And so, it begins....

"But seek the welfare of the city where i have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" Jeremiah 29:7

The summer has officially begun and I'm so incredibly excited for the ways in which God is going to move, not only in my life, but in the lives of all of the interns and kids at common ground this summer. Last night, all of the "Summer Resident Missionaries," also known as interns, met for the first time over dinner. It's a great, diverse group of mostly college age men and women who have committed to spend the next nine weeks living, learning, and sharing the gospel together.

A typical day for us, starting next week (since this week is all about training and learning about Common Ground and the community), will start with devotions at 7:30. Kids arrive for summer camp at 9am, so I will be off to help House to House during that time. Our first goal for H2H is getting the shotgun houses done for the female interns to move into when Terrance, the new minister for Strong Tower, moves in at the end of June. In the evenings, we will be studying the book of James and also discussing the book Divided by Faith. We end the day with more devotional time. I am really encouraged by all of the spiritual development kind of things that we will be doing and all of the discussion that we have been able to have already, even with this really being our first day.

I am incredibly excited for this summer and I look forward to experiencing God in different ways, but this summer would not be possible without support both financially and spiritually. Although my internship has already begun, I have not yet raised all of my support; I need your help. Please prayerfully consider supporting me in this mission project with Common Ground and House to House. Your prayers for the summer and your financial support would mean so much to me. I will be posting prayer requests here, on my blog. My financial support needed is down to $1,050. As Deuteronomy 16:17 tells us, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." Any amount that you are able to give is helpful to me and to the ministry for the Lord. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.


Prayer Requests:
-My financial support
-Discernment, as to following God's will after this summer
-The other inters: for energy, strength and devotion for their work with the kids at summer camp
-Our work on the shotguns on Beecher Street, to get done in time for the girls to move in and Terrance to move into his house
-the kids coming to summer camp, that they would take something new from their Bible studies and activities there



^"For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away."  Matthew 25:29
   

A Pilgrimage

Tomorrow, I leave on a pilgrimage. I'm going on a trip in the footsteps of Paul. It's my final school trip with Huntingdon, and it's my first time outside of the country not on a mission trip. I am so incredibly blessed to be where I am, having been the places I've been. I have no idea what God has in store for this trip, but I know it will be good.

A few years ago, my parents went on a trip to Turkey. While they were they, my dad felt the calling to be a part of the ministry of Common Ground. Since then, God has blessed him so much in his faithfulness. Right now, I'm asking for discernment. I am praying that this trip, for me, will show me the path that God has planed for me. I have so much that I want to do and be; I need His guidance to show me where I should be headed.

This summer is the only part of my future that I'm aware of, and it really isn't set in stone yet. I've still got a lot of support to raise and a shot time to get it all in. (PS: if you can support me, I would greatly appreciate it, every penny counts!) I know that God is going to use me and the other interns in a great way and I am so incredibly excited to be a part of the mission that Common Ground has in Montgomery.

Yes, I've been accepted to seminary, and yes, as of this minute, I am going to Asbury in the fall; however, money, as always, is the issue that is holding me back. If I don't get a scholarship by the fall, I'm not going to be able to go.
If I don't go, I will go up to South Carolina to live with my brother. He works on a farm and helps out with several community gardens. He's a part of this incredible, inspiring group of young people who are going to change the world. I would be honored to be a part of that group. They are artists, but even more than that, they are Christians who are living out their faith in such an outstanding way, the way we are all supposed to.

My alarm will go off in 3 hours, giving me half an hour to get ready and another half an hour to get to the bus that leaves at 6am. An entire day of traveling and I'll be in Turkey tomorrow. Pray for me, please. Pray that I will hear God speaking to me on this trip. Pray that I will raise all of the support I need for my summer resident mission. Pray for safe travels for my group. I will be praying for you.

I love you all and I'll see you in 2 weeks with plenty of amazing experiences and pictures to share!

God Bless!

Here's the link to the Common Ground page. Please prayerfully consider supporting me, and if you can't, please tell someone else about the ministry at CGM and ask them to consider it. I'll be blogging about my experiences, so you'll always know what God is doing on the west side of Montgomery and in my own life.
http://cgmal.org/get_involved/donate_now.php

And so, I have officially graduated from college. It is still surreal, like I'll just be going back in the fall like nothings different. This summer is packed full of incredible opportunities for me and I am so thankful for everything that is going on. On Wednesday, I leave with a group of students from Huntingdon for Turkey and Greece! When I get back on the 24th, I only have a few days until I start my internship on the West side of Montgomery working with House to House and Common Ground. I plan on blogging about my experiences as much as I can, and I promise to include pictures so that you, too, can see the great things that God is doing!

Please continue to pray for me, that I will raise all of my financial support for this internship. I've got a lot to raise and with the economy like it is, its hard to ask for money from people. If you ever have anything you would like me to pray for, please let me know. Something I am learning right now is that in Christ we, as believers, are supposed to carry each others burdens. It's not something that we do just because we are nice or because we need to get something off our chest, it is because as the body of Christ we take each thing on as a unit. You and me, we are a family and together, we can do anything through Christ because He gives us all the strength we need.

If you haven't already, please read my previous post. It is my letter for support. Even if you can't support me financially, please pray for me and tell someone else you know about me and this mission.
Thank you.

I need your help!

The following is a letter that I have written to ask for support for my summer mission project. I have to have my support raised by the end of this month and I ask you all to prayerfully consider supporting me both financially and with your prayers throughout the summer. 

Dear Friends,

 As my final semester of undergraduate school draws to close, I have been seeking out opportunities to use my gifts and education to serve the Lord as well as my community before I begin seminary this fall at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. I have been selected to participate in a unique position with Common Ground Montgomery’s Summer Resident Mission in conjunction with House to House Ministries. 

                The mission of Common Ground Montgomery is to provide a safe haven from the destructive influences of the streets and also develop the youth who live in the Washington Park/Gibbs Village area on the West side of Montgomery. The Summer Resident Mission (SRM) is a nine-week experience on the West side of Montgomery. For nine weeks, I will live and serve as a missionary while learning and growing with other college students and neighborhood friends in a community that is under resourced and stressed by crime, drug addiction and teenage pregnancies just to name a few.  I have been given the unique opportunity to serve as the only SRM participant working directly with House to House, a new mission begun by my father. He and I will work to restore homes and build new homes in the community that is currently overflowing with abandoned property. I have been volunteering my time as I have been able over the past year and am excited to devote my entire summer to this neighborhood. 

                My love for missions and construction projects has taken me to Mexico, Panama, Ecuador and finally to my hometown in Montgomery. My experiences have included laying foundations for buildings, framing, brick and block laying, laying tile and grouting, painting, and demolition and I am looking forward to using these skills to serve my community as I live as a witness for the Gospel. From this summer residency, I hope to gain discernment for sharing my faith and being a blessing to those less fortunate than myself. 

                My summer will not be possible without your prayers and financial support. The cost of the summer is $3,000, which includes rent and utilities for housing, three meals a day, training materials, T shirts, and the cost of nine weeks of educational and fun activities. Since I am not able to work a job to earn money during the summer I will also receive a weekly stipend in order to cover the cost of other basic necessities. I am inviting you to partner with me in building God’s Kingdom by giving financially towards my summer and following God’s work through us by reading my blog for pictures and updates for our work in the community.Supporting me is as easy as visiting the Common Ground web page: http://cgmal.org/get_involved/donate_now.php This page will explain how to donate money by mail and online. If you choose to support me online, please add my name to the "comments" box at the bottom of the page. 

               I appreciate your support both financially and spiritually as I begin this amazing mission project. I hope you'll stay connected with me and the Summer Resident Mission project by reading my blog: http://cbunce.blogspot.com/. Thank you in advance and God bless!

In Christ,

Courtney Bunce

Somebody

I am the deep purple which holds emotions together,
Passionate and exquisite.
I am the graceful and elegant cheetah,
Who cradles unconforming beauty.
I am a cascade of pouring rain,
...Erupting from gray clouds.
I am the emotion of compassion,
Desiring to connect with the dilemmas and jubilation of humanity.
I am the song of the rolling waves of the ocean,
Forgiving and composed.
I am the feeling of a brand new velveteen rabbit,
Silky and cherished.
I am the aroma of a sweet rose,
A frail spiral of pure fragrance.
I am the everlasting taste of freshly picked strawberries,
So sweet, not needing sugar.
I am the daughter of the mythical Mother Nature,
Integral and organic.
I am the reverie of flying about clouds,
Sailing through the sky.
I Am Somebody.

This poem was one that I loved in middle school. I just wanted to share it with you. The young girl who wrote it attempted suicide. The acting group that I was a part of in North Carolina used this poem in one of our skits. I think it is important to remember that who ever you are wherever you are, you are somebody and you are special and unique. God made you with a purpose and He has a plan for your life.