Pain is Gain

Have you ever prayed for a quality, prayed real boldly for it too... but then hope that you didn't have to go through the work for it?? i.e. "Lord, give me patience." Yet under your breath you pray, "Just don't make it hurt, don't let this lesson be a painful one." About 4 weeks ago I prayed for humility, and it the back of my head I hoped it wouldn't hurt. Silly me. As a leader, it's scary to ask for humility, there's a chance that you'll get humbled and look and feel like a fool (like I did this week) to those you are trying to mentor. Be that as it may, I'd hate to lose out on this refining process because of my pride. Much like the Lord promised to refine and purify the Levites, so I must go through the same process. I'll take it Lord.

We are still so busy, so I thought I'd catch you up with our activities, not all of them are work :) We find time to play a little!

Here we are on one of our field trips to downtown for our City in Context class. We have also taken a tour via Lolly the Trolley, done a prayer walk on West 25th and visited the West Side Market.

Some play time at the Indians game to see Thome get entered into the hall of fame and fireworks. We were blessed to have some family and friends in town as well!

Here's our classroom. Right now we have about 13 students and interns taking classes with us.

We have started a partnership with Scranton Road church. Here we are helping them at a health fair- we made over 500 sandwiches for this event and face painted. Through out the course of the semester we will be there weekly, helping them with their after school program. Truly an amazing church with amazing people making a great impact on Cleveland.

Twice a week we go to a school in Cleveland who, for most students, speak another language besides English, so we are mostly helping them to read. It's an incredibly eye-opening experience as we learn about these students and their history.

Here we are helping with the renovations at a church property that has been closed and will now be reopened to house believers in the area with the hope of reaching Cleveland for Christ. We could possibly be living here next semester as well!

The Agora Group has been quick to teach us that a lot of time in ministry, schedules change and we need to be flexible. We have learned to be great time managers, taking advantage of every free moment we get- whether that be to study, write, nap, exercise, eat, play, etc.

Also, with each outreach we are a part of, we want to make it a point to stretch ourselves and share our faith with those around us. We like to hang somewhere between Matthew 25 (meeting physical needs) and Matthew 28 (The Great Commission/meeting spiritual needs and evangelizing).

Lord give us the strength and wisdom to live out our day for you, make our hearts as one who wants to be refined by the fire.
"But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver."
- Malachi 3:2-3