Girls' Camp Weekend 2014

Each year I always say that I am blessed as much as I bless in doing ministry. This year, this summer in particular, I must say that I know I was blessed much more than I blessed! These kids help keep me alive--they are so pure and genuine and such beautiful creations of the Master that I cannot help but be filled with joy when I am in their presence. In the wake of my recent sabbatical, I am still being "rebuilt" myself, so the kids with their unconditional love for me helped to restore my spirit just by showing me how to recapture the childlike joy of life that I may have lost. In the girls' weekend I sought to instill in them a strong sense of purpose, a strong grasp of God's love for them, an understanding of how each of our actions has ripples that go on for eternity (for the positive or the negative), and also to teach them some basic home-making skills. I accomplished all of that, but they in turn taught me how to laugh, how to frolic in the water, how to swing and slide and act silly, how to stay up late giggling and sharing our fears (oh, wait, they do that every year!), and how to have FUN! I taught them how to use a sewing machine, how to be sensitive to God's voice and visions in worship, and how to see His hand in every day life. It was a small, intimate group, but we were more relaxed and more focused on building relationship than following an "agenda." Something new for me....just another step on the journey God has me on! Thanks to everyone who has supported us through our changes, particularly to the Wooty Foundation for their generous donation which helped fund this weekend!

Back on Track

Many changes are happening in 2014 and AWO has been affected. The format of how we do ministry will be altered somewhat. We will do more on-site ministry, there in the heart of the inner city where most of our kids reside. We will seek to reach out and minister to others who may "wander up" while we are there, as well. We hope to teach and equip our own kids to minister in their community even when we are not there. We will no longer do Wednesday night church transportation, instead we will do church transportation every other Sunday morning. Our camps this year will be separate girls and boys camps with smaller groups. More intense and intimate ministry will take the forefront of what we do. Rather than ministering to large groups, we will focus more on building strong relationships and discipling smaller groups of kids. We will have a girls' weekend as well as a boys' weekend, both of which will take place at Reed Bingham State Park this year. This summer a few of our kids also had the wonderful opportunity to attend another local summer camp, The Great Escape, with New Life Church, where they were cabin leaders and volunteers. They both ministered and were ministered to there. Thank you, His Hands, for giving us that opportunity! :)

Easter 2014

Today during the church service God spoke to my heart. As the pastor was speaking of how Jesus arose from the tomb...God said to me, it is time to wake up. Get up and go! So after church was over, I made an unplanned trip out to the inner city of Valdosta. I didn't get to see all of "my kids" but I saw every one I could find, and also a few new ones I didn't know. I handed out Easter candy with scriptures and the salvation prayer on it as well as Life Books to all I encountered. The kids I did find were so happy to see me! Although I have kept in touch with them over the sabbatical I hadn't seen some of them in person since its onset. It was a feeling like coming home to see their sweet smiling faces!