Last Day of Smart Start 2009/10

Today is the last day of Smart Start for this year, and I miss the kids already! God has really been present in both the students' and teachers' hearts these past few weeks, a fact I have especially noticed in the 4th-6th grade girls class. They have been so full of curiosity and awe of God and His ways, and it has been such a joy to dive into the bible with them and help answer their questions. I look forward to spending these last few hours with them, and know that God will use the little time we have left to make the most impact possible. God has been so obviously at work in this program, and I can't wait to return next year and see what more He as in store for everyone involved in the Smart Start program!

[glimpses of smart start @ t.a. brown]

CNS In Action: Thanksgiving Meals

More photos of our Thanksgiving

service project with Brother Under Christ (BYX).

These guys are awesome!

Blessings.

A Thanksgiving Come True

With the help of several CNS church sponsors (Austin Christian Fellowship, Austin Stone, All Saints Presbyterian and Covenant Presbyterian, Christ the King Presbyterian, Austin First Evangelical Church, and Lake Hills Church) Community New Start developed 100 Thanksgiving Baskets and officially handed them out on Thursday, November 19th at the end of Smart Start. The families were truly grateful and this small token of support brought tears and smiles to our families. The children were equally moved as they helped carry the groceries for their parents. I later drove from TA Brown Elementary to JJ Pickle and as drove through the neighborhood, I saw families walking proudly down the street, in hand with the Thanksgiving Baskets that they received. All thanks’ be to God and for the CNS friends, families and churches that support this effort. In addition, our newest partners, BYX (Brother’s Under Christ) members came to help in their first support of CNS and proudly delivered all of the meals to both school. They were terrific, so good that they broke into song when we got to JJ Pickle and had us all singing “Lean On Me” in a glee kinda way! It was beautiful!

Thanks to all our volunteers including Daniel Robles of RR Limousine, Amy Johnson, Suzanne Harris, Christy Robinson, Alex and Jeanette Guzman, John & Lisa Davila, Stephanie Rivers, Courtney Ousley) and all of the rest of our friends for their support. God Bless.

CNS Board of Directors Retreat

The CNS Board of Directors Retreat was held at the Austin Baptist Association and together the Board reviewed 2009 accomplishments, made advances in looking at our mission and took giant steps at continuing “Development” in 2010. These individuals are truly committed to sharing Gods love by word and deed.

CNS Family Day at Zilker Park

Last Saturday, CNS Staff and some Board Members gathered at Zilker Park for a time to fellowship away from the office and school setting. The idea was to help unity to the various individuals that keep this ministry going each week. What a great time! God is good!

Its the small things in life...

This is my first year to work with SmartStart and I love it. I love all of my kids, no matter how many time clips are moved to yellow or how many times a week my supervisor has to have a heart-to-heart with one of them. They are precious and the best part of my day. This week I had just led the kids in a prayer and one of them raised their hand and asked "How does God hear us?" I was caught a little off guard because, as kindergarten and first graders, they don't usually ask those kinds of questions. Then I was thankful that I had been given the opportunity to share with them more about the God who loves us.