Life Changing

After a awesome night of Vacation Bible School, I am reminded of of two things: 1.) That the love of Jesus covers all, despite social, economic, racial background. Second, 2.) That most of these kids have had a hard childhood, more than I can imagine and have ever experienced.

I recently made the decision to join the church that I had been going to for the past year off and on in the fall semester and then the Lord laid it on my heart to commit to going to Immanuel Baptist after returning from a trip up to New York for Spring Break. After commiting to IBC, I have since been discipled by the Pastor of the church, meeting with him every tuesday. It has been an awesome part of my week, meeting with him and the other college guys that go to our church. This past summer we dived in to the smaller new testament books. It has overall been an awesome experience, and I'm thankful to have been led to such an awesome body of believers.

Since joining, I have been involved in 2 comminity events that have happened over the course of two weeks. National Night out was a huge success. We orgainzed the event to invite the community that lived around our church to a night out to get to know each other and for their kids to play together. I got stuck doing face painting. It was actually fun. Here's some of the pics of that:

Elizabeth- a artist in the making

Bugs Bunny

Flower.

Me and Kristin after painting.

This past week me and Vincent have been able to volunteer at VBS. This has been a special time for me and him to say the least. We ride the van with our Pastor, Russ. We go down into the neighborhood and pick up the kids, we pick up kids of Florida St. and down in Pearleaf apartments also picking up kids down along the way. It has really made my week reaching out to them, and being able to invest my time and efforts into those kids. Be praying for these kids as they continue to learn just who Jesus is and what He means to them. Pray for unity in Pearleaf, with the kids and families. Pray for Elijah and Ozzy, two kids who live in Pearleaf, they both have trouble situations going on and all they need is for someone to love on them and tell them that what they are doing is right. Pray these kids follow their dreams like Elizabeth and get away from that atmosphere and make something of themselves. Most of these kids have been told that they will not do anything with their lives and are just going to get in with the wrong crowd, instead of following their dreams like they want. Help them to know that Jesus loves them. 

New Beginnings

So after a long day yesterday, moving back to greensboro. I am finally settling into my apartment. I arrived to the complex where we will be staying yesterday at around 11am with a car full of stuff. After paying and exchanging nice kind words with the lady who was there to welcome us, I left out to find our new place on the backside of the complex. At first I was looking around stupidly, I had no idea where I was supposed to go, I ended up calling my best friend Vince and asking him for directions to our place. I walked up to find that we were in fact matching -> lol. Anyway after moving some stuff in we decided to pick which rooms that we wanted, Vince had already said that he wanted the room with the balcony, and I was okay with that. I decided to go with the room across the hall from his, I think it worked out well. We only have to share our bathroom, which is nice btw. Overall the place looks great with just a few minor issues, some chips in the paint here and there. Our power has been turned on thank the Lord for that. The only thing we need to get is our internet which will happen tommorrow at the latest! We ended up finding a good deal on it, to where its 15 dollars a month! God has seriously blessed us in our place, most stuff was donated or given to us for the cost of nothing. What a God!!

I ask for your prayers as we begin this journey this year for most of us, being the first time living off campus in our own place!

thanks yall

Matt,Vincent and Lee

Marriage. Am I doing it for the right reasons?

Today I saw my friend Heith marry his beautiful bride Christian. It was a wonderful ceremony and the reception was off the chain. I enjoyed myself, and was able to spend some time with my brothers driving two and from Kings Mountain, which is on the other side of Gastonia and Charlotte.  On the way back we were listening to some slow jams and just having fellowship. I felt the Lord speak to me about something.

Here's what I heard: Marriage is more than just having intercourse with your wife/husband. You don't marry just to recieve that. If you do you have a mixed up view of marriage and not fit to marry. 

That really hit me as we were driving back... its not based on that, its much more than that. It's a support system, a compaionship. Much more than sex. God created man and female to be in companionship with each other.