The Robles Family: 6 Days and Counting...

Our trip to the Beach!

I have to take a moment, and thank all of my family and friends who helped me pack up the truck, unload the truck, and supported us during this move. It SO could not have been possible without your help! Thank you!!!

Well, now that I got that off of my heart, we have so much to share. First, the family... Abigail is loving her new school. It is certainly different than New York, but she seems to have settled right in. She began riding the bus to school in the morning, because we were the last pick-up, and it was only a 5 minute drive. After one day, she asked if she could ride the bus home too. I think it was so much harder on mommy than her, but she is now riding the bus independently to and from school. CRAZY! It might all change come next year though, as we are looking into a charter school here in Leland, that does not offer transportation. We'll see what God has in his plans I suppose... As for Dominic, he has made quite a few friends here. He seems to be the least phased of any of us. God bless his little heart. We have visited the beach, the local park, the movie theatre and spent a good portion of each day roaming around the neighborhood. It has been so nice to get outside!

Nelson dove right into the "techy" side of church business. He is working on the Crosswinds site with Noelle, and it is looking so good! They are also working on graphics and really cool stuff for the worship presentations. He is now learning the sound board for the worship services. It is so cool to have him be on the tech team, and really enjoying it. He is just now beginning to look for work, so that could be a new prayer request for us!

I am having a blast on the worship team, singing my heart out. I couldn't be happier than when I am really worshipping my God. How amazing he is... And I am spending quite a bit of time now coordinating Crosswinds Missions and Outreach. I have been so humbled with this responsibility, yet is fills my soul to help others. I am so on fire with passion to help the needy in this community, that I can't contain myself at times. God has instilled in me a desire to reach out for those who need it most in ways that I just cannot describe. Right now, I am working on a partnership with Manna ministries, which feeds the poor. Crosswinds could not be here at a better time than now. One of the things that I have missed most about NY is my ladies small group bible study. This mid-week ministry was the bread of my week. It was my support, my refuge, and the food for my soul. Well, tomorrow morning, I will begin my endeavor as a small group leader for women. I have started my own Bible Study, and tomorrow is the first time that we will meet. And can you believe it? The church has not yet even opened, and I have 6 attendees! I know... crazy... :)

As for the church... well, it is on fire. I mean, obivously not literally, but the Holy Spirit is doing something in this community that none of us can even begin to explain. People are jumping at the chance to find out what Crosswinds is all about. Everywhere I go, I barely get 5 words out of my mouth, and God is just working in their hearts, building excitement for his kingdom. It is crazy! I am brought to tears almost daily, by the outpoor of spiritual need in this community. It is beyond amazing to me how quickly and invisibly God is sweeping through the streets of this town. Boggles my mind... But anyhow, we still have not recieved our certificate of occupancy for the church building. Despite this, we have begun painting in the church early this week. We have to wait until we get this to begin putting walls up, or anything of that nature. Our team will really need your prayers come later this week, as we do what we have now coined "Extreme Church Makeover"! We will have 3 to 4 days, and few hands to whip this church together in time for our LAUNCH Sunday on the 29th! We can do it though. This team is amazing, and their dedication to Crosswinds is beyond measure. Many of them have become quick friends, and we couldn't be more thankful to work with each and every one of them. God certainly knew what he was doing, when he put us all together. We are all very different, but our differences are complementary. It is unreal, that we have a full worship band, tech team, hosting team, building and parking team, small group coordinator, missions coordinator, etc etc etc, in such a small group of people. What an amazing orchestration, only possible by the one true God. :)

Well, sending our love to all! Enjoy the new pics!