The Peace Place

Christmas Fun

2011-01-11T05:09:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from some of our activities right before Christmas. We enjoyed a Christmas party together at the house of one of our leaders. We also enjoyed getting to go Christmas carolling at Twin City Mission again like we did last year. I think the residents there enjoyed having us, and it was a great experience for the kids to give them an opportunity to serve and encourage others. We ended this semester with a lot of kids and leaders. As we had a few more college students sign up to serve throughout the semester we were able to invite more kids to have a mentor and be part of what we do. What a blessing. Now the challenge will be finding space for everyone!

Dewberry Farms Trip

2010-11-06T18:40:00.001-07:00

Camping

2010-10-23T07:56:00.001-07:00

In October we enjoyed taking our kiddos out to Bryan lake for a one night camping trip. God was so faithful to provide everything we needed from enough tents and food to male leaders, to keeping away the storms.... praise Him that he can take care of all the details that we can't take care of on our own.
The kids had a blast playing in the lake, cooking over the fire, chasing ducks, and sleeping (after much playing) in tents.
On of my favorite quote from the weekend was from a 5-year old who had never been camping before. He came running out to the site, so excited to be there yelling "Hey Miss Becky!! We're camping!!". Then he asks me "Miss Becky, where are we going to sleep?" So I point to the tents that are being set up and tell him, "We're going to sleep in those, do you know what those are?" And his very cute answer is "Houses?!" . I laugh and tell him that they are kind of like house, but they are called tents. And still excited he tells me. "Tents! We gunna sleep in tents!"
Enjoy a few pictures of the trip below.

Summer Camp

2010-09-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

This update is very long overdue. I'm sorry.
During the 2nd week of August, we had the opportunity to take 10 of our kiddos out to Messiah's Ranch for our very own summer camp. We enjoyed spending time away together swimming, playing in the sand, making tie-die, worshiping, having campfires, eating lots of good food, playing games, looking at longhorns and donkeys, and learning about following Jesus! We were at camp from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon and the kids did so well! I was so proud of them for the ways the listened and treated one another and learned verses and were helpful, and listened to the Word. I specifically saw certain kids step up as positive leaders, I saw others exhibit self control, and still others look for ways to be a blessing. We had a great time and are so glad that we got to go to camp. Thank you to everyone who gave and served to make it possible!

Summer Bible Clubs

2010-07-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

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This Summer

2010-06-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

There are lots of exciting things going on in Bryan this summer. We had our first Bible club of the summer at the park last night, and I can't wait for the rest of them.
Here is the schedule so far for kids events at Jordan Loop:

VBS at First Baptist Bryan
June 7th-15th
Bus will pick kids up at the park at 5:15 and bring them home at 9:15.
For kids who have completed K-5th grade only
Signed permission form required

Monday Night Bible Club
Will meet at the park from 6-8pm
May 31st, June 7th, June 14th, June 21st, June 28th, July 5th

Sunday Night Classes and Fun
Meet at the community center to learn more about sports, art, or cooking
5:30-6:45pm
June 13th, June 20th, June 27th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th, Aug 1st, Aug 8th, Aug 15th

Thursday Night SOS on Location
Bible Club with SOS at the park from 6-8pm
July 8th, July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th, Aug 5th, Aug 12th, Aug 19th

There are 3 new community centers opening this summer, one in each of the other Bryan housing projects. There will be bible clubs in each of these neighborhoods on Tuesday nights in June. There will be grand openings on June 5th for the centers on MLK and on Dansby. 10am at MLK and 12:00 at Dansby.

Also, the Housing Authority will be providing a children's time with tutoring this summer starting June 15th. This will be every Tues, Wed, and Thur at the housing Authority from 1:00-3:30.

Please keep all of these new efforts in your prayers. God is at work!

Barneyville swimming

2010-05-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

We had a fun end of the school year party at Barneyville. It was a beautiful day for swimming, and good thing because the kids could not seem to get enough of the water. We praise God for keeping us safe (there were a few close calls). Some of the kids conquered their fear of the water for the first time and everyone had a blast!

The Lake

2010-04-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day to spend at the lake with wonderful people!

Bill's dad let us come out to his place and enjoy their lake and boats.
The kids had a blast swimming and boating and fishing.

Over the last month, there have been many times like today where I show up and look around at the body of Christ loving and serving together wonderfully and I just marvel at the wonder of what is being accomplished as many individual children are all being led and loved by Godly adults. I am so blessed to see the impact that these mentors are making. Thank you so much for being involved! You are truly a delight!

I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
I say of the godly who are in the land, "They are the noble people in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:2-3

check out some more great pics at this link too http://picasaweb.google.com/judymoss56/PeacePlaceParty#

Fun at Barneyville

2010-04-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

It seems like there is a lot of change around the Peace Place right now... kids that have moved, new faces to volunteer (yay!), new kids to be mentored, summer fast approaching.... Praise God that He knows what he is doing and He is at work amidst the changes.

From everything that I heard, Spring Break Bible Club went a really well out here so thank you for praying. They had lots of people come love on the kiddos and teach about Jesus.
The Housing Authority does want to get a community center and something similar to Peace Place going in another neighborhood and excitingly there is someone who God is calling to lead that! What an answer to prayer. Please continue to pray as the planning and ground breaking work begins...more details to come.

Two weekends ago we got to take the kids out to "Barneyville". Barneyville is the home/ranch of one of our volunteers. We grilled, played baseball, fed cows, chased chickens, celebrated a birthday, face painted, worshipped Jesus and had a really great time! You could tell that the peacefulness of the place had a calming affect on the kids and the freedom to run and play in a place like that with Godly people was really good for them. Ok, enough talk... here are some pictures:

Update

2010-03-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

This upcoming week is Spring Break, so we will not be meeting with normal activities. Instead a group from the church will be leading Bible Clubs at the park for all the neighborhood kids on Monday-Friday from 12-3. Please be in prayer for these clubs and the eternal fruit that will come from them.

Another prayer request is that we are looking into the possibility of taking some kids to summer camp this summer. Pray that if this is something we should do we find the right place, choose the right kids, and have the means to make it happen.

Sunday night classes have been going great. We love the First Baptist Youth helpers. The classes have been a little less attended and a little less structured then I might have hoped, but the kids are being loved, learning new activities, and learning about serving and worshiping God.

Another praise is that on Mondays some of the men have stepped up to teach the lessons to the kids! It is wonderful for the children to see a man love and teach God's Word and it also frees me up to take care of other needs.

A few of our kids have moved in the last few weeks... we are trying to learn how to continue to pursue them and keep them plugged in. This is why it's so great to have them connected to individual mentors... I don't feel like they'll just be lost now that they don't live in the neighborhood anymore...I know there is still someone connected to them.

One last prayer request - there may be the possibility of opening up a community center in another one of the housing projects here in Bryan and starting a similar program with children there. There is a group doing a Bible club at that location next week so we will see what all comes of that.

cooking class

our valentine party

painting fun! (thanks mom for the smocks)

Excitement

2010-02-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

So, the toilet overflowed last night.
And if you are thinking overflowed, like a little water coming out the sides while you are plunging, take a look at the above graphic one more time.....

That's right, it was like The Peace Place meets Niagara Falls. Thankfully, it didn't happen until the end of the night after our Bible lesson, when the kids were one on one with their leaders going over what we had talked about. One of the boys in the back room kept splashing his foot in the water that had covered the floor in half of the building - a leader finally got annoyed by the sound and asked him to stop and then did a double take and wondered "Why is there water all over the floor for him to splash in?" - What followed was about 30 minutes of mopping and sweeping and towel soaking and wringing out, and removing in any means possible (other than licking) what felt like 10 bathtubs full of water from the floor. (In actuality it was probably more like one bathtub full, but it sure felt like 10) Although it was somewhat chaotic, the kids seemed to enjoy tramping through the water and "helping" - imagine that. :o) Anyways, it was good for a laugh... I'm still trying to get everything cleaned and dried out and back to normal, hopefully it will be by the end of the week.

In all reality, the most exciting part of last night was not the Niagara toilet, but that we had three new volunteers who were great, which meant that a couple new kids got to come! Praise God! (It's really not fun to send crying kids home each week because there is no mentor for them)
Jehovah Jirah- Our God is a great provider and I can't wait to see who and what all else he has in store for this semester.

A New Year

2010-01-27T17:00:00.001-08:00

After Christmas break we have been meeting together again for a few weeks now. We're trying to focus our time together on Mondays a little bit more by cutting out class/activity time and spending time one on one with the kids talking about the Bible lesson that we went over as a whole group. So far this seems pretty fruitful.

In February we will be beginning to offer classes to all the kids in the neighborhood on Sunday nights from 4:30-5:45. We will offer dance, music, sports, art, and cooking but still need some help leading these. The goal of these classes is not only to teach new skills and build Godly relationships, but there will also be a focus on learning to do "Whatever you do" to the glory of God.

If you are interested in mentoring on Mondays, helping with classes on Sundays, or helping in another area of need such as preparing meals or cleaning let me know!

The Joy of Giving!

2009-12-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

SO MUCH FUN!

Blessed

2009-09-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Learning John 14:16

Dress up.....

Face Painting

My new home

2009-07-24T10:23:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-07T13:51:00.001-07:00

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

Music Night

2009-06-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-15T20:01:00.001-07:00

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!

Monday Merriment

2009-06-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to get to hang out with kids at Jordan Loop every Monday night this summer - we'll be playing, sharing the gospel with them, and loving them with Christ's love. You should join us some Monday, 6-8pm, at the Jordan Loop community center. One week we're playing games, another week we're making crafts, movie night, music night...it's gunna be just a fun time of developing relationships and hopefully a good starting point for "The Peace Place" which I would like to begin this fall.

A Place of Promise

2009-05-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

So to follow this post best, you really just need to read all of Isaiah 54 and Galations 4.

I'm going to try to explain the really cool things God showed me with these passages, but it will be difficult if you don't read them.

God gave me the passages of Isaiah 54 and 55 for the Peace Place form its birth. In fact, that is where it got its name.

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:13

All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.

Isaiah 55:12

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

However, Isaiah 54 and 55 are prophetic and use the words "you" and "your" a lot making it difficult to know who the verses are actually supposed to be applied to. The last verse of ch54 does say "This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD". So it seems is could apply to anyone who is or is going to be God's servant.

Another thing I've had trouble understanding is the concept of the "Barren Woman" described at the beginning of the chapter. I've applied it to the people of Jordan Loop and their spiritually barrenness and neediness being replaced by intimacy with God and fruitfulness. And more recently as I have struggled with not being married and desiring family I have applied it to myself - that the Lord will give me children that are not my own and the He is my husband(v5). But, I was so excited to find Galations 4 because it quotes this part from Isaiah (Gal 4:27) and gives me some biblical explanation. Sarah was a barren woman who in fulfillment His promise, God made the mother of innumerable descendants. Not just physically, but spiritually - those of us who have been born into the promise and freedom of Christ. Like Isaac we are born of a promise and like Isaac our lives have also been substituted for by a lamb. And guess what precedes ch54? Ch53 is all about Jesus and his death for us, ending with, "For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors". That is why the barren woman can rejoice! Christ has made a way for us to be children of promise. Which finally tied together for me the one other part of ch54 that I didn't understand - v9 about Noah - How does Noah fit in? God made a promise to him not to destroy the earth and now He has made a promise to us - the new covenant in Christ - the covenant of peace that covers our sin with His love! How incredible! Oh yeah, and guess when God showed me this. The day after I decided to make the first children's room that would be used for the Peace Place rainbow themed. :O) Haha - He is funny and awesome and good and faithful!

Isaiah 54:13-14

2009-05-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace. In righteousness you will be established.