The St.John's Kids Camp

So after the block party, 25 college students moved into our neighborhood for the week to serve the kids all on spring break. They did a kids camp at a local church in our neighborhood. 100 volunteers met them each morning to help with the kids throughout the week. I can't even begin to write about all the stories of this last week....but let me tell you, this army of students is on the go to give the hope of Jesus both in word in deed here in Austin! These guys gave me great hope for my own children, that they are leading away of pushing back darkness and making a way for God's redemption and restoration of all peoples!

The camp was every morning until 2pm and then they ate dinner that evening and came to our house for a time of debrief and teaching from Stew. It was the greatest joy to have them enter our house and to see many of them during the day and hear of what God was doing at the camp and in their hearts.

There was a couple and young woman that stayed with us a few nights as they were in town to speak to the team. They do city ministry in Las Vegas and Ft.Worth. They are AMAZING Jesus people! We couldnt' get enough of them....they got to enter our family life for a few days and we got to sit and talk about what God has done and is doing in their life! Aaron, Morgan and keri!! We love you guys and were honored to have you in our home!!

This week has been a gift to us, indeed and a step further towards knowing our neighbors and seeking to just be followers of Jesus around them. PRAISE HIM!!!

For more info on the St.John's week, see our friend's blog entry and videos!

Our First Block Party!!

Ryan turned 2!
It was so fun, that adults pretended to be kids to get a swing at Elmo!
We found the bounce house to be a great babysitter!
The great feast!
After
Before
My dad and wesleyGrant cleaning up trash

Our block party was a week ago...It was the start of an extraordinary week!

The morning started with people from the neighborhood and our church cleaning up the trash in and around our neighborhood. We stayed home and got ready for all of them and neighbors to arrive for food and fun! It was wonderful! the food was a feast as people in the neighborhood brought authentic Mexican food and we had other mixed foods along the side. It was truly a time where many of our church friends got to connect face to face with our neighbors and we got to meet new faces in our neighborhood. One little boy's birthday happened to be that weekend, so we celebrated it with cake and a Pinata!

The response for our neighbors who came and even those who just looked on, was comments like, "We need this in our neighborhood"...."thank you"...."where did you guys come from?"...."you mean you did this for us?"...we had some neighbors stop by after it was over and thank us for the meal...it was all they had eaten that day....others just wanted to say thanks for the joy they found. It was so addicting, that we can't wait to do it again...or invite them in our home. We truly had the poor, homeless, 2 prostitutes, one widow, one drug dealer and many children eating together with the believers of Christ. I'm telling you, there is no life better than that!

Thanks to my dad who came and helped us! We sure enjoyed him and how he served along side of us and was able to live life with us!! We love you Pa!! Thank you!! And thank you to all the Belivers who were there loving on us and our neighbors!! We have connected so much in this neighborhood because of you!! We love you AustinStone Believers!