I know, I know. It's Monday and I'm blogging about my weekend....but hey! I'm here now, and I am here to share the Good News. :)
Last week was a rough one for me. You see, I am living and interning with a children's ministry here at a church in Hixson, TN. I am not originally from here, so I am living with a host family and pretty much am on my own. The first week flew by! I love my job, the people I work with, and the family I am living with. I was greeted with a nice, warm smile just like everyone else, even people who had been coming for 20+ years. I have been welcomed with warm arms since day one, before anyone in the church even knew that I was the intern for the summer. The environment here is genuine, warm, and full of love- LOTS of love. God's presence is not only known, but fully embraced at this church!
On top of that, Hixson is right outside of Chattanooga.. If you've been to Chattanooga before, you know that it is a beautiful place to get in a wonderful and breathtaking hike- literally breathtaking, ha!.. It's an incredible feeling to be surrounded by mountains on each side of you.. The air here even smells good; so fresh, so green, so heavenly.
And even though I am having the absolute time of my life, I'm homesick. Two hours away and I'm homesick. And I started to really think about how much I miss my family., especially my brother- my twin brother, my best friend.
And in the midst of missing everyone, this weekend truly made me realize the other family that I am starting to become a part of. I was placed in the care of two of the absolute sweetest people I've ever known- the Marlowe family.. I feel so blessed to know them and am thankful that God placed me in their atmosphere. They are so uplifting and encouraging and always remind me that I am loved.
Saturday was the best part of my weekend. I took part in a nonprofit organization called Feed My Starving Children by packing meals with 200+ people for the afternoon with the Marlowe's and the church I am working at. Get this: Each box held 36 meals and in two hours, we were able to package 267 boxes. That's enough food to feed 167 children for an entire YEAR. What's even better is how many genuine smiles I saw on the faces of strangers who were gathered in that room for the same exact reason I was; to serve. Even 4 year olds were in there doing what they could with the biggest smile on their faces. How encouraging is that?! They were watering their own spiritual roots and they didn't even know it. I could feel the true meaning of community lingering within the room. Intentional community. And that, my friends, is a very beautiful thing.
Two hours out of my day
Two hours out of their day
Two hours
And we fed 167 children for a year
That's 365 days straight
I didn't feel so homesick anymore after that. There are kids in the world who are out there on their own, maybe even raising their siblings- being their own parent. I can't imagine.. There is so much heartbreak in the world, and to have been able to participate in something that will keep hearts beating longer brings endless amounts of joy to my heart. Wherever God needs me to be is wherever I'll consider my home. He blessed us with one of the most beautiful, yet most devastating worlds we could ever possibly live in. But we're here. And while we're here we should not only make ourselves at home, but we should make ourselves at home by serving others.
JOY
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
He is truly the joy of my joy!
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." -Psalm 16:11
Until next time.
because of Jesus,
Emily Lauren
**If you're interested in seeing what Feed My Starving Children is all about, check them out at http://www.fmsc.org. We are called to serve, and this is one golden opportunity to do so with family, friends, and that beautiful servant heart of yours.
Last week was a rough one for me. You see, I am living and interning with a children's ministry here at a church in Hixson, TN. I am not originally from here, so I am living with a host family and pretty much am on my own. The first week flew by! I love my job, the people I work with, and the family I am living with. I was greeted with a nice, warm smile just like everyone else, even people who had been coming for 20+ years. I have been welcomed with warm arms since day one, before anyone in the church even knew that I was the intern for the summer. The environment here is genuine, warm, and full of love- LOTS of love. God's presence is not only known, but fully embraced at this church!
On top of that, Hixson is right outside of Chattanooga.. If you've been to Chattanooga before, you know that it is a beautiful place to get in a wonderful and breathtaking hike- literally breathtaking, ha!.. It's an incredible feeling to be surrounded by mountains on each side of you.. The air here even smells good; so fresh, so green, so heavenly.
And even though I am having the absolute time of my life, I'm homesick. Two hours away and I'm homesick. And I started to really think about how much I miss my family., especially my brother- my twin brother, my best friend.
And in the midst of missing everyone, this weekend truly made me realize the other family that I am starting to become a part of. I was placed in the care of two of the absolute sweetest people I've ever known- the Marlowe family.. I feel so blessed to know them and am thankful that God placed me in their atmosphere. They are so uplifting and encouraging and always remind me that I am loved.
Saturday was the best part of my weekend. I took part in a nonprofit organization called Feed My Starving Children by packing meals with 200+ people for the afternoon with the Marlowe's and the church I am working at. Get this: Each box held 36 meals and in two hours, we were able to package 267 boxes. That's enough food to feed 167 children for an entire YEAR. What's even better is how many genuine smiles I saw on the faces of strangers who were gathered in that room for the same exact reason I was; to serve. Even 4 year olds were in there doing what they could with the biggest smile on their faces. How encouraging is that?! They were watering their own spiritual roots and they didn't even know it. I could feel the true meaning of community lingering within the room. Intentional community. And that, my friends, is a very beautiful thing.
Two hours out of my day
Two hours out of their day
Two hours
And we fed 167 children for a year
That's 365 days straight
I didn't feel so homesick anymore after that. There are kids in the world who are out there on their own, maybe even raising their siblings- being their own parent. I can't imagine.. There is so much heartbreak in the world, and to have been able to participate in something that will keep hearts beating longer brings endless amounts of joy to my heart. Wherever God needs me to be is wherever I'll consider my home. He blessed us with one of the most beautiful, yet most devastating worlds we could ever possibly live in. But we're here. And while we're here we should not only make ourselves at home, but we should make ourselves at home by serving others.
JOY
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
He is truly the joy of my joy!
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." -Psalm 16:11
Until next time.
because of Jesus,
Emily Lauren
**If you're interested in seeing what Feed My Starving Children is all about, check them out at http://www.fmsc.org. We are called to serve, and this is one golden opportunity to do so with family, friends, and that beautiful servant heart of yours.