City Lights Extravaganza!

Hello, friends! 

In just about 36 hours, registration is going to close for City Lights, InterVarsity's Urban Spring Break Project.  Over the past 20 years, literally thousands of students have made their way to Saint Louis to learn about God's heart for the poor as well as have their lives changed as they work alongside those who are trying to rebuild the city from the inside out. 

There are so many things to love about City Lights.  I'll try to highlight a few of them.  The thing that I love most is probably how City Lights makes it a point to work alongside those who are living in the city, instead of coming in Superman style and trying to fix things for "helpless citizens."  The folk who lead our worksites have lived in the city for years and can tell stories about what it's been like living in the area and seeing God move through different circumstances.  It feels much more like a partnership than it does a simple service project. 

Another thing that I love about City Lights is that it actually changes students and campuses.  I'll give 2 examples.  A few years ago, a group of students from Lindenwood University attended their first City Lights.  Their response to what they did and learned there was to organize a week on campus devoted to human trafficking awareness.  Last Summer, a Mizzou student decided that he was so inspired by what City Lights did that he designed his own summer City Lights project for students living in Columbia over the summer.  That, my friends, is how lives get changed. 

One last thing that I want to mention about City Lights is that City Lights deepens relationships.  Students are bonded to those who work in the city.  Students are bonded to one another (including a few marriages!).  Staff and students are bonded as they do service with one another.  It is a week that is just as much about relationships as it is about getting work done. 

Friends, right now we have 13 students who are going to be attending City Lights from Mizzou and 6 more from Columbia College, many of them for the first time!  We are super excited for each of them and have been praying that God will be preparing their hearts for what He has in store for them. 

Here are two ways that you can help:
- Please PRAY for our students as they prepare for City Lights.  Usually, the weeks leading up to City Lights are filled with all sorts of spiritual attacks.  Please pray for good protection, as well as for the staff. 
- You can also GIVE if you'd like to our scholarship fund.  We believe that money is a terrible reason for students to not be able to do something, so we make sure that we have scholarships available for students who may not otherwise be able to attend City Lights.  If you'd like to give, you can click the link here. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

Hooray for Teamwork

Hello, friends!

Greetings from beautiful Columbia, Missouri, where we just had an area wide staff meeting!  Most of the other staff in the Missouri area are living in St. Louis, so usually or meetings are out there but once a semester they are good enough to make the trek out to see us so Megan and I don't have to travel.

Today was a super fun area day because we got to do a little experiential learning. See, our area used to actually be 2 areas that merged not too long ago. That means 12 staff who now have to get a used to a bigger team with different strengths and personalities. Our area leadership team thought it would be fun for us to do some service together in order to bond. The project was to wash the walls at our house so we could get ready to paint. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Of course, free house cleaning is always nice but what I think I appreciated about the day was how natural it was for us to all work together. I have known most of these folk for years and consider them to be very good friends. It was good to see that we could work together so smoothly. It bodes well for the future. =0).

Here are a few photos from our time together. Nice work, Team MO fast MO furious!

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Goodbye, Old Friend

Hello, friends! 

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved car, The Rolla.  After 300,589 miles, the engine finally gave out.  The only remedy is a full engine repair which would cost considerably more than the car is worth (at least in monetary terms).  The Rolla will be donated to Kars4Kids on Monday. 

The Rolla didn't suffer at all.  Megan and I were on our way to Kansas City so she could catch a flight to Minneapolis to visit her sister and our new nephew.  While driving on 70, the check engine light came on, which has never happened as long as I've owned the car.  Then it started to rattle, a piece of the engine fell out the bottom, and I couldn't accelerate anymore.  I coasted to the side of the road, called AAA for a tow, and that was that. 

Friends, it's been an incredible ride with the Rolla.  My goal was to get it to 300k and we got there.  The Rolla has driven through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  It has survived cracked windshields, terrible weather, and less than wonderful driving conditions.  I never had to spend more than $800 a year on repairs.  The Rolla once got 48 miles to the gallon and only once got less than 20 mpg, averaging about 36 mpg for its life. 

So, goodbye, old friend.  You have been there for me, driving back and forth between Columbia and St. Louis for so many years.  You helped me keep my job.  You helped me maintain my relationship with the wonderful woman who is now my wife.  I did my best to treat you well and I know that you did the same for me. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam