DON’T CRY BECAUSE IT’S OVER. SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED

Hello all my dear ones, 

         This month has been the beginning of what I feel will be a long road of endings, changing, and saying goodbye. While we still have a ways to go in fundraising and preparing to leave the reality of it has set in during this month, for me at least.  This month we officially stepped down from leadership at 365, the young adult group we helped lead. For the first time in 6 years our Thursdays were not scheduled for Bible Study, there was no message to plan, no meeting scheduled - at least that we were attending. 365 holds a dear place in both of our hearts and always will. Eric started with the ministry in the beginning and for me, it really saved me when I moved to Green Bay. It was the fellowship I was looking for and became the family that I needed. Some of my best friends, greatest memories, biggest growths, came from there.. not to mention it is where Eric and I met. 

         The ministry continues though, under its leaders Bob and Bethany. We are so excited for the work they have done with the ministry and continue to do with it. We were so blessed to serve under them and work with them these past few years. They have encouraged, challenged, and blessed us.  Thankful for their friendship, partnership, and the ability to stop in and visit our old Bible Study any given Thursday. There is a quote that clearly states the way we feel, it is the time we spent together that matters and we will carry with us. 

Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not that we left it.  

Bob, Bethany, Eric and I @ our last 365 retreat. August 2016

As we move on we don't plan to leave our Thursdays alone just yet. Now starts the part of our preparing where we are going to start attending other young adult groups. We are looking for groups that meet around the Green Bay area that cater to the young adult generation. We already have a few we are planning to visit. We want to learn how others lead, how others plan, what they study, how they interact, what food they serve :) 

We know that by being well prepared we can better reach the people in Somerset. We don't want to get there and only have the one model to follow. As a teacher we have a saying

  "Don't have an empty toolbox". 

You need to have more than enough ideas and strategies so that your 'toolbox' is never emptied but continuously growing. We are excited for God to continue to fill our toolboxes with lessons He has for us.