Addilyn Hawks

Addilyn Hawks is the cutest little one year old I have ever seen. She is always smiling and you can tell she is going to have a spunky personality. Her mother, Krystin and I went to High School together in Germany and was always a good friend. You would never know it if you saw her but Addilyn was recently diagnoses with Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis-Type 2, a liver disease with no treatment and the only lifesaving medicine is a liver transplant. She is in stage 3 of 4 liver disease and for many people with this disease are eventually diagnosed with liver cancer. She was placed immediately on the transplant list but was recently tested for cancer and it came back negative. Because of this she was removed form the list. This just means that in order for her to return to the list we will have to get worse. Something that is very difficult to hear and deal with as a parent. Addilyn will eventually have to have a transplant and so the family has set up a fund for her through the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a national nonprofit that organizes communities to raise funds for transplant-related expenses. They are trying to raise $50,000 for the transplant and the medicine she will have to take everyday for the rest of her life. Addilyn's fund site is COTA for Addilyn Hawks. This is a very loving family and I know that they are seeking the LORD through this entire endeavor for strength, comfort and wisdom, but knowing too that it is all according to his plan and purpose. If you would like to donate just click on the link above and It will take you to the page needed. Addilyn is a baby girl who is fighting for her life everyday and her family is filled with joy everyday they see her fighting the odds. Please keep her and the Hawks family in your prayers and pray that the LORDS will would be done.  

Baptism

A lot has happened with the campus ministry since my last update, but one very happy event was the baptism of Allie Graham. She is a spunky little person on fire for God. She came to us this year not only as a new student but also as a new Christian. She grew up Jewish and became a Christian over the summer by the grace of God. Her family and friends traveled up for this important event which was huge for them. Even though her becoming a Christian has affected her family, it did not stop her from making the decision that she did. Her baptism was a clear example of what Jesus said in Luke 14:26 to the crowds following Him. I do not think the gospel could have been preached anymore clearly or intensely that night.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26

It has been amazing to be a part of her journey since she came to Johnson & Wales University and she has just grown so much in Christ. The very same night as her baptism she also became a member of Grace Harbor Community Church. It has been a very exciting year so far for the campus ministry and this is just one of the many ways the Lord has been moving here. 

Giveaway

I have been following a this couple for a while and have been greatly encouraged by them. Recently Katie has posted a giveaway to Shabby Apple. They have some very cute dresses. Here is the link to her blog so you can enter. Shabby Apple Giveaway

Fusion 2011

This past weekend was the New England Annual Fall Retreat, Fusion. It was held in Hull, MA as it has been for the past 4 years with Matt Christenot and Tony Merida was the speaker. The topic this year was "Contend...Engaging an Inclusive World with an Exclusive Gospel", to encourage and equip the students to share the gospel with their families, friends and anyone they come in contact with. The four different sessions were on Following Jesus: 3 Crucial Questions, Making Christ Known in a Diverse City, Adoption: the Highest Privilege of the Gospel, and Love: the Final Apologetic.

Some of these sessions stood out more to some than others, but some of the things that stood out in my mind was: when sharing the gospel we need to remember to keep the main things the plain things and the plain things the main things. It doesn't have to bee too complicated. He told us a story, which I can not get out of my head, about how a christian gave a bible to Penn of Penn & Teller after a show and explained the gospel to him. Penn later said that he respected the guy because he shared his faith and said "how much do you have to hate someone to not share with them." That quote just hit me. How much do I have to hate someone to not share with them, even though I don't even know them. One of the final things that had an impact on me was the entire session on adoption and how it is an expression of the gospel. For many this was also impact-full because they had never heard of or thought of adoption in this way and they really enjoyed it. Tony also talked about how adoption was ever God's Plan B. This just made me think about what a sovereign and glorious God that we have. This just made me think about why don't we think in this way and plan on adopting as part of our family because that is how we came into God's family. Listening to this session made me just want to adopt (eventually, Lord willing) that much more. Tony has written a book called Orphanology, which I am excited to read and educate myself more on this topic.

This weekend was a great opportunity to grow our relationships with the students and begin building connections with the freshmen. From where I stand, I could definitely tell that the students who went made deeper connections and are pleased that they went. Of all the games we played this weekend, Pirates Monopoly I believe was the most popular and intense one played. Saturday was a gorgeous, warm (surprisingly) day so I decided to go for a walk on the beach and ended up going for 2 hours. It was a much needed time of peace and relaxation.

As usual we had to take a group picture on the beach and decided that this year we should take a leader's picture too. Well it got a little out of control as usual and we ended up with some funny pictures. 

 

One of the great things about these retreats though is that we also get to see our friends from around New England and hear about all the things God is doing on the college campuses. Two new couples have joined our collegiate team here, one in Worcester and another at the University of Rhode Island. It was also great to hear how Itamar's group at Becker is growing and God is answering our prayers. We have been praying with her that the Lord would provide a nursing student who wants to see the gospel spread on campus, but also as a way to connect to other nursing students. Well God answered her prayers and brought a freshman nursing student to the collegiate group. Below is a picture of most of the collegiate workers in New England.

Autumn Festivities

There have been a lot of happenings in the past month that have kept me pretty busy; from Apple Picking to Johnny Cake Festivals. It has been a lot of fun.

One of our biggest events for October is Apple Picking because it's fun, cheap and is a great time of fellowship. This year, as usual, we went to Jaswells Farm where we picked some of the best Empire Apples I have tasted. Unfortunately we went a little late this year for the Hay Ride but now we know for next time. We spent a couple hours picking apples, pumpkins, gourds and veggies and then returned to our apartment for the baking of apple delights and the carving of pumpkins. We also spent the afternoon playing Mario Kart Wii.

Allie and I with our Pumpkins

Hannah and I have been trying to attend more festivals and events going on in Rhode Island this year and have been getting better at including students as well just so they can get off campus and explore since they don't have cars. One of the first Festivals we went to was the Scituate Art Festival. It was huge. We were there for a couple hours and did not even see everything. There was everything from food, to jewelry, to antiques and local honey. Anything artsy you can think of, it was there. It was the perfect day too because it was one of those random weekends where even though we were in the Fall season it was 80 degrees out. Before we left though I just had to get a Funnel Cake, and for those of you who think it's the same as a Dough Boy...it's not.

Little Johnny Cakes

The latest festival we have discovered in Rhode Island is the Johnny Cake Festival. Now I had no idea what a Johnny Cake was until about last year I think. I had heard of them and knew they were made of corn but other than that, no clue. For those of you who were like me, a Johnny Cake is basically a pancake made with cornmeal and served with butter. Yes, they have a whole festival for this, although it is much smaller that the Scituate Art Festival it is a great place to find local things. It is held at Kenyon's Grist Mill where the cornmeal is made in North Kingstown, RI. There were vendors set up around the lake and mill with photography, jewelry, food and clothes. One of the most interesting two vendors was the Hannah's Farm Alpacas. They look just like Lamas but they make a funny noise. This place though makes all kinds of things out of the Alpaca wool, which apparently is very warm and expensive. They even had little Alpaca toys for kids. The other booth was the RI Spinners Guild. They were out with their Sheep wool and spinners, spinning away. I knew that they did that stuff in Scotland because I have seen it but I had no idea they still did it here. This festival was better than the Art Festival when it came to local food vendors. There were booths here with local honey, roasted nuts, BBQ sauce, spreads and milk. They even had popping corn for popcorn, which we tried and failed at.

Alpaca Toys

All in all it has been a great month and to end it we had a little Harvest Party to celebrate Fall and Halloween.

Support A Missionary

As many of you know I am currently working as a 102b missionary on Johnson & Wales campus in Providence, RI. Ever since my first year at Johnson & Wales University I have been involved with Spiritual Life; more importantly “Christian Student Fellowship”; here on campus. Through my time and involvement here the Lord has given me a yearning to reach the college students in the United States, and in particular, New England. Providence, Rhode Island, consistently comes up as one of the most unreached cities in America from an evangelistic standpoint. The International Mission Board defines an unreached people group as any people group that is comprised of less than 2% evangelical. A nation within a nation without the gospel and without hope.  According to TheAmericanChurch.org, the percentage of people that actually attended a Gospel-preaching church in Rhode Island was 1.4%! 

Rhode Island has more college students per capita than any other state in the country. Providence alone has five major schools within the city limits: Brown University, Rhode Island College, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Johnson & Wales University; drawing students from all over the world. This last one, Johnson & Wales, has a student population of nearly 10,000 with less than 100 known Christians, many of whom are not connected to a church or discipleship relationship in any way. Though a completely secular school, I have the opportunity to work with the Protestant Campus Minister as a 10:2b missionary. This position is not only a volunteer opportunity to just help out with collegiate ministry but it is more of a mentorship. I will be working directly under the campus minister and will be learning about ministry, in particular collegiate ministry, and learning the different things I need to be equipped with if I am to continue a life in this area of ministry after my life at Johnson & Wales University.

College students are at formative time in their lives where they are asking many of the questions to which the Gospel directly speaks. The answers they find will shape the rest of their lives. At the same time, college students are at a time in their lives where, by God’s empowerment, they can be fully devoted to the faith as they are not yet settled anywhere. My desire is that students would come to be gripped by the Gospel and devote themselves to the Christ. Lord willing some of these students live the rest of their lives as missionaries wherever the Lord may lead them to next. We want to see some of them purposefully settle in Providence for the purpose of living out the Gospel and reaching Rhode Island. Others we pray will take the Gospel to other places in New England and the ends of the earth.

This past year I was approved by and invited to this collegiate position with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The position is what NAMB calls an MSCV (Mission Service Corp Volunteer) missionary - a missionary opportunity requiring me to raise financial support that enables me to fully devote myself to ministry. Filling this volunteer position on campus gives me open access to the campus, to help the campus minister in the running of the “Christian Student Fellowship,” in discipling the current students, in particular the girls, and sharing the Gospel with as many to whom the Lord gives an open door.

How can you help? This opportunity is only minimally financed and I need to raise a minimum of $10,000 per year. I can only continue as I am supported by people like you. I am asking you to help support me in the mission field. Whether you can give large or small, one time or monthly, I need you. I have made an initial commitment of 2 years with intentions of staying as long as the Lord keeps me in this work. Should you desire to speak with me about this or simply have questions please contact me and I will be happy to talk either in person or otherwise. My cell number is 201-310-7577 and my e-mail is kgdeweij25@gmail.com.  If you are located internationally and would prefer to use Skype my name is futurechef10.

Will you partner with me?  Should you want to give, there is an account number with the North American Mission Board dedicated to me so that if you give to the work then you will receive a tax contribution from that organization and I will receive 100% of the money. The information is at the bottom of this post. Providence, Rhode Island, is a desperate, depressed, and oppressed place when it comes to the Gospel. I need much prayer. Please pray for me even now that God would enable me to carry out this task in the power of His Spirit.

In Christ,                                                       

Give:

North American Mission Board

Attn: Accounting - MSC

PO Box 116543                                                         

Atlanta, GA 30368-6543                                                       

Memo line: Kimberly Vroegindewey - #9732

You can also easily set up a recurring gift on the internet at http://www.namb.net/msc-recurring/

Phone: 201-310-7577

E-mail: kgdeweij25@gmail.com

Oh, The Things You Learn as a Roommate

It's funny the things you learn about someone when you live with them. Hannah has discovered recently that there are some things about me that may seem shocking or you would never expect to come from me. Some of these are: 

1. I have always wanted purple highlights. (that's right purple)
2. Some of my favorite shows are Stargate SG-1 and Doctor Who. 
3. ThinkGeek.com is a sweet site and they have some cool stuff. 
4. I think the show Top Gear is awesome and I would love to be in those cars when they go 200mph. 
5. I love British TV.

So apparently these make me geeky and that's ok.
What are some weird hobbies or things that you like?