Mission Houston 2014

Asbury 7th Grade Mission Trip to Houston, TX

March 15th, 2014

Momma wishin' her girl the very best as she heads off for her very 1st mission trip!

Daddy's turn!

Azlee and Abby (friends since they were 3!)

Abby and Brennan (BF from Jenks)

C Group Jenks Gals

(Hallye, Abby, Brennan, Peyton)

1st Night in Houston

1st Day of Serving - Clothing Shelter

Carolyn S hangin' with her girls

Riding the train

Abby with her small group leader Mary and fellow team members

*WORSHIP!

The Light Train

 Prayer...nothing like it

Favorite pic of the week

 More WORSHIP!

 Ark Kids!

(Will, Anna, Azlee, Emma, Abby, Ben)

 Time to head back to T-Town

 Sunday, March 30th

Houston MTrip Celebration ~ Brennan shared her testimony!

Dear Supporter,

My Mission Trip to Houston, Texas this past week was INCREDIBLE!!! Thank you for all of your prayer and support while I was serving people. My favorite thing we did was go and play with kids at their apartments. I met a little six year old girl named Justice, and she was such a joy to play with. She told me that her father left when she was three years old and her mom works everyday (it broke my heart). I was happy that I got to go and make her day along with many other joyful little kids. 

On Tuesday we were offered the challenge of fasting through breakfast and lunch and not eating till dinner. It was very difficult not eating because who doesn’t love food! Every time I thought about eating, or my stomach growled, I would pray. Another hard part about fasting was that day we served people by packing bags of food, and guess what job I had... sealing the packages. So every time I sealed the package, I had to smell all of the food inside. So what I did was every time I smelt it I prayed to God saying, “Other people need this food more than me” (and it helped!). Overall, fasting was a great eye opener for me. I got to feel and see what most people go through everyday without food. After the trip I made a goal for myself to fast once a month. While fasting, I grow closer to God, and that is my main goal for life. 

On Wednesday, my group and I went on a giant scavenger hunt around Houston. We got to do many amazing things including going to the top floor of Houston’s tallest building, visiting a park dedicated to the loss of loved ones in the 9/11 attack, and for lunch, we got to go to a park and serve meals to homeless people. I met a man named Richard who did not have a job, and he slept at a homeless shelter. After we talked for about twenty minutes, I handed him a cross and told him God loved Him. In return, I got the most heart warming smile shining on his face! :-)

On Thursday, my group and I delivered meals to kids whose parents could not afford meals for them. When we were delivering the meals it really tore my heart to see little kids waiting in their front lawn depending on these meals to come everyday. While driving away, I would look back and see the biggest smile on their faces. I am so thankful that I am blessed with multiple meals everyday and a roof over my head. I wish there was a way we could stop hunger all over the world. Thanks again for supporting me on this trip. It truly took my relationship with Jesus to a whole new level and helped me to be more grateful for what I have. I cannot wait until next year’s mission trip to Red Bird, Kentucky!!! 

Love, Abby

Mission Jamaica 2014

March 23rd, 2014

Dear Supporter,

This past week, I had the AWESOME opportunity to go to Jamaica on my third mission trip. The entire trip was a huge blessing! In Jamaica, we did construction work as well as led Vacation Bible School at Jamaican schools. The beauty of the island of Jamaica is an incredible creation of God. I was lucky to be on “Team Domin8” (dominate) the entire week.

On Saturday, I arrived in Jamaica at about 7:00 pm. All we had time to do was eat dinner and go to bed. The next morning, my group and I went to Good Hope Baptist Church for church. That night, we had wonderful night of worship. On Monday, my team and I went to Duncan's school and we worked with grade 5 students. Later that day, we went back to Good Hope Church and we worked on mixing concrete and carrying it to a wall that we were building 100ft away. We did the same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday as we did on Monday. On Thursday, we went to the Samuel Prospect Basic School where we had a sport day with ten seven year olds. That afternoon, we went to the infirmary where we spent time with the elderly and unemployed reading the Bible and praying with them. The next day, Friday, we had the opportunity to go to Ocho Rios and to the market, as well as to Dunn’s River Falls were we climbed the falls and spent time on the beach. Saturday, we spent the entire day traveling home to America.

This week, everything I experienced was fantastic. Some of the highlights were the delicious chicken & rice and juicy patties, the physically challenging construction work and the ministry to Jamaican children. One way I feel encouraged as I have returned home is to have the endurance to be in God’s Word every day. I also feel motivated to continue on the path of less of me and more of God. Thank you so much for helping me to be able to go on this journey. The Jamaica mission trip was my favorite trip to date, and I look forward to many future opportunities to serve.

         Love, Will

Fall Retreat Fun

Abby was SO excited that her friend Savi was able to attend Asbury's Fall Retreat with her! It was super last minute, but worked out just in the nick of time!

Petyon, a friend from Jenks Pom, was also aboard the bus to NLR!

(FYI: Peyton's mom became Abby's C-Group leader a couple weeks later...gonna be great!)

Will headed home after a super awesome weekend of fun!

I was soooo thankful that A and W were able to attend a retreat together...Won't get to again for 3 more years. :-(

(Will continues to love church and its plethora of activities more than anything else in his life...nothing can stop this boy from being there on Sunday mornings, evenings and Wed nights! It fills his cup...)

Kentucky Bound

My firstborn, Will, is about to go on his 2nd Mission Trip with our beloved church's 8th grade youth group. (last year they went to Houston) They will be going to serve in Redbird, Kentucky.

This year's trip is extra special because Will is part of the *Worship Team. He's the one on the far right playing guitar.  This fabulous foursome put in hours of hard work to make this happen. 

A copy of his support letter:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. ______,

Spring break week (March 15-23), I have an opportunity to go to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky, with Asbury's Breakaway Student Ministries. We will have the chance to plug into the work Red Bird Mission does in serving the rural poor. We will be building porches, doing minor home repairs, and helping create handicap accessibility through ramp construction at various homes. The objectives for this trip include exposing us to a wide variety of cultures and needs as well as challenging us to see what our role and responsibility is as Christians. Red Bird Mission will be a rural setting, allowing us to experience and learn about the Appalachian people of Kentucky. I want to go on this trip because I really want to spread joy to other people through service. I look forward to sharing with you the stories of lives changed and how this experience has impacted my life when I return. In Return of your gifts and/or prayers, I would like to do a service for you such as shoveling ice or snow (if the need arises), babysitting (I've been through the red cross babysitting course), raking and bagging leaves, or yard work. Thank you for partnering with me in mission. It is an honor to be an agent of joy in our world.         Love, Will Ruley

Words cannot express how proud Greg & I are of this boy. He is everything we prayed for in a son. His dedication to his Faith is so moving to all who know him. He truly loves church more than any human being I know. He will choose it over anything...and I mean anything.

Oma, Grandpa, & Mimi all came to watch Will perform 

Will's lifelong best friend and his sweet Momma came to support Will as well

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” — William Carey

BF's since 2nd Grade

“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him“ — Hudson Taylor

Mark Fowler, Asbury's Jr High Youth Director, a.k.a. *Huge Mentor to Will!

God is interested in every part of your life, not just the spiritual part.  As we live by the Holy Spirit’s power, we need to submit every aspect of our lives to God – emotional, physical, social, intellectual, and vocational.  Paul says that because we’re saved, we should live like it! The Holy Spirit is the source for your new life, so keep in step with his leading.  Don’t let anything or anyone else determine your values and standards in any area of your life.

Momma's 1st born love

Matthew 28:19-20  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

March 31st, 2013

Thank you so much for helping me on my mission trip to Kentucky with prayer and financial support. Without the help of my supporters, my trip would not have been the same. I have been able to accomplish so much on this trip with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. My work group and I had the privilege to stay at Red Bird Mission and work on building a porch for the long-term dorms. We finished our project in two and a half days time. Once our project was finished, our group was fortunate enough to help another group demolish old cabins.

During the trip, the Lord led me spiritually in ways indescribable. Seeing how poor all the residents in the stick hills of Kentucky changed my perspective of people. The people in Kentucky were some of the happiest people I have ever seen. They had nearly nothing, yet the Lord was with them, and they loved their lives. The residents in the stick hills of Kentucky were so grateful for us to come and fix their homes. I now realize that back home, my family and I live like kings and queens compared to the residents of Kentucky.

While I was in Red Bird, three of my good friends and I had the amazing opportunity to lead worship for everyone that had gone on the mission trip. My whole perspective of playing the guitar was completely blown away as we led worship for God. Although we only knew eight songs, we played eight amazing songs that were awe-inspiring for everyone there. My favorite moment during the trip happened on Wednesday night when my friend Hunter gave his life to Christ. Forever we will be changed.  

With love and thanks, Will