March 2, 2009

Boy does time fly when you're having fun! It's hard to believe that we're already into March! WOW! Last night I was thinking about the information that I wanted to include in this up-date and feeling a strong need to request prayer for my church...so I decided to focus this up-date on just that. I know I've mentioned a few things from time to time, but I decided to fill you in on some specific prayer requests.

I guess the short of it is that I find it discouraging how our numbers have slacked off so drastically. At the Thursday prayer meeting there were about 5 people...at our Saturday kids club that we have each week, there were only about 10 children this past weekend (a third of what we normally have)...at the youth group meeting on Saturday night, I was the only girl and there were not more than 4 guys (this becoming a regular occurrence). It has become common for most people to come regularly on Sunday morning...but then we don't see them anymore the rest of the week...not in small groups, prayer meetings, children's ministry, youth group, etc. This was not the case before...it has become more of a problem in the last couple of months. Some people have very good reasons for not being there...health, travelling, etc. The HAuse family and Heather Mickelson continue to be in the states on home ministry assignment so their absence is felt as well. Of course, there is also the situation with the couple in the youth group who got pregnant...they're married now, but this situation has affected them and their families greatly.

It isn't just attendance that seems down...it's participation, workers, excitement, etc. All of that seems lower than it has been. I find it sad and difficult. Even for me, going to church doesn't always have the same joy that it did before...I go now more out of a sense of obligation than a desire to be there.

On Sunday morning, our pastor gave a short lecture about the importance of being active in church ministry, more than just on Sunday mornings, something that was very difficult for him to have to say...but on Sunday night we had a good size group, bigger than we've had in awhile (ironically some of them weren't even there to hear the lecture in the morning...I guess God just knew we needed the encouragement of worshipping with them again)!

My pastor and I talked several weeks ago, about dividing the youth group into two groups (guys and girls) in order to address some topics/themes which are gender specific. However, it has seemed that basically since we had that conversation, there really haven't been any girls...so we have continued to put it off...not sure what to do. This weekend one of the girls approached me and asked me when we were going to start dividing into groups...I basically told her that I didn't know since right now if we divided I'd be in a class by myself. After that we called all the girls together and had a quick talk. Some of them weren't aware of this plan to split. Others said they had friends who wanted to come, but wanted to start coming when we actually divided, etc. So, I encouraged the girls to come for the next couple of weeks...since plans have already been made for those youth group meetings, but after that on March 21, we will have our first divided meeting. There is a new woman in her upper 20s who has started coming to our church, she is also interested in coming to the youth group meetings. Her name is America, she is a psychologist and has given some talks in other churches about dating and relationships (which are some of the topics that we plan to cover), so she has agreed to work with me on planning the activities and lessons. I am encouraged by her interest in serving with me as well as looking forward to developing our friendship more.

Personally, I would also like to invest more in the lives of certain women/youth in the church, but quite honestly, that takes a large time commitment. With my responsibilities at school and CIET, I find it hard to invest the amount of time that is truly needed. Please pray, not only for our church, but also for me as I seek ways to reach out to these women...that God will not only encourage me through it, but that He will minister to them as well through me.

Last weekend's Carnaval days were wonderfully relaxing and refreshing! Praise the Lord for the renewed strength that He's given me...I'm going to need it this week with all the activities going on! Thank you so much for your support and prayers...they really mean a great deal to me!