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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

We are VLOGGING!!!

Okay, so most people who know me very well know that I am obsessed with YouTube, like in an unhealthy way. I think YouTube is the greatest invention EVER! I recently have convinced Matt to start a Vlog (video blog) with me, it took some begging, but it worked. We made our first one yesterday and it was super fun! We are going to have a new video each week, we will do different games, have guests, talk about what is on our mind, etc. 

I wanted to do this just as something fun the two of us could do together. It will also be really neat to have for our children someday, so they can see how crazy we were "back in the day." I'm not trying to get 1,000,000 followers, but it that happens...sweet! Here is the link to our channel, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe: www.youtube.com/user/mattandsierra   Just copy and paste it and it will bring you right to our channel.

Much Love
 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Letter to my Church

Word has gotten around the church that Matt and I are leaving, people are telling me they don't want us to go but are glad we are bettering our future. This is the letter that will go in our November newsletter to let those who don't know yet that we are leaving.



Dear Church Family,
  A little over a year and a half ago Matt and I were newly married and struggling to pay our bills every single month, that is until the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to be your secretary.  I took the job with no experience at all, but I knew I could do it. A few months after that I became the youth director and my life totally changed. I become totally invested in the students and they changed my life forever. With all of that being said I am sad to tell you that Matt and I will be leaving at the end of this year. Matt will be going back to school in   January at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. We are very ready to take this next step to better our future, but we are also heart broken to leave our students and the people we have become very close with here at FBC. I will not be going back to school, but will be working so we can afford to do this. Matt will be getting a Bachelor's in Mass Communications with the plans to stay with radio and maybe someday become a college professor. 

I cannot say thank you enough to the people who have touched our lives while we were here. We learned so much about being in the ministry and being a part of a church. I met some amazing students and  children that will always hold a special place in my heart. We feel that we have done what the Lord called us to do at FBC and now it is time to take the next step in our adult lives. 

I would like to say a few personal thank yous:
*Thank you to those who donated, prayed, and encouraged me for both of my trips to Haiti.

*Thank you to those who personally blessed us with surprise lunches paid for at Sharon’s, random gift cards on my desk, invites to dinner or out for ice cream, and the encouraging words.

*Thank you to my Haiti team for taking good care of me while we traveled at the days we were there. My grandma was at ease knowing I was with adults who knew what they were doing and would keep an eye on me. I got to know you so well while we were there and I will forever remember that trip (and Emil and I blogging every night.)

*Thank you to those who stood in the office or called me on the phone just to see how I was doing.

*Thank you to my youth workers who are amazing at what they do, I could not have done this without you!

*Thank you to Alyssa for acting like a fool with me during AWANA.

*Last but not least: Thank you to my students! I could write ten pages on you guys but I know you wouldn't read it so I'll keep it short. You were the best group anyone could ask for, you taught me so much about being a leader, tested my patience, challenged me, and so much more. Thanks to Daniel and Jarrett for the car hunts you sent me on more than once, the texts to remind me I needed to buy Pepsi or Gatorade, the hide-n-seek games in the dark for hours, the many sleepless lock-ins, the laughs when Shade and Daniel fell in the lake, the swimming pool baseball game, the games of spoons, phase ten, and of course the Mock Trials. Most importantly thank you for your love and dedication to the Lord, your heart of others, and your attention during countless lessons (even if I was just winging it.) To my boys: remember to always be gentleman and men of God. To my girls: remember you are a true princess and you’re worth more than gold. Always treat others with love and respect and don’t forget to always be women of God. I will forever remember my very first youth group and your love and acceptance. Always remember: be weird, because normal isn’t working! This isn’t goodbye, it is just see you later. 

We will forever be invested in FBC and we pray for the direction of the church. We have seen this church do some amazing things and we are confident that you have some even more amazing things up your sleeves. Keep serving the Lord and changing the lives of the hurting people out there. Always remember that Jesus loves ALL of his  people and wants them to be in Heaven with Him some day. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is not always fun and it is not always comfortable, but regardless that is our purpose. Always show the love of Jesus to everyone everywhere. Thanks again for the love you showed us, we will miss our church family. Until we meet again...
Sierra