What about you???

What about you??? Are you ready to spend a summer serving God in the Dallas metroplex? Do you have a heart for people and for God? If so, this is the place for you; LifeChangers is for you. We are looking for students for our 2008 LifeChangers Summer Missions Team. If you are interested and would like to learn more about it, then click on the link to our website and read up on us. We want to hear from those of you who are interested or maybe know someone who would be perfect for LifeChangers. We need you!

Good-bye and Hello!

We are so grateful for all that God did and allowed us to do this summer as LifeChangers. We were not only able to serve, but were also able to learn and grow. I can't speak for everyone on the team, although I think that they would agree that it feels as though we received way more than what we gave. Isn't it funny how it usually turns out that way? There is something about serving God where and when He wants you to serve Him that always turns out right. I always walk into a situtation thinking that I'm the one who is going to minister to others and I always walk away being the one ministered to. God is good!

We sadly say good-bye to LifeChangers 2007 and begin to say hello to LifeChangers 2008. Thank you LifeChangers 2007 for making the summer what it was. We would not have been able to do all that we did without you. May God bless each one of you as you continue on this journery called life. You will always have a place here with us if you should decide to come back. We love you all!

Thanks to everyone who participated with us in some way, shape, or form. Your prayers, thoughts, gifts, comments, and letters were so much appreciated. May God bless each of you as well!

With a grateful heart,

Stacy

Hard Questions

God has been working a theme in my life this summer. This truth becomes more obvious to me with every week that has gone by. This past week we served a church in a very low income neighborhood. I was saddened to know that 85% of the children we were working with will, statistically speaking, be high school drop outs. Many difficult questions filled my head as we served at this location. Questions like... God, what kind of difference can I make in 4 days? Why these kids? Why are they destined to fail before they even really begin? So many more filled my head. I don't really understand it all, but God has definitely reassured me that He is still the God of Love in this instance. He is still the God of Mercy in this instance. He is still Sovereign in this instance. His grace is still sufficient in this instance. I think that I might be coming to a conclusion about these difficult questions, but I'm not completely there yet. There are a few things that I do know. Like... One person really can make a difference. God can do anything He wants in whom ever He wants to do it in and can do so wherever He so chooses. We can and NEED to be the change that we want to see in this dark world. Love or lack of it makes or breaks a life in desperate need of it. And lastly, but definitely not least, I can't solve everyone's problems, heal everyone's wounds, pay everyone's bills, or save everyone's soul. Only God can do these things. Now, He can definitely do things through me, but I can't do them by my own power, that's of God and not of me. Wow, that was hard to say. But to God be the glory and not to me.

Like a child

We are to believe Christ like a child believes. I have long since forgotten what exactly that means even if I am just entering adulthood. As we get older we complicate things as we try and find our place in the world. Sometimes this means questioning God's place for us and trying things out on our own for a while.

This week we were at a day camp and there was a little girl not much older than five. This girl attached herself to me, why I don't know, but she did all the same. There was just one problem she spoke only Spanish and I have a hard time ordering at taco bell. It didn't matter though, she still hugged me every chance she got and would talk a million miles a minute even though I had no clue what she was saying, nor did she know what I was saying. That little girl would have followed me anywhere completely unquestioning and I doubt there was anything I could have done to make her not want to run up and just hug me. It got me to thinking about Christ's love and how it doesn't matter what language you speak, what part of town you're from, the color of your skin. He still loves and loves unconditionally. Because of that little girl I am reminded of what an awesome and loving God we live for.

week 7 of 8

Our second to last week as LifeChangers is over and what an awesome week it was! We were finally able to get back to Soccer & Spirit camp in the evenings...I missed it more than I thought. We had not coached a camp in two weeks because of 4th of July and other stuff so it felt good to coach again. Looking back at all the soccer camps we've done so far, it's so interesting to me to see how each time God gives as a group totally different from the others. This last week was no exception. I found myself in a situation where I would normally be out of my comfort zone but I wasn't, instead I found myself blessed! One of the boys at the soccer camp had down syndrome and he touched my heart this week. I wondered the whole week why God in his infinite power and wisdom would choose to create people like this. As I got to know this boy day by day, I saw that he did more for me than I could have ever done for him. Could it be that God created him so that he could bless me and others around him??? This boy radiated pure joy and a sort of uncontaminated, unconditional love that I don't see everyday, not even every year. I was so blessed and will never forget him. He was definitely the highlight of my week :)
Thank you so much for your prayers and all of your support! We are now down to one more week and I ask that you pray that we may finish strong. All I want to do is make myself available to God and be an instrument for His Kingdom. Thanks again!
Love you guys!

LifeChanger
Rocio

Planting Roses on God's Earth

I am so amazed at how quickly this summer is coming to an end. The past weeks have been amazing and very difficult to describe. One of my most favorite things this summer has been our Monday afternoon meetings. Each Monday we meet a person in the Dallas community that have committed their lives to Christ in very profound and wonderful way. With the pass of every Monday my vision of ministry and its limitless possibilities becomes more apparent to me. I am studying to be a social worker and I came into this summer having no idea what I want to do with my life and my degree. Now at the end of this summer I still have no idea what spacificaly I will do with my degree but I do know that my dreams of really doing something to change the world are possible. I do not have to be limited by what society says about people in need but I can be like these wonderful people I have been meeting all summer and follow them with the conviction to live out what Jesus says the needs of the people are and how I can help to serve those in needs with relationship, resources and Jesus by my side. I had no idea what to expect this summer and no idea what I was getting into but I had the awesome chance to really get involved with so many lives and so many lives have gotten involved with me. This has hopefully been an opportunity for me to live up to our names as lifeChangers but if not it has definitely changed my life.

Thank you again for all of your prayers. God has definitely been answering them:)

LifeChanger

Megan

Support Us Please.

Everyone, we are so grateful to hear that you are reading our blogs. It makes us feel so great and more importantly it keeps us accountable and connected to you. We ask that you keep reading. Please please please leave us comments about our blogs. We really want to hear what you think about what God is doing through LifeChangers. All you have to do is click on the word comment on the bottom right hand corner just below the blog.

You can also support us through your prayers. Many thanks to you for those prayers that you have already lifted up for us! Here are some ways you can pray this week:
1. Pray for good health (something that many on the team have been struggling with for the past two weeks)
2. Pray for team unity
3. Pray that we would be creative in our ministry
4. Pray that either the rain would stop or that God would show us how to use the time that we are supposed to have with the kids during soccer camp

Again, thank you all for your continued support! We are so blessed by your prayers and comments. May God bless you as you co-labor with us.

I am blessed!

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40

What a blessed couple of weeks I have had. God never fails to have some awesome lesson behind every experience. He is so very awesome!

We were able to complete our third soccer camp two weeks ago. I've got to say that it was the most challenging camp we've done all summer, but God was glorified. He drew about 17 kids into a personal relationship with Himself that week, and really I should never underestimate what God can do with even the toughest hearts. I was reminded this week that Jesus came to heal the sick and not the ones who were already well. Sometimes we forget about that when we do ministry. I want to minister to those that I feel comfortable working with but God says no, serve me here and then I must go. That week could not have ended on a better note. I was so extremely blessed by the Mission Waco Poverty Simulation that we participated in. I learned things about myself, God and His heart's passion for the poor and marginalized peoples of the world. I am saddened because I learned that many times because of my ignorance about the great need around the world I become part of the problem and not the solution. Hopefully, I can take what I learned that weekend and be different. I already am different! We can seek social justice for those who are unable to do so for themselves. God has called us to this too! (Isaiah 61)

The rain has presented us with some what of a problem when it comes to soccer camp. Again, God knows better than we. Although it has rained just about every day we were able to complete our fourth soccer camp inside of a poorly air conditioned apartment room. It was a fantastic soccer camp that we didn't even get to play soccer at. We met some of the coolest servants of God in the entire world. That couple served as a great example to all of us on the team. Their ministry is being stretched and kids are coming to know God as their personal Lord and Savior every day. We had the privilege of leading several kids to the feet of Jesus at this soccer camp.

God is good! I again am so amazed at everything that has taken place in just two weeks. It is a lot of work, but it is so awesome to do this for God. I'm so glad that He sees past my tragic flaws and uses me to do His work. I don't deserve it, but I'm not going to argue with Him about His grace. I'll take it!

Stacy

Homeless for a Day...

Again, I didn't get the chance to blog last week (my appologies) so let me summerize these past two weeks as best as I can. Last week we were able to coach our third soccer camp and I'd say we're getting pretty good at it...lol. I can honestly say that I was challenged at the camp last week. We served children that have had rough lives and therefore are very harsh to others. God showed me to love those children because the ones that challenged my patience and my compassion were the ones that probably needed my love the most. Then last weekend we took a life-changing trip down to Waco. We participated in a Poverty Simulation. Basically, we were homeless for the weekend. By homeless, I mean all that comes along with that...no place to sleep, no money, etc. We were at the mercy of a community that didn't know what we were doing and we had the opportunity to experience what so many peoples lives are like all around the world. I can't share much but let me just say that reality slapped me in the face that weekend and God opened my eyes to who He is and what he is all about...people!!! I thought I wasn't going to get through the weekend but when I finally found myself at the end of my homeless state all I could do is ask God to never let me forget what I experienced.
This week we had our fourth soccer camp. Unfortunately it was raining all week and we didn't even get to play soccer...lol. But everything happens for a reason and I am certain that God planned it out that way. I was definitely blessed. I was also able to wrap up my second week at the Free Clinic that I've been working at during the last two weeks. It was a privilege to work with people that are so passionate about getting out there and REALLY serving the community. Now we have come to the point where we are half way through our serving time. I'm a little tired but God has been so good and I'm very excited about the weeks to come. Please continue to pray for us...for strength and for a daily unquinchable thirst for His Word.
Blessings!!!

LIfeChanger ROCIO

Its hard to pathlom that we're already half way through the summer. Its like I blinked and time had rushed by me. Its been a challenging week with all of us on the life changers team being tired ill or in my case hurt then of course the rain that made playing soccer well impossible. One of the amazing things about God is he isnt restricted to how we're feeling or if the kids were ministering to this week actually get to play soccer. Despite the rain , our own upstet stomachs and aches and pains God still moved and in a mighty way. We had a small group this week come to soccer camp and even though we only played the game one day out of four we still had several kids make decisions. Sometimes I feel almost foolish for being so awestuck at the things God can do. I try and fit him into a box that my mind can comprehend and he never fails to remind me that He's so much more.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We have been blessed this summer to see Gods power and provision in so many ways. Thank you for all of your prayers

LifeChanger
Megan

What An Exciting Summer

This summer has been jam packed full of new experiences and I'm enjoying every single one of them. These past two weeks not only have we finished two more soccer camps, which have gone great, but we have worked in a Church for the mentally ill, in a food pantry, attended a poverty simulation program, and today we are preparing lead worship and brushing up on the material we are going to use next week in a VBS for children that are at high risk for drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. Before this summer began I did not know how to play soccer, I had never worked with the mentally ill, I have never slept on the streets and I definitely have never sung in a microphone in front of a church congregation. All of this I might add I have done with three girls I had never met before we moved in together and in a city that I had only briefly visited in the part.

I dont speak no Portuguese

What an amazing week its been. The only hard part now is trying to narrow it down to the best parts. Well then lets work backwards. This weekend we went to mission Waco to do a poverty simulation. I cant say much about it but it really shows you how blessed you really are. I learned what real compassion is and how much simple genuine caring words can really mean and how far a simple act of true kindness can make such a huge difference. The whole weekend was such an experience. Jesus commanded us to help the "least of these" but too often we "help" but its with the wrong heart. Its out of guilt rather than the love and compassion of Christ.
Then there was my weekday work with a church for the mentally ill. They're so great and always manage to bring a huge grin to my face. They're great for my ego too always reminding me how beautiful I am despite that I havent slept well and i dont feel so great. Then there's one of my many friends who I very sadly insulted by speaking Portuguese to even despite the fact that I dont know a single word in Portuguese.

Never Ceasing to praise the Lord!!

Hey everyone!! Well, These past two weeks was AMAZING! God really showed his hand and power. It such a blessing to see and experience serving many different people. At one church we had the chance to serve the mentally handicapped at worship. When I first walked in the sanctuary I could feel the Holy Spirit moving and working. I felt the Holy Spirit so strong and vibrant that I started to cry. During songs and devotion all the men and women were never ceasing to praise the Lord.

We also had the chance to lead Soccer Camps. The children had the chance to learn about soccer and improve as well. Most of all at the end of the camp. We had an invitation for salvation. The children at the camps were hungry and thirsty for the word. There were many professions of faith and commitments made by the children. One experience that I had was from a young boy that knew about the Lord but never felt and experience His love. While we were in group he was asking question after question. After telling the whole crucifixion story and the promise that God has the child's face began to glow with excitement. Then the other children were asking questions and one by one everyone got the answers they needed. Through that devotion five children were saved. After that group devotion I started to cry. The Holy Spirit moved and worked His hand. I was dancing inside because I won more souls for Him. Also the Angels in heaven were celebrating for the new people on God's team! Praise the Lord on high!! :)

Blessings,

the first two weeks

So we just finished our second week as LifeChangers and it's been fun. Two Mondays ago I showed up not really knowing what to expect...I mean, I knew what I was going to be doing but the way things were going to actually take place was unknown to me. I was very excited to meet the rest of the team and with good reason...they are all great girls! We have shared good moments...from being silly to having deep conversations about life and God. I look forward to more of it! The first week was nothing less than...interesting. We did a lot of training! I still can't believe that we trained for soccer for 20 hours in about three days! LOL Besides a minor ankle injury during soccer training, I was feeling like a pro! :) We also did some self-defense...we can be dangerous girls now...don't mess with us...lol ;) We also did some basic safety training and stuff like that...it was a good time to get to know the team...
Our second week was WAY different! This week we got the chance to put our soccer skills to the test! We coached two soccer camps this week and they were both amazing! Not only did I have a blast but I had the privilege of witnessing young souls come to Christ! It was something that I can't even explain. On the last day of one camp we weren't even sure if camp was going to take place because of expected rainy weather. But God knew what was going to happen that day and he stopped the thunderstorm and instead lightly sprinkled some refreshing rain during the soccer scrimmages and drills, which come before our devotional. When the time came for devotionals the sprinkling had completely stopped and I was able to bring his Word without distraction! As I was making the comparison of how in soccer we know who belongs to what team because of their uniform and that in the same way we know who's on God's team by the "uniform" of baptism (because everyone sees you have chosen a "team") I saw a light bulb go on in one of the little boys in my group. He got it! He raised his hand and said, "You can also tell who's on who's team in soccer because at the end of a game each team goes to their own coach. And it's the same with us. At the end of our lives we'll either go to God or to Satan, depending on who's team we're on. Right?" I had two helpers and they had been working with this little boy at VBS and we three were so excited we yelled, "YES!!!" This little boy was explaining it even better than me! It was the coolest thing to see it click in him! I'm convinced that the Lord used this little boy's explanation to help the rest of the kids understand better. Six kids in my group received Jesus that day. The angels were having a blast :) At the end of the camp we also got to see a double rainbow and so ended the day with conversations of God's promise...
It's been an exciting two weeks and I can't wait to see what God's going to do next! Please keep us in your prayers.

Rocio

p.s. I haven't completely explained what I'm doing this summer to all of you. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions :)

Our first soccer camps!

This week was amazing! My soccer skills were refined, I got to hip hop Hokey Pokey with the kids at the church, I had a lot of fun and most importantly I had the awesome opportunity to share Christ with 33 kids! Many of them received the gospel and I was able to watch them fill with joy as the week persist! There smiles were bright and their hearts were filled with hope! That is my mission and I hope that you will be in prayer for the children that our Life Changers team will encounter in the coming weeks.

Thank you for reading

Megan

Summer Is Here!!!

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:9-10

What an amazing privilege it is to serve this kind of God, He who is unmatchable and incomparable!!! I am so excited to be able to serve God in this capacity. I love it! The feeling of being so far away from home, but only a highway drive away is so great. I'm reminded everyday how much Dallas is a mission field. I feel so blessed to be a DBA LifeChanger. This job has changed my life forever and for that I am truly grateful to my God. I look forward to being stretched this summer for God's namesake.

We have just completed our second week as LifeChanger Summer Missionaries and I have had a blast. In this week we have seen a great response to the awesome story of God's love and sacrifice. Many children made professions of faith this week in our soccer camps. May God be honored and glorified! It has been a great experience working with the two churches who co-labored with us to reach out to the children in their communities. My prayer is that they would continue to follow-up on these professions of faith, so that the children have an opportunity to grow and be discipled. You too can join us in praying for this. These past two weeks have been filled with lots of service, but also lots of discipleship, alone time with God, and team worship.

I praise God for my team. They are truly an answer to my prayers. All four of the girls on the team have blessed my life in the short time we have been together. Each has had a chance to share their testimonies with me, lead team bible studies, and lead team prayer. I can see God and a genuine love for Him in each one of the girls. They have been extremely flexible and available to what God might have in store for them. I am so very grateful to be able to count myself as part of a team like this one. I want to thank every one of you who joined me in praying for this summer's team, God has answered our prayers.

Please participate with us this summer through prayer. We need your prayers! Please pray that God would continue to unite our team as one. Pray that we would be sensitive to what God is already doing and what He wants to do through us. Pray for health and protection. And lastly, pray that God would move in the lives of those that have already made professions of faith this summer and those that will make professions of faith before the summer is over, that each of them would have the opportunity to grow and be discipled.

Please check out our Photo Gallery as we will occasionally be posting pictures of our adventures! Also, let us know what you are thinking. Leave comments on our blogs and pics, we would really love to hear from you!

In His Name,
Stacy

GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

IT amazes me how before I knew nothing about soccer and this week I taught it to two different camps. It was so much fun though. I love watching the kids get so excited when they score a goal or they master a new skill or they're dying to tell you their memory verse. The last day of our camps I could have cried. All of my kids running up to me telling me how much fun they had this week and giving me great big hugs with big kool-aide mustached smiles would have melted anyone heart. Then as you looked two the skies there were two rainbows against the dark clouds serving as a beautiful reminder that God keeps his promises.
Then after we all were sticky from being out in the sun all day we got to come back to our apartment and just praise God. Its really been an awesome two weeks.


- Lifechanger Michelle

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