From Janice Yokota
The group is just beginning to come together as we share our testimonies. Each weekI notice that we are beginning to trust each other more by the way the prayer requests are shared. We are still getting to know each other, but the group is evolving. I was thankful that they came back after the first week. It was a little hard to "read" the group at first. We met once, then I had to cancel the second week due to a family illness up in the central coast. I was so disappointed to have to cancel, but the women cameback the third week, and they are committed to continuing. We are on lesson 4 for this week. I am looking forward to how the Lord will grow us in ourtime together. I think we leaders get the biggest blessings as we serve. Thanks for the opportunity to serve in this way!
Friday, December 16, 2005
From Wendy Machovsky
Okay, so aside from the fact that my girls are keeping me so busy that I cannot find time to answer e-mails, things are UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for all your effort in organizing this-- we are having a blast. The girls have even adopted my husband! As single twenty-somethings they enjoy having a "safe" man around that can help them out. That is a man that won't hit on them, ask them for their phone number, etc.
Just to give you an idea-- Jason and I have moved furniture, he has fixed a car, he has helped one of them to find and buy a car, we have housed one for about a week.
It is like we have been given an instant family. GOD IS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the girls are insatiable! It is all so very exciting.
Okay, so aside from the fact that my girls are keeping me so busy that I cannot find time to answer e-mails, things are UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for all your effort in organizing this-- we are having a blast. The girls have even adopted my husband! As single twenty-somethings they enjoy having a "safe" man around that can help them out. That is a man that won't hit on them, ask them for their phone number, etc.
Just to give you an idea-- Jason and I have moved furniture, he has fixed a car, he has helped one of them to find and buy a car, we have housed one for about a week.
It is like we have been given an instant family. GOD IS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the girls are insatiable! It is all so very exciting.
Kingdom Community
From Ann Herberts
My group is gradually getting to know each other. We have learned to be flexible with life happenings and sharing our spiritual journeys-only when all 5 of usare there. Nevertheless, God has used every meeting to draw us closer to Him. One of my group members wanted to begin our time with singing and worshiping. So now we begin promptly at 7:00 with songs of praise toour Lord. If anyone is late it immediately releases their minds and focuses us all on HIM (as they slip inunnoticed).
I know their stories as I met with each of them before we began and I can see how God has placed each of them together with a common thread. I am so impatient for them to discover Gods plan as well, when the remaining spiritual journeys unfold.
Next week we are meeting with another discipleship group and walking down to watch the boat parade. My ladies are so eager to connect with other Christian women in the area. We will keep you informed-what a pleasure to be involved in shepherding HIS sheep.
God Bless you!
Ann Herberts
My group is gradually getting to know each other. We have learned to be flexible with life happenings and sharing our spiritual journeys-only when all 5 of usare there. Nevertheless, God has used every meeting to draw us closer to Him. One of my group members wanted to begin our time with singing and worshiping. So now we begin promptly at 7:00 with songs of praise toour Lord. If anyone is late it immediately releases their minds and focuses us all on HIM (as they slip inunnoticed).
I know their stories as I met with each of them before we began and I can see how God has placed each of them together with a common thread. I am so impatient for them to discover Gods plan as well, when the remaining spiritual journeys unfold.
Next week we are meeting with another discipleship group and walking down to watch the boat parade. My ladies are so eager to connect with other Christian women in the area. We will keep you informed-what a pleasure to be involved in shepherding HIS sheep.
God Bless you!
Ann Herberts
Faithful Witnesses
From Steve Purves
I'm having a great time with these guys. The lights really came on in lesson three. We were able to combine the wisdom of staying in the word with prayerfully listening into the goal of "understanding God's perfect will and acquiring wisdom". Then taking this as the preparation to run the race of life, being a witness. My guys all had the same goal coming in, "We want to be closer to the Lord", "we have felt this before but we feel a bit distant now". This all came together in three as God's purpose was laid out. We spend time sharing experiences of witnessing and how it felt, this is the feeling everyone was looking for again! It was a great night of stories, purpose and prayer...
I'm having a great time with these guys. The lights really came on in lesson three. We were able to combine the wisdom of staying in the word with prayerfully listening into the goal of "understanding God's perfect will and acquiring wisdom". Then taking this as the preparation to run the race of life, being a witness. My guys all had the same goal coming in, "We want to be closer to the Lord", "we have felt this before but we feel a bit distant now". This all came together in three as God's purpose was laid out. We spend time sharing experiences of witnessing and how it felt, this is the feeling everyone was looking for again! It was a great night of stories, purpose and prayer...
Ready to Go...
From Karen Ferraro
From the first meeting these girls were ridiculously ready to go.They were more honest than any group I've ever worked with. Admitting faults, expressing emotions and ready to work. We've been through 2 life graphs. We have a schedule now. Last week we visited a Hurricane Katrina family in Santa Ana and totally brought Christmas to their home. Tree, gifts, poinsettias, food, lights, everything. What a blessing that was to the girls. We all left knowing we would adopt that family and be back. These girls are commited to one another and often e-mail during the week. They consider me an "elder" which is a new role for me. I guess I am accepting that as I am the age of their parents. We have commited verses to memory, but more than that we have listened to each other's burdens and promised to pray for each other. What a gift. I also thank Pete Shambrooke for that initial invitation. Karen
From the first meeting these girls were ridiculously ready to go.They were more honest than any group I've ever worked with. Admitting faults, expressing emotions and ready to work. We've been through 2 life graphs. We have a schedule now. Last week we visited a Hurricane Katrina family in Santa Ana and totally brought Christmas to their home. Tree, gifts, poinsettias, food, lights, everything. What a blessing that was to the girls. We all left knowing we would adopt that family and be back. These girls are commited to one another and often e-mail during the week. They consider me an "elder" which is a new role for me. I guess I am accepting that as I am the age of their parents. We have commited verses to memory, but more than that we have listened to each other's burdens and promised to pray for each other. What a gift. I also thank Pete Shambrooke for that initial invitation. Karen
Life Together
From Carissa Dunn
So, my group is AWESOME. We are not going to start on Chapter 5 until after the holidays. School breaks are not a good time to have group for sure. The one thing I have done that has made a HUGE difference in how the group gets directed, is we do all prayer requests and prayers at the beginning. It's worked well and the girls like that part best anyway. It was getting rushed at the end, so, we made it the beginning. The Spirit then seems more alive and the group flows much better.
So, my group is AWESOME. We are not going to start on Chapter 5 until after the holidays. School breaks are not a good time to have group for sure. The one thing I have done that has made a HUGE difference in how the group gets directed, is we do all prayer requests and prayers at the beginning. It's worked well and the girls like that part best anyway. It was getting rushed at the end, so, we made it the beginning. The Spirit then seems more alive and the group flows much better.
Common Thread
From Dawn Zaris
We just finished going through our life stories - and it was amazing. It definitely seems like it was God who put our little group together. Although details of our stories vary, there were similarities, and it was incredible to see not only how we each have heard similar lies from satan, but how God has and is continuing to redeem each of our lives...He is so good! Their stories and God's presence in them is so evident and beautiful and I am humbled to be able to walk this journey with them and get to know their hearts.
We just finished going through our life stories - and it was amazing. It definitely seems like it was God who put our little group together. Although details of our stories vary, there were similarities, and it was incredible to see not only how we each have heard similar lies from satan, but how God has and is continuing to redeem each of our lives...He is so good! Their stories and God's presence in them is so evident and beautiful and I am humbled to be able to walk this journey with them and get to know their hearts.
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