I saw this post a Plywood about an Ethiopian refugee....check it out!!

Passion 2010 video

Just a little bit of what we got to experience at Passion 2010.....just look at all those people and remember that Gobena was the ONLY coffee supplier....we where busy, but wouldn't have it any other way

Family night...air borne!!

Air borne!!!! We had a family fun night of stunts!!! It was a blast!! The kids had such a great time just jumpin around...captured some of the moments.

some pics

My life my kids....they are the best!!!

Tammy a Gobena vounteer at Passion.....her perspective

This is a post from Tammy a volunteer for Passion that worked with Steve and I at the Gobena station at Passion.....its great to see others perspectives

Reflections on Passion 2010 … a month later

2010 February 4

by Tammie

Passion was different this year.

I have volunteered before at Passion 2006, Passion 2007, and Passion Atlanta. All three times were busy, exhausting and fulfilling. The perk of serving as I did in those events was that I never missed a general session, had the chance to browse the Go Center, eat lunch with (or at least near) the students, hang out at late nights and actually go somewhere to grab some dinner. Granted, it was often a quick run, but at least there was time to do it. You can read more about the experiences by clicking on the Passion tag at the bottom of the post. I wrote a lot. Links would be cumbersome.

In short, I was able to serve and experience quite a bit of Passion.

What I am about to say next isn’t a slam on volunteers who served on other teams. They worked incredibly hard. One of my roommates, for example, was on the intercessory prayer team. She was coming and going all hours of the day and night to be part of the group that was praying over Passion 24/7. The other was in the worship art center every time it was open and often was the last one out at night.

What I am about to say isn’t an attempt to bring attention to my own service. It’s more about me and my expectations.

This year I learned about serving sacrificially.

If you bought a cup of coffee at the Gobena stand, there was a good chance I was at least working there if I wasn’t actually the one who handed you the cup of coffee. The volunteers who worked the stand were often there at 8 a.m. to catch students and volunteers heading out to community groups or to their posts in the arena. They left at or near midnight when the coffee ran out for the night or the Go Center closed, whichever came first. We were open at lunch and straight through dinner. We had huge crowds in the afternoon and as people passed through the Go Center to head into the general sessions in the GWCC. Dinner was whatever was left in the Lenny’s box from the lunch you didn’t finish.

And that was just us volunteers. Steve and Danae, the couple behind Gobena, were there even earlier most days getting coffee ready for the volunteer headquarters and the hospitality rooms.

I never saw an entire general session. Missed Hillsong United altogether. Fell asleep during Francis Chan’s talk. Took a nap on one of the couches in the Go Center using a pillow that who knows who might have touched it or sat on it or … I’d rather not let my mind go too far on that count.

I’m sure there are other volunteers who could say the exact same thing.

Passion, for me, was different this year. I couldn’t tell you what anyone sang in the general sessions, but I can tell you that a student from Alabama (Roll Tide!) was a regular at Gobena and was crazy surprised when I told him so. I guess he didn’t think I’d remember in that crowd.

I don’t know what Beth Moore told the young women who saw her breakout session, but I can tell you about the two students who walked up to Gobena discussing the differences between Calvinism and Arminism and rewarded me with a fist bump when I first giggled a bit then told them it was ironic to be discussing such a topic immediately following John Piper’s message.

I haven’t the slightest clue what the Hillsong or Crowder set lists were for the late nights, but I can tell you about a group leader who bought two coffees then handed one back to me when she found out I didn’t even have time to get one for myself that morning.

Passion was different this year.

And, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Isaac and the snowman

Isaac and the snowman......

panda

Very cute sneezing panda.....

Pray with your child for Haiti

Some ways that your family can pray for Haiti together........

Next Gen Blog

categories: KidStuff | Nursery | Preschool | Gradeschool | TeenRock | Parents

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A Guide to Pray for Haiti with Your Kids

KidStuff, Preschool, Gradeschool, Parents

What has happened in Haiti is catastrophic to say the least. Your child may or may not hear about this, but either way we wanted to provide you with some ways that you as a family could talk about these things at home and be praying together for Haiti. Of course, you as the parent know what your child is able to handle and comprehend so the details that you share about Haiti are left to your discretion. I do hope that we can involve these little ones, so full of faith and trust, in pleading before their mighty King and Father for those in Haiti.

Take some time to remind your child that God is in control of all things. In fact, He is the only one in charge of everything! Take time to pray together, praising God that He is God and there is no other!

" I am the Lord. There is no other Lord.

I am the one and only God.

You do not know anything about me.

But I will make you strong.

Then people will know there is no God but me.

Everyone from where the sun rises in the east

to where it sets in the west will know it.

I am the Lord.

There is no other Lord.

I cause light to shine. I also create darkness.

I bring good times. I also create hard times.

I do all of those things. I am the Lord."

- Isaiah 45:5-7

"Look! I am the One!

There is no other God except me.

I put some people to death. I bring others to life.

I have wounded, and I will heal.

No one can save you from my powerful hand.

- Deuteronomy 45:5-7

Take time to say that we do not know why this has happened, but we know that God is in control and that He is always working for His Glory which is our best. God always works in a way where people are going to know him, and knowing him is the best thing that could happen to anyone.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28

Take some time to discuss with your kids about how powerful God is. Read through some scriptures that talk about how strong and big God is. Maybe have them make a list of ways they know God is powerful. This will point them to trust the Lord as tragedy may stir up fear in them. This will also help lay a foundation for your child to trust the Lord more. Then have them pray that the people in Haiti will know that God is this powerful too.

Once you have established that God is in control, take some time to pray specifically for Haiti:

(It is very effective to have your kids pray specifically for kids. They are very familiar with fears that children have and it is a little easier for them to imagine and relate.)

• Pray that whose who are hurt would get to see doctors and nurses and get the medicine and help they need.
• Pray that they would have enough food and water.
• Pray that they would not be scared but would somehow know how powerful God is.
• Pray that they would hear about Jesus!!
• Pray for those that are helping. Pray that they will be able to find all of the hurting people. That God will make them strong as they help so many people and get tired. That God will show them how to help people best.
• Pray for those who do not know where all of their friends or family are. Pray that they would feel Jesus close. Pray that those that are lost would be found.

You may also want to consider not only praying together as a family, but also taking time to collect some money as a family to send to help Haiti. Go here if you would like to donate money for relief to Real Hope for Haiti through PayPal or checks can be mailed to Real Hope for Haiti, PO Box 23, Elwood, IN 46036.

Also, please continue to follow the Make Disciples blog for more updates on Haiti relief.

Posted by Becca Harris at 1:22pm CST | Comment | Permalink | tags: haiti, missions, prayer

Gobena

I thought that I would share an email that we received that has really encouraged us....Thank you Kyle!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Lehman--

I imagine you receive hundreds of e-mails daily, but I wanted to add one more! My name is Kyle and I am a senior at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. I just got back from Passion 2010 a few days ago and was intrigued by what you guys are doing through Gobena Coffee. Really, I just wanted to say how much it has encouraged myself, and probably thousands of others--seeing what the Father is using you to do in Ehtiopia. I came home wanting to know more about Gobena and how I can be more involved in the cause. I read through your projects and watched the videos, and was moved to tears. Honestly, this e-mail has no main point except to let you guys know that you will definitely be lifted up in prayer from Conway, Arkansas and that the Lord will continue to use you in Ethiopia and other countries around the world so that we, as believers, may work together to flesh out James 1:27. I look forward to joining the cause by my own purchases in the future and spreading the word around my city and campus about Gobena.. I am not sure if you do any type of newsletter or anything; but if you do, I would absolutely love to be updated on the projects that are underway and how I can specifically pray for the needs of those projects and the families involved to be met. May your family be blessed by grace and peace through the Godhead!

In Him,

Kyle

P.S: Little Eva is precious!! The video of her adoption story was awesome!

Full circle

A few years back we took our kids on a little missions trip to Mexico. We went to this orphanage where they have children living in group homes set up with house parents. Steve helped build the church while me and the kids played with the children there. It was a lot of fun for our family and we plan to do a lot more trips with our children in years to come....anyway we received this note today....

"This donation is from the grade school at Casa Vida y Esperanza. The children remember your family from when you visited a few years ago and they voted to give to Gobena Coffee rather than have a gift exchange. The kids gave of their own earned money and the teachers matched their giving. God bless you this Christmas!"

They donated $57! WOW this has come full circle....children that have been orphaned that are at a place where there needs are being met are helping other orphaned children that are still in need of there needs being met. Truly amazing!!! God is good and these children's hearts are truly amazing! I mean think about it...they are in an orphanage as well

Here is a video from our time spent at Casa Vida y Esperanza a few years ago