L&S

Counselors announced!

2008-04-04T15:59:00.002-06:00

We have eight (8) counselors who are ready for L&S 2008! If you want to see who they are, go to the counselor page.

This year, we will post a survey similar to the one from last year. This year, we want your help! Comment with the questions you want answered. We'll select our favorite questions to be part of the "pre-L&S" survey. We'll also do more surveys along the way, so be prepared to have your questions answered about our counselors (and maybe some of the SIFAT staff, too!).

Did you know we still have some room for L&S 2008? Limited space if available for Weeks 1, 4, 6 and 9. Even if your youth group isn't coming, you can come as an individual! Go over to the registration page for all the information.

SIFAT on Facebook!

2008-04-01T08:19:00.000-06:00

SIFAT is now part of the Causes application on Facebook!

Show your support of SIFAT by joining - Click here to join!

Full Weeks, Retreats and Counselors

2008-03-05T09:33:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, our Learn & Serve staff spent a day away from campus finalizing plans for this summer. They came back re-energized and ready for the youth groups to arrive! (Well, minus all the campus preparation we have to accomplish in the next two months).

We have exciting news: Weeks Two, Three, Seven and Eight are full! We're so excited about L&S 2008: Three Sixty. Keep getting your youth groups pumped about coming to SIFAT this summer.

Four retreats are scheduled for March. Our staff will be leading these students in cross cultural activities, team building and our Around the World and Appropriate Technology CARES programs. Some groups will participate in the Village Experience, Slum Experience and local mission projects.

We have begun hiring our counselors for 2008. Keep checking back during the next couple of weeks for our counselor introduction!

Counselors in Bolivia!

2008-02-11T14:53:00.000-06:00

Addison & Jarred, two of our L&S 2007 counselors, are serving as interns for three months in Ixiamas, Bolivia, at SIFAT's boarding home (internado). You can read about their adventures by going to the main SIFAT blog.

Remember, L&S 2008 registration is happening now! Spots are filling up, so make sure your youth group has registered. Do you want to come, but your youth group is doing something else? You can also register as an individual. Contact Jamie, waldhourj@sifat.org with any questions about registration.

We're back...with an updated website!

2008-01-11T10:47:00.000-06:00

The L&S staff is preparing for L&S 2008: Three Sixty. Have you visited our updated website yet? You'll find a new registration process, information about Elementary L&S (EL&S) and a few pictures and quotes from last summer.

Did you know L&S is on MySpace? Find our profile at www.myspace.com/learnandserve.

Also, SIFAT has updated its website, so check out the new SIFAT blog and find out more about the great organization that provides L&S!

Has your youth group registered yet? Registration is quickly filling up! We already have youth groups registered from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio and Mississippi! Week 8 is full, but other weeks are still available.

Week Ten finishes L&S 2007!

2007-08-14T09:40:00.000-06:00

Wow. It is hard to believe that Week Ten was our last week. However, what a great week to finish the summer...our week ten students kept everyone pumped up and didn't let us get sad until Friday.

Quiet Time

Each day, we continued having quiet time to get the day started. Everyone finds a spot on campus to just have some one-on-one time with God. Whether it is on the swinging bridge, by the AT shed or on a rock in the creek, students have the chance to seek Him and listen. Often, our "God moments" happen during this time.

"Come on and join us to change the world"

Thursday nights...another wow this summer. Originally, our staff planned to have special musicians come in for an energy-filled "Jesus Jam". After this fell through and the prayer service materialized, we realized this was one of our "God moments" for the summer. We were able to see God in the prayer service each week. And after communion wrapped worship up, we had our own "Jesus Jam" time, which was usually a huge party to end the week. This week, we got a visit from Jarred's cousin, who happened to be...a leprechaun?

Goodbye Week Ten!

Finally, here's a photo of our last week of students. Keep in touch and let us know what you're doing in Oviedo and Orlando - or somewhere else! We'll see you next year.

What happens at L&S is only the beginning

2007-07-31T14:26:00.000-06:00

At SIFAT, students and adults get the chance to step away from everyday life. Cell phones get little to no service, so you don't stay on the phone much. We have no televisions to get caught up watching random marathons of your favorite shows. Instead, you get to spend a lot of time with God in His creation and fellowship with fellow believers.

During these times, we often let God talk to us - and we listen a lot more! Two sisters have written about their experiences at L&S this summer. We want to share their stories with you.

My Home Away from Home
by Carson Shock

During the past couple of years, so many things have changed in my life. My brother has gone off to college, friends have come and gone, and I have moved from Mississippi to Arkansas. Even though I have moved and changed, one thing has always stayed the same -- every summer I go to SIFAT. No matter what youth group I'm in, we go every year.

I have been going to SIFAT twice a year for the past four years. Every year there is different staff and counselors, but it is always the same ole SIFAT. SIFAT has helped me grow and change in my walk with Christ. Every year that I go back, it just gets better and better.

This year was probably the most AMAZING year ever. I learned so much this summer at SIFAT. I learned that you don't have to go overseas to do mission work; you can do it in your own backyard. I learned to choose joy in everything I do; I learned to take the situations that God has given me and run with them and be happy and choose joy. Through the years I have learned so many other things at SIFAT as well. I have learned to appreciate the things that God has given me and to not take things for granted.

I love SIFAT. As soon as you pull up to that gravel road and drive up to the lodge or International House or walk over the bridge, or play in the creek, or hike over to the cafeteria, or go over to the ropes course, or go down to Aldea, or go to the slums, you can feel God. God is alive and well at SIFAT; he is changing lives and making himself known among his people. God is an AWESOME God and he has done so much through SIFAT. God is good. Through everything, no matter how many times I have moved and changed I know SIFAT is always there. SIFAT is my home.

Slapped at SIFAT
by Taylor Shock

I have been to SIFAT more times than I can even count, but this time was by far the most life changing experience I have ever had at SIFAT. This summer God truly opened my eyes and my heart to the world around me. He showed me how much he has blessed me with and how much I take everything I have for granted . God showed me that there is more to the world than just the United States. He showed me there is so much more out there in the world. God opened my eyes to see the less fortunate people in the world, and he showed me how much I can truly help serve those people.

Every time I come to SIFAT it is always a little bit different than the last. This summer I felt like I was in a new place. I mean , everything was the same: we toured the village and we were taught how to use appropriate technology, but somehow it seemed like I was in a different place. I feel that this summer God let me fully experience and understand what SIFAT is truly about.

This summer we had quiet time in the morning, which was new and much needed. I loved quiet time because it gave me a chance to listen and talk to God. I really liked quiet time because it gave me a chance to block everything out and just focus on God. Another thing this summer that was FREAKING AWESOME was the counselors. The counselors really helped with everything, they were always there to talk or just to hang out.

I saw God so many times throughout my week at SIFAT. I saw God in the counselors because you could just see the Holy Spirit spilling out of them. I saw God in the AMAZING worships we had every night in the FREAKING AWESOME Quonset hut. I loved having worship in the Quonset hut. I saw God in the stars at night, and I saw God in the AMAZING sunsets I saw at nights from the Quonset hut. I especially saw God in the children from the trailer park.

That was also something new that I loved; those children were truly AMAZING. I saw God in the children's smiles and in their laughter. Those children are truly a blessing from God, and I am so thankful that God lets SIFAT bless those children. I saw God a lot throughout my week at SIFAT, but when God showed me how much I take for granted and how unappreciative I am and how I should be helping others instead of complaining about my own life, it really hit me hard.

It was on Wednesday afternoon while I was sitting in Ecuador in Aldea, when God just slapped me in the face and said, "hey Taylor, open your eyes and take a look around." When God did that I just started bawling because I realized how much other people in the world really need me and how much i can truly help them. I have been to Ecuador, so there is not a day that goes by that I don't pray for my babies in Ecuador and when God opened my eyes and hit me hard I immediately thought of them.

I then realized that I know what I want to do with my life, I want to be a missionary. One day I was sitting at SIFAT, and I started listening to My Desire by Jeremy Camp. I knew right away that my desire in life is to serve God and his people. The first time I came to SIFAT I was twelve years old and immediately after I experienced SIFAT I knew that God was calling me to serve his people through missions.

God has changed my life through SIFAT, he has shown me how hard others have to work just to survive when I get everything so easily. SIFAT has made me more appreciative of what I have, and now I don't waste food and I try to help others as much as possible. God has done AMAZING things through SIFAT, and for that I am truly thankful and grateful because if it were not for SIFAT, I would not be the person I am today.

God has and will always bless SIFAT and all the people who come and go from there.

Has your experience at SIFAT changed you? Write and let us know! Has your youth group changed? Are you starting to participate in missions "here. now."? Send photos and a story to Marie at lanierm@sifat.org or Nate at paulkn@sifat.org to let us know what's you're doing!

Week Eight started yesterday!

2007-07-23T09:16:00.000-06:00

Week Eight started yesterday. After the Slum Experience and Bambi's delicious supper, the students were "forced" to sit through orientation.

Jamie got a little excited about the "handy, dandy guidebook"...

Jarred and Addison were kind enough to go over some important rules, so that the students can avoid getting in trouble with BH King. (You can see on the screen an example of our counselors getting into a little trouble during their training week).

Week Seven wrap-up!

2007-07-20T08:19:00.000-06:00

Week Seven left today, and we're going to miss you guys!

On Tuesday, these students were equipped with some appropriate technologies. They learned how important animals are to many people in the world, not just to eat, but to provide beneficial materials. Sheep, llamas and alpacas' wool can be used to make clothes for the family, as well as items to sell through microenterprise.

After cleaning the wool, it must be carded and spun...which the students found out isn't always as simple as it looks!

Week Seven also got the chance to participate in some team-building challenges on the ropes course!

And, of course, this group conquered "the wall"!

Week Six...we didn't forget!

2007-07-17T11:20:00.000-06:00

Sunday began Week Seven, but we missed posting anything for Week Six. We can't forget them! They were a great group that brought a lot of energy and excitement to L&S all the way from Arkansas.

Worship was intense all week. They got to enjoy some of the much needed rain that God sent us. On Tuesday, we got to watch a storm come in and see some of God's glory in our weather.

The storm just intensified our worship time. Several of the students shared their talents with us this week: Beth did some Irish dancing, Spider broke boards. Others just enjoyed good fellowship and dancing.

By the way, Heather's mom reads our blog regularly, so we're posting a photo of Heather and Addison leading our praise time.

If you've attended L&S this year or read the blog, you've probably begun to realize that our students learn about other cultures and get to experience what life is like for Third World citizens. On Mondays, the students participate in cross cultural games that show how good intentions sometimes do not work, and how each culture is different. Most weeks, students get to play a card game that is sometimes harder than it looks!

So Week Six...thanks for coming! We hope to see you again next year!

Jamie and Nate Enjoy Week 5

2007-07-06T15:05:00.000-06:00

Even though we didn't have a camp this week...Jamie and Nate enjoyed some quality male bonding time. This picture was taken at the beginning of the week...Nate appears a little stressed from a busy summer. He's better now...

From a storage shed to a worship center

2007-07-05T09:45:00.000-06:00

Quonset—used for a prefabricated shelter having a semicircular arching roof of corrugated metal. Quonset huts were used during World War II for barracks, latrines, offices, etc. On the SIFAT campus, we were using ours as a large storage shed.

During training week, the counselors helped convert the Quonset hut into an awesome place of worship. Here are a few of the "before" pictures--the counselors found many interesting items.

Leslie didn't want to leave school for the summer, but we convinced her! She was glad she could catch up on some reading. Addison and Nate tried to find some new activities to share with students during free time!

Everyone had to get his (and her) hands dirty. While Katie worked on taking apart some old restaurant booths, the boys were, uhm, working?

For those students and chaperones who have worshiped in our storage shed, most count it as one of their favorite times during Learn & Serve.

Sure, the acoustics aren’t amazing, but every night, we get to look out across the pasture and above the tree line for a unique sunset. Some nights are hotter than others, and we're always trying to keep the bugs away, but our storage shed is certainly now a worship center. We get to praise our Creator, while He gives us something to enjoy. Talk about a “God-moment”!

An interview with the counselors

2007-07-03T15:21:00.000-06:00

This is Week 05 of L&S, but you won't get any updates about students this week! Our staff is taking this week off as a holiday/vacation time. Our counselors are visiting their families and celebrating the Fourth of July.

Here's a survey that the counselors took. We hope you enjoy reading it and getting to know your counselors more!

General Questions

1. If you could change your name, would you? What would it be?

Addison: Bartholomeu

Leslie: Boo – so I can be everybody’s boo!

2. What did you do for your last birthday?

AddisonS: watched a movie…with my mommy

Heather: Ate at the Cheesecake Factory

Jarred: turned 22

3. What time did you wake up today?

Greg: 6:43 and 17 seconds with approximately 32 milliseconds

Wesley: 6:45 a.m.

4. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Addison: playing with finger puppets in the Village Store

Greg: running after the SIFAT truck

5. Name something you CANNOT wait to do?

Addison: play in traffic…with Jarred

Katie: to climb the hill again…not!

Heather: take a nap

6. Which hand do you like better? Why?

Leslie: Left…right…left…I don’t know!

Heather: Left, because the nails look nicer because my right hand cuts them

Jarred: The long hand. It tells me the minutes so I know the time more precisely.

7. What’s the last piece of clothing you borrowed from anyone?

Addison: Heather’s socks…she does not know yet…shh

Leslie: Nasty shorts from the slums!

Katie: one of Addison’s undershirts

Wesley: I don’t borrow clothing

8. Coke or Pepsi?

Katie: Dr. Pepper!

Greg: Sunkist

Jarred: sweet tea

9. What's an embarrassing moment or stupid thing you’ve done recently?

Addison: Got clotheslined by Leslie…neck still hurts.

Leslie: Tried to do the Dirty Dancing lift thingy and failed miserably in front of everyone!

Katie: I thought I locked my keys in my car, and I started freaking, so I had Addison drive me over to get my spare key. When I got back to the BH Lounge, my keys were on my bed.

Heather: tripped/locked my keys in my car

Greg: Well…I gave dance lessons to Leslie and Addison, but when I was dancing with Addison, it was filmed.

Jarred: Addison was leading worship, and he said, “I wanna hear ya’ll scream!” He meant sing loudly, but I thought he meant to yell, so I yelled, but I was the only one.

Wesley: I danced with Greg yesterday

About the BH Lounge (aka The Bunkhouse, the Barn, the counselors’ digs)

1. What was your first thought when you saw your home for the next 10 weeks?

Heather: Bugs…lots of bugs

Greg: I’m going to quit this job

Jarred: It is red

Has that changed? If so, what do you think now?

Leslie: No – I even have an eggcrate on my bed!!! Oh! And we have a fridge!

Katie: I wouldn’t change anything

Wesley: It’s cool living in a barn

What is your favorite part about living at the BH?

Leslie: We sing through the walls together while we shower!

Katie: singing together in the shower & carpet squares

What is your least favorite part about living at the BH?

Greg: living with women that are not my mom or sister

Jarred: water that smells like eggs

Wesley: Washer, dryer & oven sitting on our front porch

About the other counselors….

Who is the neatest?

Leslie: I am…or Wesley, but he doesn’t have anything!

Katie: Leslie! She uses wrinkle releaser on all her clothes every day.

Everyone else: Leslie

Who is the messiest?

Addison: the mice

Katie: Greg! He can’t find anything under all his stuff. We have to find it for him.

Greg: Myself

Jarred: Addison

If you could take one person on a road trip, who would it be and why?

Addison: Jarred – because he sings to me when I go to sleep or Leslie because she would probably make friends with a dead catfish

Leslie: Addison – He sings terribly cheesy songs & I love it!

Katie: Jarred, he would be quiet then once he opens his mouth he is hilarious. He is the crazy one.

Heather: Jarred, because of his girlish screams

Greg: Jarred – he’s pretty much Batman, Superman and Spiderman all in one

Jarred: Leslie – if we happened to be carjacked by an axe murderer, she could still find a positive side.

Wesley: Jarred because he is crazy/funny

Week Four's Slum Experience!

2007-06-26T10:47:00.000-06:00

Sunday marked the beginning of Week 04! We have another great group here this week. Wow. The summer is almost halfway over...but we still have plenty of groups coming!

Week Four students participated in the Slum Experience Sunday. While in the slums, they realized how difficult it can be to meet basic needs, such as food and shelter.

Some students had to ask around for a long time to find jobs:

And we learned that sometimes, these jobs take a long time and give us little money:

Building on previous workers

2007-06-21T10:47:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Week Three students worked in the Global Village as we do every Wednesday. The first week of L&S, we began work on two new gardens in South America. Each week, a little more work is being done, and the staff is enjoying seeing the progress of each project as it continues.

This week, the Bolivia team created a terrace going down the hill. They had to find rocks to build the retaining wall and break up the soil to prepare it for planting. The garden that Week One began and Week Two planted has small plants popping out of the soil! Here's one of our youth smoothing out the terrace:

Another garden near Guatemala is almost finished! It has beautiful, rock-lined paths, raised beds and a wire fence. This week's group got to plant some of the garden and also planted fig trees outside. In the weeks to come, a fence will need to be built and the garden tended. Here's a glimpse of the garden:

Creating these gardens is similar to the mission teams that SIFAT sends to Bolivia and Ecuador. Each team builds on what the last team did. While the team is in a country, its people work with the US team to help the citizens. In the same way, in between Learn & Serve students, the SIFAT staff (mainly John and Andy and volunteers Robert and Megan) work on the gardens, which benefit SIFAT. SIFAT supports short-term teams for long-term development.

But...we can't forget the other groups that didn't work on these two gardens! The Ecuador team worked in our main garden by the community house, and they were able to spend some time by the pond after finishing. Ecuador also worked on making some crafts from bamboo in their micro enterprise.

Here are a few more photos:

Week Three, Day Two...

2007-06-19T07:53:00.001-06:00

Myrtle Grove is here for Week Three. Although we have a small group this week, there's still excitement on campus. Last night, I wasn't able to attend worship, but as I walked into the Guest House, I could hear their singing coming across the campus!

Today, the students will be equipped with appropriate technologies that are part of everyday life for the majority of the world. They'll be cooking on sawdust stoves and finding nutritious plants that are used in Leaf for Life.

We'll try to post some photos of this group soon. Thanks for reading about L&S and praying for these students!

Week Two: Experiences in the Village

2007-06-14T08:02:00.000-06:00

Week Two is going great! They're preparing to leave campus to go serve our local Hispanic community and also help in a reading tutor program.

Yesterday, students worked hard in the village as part of their Third World experience. Four "countries" completed several work projects and were able to go to market, sell their wares or receive payment for their labor, and receive enough money to purchase food for their dinner.

The Philippine house was loved! The Philippine team cleaned underneath their house, built a new firewood rack and weeded the garden area.

The Bolivia team planted corn in the garden prepared by Week One! They also started work on terraces that future teams will complete.

Uganda made bricks that will be used on future projects and also started a micro enterprise by making furniture out of bamboo.

Nepal worked on a new garden by Guatemala. They hauled rocks, broke up the soil and started constructing beds.

After a day of gathering water, tending fires, working on micro enterprises and laboring on their lands, everyone enjoyed a worship time when we got to hear Isabel, a SIFAT Practicum graduate, talk about her life in Guatemala.

Between eating and worship, beautiful music filled the Village...the Philippines family found a use for the old bamboo they found!

More photos from Week One

2007-06-13T08:23:00.000-06:00

From a request by Leslie from Brookhaven...

Here are more pictures from the local Hispanic community that some of the Week One students served.

Does anyone have photos from the art camp project? If so, please email me (Marie) some of your best shots, and I'll post those, too!

Week One Review

2007-06-11T09:58:00.000-06:00

Here's a short (10 photo) slide show from last week.

Week Two is in full swing! Come back later for some photos of this week's adventures!

L&S Week One is over :(...but L&S Week Two starts soon!

2007-06-08T10:20:00.000-06:00

Week One is finished, but everyone who attended realizes that it's actually just a new beginning for their youth groups! They have been given a challenge to be "here. now." in their communities and the world.

For our Week One students (and adults!), we want to hear from you about your experience. Please post some comments to let us know what you think and to share with the students who will be coming in future weeks!

Here are some questions to get you started, but feel free to comment about other stuff, too!
1. What was your favorite part of L&S? Why?
2. How did L&S change you?
3. Has your youth group talked about starting any kind of ministries in your community? If so, what are you planning and how will it happen?
4. What was your favorite free time activity?
5. Spear groups...worship...cafeteria...devotions...community missions...global village...slums

Watch for a post (soon) to find out more about our fun counselors! Warning: it may be more than you want to know...

Serving our Community

2007-06-07T12:41:00.000-06:00

This morning, Week One's youth groups went off to serve the local communities near SIFAT. Some groups are hosting a day camp in a Hispanic neighborhood, while other groups are helping with a local children's art camp.

This week, we've been gotten a chance to look at our lives, the lives of people living in developing countries and how we can do something with this new view.

Here's a few pictures from Tuesday, when we were equipped with appropriate technologies and micro enterprises.

You can see we learned to make candles using hot dyed bees' wax and cold water. We also got the chance to cook on sawdust stoves!

Week One is here!!!

2007-06-05T13:24:00.000-06:00

Wow! It is already Tuesday in Week One. We are having so much fun at Learn & Serve this week. The counselors were in training all last week, and they worked hard, played hard and were ready for the summer to start.

Yesterday, L&Sers got the opportunity to be exposed to several different Third World countries while visiting the Global Village.

In South America, they made tortillas...

After getting the chance to mash hominy, the L&Sers were able to use a press and cook their tortillas!

In Africa, they learned how to make bricks...

First, you have to sift dirt. After water and straw are added, the mud is pounded into a form!

In Asia, they practiced a way of dancing -- tinikling ...

Long bamboo poles are used keep the rhythm of the dance , while those dancing move in and out between the poles!

2 weeks until L&S! Devo #9

2007-05-24T11:11:00.000-06:00

Luke 6:43-45

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”

Have you ever been hungry and looked forward to eating that fruit in the bowl on the counter, only to find out that it had been sitting there a while and had turned rotten? That is such a disappointing feeling. To look forward to something good and realize that it had gone bad.

This happens in life as well. Disappointment is something that we all have to face at one time or another. In this passage in Luke, Jesus describes people who cannot hide their genuineness. We have all been disappointed by people that we thought were sincere in their intentions, to later find that they only had their selfish interests in mind.

Have you ever been disappointed by someone? Have you ever disappointed someone? How might our true hearts be evident in what our mouths speak?

4 weeks until L&S! Devo #8

2007-05-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

Questions without answers?

Do have questions in your life without answers. Are you standing at a
crossroads in your life wondering which way to go. God has the answers and
He already knows the way for you to go.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him And He shall direct your
paths.”
It all begins with TRUST. You may not be able to see it with your physical
eyes, but take the leap of faith and God will uphold you with the
righteousness of His right hand!

6 weeks until L&S! Devo #7

2007-04-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

What’s your sacrifice?
Judges 11:29-40

We give up many things in our lives. Sugar, fat, carbohydrates and etc
hopefully to make a difference in our physical appearance or state. In
Judges 11, Jephthah made a very bold statement to God in verses 30 and 31
through a vow. In verse 30, “ And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said,
“if You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, ”then it will
be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I
return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I
will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

Now you’re probably thinking “what a crazy vow”, because probably what would
come from his “house” would be one of his children or wives, right? Well
not necessarily. It could have been some type of animal, but Jephthah was
sincere about victory and was willing to give up anything for that victory.
In verse 34, “When Jephthat came to his house at Mizpah, there was his
daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his
only child.

What a sacrifice! What are you willing to give to get victory in your life?
God gave his only begotten son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.

Three more churches are coming!

2007-04-25T15:36:00.000-06:00

Week 02: Scottsboro FUMC - Alabama
Center Star Church - Alabama

Week 06: St. James UMC - Alabama

Welcome to L&S! We're excited that you're coming...see you in June and July!

Another Amazing Work Team!

2007-04-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

During April 2-5, 2007, Picayune UMC's work team was busy on our campus! Their group worked on the Bunkhouse, where our L&S counselors live!

So what did they do?

Note: Concrete building attached to the bunkhouse and the color of the bunkhouse.

The shed has been torn down! It took lots of effort with sledgehammers to get the shed torn down.

The bunkhouse is now red. It looks much better!

With all the work being done outside, some things had to be fixed inside! The walls were painted and the bathroom stalls fixed.

A few more improvements were made to the bunkhouse that aren't shown in these photos. The roof was repaired and the interior walls got some much needed TLC.

Thank you Picayune for all of your hard work. Groups often sleep in hammocks in the bunkhouse when bad weather interrupts their Global Village camp outs. These groups and the L&S counselors are going to enjoy your hard work!

7 Weeks until L&S! Monday Devo #5

2007-04-09T15:21:00.000-06:00

Unto Him

You know it’s hard to do things for people that you don’t know , but God says that we should do “everything as unto Him”. That’s really hard sometimes because we would like to get the satisfaction of what we have done. We just have to remember that the reward for what we do is so much greater when it comes from God and not man. So, the next time you do, do it

UNTO HIM!

Matthew 6:1-4

“1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

More churches are coming!

2007-03-26T08:55:00.000-06:00

Welcome to L&S! Our staff is waiting to meet you this summer!

Week One:
Picayune FUMC - Mississippi

Week Two:
Word Alive International Outreach - Alabama

Campus is BUSY!

2007-03-19T09:11:00.000-06:00

Wow! Is it busy around campus or what? Retreats, work teams and CARES events have kept the L&S staff running.

We want to give a huge THANK YOU to the Brookhaven (MS) work team that came on their spring break to help us.

Most of the men on their team and some of the youth guys made huge improvements to the Guest House exterior, while the rest of the youth team worked hard in the village and around campus.

What did they do?

Some of the girls retied the rope bridge to make it more enjoyable and safer. Thanks girls! Those blisters from unknotting and reknotting those ropes was worth it!

How much bamboo and cane did you replant? Talk about digging their hearts out! The team moved cane in the Global Village to shield the bridge from view and create a pathway border. Then, if that wasn't enough, they replanted 20-30 ft. yellow bamboo between the shop and Quonset hut.

More digging....new steps from the cafeteria patio to the creek were started. (By the way, they're finished and look amazing!).

Hauled wood. Three truck loads of debris were removed from the Global Village

Basically, this team worked hard the entire weekend to help improve the SIFAT campus. All of the L&S teams this summer will benefit from their work, but already, visitors are enjoying their hours of labor.

BROOKHAVEN:
Please post some comments about your experience. Tell us something you gained from being a part of the work team. Share a funny story, a serious story, what you liked/didn't like, how this trip has affected you, etc.

Welcome Myrtle Grove!

2007-03-06T15:15:00.000-06:00

Myrtle Grove UMC from Florida will be attending L&S 2007 Week 03!

We're looking forward to meeting you!

13 Weeks until L&S! Monday Devo #5

2007-03-05T14:51:00.000-06:00

Salted or Unsalted?

Do you like popcorn? Have you ever tried unsalted natural popcorn? It’s nasty isn’t it? In the same way is our life without salvation and the Holy Spirit.

Those two additives are like salt and butter on popcorn…Great!

What’s even better is that salty buttered popcorn is addictive. You can’t settle for just one kernel and that kernel makes you thirsty, thirsty for more.

Be salt and make someone else thirsty!

Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything,

except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see

your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

14 Weeks until L&S! Monday Devo #4

2007-02-28T13:37:00.000-06:00

OK...Monday's Devo is on Wednesday this week. Sorry! Also, check out the students page on the website for some passages to read as you prepare for L&S 2007!

God can use YOU!

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Noah was Old (He more than 500 years old when he built the ark.) Genesis 5-6

David was young. 1 Samuel 16

Mary was a teenage girl. Luke 1

John was probably very ugly and was definitely not ordinary. Matthew 3

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Who's coming to L&S 2007?

2007-02-26T13:40:00.000-06:00

Monday's Devo will be posted tomorrow...so look for it then!

Today, we want to welcome the churches that are registered for L&S 2007 already:

Week 01:
Brookhaven UMC - Mississippi
Alexander City Methodist Church/Baptist Church (a combined group) - Alabama
Christ Community - Indiana

Weekend 03/04:
Sandersville UMC - Georgia

Week 04:
Mt. Bethel UMC - Georgia
Guntersville FUMC - Alabama

Week 06:
Pulaski Heights UMC - Arkansas

Week 07 Youth:
Emmanuel UMC - Indiana

Week 08:
Lakewood UMC - Texas

Week 10:
Ovieda FUMC - Florida

15 weeks until L&S! Devo #3

2007-02-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

We missed posting a devotion for last week...
However, here's this week's devotion! We hope you're having a great Monday. The weather on SIFAT's campus has been beautiful today, and we're anticpating summer! We are excited about meeting everyone. Look for a post later this week to see what churches are registered for L&S!

The Plan

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

God has saved and called us with a holy calling, not because of anything we have accomplished but because of His own purposes and grace,

which was provided and planned for us in Christ Jesus before the world began. So what’s our part?

He requires each of us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. In all of our ways we are to love and serve Him with all of our heart and soul

and keep His commands. In essence, our plan should be His Plan, which is The Plan.

17 weeks until L&S! Monday Devo #2

2007-02-05T13:49:00.000-06:00

Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1,9-13 (New International Version)

“1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.”

Time is very important to us. We all set aside a time for certain things in our lives. God has given each of us time to fulfill the purpose that He has for us on this earth. The place is here and the time is now to change a life around you. Will you take the time?

18 weeks until L&S! Monday Devo #1

2007-01-29T09:44:00.000-06:00

A Difference

Acts 10:36-39 (New King James Version)

36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

A difference was made in the lives of four fishermen.

A difference was made in the life of a leper.

A difference was made in the life of a centurion’s servant.

A difference was made in the life of a mother-in-law.

A difference was made in the lives of two demon-possessed men.

A difference was made in the life of a paralytic.

A difference was made in the life of a tax collector.

A difference was made in your life.

You can make a difference in the life of someone else.

One Man did. Will You?

New Website

2007-01-19T13:18:00.000-06:00

L&S is changing!

The L&S staff has been busy trying to make improvements for the upcoming year.

Our first major improvement is a website designed just for L&S. You can look at it soon by clicking here. Special pages are included for students, youth leaders, parents and counselors. When it goes live, we'll update you!

Please comment if the site is helping you find information you need or if you can't find something you need. It's kind of still in a "beta" test format!

Another improvement is this blog! Before L&S 2007, we'll post updates about dates, new counselors, etc. During the summer, we'll make posts each week asking for response from students and chaperones that just left. You'll be able to hear from friends, chaperones and favorite staff members all summer long! But, this blog will only be as great as you make it - if you don't comment, it's not going to be exciting!

Summer 2007 theme!

L&S 2007's theme will be announced and explained soon. Keep checking back for a theme post!