Band of Survivors Team Update 18
On our final day and routine at the Evanston Corps VBS was switched up a bit. A group called “Soul Creations” came during the morning and taught the day camp kids some dance routines, and how to play the djembe. Not only were the kids into this, but the staff seemed thrilled to learn a few things as well.
After Soul Creations left we all ate lunch then headed up to the chapel were my cell group preformed a short drama based on the story of the unforgiving debtor (Matt. 18:21-35). After the drama we filled our time with singing songs and playing “Heads Up 7up” with the kids. At the end of the day a few of us stayed back to work on getting some computers up and running while everyone else headed to the park to play games.
It seemed like just as our time at Evanston ended our relationships with the staff and the kids were being to solidify. We could hope that some of the kids and staff would attend to Prayer & Praise Night on Friday and the BBQ on Saturday to continue building those relationships.
Chris Dunning
Friday, July 13, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 17
Today, we went to the Evanston Corps, to help out with there Vacation Bible School program (VBS). We started out with worship songs, and then did a sweet little skit about Joseph. After that we helped the kids make origami prayer boxes. Then we all headed outside for some basketball and did some chalk stuff. I admit, all of the Band of Survivors were a bit tired, but there were a lot of super energetic kids.
After lunch we split into groups, some went around Evanston to hand out fliers for Friday’s Prayer & Praise Night (you should come) and Saturday’s picnic. And the rest went to bring the kids to the YMCA so they could swim. After we finished up we headed back to CFOT. We ended the day with our chores and the girls had a Spirit-filled cell group on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’s it, I’m out!
Melanie Rozwalka
Today, we went to the Evanston Corps, to help out with there Vacation Bible School program (VBS). We started out with worship songs, and then did a sweet little skit about Joseph. After that we helped the kids make origami prayer boxes. Then we all headed outside for some basketball and did some chalk stuff. I admit, all of the Band of Survivors were a bit tired, but there were a lot of super energetic kids.
After lunch we split into groups, some went around Evanston to hand out fliers for Friday’s Prayer & Praise Night (you should come) and Saturday’s picnic. And the rest went to bring the kids to the YMCA so they could swim. After we finished up we headed back to CFOT. We ended the day with our chores and the girls had a Spirit-filled cell group on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’s it, I’m out!
Melanie Rozwalka
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 16
Dear Internet,
Today was an okay day. We woke up really early to get to Evanston Corps and helped out the VBS there. My cell group was in charge of the VBS but I had a really bad migraine so I laid down for most of it. But from what I heard from everyone else, we did well. It was a really good experience to learn how to be flexible and adapt to new environments.
Even though I just listened most of the time—because I was in so much pain—I learned a lot about how much of a challenge it is to run a VBS. It made me feel gracious of my past VBS camps I’ve attended when I was a little person. I’m really glad that everything went smoothly because I could really tell that we were going off the top of our smart heads. Because we worked together collectively we accomplished a lot of things in VBS that we know we couldn’t have done by ourselves.
At the end of the day, we took the kids to the park and played with them for about 30 minutes before we left back for the CFOT. At CFOT we had a nice long talk with the leaders before playing basketball. We had the sickest team. All we needed was Michael Jordan and we would have been the perfect team but we were still pretty good. We also had a really good dinner, rice and sweet and sour chicken (thanks Cathleen!). So all in all it was a good day except for my big headache.
John Kim
Dear Internet,
Today was an okay day. We woke up really early to get to Evanston Corps and helped out the VBS there. My cell group was in charge of the VBS but I had a really bad migraine so I laid down for most of it. But from what I heard from everyone else, we did well. It was a really good experience to learn how to be flexible and adapt to new environments.
Even though I just listened most of the time—because I was in so much pain—I learned a lot about how much of a challenge it is to run a VBS. It made me feel gracious of my past VBS camps I’ve attended when I was a little person. I’m really glad that everything went smoothly because I could really tell that we were going off the top of our smart heads. Because we worked together collectively we accomplished a lot of things in VBS that we know we couldn’t have done by ourselves.
At the end of the day, we took the kids to the park and played with them for about 30 minutes before we left back for the CFOT. At CFOT we had a nice long talk with the leaders before playing basketball. We had the sickest team. All we needed was Michael Jordan and we would have been the perfect team but we were still pretty good. We also had a really good dinner, rice and sweet and sour chicken (thanks Cathleen!). So all in all it was a good day except for my big headache.
John Kim
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 15
Monday’s are our day of rest so today we got to sleep in, relax and read during the morning and afternoon. We had a great time to worship during our morning worship time with the team. Later on we had a Salvationism class (led by, J Rose) where we read “The General Next to God”. We talked about how The Salvation Army helped shut down Brothels and raise the age of consent in England and how Joe the Turk (an insane Salvationist who went to jail 57 times and became the mayor of a town). It was an interesting time and I talking about the boldness that Joe the Turk had helped give us ideas what we can do to attract the crowds and share the gospel today. Though we can’t use tactics like throwing our violin cases on the ground and screaming “It’s going to blow!” and start dancing a jig today (we would probably get arrested) we can do other creative things to share the gospel in our communities. We could think of other things from the Army’s history and just change it up a bit to make them affective today. We also talked about our plans for VBS the next day and we went to bed at 10:29:32 and that’s it. The END
Matt Harvey
Monday’s are our day of rest so today we got to sleep in, relax and read during the morning and afternoon. We had a great time to worship during our morning worship time with the team. Later on we had a Salvationism class (led by, J Rose) where we read “The General Next to God”. We talked about how The Salvation Army helped shut down Brothels and raise the age of consent in England and how Joe the Turk (an insane Salvationist who went to jail 57 times and became the mayor of a town). It was an interesting time and I talking about the boldness that Joe the Turk had helped give us ideas what we can do to attract the crowds and share the gospel today. Though we can’t use tactics like throwing our violin cases on the ground and screaming “It’s going to blow!” and start dancing a jig today (we would probably get arrested) we can do other creative things to share the gospel in our communities. We could think of other things from the Army’s history and just change it up a bit to make them affective today. We also talked about our plans for VBS the next day and we went to bed at 10:29:32 and that’s it. The END
Matt Harvey
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 14
On June 8th The Band of Survivors attended the Midwest Corps holiness meeting. First things first, the Corps which does not normally have youth attend their Sunday School had over 12 youth come. Many of these youth came because of the VBS/Carnival that we helped out with during the week. It was a great blessing to see these kids again.
Major Emmanuel Michaud presented the message based on Colossians 3:1-14. Major focused on the first 3 verses. He shared to the congregation that if you truly are with Christ and belong to Christ you must seek the things above (spiritual things). And after you have sought these things you must set your mind on those things above. NOT on earthly things, because as a believer you have given up your earthly; interests, comforts, luxuries of the world to be hidden with Christ in God.
After the service, the Midwest Corps hosted a potluck for everyone in their gym, which was very delicious (variety=good), not only was the food amazing, but we were able to have excellent conversations with some brothers and sisters of the Corps and few newcomers. We left the Corps around 4pm, with our uniforms still on (which was a humbling experience, as Salvationists wearing our uniform is who we are) and arrived at C.F.O.T. We rested for a few minutes, and around dinnertime we ate pizza. Finally, after dinner we had the night off; some rested, while others talked and read books to fill their mind with Godly things.
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:1-3 (NASB)
Dan Paredes
On June 8th The Band of Survivors attended the Midwest Corps holiness meeting. First things first, the Corps which does not normally have youth attend their Sunday School had over 12 youth come. Many of these youth came because of the VBS/Carnival that we helped out with during the week. It was a great blessing to see these kids again.
Major Emmanuel Michaud presented the message based on Colossians 3:1-14. Major focused on the first 3 verses. He shared to the congregation that if you truly are with Christ and belong to Christ you must seek the things above (spiritual things). And after you have sought these things you must set your mind on those things above. NOT on earthly things, because as a believer you have given up your earthly; interests, comforts, luxuries of the world to be hidden with Christ in God.
After the service, the Midwest Corps hosted a potluck for everyone in their gym, which was very delicious (variety=good), not only was the food amazing, but we were able to have excellent conversations with some brothers and sisters of the Corps and few newcomers. We left the Corps around 4pm, with our uniforms still on (which was a humbling experience, as Salvationists wearing our uniform is who we are) and arrived at C.F.O.T. We rested for a few minutes, and around dinnertime we ate pizza. Finally, after dinner we had the night off; some rested, while others talked and read books to fill their mind with Godly things.
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:1-3 (NASB)
Dan Paredes
Monday, July 09, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 13
Today we helped the Midwest Corps have a huge Barbeque Outreach and Carnival complete with balloon animals, face painting, inflatables, food and fellowship. Dietrich, John, Gustavo and I were asked to Barbeque for the visitors and it was fun. It’s a great feeling to know that the food people were eating was prepared with love.
God put us to a test when we were at Midwest. This was our last VBS program at the Corps and God helped us give it our all. Out of the three days of hanging around with children, I have to say that all our work was worth it. It was great, kids were actually having fun without having to fight, curse, misbehave or anything else that was natural to them. God was really in the presence of this program and I know this because during the closing part of the VBS Major Colleen Michaud asked the kids and adults if they truly wanted God to come into their lives. Then after that, over 60 people stood up and gave their lives to God.
Besides the spiritual part of the day, the kids were having their face painted and they jumped around in the inflatable stations. It was a lot of fun. Then later we played a game of Dodgeball and that was a good time though it was a little crazy. It was a great day and we were glad to be a part of what the Lord is doing at the Midwest Corps.
Lemard Fields
Today we helped the Midwest Corps have a huge Barbeque Outreach and Carnival complete with balloon animals, face painting, inflatables, food and fellowship. Dietrich, John, Gustavo and I were asked to Barbeque for the visitors and it was fun. It’s a great feeling to know that the food people were eating was prepared with love.
God put us to a test when we were at Midwest. This was our last VBS program at the Corps and God helped us give it our all. Out of the three days of hanging around with children, I have to say that all our work was worth it. It was great, kids were actually having fun without having to fight, curse, misbehave or anything else that was natural to them. God was really in the presence of this program and I know this because during the closing part of the VBS Major Colleen Michaud asked the kids and adults if they truly wanted God to come into their lives. Then after that, over 60 people stood up and gave their lives to God.
Besides the spiritual part of the day, the kids were having their face painted and they jumped around in the inflatable stations. It was a lot of fun. Then later we played a game of Dodgeball and that was a good time though it was a little crazy. It was a great day and we were glad to be a part of what the Lord is doing at the Midwest Corps.
Lemard Fields
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Band of Survivors Team Update 12
We had lots of preparation for VBS this week so everyone was really busy trying to get everything for that day we had to teach or do the craft or whatever we had to do. So after Thursday night everyone was really tired from our VBS that day. Today Chris’s cell group did VBS and we had about 40 kids come. We sang a couple songs, made paper bag puppets, played a couple games, and sang our last song. All the kids participated and they all had a lot of fun with it. They were learning some new stuff and so did we. After VBS was over (we were all really tired) we had dinner and then the fire band practiced for the praise and prayer night.
I was so happy because my mom and sister were coming that night. I was having so much fun practicing because it’s fun just to hang out together and have fellowship with each other but also because even if you mess up in practice God hears that you’re praising him and he is happy. Amen. So we practiced for an hour and then before we started our program we had a word of prayer for the band, for the day, and for our leader Eric Himes, who was preaching that night. So our night started with God already knowing things were going to be for him. We were in the presence of the Holy Spirit that night and nothing we did was for any of us, it was all for God.
We all had to stay strong especially when it was testimony time. I shared parts of what we have been doing with B.O.S and all I could think of was what am going to say that will be a revolution to people. Well it didn’t take me very long to then think well what’s the key point that God wants me to point out to people, how does he want me to relate? And then I thought of a conversation with my friend Alisha asking her, “have you ever felt like anything you do no matter how hard or how well you do it, it turns to be bad or pointless”? Then I remembered a bible verse we learned in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that says: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” So now when I go to a church or do something I remember that verse and know that whatever I do is never useless in the eyes of God.
Ashley Lewis
We had lots of preparation for VBS this week so everyone was really busy trying to get everything for that day we had to teach or do the craft or whatever we had to do. So after Thursday night everyone was really tired from our VBS that day. Today Chris’s cell group did VBS and we had about 40 kids come. We sang a couple songs, made paper bag puppets, played a couple games, and sang our last song. All the kids participated and they all had a lot of fun with it. They were learning some new stuff and so did we. After VBS was over (we were all really tired) we had dinner and then the fire band practiced for the praise and prayer night.
I was so happy because my mom and sister were coming that night. I was having so much fun practicing because it’s fun just to hang out together and have fellowship with each other but also because even if you mess up in practice God hears that you’re praising him and he is happy. Amen. So we practiced for an hour and then before we started our program we had a word of prayer for the band, for the day, and for our leader Eric Himes, who was preaching that night. So our night started with God already knowing things were going to be for him. We were in the presence of the Holy Spirit that night and nothing we did was for any of us, it was all for God.
We all had to stay strong especially when it was testimony time. I shared parts of what we have been doing with B.O.S and all I could think of was what am going to say that will be a revolution to people. Well it didn’t take me very long to then think well what’s the key point that God wants me to point out to people, how does he want me to relate? And then I thought of a conversation with my friend Alisha asking her, “have you ever felt like anything you do no matter how hard or how well you do it, it turns to be bad or pointless”? Then I remembered a bible verse we learned in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that says: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” So now when I go to a church or do something I remember that verse and know that whatever I do is never useless in the eyes of God.
Ashley Lewis
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