WORK CAMP

WE HAD A WORK CAMP FOR OUR TEENS WHERE THEY WORKED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN ALL DAY. THEY WERE TIRED BUT HAD PLENTY OF ENERGY AT NIGHT FOR DEVOS AND CRAZINESS. ASPEN LOVED IT. IN THESE PICTURES WE ARE AT "INCREDIBLE PIZZA" WITH OUR INTERN STEVE ON THE LEFT AND ONE OF THE GIRLS IN THE YOUTH GROUP, LAUREN ON THE RIGHT. THIS NIGHT AT THE PIZZA PLACE STEVE, LAUREN, AND AMY PUT THEIR TICKETS TOGETHER AND WON ASPEN A PINK LAMP, A STUFFED MOUSE, AND A TEDDY BEAR. THE TEENS JUST PASSED HER AROUND PLAYING GAMES WITH HER. SHE IS SUPER SPOILED BUT LOVES HER TEENS. SHE IS PRETTY MUCH THE YOUTH GROUP MASCOT!

ASPEN'S FIRST TRIP TO THE 'ER'

I HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU. WE HAVE NOT WRITTEN MUCH LATELY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING A WORK CAMP WITH OUR TEENS. THAT ALL ENDED ON FRIDAY, BUT I HAVE NEWS THAT CAN'T WAIT. THIS MORNING AS I WAS GETTING READY FOR CHURCH, ASPEN WAS LAYING ON MY BED. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY MANY LARGE PILLOWS AND SO I THOUGHT SHE WAS SAFE. AS I WAS GETTING READY I SAW HER THROW HERSELF OVER THE PILLOWS OFF THE BED. SHE HIT THE NIGHT STAND WITH HER HEAD AND THEN HIT THE SIDE OF THE BED BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND AND LANDING FACE DOWN. I WAS HYSTERICAL. I RAN TO HER AND SHE WAS NOT MOVING OR CRYING. SHE HAD HER EYES SHUT. SHEER TERROR RAN THROUGH ME. I PICKED HER UP AND SHE BEGAN TO CRY. I COULD NOT FIND MY PHONE TO CALL GUY WHO WAS ALREADY AT CHURCH. AFTER RUNNING AROUND ASKING MY NEIGHBORS FOR A PHONE, I FINALLY DROVE TO THE CHURCH AND FOUND GUY. WE ASKED THE CHURCH SECRETARY TO GO WITH US TO THE ER BECAUSE WE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE IT WAS. WHEN WE GOT THERE ASPEN HAD A CAT SCAN AND MANY OTHER TESTS BEFORE WE WERE TOLD SHE WAS PERFECTLY FINE. ALL THEY COULD FIND WRONG WAS A REALLY BAD EAR INFECTION. WEIRD HUH? I HAD TAKEN HER TO THE DR. THREE DAYS BEFORE FOR BRONCHITIS AND THE DR. SAID HER PREVIOUS EAR INFECTION HAD CLEARED UP. SURPRISE IT IS BACK. THERE IS SERIOUSLY NOT A MARK ON HER. GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!! I SURVIVED MY FIRST BAD SCARY THING WITH MY BABY. I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN. IT WAS COOL BECAUSE SOME OF OUR TEENS CAME TO THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS AMY SHAW WHO USED TO WORK WITH AIM WITH US. I THINK I AM IN CULTURE SHOCK. SINCE WE MOVED HERE ASPEN HAS BEEN TO THE DR. TWICE AND THE ER ONCE. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE 8 WEEKS. ANYWAY - I FELT LOVED TODAY BECAUSE PEOPLE CAME TO BE WITH US AT THE HOSPITAL. I KNOW IN LUBBOCK THAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT BEING NEW TO PASADENA, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW. GOD IS GOOD. WHEN YOU PRAY TONIGHT THANK GOD FOR PROTECTING ASPEN. I LOVE ALL OF YOU - NAN

Hey - It has been a long time since I have posted. My brother and his family came to visit from Mexico. They stayed a week and then left on Sunday. It was good to have some people we know here. We went to the beach and to Kemah to see the boats. It was encouraging to see missionaries from the field and hear their stories. While they were here, Aspen, Alison, and my cousin Mel's daughter Jewls had their pictures taken together. I will post it soon! Aspen is getting so big. She is still trying to crawl, but not quite succeeding. She did however really start saying DA DA and MA MA. She says DA DA more which is a little sad for the lady who stays home with her all day, but WHATEVER! :-) It is sooooo cute. She also is the most giggly baby I have ever seen and also that most other people have seen. She laughs during church all the time, which is probably not good. She will just look at me and really crack up to where she can't catch her breath. Maybe I am funny looking!

God has been good to us. We are enjoying this congregation so much, and the challenges it presents to us. We have met with several families here and have shared our vision of a family based youth ministry. Many of our friends here are on board and are getting involved in the activities we do. Our parents have been going to Youth Rallies with us and are showing their desire to be involved. Also, Guy has a strong desire for our teens to grasp their faith and to be able to share it with others. On Sunday mornings he is taking the high school students through a study in the Book of Mark. At the end of 4 weeks, he is going to have them each sit down with a junior high student and have a study about Jesus. The teens are so excited about this challenge to teach someone else about Jesus. They are really taking it seriously. We have a great group of teens! That is all for now. Keep praying about our work here. We are excited about where God is taking us. OHH - also our youth intern from OC has decided to go to AIM. He is in the process of raising support and we are thrilled with his decision. Have a great day - Nan