Update from Studentlife Chicago Wednesday

Pic #1: Caleb Holding up the Bling Bling

We are in a group of other churches and our name is Gold Rush---we have a little cheer that we do before we go to our mission site

Pic #2: Crazy Pic at our Mission Site

Pic #3: Group Pic at Wheaton after morning celebration

Pic #4: Holders of the Key: Austin and Jacob--these guys are responsible for making sure all of our supplies/food are ready to go before we leave for our mission site.

Pic #5: Williams Random Pic of the Day: Enjoying the food at the #2 rated cafeteria in nation

Got a chance to meet more people at our mission site. A great group of people who are doing a great thing for their community. It's cool to see how relationships form just through serving. Please pray tomorrow specifically for Nicci as she will have an opportunity to take on of our new good friends out to lunch--what an incredible ministry opportunity.

Just want to say I am so thankful for our two adult sponsors: Jeff and Nicci---they really love students. What a great investment they have made in our students this week.

Our students have been wonderful and have done such a fantastic ministry this week and is allowing the Holy Spirit to mold them. One thing that has been stressed this week is that we are not just doing this to get a pat on the back or doing these things to get a warm fuzzy which is what happens many times, but that we are allowing Christ to change our thinking and for us to realize that much of our ministry should happen outside of a time schedule....sometimes we think that we can only do ministry when the church sanctions it or it is scheduled, but true ministry is an overflow of the heart.

This week I am reminded that we are teh flesh and blood of Jesus alive in the world through the Holy Spirit. I am reminded that I am God's hands, feet, and ears.

This week, I have been reading a book called, "Irresistable Revolution" by Shane Claiborne and it is very intriguing. Want to share one quote that has stuck with me this week:

"....some time back we have stopped living Christianity and just started studying it." I find it sometimes easy to study the Word and not allow it to be digested. How about you? Are you living Christianity or are you just studying it?

Have a great evening!

Wise words from Nick: Please help me....William is a bully :)

Can someone from Ridgeway come and save Nick? Tune in tomorrow for the latest...........

Monday/Tuesday Update from Studentlife Chicago

Let me give you scoop on the pictures above first:

1. This is some of our students standing in line for dinner: Austin, Alex, Amber, and the back of Jake's head. The food is absolutely fantabulous. Wheaton has the 2nd best food cafeteria in the nation---lucky us!

2. Williams Random Pic of the Day--we will do a Williams Random Pic each day for your viewing pleasure.

3. Like I said before, Wheaton has the 2nd best food cafeteria in the nation--not so good for me...since yesterday morning Immodium AD and Kaoepectate has become a close friend of mine. It's not because of the food here--It all started yesterday morning. I am feeling a little better today--praise the Lord for Immodium and Kaopectate! (Did you know that diarrhea is hereditary? It runs in your "jeans"! :)

4. The Humanitarian Service Project is where we are serving this week. They are a non-profit organization that reaches out to senior citizens and children. They provide birthday gifts for over 1200 children each year and so we had an opportunity to wrap gifts for these children. They also deliver groceries to over 115 Senior Adults and 100 needy families. (See below about our day)

5. This is a picture of our group wrapping gifts. I was amazed at the gifts of our group in wrapping---I for one thing do not have that gift(ask my wife) and so I was the designated bow person.

It's been a good week to just be still. The worship is incredible and the teaching is great. It's interesting that last nights message was very similar to what we have been talking about at Ridgeway in regards to hearing God's voice. An interesting point that Darrin made was that in Psalm 119:105, it says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Note, it does not say a trucklight or a floodlight, but a lamp...the lamp illuminates the here and now--not the future meaning that following Jesus and His Word is step by step and day by day. He wants us to cling to him on a minute by minute basis.

We had a great day on our mission project....we have been able to meet a few people--pray that our conversations would flow with grace and love towards the people who work at the Humanitarian Service Project. It is not a religious organization, so there is great opportunity for us to impact those who work the the Project. So, could you pray for us in this regard? We will go back tomorrow so please be praying for us between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

PARENTS: YOU CAN GO TO WWW.STUDENTLIFE.COM AND GO DOWN TO FIND YOUR STUDENT AT CAMP, CHECK WHEATON AND THEN LISTEN LIVE. You can email your student or send a gift card or listen to the services live, check out pictures or the Studentlife Blog

Hope everyone is having a great week! Will post more tomorrow!

Mike

StudentLife Chicago or Bust

We leave Sunday for our Studentlife mission trip. We are going through StudentLife and will be serving at a comunity service center. We have a group of eleven adults and students going.

We will do our best to give you daily updates on what is happening in Chicagoland. We will be staying at Wheaton College!

Darren Whitehead, teaching pastor of Willowcreek Senior High will be bringing the Word. Kristian Stanfill, worship leader from Northpoint, will be leading in worship! It's going to be GREATTTTT!

Pray for us as we travel....we will travel all day Sunday and stay overnight in Chicago and start on Monday at Wheaton College. Pray for us to be obedient to sharing the Gospel as the opportunities present themselves.

Mike