The Joy of Giving!

The Peace Place had our Christmas party last Friday and boy was it fun! Through the whole month of December during out worship time each week we learned Christmas carols and learned about the Christmas story. And when I say LEARNED, I mean LEARNED. I got some funny answers on the first week when I asked what Christmas was about and what the kids knew about Jesus' birth... and I definitely sang Christmas carols by myself for a while because the only ones the kids knew were "Rudolf" and "Jingle Bells" and we wanted to sing carols about Christ. However, the great thing about kids is that they love to learn and learn quickly. By the third week I was hanging out with one child outside of the Peace Place and they were telling me all about how Christmas is really about Jesus birth and how "some people" don't even know that! And while hanging out with another child I heard them singing Silent Night. How beautiful! Since we had been learning that at Christmas we celebrate the gift God gave us, I wanted to teach the kids to be givers like God, instead of greedy at Christmas. With the help of ideas from my pastor and Mr.Bill I think we were able to do that. On the last Monday that we met the kids made and wrapped different little gifts to give away to family and friends and they also put together toiletry baskets to take to the Twin City Mission, a homeless shelter in Bryan. On Friday during our party we went to the Mission to deliver the toiletries and sang Christmas Carols with the residents. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but thought no matter what happened it would be a good learning experience. Well, it was a hit- both with the residents and our kids. When we were leaving I heard all kinds of things such as: "If I had lots of money, I would buy all of those people houses" (from a girl who lives with her grandma), "We did a good job- they liked us!" (from a shy little girl), "When I grow up, I'm going to be a singer" (from a tough 3rd grade boy), "Some of the people in the back looked sad before I would give them a hug, but then when I hugged them it would make them smile- we made them happy"..... What a joy to learn to be a blessing to other people! Other highlights of our party included pizza, The Christmas story, a gift exchange, wrestling like crazy people, Jesus' Birthday cookie, and spinning around under the giant Christmas light tree at Central Park. It was a blast!

Pizza
Driving to Central Park to see the lights
Crazy wrestling
More crazy wrestling
Jesus' birthday cake
Gift exchange
Christmas Story
Singing at Twin City Mission

Our first Camping Trip

Peace Place kids and mentors joined my community group out at lake Sommerville this weekend for a really fun camping trip complete with tents, canoes, hobo dinners, s'mores, lake swimming, hiking, fire time, and lots of playing. It was a first for the kids and I'm pretty sure they want to do it again.

Slideshow

PUMPKINS

SO MUCH FUN!

Blessed

We've been busy this last month - sorry I haven't updated

There have been so many blessings.

The blessing of God using His body to provide supplies.

The blessing of God bringing mentors totally apart from any of my efforts.

The blessing of finally being started, for this thing to be a reality.

The blessing of children laughing, learning, playing, worshiping...

The blessing of having Godly adults to give kids individual attention.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness :o)

Upcoming evening of Dedication and Prayer

You are invited to participate in a dedication and prayer time plus a "pounding"for The Peace Place on Wednesday September 9 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The dedication will start around 6:45. Afterward, people can walk around and pray for the center. Anyone can leave as they need. No requirements to stay until 8:00. Refreshments will be served. Come see where we are and pray for what God is doing and will continue to do.

Oh! "What is a pounding," you say? Glad you asked. An old fashioned pounding was a party or gathering to honor, usually a new to be bride, with a pound of this and a pound of that to fill her pantry. In this case, The Peace Place needs a wide variety of specific items and we would love for you to bring something to help bless the beginning of this ministry.

Possible Items to Bring:
Non-perishable foods:
Frozen 100% Juice
Lemonade Mix
Mashed Potato Flakes
Mac N. Cheese
Rice
Large Cans of canned fruit
Large Cans of canned veggies
Snack foods: Animal crackers, peanut butter crackers, cookies, pretzels, popcorn, raisins, goldfish, Graham crackers, etc.

Paper Goods and Cleaning Items:
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Kleenex
Napkins
Baby Wipes
Clorox Wipes
Clorox Cleanup Spray
Cleaning rags
Toilet Tabs to keep toilet clean
Kitchen Size Trash Bags
Dish Soap
Hand soap
Band-aids

Kids Items:
20 plastic sport top water bottles
20 plastic children’s drink cups
Chalk
Bubbles
Balls
Coloring Books

Craft Supplies:
Lined Paper
Computer paper
Construction Paper
Watercolors
Crayons
Markers
Stickers
Colored Pencils

Back To School Party

Last week was our last "Monday Merriment" since school begins this week. We had a big back to school party complete with snowcones, lots of balloons, a school supply gift exchange, and a fun school craft. It seemed like the children just kept coming - lots of kids for one little building. But we had a lot of adult helpers this week too (thank you!) and of course, a ton of fun.

WANTED: Mentors

We will be starting our on-location Christian mentoring program at Jordan Loop at the begining of September and there are lots of children that want to be a part of it.....however, we will only accept as many kids as we have MENTORS.
We are looking for Christian men and women to love and lead elementary aged children. Being a mentor involves hanging out at The Peace Place doing schoolwork, eating dinner together, teaching different skills, and most importantly modeling a life that follows and worships Jesus. Mentors need to be available either every Monday or ever Wednesday from apx. 4:30-7:30. Will you step up and lead a child who desperately needs a Godly adult to follow? Be blessed by giving out of the abundance of what Christ has given you.You will be changed!

If you are interested in becoming a mentor this fall, you can download this application to fill out and turn in.
Mentor Application
Please e-mail me with any questions - becky@blackmon.org

Last Week's Fun

Learning John 14:16


Dress up.....

Face Painting

My new home

I moved into my new home on Sunday - 1105 Jordan Loop. I love it! Praise God for his faithfulness and amazing provision of a place to live within this community as well as abundant blessing in giving me above and beyond what I need to make my home a comfortable place to live. So many people have been generous in giving to me - thank you! I love my new neighbors and that I live right across the street from the community center, and that I can walk to the park for SOS, and that kids can just drop in to talk..... I'll put up some pictures later - it is good to finally be home. :o)

"O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with styones of turquoise, you foundations with saphires. I will make you battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones." Isaiah 54:11-12
God is rebuilding this city!

Wet 'n' Wild

You can't beat waterballoons and slip 'n' slides in Texas in the summer.

Music Night

We had a lot of fun singing and dancing and hanging out this week.

Snacks

Music and puppets

Sing-a-long

Some crazy music videos - a little Micheal Jackson tribute and a creative rendition of the Cupid Shuffle.

Granny's House

Last fall, I described to a friend of mine my vision for what I hoped to be a part of in moving back to Bryan and begining "The Peace Place". As she listened she commented that what I was describing sounded similar to a minstry that existed near she went to school in Missouri. I went home and explored that ministry's website and was greatly encouraged because it made what I hoped to do seem more possible and tangible. Anyways, although I am not aiming to be a copy of anything else, it is exciting to see a model already in place of the sort of ministry that I would like to do. Below are the website and blog for "Granny's House" if any of you are interested.

http://www.grannyshouse.org/index.html

http://grannyshousecolumbia.blogspot.com/

A little more Info

The Peace Place Outline:

Goals –
1) Live at Jordan Loop knowing and sharing life with its community members while being an integral, contributing, unifying, positive, trusted, and Godly member of the Jordan Loop community.
2) Run an “on location” Christ centered children’s mentoring program out of the community center at Jordan Loop.

* Long term – follow this model in other communities throughout Bryan

Vision-
1) Through building relationships and leading by example I hope to see members of the community follow Christ and step up as leaders who take responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities and work together to make them better.
2) Through the power of Christ and the method of mentoring relationships see at-risk children provided with a safe and encouraging place within their own community to grow up and take hold of true hope and life change in Christ. That these children will then pass along positive change to their future families and communities.

Practically speaking-
-The children’s program would begin as an after school, twice a week (Mon & Wed 430-7:30) program for grades K-5 and grow from there.
-Parents/Guardians would have to fill out an application for enrollment to have their child considered for the program. There would be a consistent group of children with a ratio at max of 2 children for every 1 mentor. Other eligible children would be placed on a waiting list until mentors were available.
-Tentative Schedule:
Arrival and free play w/mentors (cooking and setup) 4:30-5:00
Dinner or schoolwork/1on1 time (in families) 5:05-5:35
Dinner or schoolwork/1on1 time (groups trade) 5:40-6:10
"Classes" (Dance, music, baking, crafts, etc) 6:15-6:45
Family Worship (Bible lesson, music and prayer) 6:50-7:30
-Develop a relational “family” atmosphere that is peaceful, safe, and encouraging (Picture board of kids, Schoolwork display board/refrigerator, Consistent rules and structure, Family groups, Simple chores or ways to contribute)
-Involve interested teens and adults from the community in helping (cook, aid with classes, etc)
-Connect parents with community center
-Raise $ to purchase supplies and equip center
-Use church, ministry, and campus connections to recruit volunteers of all ages and denominations who love Jesus. Help spread an awareness of the needs and the mission field within our own community.
-Find any possible grants/assistance that would help fund food or other costs

Yay, Yay, Yay!

So, maybe I should have something deeper to say than "yay, yay, yay" and maybe I will after the excitment wears down a little - but for now I am just excited and thankful. The Lord has provided a place for me to live at Jordan Loop! As long as I've hoped/waited for something like this, I still feel in some ways very unprepared. However, God's grace is enough. Lord make me faithful to follow and depend on you as a leader in this place. I'm going to be living in a 2 bedroom unit. I am still praying that God will bring along a roomate who can not only live with me, but partner with me in His work over there. I had hoped to get a 3 bedroom unit right next to the community center so that I could use both units as The Peace Place for mentoring children. Because I did not, I will just be living in my uni and running the kids program out of the community center. This is probably God's wisdom and protection in many ways. And if things grow with The Peace Place to where we can't fit in the community center, I know He will provide exactly what we need. I thankful to now be able to really start moving forward with planning and preparing for the fall! Get ready for some frequent updates...

Rainbow Room Pictures

Here are a few pictures of our rainbow room at the Community Center. Thanks to all those who donated fun toys and art supplies (Weavers, Carpios, Feldmans, Stephens, LHBCB). Thanks Mary for all your help putting everything together. Thanks Mom for the awesome pillows and floor cushions. What a fun place for kids to play!