this week's been long, this week's been hot, this week's been hard, but mostly this week's been challlenging -- my view from the stand point of my recent mission team at the mission.

on sunday i had the pleasure of welcoming temple baptist church - from dubious, pa - 11 eager and ready teenagers and workers -- but as the week waxed on - i could see so was their motatvation.

in speaking with the youth leader today because i left for the great land of donuts known as krispy kreme -- jim shared with me that this week didn't turn out the way he had expected. i asked why -- what is something i did or didn't provide for him. he responsed no - it was the expecations he had for his youth.

got me think'n -- how was my week and why do we set such unrealstic excepations? really -- i understand we need to set goals and challenge those we are leading and ourselves but when does setting excepations become trying to control things? this is something i so struggle with -- i want to see others grow - but only God can and will change a life when it is submitted and humbled in His hands. maybe that's where we need to start -- helping others to live a life of surrender and allow God to be the agent of change.

well . . . yes, this week has been long, hot, tiring - but for me -- it's been rewarding to see this group learn and understand what it means to serve God by serving others. this group was so willing to do anything - and i mean anything i asked them to do -- and they were all so polite -- that's rare in working with groups at the mission, usually i hear murmuring and complaining from teenagers about the tasks i'm asking them to accomplish.

and vbs on tuesday night -- as i shared the story of the mission with the kids during their snack time, i was amazed at their attentiveness -- they all seemed interested in hearing the stories. it was refreshing to not have to just pour out my shilp but i was able to go deeper with the kids -- who knows how many future mission workers or missionaries period i was speaking to that night -- it was great

okay now that this post is so random and hard to follow - i'm going to go to bed -- 7am comes early -- ya know i used to be able to sleep until noon and not think twice -- those were the days before real life set in -- i think being a night person is God's little jock on me -- create me to love the night yet give me a day job - but it's friday - i have something to look forward to

francie