Home-Away-From-Home Ministry

Back in October 2012 when Dad moved to Texas, we started researching churches online from Michigan. When looking at our church, I was really intrigued by an outreach ministry they had for college students. In our town, there is a fairly large college and lots of kids that live on campus. Our church started a ministry called “Home-Away-From-Home” where families “adopt” a student for the school year. They get to know their student, take them out or have them over for meals, pray for them, and just show love to them in whatever way they can!

Since we moved in the middle of the school year—and were still getting acclimated—we didn’t get involved last year. But when the introductory luncheon rolled around in September, we made sure to attend. We got to meet several students, and then both the students and families desiring to be involved in the ministry filled out application forms. Then our Associate Pastor (who oversees the college ministries) prayed over all of them and started pairing families with students.

We were very excited when we finally found out the student we would get to “adopt.” J Turns out, probably due to the large size of our family J, we were assigned two students! We contacted both of them, and set up times to get together and meet with them.

The first student we met is a freshman this year and experiencing the full-blown transition from high school to college life. He is Mexican, shares a love of running and music with our family, and is just a really great guy!

After church on Sunday, we took him out to a new restaurant in town that makes wood-fired pizza. It was pretty busy, but we were seated quickly. I loved the scripture they had painted on the wall! (Deuteronomy 8:10)

The neat thing about this restaurant is that the kids get to assemble their own pizza. Josiah was quite tickled by that. J After they’ve rolled out their dough and put on their toppings, they take it up to the counter by the stove and get to watch it cook in the big wood oven.

I ordered a pizza with peppers, kalamata olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, pesto, and feta cheese on it. It was good, but I think next time I’ll custom order it and have some meat on there. J

Dessert was *incredible!* I ordered their s’more pizza. Nutella, graham cracker crumbs, mini marshmallows, and a deliciously sweet dough. Don’t worry, I shared both pizzas with the others! J

All of us kids with O in front of the wood oven.

Photo Credit: Mark

The following Sunday, most of the family got to meet with our other student K, and his friend, J, at Cracker Barrel (Roma and I were babysitting at church.)

Photo Credit: Mark

K is a sophomore, math major, chemistry minor, and pre-med student. His family history is so neat! He was adopted from Peru by an Iranian dad and a Native American mom. And his sister was adopted from Romania!

We really look forward to getting to know both of our adopted students over the next school year!