Strong Foundation ~ Our first week!

After our bitter sweet departure from Jonesville, we trekked across Louisiana to San Antonio, Texas.  We arrived at Strong Foundation Ministries on Sunday afternoon and quickly jumped right into the work that God had waiting for us.  For those of you that don't know, we are right downtown only 1/4 mile from the Riverwalk. 
  
So, as we got off the interstate, as I sat at the light waiting to turn left to go to the center I thought to myself, "What a stark contrast".  If you look to the right, you see literally millions of dollars in tourism, hotels, Riverwalk, the mall you name it and if you look to the left, just on the other side of the bridge is poverty, that is where Strong Foundation is located.  It is hard to comprehend as you walk around downtown Riverwalk that there are 100's if not 1000's of homeless people all over that area.  The typical tourist will just over look them, won't make eye contact, won't even look in their direction, they are the outcast.  Jesus went to the outcast, the poor and the overlooked.  This is what Strong Foundation is doing as well.  They open their doors to those families who are serious about making a change in their life and just need a little help to make that happen.  One of my favorite things they say and believe is that "It's not the childrens' fault".  Strong Foundation not only offers help through their program, but also offers the only one that can truly help them, Jesus Christ. 

Let me first introduce you to Strong Foundation Ministries with their own words.  If you would like to know more about them, click on the SF story link, it should answer all your questions.  Strong Foundation's Story  I think that says it all!  On a side note, if you are interested in visiting, volunteering or would like to make a contribution, go to their website Strong Foundation and contact them under Contact Us or just let me know and I will put you in touch with them.

So, we arrived on Sunday and were in full swing Monday.  Since we were here two years ago helping for a couple of months, it was great to catch up with all of the old staff - new staff - and all of the residents.  We are staying in the mission house which is reserved for volunteer missionaries that come to help and for residents that have showed exceptional leadership qualities, volunteer staff or residents that are giving back to the ministry serving in some way. 

(Sneak peek-completed
decorations in next post)

The three of us were quickly reoriented.  We are pretty much picking up where we left off last time doing the same things.  Daddy is helping with the maintenance stuff and all that entails.  Momma is helping with KidzTime, which is helping with the kids during the life skills classes that the residents must attend as part of the program and helping with the children's church on Sunday mornings.  I am working in the office in assisting Cheryl, the office manager with anything and everything she needs me to do.  OH, Mom and I are also helping with the Christmas Staff & Volunteer appreciation party - right up our alley - we get to come up with and make the decorations and table settings...LOVE IT!!!

The Praise and Worship dance team

Arriving Thanksgiving week was great - we were able to cover the office and phones and help with the other volunteers with the Thanksgiving dinner.  By being willing to do this the staff was able stay home and enjoy Thanksgiving with their families as well.  A group of the older children wanted to do a praise & worship dance for the families before lunch, so they not only coordinated the dance, they also taught the younger children a dance and they were both able to show their wonderful talent for all of us before we ate.  It was such a wonderful day, being a part of something so special.  All the volunteers decorated tables - made the plates for the residents and actually served our new friends that are participating in the SF program.  What an honor it was.  Momma was having fun going around taking pictures and the kids loved it and yes, I was guilty of photo bombing a couple of them.  We had such a great day!.

Praise team leading worship

Pastor Jim

On Sundays the common area gets turned into the sanctuary where church is held.  They are not required to attend, but it is really cool because most of them do.  Please pray with us that God will continue to do what ONLY HE CAN DO - open eyes, change hearts and make new creations, causing those to go from life to death in a blink of an eye.  We have quickly fallen in love with the residents and pray that we will some how some way be used by God to shine His light and be able to share His truth every opportunity we have.

Please pray also for the staff at the foundation as well.  This can be a very thankless job at times, from people and the residents.  We are so very grateful that God has allowed us to come along side of them and in any way possible to be a refreshment to the staff.  To lift them up, give them a break and yep you guessed it...give them a few laughs as well.  One thing for sure is that this Vandeventer mission team LOVES to laugh and let the joy of Jesus overflow everywhere we go. 

Please remember ALL of us at Strong Foundation as we serve with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we mentor and disciple new brothers and sisters.  The truth is, there may be staff, volunteers and residents here by the worlds standards, but in God's eyes - if they are a child of God - we are ALL brothers and sisters in ONE family!  Doesn't get much better than that!!! 

So pray that as we become a part of Strong Foundation for the next month and a half, that we always remember, it isn't US and THEM, we are ONE family!

We will be posting weekly while we are here serving - there is LOTS coming up that you won't want to miss!

Talk to you soon!

Kristi
Carol & Bob
RV'n 4 Jesus
Galatians 6:9-10

 

Our wonderful Thanksgiving day at Strong Foundation

 The praise and worship dance performance

Thanksgiving dinner

Clean-up!

 Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹² So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. ¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

                                                                                   Hebrews 13:1-18

Thank you so much for those of you who have donated and or help sponsor our journey across the United States.

If you would like to donate or would like to sponsor us, the information is below. If you have any questions or concerns, please just let us know and we will get back with you right away.

Donations and Sponsors are welcomed and most appreciated!
Giving is a blessing for others as well as a blessing to us.

PayPal account -

Enter kristiskreations1@yahoo.com (my business account) and follow the instructions.
If you do NOT have a Pay Pal account there is a .59 cent fee for the transaction.



To mail a check - please send it to our home church ~
First Baptist Church Salt Springs
C/O Mary Beth Gervais
24100 NE Hwy 314
Salt Springs, FL 32134.

Either way, whether you choose to make a contribution or not, please know that your prayers are very much wanted, needed and appreciated. We are walking by faith and know that God will provide! Thank you and God Bless!