I just read this blog from one of our students that graduated a couple years back. We talk about being family a ton in high school ministry, but it isn't a culture shift that happens over night. We aren't there yet, but we are getting there. Check out this blog post she posted just the other day.
Family
Family, at first glance my family consists of my mom and dad, sister and brother. They are all fantastic and I love them all so much and wouldn't trade them for anything. They have loved me despite my flaws, they know me better than almost any humans on the earth, and they are apart of me. Now at first glance most of you would think that's it, pretty normal family, but the truth is my family is a lot bigger than that. I have family members in a little indian village in Panama, where I spent a week with my youth group building two houses for the glory of God, but while there we not only built houses, we built lifelong friendships with our friends, our family in Panama, although we don't see them much, they are still very dear to my heart and I think and pray for them often. My family also extends to inner city Marion, where people that are sick, broken, lost, and often forgotten are living in some conditions we wouldn't believe are possible in the United States, but if you open your eyes and step into reality, it becomes evident that this brokenness is all around us and right in front of us. Each of these people in inner city Marion, are apart of my family, when they hurt, I hurt, when they cry, I often cry, when they smile, it makes me smile for days. They will always be apart of my family.
But thats not where my family ends, a huge apart of my family is right here in Noblesville, IN. My youth pastor,Justin Fluhr, through high school always said throughout my years of being in the youth group, he wants us to be a family, he always said WE ARE A FAMILY. And about a week ago, our youth group family stepped together in Jesus name and did something that I will never forget and humbled me and my sister. My sister and I felt called by God to go on a mission trip this summer, and after praying for weeks, we felt led to go to Haiti. After finding the organization we were going with and seeing the price for each of us, it seemed daunting, but we both knew God was calling us and knew if we were suppose to go, God would bring the funds in. The cost for each of us was $1800 dollars. As we continued to pray the funds began to come in and we saw generosity from people that we never expected to see, but God is always good and faithful. The organization wanted the money in a month before the trip, which for us would be May 20th. As we came into the final week before the money was due we still owed quite a bit as we chipped little bits off through the week, it didn't seem like we were going to make it, but we still trusted that God would provide.
The night before the money was due, the 19th, we still owed around $700 dollars, and we honestly had no clue where the money was coming from. I was secretly stressing, but I still had peace that God would provide in some way. I got off work, and then went on a bike ride to blow off some of the stress, and to talk to Jesus, I went to a Bible study at my god parents house, and thought the night was just a normal night, but little did I know that the Spirit was stirring hearts not far away. Towards the end of the Bible study, I got a text message from a dear friend asking where I was, and what I was doing, and then had a phone call from another friend. Not thinking much of the text messages and phone call, I left the Bible study and prayed all my way home for God to do a miracle if it was His will for us to go to Haiti on this mission trip. I arrived at home and was sitting in the kitchen talking with my mom, and then heard a knock on our front door. It was 9 something at night so I was just expecting a neighbor to be at the door, yet when I opened the door a group from the youth group was at my front door, a little scared, I opened the door and went outside.
They handed me a box. I opened it. And in it was the rest of the money for Haiti. I felt: Joy, peace, love, humbled, excitement, comfort, encouragement, support. They had raise over $650 dollars within 10 minutes at Bible study that night for my sister and I to go on this journey to Haiti for God. So you see, my family it also extends to this whole youth group. when me and my sister were at a point where we needed help, they lifted us up, when stirred by God to help us. They helped us carry our burden, they loved us unconditionally, they supported us, and glorified God. God is good, God is faithful, God is always true. Family isn't just the people you live in a house with, they are the people you encounter everyday, they are the people you do life with. I am forever grateful for the family God has given me, for the love, support, peace, comfort God has used them to instill in my life. To all of you in my family, I love you and so thankful for you. And Justin you were right, WE ARE A FAMILY. And always will be.
But thats not where my family ends, a huge apart of my family is right here in Noblesville, IN. My youth pastor,Justin Fluhr, through high school always said throughout my years of being in the youth group, he wants us to be a family, he always said WE ARE A FAMILY. And about a week ago, our youth group family stepped together in Jesus name and did something that I will never forget and humbled me and my sister. My sister and I felt called by God to go on a mission trip this summer, and after praying for weeks, we felt led to go to Haiti. After finding the organization we were going with and seeing the price for each of us, it seemed daunting, but we both knew God was calling us and knew if we were suppose to go, God would bring the funds in. The cost for each of us was $1800 dollars. As we continued to pray the funds began to come in and we saw generosity from people that we never expected to see, but God is always good and faithful. The organization wanted the money in a month before the trip, which for us would be May 20th. As we came into the final week before the money was due we still owed quite a bit as we chipped little bits off through the week, it didn't seem like we were going to make it, but we still trusted that God would provide.
The night before the money was due, the 19th, we still owed around $700 dollars, and we honestly had no clue where the money was coming from. I was secretly stressing, but I still had peace that God would provide in some way. I got off work, and then went on a bike ride to blow off some of the stress, and to talk to Jesus, I went to a Bible study at my god parents house, and thought the night was just a normal night, but little did I know that the Spirit was stirring hearts not far away. Towards the end of the Bible study, I got a text message from a dear friend asking where I was, and what I was doing, and then had a phone call from another friend. Not thinking much of the text messages and phone call, I left the Bible study and prayed all my way home for God to do a miracle if it was His will for us to go to Haiti on this mission trip. I arrived at home and was sitting in the kitchen talking with my mom, and then heard a knock on our front door. It was 9 something at night so I was just expecting a neighbor to be at the door, yet when I opened the door a group from the youth group was at my front door, a little scared, I opened the door and went outside.
They handed me a box. I opened it. And in it was the rest of the money for Haiti. I felt: Joy, peace, love, humbled, excitement, comfort, encouragement, support. They had raise over $650 dollars within 10 minutes at Bible study that night for my sister and I to go on this journey to Haiti for God. So you see, my family it also extends to this whole youth group. when me and my sister were at a point where we needed help, they lifted us up, when stirred by God to help us. They helped us carry our burden, they loved us unconditionally, they supported us, and glorified God. God is good, God is faithful, God is always true. Family isn't just the people you live in a house with, they are the people you encounter everyday, they are the people you do life with. I am forever grateful for the family God has given me, for the love, support, peace, comfort God has used them to instill in my life. To all of you in my family, I love you and so thankful for you. And Justin you were right, WE ARE A FAMILY. And always will be.
- Ashley Meldahl
I'm proud of you Ashley. I can't wait to see how God continues to use you and Rachel in Haiti!
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