Living, Loving, Learning...

The Summer of getting Healthy

2009-08-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Life with the Wrights: Saturday morning "turbo clean," Sunday morning coffee shop, Thursday night family movie, laughing at Miss Peeps...

...and heading into a fall season with some possible changes.

Making way for Change

2009-01-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

2009 is a year of newness and simplifying...
A time of trusting God as we begin a new season with City Church, get rid of stuff & and downsize living arrangement (more communal living!), and seek out new way to pay the bills.

http://www.citychurchbend.com/

Super Hero Movie Night!

2008-11-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Youth Pastos by day, Superheroes by night!
The Superhero Couple: Wolverine & Bat Girl "The Social Butterfly."

"Super Rick" ('soul -patch' included.)

Anyone can fit into a kids' XS Spiderman costume.
Our fearless Lady Youth Leaders.

The next Chris Farley- seriously.
Bowling Bat Girl. Super Hero Bowling with the middle schoolers.
COMMUNITY GROUP COSTUME PARTY!!
The "Chick Magnet" (AKA Josh Simone).

To Barbados & back...

2008-11-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

Celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary back to our Honeymoon Island. (This time, without the hurricane!)

Surfer's Point with Wendy... (she actually lives here!)

Playing in the sand with Wends' nieces and nephew at The Yacht Club.

Yes, the ocean and sand are really that color.

Weekend in Portland

2008-11-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

Stayed at Scott Manor Bed 'n Breakfas; full of various surprises and quirks
(one of which was a trained chocolate chip-eating peacock).

We Hit up the Portland Zoo. You're never too old for the ZOO. Monkeys & bears...

Pastor's Wife, Kickboxer, Surfer, Tutor... (who knew?)

2008-11-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Surfer chick in BARBADOS.

Erin's officially Turbo Kick certified and co-teaches at the Club.

Erin has been privately tutoring 6 students.

The First Friday gals (with a few missing).

Always been PUnk ROCkers at heart.

I Heart Bend.

2008-11-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

September 27th, 2008
One Saturday, many churches coming together to love our city...

YRU (Youth Risen Up) High School crew teamed together with Oasis Church members and painted over 200 fire hydrants! Together, the local churches of Bend painted over 1,200 fire hydrants, cleaned up yards & highways, and reached out to families in need.

summer camps & suntans.

2008-07-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

The Bluebarians & The Bloody Smurfs won the Tikki Challenge 2008.

The Udderly Savage Sea Cows won the sand sculpture contest by transforming Noel into a vivacious siren of the sea (a mermaid).

The fearless Camp Directors:
(S)Heman & Shera The Barbarian Beast.

Gotta have some pirate tattoos.

SPAM VOLLEYBALL

LA Dream Center: The Church that Never Sleeps...

2008-04-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

15 High Schoolers, 7 leaders, 21 bags, 3 vehicles, multiple stops at In 'n Out Burger, & 15 hours driving down I-5, we reached the LA Dream Center...

http://www.ladc2008.blogspot.com/ for more pictures & details.

Check out our VIDEO!!

Saved to Serve.

2008-02-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

A long awaited visit with Silvia! It was 6 years ago when Erin came to India for 2 months and served with Silvia for Y.W.A.M. (Youth With A Mission).
Sharing American treats (they love our peanut butter & chocolate). We got to taste Indian donuts & chai (our favorite).
A warm welcome from Silvia & her friends. It was a blessing to stay with Silvia and spend a week encouraging one another, praying together, and laughing together!
The Concern & Care staff (plus 1 missing).

The Children's Home in Udgir. The Pastor & his wife house, feed, & educate 16 children.

Silvia with the instructor of the newest Tailoring School.

Women's Tailoring School in Pune, India.

Silvia with some of the ladies at the Tailoring School. There are about 20 ladies starting through the 6-8 months program to learn basic sewing skills to support their families.

Sunil cooks "Indian egg rolls."

It was so wonderful to finally see Silvia again in person and meet the staff of Concern & Care. The Lord is blessing them and using them to reach the people of India.

Building God's Kingdom in India...

2008-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Harvest India:
The first two weeks were spent working with the staff of Harvest India in Andhra Pradesh. We were led by the director of Harvest India, Suresh Kumar, and his wonderful wife, Christina. What a joy to witness the increadible things the Lord is doing and to share in the vision...
These are a few of the different ministries taking place that we got to take part in:

Outreaches:
We all had the opportunity to share the Gospel message with many people through local gatherings, church services, or through the different camps meeting basic physical needs. We were able to share our personal testimonies and witness many come to Christ. The Holy Spirit worked in powerful ways, allowing us to realize that it is truly God that does the work in the hearts of people and we are only a vessels by which He works. What a priviledge it was to be used by Him and witness His glory and lives being changed. Praise God!

Rescued Prostitutes:
Harvest India recently built a women's home for rescued prostitues. They currently are housing almost 40 ladies and their children, but are able to bring in another 200. These ladies are given the opportunity to learn of the forgiveness and restoration through Christ, and many stood to share their testimony of Jesus' grace. The ladies are taught sewing skills to make these beautiful hand-beaded & embroidered bags with the intent to use the profits to rescue more women out of prostitution.

HIV/ AIDS Camp:
The Harvest India campus in Tenali gives out free food bags and medication each week to registered patients with HIV and AIDS. Jim was able to encourage the people and share about his own struggle fighting a tumor in his brain.

Well Dedications:
Our team was able to raise enough money ($1,000) to build a well in a local village without fresh water. By meeting a simple need, drinking water, we were able to share with these people about the true "living water," Jesus Christ, the reason for our journey. Nearly half the village gave their lives to Christ! Amen!

Medical Camps:
We had the opportunity to distribute free medicine and pray over individuals in the villages near by. Nearly 1,000 people were given medication, vaccinations, vitamins, and personal attention from doctors.

Mercy Camps:
Harvest India provides a meal for many of the dahlits (untouchables) each week. The people sit in lines all day for this meal; a banana, roll, and an egg. For most, this is their largest meal of the week. We were able to hand out the food and share about Jesus, who not only meets our physical hunger, but also satisfies our spiritual hunger.
Kallurigudem Orphanage:
We had the priviledge of camping next to the orphanage (in a goat field surrounded by gypsies) for three days to spend time loving on these kids. No one had visited them in 3 years! We were able to bring lots of gifts, crafts, and throw them a birthday party. We fell in love with them.. and learned even more about love.

Learn more about Harvest India:
www.harvest-india.org
http://www.intlprincess.org/

On Mission Together...

2008-02-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

INDIA: Jan.7-24th, 2008

After Erin spent two months in India six years ago, this was the first return and very first time to experience India again with Rick. We have fallen in love again... with the people of India.

Click link to play INDIA SLIDESHOW: http://www.moonshinepark.com/blog/india2008/

photographer:

Mark Ellis, The River Church