May 22, 1006
9:30pm (Eastern)
(1-563-843-7429 Access Code#1050777)
Roll Call:
Aaron Bruner
Brandon Headrick
Sarah Lapp
Kyle Crimi
Caitlin Woodward
Traci VanSumeren
Dan Norman
Colleen Foley
Kelly O’Bar
Bekcy Wiltjer
Jen Fancy
Jackie Zuiderhof
Pam Perry
Lindsey McDonald
Sarah Burrows
Megan Dunegan
Christie Albaugh
Molly Garner
Amy Fink
Jeanette Wheeler
Mark Newland
Heather Trimble
Becky Taylor (i think popped in at the end?)
Kari Stembel
Nancy Lengkeek
Laura Frankenfeld
**Please feel free to add your name to this list if I have missed you!
First off,
Molly Garner opened us up in prayer after we got the roll call situated. Aaron lead the group in discussion with the following topics:
1. TEAM COVENANT
-Pam talked us through the covenant with how it looks right now. The covenant is broken down into 5 main categories right now based on Colossians 3:12-17. You can find the covenant thus far in a previous post on this discussion site.
-The ‘covenant committee’ (I can’t remember if there is a different name for them) is going to try and condense it down more
-The words in parenthesis are just examples or
action steps of what that main point could look like; this could look differently for everyone (ex. respect each other could be a main point and then in parenthesis it may say not interrupting each other as a possible way of showing respect)
-In our small groups out on the field, this covenant could look differently than it does for other groups and it could change as we have different experiences and realize some of it isn’t practical or doesn’t fit our group quite right
2. LUGGAGE TAGS
-Aaron
talked about the idea of obtaining luggage tags with our covenant verses on one side and the five covenant points on the other side or Galatians 5:22
-This would be something we could give out to people around us wherever we go
-There seemed to be alot of interest in doing this so Aaron will keep us updated on the progress and information needed on that
3. MEMORIZE COVENANT VERSES
-It was suggested that we memorize our covenant verses (Colossians3:12-17) because the words are so important and when times get tough we can remind ourselves of these verses
-It was also suggested that at later date we come up with a deadline to keep each of accountable to it
4. WORLD RACE BRACELETS
-Jen briefly talked about this idea from the Jan ’08 group
-It would be something we could
give out to people or use it as a fund-raising tool (ex. sell them for a set amount ($2 each or something) or just ask for donation)
-prices are on website and Terri needs to know who is interested and how many to purchase by JUNE 1
5. PRAYER BLOGS
-We discussed our progress and struggles with reading
The Art of Listening Prayer and keeping up with blog answers and group participation
-A few suggestions were made to help: Have one person from the small group post questions for that day each week (ex. I post questions from the book every Monday) This keeps everyone involved and helps keep each person accountable. We also mentioned trying to post as early in the morning as possible so that everyone has all day to respond to the blog depending on what times work best for them to post
-If I understood correctly, we will be doing something similar with
A Warrior’s Journal as well
6. TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT
-Laura answered a few questions for us
-If you are flying, you need to turn in itinerary and cost of flight
-If you are driving, you need to turn in miles (and it is my understanding they take an average of the gas prices; but please correct me if I’m wrong and they want us to turn in receipts for gas)
7. GOOD JOB!
–Laura congratulated us on how well we are doing and reassured us that we are on top of things and aren’t behind, so GOOD JOB guys! She said she has been impressed with our group. One thing at a time; don’t get too overwhelmed. And just know that you aren’t the only one- we are all in this together.
8. ADMINISTRATOR NEEDED
-Laura mentioned that we need one person from
Team D and one person from
Team F to go to the other discussion site and make paste important postings on your own site (for instance, I am on Team D so I need to go to Team F’s website at least daily, if not more and copy important posts to Team D website).
-We had a volunteer from Team F already (Heather Trimble)
-So, now we need a volunteer from Team D to e-mail Laura and let her know you are willing to do it
9. COMMUNITY
-Laura lead us in a discussion about community by asking us questions and expounding on our thoughts
–
WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN? Most people don’t know what community living is
-we responded to answer that question with answers like:
authenticity, honestly, listening, family, togetherness
–
Wikipedia is Laura’s best friend so she gave us a definition of community from that source [
com-with or together;
munis-changes that link;
tatus-small, intimate]
-Laura challenged us with an experience she had while she was on the race. one of her teammates hadn’t been able to raise enough money for the trip and the group had to decide how they were going to use their money. were they going to give their teammate some of their own money or use it for themselves and she said that there is no right answer. Sometimes you need to take care of yourself in certain situations and other times you need to give what resources God has entrusted you with because it is all His anyways.
–
WHAT MAKES THESE SITUATIONS COMMUNAL?
-you hurt together (not just listening or hearing but entering into their pain and sharing in their pain-feel it with them)
-you become last, deny yourself, carry others’ burdens, you
choose to put yourself after others
–
WHY DO WE WANT COMMUNITY?
(We decided it was a good thing)
-some of our answers looked like: God created us for it-for relationship with each other, 3 is better than 1, trinity is an example, in Genesis it says that it is not good for man to be alone and we don’t think it just applies to marriage, everyone has different gifts that are important to the group and that help each other out and make us whole, can’t live without each other, everyone wants to feel loved and valued
-Laura challenged us: write it down, and pull it out when everything seems to be going wrong that community and
commitment is worth it!!
COMMITMENT IS WORTH IT!!
-Laura continued to tell us that the World Race teaches you commitment (need a firm rock when tough times come)
-Each of us needs to ask God to give yourself commitment to each other no matter what
-At times we will not like each other and won’t get along, but realizing that the commitment is worth and reminding each other of our common goal together
–
WHO’S A VISIONARY? (dreamer-sees big picture)
-alot of people in our group said they are visionary
-Laura encouraged us to be vision casters
-When times are tough and we just want to give up (and we will at times) you who are visionaries especially, need to remember the dreams and vision we have, the purpose we’re there and the common goal we have and remind the others. We will need to be reminded because it will be easy to lose focus of the goal at hand and get lost in the muck we’re feeling.
10. COMMUNITY AND MISSIONS SUGGESTIONS
-Nancy talked to us using the wisdom she has from past experiences she has been through
-community and commitment is most difficult when people allow themselves to get
too tired or extent themselves too much
-didn’t have physical strength to do what god wanted them to do
-sometimes, for instance, we may need to choose to take a nap that day instead of hiking the world’s tallest mountain even though we are adventurous and it seems like the chance of a lifetime (maybe I changed her words around or exaggerated, but you get the point)
-Let basic things go and in that weakened state people become less patient and more snappy toward each other
-Harder to maintain basics out on field (rather than at home) but it is at that point that is is the most important
-Spiritual walk (attitude) is most important. If you aren’t spending time with God and let that slide, everything else will crumble and fall apart.
-Dan gave some examples of some things he is going through that show how hard community really is and how to deal with conflict (it’s good practice right now) – learning about being gracious and setting boundaries
10. INVOLVED AT HOME
-We as a group discussed some struggles of deciding whether to get involved with ministries and people at home since we are just leaving in three months
-Reminder: commitment and community is WORTH IT!
-we’re gonna need that support network at home while we’re gone (so start building or continue building it now)
-JUMP-IN because we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. We aren’t even guaranteed to make it to the race, so take every opportunity you are given to love God, love people-and in doing that minister to everyone around you
-have opportunities daily (right where we’re at – God blesses us with that and we can’t lose focus) WHAT IF….we aren’t promised tomorrow? [thanks Brandon for those thoughts]
-It sounds like alot of people are struggling with the same idea – You’re Not Alone!!
11. PRAYER OVER GROUP
-Pam prayed over the group
-That we would find right balance between prep and daily lives and to finish well and not lose focus of God’s vision for us
12: PRAYER REQUESTS
Aaron – that God would make it clear to him about what he should be involved with at home before leaving; also a praise that he is feeling and sounding better!
Sarah Lapp – just wants to be with us; easier way out just to focus on WR family and forget about those at home, so to find the balance between both communities and families; praise and prayer request that she has several summer job nanny positions available to her. pray that God would direct her to the right family
Molly – this weekend family reunion in VA and wondering if that’s where God wants her (sorry I missed more details on that, you might want to add more for us to pray more specifically)
Dan – praise that he got an e-ma
il from the pastor of his home church and he is going to get the kids involved in helping him raise support (doing a change drive and involving VBS)
Colleen – hard time with oldest brother (mental illness) and has been very suicidal. He has had his ups and downs but this is the worst she has seen him (hard to give to the Lord) and it seems to be the only thing on her mind. pray for Dan and the family
Becky Taylor – feels very overwhelmed with everything (you’re not the only one!!) and she tends to shut down and just avoid it all together when she can’t keep up which makes the situation worse when she comes back to it later and there is double the amount she was missing before; can’t keep up with assignments, reading, discussions and needs a focus and dedication system
Kari – just to be able to focus mainly on the reading aspect of preparing for the race. (i always choose hanging out with people over staying in and getting things done – reading in particular); mainly TIME MANAGEMENT is a big problem for me, wasting time
–We all prayed for these requests and each other at once and closed with a big
AMEN all together (and you’re thinking, yes, these notes are almost done- amen! lol)
13. CALL TIME
-i know this isn’t important, but for those who are wondering, the call lasted about 1 hour and 10 minutes (give or take a few)
14. THESE NOTES
-I apologize if these notes are too wordy
–
please feel free to add or clarify anything that needs to be!!
Thanks for baring with me through this LONG list of notes. (I’m bad at condensing – if you couldn’t tell, so I just write everything)
WE ARE FAMILY!!
