Launch Team Meetings

We've starting having weekly launch team meetings at my house. It's so cool to see how God has worked in each person to bring them to Verve. Everyone has a different story, but we all have a common passion and desire to start this church. It's been great to get to know these people and do ministry and life with them.

I had a massive stomach virus last week. I thought I was going to die! On Friday night we had an event at our house called "Vervalicious." It's something we're doing for people who might be interested in joining our launch team. 13 people were there and it went great.

I am normally a very organized, on-top-of-it kind of girl. Unfortunately, I had been sick as a dog and so it was a little chaotic, to say the least. I didn't really start feeling good until about 2 hours before Vervalicious. Thankfully we had lots of help with cooking and preparations! It was still extremely stressful, though.

Do you ever have one of those days where you just don't want people to come over to your house? (Some of you are saying, "I NEVER want people to come to my house!") Let me just be honest with you for a minute...me and entertaining have a bittersweet relationship.

On one hand, I know how important it is to have people in my home and I do enjoy it in small doses. I believe that inviting people into your home is biblical and important, and not just for people in ministry. But sometimes I just don't like it. The cleaning up before and after is enough to drive me crazy. Hospitality isn't exactly one of my strongest gifts. And then there's the annoying dog (who always ends up eating someone's food). After Vervalicious, Kuma casually strolled into the living room with an entire piece of pizza in his mouth. And at yesterday's launch team meeting I had to literally wrestle a piece of food out of his mouth (while wearing a skirt!).

As church planting wives it's nearly impossible for us to NOT have people in our homes. It seems like entertaining is part of the job description.

I want to here your stories about this. Do you like it or hate it? Do you have any funny stories to share? Has God convicted you about opening up your home? Do you have suggestions for those of us who hate this part of the job? Thanks for sharing!!!!

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Burdened

I was shopping a few weeks ago at Kmart. I normally don't go in there, but they sent me a coupon and I'm a sucker for a bargain. As I was checking out I noticed a little girl sitting by herself. She was maybe 8 at the oldest. I watched her for a while, trying to figure out why she was sitting alone (I love CSI and am always trying to solve a mystery). I started walking toward her and quickly realized why she was alone. Her mom was sitting at a slot machine (yes, they do have slot machines in Kmart). The area was glassed off and the little girl wasn't allowed inside, so mom left her alone while she chased a dream of financial prosperity.

We had lunch with a couple that are foster parents of an 18-month old girl. They had gotten the baby when she was 3 months old. She has 5 other siblings, all of whom have been sexually molested by their parents and each other. They share STDs and cannot be placed in the same home because the only way they relate to each other is sexually.

I'm reading a book right now called, "Chasing Fireflies." One of the main characters is a little boy who has been abused repeatedly. His body is covered in scars and sores. He doesn't speak, and quite frankly who could blame him?

I was leaving Chuck E Cheese on Monday night. A woman was there with her two small children and her mother. I watched in horror as mom and Grandma yelled at the kids, kicked them, and called them names I wouldn't even call an enemy. Mom was infuriated because one of the boys was crying. I think I would be crying too. The icing on the cake was when the smaller boy, no older than 3, repeatedly said, "F*?# You!" to his mom. It didn't even phase her.

I share all this because I am burdened. My heart is broken for these children. I am provoked to anger because of the sin and carelessness of their parents and caregivers. It is nearly impossible for me to understand the reasoning behind it. The only thing I do understand is that in most cases, the abusers are themselves victims of abuse. It's generational sin to the millionth degree. It's years of abuse that define and create abusers.

Beth Moore has a brilliant study called, "Breaking Free." In it she talks about generational sin and how we can work against it in our lives. With God we can stop the lines of alcoholism, anger, over-eating, lying, gambling, holding grudges, etc. that have been present in our families for generations. I highly recommend it.

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The Last One!!!!

Finally...the last box has been unpacked! It's a monumental moment in the Antonucci house. We are finally moved in!

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Ugly Betty

When I was in the middle of sixth grade we moved. I went from being a social, fun, popular girl to a total loser in about 24 hours. The new school I attended wasn't very accepting of new students. I felt alone, out of place and in need of a friend.

I took Marissa to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party last night. The party was for a girl in her class and of course I knew no one. I desperately wanted to leave, but Marissa begged me not to. I sat down with a bunch of moms. They said, "Hi" to me but quickly went back to their private conversations. I felt a lot like I did in sixth grade. I began to text Vince, "This is HORRIBLE! No one is talking to me. I'm trying to make conversation and people won't talk to me...ugh!" Vince replied, "Sorry! Do they all know each other?" I write, "Apparently. I feel like the new kid at school...the ugly new kid with body odor and braces!" My sweet, caring and sensitive husband replies, "Sorry. I'll buy you deodorant."

I decided that I couldn't take it anymore and went up to the counter to buy a drink. I strolled around for a while and finally walked back to the group of moms (I thought it would be weird if I sat on the other side of the restaurant by myself). This time I chose a different seat across from a woman who was sitting by herself.

It turns out that she lives in my neighborhood. Her son is in my daughter's class and she is going through a divorce. It was amazing how quickly she began telling me about her marriage. She recounted years of not communicating, boredom and finally an affair. They worked through the affair, but after a year he decided that he didn't want to be married to her anymore. They broke the news to their 7 year-old yesterday.

Looking back I'm so glad that my parents moved us to a new town. Yes, I was popular but I had some questionable friends and I wasn't exactly the type who wouldn't follow them into deviance. I eventually made some new friends and lost my "Ugly Betty" status.

In the same way I'm glad that I went to Chuck E Cheese. It totally sucked at the beginning, but I'm so glad that I stuck it out. Otherwise I never would have had the opportunity to minister to that woman.

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Friends

One of the hardest parts of this move has been leaving my friends. I have such an amazing group of girls in Virginia Beach that I miss dearly (including my best friend of 13 years!).

Making new friends is so hard! Beginning a new relationship, though rewarding, can also be a pain in the butt. You have to establish everything from where you grew up to what you like to do for fun. It takes time and effort. If I'm being honest some days I don't even want to put forth the effort; it's too draining.

Thank God for cell phones, email and facebook. Keeping in touch isn't nearly as difficult as it used to be. Sometimes I just want to be with the person, though. Snuggling up with a blanket on a couch and talking for hours seems more appealing to me than typing out my feelings.

I've begun to make some friends here. There are several girls that I'm beginning to connect with, including a mom from baseball and my neighbor.

On those days that I don't want to put forth the effort I need to remind myself that all my close Virginia Beach friends started out as new relationships. I had to put time and effort into building friendships with those girls. It's hard to remember, but they were once strangers.

Lord Alfred Tennyson said, "Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I say, "TOTALLY!" My life is better because of the relationships I have. And it's totally worth the effort to make new relationships!

So bring on the strangers; soon they will be amazing friends that I can't imagine not having in my life!

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Update

I thought I'd give you an update of some cool things that are going on:

1. Our Launch Team participated in "First Friday," an art festival in downtown Las Vegas. We collected money at the entrance and did a live art piece called, "Renewal" (see picture). It was very cool.

2. I got my first Las Vegas haircut! I was very scared and apprehensive, but it turned out well. The shop was awesome and the girl who cut my hair was fantastic. She was in NYC last weekend because one of her clients is April's Playboy Playmate. She followed her around and did her hair and makeup all weekend. The whole shop is filled with skulls, tattoos and people who totally fit our target audience. I was able to share what we're doing, and she listened with enthusiasm. I'm excited to build a relationship with her.

3. Vince and I started marriage counseling. This move has been rough on both of us. Our relationship isn't horrible, but it's not great either. We decided to meet with a counselor because we don't want to settle for an "OK" marriage. I share this to encourage you. Being married can be difficult, and if we don't stay on top of things it can get ugly. Starting a new church and working in ministry can rob us of healthy, happy marriages. In order for us to have healthy churches and families we need to have healthy marriages. If you've thought about going to see a counselor, but have never scheduled the appointment, get on it right now!

Seriously...pick up the phone and make an appointment!

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Mad Church Disease

I joined a pastors' wives book club at Central Christian Church. Our assigned book was "Mad Church Disease," by Anne Jackson. Let me just say that if you've ever felt burnt out, frustrated, overwhelmed or discouraged by your ministry or with your church, you should read this book.

I'll make it easy for you and include a link to the book so you can buy it at Amazon.com. Click here now!

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