areeves's Xanga

Dodgeball Dodgeball Dodgeball!!!

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:41:25 GMT

dont miss out on this years dodgeball tourney!!!!!

get as many people involved as possible and dont forget all the give aways!!

we have tons of gift certificates, including tons of free meals around town!

hope to see you there!

get registered at www.bcnyouth.com

New Year

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:22:55 GMT

Well, a new year is getting started and I am very excited for what it may hold for us. Glad we have one year under our belt already and we can continue to make improvements and get to know one another deeper.

Speaking of Improvements... DODGEBALL... Nov. 2nd... should be the best one yet!

Ski Retreat.... Bring a friend in order to come.... and you dont want to miss this one!

Life Groups are getting underway. I look forward to those relationships.

Finally THRIVE is on WEDNESDAYS this year... 6:30 at the AOH!

PS- Smores, my house, friday after the football game

Sand Volleyball and Cookout

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:30:01 GMT

tomorrow- June 20th 12:00Noon

Sand Volleyball and Free Cookout

BCN- Be There

all are invited and should bring friends!!!!

It's Been A While

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:02:07 GMT

OPPS!!

Sorry it has been so long since my last entry. Life gets crazy like that sometimes and I guess this lost priority!!

I have returned from Africa ofcourse and wow, what an experience. It was one of the most difficult and yet most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. Funny how that works. Sometimes the Lord's work is like that, but when we get dirty for the Lord, the rewards are so great! I still struggle to try to put my experience into the right words in order for others to understand. It is hard for me to convey the experience because unless you have been there, you can't understand. It has changed my life though. It has changed my perspective on everything, even in ways I would have never anticipated, like sports. I love it there. The Lord is so evident. There is something absolutely amazing when you have to depend on the Lord for everything you do and recieve... that includes food, health, shelter, safety, and water. America is a great place to be, however, we dont have to depend on God for our basic needs... we pretty much go and meet them ourselves, that is why I have grown to think that the hardest place to encounter the true living God is in the States, because we dont have to depend on him. Never the less.... He is definitely here!!! We need to give Him the credit for what we have.

Along with Africa- there were several kids that I have fallen in love with there. I wish I could bring them all home with me, or go live with them longer. They are awesome kids, so fun and full of life even though they have nothing. They help to put life in perspective too. What I use to think mattered, matters no longer. Nothing is really a big deal anymore.... but we often make a big deal out of nothing. I would like to be more like them. They have taught me more than I will ever be able to re-teach. What a wonderful time.

Now the Lord has be back here at BCN where I get to hang out with my students again that I missed so dearly! I am having fun hanging out with them and getting to spend time together. Perhaps we can make a difference together!

By- The - Way!!!!! I'm Engaged!!!! Jon asked me to marry him on May 25th when we ventured to Northern Michigan to visit his host family and watch some ball games. He asked me at sunset while we were hiking and we had gotten to the top where the forest opens out onto of Lake Michigan...it was beautiful! Hooray!!!

in africa

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:27:26 GMT

well, this is the only way i know to do a group update! i am in Africa! it is an amazing and crazy experience. this is a totally different world. travels were great getting here. my health has been pretty good. my body has gone through alot of changes and what not, but i have adjusted for the most part and feeling good most of the time. i have just spent the last week and a half in an orphanage and visiting very remote and primative villages. some of them are places that world hunger delivers to. it is something that can never be explained in words. it brings a new meaning to out in the middle of no where....literally. it has been one of the most challenging things i have ever done, and yet the Lord provides in amazing ways...constantly. thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. i will love to put pictures up when i return. it is an experience of a lifetime. God is Good. i surrender my will to His. :) Love Love Love

WOAH! its been a long time!

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 03:39:14 GMT

Woah. sorry it has been so long since i have updated my entry. funny how life can get busy and we forget about other things we are trying to be so intentional about.

how is everyone? i would love a not back with updates!

I realized today that i have less than two weeks until i leave for Africa. I think 12days is the correct number. Sunday April 1. it is pretty strange and surreal to be going in 12 days, almost everything is worked out. it is so astounding to look back and think that over a YEAR ago, i started this journey. i had no clue that it would take me a year to get on this journey. at times, it seemed as though it was just always going to get pushed back but i believed in it and i KNOW God has called me to it. i made the concious choice not to allow it to fall to the wayside, thinking it is too hard or not over coming the road blocks.

When there are road blocks in life, that doesnt mean we shrug our shoulders and turn around and go home, forgetting about our final destination. it means we find the detour and commit to the journey, despite frustrations and perhaps a lengthened journey. it makes i all the sweeter in the end.

i accept those challenges. Throw me a curve ball....and watch me hit it.

New Site

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 20:10:11 GMT

Evidentally the youtube site on my previous entry is expired. The following should still be showing. if not, go to youtube and search for "If everyone cared" by Nickleback. make sure it is thier music video. it is fabulous, with inclusion of Nelson Mandella.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xF7jBT9VQJE

Love Love

Make a Difference

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:43:33 GMT

So, we have been talking alot about making a difference. Senzeni Na? What have we done? I know and believe with all of my heart that youth and lead a revolution. I hope together we can do just that.

So now we are on a journey to find out what it is we are to do, and how it is that we are going to do it. I think the first step is to be willing to try for things you never thought possible. Amy Williamson sent me an email about what she saw in her sociology class and how that made her think of the things we are learning. it is on youtube, and i encourage you all to go to the address below to view the video. It is definitely something that will make you want to make a difference. When others in our world have strived for justice, they definitely made a difference. It is our duty to do the same. Together, we can.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=o19sHX42uHg

Just an Update

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:13:34 GMT

Hey everyone!!

I got back from Africa last week and almost immediately left for the ski retreat. SHEEW...I was tired. It took me almost a week to get back to the right time zone and to get back into the swing of things. It was a fabulous trip! FABULOUS!! The Lord taught me alot and revealed to me another portion of His heart and also revealed things that we can do as the youth to change the things in our culture that need to be changed. I wish I could take all of the Paradox crew with me over there. I met some incredible people from all around the world and got to share in a bit of life and ministry with them. I felt at so much peace while I was there. It was so strange to be in the middle of poverty, injustice, and destruction and still feel so at peace with the Lord. It is cool when you find yourself in places in life where you know that is exactly what the Lord wants for you at that time. I love being so far out of my comfort zone that there is no choice but to depend on God. The people of Africa really know what it means to depend on the Lord. In the midst of sadness, poverty, and injustice, they are so joyful and complete, because they truly know the Lord. You cant help but it see it in them.

It is now my desire and mission, to make a difference. "Senzeni Na?" What have we done? This means to recognize and comfess the wrongs we have done, and also to question ourselves..."What have we done to reconcile? What are we doing to make a difference? What are we doing as Christians to carry out the will of the Lord when Christ prayed...."May it be on earth, as it is in heaven"?

We will make a difference. The youth are the ones who changed the face of thier culture. The youth are the ones who lead the fight for freedom. The youth are the ones who started the change and who made the difference. We shall do the same.

"Young people are capable, when arroused, of bringing down the towers of oppression and raising the banners of freedom."-Nelson Mandella

Im in Africa!!

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:07:57 GMT

hello everyone. my apologies for not being able to post until now. it is day ten in africa and my first internet connection. it is sparce here as you can imagine. i wanted to just say hello as my time is limited on here. i am very much so enjoying my time here and growing in the Lord. He is teaching me so much as i experience the intense injustice that has taking place here as well as around the world. i cant wait to see you all. i miss you and pray for you and brag on you all the time. pray for me as i continue this journey.

the weather is HEAVENLY! :) as well as the people from around the world.

hope to see you at ski retreat!

love love love