Living Word Youth Homepage

2009 Winter Retreat Details

2009-02-04T15:39:00.002-05:00

Winter Retreat 2009: Virtual Vs. Reality

We ask that you arrive at 5:00 pm Friday, February 13 at the CTW Office (5432 W. Central Ave. Toledo, OH 43615) in order for us to pack and to ensure a prompt take-off. Once loaded, we will leave at 6:00 pm, as each van is ready. We will arrive back between 4:00-4:30 pm on Monday, February 16. Your young men and women will contact you via phone during our travel back in order to inform you of a more precise time that we will arrive back.

Also, please be aware of the following rules that might not have been known or clear:
+ No sodas/colored drinks are allowed while in the vans (due to our van rental policy).
+ All Energy drinks are prohibited.
+ Cell phones, and all other electronic items are prohibited. (except for digital cameras, which do not include cameras on phones). If there is some legitimate emergency need for a youth to have a cell phone, it needs to be discussed and approved by Hunter Turner in advance of the retreat and the cell phone will be in the possession of a youth leader throughout the retreat.

Leaders will have cell phones on them in case of an emergency.

If you need the booklet with further information, please click here.Winter%20Retreat%202008%20Booklet%20Posted%20Version.pdf

Nursing Homes This Wednesday

2009-02-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

The LWY will be meeting at various nursing home locations tonight. If you have any questions as to which nursing home you are to be at, please call Hunter at 419-329-1100.

Sledding Blast!

2009-01-30T15:41:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow morning all 2 legged sledders will drive their way to the sledding hill of choice in Whitehouse, OH (please see below.) We will start at 9:30 am. If you are unsure how to get there, please meet at 9:00 am at the Drees home (429 Canal Ct. Waterville, OH 43566) and we will carpool from there. Please bring your sled(s) and gear. At 11:30 am we will head over to the Speweik home (4756 Waterville-Swanton Rd Swanton, OH 43558) for lunch and will formally end at 1:30 pm. Questions, please call Hunter at 419-480-9118 if you have questions. If you need directions, please see below:

View Larger Map

Do you still want to sled?

2009-01-16T12:05:00.005-05:00

Even though our official LWY Sledding day is cancelled for tomorrow and set for our make-up date, January 31, I wanted to let you know that Xinxin and I will still be out at the Whitehouse sledding hill tomorrow (Jan. 17) at 10 am. We will have a fun time of sledding and will unoficcialy end around noon. All are welcome to come. If you need directions, please see below:

View Larger Map

Jan. 17 Sledding Date Moved to Jan. 31

2009-01-15T15:37:00.002-05:00

Due to very low temperatures this Saturday, the LWY will sled on our make-up date, January 31. We will go to the sledding hill in Whitehouse, OH at 9:30 am. If you are unsure how to get there, please meet at 9:00 am at the Drees home (429 Canal Ct. Waterville, OH 43566) and we will carpool from there. Please bring your sled(s) and gear and some water to drink. Questions? Please call 419-329-1100.

LWY at Various Nursing Homes Tonight

2008-12-03T10:50:00.001-05:00

The LWY will be meeting at various nursing home locations tonight. If you have any questions as to which nursing home you be at, please call Hunter at 419-329-1100.

Elizabeth's Last Update

2008-11-14T01:12:00.001-05:00

Hey You All,

I know, that I am now home, but I just wanted to send out one last email. After a tiring day of saying goodbye, I was ready to leave. The trip back went smoothly with no complications! Praise the Lord! Upon arriving at the airport I saw the lovely and dear faces of my Mother, Tessa, Isaiah, Heidi, and Autumn. I was so happy I could have cried! (BUT I didn't, I know I am a stone heart) :-) I went straight to youth group, I am so happy I did! I love you all! I got to see so many people in my not biological family!!!! It was a good trip! I am extremely happy to be home! I would encourage all of you, if you get an opportunity to serve in another country, do it! It is hard and might not be fun while you are there, but God will use it in your life!

I love you!

Elizabeth

LWY Parent Meeting

2008-11-14T01:09:00.000-05:00

Dear LWY parents, the LWY Leaders strongly encourage you to join us for a brief parent meeting on Sunday, December 7, between Sunday school class and the 2^nd Service. We have important information and updates concerning future events that you need to be aware of. We will gather in the 1^st Sunday school room on the left in the New School wing. We look forward to seeing you there.

"One More Week"

2008-11-05T10:51:00.001-05:00

from Elizabeth:

Hello All!
I have one more week. This next week is going to be a happy and sad one for me... I am extremely happy to be coming home and seeing you all, but sad to be leaving the friends I have made here. Not knowing when (if ever) I will see them again! I am content though, because I know they are all in God's hands! I realize this more, after seeing who are nation has picked for its next president. We are all in God's care, and must remember that no one has any power unless God gives it to them!
On a funnier note, I began one something that will continue for the rest of my life today! I FOUND MY FIRST WHITE HAIR!!!! :-0 Actually, I say it is blond, but everyone else said it was white. I am going to bring it home so you all can judge!
Also, I am bringing home a native animal to Caminchines. Can you guess what it is???? I will show it to whoever wants to see it! I think they are cool! But will you??? :-) It is pretty awesome! So, We went shopping yesterday. To a little town called Tonala. I was able to get almost all of my shopping done, which was really nice! I don't like shopping all that much. It is rather stressful when you really want to get the right gift!
Laura came back for school today. As we already have Ian and Hannah Cummings staying the week with us, it was a full house! Her homework from Saturday was to come today clean, having brushed her teeth 3 times each day, and having her hair done. Today, as you can probably guess, none of her homework was done. She smelled terrible and looked a wreck! Today Chuy said, "While Laura is her, we just need to love her and talk to her about Jesus all the time. But, we are going to keep her." So, Laura made up some excuse why she couldn't go home tonight. That is the first time in a while and a big answer to prayer! It proves that she really does want to stay! We showered her, and after washing her hair and body about five times each, she looks about 4 shades lighter. About the complexion of Tessa of Rachel A. I would say. So, PLEASE pray that God might make it possible that Laura AND all her siblings, might be able to come and live at the Acosta's. But more importantly, that while Laura is her, that she might see the difference in the Acosta's and how they love Jesus and desire it for herself!
Please pray for me tomorrow! It is my last youth group here. Pray that God would gives me His words to speak to the girls. Pray that the girls would not see the wretched sinner that I am, but Christ shinning through me. And pray that God would change their hearts!
I fly out of Guadalajara at 8:30ish next Wednesday morning. Please pray that I will get through customs o.k. and my flight will be on time so that I can be at LWY that night! I can't wait to see you all! It will be VERY soon now!
Love,Elizabeth

Update from Elizabeth

2008-10-30T10:16:00.001-04:00

Howdy Everyone!
I pray that all of you are well! I am greatly looking forward to being back in you (my family's) midst! I have made friendship here that I hope to keep for a lifetime, but still I long to be home. Which, I will be in two short weeks! These past few days have been relatively calm! Surprise, Surprise! Mondays are normally quite, because it is the Acosta family's BIG school day. Believe me, I am NOT missing school! :-) For the past couple weeks I have had this nasty cold/cough sickness. So, Amy said Monday was my day off, because I really didn't feel well. It was very nice! I got to read my Bible, pray, catch up on journaling, and spend quality time with Becky and Gracie doing their read aloud! They are listening to The Master Puppeteer, it is a very good book! Today I woke up to a very chilly morning, which as you know when you aren't feeling well isn't fun. I decided to take a nice hot shower. Well... Lets just say it wasn't even close to hot! The wind had blown out the flame on the hot water heater! I think I have had more cold showers while I have been here than everyone else put together, it must be my job while I am here to be the water tester... Anyway that is besides the point, all of these different factors did not make for a good start of the day. Anyway, I spent sometime this morning with the girls and talking to Kelly (The wife/mother of the mew family.) Then we had lunch. You can by these REALLY good cooked chickens with potatoes and salsa and tortillas for cheaper than you can make the chicken. So, that is what we had for lunch! It was yummy! Then after lunch, my day started its upward rise.... Chuy had been to the little town of Cocula and stopped by the post office. I got a letter from the youth group! It was so nice and I loved the picture! Thank you all so much! I was able to show everyone the picture and the all got to put faces to my friends back home! Now, it is hanging in my room on the mirror! It was so nice, and it totally changed my day for the better! I was literally dancing around the house! And, it made the usually daunting task of watching the kids for Bible study, not seem so daunting! Yoa and Bianca helped me. They are both really sweet in their own unique ways. They both want to go home with me. Bianca seriously wants to go to college. She is seventeen and loves school. Top in her class, but they are very poor. She hopes she can get a scholarship so she can go. Actually, what she really wants is to get a students visa and study in the states. Of all the youth here, she is one of maybe two or three who I think might truly be christians, but she is confused also.
I suppose you are wanting to hear about Laura. I am sorry to say that I don't have much to tell. Her mother makes her lie and say she doesn't want to be here and wants to go home. She has been heard threatening Laura, saying that if she does not tell us this, they will beat her. It makes you ask yourself why she would lie and want to go home to that. Two things: I don't think she wants to go home and she has her mother's love that she so greatly desires! She thinks that if she is good enough and does exactly what her mom say, that she will love her. But, she can't win her mother's love. Every time we see the children, the look like they are in worse condition than the last. Please pray that God would work in those parent's hearts and that he would keep the children safe!
Well, I had better go to sleep. It is late and in the morning I need to finish my lesson for youth group. Please pray that the words I speak would be not my own, and that in my last few weeks I would be a light in my every action for Christ! I look forward to seeing you all soon! And again, everyone who is in youth group form the very sweet letter!
Love,Elizabeth

The Results of Bowling for Paint...

2008-10-30T09:38:00.004-04:00

Bowling in Action!-thanks Jonny!

2008-10-29T09:04:00.002-04:00

More bowling photos...

2008-10-28T14:28:00.001-04:00

Some more bowling pictures...

2008-10-28T14:25:00.001-04:00

Some Pictures from bowling...

2008-10-28T14:20:00.002-04:00

Tim, the all time Bowling Champ with a score of 152!

Bowling for Paint Scores!

2008-10-28T12:02:00.003-04:00

By now, most of you might know that I actually do NOT have bowling skills. In fact, I never really had 6 years of experience and training and the same goes for the Bowling scholarship. Sadly to say the result was that all the guys beat my score and all the girls beat Xinxin's score during one of the two games. The result is that they now have the right to spray paint my car, for the most part, to their liking. Don't worry though, we'll have some fantabulous pictures posted soon! So check back soon, but while you are waiting you can check out the bowling scores by clicking on the attachment below...

Bowling_for_Paint_08_Scores.xlsx

I had a wonderful time with you all. Even though I am not a expert bowler, I had a blast with you all! Remember, this Wednesday is the work day at the Guthrie home and the start time is at 5:30 p.m. I'll see you all there!

fYi: Knowing God...

2008-10-16T14:24:00.001-04:00

As a reminder, we will be looking at chapter 6 in the book Knowing God by J.I. Packer. If you need the chapter, please contact Hunter.

Have you signed-up?

2008-10-16T11:17:00.003-04:00

A friendly reminder to sign-up if you plan to come to the Evening of Prayer or the Bowling for Paint events.

LWY Work Day @ Guthrie Home

2008-10-09T11:16:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, October 29, the youth will help clean, rake, and do other tasks to help out our dear Elder, Harold Guthrie. We will have a small bonfire and s'mores too. Please bring a rake and wear clothes you can get dirty and keep warm in. Also, if you came to the Bowling for Paint and beat Hunter or Xinxin's score, depending on whether you are a guy or gal, then you can help spray paint Hunter's car. We will start our evening at 5:30 PM. Hope to see you there!

Bowling for Paint!

2008-10-08T11:39:00.003-04:00

LWY Bowling for the Paint
All LWY are invited to come and bowl Saturday, October 25, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at the Imperial Lanes (5505 W. Central Ave Toledo, OH 43615). The cost will be $2 for shoes and $2.50 per game, we'll have time for 2 games. Also, any of the guys who beat Hunter's score will be able to participate in spray painting his car, the same goes for any of the girls who beat Xinxin's score. Please sign up here!

LWY Work Day @ Guthrie Home
On Wednesday, October 29, the youth will help clean, rake, and do other tasks to help out our dear Elder, Harold Guthrie. We will have a small bond fire. Please bring a rake and wear cloths you can get dirty and keep warm in. Also, if you came to the Bowling for Paint and beat Hunter or Xinxin's score, depending on whether you are a guy or gal, then you can help spray paint Hunter's car. We will start our evening at 5:30 PM. Hope to see you there!

Evening of Prayer: OCT 18

2008-10-02T14:29:00.002-04:00

All LWY are invited to gather together in the 3rd floor of the Turner home (2420 Robinwood Ave Toledo, OH 43620) on Saturday, October 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Light snacks will be included. Please come with some favorit Scripture passages in mind and ready to share. Also, to help with the planning, please sign up if you plan to come by clicking here. Hope to see you there!

An Update from Elizabeth in Mexico...

2008-09-30T16:00:00.003-04:00

Hi all!

Well, as you can see I have officially been in Mexico for three weeks, though it seems like so much longer! TONS has happened this week and I have not been able to email! I am sorry if you have written me an email and I have not been able to email back personally. I love getting your emails! In the next email I send out I am planning on writing down what I do on a semi-normal daily basis. (No day is really normal) Not today though, I have to much to say and too little time!

So, We will start about were I believe I left off last time. Wednesday morning: After breakfast I set to work making pizza for lunch/dinner. (With homemade sauce! That was interesting) When a family stopped by. I thought it was rather odd because, really they just came in and sat down. There was a mother, a father and four children. They were filthy, so dirty you could not imagine it. There was an 8 year old girl named Laura, a 5 year old boy named Luis, a 2 year old boy named Haviar (Sp?), and a 1 year old girl named Patricia. It turns out that they were coming to drop off the Laura to be taught by Amy. So, finally the parents left, but as they were walking out the door Luis started sobbing saying that he didn't want Laura to stay. As the story unfolds, it turns out that Laura had gone a "Vacation" by herself for about a year. Her parents call this trip a "vacation" but Laura says that this is not true. We believe that she was in a foster home for about a year. It is a very complicated story, The father isn't her father and her mother doesn't seem to care much about her. So, anyway, Laura was so dirty on Wednesday and she really wanted to "Bath." Now, I am not going to go into all the details, but take the dirtiest child and times it to about ten and that is how dirty she was. When Amy took a hair thing out of Laura's hair her fingers turned black! So, Amy and I gave her a shower. This eight year old girl had not the slightest idea how to bath herself! Next came the dreaded thoughts about.... my favorite thing... LICE.... Now, most of you probably know my drama with lice. How when I was young I got it SO many time. I could never understand what good could ever come out of me having lice, but now I believe I may have found it! Since I had lice so many times and knew what it looked like, I was the PERFECT candidate to look through Laura's hair. After a through inspection and much to my relief it was determined that that little girl did NOT have lice. So, happy and clean she went about her schooling, learning the colors and numbers to diez. When her parents arrived to take her home, she insisted that she wanted to stay the night. So, though they had never met us before, they willing agree to her spending the night and going to the city with us in the morning. She had the time of her life! Though, she did not much like seat belts. It was Gracie's birthday and she loved being able to celebrate with her. Since while we were in the city we were at the dentist, Amy had Magda look at Laura's teeth. They were TERRIBLE!!! (Autumn count your blessings) She had eight teeth that need fillings and 10 that need crowns. So, over the past 5 days Laura has spent the night three times. She has been with us all day everyday. And every day when her brother must leave her he begins to sob. This was a conversation that went on between the too of them. Luis: " YOU HAVE TO COME HOME WITH US TONIGHT!" Laura: "But I don't want to go home" Luis: "Laura, Why don't you want you come home?" Laura: "Because THEY love me here" Then, the next day Laura tells us that she never wants to go home. Things are not right in that home, Luis is traumatized and at first said he wanted nothing to do with us. He said the devil lives in the bathroom and the you can't touch food that has fallen on the ground because the devil sucked on it. Do you see the kind of lies that these people teach there children! Who and Haviar looks like a girl, why? Because his parents promised the virgin that they wouldn't cut his hair! But, as a close here is some good news. On friday night I was able to give all the children showers! And NONE of them have lice. Luis started coming to school today and wants to come back! He ran up to me before he left and gave me a hug! Saying, "I am coming back tomorrow, and if not, you have to come to my house." And Laura parents said that they would sign papers so the [Christian family will] have Guardianship of Laura! PLEASE be praying for the [Christian family] as they make decisions and for these children! They are in a hurtful and abusive sitaution right now. Be praying that God keeps the children safe, and if it is His will, that they might come to stay with the [Christian family] forever. I can't give all the details about their home life, but it is deffinately not a good one. Before I go I want to tell you about a way that we saw God work today! There were three extra mouths to feed today and just when we did not know what we were going to feed them, and neighbor brought over a chicken for us! :-) God is SO good! He always provides at the right time! Please keep these kids in your prayers!

Love,

Elizabeth

P.S. Amy says Hello!

P.P.S. I forgot to tell you a highlight of my week! Last week after youth group we played Volleyball. (As did LWY I hear) But I am sure the two games were very different! Wel played volleyball in the street, get ready for this.... WITH NO NET!!!! It was so much fun and totally crazy! The electricty wires were the lines! It was great to see them just playing the game to have fun! As games should be! It was a real challenge to me!

[Christian family] the original name was removed for both the children and the family's protection. If you would like the name of the family, please contact Elizabeth, requesting to be put on her e-mail list. Thank you.

LWY @ Nursing Homes This Week

2008-09-30T15:50:00.003-04:00

The Living Word Youth will be meeting at various nursing home locations this week. The locations are Sunset Village (9640 Sylvania-Metamora Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560), Harboside of Sylvania (5757 Whiteford Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560), Heartland of Waterville (8885 Browning Drive Waterville, OH 43566), and Harborside of Perrysburg (28546 Starbright Boulevard Perrysburg, OH 43551). If you have any questions as to which nursing home location your youth are assigned to, please contact Hunter at 419-329-1100.

Do you need the Early Bird Sign-up form?

2008-09-24T11:00:00.002-04:00

If you need the LWY's 2009 Winter Retreat Early Bird Sign-up form, please click on the link below for a PDF version of it. If you have any problems with this, please give Hunter Turner a call @ 419-329-1100.

Thanks!

Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Early%20Bird%202009%20Sign%20Up.pdf

All the way from Mexico!

2008-09-18T17:28:00.002-04:00

-The following is an update from Elizabeth, who is currently in Mexico.-

"Hey!

I hope you all are well. I am still healthy here in Mexico, which is very nice. Kids club was fun last we, we made thumb print book marks! The kids are a great example to me of finding pleasure in even the smallest of areas! Let me tell you the excitement of last week. There was a meeting at the catholic church last week. The priest told all the parents that if their children came to the Acosta's house they would not be given first communion. Now, this might not seem like a big deal to you, but if you do not get first cummunion here in Mexico you are not going to go to heaven OR be married. (By the catholic church) So, basically the priest was threatening to take away their salvation. Now, to the people here, not going to heaven isn't such a big deal. Most of them think that they can't possibly earn their way into heaven anyway. (They aren't good enough) So, they believe they will just stay in purgatory forever. BUT not getting married is really huge for them. So, long story short, we thought there weren't going to be many kids there on Friday. BOY WERE WE EVER WRONG! There were 45 children at the Acosta's house. That is an all time high! So, that was a great example to me of how all thing are possible in God! :-) You can really see here that God is removing the scales from the peoples eyes and allowing them to see the truth! Then, after kids club on Friday night there is Adult Bible Study at 8:00 p.m. I am going to start going to that to improve my spanish. It is on the book "The Purpose Driven Life" good book and all, but let me tell you after five hours of constantly being surround by kids it is hard to concentrate. I will not think it is so hard to pay attention late at night again when I am back in the States! At least then it will be in English! :-) Ah, well, it should help me. The Bible study is on Tuesdays and Fridays and tomorrow they are expecting me to read some of the chapter aloud. That should be interesting. Well, on Saturday I went to a baby shower. In Mexico they have a baby shower for every baby that you have. This was for a 24 year old lady named Ophelia. She comes to the Bible Study with her husband. It was nothing like I had ever been to before.

Well, I will keep you updated, but I best go to bed. Tomorrow is a party day, because it is Mexico's Independence Day.

Good Night!

Love,

Elizabeth"