Eupora FUMC Youth Group: March 2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

~UMYF Reminders for Sunday, March 18th~

- UMYF @ 7:00 in the Shed. Doors open at 6:30 to come hang out before bible study.

- Girls bring one can Rotel tomatoes (again) and boys bring one box of lemon cake mix.

- Saturday, March 24th youth will come to fellowship hall in shifts from 9-12 to help prepare for luncheon. More details to come.

*Small Group Bible Studies*

- Girls small group bible study will have first meeting on Monday, March 19th at 7:00 in shed. Looking forward to it!

- Boys small group bible study will have first meeting on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:00 in the shed with Chris Purtee. You will get your book "Wild at Heart" at the first meeting.

*Youth Luncheon Fundraiser*

Meal: Chicken Spaghetti

- Sunday, March 25th Youth Luncheon Fundraiser. Grab a plate to go OR stay and eat in the fellowship hall.

- $5 per to go plate

- $6 per plate to eat in fellowship hall (sweet tea provided for those that stay). Sign up in the foyer.

Thank you for your support!

Kelly and Youth

Meet Jing Ju "JJ"

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

-Matthew 25: 35-40

Many of you may be wondering why your youth has been asked to bring $2 to youth. I hope you will read this to fully understand where your $2 will be going each month!

The night the youth made a trip to Tupelo, MS for Winter Jam a few of our youth decided we should adopt a child from Holt International to sponsor as a youth group! I was thrilled to see them light up as they talked about giving their money to this little girl from China named Jing Ju. We will be giving $30 a month ($2 per youth each month) to our little girl and will receive updates, letters, and pictures of her as she grows up and one day finds a loving home and family! Please encourage your youth to save $2 a month (.50 cents a week) to go towards Jing Ju. I will be sending out reminders for the first month or so for them to bring their money each week until everyone gets the hang out of it! How amazing is it that our money will be going towards changing Jing Ju's life FOREVER!

A little background on Jing Ju:

JJ's current situation:

Jing Ju is now able to pull to standing and walk with assistant. She can grasp bits of food and small objects with thumb and first two fingers. She is close to her foster parents and attached to her foster mother. She is a shy girl and will cry when with strangers. She is happy to play with other children. Since she was found abandoned, we do not have any information on her history. She was malnutrition and developmental retardation when she was placed to her foster home.

JJ's current needs:

Your support helps provide basic needs and makes it possible for your child to have a secure, stable environment that offers love, care, mental and physical stimulation. Social workers oversee the are of each child in Holt's program, making regular monitoring visits.

How we work toward Jing's permanent home:

A number of children in China come into care with medical conditions or disabilites. When this occurs, Holt will work to ensure kids receive the necessary surgery and medical care to increase the possibility of finding them a permanent, loving family.

About Holt's program in China:

Since 1994 Holt has worked with the Chinese government to improve the are of orphaned and abandoned children. Holt helped pioneer special baby care units and foster care in China. Holt has also developed a long-term group home and foster care program for children with special needs and projects that help children whose lives and families have been impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Looking forward to seeing God's plan play out as we give each month to Jing Ju!

Thanks for all you do,

Kelly

Spring Break Fun in the Shed

Spring Break is here and I know everyone is very excited for a break from school and ready for a relaxing week! Last night we had an easy going night at UMYF. Lauren and Logan brought their guitars and gave us some great background music, Caitlyn, Jessica, Chloe, Anna, and Christian enjoyed our new Twister game, and others enjoyed the wonderful weather outside on the playground! It was a nice way to begin our break : ).

I hope everyone enjoys their week off and comes back next Sunday rested up and ready to go!

A few pictures..

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

-Joshua 1:9

Monday, March 5, 2012

UNHINDERED

This weekend was everything and more of what I was hoping it to be! Over 800 youth from all over Mississippi gathered at Christ UMC each day and night for fellowship, games, worship, bible study, prayer, and more. This experience was one that I have not had in a very long time, and probably some of our youth have never experienced. This weekend focused on becoming "UNHINDERED" from the things that we let have control of our lives. Olu Brown, our speaker, was incredible and gave us a great visual of what baggage can and does look like in our lives. We have a tendency to hold on to our baggage and try to carry it with us through each season of our life. Baggage usually creates unwanted hardships in our lives and sometimes ends in failure to reach our goal in Christ. We must reach out and help each other carry this baggage throughout life. If we do not change, we will be stuck and remain stuck in our baggage throughout our life.

Saturday night, each youth group met with their local church to discuss what they learned throughout the weekend and how they planned to take what they learned back home to those who were not at MYAC. Our group is very excited about the opportunity they have to be home and show others how God worked through each of their lives.

Some of the ways they plan to make a change in Eupora, MS are:

- Create a positive environment wherever they find themselves. Whether that be at school, home, church, softball practice, etc.

- Have a check up with their connections to social media (facebook, twitter, etc.): making sure what they put out on the internet for everyone to see lines up with their heart and beliefs.

- Making friends they can trust and look to when in need spiritually, emotionally, etc.

- Creating community in their youth group. Having others to go to and feel comfortable and loved.

**Many other things were mentioned in our conversation that night. I think each youth would agree that MYAC was a growing experience for them and that our youth group became closer to each other because of it. I am already looking forward to MYAC 2013 and know it will be here before we blink!

Some pictures of the weekend.. Enjoy : )