Bring Me Java, Bring Me Joy » youth girl

Came in without notice…

alisa — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:44:51 +0000

After four days off from both jobs, I want to say I could get used to this. Not to say that the time off (I havnt had more than two days off in a row in over a year) wasnt really lovely, it was. Part of me felt like I needed to be somewhere the next morning. I checked my day planner more than once to be sure there wasnt anywhere I pre-planned to be. Its not strange to not have made anyone else coffee for four days.( I did make myself lots of coffee, Gingerbread Coffee from Trader Joes, which I highly recommend. It has bits of actual gingerbread in it, so when you grind the beans, oh just think of the wonderful smells I have in my house.) It was however strange to not see any high schoolers for other a week. Even when I return to my church job tomorrow, I wont see kids until Thursday. Again, while the Sunday night off was nice, I felt like I should be around kids. I dont know how to put into words how its strange this feeling is. Yes, its work but most of the time it really doesn’t feel like it since I enjoy it so much. So taking time off from those lives, its a new feeling Im wrestling with a bit.

One year.

alisa — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:56:36 +0000

One year ago today I started my job as the programming associate for high school ministry. In some ways, this year has flown by, in other ways it hasnt. I still feel like the new girl on campus whos still learning the ins and outs of high schoolers and the events the church has going on in their lives. When I first started this job, I was thrilled, couldnt believe God would give me such a job. Even though I had many fears walking into big shoes to fill, I knew I had great support with constant encourage from a great friend and boss. A year later, I feel that even more. I have learned a lot, mostly from the kids. The group of kids I have to work with are just amazing. This past class, my first class to graduate whom I knew for 8 short months blew me away. I was spoiled my first year in high school ministry for sure. Now they are off to their college years, leaving me missing them while trying to know the new Freshmen. It was said that every year they’ll break your heart by leaving. If I felt that way after 8 months with that class, how am I going to feel with my first Freshmen class whom I will have the pleasure of knowing for 4 years? These kids make me laugh and think in ways only they could. I wish I had the time to give what this day means to me a proper post of lots of rambling words of a recap all that this year has involved, but sadly I do not. Here however is raising my glass to many more amazing years with high schoolers to come. And since I dont ever say it enough, thank you Jesus for this.

Small sound bite of PS ’08

alisa — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:39:27 +0000

I posted some photos on flickr of Project Serve. I wrote a little bit under each photo to tell a little bit about the trip. Enjoy.

Then I saw them on the TV

alisa — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:23:26 +0000

Did I mention I was going to Ohio for 9 days? I probably didnt since I havnt been around my blog as much this Spring/Summer time – who KNEW that was crazy time for youth ministry. While I was busy, and was a litte annoyed with being so busy, I loved every moment I got with the students. And thats why I was in Ohio – I went with the youth I work with on their annual Project Serve trip which this year was to Findlay,Ohio to help with flood relief but to also just to serve the community of Findlay. I WILL blog more about that later – with I gather all of my photos together for some visual. Im better at telling/recalling stories when I have photos to go along with them. But for now, why dont you go check out some of my favorite people who were on the news yesterday talking about our trip. This is the fourth press we have gotten! Its crazy how much we have been in the media over this trip. You can also check out the blog we had while in Findlay at www.calmthewaters.wordpress.com . Has a few dailys (two more still to post) that my team created – you can get a glimpse of our time there until I blog again.

Lindsay, Andrea, Seth & Bryan

alisa — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:57:01 +0000

Couple of girls in the youth group asked if I would take some photos of them together before they part ways and go off to different colleges. They are sweet friends and loved they asked me to take such photos. They also wanted their good guy friends to come along part way through the photo shot for some photos with them. The boys say they weren’t bored but part of me feel like they were. They are great guys and were great sports the whole time. I posted a few of the two hundred I have! Its hard to narrow them down when my models are so great. Enjoy!

Joyful Sunday

alisa — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:20:02 +0000

514 had its first morning service today. It was wonderful to be back in the 514 community knowing it wasn’t becasue it was a holiday off from the youth. I meant to take a photo of it, so bare with me as I try and describe this. A friend of mine drew this amazing modern arty looking tree – or more so an outline of a tree and leaves, with falling leaves around it on a huge canvas of white paper. We (the community) were asked to come up and color in a leaf or part of the tree as the service was going on. Part of me wanted the tree to just be shades of green or fall colors, so I was surprised on my turn to color in part of the tree, to find a whole rainbow of colors. Our tree has blue, pink, purple, and other non-tree colors on it. It bothered my orderly side at first but by the end of the time of our community adding its own touch to it, I loved it. I cant wait to see it completely filled in and someday being on the wall of our own building.
This weekend has been filled of my heart and mind dealing with some things. It was wonderful to be in mist of a Christ-filled morning to help calm and comfort my thoughts. To be reminded that Jesus is bigger than anything and everything. There is so much meaning behind that, but for me, it reminded me of His power. And if I truly believe that He is bigger than it all, that power is stronger than anything. Also, Jimmy (my pastor) said something I just loved. He asked us “Has the gospel messed you up so much that you act differently?” I love looking it like that, the gospel should mess us up. It should tear us to pieces – thats how amazing and powerful it is.
Our Blocs (sort of our churches version of a small group, but they are not at all like any sort of small group you’d think of, so I hate even comparing it to that) had sign ups today, which went well. Im on the Bloc Leadership Team, and it was nice to see the kick off all our planning finally come together. Next week we are having a church wide baby shower for Kai (or more so his parents, Greg and Angie) who is the second 514 baby to come along (Emma being the first). We are having an old fashion picnic themed shower, which Im looking forward to. As much as my Sundays are going to be very full, I feel beyond blessed to be able to be apart of two things that hold my heart so much. I love being with the high schoolers, and I miss them when we take weeks off. But it was bittersweet since I got to be apart of this community who has grown very close to me over the past year. Now, I get the joy of being apart of both.

Laden with thoughts

alisa — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:27:57 +0000

Sometimes it can be hard for me to keep work away from my free time. At times, I’m still getting used to being paid to do youth ministry. I’ve been involved in some form or another in youth ministry since I was a youth. When I catch up with old friends telling them about my great new (its been 5 months, that’s still new right?) job, I cant believe how God has provided. I hung out with high schoolers on Good Friday like I mentioned before, I didn’t even think to write it down as part of my hours because I just like being around those girls. Getting to know them outside of a church environment. I do keep youth blogs that I read my computer at work so I am not tempted to “work off the clock”. I’ve been catching up today (my Monday at the church) on the youth blogs and a lot are talking about laying low after a buys Easter weekend. Growing up in youth ministry and then working in it for so many years, I’m glad to have always been apart of churches that don’t make Easter another busy time. The youth programs usually shut down and encourage them to join their families for Easter Sunday. I think that’s good in the busy church culture I see these kids in. If you think you are busy as full time working adult, met one of my high schoolers. I do not know how they keep it all straight. Especially the juniors and seniors who have a job along with trying to find a college to go to. On top of sports, church activities, etc etc…the list goes on. I’ve been listening to seminars from National Youth Workers Convention and its amazing how there’s always something new to hear about youth ministry. Its always changing and how so many of the same things happen when I was in high school, but at the very same time, things are so different. I think that its harder for todays kids these days than ever before. Not that its an excuse for anything, but it challenges me as a youth worker to know these students. Know their story and how to help them know the story of God. A lot of times I don’t feel I’m should be that person in these kid’s lives, that they teach me things way more than I ever can teach them. What I do know though that God provided this role in His big story of youth ministry for me. While the kids are gone at the beach this week on Spring Break I will miss them. I will spend this week planning a month full of Battle of the Sexes themed ideas for them when they return and I will love every minute of it. The lows of youth ministry are very low, but they don’t out weigh the highs.

Hello Blog

alisa — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:02:23 +0000

Ive been busy, but have loved a lot of the moments Ive been busy. Well, the youth minstry part of it. The Starbucks side of it I could always leave. The last two weekends I spent time hanging out with high schoolers and got some photos to document them.

These photos are from some of my kids who go to one of the many high school repersented in the youth groups Twirp dance. Thats right, the dance is called Twirp. What is Twirp you may ask? The Women Is Required to Pay. Apparently Sadie Hawkins is soooo last year (or when I was in high school).

This past weekend I drug Jason along on an adventure of driving over 800 miles with 10 high school kids as we raced ten other teams all around North Carolina and Virginia. It was a lot of fun, despite the fact we didnt win. We did however win the most awards for how strangely we ran the race, but thats another story for another time.

On another random youth note, my Jr. High school youth pastor’s wife found me on facebook yesterday. I love when stuff like this happens! We got disconnected when I moved to San Diego and they to LA. They now have three kids (last I knew there was only one) and doing college minstry on a volunteer bases. We’ve been playing catch up over the last 5 years of our lives and its just great fun.

The web just got a little more wider.

alisa — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:57:00 +0000

Found out today some of my high school kids read my blog thanks to the bosses wife. Hi girls. How are you? Shouldnt you be doing homework or something instead of reading my blog?

Its funny, my brother was the first in the family to get himself a blog. I found it somehow and read it, asked him about something he wrote. He got very upset with me “WHY ARE YOU READING THAT?!” I look at him with a confused face and said “Its on the INTERNET. World Wide Web.” He didnt really have much to say after that, becasue its true. Careful what you put on the internet, anyone can read it. Im not ashamed of what I have written, but sometimes I forget becasue of this screen that anyone can find and read it. I tend to spill my thoughts more than I would in person, but Im thankful for an outlet like this. Its my own little corner of the internet.

Ashes on Superbowl Sunday

alisa — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:46:03 +0000

This weekend is Super Bowl Sunday. The youth group is meeting early so they can be out to watch the big game. I had to walk into Johnâ€™s (my boss) office and ask who was even in the Super Bowl (Im a college ball girl, Go Tide!). Planning this weekâ€™s youth night has been a lot of fun. Maybe because I let myself get too stressed over the last one, this one is more fun for me. Im hopefully going to create the yard lines on the floor of the room and the end zone where John with teach from. I love stuff like this, which is one of the many reasons I love my job.

Thankfully, John isnâ€™t going to be cheesy and teach about God being at the end zone or the game of life. Heâ€™s teaching, or more so explaining what Ash Wednesday is all about. I couldnâ€™t believe its become Lent season already. In the mist of planning this Super Bowl Sunday night along with finding references to ashes in a media way, Iâ€™ve been trying to think about Lent. Beyond just what to give up, and more about sacrifice. Whatever I decide to give up for lent wont even begin to touch the sacrifice others make everyday. Or what Christ has done and continues to do for me. I probably would think until next years lent thinking of that if I was disciplined enough.

Thereâ€™s the hope in me that I will keep perspective beyond my sacrifice. To regain the knowledge of others and Jesusâ€™ sacrifice and take it into my daily life after lent has passed. I love how God works in the small things. Even though at times in this upcoming Lent season I know it wont feel small.