MOPSTalk Zone 22 ~ Eastern PA and NJ: Encouragement

CONVENTION UPDATE

Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.

Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).

Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).

And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).

Naomi Cramer Overton

Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.

Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.

MOPS International Convention 2010

August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL

Check back often for more information!

Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:

Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation

Monday, July 13, 2009

Encouragement

My oldest son, Chris, is about to turn 17 and has his driver's permit and will be a senior in high school. He is a quiet young man and it takes some time and concentrated work to have a meaningful conversation with him. Luckily, we have had a couple while in the car together. He has been playing the trumpet since 4th grade and is in the high school marching band, concert band, and orchestra. Together we went to his Music Banquet at the end of the school year. While there two other trumpet players told Chris that he should apply for the Section Leader position. I asked him about it and wondered if he was going to apply. He said that he thought about it, but probably wouldn't do it. I wanted to know why he wouldn't especially since two trumpet players thought he would do a good job. I told him he shouldn't focus on "what if I don't get it" and focus more on "how can I be a good Section Leader". I thought the main reason he didn't apply was that he was afraid that he would "fail" and not get it. There were 5 people applying for the 2 positions, so 3 people were going to be disappointed. He did apply and was interviewed. Would he have if I hadn't encouraged him? I am not sure.

Well, he did not get the position. Ugh! It is so much easier when my child succeeds because I can be genuinely happy and give all kinds of encouraging words. It is more work to deal with the failures, but when I look at those failures I try to help him focus on what he has learned and how he has grown from the experience. I hope and pray that maybe next time he won't need my encouragement to try for something he wants and go for it. I am not sure.

Guess what? Right after he didn't get the section leader position, I found out that a position that I had applied for was given to someone else. I knew EXACTLY how Chris was feeling. There is a wave of emotions that go through you when you feel you have "failed". It is much easier to say all the "hope you feel better" cliches to my son then to swallow them myself. "You are qualified for the postion, there must have been another reason you didn't get it", "God has a plan for you and you have to have faith in him and it", and "Just because you didn't get this doesn't mean you should give up". Suddenly, all my "words of wisdom" sounded so hollow to me. What a wake up call.

I sat down with him and I apologized to him. I told him I was so sorry that he didn't get the position and that I knew how he felt. I told him what happened to me. I asked if he was angry, and he admitted he was a little angry. I asked if he was wondering if there was something wrong with him, and he admitted he did lose some of his self-confidence. I asked him if he would continue to go after what he wanted, and he admitted he wasn't sure. I told him we both needed to pray. After we prayed together, I told him that I hoped that he would still be willing to go after something that he wanted regardless of whether he would succeed or fail. I am not so sure. I do know this though, I will always be there to encourage him, pray for him and with him, and to love him whether he succeeds or fails.

He just got home from a Mission Trip with my husband and our church to the Dominican Republic. Our Associate Pastor asked him to give his testimony on their last day there at the church service. He wrote 3 pages in his notebook talking about how much his experiences in the Dominican Republic have helped him grow in his relationship with God. I had tears in my eyes when he let me read it. The verse that he focused on is from Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God is so amazing!

Hope you are having a good summer!
Christy