Already???

Hello Friends and Family,

It is hard to believe we are already at 27 weeks, meaning the beginning of our third trimester. 12 more weeks and our lives will change drastically...so they say. We are in the early stages of getting this nursery together, oohing and ahhing over the cute clothes, soft blankets, and this....

Christopher's very own Phillies jersey! He has no choice but to be a fan now!

Thanksgiving and Peace

With the holiday season fast approaching, and I, nervously, anticipate cooking my first thanksgiving meal for my in-laws, I am challenged by something...

There has been an increase in shootings these past few nights, feels like every night I hear one or two, and sometimes more shootings near by. For the most part I am "used to" it, as if this is something one gets used to, but more recently I struggle with the Lord. This particular night was noisy with two people arguing in the middle of the street, under our window, using choice words and no regard for those who are trying to sleep at 1am. The struggle is of exposing our little baby in February to all of this commotion. My heart would break if he one day said, "Don't worry Mom, sounds like a (insert gun type) over in the next street!" Of course there is so much any parent can do to protect, but we feel we have no choice.

God called. Andrew and I are not released, and only have the choice to surrender him to God. The "what ifs" drive me crazy at night, and it is in these moments that I have to mentally focus on what this holiday season is about...giving thanks and peace. I may not see peace on streets, but I'm begging for peace in my heart. I may not see the streets pouring with thanksgiving, but in the depths of my heart for me to offer it to a generous God.

The words of "All I have" are difficult to sing at times, and others the most beautiful.

What have I in this life
But the love in your eyes
This empty world will one day fade
Only Your truth will remain

Jesus all I have is you
You're the hope I'm holding to
I might weep but my faith rests in you

As the heavens hold the skies
It's your hand that holds my life
Your love will lead me on
When all else is gone

The funny thing is, Andrew and I were in the middle of a silly fight when this happened. What a way for life to be put into perspective in a matter of a few seconds. The fight was over obviously. That's one thing we can be thankful for. =)

Chester Prison

We are excited about the potential of offering some TUMI courses in Chester State Prison (medium security). We would have to work with existing ministries already in the prison who would identify their Christian leaders and then TUMI could then train them to minister to other inmates inside the prison. As some of you may know, TUMI nationally has partnered with Prison Fellowship and have started a few pilot satellites in southern California to see how it will work. Over the past few years, I am hearing some great things about the program.

One exciting story that I recently heard was that Zane Smith, and Darryl Glover, the original founders of the Crips and Blood (respectively) gangs have come to know the Lord and were actually taking a TUMI class together! It's amazing how God could reform the founders of 2 of the most notorious gangs in our nation's history and use them to reach others.

The warden is a brother in Christ and met with myself and Rick Horne (TUMI mentor), and the meeting went very well. We will hopefully schedule a meeting with the prison chaplain soon.

The Chester State prison is the only drug and alcohol rehab prison in the state of PA. Other prisons may have rehab programs, but this prison is solely used for the purpose of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. From my understanding, prisoners are not sentenced here, but rather sent here by request. With the prison's vision being to rehabilitate, TUMI may fit right in for those who are Christians in the prison and desire to minister to others. In the future, as prisoners are released from this prison, those taking courses, could continue to take courses at our satellite class in our building. This could be a natural bridge for those being released to continue to be trained and perhaps go in to ministry if a church would take them on.

I can see a lot of potential to train up urban men for ministry.

On another note, I recently was able to connect with a someone at our City Team ministry who has applied to take courses with us at TUMI Chester. I am also excited for this opportunity as this potential student will graduate from City Team's program next Spring and continues to desire to grow and be equipped to serve others. I have been hoping to connect with City Team for a few years now and it looks like God has opened this door. Please join me in praising Him for this opportunity!

Please also pray that God would allow us to continue to work together with City Team for any other men who would be interested and have sensed a calling to be trained as a pastor or christian leader. Please pray for a good understanding for the warden and chaplain of TUMI and for myself and Rick on how the prison system works to see how it would fit in with TUMI. Please also pray for wisdom and discernment of how to best plan these courses if it is approved. I also know that if we go ahead with this, we will need to raise a lot of funds since the prisoners would not have any funds to purchase the books and supplies. I want to be sure that we do not completely deplete our existing funds for our satellite for any courses in the prison. So I will need some discernment on this and will be praying that the Lord would provide the funds if this is where He wants us to be.

God Bless.