S.O.S (Service Over Self)

This weekend I had the opportunity to go with the Wesley Foundation to S.O.S. in Memphis.  S.O.S stands for Service Over Self and it is a non-profit Christian urban camp that hosts volunteers throughout the year to work with residents to make homes warmer, safer and drier in the name of Christ.  Today, our group was mainly focusing on Binghamtpon, an inner city neighborhood in Memphis.  On one of the street corners in Binghampton, S.O.S. has plans of opening a fresh food market.  The market will take the place of an old gas station and needs a good bit of work before it can open to the town.  Our assignment for the day was to paint the outside of both buildings that will be used for this.  It was a great time, and I must say the buildings looked great after we were finished! 
After we finished with the painting jobs we went and had lunch in the park.  A graduate from MS State, who now works in Memphis with inner city children (mainly from Africa), brought all of her kids from day care out to play with us.  Some lived right around the corner from the park and others lived further out.  She explained to us that many of these children are refugees and have not had proper schooling.  They are placed into a grade based on their age instead of skill level, so many times they fall behind in their school work and are picked on by other kids. 
Our main goal was to simply love on these kids.  We ended up having around 50 or 60 children come out and play.  It was incredible.  They were anywhere from ages 3 to 13 and they were some of the most loving children I have ever hung out with.  Not only did we get the opportunity to love on them, but they were loving on us all the more.  We played soccer, did monkey bars, went down the slide, spun incredibly fast on the tire swing, and so much more.  I felt like a kid again. 
After all the kids left the park and we started heading back to S.O.S. these verses started running through my head, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'  He called a little child and had him stand among them.  And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18: 1-5
What a powerful few verses.  So often I get caught up into thinking that I am constantly the teacher and children are learning from me.  However, this clearly states that we should change and become like little children or we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  I am so thankful for this weekend and the community that was found in it.  I hope that I will get another opportunity at some point to go back to Binghamptom and work for S.O.S. again.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!  Here are a few pictures of the S.O.S. facility where we stayed this weekend.  It was so nice : )

Where we had worship Friday night

Dining Hall

This is the work we did while we were in Binghamptom.  We had such a great time and had the opportunity to play with the children for a few hours.  I am so glad I had the opportunity to go.



"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Hillsong

SURPRISE : )

This weekend was my friend, Collette's, 21st birthday!  She proposed the idea of a group of friends going out to grab dinner one night to me earlier in the week, but I decided a surprise party would be a whole lot more fun!  So I got to planning : )  If you don't know, I LOVE surprises and I especially love being the one to surprise others! 
The rest of the week I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the perfect way to surprise her!  Her boyfriend, Drew, and I decided Saturday night would be the best time because he could bring her by after they had dinner.  After our discussion, I immediately sent out a message to all of her friends letting them know all the details. 
The plan was that Collette and Drew would go out to dinner and then "come by to hang out and get her present from me."  Little did she know, all her friends would be here too!  The night went just as planned (even better than I thought it would!).  Collette had no idea any of it was coming, and she seemed to be pretty excited to see everyone. 

Captured the moment perfectly : )

 

Waiting for their arrival!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

                                                                         All the girls

Pure and Holy Passion

This semester and last I have had the opportunity to be a part of the First Presbyterian youth group here in Starkville.  Cameron (my sisters fiance, as well as the youth minister) thought it would bring some life into bible study if they worshipped through song every week before beginning the lesson.  So we began to practice together and work on a few songs to get started with.  One of the songs he introduced me to is called "Pure and Holy Passion."  I have fallen in love with it week after week and thought I would share it with you. 

The words to the song go like this..

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificant obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

I have such a strong passion for music.  So many times I catch myself disecting a song and allowing it to speak to me spiritually.  It is just one of many ways I feel extremely connected to God.  You may have already heard this song before, but if not I hope you enjoy!

Have to Start Somewhere!

So this is it.  My very first post on my very first blog.  : )
My friend suggested blogging to me a few days ago and I took her up on it.  I am really excited about getting to express myself through writing and sharing my heart with you.  I have kept a journal for many years, and it is something that I have grown to love. It is a way for me to be honest with myself, clear my mind, and express my deepest thoughts.  Blogging seems similar, but better because it is not stuck on a page in my journal.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.