Wow. So much has happened since my last blog post... at the rate I'm going, I'll get one post in per month! I'll have to work on that! Ok. So I left off in September 4th. Since then I have continued my routine of never stopping, always going. But staying busy keeps me out of trouble...right?!?
In the past month, I worked in the the media track on Sunday mornings, helping with sound and such. Now I switch on to a new track- Lifehouse Children's ministry! My first Sunday was great... initiation of the new leaders is always fun. Lifehouse is awesome- I am working with the K-2nd grade kiddos... I think i will really enjoy this track!
Our 1st cycle (like a school quarter) has ended, and ended with a big bang! We just got back from a retreat in South Dakota. A very kind couple from our church, and their neighbor, opened up their homes to us, so we got to stay at a beautiful cabin on the river! The view was absolutely breathtaking! The retreat was our "evaluation" week. That basically means we were able to get together as a team and see how we are doing so far in our IBEX journey. At the begin of the year, we made a "Community Rule of Life". This encompasses some of our priorities as an IBEX team, and the guidlines we want to live by. (I'll post it on this blog for y'all to see!) We were able to check ourselves and see if we were working and living by the standards that we had set for ourselves. We also had a night of seeking the Holy Spirit, and soaking in God's presence. It was a really great end to a crazy awesome 1st cycle! Not to mention all of the fun we had hunting rattle snakes and jack rabbits, riding ATVs, running down neverending gravel roads, and eating some of the best food in the world!
One really big update I have for you... I know where we are going for our 2 month global journey! Drumroll, please...
Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan!
Two places... two teams...
Yes. We are splitting up. Because we have such a large group, it isn't practical for us to all go to the same place. It was prayerfully considered, and thought out by the upper leaders.
I was pretty... not happy... when I found out we were splitting up. It hurts to think of our team splitting. But it totally makes sense. I think it is gonna be hard though, so please keep this in your prayers. I will find out for sure which team I am on by the end of November hopefully, so I will keep you updated! In the mean time, we will begin raising money for the trip! It will cost about $50,000 for all of us to go; but God will provide!
More big news!!! If you did not hear, Trinity Church (15555 West Dodge Road) has officially changed their name! We are entering a new season, and the Lord has given us a new name. Over a period of time, God has been revealing to our Pastors and Elders what he is leading us into, and it is good things!
We are now LIFEGATE Church!!! http://www.trinityomaha.com/ (This is going to be hard to get use to saying!!!) So exciting!
The Gobbler Grind (1/2 marathon) is coming up so soon! I believe it is just a little bit over 6 weeks away. Wow. I hope I am ready. People on the team are still struggling with some injuries, including myself. We are training hard... in fact, I am running 6 miles at Zorinski tomorrow! We are praying that God will give us the grace to press on towards the goal of finishing the race!
To sum everything up, this month has gone by so fast. Days sort of blend together, and I am so busy I hardly have time to process things. But God is doing some cool things in our group, and I feel that it is just going to get better!
*Prayer Requests*
~For the team
Unity
Financial Provision
Peace about splitting up for our global journey
Energy for the upcoming marathon, discipline to continue training, and healing of injuries
~For me personally
Sleep- and dreams and visions while I'm sleeping!
Peace about the global journey (I am still dealing with the emotions)
Grace to process all of the stuff I am learning and doing and experiancing
Healing for my shin splints, and strenght and discipline to continue training for the marathon
Financial provision
More of God- I want to continue pressing deeper and deeper into God, and what he has for me. Pray that the Holy Spirit would manifest himself in my life! I (and we) want to see God move!
Focus- that I would be free of distractions in IBEX
Thank you so much for reading my blog, and for partaking in this journey with me! You support means so much to me! Love you all!
~Rebekah
