road trip @ The Fields

The Fields Church will be taking a six-week road trip through Hebrews 11.

The power of youth

In the last 30 days I've served in both San Jeronimo, Honduras and Mattoon, Illinois (USA).

Each time I'm amazed at the willingness from the kids to jump in and help.

Painting desks in Honduras

Washing cars at West Park Plaza in Mattoon, IL.

We need to empower, equip and train our children and youth to take ownership in improving their world. Let's set them up to succeed. Let's help them understand they are significant.

Imagine the power harnessed in the youth of the world.

The meeting of the minds

Welcome to the Junto.

Well before signing the Declaration of Independence, and at the young age of 21, Benjamin Franklin was already a visionary in building organizations. In 1727, Franklin brought together a group for the purpose of facilitating discussion amongst interested and exceptional individuals about topics of the day. The group, initially composed of twelve members, called itself the Junto (Latin for meeting). Its members all lived in Philadelphia and were drawn from diverse occupations and backgrounds. They each shared a spirit of inquiry and a desire to improve themselves, their community, and the lives of others.

Ten diverse and deep-thinking individuals have gathered from the East Central Illinois area to do the same. I'm a part of it. And Wednesday we met for the first time to figure out how/when/where/why we'll gather and discuss topics important to today.

From spirituality to agriculture to work burnout to the green movement to the search for happiness; a list has been made and topics have been suggested.

I'm excited to gather once a month with such diverse intellectual minds in the area. As we share our own stories, opinions, perspectives and questions, I believe we'll all have something to contribute...and something to learn from.

I'm excited to simply expand my circle of friendship.

Meet Louis

Thursday, June 11, was our day off in Honduras. We ended the evening with a meal with the pastor's family and our entire team at Pizza Hut in Comyagua, Honduras.

We were really looking forward to the pizza after a week of some home-cooked authentic food.

Our team gathered in the typical looking Pizza Hut. We excitedly ate some bread sticks, and then anxiously waited for our pizza. Then it arrived. It was so good!

Then I noticed a boy standing behind me the entire time we were serving up and eating our pizza.

He just quietly stood and observed our team eating.

His name is Louis.

And we found out he was a street kid. He was by himself. He had made it past the door greeters. And he stood by my side watching us eat....over eat too much pizza.

We pulled a chair up. Invited him to sit with us. We poured him a drink and got him a plate of pizza.

I broke. I teared up as I sat next to Louis. I watched his little dirty hands cherish each peice of pizza that he picked up off the plate.

In broken Spanish I told him my name, asked him his age, and asked him if he lived in Comyagua. Then I asked him if Jesus was His Savior. He nodded yes, as he ate his pizza.

I put my arm around him, and just TRIED to imagine my son on the street fending for himself for dinner.

Lord, take care of Louis. Feed him. Clothe him. Educate him. Protect him. Help others step into his world and bless him.

I left an hour later and headed to a hotel.

He walked down the street...

No Power

The power went out on my side of town this morning as a thunderstorm rolled through East Central Illinois.

It was inconvenient ...for about 45 minutes.

I had to get a flashlight to find my clothes in the basement.

I wondered if I was going to shave today with my electric shaver.

My wireless router didn't work.

And my water and ice cube dispenser didn't work on the door of my fridge.

Then it happened.....

I had a flashback of nine days ago.

Last Tuesday I was in the village of Ireland just outside of San Jeronimo, Honduras.

No one in the village has electricity.

Here's an inside look at a humble kitchen with no electricity, no running water, and no sewage system. Just a table, some containers for transporting water, and wood stacked in the corner for cooking and light.

We used a generator to power a sound system for a bunch of kids' activities, including an evening movie presentation of GodMan on a large 10-foot screen.

I have lived a life blessed with more than enough.

Yet, I get irritated when my power temporarily goes off because of a storm.

I need to learn to be appreciative of what I have.

I need to learn to thank God for my blessed life.

And I need to learn from my new friends in the village of Ireland that joy comes from much more than a power outlet.

I continue to ponder all the lessons learned on my trip to Honduras.

www.the1814project.com

Holistic Love

Food

+

Water

+

Toys

+

Jesus

=

The Good News

We need to love our neighbor, even if she's 1814 miles away.

The 1814 Project Update

After an all-night travel day we arrived in Honduras safe and sound, landing in Tegucigalpa Airport... known to be one of the more dangerous airports to land in because of the nearby mountains and landscape.

Since then we have:

• Been interviewed on Honduras Channel 28 for coming to Honduras to help in a community transformation project.
• Opened a ribbon-cutting ceremony up in prayer. I was seated by the Catholic priest, mayor, a local pastor, city police officer, principal, and another city official.
• We hosted children activities during the first-ever San Jeronimo Project Market Day. We painted faces, played games, did the El Sapo dance, and got beat by kids in soccer.
• Saturday night we participated in a church service where God moved in great ways. Our team did an excellent job in their THREE HOUR children's church time.
• Sunday we taught a leadership class and did children ministry at the same time. Great morning.
• I taught the leadership class under a Mango tree next to a rooster, a dog, a broken down car, a nursing mom, and a family doing their laundry five feet away.

For some pics go to www.evancourtney.com

He's blogging and twittering this trip more regularly than I am.

1814 miles away

I'm in Honduras Until June 12.

I have no idea of my access to internet.

I'll post as often as I can. If at all.

Go to www.the1814project.com for our trip info.

Pray for community unity, school assemblies, service projects, church services, and our safety.

The Fields Church is investing in people 1814 miles away.

We're made to serve!

Mission Trip Packing Tip for the day

Always take a bath loofah.

They dry better than wash rags.

And you can hang them real easy.

Your welcome.

Sunday Reflections at The Fields Church

• God has really challenged me over the last three weeks to be VERY careful of the words that come out of my mouth. All the prep for the messages really hit home with me. Still learning to ZIP IT!
  
• Someone emailed me after the Sunday services saying, "todays message on Gossip was great! I also made a huge connection with not only God today, but with other people." THOSE emails never get old!!
  
• Listening to God during the service is so important. Following his promptings is so important. It was great to see God move in people's lives Sunday morning. Love it!
  
• Our Sunday Pre-service Prayer gathering is instrumental to our spiritual growth at The Fields. I encourage MORE people to come and join us at 8:30 AM. We lay the foundation to the worship service each morning at 8:30AM.
  
• I skipped an intro video to the message because of the powerful response to prayer we had after worship. I felt like it just would not have flowed too well. You can still see it on our media page of the website.
• Our final prep session for The 1814 Project to San Jeronimo, Honduras was great. Everyone seems excited and ready to go invest in an entire community! 
• I watched a Family Life teacher hug a kid in the lobby and tell them how special they were. AWESOME! Investing in kids inside and outside of the classrooms!