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Showing posts from May, 2017

This is a morning greeting to REMEMBER!

Every day when I arrive at The Shed, I set up my laptop and make sure coffee is brewing. I run into my fellow staffers (sometimes literally pre-coffee), check my calendar, then email. When Dawn arrives, she gives us her customary greeting, "Good Morning, World Changers!" It's an encouraging, thrilling, scary, humbling sort of greeting. But that is what we're here to do. There are kids growing up all around us without parents or any form of parenting. Often times the world of the average rural teen is lonely, quiet, boring, dark--and it's our calling and job to change that world--to bring them the light of Christ. Brenna and Olivia are settling into the office routine this week--their first week of the summer serving rural youth at Crossroads Farm. As I write this, they are currently working on the process of building a team of dedicated supporters. And as they work, I can't help but think, wow, you all are so amazing. If you are or have supported Katrina

Summer Time

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 Today's the first day for our summer residents! God is continuing to provide. Last night was the last normal program night of the year, marking our transition into summer mode. As we prep and plan for the fall, the residents will be focused on summer trips and summer bible studies. I'm so excited to have Brenna and Olivia join the team! It is going to be so strange to not be the youngest staffers in the office.

Bridges and Breakfast

After program last Sunday, a small group of staff and volunteers met at the Finish Line, a wonderful diner with all day breakfast. It was so refreshing to meet after an exciting but long week and talk through ministry, prayer requests, good movies, and life. Today, on this beautiful Tuesday morning, I'm driving from Hillsdale to Chippewa County in the Upper Peninsula with Doug, Dawn, and Jerry. While we prep for time with local pastors and church representatives, I can help but think, wow! God has blessed us with such an abundance of opportunity--and while I know I can trust Him to provide everything to accomplish His purpose, I am actually pretty overwhelmed by the pace He is setting. In some ways it feels like last week that Kat and I joined the team. We grow more and more each week, but I still feel stretched every day. I know I said I'd talk more about our marvelous summer residents this week, but due to the U. P. trip, I'll save that for next week.

2 is Company, but 9's a Crowd!

Every Tuesday morning, the staff at Crossroads crowds around our office "kitchen table" for staff meeting. We write postcards and pray together, we learn more about our mutual callings and ministry, and we plan for future success. It's always entertaining, worthwhile, and encouraging.  But this week it felt different! This Tuesday marked the official first staff meeting with our new staff member, Nancy McNeil, who has finished raising support and is joining the team to take over Accounting and Office Manager, a role Rich is happy to give her as he transitions to a full focus on newsletters and all things graphic design. While our kitchen table only naturally seats six, every week we slide in where we can with borrowed chairs, cramming Doug and Dawn, Jerry and Rich, Daniel and Stephan, and Katrina and I somewhere around the table. This Tuesday, we felt... full! Ready to expand! As I looked around the full room, buzzing with conversation, jokes, and new ideas, I couldn