Faith Quest 2009

This year we had people go to Faith Quest who haven't been before. This is not your normal youth rally, were youth groups come together and sing and worship. If you believe that is what Faith Quest is then I am going to assume you have never been. It is all in the title of the rally, "Faith Quest.” It pushes you to look inside yourself and see what really your walk with God is about. I asked a couple of people, one teen and one adult, who have gone to write a short thing about what this year’s Faith Quest meant to them and or did for them.

“God worked in amazing ways at Faith Quest this year. The classes were excellent and instructive, the speakers gave great thought provoking messages, and the praise was (as always) refreshing and eye opening. But my favorite part about Faith Quest this year was the “youth group strategic time.” That was the time that for me seemed to be the most productive. We all sat down together as individual youth group and talked about what we could do to improve our group dynamics and be a better youth group over all. We talked about how we wanted to be more closely connected with the church body and came up with a tentative plan for how we could do that. People were able to come forward and say if they weren’t feeling included in the group without the fear of others being upset by it. It was a great thing that I think helped us a lot and I believe it had an impact on us. I’m looking forward to seeing how it changes the way we work.”

“My trip to faith quest started last year. The Sunday after Faith Quest 2008 to be exact, Jarrod lead the Lord’s Supper that day and WOW. He started by sharing about Faith Quest, then he talked about the cross and about what Christ had done for him there and he was overcome with emotion at the magnitude of it. I know he’s my son and all, but it moved me and many others to tears. I decided right then and there I was going to faith quest. I wanted a piece of that. It didn’t matter that both of my kids would be off to college. So in January I put in for vacation. I went wanting, expecting God to move in me like I had seen him move in Jarrod. So off to faith quest I go. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were great. The singing, the workshops, and the keynotes were awesome (Ike was my favorite). Then came Sunday night, and “my faith quest moment”, the one that will stick with me forever. We took communion together, all 400 of us. We stood gathered around the cross, arms linked, singing. I was at the center with all 400 voices coming at me. It was incredible. I found myself not singing more than once and just listening, absorbing. Then we sang a song that I had just learned at faith quest. The chorus is a series of Hallelujah’s and as the 400 voices blended together as one I felt myself being lifted up. Everything faded away and it was like there was only spirit. It lasted a few seconds but I would choose those few seconds again over the entire rest of the weekend. Only, I’m not sure without the rest of the weekend I would have gotten to the place where God took me in that moment. Afterward, my first thought was: that’s what it’s going to be like when Jesus comes again and we are lifted into the sky with him. And for the first time in my life I was ready to go.”

Chubby bunny

So we had a grocery store down the road from the church, Bashas. We found out they had HUGE marshmallows. Once we found that out chubby bunny began. So far we have done it once Jeff Duffy and Frank Chavez. Frank won that round 5 to 1 and 1/2. More to come later.
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Fun Friday

Friday is here and its the last day. The FUN DAY we worked hard monday thru thursday so friday we got to play. Some went to the grand canyon, to see ruins, others went to the swap meet. The best was a group went and found a road to off road on. That is what the video is about. See you monday Frank.
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Thankful Thursday

Today most groups didn't have many jobs due to how awesome they worked. We finished a lot of jobs early in the week. Some today went to the cemetery, some to do extra jobs for some people. Then part of another group worked on a shed. This shed to some might seem like another job on the list. Yet to Paul, the missionary, it is a HUGE deal. This gets him over to the Hopi part of the Reservation. Which means God is using him majorly and it shows. We got most of the shed done all but roofing and the door. Tonight we went to a prayer sweat. Our group all week has been talking about God and how he is working. That was tonight as people were praying we were singing. By the end of the night a lot of tears were shed but we love each other more tomorrow is the last day here we shall she what's in store. Love you all Tuba City Mission team.
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Testing Frank's email posting address

This is a test.

 

Mike

Tuba City Update - Wednesday 29 July 2009

Wednesday - Today was a tough day everyone was very tired. My group started to make a shed. Hopefully tomorrow we can have it all done by shingles.

For dinner we had navajo tacos AMAZING!!!






Then went to newspaper rock, where people use to write with pictrogliph (sp).

While we were there we got to see the sun set. It was beautiful!




Tomorrow we have another prayer sweat we are all very excited about.

Frank Chavez
"For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves slaves for Jesus' sake."

Tuba City Update 29 July 2009

eMail from Frank Chavez

A little update from Tuba City. Sunday we went to a place called Coal Mine Canyon. It was beautiful to see the colorful rocks. Monday was our first work day we did things like; roofing, cleaning the cemetery, cleaning up yards. The groups worked hard and were exhausted at the end of the day. We had a prayer sweat that night out at Blanche's. It was an amazing experience.

Tuesday came too early for those of us that went to the prayer sweat. We all started off running, my group, group 2, we were at the job site by 7:45. We got to roof. We had roofed the whole house by noon, thanks to group 5. They came to help since their job was done. Its awesome to see how each kid wants to help each other without complaining. Tuesday night we had the opportunity to help with a walk-a-thon. We were safety monitors/cheerleaders along the way for the 5K. It was awesome to see God was working.

Well tomorrow is a long day. We get to build a shed for a lady on the Hopi side which is a huge step for Paul and the work here. God bless, thanks for the prayers and remember 2 Cor. 4:5.