May 14, 2012

Be a Part of the CCW Crew!

By Cup of Cool Water

From Anna,

 

Hey there! Let me just start out by saying, Cup of Cool Water is a place for peace and a place to step out and be apart of what God says is good. I volunteer at Cup of Cool Water only once a week but I hate to not be able to come in and help organizing/doing miscellaneous tasks that spectacular Sarah has for me. Really, being completely honest, my schedule is a weekly forecast, I never know exactly how plans are going to pan out but usually have a general idea and if that’s something you can relate to don’t let that hinder you from volunteering! I come in a different day almost every week in the mornings, but there is always something for me to do; if your going to school in the mornings come in the evenings (if you’re over 21) and help with dinner. There’s so many options, that if your heart is willing, there is no reason not to be a part of the CCW Crew!

Leave a comment | posted in Development, Homelessness, Joy, Ministry, Youth

May 1, 2012

Open Wide Your Heart

By Cup of Cool Water

From Rachel,

“If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.”
- Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“There is no need to go searching for a remedy for the evils of the time. The remedy already exists – it is the gift of one’s self to those who have fallen so low that even hope fails them. Open wide your heart.”
- Rene Bazin

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Betterment, Homelessness, Love, Ministry, Rachel, Youth

April 24, 2012

‘VENIA’ – a short film by a 16 year old from Sandpoint, Id

By Cup of Cool Water

From Tiffany

A friend sent this to me. I had no idea what it was when I clicked to watch it, but by the end of the film I had tears streaming down my face…how often do we walk by and not even look, or turn away, cross the street…How easily could that be me? The Grace we have been given is the grace we need to pass on.

Fearless Productions new film ‘VENIA’ highlights a shining example of forgiveness and grace, breaking past all selfish desires for revenge.

Venia | Official Short Film

I hope you feel moved by this as I did…

Blessings,

Tiffany

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Homeless, Homelessness, Joy, Love, Ministry, Outreach, Street Life, Tiffany, Youth

March 19, 2012

Recipe from Steph (Our weekly staff meeting special!)

By Cup of Cool Water

From Stephanie

 

None of the staff asked for this recipe to be posted on the blog because they all have it already. Spring brings with it the birds back from the South, the leaves back on the trees and fresh, tender, inexpensive asparagus to the grocery store! Quick and easy and filling is……………….  Asparagus Leek Soup

 

 

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter

1 leek (white part only) halved lengthwise, washed well, and chopped

¾ lb (1 bunch) asparagus, cut into ½ pieces

2 cups chicken stock (chicken bullion works just as well)

1/3-cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

 

 

Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until melted. Add the leek and sauté, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the asparagus and continue to sauté for another minute. Add the stock to the pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until asparagus are just tender.

Transfer the mixture into a blender or food processor (I think the blender is less messy).

Add the cream, salt and pepper and puree for one 1 minute or until smooth.

 

 

Bon Appetite!

Leave a comment | posted in Love, Recipes, Stephanie

March 15, 2012

How I Feel in Ministry

By Cup of Cool Water
From Kathy
Here’s How I feel in Ministry.

My favorite quote from Mother Teresa:

“I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYONE WHO NEEDS GOD’S HELP AND GRACE AS MUCH AS I DO. SOMETIMES I FEEL SO HELPLESS AND WEAK. I THINK THAT’S WHY GOD USES ME. BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON MY OWN STRENGTH, I RELY ON HIM TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY”

 

MOTHER TERESA

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Uncategorized

March 1, 2012

A Farewell Address

By Cup of Cool Water

From Sarah Evans

 

At Cup of Cool Water, we take pride in defying the norms when it comes to staff turnover.  The average job-length expectancy for a social worker or a youth pastor is 18 months, often because of burnout and difficulty in balancing job demands.  At the start of this year, our average staff member’s history of service with CCW was about eight years.  This amazing track-record can be attributed to a number of things, but we know for certain that it’s a positive attribute when it comes to maintaining trust and relationships with youth.

Unfortunately, having a tightly-connected staff with long history together also makes it really hard to say goodbye.

I’ve been procrastinating this blog and my subsequent newsletter article because I’m not quite ready for them yet.  Last weekend, we had the final packing party for longtime CCW staff members Seth and Sara Wiltermood and their new baby girl Lavender Mae, born just last month.  Spending time with them as they packed up their apartment was really special, not just because I got lots of adorable-baby-holding time, but also to see the long procession of people who came to help in the course of the day.  Current and former CCW volunteers and staff members, “graduated” CCW clients, and countless other friends and coworkers came to help with the process…a testament to the number of lives Seth and Sara have touched during their time in Spokane.

Sara has been a part of the ministry at Cup of Cool Water since 2005, and Seth since 2006.  They were married in the spring of 2008.  After many years of great service to Cup, Christ Clinic, Youth for Christ, Vintage Faith and New Community Churches, and other wonderful groups of people, they are returning to their hometown of Grant’s Pass, Oregon.  They have lots of dreams of going back to live in the woods, raise a family, perhaps welcome foster kids into that family, keep a garden, raise animals, and build their own house, among plenty of other things.  We are certain they will achieve much and bless a great many people wherever they find themselves, though they will be sorely missed here.

I’d invite all of you to keep the Wiltermood family in your prayers as they make their move, settle into a new place, reconnect with family, seek employment, and continue in their new adventure of parenting.  They will always be dearly loved here at Cup of Cool Water.

3 comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Joy, Love, Ministry, Outreach, Sarah, Youth

February 22, 2012

What Is The Impossible?

By Cup of Cool Water

From Rachel Terrell

“For [God] delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. [God] has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence [God] redeems their life; and precious is their blood in [God's] sight.”
- Psalm 72:12-14

“What is the ‘impossible’? It is liberation. To liberate people from the demons of fear, of loneliness, of hatred and of egoism that shackle them. To liberate people so that they also can love, heal, and liberate others. But in order to do that, you must go in poverty and experience the life of God flowing within your own flesh.” - Jean Vanier

I believe this sums up what we all do here at Cup of Cool Water. 

Leave a comment | posted in Homelessness, Joy, Ministry, Rachel, Street Life, Youth

February 15, 2012

Safe People

By Cup of Cool Water

One of the neat things about working at Cup of Cool Water is that we come together every week as a staff and talk about the ministry and the youth we serve. We reserve part of that time to read different books to supplement our education (we are always learning something new!) Currently, we are reading a book titled Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t by Henry Cloud and John Townsend.  Though we are only in the first chapter, it has already deepened my understanding of certain behaviors and characteristics that I have seen in either myself or those I know.

I want to share an excerpt from Safe People, hoping that you will take an interest and read along with us.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men –robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. (Luke 18:10-14)

The tax gatherer did not see himself as righteous. Instead, he sought grace humbly, for he knew that only through God’s grace could he be loved and accepted. The Pharisee, however, saw himself as good, and others as bad. He believed—wrongly—that all ‘badness’ was outside himself.” (Cloud and Townsend,1995)

Below is a link to where you can order the book, consider reading along with us!

Safe People – Book

Cloud, Henry and John Townsend(1995). Safe People: How to find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan.

Leave a comment | posted in Development, Homelessness, Ministry, Redemption, Youth

January 23, 2012

Peace from God

By Cup of Cool Water

From Mark Terrell

 

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

In 2001, Cup of Cool Water finally got into its newly remodeled facility. We were all excited. There were lots of kids coming in. In fact, we were running around a 10 to 1 ratio, 10 kids for 1 staff. It was exhausting and energizing all at the same time. Then it just suddenly stopped. There was nobody coming in. I think we went about a month with only 1 or 2 kids coming in everyday that we were open. They wouldn’t stay to long. The place was empty.

That started bothering me. Well, it went beyond bothering me. Frankly, I got really discouraged, even went into a little depression. Yep, I was taking it personally. It came to the point where I even got upset with God. I was at my boiling point; wondering why Cup of Cool Water even existed. We should just close the doors. I started fighting with God. That’s right, I was upset. Then it happened; God interviened.

Before every drop-in and outreach time, we spend some time praying. Well, with being in the funk that I was in, I really didn’t feel like praying. Heck, I didn’t even want to be there. As everybody else prayed I tried not to listen. Then it was silent for a while. It was like they were waiting for me to say the last prayer. I relented and prayed, “God, I really need your peace. Amen.” I didn’t think it was much of a prayer and it was totally done out of spite. I thought, “Let’s get this thing over with.” That’s right, I prayed with a bad attitude. Minutes after I ended the prayer time we opened the doors.

As soon as the doors were open, day drop-in time began. Martha came in. Martha is 16-year-old girl involved in prostitution. She has been coming to Cup of Cool Water for about 2 years. At the present time, Martha was the only person there besides the staff. Martha walked in with a joyful bounce in her step, plopped down in a chair at a table, and sighed with a deep and cheery breath just as I sat down at the table in a chair across from her.

“I love coming here.” Her cheerfulness was a little annoying to me and I wanted it to end so I responded in the most gravely and frustrated voice I could muster up, “Why?”

Martha looked right at me, right into my eyes, and answered with a cheerful and serious tone, “Because, it is the only time of my day that I have peace.”

I didn’t say a word, I only gasped. Then it happened. God broke through my hard heart and I could hear His still small voice hit me over the head with a 2×4 saying,“This place is about ME and what I want to do here. Let it go and give it to Me.” Right after the voice ended, I remembered the verse, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It was at that moment I was reminded again that God is about healing our hearts and He will speak though whomever He wants to bring the healing. Even a 16 year old young woman heavily involved in youth street culture and prostitution. A young woman who society says is trash.

3 comments | posted in Affirmation, Church, Homeless, Homelessness, Joy, Love, Mark, Ministry, Street Life, Youth

December 5, 2011

The Armor of God

By Cup of Cool Water

This past weekend was CCW’s new volunteer training. If you have never attended, I highly recommend it. Topics range from relationships to addiction to evangelism to suicide and everywhere in between. You don’t even have to commit to being a volunteer to attend, though it is a requirement if you would like to volunteer. Our next training will be in the spring, so keep an eye out if you are interested. I have had the privilege of teaching the spiritual warfare segment the past few trainings, and I added a new element at this training: the armor of God. I passed out the worksheet below, but I left off the handy labels of each piece of armor. It was a challenge to remember those important protections against spiritual attack that God gives us. We then discussed as a group what each article of armor meant in everyday life, most specifically how we implement their use at CCW. I challenge you to sit down and really think about what “wearing the belt of truth to work today” truly looks like. For more info, see Ephesians 6:10-17.

 

Leave a comment | posted in Sara, Uncategorized

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