Missions: One Young Missionary to Follow

Truett is a good friend of mine.  He loves telling others about the good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Truett is an excellent example of a Leader, and someone I am trying to imitate.  I know that Truett loves Jesus.  He loves the lost.  He is a Soul Winner.  This is what I want to be, so I am sharing this article from the Harding University Bulletin today.  Please support this good work if you are able... 

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This is a Re post from 

"Around Campus" 

in the Harding Bulletin 

March 4, 2016 in Around Campus by Hannah Beall Owens |

Source:  Hannah Beall Owens

Harding University Junior, Truett Keener had never been to South America before this week. He has been co-leading a group of 22 students on a spring break mission trip in Ecuador.

Keener has participated in mission trips during spring break before, but this is the first trip he has led as a part of spring break missions through the Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry.
“People often don’t realize how many opportunities there are to travel, to lead groups or participate in a group, and that’s something I would love to see vocalized more,” he said. “I would love to see the program grow.”

The group has been busy ministering to children, leading Bible classes and chapel, and working on the property around a local school. While Keener has been focused on the specifics of his trip this week, he can’t help but see the impact of spring break missions as a whole.

“Sometimes we can get caught up in what’s happening with our individual trips, but when we look at the big picture, it’s very impressive what actually happens,” he said. “I’m really happy to be able to be a part of it. “

Hannah Owens, director of digital media

Treasured Purposes: My first Job

When I was 10 years old, My Parents and I talked about a business I could start on my own.  





We talked about all sorts of things, 
but in the end, 
I decided that 
I would start a Service
 of Refuse Collector Work, 
where I took our family's trash and the neighbor's trashcans out, 
(and then back in) 
on Trash Days.

 It was pretty hard work because I had to get up at 6 in the morning to beat the Garbage Truck.  They paid me 25 cents for each can I moved.  

 I was very ready to start this business, because I needed money for stuff, and I wanted to have a chance to show my Mom and Dad that I could do something like this.

I have learned a lot of Lessons doing my job.  Here are a few of them:  


Hard Work
AT first, I was really excited to be working for money, and helping out my neighbors, too.   But, then I started to hate getting up so early, especially in the winter, because it was icy, or snowy.  On those days, it was hard to get out of bed.  I was getting grouchy and having a bad attitude about that for a while.  







My Dad had a talk with me then, and  told me that my job was important, especially for the old people because they might fall on the ice.  I was really helping people, AND earning money to buy what I wanted WITH my own money.   

My Dad told me to focus on the PAYOFF, which was the $$, and also that I was helping others. 

So I began to grumble less, and get up without so much trouble.  

Now I get up pretty good, I guess because I am used to it, plus I DO like having that CASH to spend!
.

Self-CONTROL

my self regulation Submarine Sticker Chart
I made it to help me get ready faster
without arguing

Self Regulation is a word I learned a long time ago, but I didn't like the word, or what it meant.  I remember when I used to put sticker charts on paper to help me get ready for church and school in the morning.  I had a Submarine Sticker Chart.  It was fun, but it did get boring after awhile.  



I like going and buying THINGS

With my business, I get to make all the decisions.  I decided to expand to the next block from our house, but if I wanted to, I  could decide to quit it.  My parents say it is up to me. 

 What I like is that I also get to spend the money my own way.  I do give some to Jesus, some to spend, and I save some in my Bank Account.  But I could spend it all if I wanted to.  My parents let me make that decision, because it is my business.  





I like collecting Hex Bugs and
their Habitats

At first, I spent all the money on toys.  That decision was not wise.  Then I did not have money to give to a Missionary who visited our Congregation one Sunday.  I felt really bad about that.  Now I save a little of the money for things that come up, like Missions, or projects , and for Operation Christmas Child.  




Sometimes I buy Pizza for my whole family, 
but it wipes out my earnings.  
Ten Dollars for 2 Pizzas is actually 40 trash cans taken out! 

 I am glad that my parents let me make the decisions myself.  They say it will help me in my future, like when I go to college like my cousins did.  It will teach me about spending, saving, and what they call "budgeting."  It already is teaching me that.

A Friend Loves at all times

Proverb 17:17

The Proverbs tell us that to be a friend

means to give of yourself. 

I have a friend who needed help

making a costume. 

 Lauren had fabric and an idea, so My Mom and I invited her to our home for a day to see if my we could help her.   

I I thought it might be fun to join in the sewing. 

 

Here is the drawing of  the idea that Lauren

brought to our home for

her Fairy Costume. 

We worked hard all day,

cutting fabric, measuring,

and sewing. 

 

 

It was hard,

but we also had some fun

while we worked.

 

I had never used a sewing machine before, and it is known to be a Woman Skill, but it was  fun for me to sew using the machine, too.  

 

 

My Dad says that I will need to know my way around a Sewing Machine if I am to become a Small Engine Repair Man.  

 

So I did not think I was "girlie" to use the sewing machine today. 

 Here is the Finished thing. 

Lauren was really happy that day

when she finished the costume project.  

I think this Memory Verse means that a friend loves another friend during all things that happen in life. 

Sometimes a friend will stop being nice, or stop wanting to be with me so much, but I think the Bible tells me in this verse to keep on loving that friend no matter how she or he treats me. 

 Real friendship lasts in the bad times

and the good times. 

I want to be that kind of a friend. 

I think Jesus was that kind of a Friend

to Peter and the others. 

 

 

Unity: One Word

ONE Word

I like to memorize verses from
the Bible

My Memory Verse this week is this:

 

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

and

Thou shalt be saved and

thy house."

Acts 16:31
 

I learned it from the King James 
because my

Grandma taught it to me 
and 
she loves that version.

 

Grandma says the only book to base your life on 
is the Bible.
 

It is the ONE Word

from the

ONE God. 

 

The Bible is very interesting

Unity: ONE Truth

     Albert Schweitzer was a German Doctor who operated on sick African people.   I read a book about him for my home schooling.  He helped to cure Leprosy, and infections.  Those people in Africa needed lots of help.  Dr. Schweitzer hated cruelty.  Even fishing bothered him because it was harming a living thing.  He was a vegetarian all his life.  He hated to eat meat.  

    He loved to help people.  He lived in Africa almost all his life.  Once he got put in a prison camp because he was a German, and he was on French land in Africa during the war.  In all, Dr. Schweitzer built and helped to work in 3 hospitals in Africa.  The first hospital was made from a clean chicken coop.  He even helped a sick Pelican.  It's leg and wing were injured.  The Dr. helped the Pelican to fly, and it became his favorite pet.  




     The people in Africa loved Dr. Schweitzer.  So did a lot of the animals.  He said he was a Christian man.  He taught the African people to sing 'Jesus Loves Me."  But he was a hypocrite because he didn't believe that Jesus rose from the dead.   Albert Schweitzer did lots of good things, but that did not help him to go to Heaven.  The Bible says, 

"After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene,  the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons." Mark 16:9      Albert Schweitzer did not believe the whole truth.  Neither do Mr. Sal and Miss Donna, some people who came to study the Bible with my Parents.  They were Jehovah's Witnesses.  There is only ONE Truth.  But Dr. Schweitzer didn't believe in it.  There are thousands and zillions of lies about religion.  But the Bible tells us the Truth, because it is the Word of God.  God inspired the people who wrote the Bible.        Dr. Schweitzer was kind and not prejudiced against the Africans.   He is a role model because of this.  But in the end, I think he was wrong.  He believed the lie that others told him about Jesus being only human.  Don't be like him.  Read the Bible for yourself.  Jesus died for us on the Cross, and He rose from the Dead on the Third Day.  Lots of people saw Jesus after He rose.  The apostles saw Him.  Mary saw Him.  They weren't lying about it because when they were killed, they still stuck to the story that Jesus raised up from the dead.  I wish I could have talked to Albert Schweitzer so I could have told him these things.  Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and will always be! "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." --John 14:6

Unity: ONE God

We went on a Field Trip to "Farm City" today.   We saw all kinds animals, and did science experiments, too

 In all of the looking and walking around, I kept

thinking about God. 

I thought that He was so

awesome because He made every animal here.

Baby Chicks just hatched

Only God could have made so many different things, like the people, the goats, the cows, the chickens, the horses, and the little tiny baby kittens. 

Some people say that the world started with the Big Bang Theory.

But this couldn't have been true.  Something had to have MADE this stuff.   Nothing can't just happen.  Nothing is just Nothing. 

God told us in the Bible that He made world. 

Of all the other planets, this is the only one that can suit life.

All the other persons that people worship were

either only stone, mud, or humans.

For example, Dagon in the Bible was the "god of the harvest." 

When the Ark of the Covenant was

brought in to stand by Dagon,

Dagon fell on his face.

The next day, when they put him back up,

Dagon was broken.  His head and arms were

broken off.  God did that.

All the ones who worshipped Dagon

thought he was real until then.  After God

broke Dagon, those people were scared.

God made them have Tumors because they

worshipped stones and made up gods.

I bet if I went to ancient Egypt, and the Egyptians

were all around, and I went to each of the statues

of their gods, pushed them down and they

broke, they would realize that they were

just statues made of stone.  

Unity: ONE Way

Be Subject to the Elders (I Peter 5:5)

We have some great Elders at our church!  

They lead us in our church.  They are put to certain tests and they have to do a lot of hard work and take care of everyone in the whole congregation.  

They are my friends. 

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” -I Peter 5:5

 Our Lads to Leaders kids had a dinner for them.   We all cooked, and did all of the preparing for the dinner.  It took all night Saturday, and then the Dinner was Sunday after services.




Some of the kids made meatballs.

Some of the girls made little garlic bread sticks.

As for me, I got to do the cucumber peeling and grating with a cheese grater.  



We made little slices of cucumbers for the salad. 

We set up fancy tables in the basement of the building. 

 It was not hard, but Mrs. Ashley wanted us to set the silverware perfectly. 

The napkins had to be placed on the table just so. 

Next, we made Desserts, which were little brownies put in cups, then made in layers of pumpkins and then brownies and pumpkin again.  Then at the top we put whip cream.  












We decorated the Tables with acorns and leaves and little pumpkins and pine cones to make it look like Autumn. 









 Last of all, we made salads for everyone. 

Each kid had an assigned Elder and his wife to tend to.  I got Mr. Larry and his wife.  

He was fun because he talked a lot.   


 

 We talked about fishing, hunting, Arkansas, getting in our Boat, and just having plain fun.

All the kids served the Elders and their wives.  

Paul Yoder  and Miss Janet

Miss Jennifer and Darren Crowden

Miss Lori and Grant Deitch

Tim Williams and Miss Patti

Making Dessert

Making the Salad

I like having Elders because they can help me memorize verses, learn about the Bible,

 and they are fun to talk with. 

"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,

as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

shepherd the flock of God that is among you,

exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly,

 as God would have you; not for shameful gain,

but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge,

 but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears,

you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

I Peter 5:1-4