realizations...

I came to a few realizations today, and they are ones that I couldn't have been able to reach on my own.  To best understand these I have to tell you about my last few hours... 

Most Sunday nights I meet with two other wonderful ladies to talk about what God is doing in our lives, where we see Him moving and what we need prayers for.  This week because of a few reasons we didn't meet.  I was ok with that (though I do miss them dearly when we can't get together).  I also normally go to The Gathering on Sunday nights but this Sunday was their First Sundays out challenge so I had some free time to go out and hang out in the neighborhood. 

I headed over one of the apartment complexes that we have a few families living in to wash some hair (head lice is very stubborn) and see some kids.  When I got over there a group of girls that I love was playing outside.  It was a pretty nice evening, and they were having a great time.  The other kids I came to see weren't home so I just played with them. 

I decided to head home and come back about an hour later to see if they were back.  I got home and got started working on a video and lost track of time.  It was about two hours later when I got back to the apartments.  As I pulled in it was impossible to not notice the 8 or so police cars, crime scene van, news truck and police line.  It turns out that while I was gone a violent crime took place in one of the neighboring apartment buildings. 

All of these things led me to my realizations....

1.  These kids that I love live in a place that I can't imagine growing up in.  A place where stuff like stabbings, and shootings can and do happen. I pray so often for better for them, for safer homes and healthier neighborhoods. 

2.  God takes care of us.  I was planning on being back in that apartment complex about an hour earlier than I was, which from what I saw would have put me there when stuff happened.  I thank God that none of my kids were hurt, and pray for those that were. 

These may seem like silly things to realize, but they are the things I forget about so easily.  Even though I only live about 5 minutes from where that happened I feel like I live in a different world.  I have never felt scared or frightened living down here.  I am confident that I am where God wants me and know He is going to take care of me.  But, I forget the reality of where I live all to often.  I thank God for giving me the chance to know and love these families, because they bless me in so many ways.  I pray that God teaches our kids, and  uses them to be lights in the dark places. 

saturday nights...

 The past few Saturday nights a group has gathered over at the Stetler's house. David does Bible study with the boys and then we all come together for dinner and hangout time. Dinner has recently been Nepali dishes that we attempt to make. I think one of the best ones so far was our try at sweet rice (which I can't remember the Nepali name for right now).

 

movie night!

This past week the school that some of the kids go to had movie night.  I got the chance to take them, hang out at their school and watch a movie.  The kids had a great time, and I love getting in to schools and having the chance to meet teachers and be a resource to them to help make our kids' learning time better!

back to kids' club!

We had another wonderul night of Kids' Club! We just finished our third week and have had at least 50 kids each week, and a whole bunch of great volunteers! Just a couple of pictures from our great week....

making pretty paper fish...

song time

free time

interndrew is pretty cool

clothes-pin game

love her

my good friend niki came...i think they may have gotten her too! she is such a blessing!

Kick-Off!!!

This past Tuesday night we kicked off our spring trimester. God really provided for us! He brought us 6 amazing new volunteers to help lead the groups (and I can't forget to mention the wonderful returning ones), and they did an great job! We had around 60 kids come out for the first week, which is our biggest night yet. Please join us in praying for a fabulous trimester!

Turkey Weekend!

In college I was blessed with a wonderful group of girlfriends.  One weekend during college we were at a friend's hunting cabin and saw a group of wild turkeys running around together and someone made the observation that they looked like us (a group of 9 girls running all over together.) From that weekend on the "Turkeys" were born.  We made a deal that we would get together over MLK weekend every year. The first year our trip took us to Chicago, last year they came to visit me here in KC. This year we went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. I will be the first to say that there is really nothing to do in Hot Springs, like really nothing, but the  best part of the trip was getting to spend time together and relax away from everything. 

I am so blessed by their friendships!

girls night

Last night Molly and I had some of the girls from both the Latino and Bhutanese communities over for make your own pizza night at our house.  I think they had a pretty good time, it was great to get the chance to have a bunch of girls together and hang out. 

 

 

 

If anyone knows of a girls group from a church that would like to come down and host a girls night for the girls of Mission Adelante, let me know, I know they would love it!

it's that time of the trimester...

It's that time of the trimester, it's the beginning, a new start for a new year.  It's the time where we get to sit down and plan for the upcoming year, where we get to dream about the exciting things God has in store, where we get to pick out fun new memory verse songs.  I'm not gonna lie, I love this part of the trimester.  This is the part of the trimester where we also need new volunteers.  New friends to come down to KCK once a week (or more if you like) and hang out with the Kids' Club kids.  These friends play an important role in Kids' Club every week.  They hang out with and love on the kids during our beginning of the night free time, they set an example and help lead the kids during big group time, and the teach the kids a story from the Bible during group time every week.  Most importantly they love and pray for the kids of Kids' Club each week.  If you, or anyone you know would like to join us or has questions email me at Kristenm@missionadelante.org for more information.  We would love to have you there (and really, we would love you, your kids, your spouse, your roommate, anyone with a heart for Jesus and a love for kids.)  And if you need proof of how much fun Kids' Club can be....

break...

The way the calendar at Mission Adelante is set up is very intentional.  The year is broken up into trimesters.  In the middle of each 12 week trimester there is a one week break in programing, and a 3 day office closure break. In between each trimester we have a couple weeks of break where we get the chance to just slow down and recharge.  Kids Club has been on break since the second week in December, and we start back the 3rd Tuesday in January.  I miss kids club but the breaks give us a great chance to go into homes and hangout with people, and plan for the upcoming trimester.  

Some highlights of my break....

Ty and his puppy.

Funny faces!

 



Tired Ty at the end of Christmas.



  

I may have taken them home with a few bumps and bruises.



They got better as the afternoon went on.

 

Ice Cream afterwards made everything better!

To end the break I got to take engagement pictures for my roommate and her fiance.

Westside!

Westside Family Church has been a big supporter of Mission Adelante.  They asked us this year to bring some of our kids out to sing with their kids for their Impact 2011 service.  Our kids had the chance to sing with 2 groups of Westside kids, as well as listen to the an international children's choir that had 4 participants from Nepal.  It was a great opportunity for the Hispanic and Nepali kids that are a part of Mission Adelante to hangout together.