Martin
Our plans for next year
We are excited to share with you that we have decided to give a year of our lives to work in the inner-city. Starting in September, we will be moving to Atlanta, GA to begin this new chapter in our lives. During the course of the year, we will spend our time volunteering 20-35 hours/week for agencies in the community and developing loving relationships with our neighbors. We are so eager to learn how to serve God’s people with love and through practical acts of service.
We have been praying and thinking about Mission Year since before our engagement in 2005, and we feel we can not pass up the chance to do something bold for God! Through both our jobs and volunteer experiences with organizations in Lafayette such as Habitat for Humanity and Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC), we have realized the need in our city for people to reach out to those that need support and practical help. We would now like to take our service a step further by learning more about the issues and culture of the inner-city and what it is to “do life” with the people there. We desire to better understand how the social and economic gaps that have been created in our society have developed. We know our lives will be changed by the relationships we develop and the lessons we will learn from our neighbors. We also hope to be used by God to share His love with others and to leave with a greater working knowledge of how we can advocate for the needy even after Mission Year is done.
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Martin's Blog
A 3 Month Recap with 4 weeks left to go.... / Jul 8, 11:18 AM
Hey Everyone! It has been way to long since I’ve written and it’s going to be nearly impossible to recount all that has happened in the last couple of months but I will try to recap some highlights.
MAY
May was an extremely busy month! Our team attended the Cinco De Mayo Festival at Centennial Park with some neighbors which was alot of fun. (We won free tostadas and tortillas!) I also had the privilege of attending one of my after school program student’s girl scout ceremony. It brought back memories of my girl scout days! The second week in May we had an end of the year party for my after school kids with music, food, and face painting to celebrate all of their accomplishments. I also went back home to Indiana for my baby brother’s graduation from high school. It was a good time for Nate and I to spend with our families.
JUNE
I was excited for June because my mom was coming into town the first weekend and Nate’s parents too. We had a great time running them around from place to place, visiting the Georgia Aquarium and even taking in a Brave’s game. They were able to see our neighborhood and meet the wonderful friends who have impacted our lives this year! The second week in June was the end of my ESL class for the summer so we had a party, and I said goodbye to all the mommies and my sweet little preschool students. It was such a blessing and a privilege to be in their little lives this year and to teach them more of the things they will need to know as some of them move on to Kindergarten. This was also a successful completion of my first experience of being a teacher. Thanks to God for the strength He gave me.
June 10th I started working at Atlanta Community Fellowship’s summer camp where I helped with the Art, recreation, and meal prep. I was ready to try something new and working in a different community. I definitely learned alot in the short time I helped there. The kids were great!
JULY
So here I am 4 weeks from completing this program and wondering how the time could have possibly gone by so quickly. We did so much this year it’s incredible. I am currently in my second day of another summer camp but for our kids here in the Clarkston community. It’s an academic camp with some other fun activities mixed in. I am helping to coordinate it all which can be stressful but it’s great to see the kids learning and having fun! I am currently in the midst of attempting to find a job. More details to follow. Yesterday, Nate and I were able to take two siblings (I’ll call them “Ilaina” and “Derek”) to Stone Mountain to celebrate one of Ilaina’s 8th birthday. We hiked to the mountain top (through much toil and complaining by Ilaina) but we made it and it was beautiful! We ate our dinner up there and walked around followed by our trip down the mountain and a visit to Dairy Queen. I love ice cream!:-) We have grown especially close to this family. This month marks the time when I have begun to share with most of our neighbors that we will be moving in August. It has been hard and sad but we wanted to let them know ahead of time.
One last thing…Nate and I will also be celebrating our 2 year anniversary next Tuesday the 15th which is amazing, and I’m so blessed to have him in my life!
So that’s it for now but I just want to say thank you to all of our supporters who have shown us love through emails, messages on facebook, cards, prayers and financial support. It has been a privilege to be here in Clarkston this year and we could not have come without your help and support. We love you and hope that all is well with you. Blessings:-)
Sporting events and driving lessons / May 6, 11:26 AM
Hello everyone. Well I did not keep my promise from the last blog. It has been a couple weeks since my last entry. I will try and do more of a weekly thing if I can.
Everything is going pretty good. I have been busy with writing papers and studying for the GMAT plus still trying to find time to be with neighbors. Some days are better than others. One great opportunity that I have had in our community recently is giving some basic driving lessons to one of the Sudanese teenagers from our church named Nok. He is sophomore at the local high school and is a great runner. A couple of weeks ago Zen and I had the privilege of going to his regional track meet. He was running the 800M and did great in the qualifying heat posting the second best time however in the final race twisted his ankle so he did not qualify for state. He was disappointed but knows he will have another chance next year.
Driving with Nok has been a good experience. We just joke around and talk about life a little. He is getting better at driving and we don’t have too many close calls (sometimes I will admit I am a little nervous) but he is picking it up. This has been a great opportunity to get to know Nok better and just help him out with learning how to drive. We have been going out about once a week and I hope to do a few more lessons before he takes the driving test. So please keep Nok in your prayers that he can get his license and be able to get a good summer job. He is a good friend and I hope I can help him out a little.
One big need I have noticed since being in Clarkston and going to some sporting events is the lack of interest in the local high school sports by the community. I know this is also a problem in most inner-city schools. Most parents can not attend because of work or having other children to take care of. So it is common to have very few people at the games. Wherever Zen and I end up living I really want to adopt the local high school and become their biggest fan. I really want to support the local youth by attending their games and getting others to come with me. It not only to encourage the athletes but it creates a stronger community among parents and neighbors. Now if I can just turn that into a job I am set.
Well I guess that is all for now. Please feel free to respond by posting a message on our blog. I am not sure if anyone is reading it anymore (except Ben Phillips) but oh well.
Talk to you all later.
Nate
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What is next? / Apr 15, 10:18 AM
Hello everyone,
Well the final trimester of Mission Year has now begun. The year has flown by and I am sure these last 3 ½ months will do the same. This last week we did get a spring break which was very nice and relaxing. It was a great time to rejuvenate for the final stretch of Mission Year. During our break we traveled around Georgia a little and saw the mountains in North Georgia and spend a few days in Savannah. Then we stayed at a friends’ apartment while they were out of town. So we were able to relax with out the constant knocking on our door from neighborhood children.
We are still tossing around ideas for what is next for us once Mission Year is done. We are blessed with some good options but it is difficult to decide what to do next. One of the options we have is for me to go back to school and get a masters degree from Eastern University. I am currently taking a class through Eastern but I am trying to decide if I want to pursue the degree or not. There is a lot to get done if I do want to go back to school. I have two papers due in the next two months plus I am beginning to study for the GMAT which I need to get into the MBA program at Eastern. I feel that I can accomplish these things but it makes it difficult to be apart of my neighborhood while having to study and do the regular Mission Year schedule. I am hoping that in these next few months that everything becomes clearer and that we have a clear vision of where we are going. We will just have to see where God takes us.
Well I am going to keep this entry short and hopefully give you another update next week. Please continue to check our blog and feel free to post a message saying hi.
Nate
Tornado in Atlanta... / Mar 19, 03:48 PM
Hey Everyone! I am writing everyone to let you all know that Nate and I are doing well and we’re safe and sound. The city of Clarkston, where we live, was left unscathed after Friday’s tornado thank God. Everyone on my team is doing well. Downtown Atlanta however sustained a lot of damage from the storm.
I just want to testify to how good God is and how He watches over us. Nate and I and two of our teammates were walking around Centennial Olympic Park Friday night looking at a photography exhibit It was close to 10 o’clock. Then we spotted lightening and decided to head for the train station. We passed Phillips Arena and the CNN center, both of which were damaged in the storm. So, we were above ground literally about 10 minutes before the storm hit. While we waited for our train, the power went out (when the tornado hit) and the train was taking an unusually long time to show up. A train ride that usually takes 20 minutes took us a little over one hour due to us having to stop frequently because of debris on the train tracks. We didn’t even find out there was a tornado until Troy called his boss and she told us a tornado had hit the city. We are so grateful that we are safe. Nate and I went back into the city on Saturday to see what damage had been done and it was pretty bad. Two of the Olympic torches standing in Centennial Park were ripped out of their foundations, a brick building torn apart, cars smashed by bill boards, broken glass, and hotels missing windows. It looks really bad and there is a lot of work to be done. Please pray for the city , those who can not get to work, those who were injured and some who died, and all those who will labor in the months ahead to restore the city to it’s previous state.
We love you guys and hope you enjoy reading the newsletters we sent out for March.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Zeny
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Just saying hello / Mar 13, 03:13 PM
As usual I have waited a long time to do another blog entry. I think part of the reason is I always feel I need to write something really thought provoking. It is nice when I can, but sometimes you just need to say hello and give a little update. So here is a nice little update.
Zen and I are doing well. With the warmer weather starting in Georgia our neighborhood becomes more and more busy with children playing outside. We have met many of these children and their families. It is amazing how quickly you can become part of a community when you just take the time to care for some kids. I remember my father telling me that one of the greatest gifts of being a father was after having a rough day at work coming home and your children running to greet you as you are getting out of your car with excited hellos and big hugs. Lately I have been able to get a glimpse of what it is like. When I get off the bus after a long day and long commute home I come walking through the apartment complex and if the kids spot me or anyone else from our house they come running. They start yelling your name and greet you with big smiles and hugs. They are so happy to see you when all you have done is just come home. That kind of love is so sweet because the reason they are so happy to see you is deep down they know you care for them and love them and they are so happy you are there. Though they can not express their feelings with words their affection and love speak volumes. I am so thankful that God has given me these moments and I pray that just like how those children embrace me for just being present I hope that I to can embrace my heavenly father the same way because He is always there and will never stop loving me.
I hope everyone out there is doing well and please don’t forget you can always leave a comment on our blog. It doesn’t have to be anything special just say hello.
Nate
