Why my #SB2014 was one for the record books!

#SB2014

Last week, I spent spring break in Mexico with this incredible group!
We have all come to know each other in different ways: coworkers, family, friends, mothers, fathers, daughters, and son.
One thing we all have in common is our love for Reynosa, Mexico.

We could have gone to the beach, the lake, or just rested at home like everyone else. Believe me, that would have been easier! There is nothing wrong with any of those things. Dont get me wrong, we all love the beach, but our #SB2014 looked a little different. I wouldn't have it any other way! In spite of changed plans, sickness, lice, rain, delayed flights, lost bags, and tears, I think everyone would agree that it was the best #SB2014 we have ever had!

           Reason #1: We dedicated this family's new home!



Thanks to Wade listening to the Lord and donations by many generous people, This family of 6 (the father not pictured) recieved a two story home, each child haveing their own space and bed!

Reason #2: Brenda's health improved

Brenda is one of the girls who is now drinking ARBONNE shakes and she is doing so well!

Since drinking them, she said she feels better and she is now more verbal and helps around the house more than I have ever seen her! Her mom is so happy and thankful for her daughter's improvement.

 

Reason #3: Loving on the precious kids!  

Every day, kids come to the safe house to play and just be loved! A lot of time is spent coloring, jumping on the trampoline, and hugs, lots of hugs.There is so much laughter and joy all day!

Of course, the boys didn't want their picture taken...

 

Reason #4: My Students

 These sweet girls are about half of the choir I will be teaching next year. I also asked them who wanted to take private voice. They all raised their hands! I am blessed beyond belief to have this opportunity :)

read more about my calling to teach here!

 

I am still raising support for next year, if you want to make a donation you can send money to my paypal: emilymichele2819@gmail.com

 

 

 

Discovery, You are KNOWN!

While attending Samford University, I have been proud to call Trinity UMC of Homewood, my church home! It all began with Discovery Weekend in 2011. This year was my fourth Discovery Weekend and I am still amazed at the amount of students and adults (700, maybe more!) spending time countless hours worshiping our God! This year's theme was KNOWN. Our hope was that by the time the weekend is over, all of our students would feel  that they are KNOWN and LOVED by our savior Jesus Christ!!!

Watch the recap video above, and look at some pictures below to get a glimpse of our God moved at Trinity UMC this past weekend!

We also teamed up with STOP HUNGER NOW to pack 20,000 meals for Haiti! Our God is so BIG!

 

Thank you Trinity for making ME feel KNOWN these last four years, I will miss you all dearly! 

 

 

 

 
Time with friends.
 

 

 

 

Getting more than you give from amazing middle school students!

 

Relationships.

 

Big/Little Mentor Program!

 

 

Worship

 

                                                               Discovery stories!

 

Discovering God's AMAZING Creation!

 

 

Stop Hunger Now with my @elementstudentministry little!!

 

20,000 meals for Haiti!

 

Thanks for reading and I hope you were inspired by this amazing youth group!

 

 

 

More Shakes. Vitamins, too!

Click here to Donate!!

Hey everyone!
So here's the thing. I have a chance THIS MONTH (next 8 days) to buy $700 worth of ARBONNE products for only $350! That's HUGE! Last time, I raised $600 in two days, so $350 should be a breeze. BUT, I need your help! Click on the like above (or below) to donate or at least share this fundraiser with a friend!

The products I will be purchasing are protein shakes for families in need and vitamins! Both of these products will help keep our families in Reynosa, Mexico healthy and nourished! Consider donating or sharing with someone who you think will want to! I am using GoFundMe.com for this fundraiser and I promise you, the money will get to me. I have used them in the past!
So lets keep needy families healthy and get them some nourishment by Donating today!!!

Spaghetti For Mexico!!

 

 

Who wants Spaghetti?!

 

 

This summer, Christ Central Church will make its first solo trip to Mexico! A few of us have been going since 2010 with other churches, but this will be the first we take alone. I cannot tell you how excited I am for this amazing church and youth group to experience Mexico first hand! I hope it changes each and every one of their lives: just like it has changed mine!

 

In preparation for the trip, Christ Central has done a few fundraisers to raise enough money to build a house for a family in Mexico! I was able to be apart of the Spaghetti Lunch held yesterday. Let me tell you, God showed up! So many people came that we were running out of some things as the last few purchased their plate. We exceeded our goal by a landslide! Hoping to raise $600, the final count was $987!! 

 

Thank you to everyone who helped with this fundraiser: My Parents, Mike and Lisa Smith, for heading it up, Christ Central Church, Red Lobster, Johnson's, Christ Central Youth and parents, and anyone else who came, helped, donated, cooked, and supported with your love and spirit yesterday!   

 Enjoy these pictures!

Dios te Bendiga

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

MISSIONMEXICO: Nutrition!

First of all, Feliz 2014! I hope everyone had a blessed holiday season with family and friends! I know some of you set new goals for this year, I know I have! It's taken me a little longer to get motivated though, which is why I haven't posted anything yet. I've had a disconnect. I've thought about my goals and things I need to do, but I just couldn't DO it. I know this is because my relationship with the Lord has not been at its best the past few weeks. All in all, here I am, motivated and ready to start the year!... just about a week late.

I first want to say thank you to Wade Williams- husband of Kerrie Williams. He posted a status on Facebook that absolutely melted my heart! Please read it and consider donating to this cause as well! I will post it at the bottom: Wade and Kerrie are doing some amazing things, following God's calling, and I am so happy to call them friends and family in Christ! His post woke me up from whatever funk I was in and finally motivated me to write this blog. THANK YOU WADE!

Here is my first goal: do more fundraising for Mexico and follow through with ideas God has given me!

The past few years I have slowly but surely been focusing more on health. The past few months in particular, I have been thinking of ideas to raise awareness of the importance of healthy living in Mexico! The problem is, the resources and funds are low for families to provide things that we have such easy access to! So, here is what I am doing: I have gotten an amazing offer from ARBONNE for their Vanilla protein shakes. I am trying to raise $600 to send 600 children's servings to Mexico! That is only a dollar per serving! Crazy awesome right?! So please - DONATE HERE! I took a sample to the Canal in November and they liked it! So, I promise this is a great investment!

1.There are some children who have special needs and can only receive their nutritional needs from some sort of shake such as ARBONNE's protein shakes.
2.Others will be given the opportunity to finally get their daily vitamins and minerals.
3.More importantly: students can get their nutritional needs before going to school where they can learn! Some don't get fed at school so this would be amazing for them!

WADE'S POST: Project PAOLA! Contact me directly to learn how to help this sweet girl!:

"I've got something big I want to do. Project Paola. One of our neighbor families in Mexico that are uber special to us live in one of small houses that Roy and other missionaries built years ago. These houses are small but sufficient for keeping dry. The family is a mom & dad and four girls. Three of the girls are small, 5,6,&7 years old. The oldest girl, Paola, is 14. She is smart. Really smart! She tested into a school for gifted kids and has always been first in her class. She is considered the poor girl at her school and tears flow from my eyes as I write this, thinking of the teasing that kids are so good at dishing out. However, I have a really strong feeling that she will one day bring her family out of poverty and that brings tears of joy. She is brave. So to the idea, This family all sleep in one big bed that is in their 12x24 house. It's hard for me to imagine a 14 year old girl having to sleep with her whole family every night...especially my neighbor. So, I can't stand it and have to do something about it. I want to build onto their house another room for Paola and fix some termite damage on one end of their house. I'm so compelled to see this done, that I told her the other day about the idea and I told her, it WILL be done. So if something happens to me, someone please make sure I didn't lie. Please pray for this project. It needs to happen, we just need some funds for it."

 

You have TWO great opportunities to give! Whether you have made a resolution to give more this year or not, don't miss an amazing way to do so!!!

 

1. Paola's new room!

This is sweet Paola! contact me to donate for her new room!!!


 2. ARBONNE SHAKES!!

 

DONATE HERE!!! 

I will be praying for you all as you go throughout the year. I encourage you to give more and worry less! God will do the rest!

 

Feliz Navidad! Today and everyday!

Merry Christmas! I'm a day late you say? I know I know, Christmas is technically over, but it is ever REALLY over? Of course not! We should celebrate the birth of Christ every day! I know it's not practical to seriously have Christmas every single day, with the presents and decorations and all the trimmings. We can, however, remember Christ's birth and what it meant every day. Don't be sad that Christmas is over, but continue to rejoice the life of Christ each day of the year. Remember the beautiful faces of friends and family you may not see often. I see Jesus in every smile. Family for me is many different things: most represented below, and I pray you are all blessed to have friends and family to rejoice with throughout the year and that you can see Jesus in them. Most importantly, can they see Jesus in you?

 

So, yes, Merry Christmas today and everyday! Jesus wasn't only close to us yesterday, on his birthday. That's the awesome thing about him, he's always here in each one of us!  

 

 

"For unto us a child is born! A son is given!"