Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Overnighter at Gary's
A couple of weeks ago Patty and Gary invited some of the younger kids for an overnight party at Gary's house. It started by a few of the braver kids going for a mid winters dip in the pool! Then it was time for homemade pizza!
Since it was an overnighter, casual attire was a must!
Various activities went on all night. A movie was playing on Gary's big flat screen TV. (Goonies and Snow Buddies.) Also, various board games were also going on all over the house.
Around midnight, Gary put on the karaoke channel and there was a lot of singing and dancing going on! As you can see this was a big hit by the smiles on their faces! Everybody is a musical dance and singing star....or wanna-bes.
And finally they began to wind down for a "little" sleep!
The kids had been bugging us to have an overnighter for months. This was a great night of memories. The kids loved being with their friends. For some this was their first time spending an entire night away from their families. A great night was had by all.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Whales Breaching in Maui
While we were in Maui, Patty and I went on a snorkeling trip out to Molokini. On the journey,
we came across some humpback whales. We witnessed what the ship captain called the home run of whale watching - the breach. We actually saw it happen 4 or 5 times and here are 3 caught on video.
More video later!
we came across some humpback whales. We witnessed what the ship captain called the home run of whale watching - the breach. We actually saw it happen 4 or 5 times and here are 3 caught on video.
More video later!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Junior Highers at Farm Drive
Last night, the 21st of January, the Junior High group from Hillside Church came over to the Center to just hang out and play with the kids. That's quite a group all together! It was a lot of fun and the kids mixed better than I thought. Below is a video from some of the street hockey. (Gotta love the gear for the goalies! which is donated by the San Jose Sharks, Go Sharks!)
One of the reasons for doing this is to expose the Junior Highers to the ministry that occurs here at Farm Drive. Hopefully some of them will want to come help at the Homework Center.
I'll have pictures later.
One of the reasons for doing this is to expose the Junior Highers to the ministry that occurs here at Farm Drive. Hopefully some of them will want to come help at the Homework Center.
I'll have pictures later.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday Night and Angels Rejoiced
On Friday's there are no activities "scheduled" at Farm Drive Neighborhood Center. Patty let the word out that she was going to open the Center around 3 for a few hours for a time of play. She came home around 2 and noticed no kids around. So she called the apartment where Jasmin (a regular) lived and left a message for her to come over if she wanted. Within 1/2 hour Jasmin came over and helped Patty around our apartment putting up pictures on the walls.
After awhile, Jasmin asked if anyone could be a Christian. Patty asked her "do you remember what it means to be a Christian?" and Jasmin remembered. Then Jasmin said but I sometimes do bad things. So Patty told her of course she did too and that's called sin and we all sin. They had a good good conversation with more questions. Jasmin finally said I want to be a Christian. Patty explained that Jasmin could go home and be alone and pray to Jesus or she could pray with Jasmin. Jasmin said she wanted to pray with Patty. Jasmine was introduced to the King! (and Patty was honored to be a part!) Patty and Jasmin then went out and walked up and down the street telling kids that the Center was open.
When I came home there were quite a number of kids at the Center and Patty was heating up frozen french toast sticks and serving them to the kids. (They had received about 40 boxes from Second Harvest). We kept the Center open til about 7:30.
Patty and I went upstairs to settle down for a relaxing evening of dinner and a movie. 5 of the older kids were still hanging out down below at the picnic tables. After a while, Patty went down and asked them if they wanted to come up and hang out with us. They said an emphatic yes!
Same night but 1/2 hour or so later, a neighbor brought by homemade enchiladas, chicken and potatoes! They were so good and we all enjoyed them. We watched a Spanish novella and then played a game of Pirate Bingo. Lots of laughter with Pirate Bingo! The kids finally left at 10pm. A night that was supposed to be a night of just the 2 of us relaxing and watching a movie, turned into an even better night....a night of developing relationships.
After awhile, Jasmin asked if anyone could be a Christian. Patty asked her "do you remember what it means to be a Christian?" and Jasmin remembered. Then Jasmin said but I sometimes do bad things. So Patty told her of course she did too and that's called sin and we all sin. They had a good good conversation with more questions. Jasmin finally said I want to be a Christian. Patty explained that Jasmin could go home and be alone and pray to Jesus or she could pray with Jasmin. Jasmin said she wanted to pray with Patty. Jasmine was introduced to the King! (and Patty was honored to be a part!) Patty and Jasmin then went out and walked up and down the street telling kids that the Center was open.
When I came home there were quite a number of kids at the Center and Patty was heating up frozen french toast sticks and serving them to the kids. (They had received about 40 boxes from Second Harvest). We kept the Center open til about 7:30.
Patty and I went upstairs to settle down for a relaxing evening of dinner and a movie. 5 of the older kids were still hanging out down below at the picnic tables. After a while, Patty went down and asked them if they wanted to come up and hang out with us. They said an emphatic yes!
Same night but 1/2 hour or so later, a neighbor brought by homemade enchiladas, chicken and potatoes! They were so good and we all enjoyed them. We watched a Spanish novella and then played a game of Pirate Bingo. Lots of laughter with Pirate Bingo! The kids finally left at 10pm. A night that was supposed to be a night of just the 2 of us relaxing and watching a movie, turned into an even better night....a night of developing relationships.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Boy, were we the popular party animals last night. Started off with hanging out with some old friends from church and playing pirate bingo. Then moved on to a poker party at a friend's house in our old neighborhood. The poker games were well under way so I got to save my money! Then we brought in the New Year with some college age friends!
Last week for Christmas day, we got up early and went to church at 6. After opening gifts and having breakfast, it was still only 9 am and we had lots of day still ahead of us. We had a nice lunch and saw Yes Man in the afternoon. A nice leisurely day it was for sure!
Today, getting to bed late last night, we got up at 9. Before I knew it, it was 11:30. Not much day left. I went for a run over at at the local high school track. As I was running, there was a fella there that gave me a rock handshake. There was a family there that was running and walking around the track and I noticed they stopped and talked to him for awhile. When I was done running, I happened to walk by the guy. We started a conversation. His name was John. Then he added his name was Jesus Christ. We talked (well he mostly talked!) about all sorts of stuff!
I remember a New Year's message I heard a couple of year's ago about making it a goal for the new year to make friends with a crazy person. (he really meant a person who was different than you). I guess I was starting off my new year by meeting and making friends with John. Was there any depth to our conversation? Not really. But we now are on a first name basis and who knows if and when we will meet again.
As I do with all people I meet, I take their name to God and ask Him to bless them and that other followers of Jesus would be able to make a connection with the person and speak into his life. I pray that happens with John.
Last week for Christmas day, we got up early and went to church at 6. After opening gifts and having breakfast, it was still only 9 am and we had lots of day still ahead of us. We had a nice lunch and saw Yes Man in the afternoon. A nice leisurely day it was for sure!
Today, getting to bed late last night, we got up at 9. Before I knew it, it was 11:30. Not much day left. I went for a run over at at the local high school track. As I was running, there was a fella there that gave me a rock handshake. There was a family there that was running and walking around the track and I noticed they stopped and talked to him for awhile. When I was done running, I happened to walk by the guy. We started a conversation. His name was John. Then he added his name was Jesus Christ. We talked (well he mostly talked!) about all sorts of stuff!
I remember a New Year's message I heard a couple of year's ago about making it a goal for the new year to make friends with a crazy person. (he really meant a person who was different than you). I guess I was starting off my new year by meeting and making friends with John. Was there any depth to our conversation? Not really. But we now are on a first name basis and who knows if and when we will meet again.
As I do with all people I meet, I take their name to God and ask Him to bless them and that other followers of Jesus would be able to make a connection with the person and speak into his life. I pray that happens with John.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Week
It has been a wonderful Christmas! Having a few days off made it extra nice. For the Havens, we spent Christmas eve in Turlock with my family. It was too quick, but good to see my twin 5 year old nieces who I don't see very often.
We sucked it up for the first time in many years and went to the Christmas Morning Service at Hillside at 6 am. It was a nice way to turn the focus to the reason for the season. After a relaxing morning of cinnamon rolls and opening gifts, we went to a movie together.
On Friday Patty said it would be fun to go to the movies, so we put the word out and 16 of us went to see the movie "Bedtime Stories". Gary, Ruben Escobedo, Patty and myself took 12 kids from the neighborhood.
On Saturday, Patty went with me (she walked) as I ran a couple of miles. When we came back, one of the older girls was coming to what she thought was Bible Club. Being a holiday weekend, it was a day off for the leaders. This gal was really disappointed. We asked her if she wanted to go run errands with Patty and me. She said of course! (I wish I could get that excited about running errands!) When we went to pick her up, her older sister said she was going to go too! We asked her sister if that was OK and she said it was. We spent 3 hours running various errands and ended up with lunch. These chance (if you can call them that!) getting togethers are very special to Patty and me and not taken lightly. We know that these times are relationship building and we share with these kids normalcy, hope, and love.
We spent the evening enjoying the company of the college students at the annual Christmas Gathering Party. We enjoyed a wonderful potluck dinner, exchanged homemade gifts, and then we were all off to wonderful time on the ice at Vallco Mall again spending time and developing relationships.
As we were heading off to church this morning, we had 6 boys show up wanting to go with us. This is both exciting to us but also we realize that it will be a challenge to keep them from not disturbing others too much in the service. Being a holiday weekend and only 1 service and no Sunday School, we knew that all 6 would be with us. We sometimes wonder why they want to come and do they really get anything from this experience? I have to remind myself to just be obedient and do the work and let the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of these kids.
As we were waiting for lunch at In N Out, I had walked up to get catsup and napkins. A fellow came up to a couple of the guys that were with me and started to play a card game with them. (I believe it is called 3 Card Monte.) When I walked back, he asked who I was and they told him that I was their church leader. He immediately picked up his 3 cards and left! I found that whole thing very interesting.
Patty opened up the Center as she cleaned out our locker during the afternoon. After she finished, she took a number of kids on a bike ride. It was actually a nice day with no rain or wind.
It was a fun weekend and now we can go back to work. Wait. I go back to work and Patty gets to keep getting paid to do this!
Patty now here... since I do the editing, I am going to add one thing. As I was bike riding today I was a bit anxious to get back to the Center so I could do some clean up, put Christmas stuff away and such. I kept thinking to myself though that I need to not be in such a hurry to get back to clean. The stuff will get put away all in good time...it is more important to spend time with the kids. When I got back from the bike ride, I really was glad I took the time out to play with the kids.
We sucked it up for the first time in many years and went to the Christmas Morning Service at Hillside at 6 am. It was a nice way to turn the focus to the reason for the season. After a relaxing morning of cinnamon rolls and opening gifts, we went to a movie together.
On Friday Patty said it would be fun to go to the movies, so we put the word out and 16 of us went to see the movie "Bedtime Stories". Gary, Ruben Escobedo, Patty and myself took 12 kids from the neighborhood.
On Saturday, Patty went with me (she walked) as I ran a couple of miles. When we came back, one of the older girls was coming to what she thought was Bible Club. Being a holiday weekend, it was a day off for the leaders. This gal was really disappointed. We asked her if she wanted to go run errands with Patty and me. She said of course! (I wish I could get that excited about running errands!) When we went to pick her up, her older sister said she was going to go too! We asked her sister if that was OK and she said it was. We spent 3 hours running various errands and ended up with lunch. These chance (if you can call them that!) getting togethers are very special to Patty and me and not taken lightly. We know that these times are relationship building and we share with these kids normalcy, hope, and love.
We spent the evening enjoying the company of the college students at the annual Christmas Gathering Party. We enjoyed a wonderful potluck dinner, exchanged homemade gifts, and then we were all off to wonderful time on the ice at Vallco Mall again spending time and developing relationships.
As we were heading off to church this morning, we had 6 boys show up wanting to go with us. This is both exciting to us but also we realize that it will be a challenge to keep them from not disturbing others too much in the service. Being a holiday weekend and only 1 service and no Sunday School, we knew that all 6 would be with us. We sometimes wonder why they want to come and do they really get anything from this experience? I have to remind myself to just be obedient and do the work and let the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of these kids.
As we were waiting for lunch at In N Out, I had walked up to get catsup and napkins. A fellow came up to a couple of the guys that were with me and started to play a card game with them. (I believe it is called 3 Card Monte.) When I walked back, he asked who I was and they told him that I was their church leader. He immediately picked up his 3 cards and left! I found that whole thing very interesting.
Patty opened up the Center as she cleaned out our locker during the afternoon. After she finished, she took a number of kids on a bike ride. It was actually a nice day with no rain or wind.
It was a fun weekend and now we can go back to work. Wait. I go back to work and Patty gets to keep getting paid to do this!
Patty now here... since I do the editing, I am going to add one thing. As I was bike riding today I was a bit anxious to get back to the Center so I could do some clean up, put Christmas stuff away and such. I kept thinking to myself though that I need to not be in such a hurry to get back to clean. The stuff will get put away all in good time...it is more important to spend time with the kids. When I got back from the bike ride, I really was glad I took the time out to play with the kids.
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