Hometown: Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Number of siblings: 3

Graduated from: University of Virginia

Current job: Researcher and translator at Process Engineering

Best vacation ever: My Euro trip this summer for over 5 weeks!

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I love being active and seeing how kids I knew from my time at Trinity during my college years have been growing and maturing.

Any funny memories from high school youth group? The extremes of hearing yelling and laughing at the same time while playing ultimate octopus.

Christian community is important to you because: It creates a place where you can build each other up in the image of Christ.

Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 If you were to play a sport professionally it would be…Basketball because it’s awesome, and I love being a part of a group that has a clear common goal.

A book you’d recommend: Tim Keller- Counterfeit Gods

Shoes: Barricades

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Good at: Playing any sports

Bad at: Playing any instruments

I want to thank everyone for praying for and encouraging Maggie and I over the past weeks.  It is such a blessing to be a part of Trinity as new parents.  We feel so loved.

Getting to know our daughter Ellie Kate has been a joy.  Honestly, Maggie and I have been surprised by how much we love her already.  When Maggie was pregnant, I remember being afraid that I wouldn’t have enough love to give to both my wife and my child.  I thought that the total amount of love I had to give was a set value. To illustrate, I imagined that I had one gallon of love, and once the baby was born, Maggie and the baby would each get a 1/2 gallon.  A wise woman reminded me that love DOES NOT work that way.  Love multiplies.  I can honestly say my heart is full of love for my family in a way I did not expect.

This is a  picture of God’s love toward us. It is so encouraging to know that God’s heart is completely full for each of us, His children.  We don’t each get a portion; we each get His whole heart.  God bless you and your families today.

Lewis

Hometown: Somerset, Pennsylvania (small town in western PA)

Number of siblings: 1 younger sister, Julie

Graduated from: Messiah College (near Harrisburg, PA) in 2011

Current job: Trinity Fellow Also, Service Delivery and Marketing Intern at Silverchair Learning Systems

Best vacation ever: Going to Saltzburg, Austria with my family.  The mountains were beautiful, and it was fun to pretend I was a part of the VanTrap family from The Sound of Music

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I am a Fellow so it is built into my schedule, but I am super excited to be hanging out and investing in students’ lives.

Christian community is important to you because:  My brothers and sisters in Christ are the ones who challenge me, comfort me, laugh with me, and help me to grow in Christ. Together we build one another up in the Lord.

Favorite Bible verse: Lamentations 3:23 – “They [the Lord's mercies] are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Tennis because I love the sport, and I’d love to meet Roger Federer .

A book you’d recommend: A Ring of Endless Light by Madaleine L’Engle

Shoes: My Target rain boots

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Frosted Mini Wheats

Good at: Eating ice cream! I enjoy this, and I’m pretty good at it, too!

Bad at: Doing cartwheels

Ever played the game “Would you rather?”

Here’s a good one, “Would you rather have your arm hair ripped out with duct tape, or have a potentially awkward conversation with a friend at school about Jesus?”

Unless you enjoy morbidly contemplating social suicide, you’d probably rather be labeled the “hairless wonder” than “pushy, judgmental, intolerant, narrow-minded, Jesus freak,” and you’re not alone in feeling this way. Evangelism is scary. We’re all terrified of seeing that look of disgust or worse, betrayal, in the face of a close friend when we bring Jesus into a conversation. We’re worried that it will mean the end of the relationship, the end of trust, the end of our reputation, THE END OF THE WORLD!

Two thoughts to share this morning:

1. Has this ever actually happened to any of you? I’m not talking about a time when you were a jerk to someone in the name of God and then they stopped liking you. I mean a time when you sincerely and lovingly shared a story with them about what Jesus has done in your life. Odds are, it didn’t trigger a series of events that eventually led to doomsday. Instead, I’m guessing it was far more intense and awkward for you than it was for them!
2. On the other hand, let’s assume for a moment, the absolute worst. Let’s assume that the second you say the word “Jesus” all kinds of terrible things are going to happen. Friends will flee from you, people will slander you on Facebook, and you will be shunned “Dwight Schrute style” for the rest of the semester. Even IF all this happened, it still is NOT a cause for fear. Our security, our personal identity, even our sense of belonging and safety is found in our relationship with Jesus. His words to us, from John 16:33 are “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

For most of us – there’s not a lot to fear, but even if there is – we will not give in to fear and insecurity because of what Christ has done for us. So put away the duct tape!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Lewis

Hometown: Reigate, England

Number of siblings: Two older brothers

Graduated from: Durham, Cambridge and London

Current job: Trinity Fellow; Volunteer Intern at New City Commons Foundation

Best vacation ever: Hawaii, Europe road trip

Enjoys being a D-group leader because… I love hanging out with teenagers and I love to talk about Christ with them, to see them grow and share in joys and sorrows. I used to teach in England; it was a large part of my life for six years.

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 26.8 “Yes Lord, walking in the way of your laws we wait for you. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Golf, because you get to travel the world hanging out with your mates – and you have a long career playing golf!

A book you’d recommend: J.B.Phillips “The Price of Success”

Shoes: Loakes  Editor’s note: Loakes are handmade English men’s leather shoes or boots. At least, that’s what Google tells me…  

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: I’m just getting accustomed to American cereals. Fruit loops are banned in Europe because they are considered dangerously unhealthy.

Good at: Soccer

Bad at: Mathematics

Middle School White Elephant Gift Exchange

When: Friday, December 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Jenkins’ house:
2509 Summit Ridge Trail
Charlottesville, VA 22911

What to Bring: 1. A wrapped gift worth $5
or less
2. Guys – a snack or appetizer
3. Girls – a dessert

*Note: Parents are welcome to stay. Please make sure to park on pavement and not on grass!

High School Wacky Tacky 80′s Christmas Hoedown Showdown Throwdown Barn Dance 

When: Friday, December 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Kings’ house:5055 Hope Lane                                                                                       North Garden, VA 22959  

What to Wear: 80′s, Christmas, or redneck clothes – or a combination of all 3!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

There is so much to be thankful for this week. I know many of you will be traveling or receiving family into your homes. I hope and pray that it is joyful time of fellowship. I know time with my family can be wonderful but also stressful. I’m really glad that we’ve been talking about community and friendship this semester. Every time Greg asks a question like, “Do you have anyone in your life whose weaknesses are the main thing you focus on?” the first people I think of are people in my family. I encourage all of you (and I’m talking to myself here, too!) to spend time praying for your family members, that God would give you eyes to see the beauty in them.

Above all else we can be thankful this week for Jesus Christ. His perfect life allows us to share in His righteousness, His death on the cross gives us forgiveness, and His resurrection from the dead gives us sure hope of new life, FOREVER, with Him. Alleluia!

Lewis

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Number of siblings: 2 awesome brothers, Blake (in the Air Force) and Cameron (in 10th grade)

Graduated from: Houston Baptist University ’08

Current job: Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Economics at UVA

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I was a Fellow a few years ago and got to hang out with the 7th grade girls… when I decided to stay in Cville after the Fellows Program, I knew I wanted to stick around and watch these awesome ladies grow up! Now they’re in 10th grade!

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 16:2 – I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Choir, a non-sport, because I tried volleyball in middle school and didn’t make the team so I learned to stick with things that don’t require coordination or balls flying around at the speed of light.

A book you’d recommend: “Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding” – it’s practical and hysterical; SOMEDAY you just might need to give it a read!

Shoes: Good socks to keep my feet warm.

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: LIFE. C’mon, who doesn’t love LIFE?!

Good at: I really enjoy setting tables. No joke. If I have the opportunity to position plates, napkins, silverware, vases, linens, place cards and such, I am a very happy girl!

Bad at: I am not very good at waking up. I’m kinda’ like a bear – I could hibernate. My bed is my most favorite place in the world. But I know that if I get out of bed, I can make coffee!!