This past week, we headed down to Brooklyn again to run another vacation Bible School. The theme was being a superhero for Jesus! We had three moms and their kids from a Bible Study group in Berlin, Maryland, join us for part of the week! We couldn't have done it without them!
The children learned simple truths like Make Right Choices, Stay Away From Wrongs and Be Kind to Others!

Superhero Melissa and Superhero Cheez-it lead us in our theme song every day!
There's not a lot to say, except I know our lives were impacted by the kids we met! I was talking with Allison and realized that I enjoy coming to Brooklyn because they are hungry! Not physically, but spiritually. Things are desperate in their environment. Most of the kids come from not just broken homes, but seriously dysfunctional homes. The atmosphere is oppressive. There are gangs on every block. (Devon witnessed a stand off with two gangs right in front of The Post. They were both had guns in their pockets.) Brooklyn is the largest domestic sex trafficking area on the East Coast. Poverty is the norm. Roaches and mice are the norm. These kids are desperate for love and Truth. It's so easy to "feed" people who are starving.
We saw God do a few miracles. One day, we had a couple new kids and we were short two booklets. I went through every box and bag to find two. When it came time to sit down with the kids, I realized I really needed three. I began to pass out the booklets, meanwhile praying for God to do something...and He did. There were three new booklets in the pile.
That may be a little miracle, but God met us there in Brooklyn and paid attention to even the tiniest detail!

We've decided to start a Kid's Night in Brooklyn. We will be running those the last Saturday of every month starting in August. We are hoping to run a parenting class at the same time. We are looking for volunteers to get involved! Please contact us if you are interested!

Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated this site! I apologize! I have been spending tons of time here and also some time here.

This has been a really good and really busy year for us! Last fall we started a YWAM Mission Bridge School here in Baltimore. We had 4 different churches represented and we held the classes at St. Luke's on Harford Rd. We had a team of 24! We met for three and a half months preparing our hearts to serve in a missional way. We were originally planning on going to Mexico. But, midway, God redirected our steps to Brooklyn, Baltimore. So, the day after Christmas, our team went and served in Brooklyn at Gospel Assembly Church for 5 days. We ran a vacation Bible school for the local kids, we cleaned up the church, renovated the pastor's bathroom, scrubbed, painted and more! We realized almost immediately, that were were sent there to refresh Pastor Vernon and his wife Brenda and encourage them!! They are on the front lines every day!

Since we were there, one of the young men who brought 3 kids every day, has started going to the church and is building relationship with Pastor Vernon and his family. The church also received a donation of all new hot water pipes! They now have hot water!
The Post (Community House of Prayer) is still partially standing. We tore down half of it last year and this Saturday will be tearing down the rest of it. Our vision is to build a large garage on the front that will act as the Community House of Prayer, and a two bedroom house on the back where missionaries who have a heart for this vision will move in and facilitate full time. We are taking it one step at a time. And to be honest, it has been a very frustrating walk. You can read a bit here. But, we are committed to walking it out. We could really use prayer in this area for wisdom, break through and finances.

We are planning another VBS in Brooklyn this summer. One of the ladies in our house church, purchased a curriculum on the Holy Spirit. We are very excited to get started! We have also been contacted by a group in Berlin, MD who want to come and serve that week! This is a huge answer to prayer and a number of this team teach in a Montessori school...so their talents will definitely be used!

Our house church has spent this year really knitting together and living out community! It has been a beautiful thing to be a part of! We love this family! We have also done a lot of outreach with them! We've been serving monthly at Ridge...lovin' on the skaters there. Word on the street is, the skatepark is going to be torn down by the county. We're not sure what will happen with all those boys! There is a huge need in Parkville for a place for them to skate! Not too long ago, two of those boys came to house church and we asked them, "What does church look like to you? If it could look any way, what would it look like?" They answered, "A skatepark!" Ahh...we are praying about this! How amazing would it be to be able to build a skatepark where church happened?! Didn't Jesus always meet people on their turf? Anyway, more things we have committed to prayer!

Personally...
Devon's business, Ripristino Remodeling, is growing and thriving! Last year was tough. Let's put it this way, the government paid us to have a business! But, God was so faithful! We never missed a mortgage payment and we always had food on the table. We also watched our Father miraculously pour in generous provision in the month of December!! We stood in awe of how He met our needs above and beyond all we had asked or imagined!
Devon has also hired a friend, who is a missionary in Baltimore city. It's been great fellowship! He just landed a big job we've been praying for for over a year! Devon's excited and a bit nervous! But, it's good! He also is waiting for his MHIC license to come any day now! Devon has also been asked to go with our friend Noe to Rwanda in June. He will be going for 7-10 days to serve alongside Noe in the work he is doing their with Africa For Jesus. This is also partially a scouting trip to see what it would be like to take a team there next year.

Kristin's company, LoveFeast Life is gearing up for a breakout year! Her blog that she co-writes with bff Chris Ann, has been a great, creative outlet and has been well received in the blogging community. They are learning tons about social media and are excited about where it will take them! Keep an eye on the blog for fun new adventures! She was also elected to the Board of Directors at the kids school. She will be serving a second term next year. She is also agreed to be Vice President for Safe House of Hope. This is an organization that has been started to help victims of sex trafficking be healed and restored back into their community. Kristin spends the rest of her days being the Transporter!

Kaya is wrapping up his sophomore year! It has been a much better year for him! He will be 16 in June and is eagerly looking forward to getting his driver's license and working this summer to save some money. He has been going to a youth group this year and is now one of their student leaders. This has been an incredible experience for him and we've really seen him blossom!

Nahum is still a straight A student. He keeps us on all task! Right now he is on an Outward Bound excursion with his class. He has been camping, serving and exploring in and around his city! He has also been taking drum lessons and is loving it! He really has a gift with music we hope he continues to explore!

Zeb is also a straight A student. He has matured so much this year and grown tall! He is about to pass Kristin just like the other two boys have done (not that it's hard to do!) He broke his arm this year and missed travel team, baseball try outs. About a week into the season, we got a call from the coach. A kid on the team broke a bone and he wanted to know if Zeb would step in. It turns out the kid played Zeb's positions! So, he's back in action!


Tavi is still working out 9 hours a week with her team. But, she broke her ankle a week after Zeb got his cast off. It was a stress fracture. She got her boot off a week before her States Meet. She did really well considering she was not fully conditioned! We are so proud of her hard work and determination! She is also on a dance team at her school and loving it!

Corban keeps us entertained, daily!! He is sharp and witty...too witty for a three year old which keeps us laughing! He tries hard to be one of the big kids and yet knows when it's beneficial to be the youngest! He loves playing in the new tree house the kids built with Devon and riding his bike!

Thank you all for standing with us and being a part of our lives!! We know we don't talk or see some of you often enough, but we love you! We love the stories and memories we have shared and look forward to new ones!

Our prayer needs right now:
*Wisdom for how to rebuild the house of prayer
*Favor with the office of permits
*Finances for house of prayer to be built.
*That God would direct the planning of the VBS this summer and unify team.
*Devon's trip to Rwanda would be laid out by God and all the steps ordained.
*Finances for Rwanda trip to come through. $2,500.
*Jesus would continue to knit together our house church and give us direction with skaters.

We love you all and thank you!!
In His Service,
Devon and Kristin and Tribe