Rosebud Recap

Rosebud was Awesome! Our team did a great job of reaching out to the youth and the community. I’d love to post a few pictures and a couple stories from the Rez.

First the team. We really wanted to be a team who loved each other and were unified. The idea was that if we could see the love of Christ amongst each other it’d be easy for outsiders to see as well. For 8 days together through storms, heat, bugs, sleep deprivation, and injuries I’d say they did great. Flexibility is a key word for teams on the reservation where cell phone numbers for locals change more often than the seasons (nearly all are on pre-paid). With the “lemons” that life dealt them through the week they made a lot of “lemonade.” God gave us the most amazing rain shower, which our students enjoyed to the fullest by playing tackle football. Two different Rosebud locals were quoted saying “This is the most fun I have ever had in my whole life.” So parents with sick children this week… they did it for Jesus!

The culture. If you haven’t gone you should. You can’t begin to create an accurate picture of such a unique place. Monday night Casey, a Ballard leader, was trying to describe the place and culture to Travis Pierce. Travis at one point burst out “Ok Stop. I’m just getting confused now.” Part of our time was spent installing some new hoops at the local courts. The hoops were then used to host a 3 on 3 tournaments. Roger Wheeler was a huge help. We had 16 teams show up to compete for prizes. This looks to be a great activity to build upon seeing as it drew the community out and rallied them around a central cause. Upwards anyone?!?

The Ministry. Too many sweet stories to share so you’ll have to ask those who went. It seemed like everyone was getting into great spiritual conversations. I was so encouraged by the leaders on the trip who really set an example. The guys really got the guys to open up and the same for the girls. It was amazing in how short of time the depth at which many of these relationships were able to get to.

Look forward to future efforts. Right now we’re praying and asking for host families to house some of the teens our teens connected to. The idea would be to give some of the students there a chance to get a great education in a great environment here. Away from the gangs and violence which are often found on the rez. Anyone looking for another life?!

Car Wash! Recap

So we've all had those overwhelming experiences. Maybe it's a kid tugging on your coat while

you're on the phone in the check out line. For m

e this past weekend it was our car wash. Let it be said on the front end it all turned out great! Cars

got washed and our e22 missions teams certainly got supported by an awesome church body. The amount brought in was nearly $1,750. That was an average of over $30/hr for the students to apply towards their overseas trips.

Saturday

10pm. Making a last minute run to the church to get things in order.

Sunday D-day

7:00am. Arise and run to Walmart to get last minute supplies

7:34 Meet Cameron Lewis (THANK YOU) and unload his huge pressure washer.

7:50 Begin to allign hoses and hook up the pressure washers.

8:00 Sit and wonder when the fun will start

8:04 Fun starts

8:10 Cars begin going through our barricade's to park

8:20 MORE CAR's 40 mins before church. Be made aware of these people before you invite them to a dinner party!

8:34 Assemble the students and tell them the plan that's already been spun into motion

by default! ahhhh.

8:54 "Stan we've got to start washing these cars or they'll never get done!"

9:03 "Haven't we already washed this one?!?" haha as the HUGE black truck with dried soap re-enters the pressure wash bay.

9:08 Remix the soap so it's not SOOOO strong.

9:10 Everyone at the point officially has a station

9:50 Mike McVicker calls a meeting to order with teens explaining what should be happening... that hasn't been.

10:10 Early people begin to exit the church doors. No pressure.... only a line of unwashed cars.

10:30 Last people exiting last car's being washed.... Perfect timing!

10:31 Water Break

10:32 Water Break over for some who need to meet cars already trying to enter for 2nd service

10:40 Water Break OVER

10:41 Start on 2nd Service Cars

10:43 Realize that we haven't been using the heat option on the power washers. that explains.......

10:58 Realize we've only got about 6 cars left

11:04 The last car

11:06 Ok this is the last car

11:08 Last CAR!

11:10 Students, STOP BRINGING YOUR OWN CARS THROUGH.

11:25 Thanked God for the adults who helped make things possible.

12:00 Thanked God for the chaos and tension.

Car Wash!

CAR WASH!!!

@ Cornerstone Church

This Sunday from 9-noon. Bring your dirty car and have it cleaned. The donations will help all the high-school students going on overseas missions trips!

Also if you'd like to help or you have a student who will be helping it's going to be great. Suppose to be great weather. Help needs to plan on 8:30-12:30. If you need to duck out and go to one of the services that'd be fine. We'd love to have a few more adults for quality control and drivers. If you'd like to help please respond to this email. stanhayek@gmail.com

Leaders BBQ

*The Fun Picture

These are some of the fine folks who work with our High School Students. We had a BBQ at Brookside Park on wed. and as you can see we had fun. A few stray children made it into our picture can you count them all?

*The Professional Pic

Bridge Night!

Last week was the last e22 of the semester. We have a short break and start up again JUNE 9th. 6:30pm in the Equipping Room.

We closed the identity series and the semester with the Gospel. It was a simple message from scripture using Luke 15 the story of the "Prodigal Son." Many know the story of the son who leaves the father and goes off and lives like a rebel, and many high school students often venture out in rebellion so it's easy association. Prostitutes, parties, and whatever money could buy. The turning point for the son is in Luke 15: ¹⁶He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Feelings of remorse follow but don't change his position with the father... He is still at that point distant.

The parrellel (but not the main point) is that "feeling bad" doesn't change your standing/position with God. Knowing you've done wrong doesn't bring you home it just hopefully leads to that. Those feelings need to be followed by actions.

¹⁷"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' ²⁰So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

We used the bridge illustration of the cross. It's through Jesus and the cross that we can "come home." Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We can "come home" by...

1. Admitting we have sinned / we are lost / and deserve to be punished.

2. Believe in Jesus. Put your trust in the cross as payment for your sins

3. Confess and Commit. Confess Him as your Lord and Commit to living for Him!

The next step was to writing your name on a post it note and stick it to the bride you were to walk as kind of that visual sign that you were "home." The bridge was nothing special, just a big plank between two buckets, but the responses were. 12 new students stood up to profess for the first time that Christ was Lord and Savior. it was so great to have the stand and be prayed for. At one point one of the students who stood created such a rush of joy that his friend and prayer warrior just burst out in applause. His friend had "come home!"

This is a stack of all those who are a part of e22 who claim to be Christians. You can be in prayer for these and the dozen new believers. It's our desire to partner with parents and the rest of Cornerstone Church to help these students to be deeply rooted in Christ!

Dear Mr OtterBox cellular telephone case maker,

Dear Mr OtterBox cellular telephone case maker,

I've been in the phone demolition business long before you came to town. I washed phones, lost phones, and yes even smashed phones (I'm not proud of it). I thought their would be no hope for me when it comes to phones. My longest relationship was with the NOKIA "brick" complete with the snake game, and we only lasted about 6 months. It seemed like re-entering contacts was becoming a part time job. I was hopeless... that was until your promises.

"Ever had nightmares about breaking your precious iPhone?" Yes, Yes I have. Some wake at night at the thought of falling off a cliff, but for me it's a big Nokia phone wearing a band-aid while chasing me. So I think can this case really improve my sleep? "Put those fears to rest by getting your hands on the OtterBox Defender Series for Apple® iPhone®. With our patented case technology, you will sleep easy knowing your phone is safe and sound. (otterbox.com)" So I took your advice and bought the case. I put my fears behind me and rested in your website's assurance. That was until one day last week.....

You had to know that one day someone would put your precious phone case to the ultimate test. It could happen to anyone after a long day right? I'll have you know that leaving your phone on the top of a tow-behind trailer isn't to hard to do, but I'll admit that was my fault. You Mr. OtterBox cellular telephone case maker have to take full responsibility for what happened next.

My precious iPhone was enjoying the wind in it's face, and why wouldn't it after all it was secure within your case and your promises. Things got a little crazy while merging onto the interstate and the phone took a fly. Be it the impact or the cars that would pass that direction something went wrong. I left you two together for 15 minutes.... 15 MINUTES!!! And you let this happen! Oh the nerve. Your just like the others. I leave you with the image of your shame.

May you Rest In Pieces... Mr. OtterBox Cellular Telephone Case (and iphone)

**Note: That this post is strictly for comical purposes and by no means does it reflect my true appreciation for the people at OtterBox. ;)

Staff Day

What does this look like to you?

A. a picture with me and the president which got cut off?

B. two teenage girls in front of a fancy mirror?

C. Isaac and Wendy playing at an e22 staff meeting?

Now from the picture below it may look like Wendy and Isaac (worship leader) are playing Dance Dance Revolution at Perfect Games in West Ames. But really it's so much more then that. (For the record let it be known that Isaac crushed Wendy)

This was part of out 1 1/2 day e22 Staff Day aways. With summer nearly upon us we had a lot to talk about. So we took some time to get together and plow through teaching schedules, missions, eball, worship, leadership, ect ect. Also just time together in the Word, in prayer, in worship, and in Perfect Games. It was much needed team time together before things really get crazy.

It's our desire as a staff to see this ministry grow and see many more students come to know and grow in Christ. But then again don't we all share that same desire? Looking forward to Escape tonight. Prayerfully God will show up and do something so blog-able.