All In A Month

Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" -Luke 4:8

It was a whirlwind month of July but very thankful to see God at work through that time ...

Summer Sports Camp and Block Party:

A team from Columbia, TN came into Bozeman to help with our summer sports camp at Kirkwood. From 9-12pm each day for a week the children rotated through soccer, flag football, silly sports and Bible Study.  We had over 40 campers registered for the week and it was a great opportunity to use sports as a platform to share the eternal hope we have in Christ.  The kids were taught what it means to know and love and serve Jesus and to be a light for Him in their surrounding community. The week ended with an awards celebration where each child got an individual award and we showed the camp video from the week, followed by a pizza party with the kids and their families!  It is always fun to see each of the children improving their sports skills throughout the week, but nothing compares to seeing them grow in their relationship with Christ!

That week we also hosted a Wednesday night Block Party where we had 1000 pairs of shoes to give away.  It was a great evening with many people passing through and an opportunity to share the love of Christ and meet needs in the surrounding community.  Even though it was a rainy evening, we were able to give away a couple hundred pairs of shoes and had the opportunity to pray with some of the people who came through and shared their stories with us.

Provo, Utah Mission Trip: The week before sports camp a team of five adults and four children from Kirkwood went down to assist First Baptist Provo for a week.  We painted the outside of their church, cleaned the inside, assisted with Backyard Bible Club in an apartment complex and spent time with Pastor Russ and his family who I have gotten to know well over the past year.  We were reminded how important fellowship and mutual encouragement is in building up the body of Christ.  In Hebrews 3:13 it says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."  Satan would love nothing more than to see God's faithful discouraged and off track, so having others around to continually point each other back to the Lord is so important.  Beyond that, my favorite part of the week was getting to play soccer and kickball with the children in the apartment complex.  Most of them were bilingual and it was fun speaking some Spanish with them.  I am constantly reminded what a platform sports brings to build relationships that open up the door to share the Gospel.  Each of the children who played kickball stayed to listen to a devotion afterwards and we also had the chance to feed everyone who was there. 

4th of July weekend: At the beginning of the month, I was able to head up to northern Montana over the 4th of July weekend.  This was a week I was reminded how gracious the Lord has been to put some really sweet people in my life since I arrived in Montana.  I had the opportunity to stay in Bigfork, Montana for a few days with a family I have gotten to know through the golf course in Bozeman.  After a few days in Bigfork and Whitefish, I was able to take a quick trip through Glacier National Parkon the way back down.  It is beautiful there!

At the very end of July I had a super sweet friend that I got to know from my college days at Vanderbilt come through town after she worked a week of camp in Washington.  I was able to take Emily to check out a couple of the waterfalls up Hyalite Canyon and we also spent a day in Yellowstone and the northern part of the Teton National Park...

The rest of July also consisted of our last block party of the summer at Kirkwood and beginning preparation for August events which include a back to school giveaway, a youth camping trip and welcoming the MSU students back to school.  I have also been working at the golf course on the side and getting ready to start the Athletic Director duties at Heritage Christian.  It has been amazing to see the doors God has opened in Bozeman since He brought me there in May 2012 and I can't wait to see what He does moving forward.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Please pray for:

- For God to continue to use Kirkwood and the other Bible believing churches in the area as a light for Him in a community that really needs Jesus and that we will be able to meet the needs of those He places in our path.  Also that Pastor James, Andrew and I would continue to follow His direction and never try to do anything in our own power.
- For God to provide all the children's workers necessary for Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.

- To be able to spend my time as the Lord would have me to as I juggle responsibilities at Kirkwood, the golf course and serving as the Athletic Director at Heritage Christian School.  That I would be intentional each day in using my gifts for His glory.