Lauren's Journals in Portugal

Lauren's Journals in Portugal

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

SIX :: recharge weekend of intense ministry



 Weekend six, we had three youth group on property- Central Baptist, Community Bible, and Port Perry Baptist, with just a little over 65 youth and leaders.
The intern that is customer service with me, Alexis, her youth group came, that was a huge blessing for her to hang out with them for the weekend.
And Port Perry Baptist was the youth group to one of the students, Katie, so she had the privilege of being with them for the weekend!
I got to hang out with Community Bible! They were such a fun group = ) They adopted me into their party just like I belonged to them = )
Each week it gets harder and harder to say to goodbye...


ONE COLD JUMP-- ice cube





 




 
MAKING A DISPLAY-- church banners
 
Central Baptist Youth
 
Port Perry Baptist Church 
 
Community Bible Church 
 
DASHING FOR FINISH-- cardboard sled race
 



 
warming up around the fire the heat made from the sleds

 
MEET YOU MEET ME-- new friendships

 


With my last name being one that people have not normally heard of, and also being and object.
People like to see how many jokes they can make out of it =)
I really do enjoy them-- but I heard the best one yet this weekend! I about killed over with laughter!
the girls asked me if I had Facebook, I said "yes! find me, Lauren Sink!"
And Liz said, "I'm the faucet to your sink!" (..except that it is spelled differently)
I hope you find that as humorous as I found it!!
 
the Sink with the Fawcett
 

AS THEY COME-- capturing the moments
 
 
UNTIL NEXT TIME-- farewell friends 
 
Story from the weekend,
It was after the drama on Saturday night, and right after the Speaker asks if anyone wants to accept Christ as their personal Savior and they walk out to meet someone at the door to just encourage them and help them with the next steps in their walk with Christ.
        Those that are left sitting, He asks us if would turn to our left, right, behind, and in front and ask each person if they knew Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and that they knew for sure they were going to Heaven. I asked all around me and the last direction was to the front.
        I almost didn't ask, figuring she had already been asked.
She said, "I'm not sure, I have doubts..."
        I asked her if we could talk afterwards, I got to share with her the assurance and hope that Christ gives His children.
        She had already asked she Jesus Christ to be her Savior, but she felt as if she couldn't stop sinning and that because of her sin Christ would no longer love her.
       I shared how our salvation from Christ is not dependent on us not sinning anymore... (we would never be able to be saved, because we are human, and sin is our nature.)
       Christ died once for all.
       When Christ died on the cross He thought of us, He knew we struggled with sin, but His grace is large.
       I shared the verse "...He will never leave us nor forsake us" Hebrews 13:5
 I didn't know if what I was saying was making sense, I was praying that it was...
       I shared how I once had the same feeling about my salvation, it wasn't that I doubted that I was saved- I just would say a quick prayer to Jesus, but it was that I was lacking peace and assurance, lacking faith that it was a one time deal.
      Sealed forever.
She asked for a hug, I knew she understood it!
     I walked back with her to her group of friends, they were crying, I asked if the tears were happy tears or sad tears.
    They told me they were happy, they told me that a couple of the guys from the youth group had just gotten saved, they had never experienced someone getting saved before!
    
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
    ....once was lost- now found! eternity bound towards Heaven!
      
Praise the LORD for His continued grace shown to all human kind- 
With the salvation and dedication of the lives this past weekend.
 
As the Word of Life Quiet Time has touched on the past couple days, the passage from 2 Peter 3, in verse 9:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance. 
 
and then goes on to say that we should be living lives that are of Holiness and Godliness-
 
As Christians, we long to go to Heaven, or we should be longing! While we wait for Christ returning, we don't just chill, party or sleep- we are to be ACTIVE. Serving Christ and sharing His good news!

Today the Pastor speaking at Chapel shared a thought- I found it stunning, I pray that you do also...
 
"Christ didn't call us to live a comfortable
or easy life serving Him
other wise He wouldn't have promised
to send the Comforter (the Holy Spirit)"
 
I hope you are encouraged today by God's Word-- Praying for you, thank you for supporting me, praying for me and sharing with me the joys of serving Christ.
 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

FIVE || the fifth weekend of Recharge

 
Snow camp is going by so fast... and ending soon--
seriously- we are already past weekend five! We only have two weekends left...
 
I ask that you would pray---
                      :::pray that our students and all involved will
                      continue strong for the last two weekends.
 
:::pray for the youth that have come to Recharge in the past weekends that they will continue reading God's Word.
 
             :::pray for the youth coming tomorrow and those coming next weekend,
             that their hearts will be prepared to hear the gospel.
 
 
 
OLAF
the cute snowman from Frozen
snow sculpture from Northside's youth group

 
One of the girls in Emmanuel Bible youth group had the same name as me! 
doesn't happen very often...
 
 
 
BANNERS



 
 
the TECHIES
working on photos and the weekend review video
 
Church of the Nazarene youth group
they are so hilariously funny!!
They also won the belt-
not just a belt...
the Dale Chucky Gordon Junior Memorial Belt! 



  
 Google likes to edit my photos!
to group several photos together or add snow = )
pretty cool, eh!?
 

 
Lauren & I
 

 
 

 
It was hard to get a good photo with the snow
(the real snow..) landing in our eyes.
 
 

 
 
 
  

Thursday, February 13, 2014

#FOUR((4)) of Recharge

This weekend we had the highest amount of youth on our property!
At 104 campers!
 
it was one awesome weekend! God worked in many of the youths lives...
>> 3 teens accepted Christ as their personal Savoir!
>> 3 teens dedicated their lives to serving Christ!
 
it's amazing that God let us see the fruit of our efforts- God doesn't have to allow us to partake in the fruit...
God doesn't even need us to bring the gospel to the world.
He could do it all Himself.
But He chooses to use us, to bring glory to Him!
How is God using you...?  
 
 





If you can't tell-!
the Ice-cube is my favorite activity to watch at ReCharge!




standing on the towel to keep their feet off of the snow--
**************

trying to stay cool....
hanging out in the ice-cube!
 
 
Josh
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 
scrubba-dub!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
my next favorite highlight about snow camp...
High-ropes
 Harley was a little bit nervous for her first time on the zip line...
but once she jump... she was hooked. Couldn't keep her away from it!

 she wanted to go again and again and again....


getting harnessed up----

 
 
almost to the TOP!



 
second time down! thumbs up!
Go Harley!
 
 
Showing off my hats!
 


 
My youth groups banners-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 First Baptist Church Fort Erie


First Baptist Church Waterloo



First Baptist Church Fort Erie--


 Friends



 
See you later!!