the drivers would show up to begin delivering all over Burnet County.

Paul the new director explained to the kids that sometimes the MOW worker was the only person they would see all day – sometimes the only one they will see all week! Not only are they providing a physical need but an emotional one as well. This also allows them to know if something has happened to them, if they don’t answer the door! A first responder of sorts!

Being Christmas time we then had the opportunity to help wrap presents for their clients. They were divided into very small piles; lotion, socks, shampoo, gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, crossword puzzle books … a little bit goes a long way.

Before we left I asked if it would be okay if we prayed for them, Paul said we could. We did and as we left he shouted out to us… “God Bless You!”   cool!

I think about my Christmases and the stark difference between what for many will be the only gift they receive and what my own expectations are for Christmas. I look forward to tonight’s debrief.

Debrief – the time where we will discuss the day, things that made us laugh, things that touched our heart and the things that have changed us, maybe forever.

We headed to Granite Mesa Nursing Care Center and sang a few Christmas Carols and visited with the ladies and gentlemen there! The kids were super troopers. Last night we were later than usual getting to the cabins, etc. so we didn’t have an opportunity to go over some of the songs. The kids did great!   Nick played the piano and blessed everyone with ‘Carol of the Bells’! Afterwards we visited and there were a few who were sad to see us go I think! A little bit goes a long way!

Our regular pizza place was gone so we experienced the world famous Bluebonnet Café! Nice!

After lunch we got the opportunity to help 3 ladies that needed their yard raked. They all find themselves in situations that have changed their world

1. Nelda – (my step-mom) My dad passed away this last March and her ability to rake the yard and cut back the bushes is just not there.  She is proud of her yard and has been so frustrated that she doesn’t have the energy to do what used to be a simple enjoyable task.  It so blessed her!
2. Marianne – her husband has Alzheimer’s and it’s been very difficult taking care of him much less worrying about her yard.  She was so blessed and excited that we would rake her back yard – 13 bags worth!
3. Connie – her husband Val is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and they had about an acre of land with MANY leaves.  Both teams tackled this one together.  Val really enjoyed watching the kids work hard and he kept telling me, “These are really good kids. It’s so nice of you to come and help us”. Connie was very excited that he had come outside and interacted with us. At first he was very frustrated that she was going to let us come, but he was outside waiting on us when we got there!
4. Really it wasn’t all that much, raking some leaves, cutting back some plants. Praying for people. Encouraging others.  A little bit goes a long way!

It’s free time right now and the kids are playing football and gaga ball! After dinner we’ll head to the trail of lights and Starbucks (decaf) then back for our debrief and maybe a game or two.

We’ll start planning our Advent Conspiracy – where we bless someone and hopefully they won’t know who we are! It’s so fun to see what they come up with! Just another way for them to see … a little bit goes a long way!

I’ll write again this evening. So much is happening today I thought I’d go ahead and give you phase 1of the day … ha!

Mrs. G

O Little Town of Bethlehem – Where they serve GREAT bread!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12

We arrived at Main Street Bethlehem at 5:10ish and got in line ready to have a ‘Bethlehem’ experience! I was excited that so many had never been before, it just makes it so fun! The Bethlehem bread was delish- as usual! (okay, I admit, I went back 3x). The recipe for Bethlehem Bread is on First Baptist Church Burnet’s website http://www.fbcburnet.org/mainstreetbethlehem.htm ! Let me know if you’re going to try to make it, I can help be a tester just to make sure it’s right! : )

If you have never gone, I encourage you to bring your family. Next weekend on Friday – Sunday from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. It’s worth the wait to get in line early! The kids had a blast and I had quite a few thank me for taking them and how much they loved it!

We had dinner in Burnet and have arrived late so as we’re shutting down for the evening we’re reading over the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 or Matthew chapter 2. We’ll be discussing the people involved and their reaction to the story, our reaction to the story and how we can share that story with others just being who God created us to be.

First thing after breakfast we’ll be heading to Meals on Wheels in Burnet and then singing Christmas Carols and visiting Granite Mesa Nursing Rehab Home in Marble Falls! In the afternoon we’ll do a little raking for some people that just have a hard time doing that! Tomorrow evening we’ll do some prayer walking and enjoying the trail of lights and of course a side trip to Starbucks!

This is a great group of kids and I’m excited to work alongside of them!

Pray:

• They will get a sense of the need that others have.
• They will be moved with compassions when they hear about how people sit and wait for that meal to show up from Meals on Wheels.
• They will realize that singing Christmas Carols at the nursing home is no little thing… young people bring ‘life’ into a room and that life is ‘Jesus’
• There are those that need others to ‘rake a lawn’ because it get difficult when the weather begins to change and it’s easy for them to get sick… help from others is a big deal!
• Pray they will begin to think of ways they can bless others – without them knowing it was them – to realize that to bless others and not get recognized for it – it’s good!
• Pray that the students appreciate one another – for who they are – that’s a big deal too!

Thank you for allowing your student to come!

Mrs G