SEPTEMBER UPDATES!

Parts of Speech posters :)! Yeah for Grammar class!

Posters in the classroom (dr. jekyll and mr. hyde :) )

The boys in ESL.

Nade diving into the Word during Chapel.

Jason teaching Chapel. 

With Dad at the Lake this summer.

Skinquarter crew!

My friend Sara from Skinquarter Baptist

APOLOGIES
I will be very quick to say “I’m sorry” for failing to get this newsletter out earlier. The truth is, it has been written for over a month now, but I have lacked the time to sit down and lay it out so it looks “pretty.” I could have just e-mailed you the text format, now that would have been something new and different, but, being the Graphic Artist and very visual person that God created me to be, I just couldn’t do that. So, a month later, here are the updates.

TIME MOVES ON
As the summer moves on, I look back with fond memories of visiting the States. I met a new church family, Skinquarter Baptist, in Virginia through my extended Roberts family. I visited HOG country and spent some quality time with my cousin. I went to Lake Norfolk with my Medlock family – a true joy in it’s own special way. I was honored to stand by a long-time friend as a bridesmaid in her hometown wedding. I spent time in Little Rock with my mom and dad, my best friends, and my church family. One of the most memorable times for me is when I landed in Baton Rouge (from Honduras) and my little sister came to pick me up. She gave me a huge hug and quickly whipped out the camera to make a quick snap shot memory. I miss her so much. We’ve never been separated for this long of time and I’m beginning to feel the effects of it.

YEAR THREE BEGINS
This next year, my third year of ministry here, holds so much exciting opportunity. My job has slightly changed. With great desire and excitement for the transformed job, I am serving as a part time High School Language Arts teacher (literature, grammar, and English as a Second Language). I look forward to teaching Language Arts because I got some great ideas from my best friend this summer and I am already putting them into use. My other part-time work involves Graphic Design/Media work! I am getting to use my God-given skills in the arts to benefit this ministry and I’m ready and excited to tackle what He puts before me. Pray for me as I move back into the arts that it will all come back to me with ease. We are currently bringing a fresh look to all the print media of the ministry. I will also continue to write articles and take photos for the WGO ministry newsletter (so watch for it that) and I serve as a co-editor.

GOD’S TIMELY PROVISION
God used many of you over this summer to provide for me. He gave me your hospitality as I came to visit you: a place to stay, food to fill my belly and conversations to encourage this mission. He used you to provide finances to send me back for a third year of ministry and I know He will continue to use you through out the year to provide. I know I say this a lot, but I become more and more grateful for you, especially as I see new people join my team, and as I see faithful supporters give regularly. You may never have an idea of what it feels like to get my monthly statement and see that God is forever good and provides enough for me each month! I am literally blown away each month by seeing just how He does it and who He uses! What grace!

Summer is over, school has begun, so let’s put the sweet tea, summer time walks, neighborhood ice cream shops, colorful swim suits, meaningful conversations, jet planes in the scrapbook and conclude Summer 2008. Let’s watch with great expectation to how God will work as we finish strong the second half of 2008!

EPILOGUE
I sit here now, a month after starting to write this newsletter, and I have so much more to say. I guess you will just have to be sure to read the next newsletter so that you can hear all I wish I could fit into this newsletter. I wanted to add a few things here in order to update my update! Ha! So much for being timely. Next time, there’s always next time.

I must celebrate with each of you that continue to give monthly. This summer, I gained several monthly supporters. You will never know the encouragement that I get each time my statement comes in and each of you have remembered to give. For you and your sacrificial hearts and lifestyles, I am able to be here and serve.

I have been given an opportunity to help with our weekly Chapel for the High School group. I am taking the lesson and creating an interesting drama to go with it. Then we get the kids to help us act it out, and so far, it’s been a hit. Continue to pray for those of us that are involved in planning Chapel each week. It is such a critical time of Biblical teaching, but with each week, the planners have to find new energy and ideas. Pray for God’s perfect wisdom to be upon us as we plan.

Also, I am tutoring one of our 8th graders. She is very smart and has a lot of potential. My desire is to help her reach that potential. Pray for her, to receive the knowledge and pray for me as I build important study habits into her.

Please notice that we were given new e-mail addresses. You can now reach me at “smedlock@wgo-hn.org” as well as at “shellymedlock@gmail.com.”

Blessings in Jesus- Shelly


p.s. Remember to pray for this country, it’s leaders and political powers. Also, pray for physical provision and protection as we are in the middle of hurricane season.