Cory's Mission Blog On a mission to Love

Put Up of the Day: Lauren P.

Today I would like to put up my friend Lauren P.  Lauren is graduating High School this year and has a key role in our churches youth group and ministries.

Lauren works as a leader spy in our youth group. What I mean by this is she plays undercover.  most of the time people will recognize the loud heads, the people who send the emails, and the people with the paid staff positions when it comes to leading in youth groups.  Lauren is NONE of those but has one of the hugest roles, I believe, in the development of our youths growth in their faith in Christ. her constant will to encourage everyone around her, put a smile on even if she is having a bad day, come over to you to just give you a hug, may not be teaching in a classroom about Jesus but is showing them Jesus. Giving them something that the world tends to shy us away from.

Living a life of Christ is much harder then just speaking it, in my mind.

I had the great honor to travel with her to Nicaragua and West Virginia for a short-terms mission trip, have been a leader and mentor for her for several years now at our church, and have had the amazing opportunity to see this shy creative soul, turn into a bright and actively engaged follower of Christ. Not by just joining missions trips, but also participating in youth group, even in her senior year, and being apart of the worship team for church services on Sundays.

This put up came from a very generous motive that she presented to me.  In my last posting I mentioned the situation about the pastor in the village we were working in and his family not eating for 8 days. I continued to explain that we took a love offering and bought food for the family. We went out to wendy with her family and some friends and got some lunch and as I was leaving she slipped me an envelope. I took it and smiled and hugged then for what I was pretty sure I was gonna want to hug her later for. Iwhen I got to my destination I opened the letter and this is what is said.

"Cory -

I saw your blog post where you said you gave all you could to the pastor who needed money for food. You have such a wonderful heart and you inspire me to give my all for God. I hope this blesses you like you continually bless other -"

With tears running to my eyes I didn't know who to take it. If I knew this was what I was getting I would have given her more then a hug. i would have paid for her lunch of something. Without her knowing this is something God wanted placed in my life to bring back a sense of hope to some of the darkness creeping in around me.

Lauren, you've made me realize again that God has a plan for what I am doing. A lot of times I want to give up and stop doing what I am but am compelled to continue. Thank you for you thoughtful and kind words I know are a direct line from God.

There are lots of things I can complain about, which I have explained thoroughly in my last posting, things I wish I could have of be apart of.  But these simple few words, only, 8 lines on a note pad paper, remind me that is not about me, its about The kid in youth group who stood up in front of the whole church and pronounced a key factor in his decision in being baptized was Cory; it's not about me, it's about friends kids who haven't seen you in over a year and the first thing from there mouths are "Uncle CORY" as they push you out the door with excitement; It's not about me, its about the Child in Guatemala I sponsor yearly, to give him a good education and a chance to do something with his life; it's not about me, its not about me, its about the family of 9 children who haven't eaten in 8 days; its not about me, it's about the young child in a village who wants nothing more than a hug of compassion and be held in comfort;  its not about me, it's about that senior girl who wants is inspired by you to give their all.

Thank you Lauren for bring a light back into my life that I almost forgot.

Summer Update: Put up for the day

So I am sitting in my room looking for a reason to NOT pack all my stuff up again, but unfortunately am running out of time and ideas... If none of you know yet, I have chosen to work at the Kennebec Golf and Tennis academy camp for the summer on their media team doing things that I hope I do best. I truthfully am very excited for the summer; to gain more experience; be outside; learn some golf and tennis; meet new people; but all this moving and not having anything concrete in my life right now but the ever so regular pizza and bowel movements, is wearing me down.

I love to think of myself as outgoing, adventurous, spontaneous, and creative, I mean, just yesterday before church there were these little peppers (not knowing what it was) was coaxed into eating one... turned out to be a Habanero pepper and ended up throwing what little was left in my stomach up in the movie theater bathroom. needless to say I was 50 degrees cooler than anyone else in church yesterday. But needless to say life gets to me and being on my own (in terms of not having someone attached to my hip) makes things eh some days. So today I want to do a put up to get myself out of this slump and show my appreciation for someone in my life!

Darren Bantz

Darren Bantz was one of the first people I met at Stroudwater. He was working with the the youth helping lead things at youth group and bring his Four amazing Daughters along for the ride.  A i got to know Darren and watch where he was and what he did I realized this man does more then we normally see in a day!  Darren is an elder at the Church, runs sermons off the fly, carry's out amazing missions trips, can beat you at anything that can be considered a sport (there is no chance at ultimate Frisbee for anyone ). on top of this he play the role of Dad with his four daughters and Husband to his wife, which is his number one job in life.  beyond anything this man presses himself to the max to help others and to make things run smoothly for them and bring them a new taste of the Love of Jesus.

Many times I wonder how he does these things, other times I just have to go on faith.  most people in my life I do the first half to, the second half... well those are a few select people I trust have some sort of knowledge that I may not need to know fully but have to trust.  Darren is one of those people who falls into both categories.  But for the most part I brush the first half off and stop wondering how he does it and go on faith that God has some piece behind it all and I shouldn't be jealous of the amazing amounts of things this man can do..  I don't have space on this blog to write ALL the things he is great at, so I leave you with what I have shown above.

Above all, Darren has shown me a lot and brought me to a better understanding of what type of person I am and what I can be. he's shown me that nothing is impossible with faith; He's shown me what a great father looks like and does and sacrifices for the family; He's shown me no matter how hard life kicks you while your down to not give up the fight and faith; He's shown me a mentor, an athlete, a rock star, a power house, a leader, a go getter, a faith that doesn't fail, a rock that stands firm, a passion that won't burn out, and much more. But most importantly... He has shown me friendship.  So thank you Darren Bantz for all you have done not just for me, but for all who know and love you around the world!!