IT was a Success! God be Praised!

We made it! Friday afternoon 20 students and 3 chaperones began our adventure to Cedar Rapids. Friday evening we served supper, Thanksgiving style, to the Celebrate Recovery group at the CR Refuge Church on Blair's Ferry. We were then allowed to worship with this bunch of men and women who are recovering from different addictions and struggles in their lives. It was really a very interesting experience. It was great to see people so hungry and grateful for the grace that comes from Jesus Christ.

After the worship service we were able to attend a concert at The Refuge by the rock band Jeshua Fire. They played a blend of worship songs and their own tunes in a hard rock style. It was fun to have a different kind of worship experience with the young people. When the concert end we headed for the friendly confines of Veteran's Stadium, the home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.]

I have a very kind brother who works for the Kernels and allowed us to use the facility as our residence for the weekend. The girls occupied the home locker room and the boys got the lowly visitor locker room, not that we are complaining at least our TV worked. The biggest hit of the weekend was the batting cage in the basement of the stadium. We didn't use it for batting practice, but for epic dodgeball battles. Aside from our service work, dodgeball consumed a good portion of our weekend.

We awoke Saturday morning and after breakfast headed back CR Refuge to help a gentleman clean the building. The kids worked very hard and in a matter of a few hours had the place looking pretty sharp. We are very thankful to the Refuge for letting us help out and enjoy their company.

Saturday afternoon we split our group in half. The high school young people went to Mission of Hope, Cedar Rapids' homeless shelter. The younger kids headed back to the stadium. The high schoolers spent the afternoon cleaning and organizing the Mission. The 8th graders split into two groups at the stadium. One group helped the grounds crew finish up some fall field maintainance and the other group picked up trash and did odd jobs.

In the evening on Saturday we had the pleasure of going to Catch 419 in Marion. Catch 419 began as a young ministry for high schoolers and now has changed gears to work with college students. The building is right of the square in Marion and resembles the Student Connection in the way that it is set up. They have tables and chairs for kids to chat at. They also have several computers for young people to use the internet. The pool table and airhockey table were also big hits. We had supper and then had a small music concert for the kids. All in all it was a fun evening of Christian fellowship.

We retired from Catch 419 at around 930pm and returned to the stadium. The fun was only just beginning. The entire group played a game of Sardines which is much akin to hide and go seek. This lasted almost two hours and was a lot of fun. At around midnight we began what turned out to be a dodgeball marathon. The marathon lasted well into the morning and we finally stopped at about 330am. I haven't been so exhausted in quite a while.

Sunday morning came quickly after our late night. We had our own worship service in the suite section overlooking the stadium. Some of the young people shared their experience of service and we sang praises to the Lord and thanked Him through prayer for our safety. When church was through we packed up, cleaned up, and headed for Coral Ridge Mall.

I had forgotten that this is one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. I was pleasantly surprised to see that our fairly large group of 23 people would blend in quite easily with the enormity of the crowd at the mall. We spent our time there shopping, but the most fun was had at the ice skating rink. Several students and my wife and self spent most of the afternoon skating. None of us had a lot of experience on the ice so it was an exciting experience. No major injuries to report thankfully, but I'm sure some of them woke up a little bit sore this morning.

Finally, at 4pm we heading back for Aplington a tired and happy group. We had a lot of fun this weekend but I think most importantly our young people have seen that there is a lot of work to do here locally. We were able to serve in Jesus' name right in our own backyard. I think the kids really enjoyed the time we were able to spend together and they were looking forward to another project. Thanks to the Lord for the growth and safety he gave us through this weekend.




SCHEDULE

monday nov 30: nothing, no praise band

tuesday dec 1: nothing to report

Wednesday dec 2: 330pm Early Herd done at 530pm; 630pm Herd done at 810pm

thursday dec 3: nothing

Friday dec 4: nada

Sat dec 5: nunca

Sunday Dec 6: 180 at 630pm


Wed Dec 9: EARLY HERD @130pm-330pm; HERD 630-810pm

Turkey Time and We Love Jesus(I try to put Jesus in the title because it makes the ads more appropriate)

Happy Halloween, I mean Thanksgiving. It's time to eat to near bursting in remembrance of how thankful we are that the pilgrims sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and Pocahontas married Samuel Adams to for the Alliance Defense Fund thereby starting the war of 1812 in which Francis Scott Keye wrote the lyrics to Labamba... wait... I might have this a little bit wrong. Anyway... where was I... Oh yes! WE ARE THANKFUL, not because of white meat or dark meat, or football games after everyone is too stuffed to move. WE ARE THANKFUL, not because mom made food to feed 60 and there's only 12 people at dinner, although leftovers are good. WE ARE THANKFUL that we serve a risen Savior and he has provided for us abundantly in this nation. The 'separation of church and state' people can paint it anyway they want, but there is no getting around Thanksgiving being a Christian holiday. It gets glossed over with all of the food, football, and food, but really this is a time to be thankful to our Creator God, who made us and everything we will overconsume on Thursday. So don't forget to the HIM and praise HIM. God is good. LET's EAT!!!


STUDENT CONNECTION SCHEDULE

monday-delivered 37 cartons of shoeboxes to Hammond Ave Brethren church

tuesday-hopefully buying supplies for the trip to CR on a 'date' with Annie, YAY! putting an offer in on the house of our dreams(well that might be stretching it)

wednesday-NO HERD OR EARLY HERD, sorry, school's out so I'm out, but I'll probably still be there getting ready for the weekend

Thursday-Thankgiving-eating a lot, Thanking the Lord, eating more, combination of watching football and sleeping, then eating again

Friday-LEAVING FOR CEDAR RAPIDS, BE AT STUCO AT 3pm TO LOAD UP!!!
5pm-Serving at Celebrate Recovery at CRREFUGE church, 1810 Blairs Ferry Rd
6pm-Leading Celebrate Recovery Worship
9pm-REFUGEROCK service, I call it BIKER CHURCH
12AM-lights out at the Kernels Stadium
Saturday-
830am-Breakfast
900am-Clean up at CRREFUGE church
12pm-Service work somewhere in CR
7pm-Concert at Catch 419 in Marion, The BEN DUNEGAN 3
10pm-head back to Stadium and maybe watch a flic on the Jumbotron, maybe, sleep in some cardboard boxes, maybe

Sunday-
830am breakfast
930am-our own worship service at the Stadium
1030am-clean up our mess
1100am-leave for Coral Ridge Mall and do some ice skating
when we get bored we'll come home, probably around 7pm

any questions call me.

PEACE OUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
adam

Tshirts are coming, sometime!

Finally getting our order finalized for tshirts. Let me know if you want one, and more importantly pay me $12. Otherwise I'm just taking care of stuff around here. I am very excited that boys basketball starts today. GO FALCONS! Here is the schedule for the week...


MONDAY: NADA for students, board meeting at 7pm for the board, if you're not on the board, don't come, you'll be bored!

Tuesday: 6pm Praise band practice

Wed: Early Herd meets, well, early, due to early out. Come down right after school and we'll be done at 330pm, if you're not acting like a dork you can stay here until your folks pick you up when they get off work because I'll be here anyway. However, if you are breaking things and being naughty then I will ask you politely to leave and then lock you out.

Herd meets at regular time of 630pm. door opens at 6pm. we are going to be either having movie night or going to the gym for the whole time just to change things up a little and give your minds and your youth director a break. it'll be an extra lot of fun so make sure to bring your friends that don't usually come.

Thursday: nothing

Friday: All State music festival

Saturday: I'm going to the Nutcracker (yay, not really, i'm not a big fan, but my Mom wants me to go) Josie's birthday party, one of many!

Sunday: 180 at 630pm. we'll do something fun I hope.


that's all I have for this week. make sure to read the Eclipse article this week to keep us with what's going on and stop back here for up to date information. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!

NO MORE POPCORN!!!

I love popcorn, but it may have to be outlawed from the Herd. I just got done, after hours of sweeping and vacuuming, cleaning the floor here. No problem, that's what I get payed for. I'm a glorified, maybe not even glorified, I'm a janitor and a babysitter. If I really thought that was true I wouldn't stay working here. The Lord has given me such a great love for these kids and a great desire to see them succeed. So what's a little popcorn and cupcake stuck to the floor, and table, and walls(that last one might be a stretch).

Herd and Early Herd went well this week I think. I had a lot of fun anyway. Someone told me if I'm having fun the kids are probably having fun also. The Early Herd discussed that "God loves you," complete with a Veggietales video. The regular Herd got to learn about how we should talk as Christians in, "It Matters What You Say." I'm still working on the not speaking in anger one on my kids. I learned a lot so I hope they did too. If you hear them using bad language this week tell them, "It Matters What You Say." They might just come next Wednesday and punch me in the nose.

Sunday night we'll have our fine 180 group which would be growing in number if everyone showed up at the same time. It has been really fun getting to know the high school kids that I missed the year before I started helping out here. Next year I should have had all of the high school kids from 180 in Herd at some point so I'll know them a little better.

I've been sneaking into basketball open gym with the high school fellas this week. I just love basketball and this has renewed my passion for it. These boys are really working hard and I think they'll have a difficult time NOT succeeding this year under the direction of Coach Thomas and Speed. They will definitely compete this season as it's been a while since we've had any prowess on the ball court. GO FALCONS! I hope to be able to continue to help, but I have a way busy schedule already and I'm not sure they really need me.

Anyway, enough rambling for one evening. God is good. We might be buying a house again soon. I'm too young to have owned as many houses as we have. Pray for us to get a huge chunk of land with our house. It would be a great place for paintball, 4 wheeling, or camping. I'm praying for it. You pray too would you? Also if you already praying for that you might as well pray for the Student Connection also. We're always in need of direction, wisdom, and strength. God continues to bless this ministry and help us in praying that that continues.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

adam

No Injuries to Report

We were blessed Sunday night at 180 to have no injuries during our intense game of capture the flag in the dark. We had a lot of fun and then we discussed how Christians should dress. Our discussion was cutely interrupted by our soon to be three year old telling everyone, "this used to be my ball when I was a little boy." Which would have been fine, but Josie is a girl. Everyone in the room pretty much cracked up. It was a great night of fellowship and studying God's word.

Now on to the next big thing. First I would like to encourage you to get your tshirt orders in to me by November 15th so I can get my order in. The post before this one has a picture of how the shirts will look. Pretty fetching if you ask me. They are $12. I will need your size and your money before I can order them.

Next item, we are going on a trip to Cedar Rapids the weekend after Thanksgiving. I can only take 40 young people with me so you need to get signed up NOW! The cost is $50. That will include the van rental, possible tshirt, breakfast everyday, and some other stuff. Please get me your permission slip and $50 by November 15th also.

Lastly, starting this week, there will be a weekly article in the Parkersburg Eclipse from the Student Connection to keep you and more importantly your parents up to date on what's going on here. Please tell everyone that you know to read this article if they care about the Student Connection. The Eclipse lets us do this for free. This will help us cut the cost of having a monthly newsletter that people are upset about not getting. This way you will get info on the Student Connection and a schedule of events once a week rather than once a month.


THIS WEEK


Monday: praise band practice at 5pm

Tuesday: nada @ STUCO, 7th Grade Volleyball Scrimmage vrs DNH, FINALLY!

Wed: Veteran's Day,
Early Herd Starts at 345pm now that play is over
Herd starts at 630pm ends at 810pm

Thurs: not much

Friday: nothing here

Saturday: again nothing

SUnday: FINALLY SOMETHING! 180 @ 630PM, going to the gym hopefully!

That's it for this week. have a splendid day and GO FALCON BASKETBALL!!!!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

I am so excited. I got the tshirt design back from the people who are making them and this is what they look like. I am jazzed. I think they did a great job. Let me know what you think. They are $12 a piece. I will need your size and your money at one of the next two Herd or 180 meetings. I just think these look great! Hope you agree. God bless!
Adam

THANKSGIVING TRIP

THE STUDENT CONNECTION IS PLANNING A TRIP TO CEDAR RAPIDS FROM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29. SPACE IS LIMITED SO SIGN UP NOW. I WILL BE PASSING OUT BROCHURES TONIGHT AT THE STUDENT CONNECTION. IT WILL BE FUN AND WE WILL BE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF CEDAR RAPIDS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.


EARLY HERD @ 345-530PM TONIGHT
HERD @ 630-810PM TONIGHT(WE ARE GOING TO THE GYM SO BRING NICE SHOES, DID SOMEONE SAY "DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT")

Barn Bash a Success!

We had a great time at the Barn Bash! Thanks to the Afterdark youth group from Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona, Iowa for all their help setting up, running the show, and tearing down. It was fun to meet new Christian friends and serve the Lord together. Jeff Jackson, the youth pastor at LCC, gave a message about freedom in Christ and their praise band lead us in a time of worship. The Barn Bash wouldn't be complete without FLOUR POWER, so of course we had to beat on young people with pantyhose filled with baking flour. It's not as bad as it sounds.

No special events this week. We all special evented out around here after the Fall Banquet and Barn Bash. Wednesday Early Herd will meet right after school and end around 530pm. Then the regular Herd will open at 6pm and we are going to head to the old gym at the school to avoid freezing to death in the STUCO building which needs a new furnace. We'll be done at our regular time of around 810pm.

Thanks for all of your help, those of you that assisted at the Barn Bash. God bless you all this week.