Family Fun and Birthday's

Tonight we had a family birthday party.
We celebrated Kay's birthday which was
yesterday and my birthday which is March 8th.
I have had a very busy 2 "off days."
Yesterday I took a Mom from the mission to
the police station to get a copy of a police
report. We need to keep this sweet Mom and her
daughter in our prayers. I also had a great
time at lunch with Bret, Susie, and Mark at
Chaing Mai a Thai restaurant in Lilburn.
Bret and Susie are 2 missionaries who are
helping at The Falls. They will be leaving
in June for Thailand. Then Leah, Deborah, and
I went up to Hamilton Mill to pick up Sarah
at work. Today was alot of the same. I got
up took Hannah to work, went to the bank,
went to Lithonia to the big music warehouse,
took Sarah to work at Hamilton Mill, took Leah
and Deborah to a late lunch at a Mexican Restaurant,
went to Kroger, got gas, and then went to my
Mom's house.

New Volunteers and Afterschool

Yesterday we had a room full of children. We had so many
kids that I sat on the floor with 1 little girl to help
her with her school work. That is amazing since we just
put up 3 extra tables a week ago! Today we had a new
volunteer. I have know Jody for a longtime. It is great
that she is learning Spanish and could read simple books
to the preschoolers for us. When we finished we went straight
to Passion Play practice.

Music and Ministry

Yesterday and today we were at the mission. We have
been busy arranging and bringing in things that we
need. The past few days I have done a few songs with
the preschool children. Today we started teaching the
school kids some music. We will officially begin choir
next week - doing school age choir on Monday and
preschool choir on Tuesday. Music is a great non-
threatening way to teach the children about Jesus.

Church at The Bridge

Sarah and I took Leah and Deborah to FBA this morning
and then we headed up to The Bridge for Church. They
have a Spanish Congregation there who works very closely
with The Falls - our apartment mission. It was like being
on a mission trip the entire service was in Spanish. We
enjoyed singing along with Spanish praise songs. Tito Ruiz,
the Spanish Pastor, preached on marriage. After the service,
I introduced myself to Tito. He said they had a meeting
yesterday and talked about The Falls and me. I am so excited
to be working with them.

Atlanta Passion Play Retreat

We have had the Atlanta Passion Play Retreat
this weekend. Friday night and all day today.
The retreat is where we learn all our blocking
for where we are to be on stage during the scenes.
I am not quite sure what to say to describe
the experience except, "My what a weekend!"

Tables, Chairs, Incident, and Spanish Preschoolers

What a day! Spencer came as usual this morning around
8:00am. Sarah watched him while I went out around 10:00
to run some errands. I went out to pick up some tables
and chairs at one of our apartment complexes. On the way
I stopped off at Dollar General to buy a large trashcan
for our mission. When I was getting out of the truck a
huge gust of wind grabbed the drivers door right out of
my hand and sent the truck door slamming right into the
side of the car beside me. The lady that owned the car
was in the car. I apologized profusely through the window
but then I knocked on her window to show her the small
scratch and very small ding that my big truck door made
on her PT Cruiser. I took some photos and gave her my info.
If it had been my car I would have said don't worry and
that would have been the end of it. But not so for her. Mark
called her and we will see how much we will have to pay to
get it fixed for her. Mark said to me, "Cathy, how are we
going to pay for this?" My response to him was "Don't ask
me God is in control of the wind!"

Mark met me at the store after the incident and then we went
together to pick up the tables and chairs at Gwinnett Crossing.
I did explain nicely to the Assistant Manager that since they
told us no to working at their complex, we were going to be
working next door at The Falls. I explained to him that I would be
using the tables and chairs- which were Tim's(my NAMB supervisor)
over there. I told him that we were still praying that they would
one day want an afterschool program and mission again at GC but
that it just wouldn't be me since I would be working next door.
I shook his hand and told him, God Bless You! He sent a pleasant
man to meet me at the clubhouse and we leaded up the table and
chairs. I drove home with a truck load to take to the apartment.

At 3:00pm we left for the apartment mission loaded down
with tables, chairs, games, refreshments, books and
preschool lessons. Paola, who normally works with the
preschoolers called to say she was going to be late so
I had the preschoolers today. These precious children are
ages 2-5 and speak only Spanish at home. With a little help
from one of the Mom's and older children I muddled through
2 stories - 1 simple story of creation, we did a craft, I
tried to teach then 4 songs. They don't sing yet. I even
managed Jesus Loves Me in Spanish but they had never heard
it before. Afterwards we handed out refreshments.

When all the children went home we set up the new tables and
chairs, rearranged, and cleaned the mission. On the way home
I stopped off at School Box to buy some Spanish/English
flash cards for one of the Kindergarten students who
needs to improve her academic skills before a May meeting
or be held back in school.

I picked up Hannah at work at 7:00 and then finally went
home and ate a quick piece of pizza before heading out
to Kroger to buy the food we need to pack for the Atlanta
Passion Play retreat this weekend. Got home at 9:00 am
writing this and now I am glad it's time for bed.

Apartment Ministry

Monday afternoon we found out that we are the new
Mission Directors at an apartment complex in Duluth.
We are very excited for this wonderful opportunity!
We have known that we would be taking on an apartment
mission for the last 4-6 weeks but we have been waiting
on God's perfect place for us to serve and His timing.
The Falls is a large apartment complex with 90% Latino
population. It already has an active afterschool
program with a WONDERFUL group of people working there.
We have been helping the last few weeks and have been
getting use to a new apartment and a new group of parents
and children. Please pray for us as we move forward in
our ministry.

Yesterday we had a wonderful visit from Olena one of my
Ukrainian friends. She brought us a beautiful cake made at
the Russian Bakery. It is called a Kyiv Cake. We had a
wonderful visit. In the afternoon we went to The Falls
for afterschool.

Sunday App Group Leaders and Passion City Church

Sunday I had an Atlanta Passion Play group
leaders lunch. We reviewed all the blocking
for the 10 groups. Things are going to be a
little different this year. I got home in the
late afternoon and then Rachel and I left and
went downtown to the Old Baptist Tabernacle
for Passion City Church. Louie Giglio spoke on
Prayer Remix. It was great encouraging us to
Praise and Bless God. He has already given us
every blessing as believers.

Cupcakes and The Falls

We had a great week last week. On Thursday
we helped with the Valentine's party at The
Falls. We spent the morning making 50
cupcakes. The kids enjoyed all the treats
and the crafts. What a wonderful group of
people that we are blessed to be working
with. I go to work each day to share a little
of God's love with others but usually I am the
one who receives the blessing!