playing catch-up {GSG & Manturdays}

{this is my last "catch-up" blog post! we're almost back in real time!}

GSG = Girls' Small Group

"Manturdays" = "Men" meeting on Saturdays  (Chris wins the award for a cool group name)

Since returning from China, we've been leading these small groups twice a month, usually on Saturday mornings. The first Saturday, Chris had the boys over to our apartment, and Dasom and I met with the girls at a nearby Starbucks.

When I was in high school, I read through the book, Captiviting by John and Stasi Eldredge. I loved it, and thought it would be a great book to go through with these girls. It's about how our hearts as women really matter to God, because he created them with the longings and desires that we feel, and how He wants to be the Hero of our stories. . . the Hero that rescues our hearts and allows us to "live as a fully alive and feminine woman - a woman who is truly captivating."

The neat thing is, is that these two authors (husband and wife) also wrote a book for men. It's been the perfect book for Chris to lead the guys through as well! They talk about "man things" (says Chris). I quote him: "it's a time for them to take their questions somewhere besides the internet, and see what God says a man is."

Aside from the book study part, these small groups have opened up lines of communication that didn't exist before. We've both had opportunities to talk with some of the students outside of school and small group.  If you think about it, we'd appreciate prayer for Godly wisdom when tough questions are asked. Let me tell you, they have lots of them!

We've also got to have some fun! Along with meeting separately, we've tried to create some events where the guys and girls can hang out together outside of school and in a good environment. A month ago we had a giant game of Cutthroat Mafia in our school's gym and top floor. We had about 30 kids show up total. More than a regular small group,  but sometimes it takes a fun event to draw them in initially.

Last weekend, I invited the girls over for a sleepover, and kicked Chris out for the night (he's so great!).  It's busy "exam season" and many of the girls have Friday night or Saturday morning lessons, so only two girls were able to make it. Though I was wishing for a bigger turn out at first, Dasom and I realized it was a lot easier to "entertain" two instead of the potential 10, and it made chatting with them very easy. God knew what would be just right. We baked cookies (which they loved!), talked, and fell asleep in the living room to Pride and Prejudice :) One of the girls hadn't seen it before, so it was a must! Here's a few pictures Dasom snagged on her phone. . .

the baking process

finished product! so tasty

pancake squares and fruit for breakfast

And now, there's only five more weeks of school! I can hardly believe it! Even small groups have only been going on for two months now, and we'll probably only meet two more times before the end of the year, we're so grateful for the opportunity God presented. We plan to start up again next year, and continue connecting with the students in a meaningful way outside of school. We didn't quite know how it would start, and we're not sure the direction it will head, but we're praying for God's guidance, and we know He will lead the way. We want to say thank you to those of you who are prayerfully supporting our daily lives here in Jakarta, and specifically for the ministries that God has placed us in. We love you all, and can't wait to see our dear friends and family in just five weeks :)