classes

sorry it has been awhile since my last post, i just did not really know what to write about.
we've finally started actually having our classes regularly, because we have been doing training and life stories up until now! we have discipleship class, leadership groups, counseling class, perspectives class, process group, girls bible study/guys bible study. the leadership groups are small groups in which we are going through a book about leadership. the counseling class is taught by the counselors and is about parenting styles - love and logic. process group we meet with the director of Shelterwood and just kind of process through things with him as a group. discipleship class is a class about disciples and is taught by the COO of Doulos. the girls bible study we are doing is "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore. the building of the school/rec center is now done so we now have actual classrooms for the kids and we for us! (they were meeting in the basement of the boy's lodge in office type areas.)

there's just some general knowledge of what else happens here.
soon i will post some more about what God is doing in my life, and what He is teaching me. i have to go for now though.

God is faithful

God is so faithful! our roomtime today was amazing, both of our girls shared their life stories with us. i was excited that they trusted us and opened up with us about what they have gone through and what they have learned in their lives. i can't even imagine going through some of the things they have been through and it breaks my heart. but what was a God thing tonight was that there was another girl who joined our room time (God thing cause she normally would not be in our room at this time) who hasn't been here too long, and i could see that God was planting a seed of hope in her heart when she heard what these girls have been through, but how they have hope in Christ. one of the girls encouraged the other that God can use the crap she has been through for good. it just touched my heart so much to see God using the girls to minister to each other and it reminded me of His faithfulness in my life.

originally i was very anxious about coming here to take part in LeadTime, even pulling into the parking lot that first day i really wanted to turn around and drive back to MI. i am SO glad i didn't! God has been blessing me in so many ways just being here. my girls have been a blessing to me, and are teaching me sooo much. it has definitely been humbling being here as well. it's so awesome to see God at work here!

today in our house meeting, our sweet :) house director shared a passage with us from 1 Peter that pretty much sums up what is happening here at Shelterwood and i thought i would share it for those that are interested...

1 Peter 5:2-3
"Be shepards of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

I guess this would just be a prayer request, that this would be true in my life, and in the lives of others here. Also, if you continue reading that chapter there is some more prayer requests for me in there, that I would humble myself, cast my anxieties on Him because he cares for me, be self-controlled and alert of satan, that I resist satan and stand firm in Christ.

selfishness

today God brought to my attention one aspect of many of my selfish ways. He showed me how many times in my relationships i'm trying to learn, grow, and gain things for myself rather than giving and serving and trying to bless others. i've be challenged to be more giving and serving in relationships, rather than just trying to get things out of them for myself. i've been so selfish in this way.
shalom
meredith

pressing on

it is so challenging for me to know what to blog about because a lot of stuff goes on here, and a lot of stuff is confidential. but i also want you all to know what is going on here, so i will do my best.
this past week has been good. i am really starting to learn a lot more about the little's and their stories. my heart breaks everyday for them, and it is extremely hard to keep from crying. it definitely is emotionally draining. i have to keep relying on Jesus for his strength, patience, and love. sometimes it is hard for me to relate with the girls because i haven't been through a lot of what they have been through, however i have struggled with the self worth issues that they have, so it has been good to relate to and connect with them on that level. like i described in my previous blog, weeknights we always have room nights, where we can spend time with our room. we have started reading the book "Captivating" by Stasi Eldridge, and so far it has been good, leading to some good conversations about where we find our worth and what not.

last weekend for house night, we did a person scavenger hunt, where some of us "bigs" dressed in disguise and went out to this outdoor shopping area and walked around. let's just say, i was in a skirt and heels....!!!! needless to say, the littles really enjoyed it, and we did too!!!
it's awesome seeing God working in the lives of these girls. one thing that i'm learning is i really want to help these girls and want to see the change now, but it's God's timing and Him working in their lives. i just need to love on them with Christ's love!!!

enough for today :) if you have any questions, email me or feel free to text me....

2 1/2 weeks

this past week was the littles first week of school. i am finally starting to get the hang of how things work around here.  it has definitely been challenging, but it is awesome to see God at work in these girls.  my heart has just been breaking for them and what they have been through and struggle with.  God is working in my heart as well, softening it.  also, He is constantly reminding me that He is stable and unchangeable and that I need to be continually leaning and relying on Him, because nothing else or anybody else, can be my strength and my stronghold. I'm also constantly reminded of God's grace for us.

i also would just like to share what an average day is like here at Shelterwood...

wake up. do room and house chores. eat breakfast. walk the girls to school. have a half hour of quiet time. morning class.  lunch with the littles. they go back to school.  we have a couple hours off. short meeting to discuss the afternoon...who has consequences or doctors appts or counseling and what not...get the girls from school. hang out. or do aerobics. or go to walmart. eat dinner. chill. study hall. room time (my room is reading captivating during this time). lights out.

that is what an average weekday looks like.  on friday nights we have house night, which is a night when all the girls (bigs and littles) and the house director do something together.  this weekend we did a person scavenger hunt at a shopping center place.  i dressed up and even wore heels!!!  the littles really enjoyed it and so did the bigs!!!  and then saturday nights we have room night. that is where each room hangs out.  this weekend my room went to taco bell and barnes and noble.  

i hope you all now have a better understanding of what goes on here in Independence, MO.   thanks for all the prayers and support, much appreciated!!