The Future of MAYAs

Hello All!

We had a good time with the Lincoln City folks yesterday. They are a kind and compassionate group. I am glad we were able to share in ministry with them!

On another note, this summer marks our 2nd year since we came together as a group. We have had a lot of amazing experiences together and a lot of fun. We have had strong relationships built from the group and the ability to share in faith with one another.

I have been praying for the group and the direction we should be going. I have also been praying about my own personal contributions to the group and need to discuss this with the group. I would like us to all pray and reflect on MAYAs, where we want to go, and what we are willing to do to help. So when we come together we will be able to openly share.

Please join us on July 26th at 3pm for a get together with fun and seriousness as we discuss the future of the MAYAs. Details below:

What: Swimming, BBQ, discussion about the future of MAYAs
When: July 26, 3pm to around 8*
Where: Rachel's new place, Wilsonville, OR (Directions will be sent out beforehand)
Bring: food, stuff to grill, dishes, desserts, etc, bathing suit, towel
Ride: If you need a ride let me know and we will get you here.
RSVP: Yes, and let us know what food you will be bringing

*If you just want to come for dinner and the discussion come around 5pm

Financial Peace Round # 2

Hello again,

I am really excited to have the chance to offer a life changing class starting April 15th at Tuality Community of Christ Church. You may have read about it in last months Herald. The class is entitled Financial Peace University and it is taught by radio host Dave Ramsey (by DVD not in person). The class will change the way you think about money. It will teach about giving, saving, and spending. All 13 lessons will give great information that will help you to learn how to better handle your money get out of debt, save more, and spend less. You not only learn about paying off debt, but you also gain valuable information on what types of insurance to buy, how to invest, how to use cash to get better deals, how to deal with creditors, and many other valuable lessons.

The lessons are entertaining and the group discussions will help bring something to each member that attends. We are currently 8 weeks into our first class and I can already see transformations in the families. I am starting to see what true Financial Peace means in there lives as they begin the steps to transform. As I speak with them I can already see there confidence rising and there hearts filling with joy as they give more and worry less. I can not wait to share this great class with more of you so that you can also feel the power that comes from financial peace. Class starts soon so please contact me at http://us.mc454.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lahuebrown@msn.com or 503-336-4413 if you would like to attend. I will be ordering materials soon.

God Bless, Douglas Brown TCC

When: Starts April 15th runs 13 weeks on Wednesday nightTime: 6:30-8:30 pmWhere: Tuality Community of Christ Senior High RoomCost: $93 per family (family includes Husband,Wife, and children 18 and under) Childcare will be available if needed (please tell Doug when you sign up) Please sign up as soon as possible so that materials can be ordered.

A Wii Bit of Fun

Join us March 28th at 6:30 pm for a Wii bit of fun at Vanessa Grace's apartment. Bring your Wii games, favorite snacks and food for some fun and fellowship. We will play Wii games and enjoy each others company! Please RSVP if you are coming or if you need a ride!

World Service Corps

CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE FOr

WORLD SERVICE CORPS!

CLICK HERE

New Year's Eve Party

What are you doing for New Year’s?
Do you want to go Back to the Future?
How about Partying like its 1989?

The Metro Area Young Adults will be rockin’ in the New Year with a blast from the past!
If you ever dreamed about busting Ghosts, joining the Goonies, hanging out with Ferris Bueller, or unleashing your inner Teen Wolf, now is the chance to relive that crazy decade of neon t-shirts, jean jackets, leg warmers, Kangol hats, and checkerboard docksiders.

When: December 31, 2008 from 8 pm until we become the Breakfast Club
Where: Rachel Porter’s apartment
What to wear: Your favorite 80s outfit or dress like a character from an 80s movie
What to bring: Your favorite snack from the 80s.

Pizza, soda, salad and ice cream will be provided.

Popular hits from the 80s will play as we compete for cool prizes from the decade during a game of 80s trivia.

After the countdown into the New Year, we will play a hit movie from the 80s for those planning to stay overnight.

Please RSVP Rachel Porter at metroareaya@yahoo.com by December 27th

Emma Smith: My Story

What: The past year a movie about Emma Smith's life debuted on the big screen for a short while. "Emma Smith: My Story" is a historical fiction based on her life and involvement in our church's beginnings. We will be watching it on DVD. We will take some time afterwards to discuss it as well.
When: Saturday December 13th, 6-9pm
Where: Vanessa Grace's Apartment (email group for address and directions), Guest parking is near the mailboxes
Food: Your own dinner (sack, left overs, take out), we will visit, share, and eat before the movie.
Cost: free
RSVP: Please let us know if you plan on attending. Thanks~

Do These Shoes Fit Me? By Jason Keesee

Do These Shoes Fit Me?
By Jason Keesee

It’s never easy to walk in someone else’s shoes. Even if that person hands them over to you. Will they fit correctly? Will they be comfortable? Will they fit not just you, but your personality? Were they made for your intended use of them? Will they last as long as they did for the previous owner? These questions may not make sense to you now, but they will. Let me explain.
I am a Priest. I like being a Priest. It very much suits who I am and the ministry that I can provide for not just my congregation, but my Mission Center as well. I come from the Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center. I was born and raised in Oregon and currently live in Vancouver, WA (just over the border from Portland, OR). I know most everyone that I see at our yearly family reunion at the beautiful Lewis River Campgrounds. I don’t think I could be anywhere else in the entire world. Unless, of course, God has something to say about it. And maybe God did have something in mind for me. I felt I was needing to do more. I was at a point in my ministry where I was looking for more.

It was at Reunion 2007 that I was approached by some folks who had a proposition for me. I was asked if I might be interested in taking over the Senior High Camp from the current director who was looking to step down after 19 or so years to pursue another path in his ministry. To be totally honest, I was surprised that I would even be thought of to take over his spot. I had not only never directed a camp before, but the thought of taking over for someone that had been in that role for almost 20 years was quite intimidating. I was looking for more, but not this much more. Or so I thought.

I then spoke to the director about it. I was humbly surprised to find out that he also supported me stepping in for him and taking the reigns. I was honored that he had that kind of trust in me (thanks Rick).

He invited me to come up on the last night of his camp to get an idea of what it was like. I hadn’t been to Sr. High camp since I was a camper. And it just happened to be his first year, too. I hadn’t been there as neither a counselor or pastor or cook or anything before. And certainly not as director.

I went up at the end of the week of the camp to the grounds. The kids were getting ready for the final campfire when I arrived. I knew most of them from other youth events that I had participated in as well as Reunion. I said hi to a few of the kids and some of the counselors too. They had all heard that I was considering taking over (I hadn’t made a decision as of yet) and were all asking me if I was going to. I told them that I hadn’t made up my mind yet.
While the final campfire was going on, I hung back a ways so as not to be a distraction. Even though they all knew me, I was still a bit of a stranger to that camp. It was still the current director’s camp. I was just a fly on the wall.

After watching campfire, I noticed an amazing spirit amongst the kids and staff that night. They were a very tight group. There was a lot of love for each other, and the spirit was there too. No doubt about it.

I left that night thinking to myself on the way home. “Is this the right thing to do? Do I deserve to take over a legacy like this? Will these shoes fit me?”

I had one more person to talk to about this. I had to make sure that the boss was ok with me leaving her at home with our own kids before I go trekking off for a week. Amazingly, she gave me her blessing as long as I would put my all into it…and prayed about it.

Yep, give it to the Lord. Let it be God’s will. How simple, right? It was until I spoke later to the director after I had said yes that I realized what I was really in for. We met for lunch one day in the fall and talked about what he put into his camp and what it took to run it. We talked for about 90 minutes about it. But instead of being intimidated, I felt a sense of calming about it. Yes, the Spirit was there very quietly telling me to “go ahead, do it”. But I was also excited about it, too. And confident.

And so, I went about preparing, getting a theme, finding counselors, cooks, nurse, lifeguard, and kids. In talking to the kids at my home congregation, they were as excited about camp, if not more, than I was.

Camp came and went. I came home when the week was done, said hi to the kids went upstairs and chatted with my wife about the week. I was so exhausted, but filled. I couldn’t really say anything. I just turned to her, put my head in her lap, and cried. Not in sadness, but for joy. Joy because it went so well. Joy because the kids all had a good time. Joy because I had put something together that was a success. Joy for the staff that I had who put their all into it as well and made it a success. Joy in my camp pastor/co-director who also mentored me the whole way with great advice and positive reinforcement. It was AWESOME!

Will I do it again, you better believe it. It was a learning experience for me. Trust in the gifts that God gave you and his work shall be done. And have trust in a new pair of shoes. Who knows where they will take you next.