Stories
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised here in Vancouver and live in the Truman Neighborhood with my chocolate lab, Cadbury. By day I am a Contract Specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, but instead of writing contracts I am the Small Business Liaison for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and Application Coordinator for our contract management and reporting systems. On the side, I am also a health and life insurance agent. I’ve been attending Compass since the summer of 2009 and became a member the following year.
What is your role in GPS?
I am a volunteer leader with the middle school guys. We meet as leaders once a month for planning, to talk about how things are going with GPS and how we see God working. On Wednesday nights I help with the youth group gathering and then lead a discussion with three of the guys on the Bible reading we’re doing.
What impact do you hope your involvement in GPS will have on the students and their families?
I would like to help the students develop a relationship with Jesus that lasts beyond their youth and that they continue to grow in as they finish school and go off on their own.
What would you like others to know about what GPS is and how they can get their student involved or volunteer themselves?
God Pursuing Students (GPS) is the student ministry of Compass Church for students in 6th – 12th grades. We meet weekly for games and to discuss the Bible reading that we’re doing throughout the week, as well as monthly for events such as a corn maze, movie night, Christmas party, Retro Gaming Night & camping. We also try to connect with students outside of regular GPS meetings for activities, lunch, movies, etc.
When and Where do you meet?
Wednesdays; 7:00pm-8:30pm here at Compass.
Favorite Verse?
I keep Matthew 11:28 on my desk at work. It’s one of my favorites 
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Consistent, loving, fun, energetic, genuine, are all words that are used to define the presence of Dianne Ellis among our Compass Kids here on Sunday mornings. She has made serving children a sacrificial rhythm of her life for many years and we’re better because of it. Recently we asked Dianne to give us a snapshot into why that is, here are her answers…
Why do you enjoy giving your time to serving children on Sundays?
Part of the reason I have always enjoyed working with and hanging out with kids is because I am still a kid at heart. I desire for kids to understand and experience deep down that they are truly loved by God. In His love for them He planned their days before they were formed and he has a life planned out for them. How awesome is that?
I enjoy teaching and hanging out with kids because the simple lessons we discover on Sundays help me keep my faith simple. “Praying is just talking to God.” “God can see us and watches out for us at all times—even in the bathroom!” Oh, and for toddlers and Pre-K and Kindergartners, everything is still a wonder and a miracle to them. The reflection of sunlight sparkling in a mud puddle can seem like a real special gift from God and that’s refreshing.
What struggles or difficulties have you encountered that challenge your ability to serve our children?
Finding balance between work and home by learning how to prepare myself (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) for Sunday mornings is tough. My Monday through Friday job can be real stressful and I can work long hours. I also commute to Tigard and back from Vancouver. By the time Friday night rolls around I am exhausted. There are times as a busy Saturday is ending, I am realizing that I have not read through the lesson or even really prayed for the kids and for our Sunday time. When I am tired I can lose sight of my desire for the teaching time to be joyous and it can sometimes feel like it’s another task I have to accomplish this week. In the midst of this God is good to me, reminding me frequently that these tough times can be some of the best times with Him on Sundays.
Becoming aware of areas of my life that drive me to serve that aren’t the best. I can sometimes get bogged down in thinking, “Oh, I hope the parents really like how I am teaching” or, “I hope the Pastors, particularly the Children’s pastor (!) appreciates me and what I am doing with the kids.” That can be okay but in my past times it has driven me more than wanting to work with God to be the best teacher for the kids. I do feel that as I have gotten older I’ve learned how to hear these voices and bring them to God to speak into. I try to remember this is God’s classroom, not Dianne’s and that He is the teacher and I’m just His messenger for getting His ideas and truths out.
What do you hope children will experience from God as a result of your time with them?
My biggest desire is that all the kids in my life, whether they are babies or 90 year olds, would begin to understand what a special gift they are from God.
Do you have a memorable moment from something that happened recently in your room on Sunday?
This past December while we were talking about the Christmas story, I had the kids imagine what it would have been like in the stable or barn and if they were there what kinds of things they would have seen. I figured they would come up with all sort of different animals and they did. But, they also came up with that the stable would have been filled with cow poop and cow pee! One boy wondered if that would have made Joseph really concerned about where he was taking Mary and baby Jesus. I always enjoy how kids can come up with the little details that could really matter but that sometimes we adults forget about.
Stop by the Pre-K/Kindergarten room on Sunday mornings during second service to get to know Dianne, you’ll be better because of it.
Monday, December 26th, 2011
Lorraine Carson and her Husband Steve have been faithfully serving our Compass Kids for years. Here’s a snapshot into their hearts behind why they do it and the ways God uses children to be a tangible blessing in their lives.
I want kids to feel loved and cared for. For years and years my husband, Steve, and I have worked with kids in grades 3rd-5th. We enjoy that age level but about two years ago there was a need for someone to teach and love on the 2 1/2 to 4 year old kids. We agreed to take that on . . . for a short period of time. We are still there. Can I just say, these kids are delightful!
These kids teach me about the simplicity of life because it certainly doesn’t take much to make them happy. Simply by giving them my attention they are happy. Getting to convey God’s love for them each week through some small lesson or teachable moment is extra special. If even one child absorbs God’s incredible love and kindness through me, I am thrilled.
On a selfish level, these kids fill up my heart. Even though some days are tougher than others, I continually walk away after class feeling happier and lighter. These kids openly show affection and excitement. There’s nothing like a big smile or hug from a three year old that comes running at you. And they are funny . . .One kid likes to come in the classroom and yell “I’m heeeerrre” as if he is the best thing that’s happened (which he kind of IS). Another kid wanted to kiss me one Sunday so I turned my cheek to him thinking that for the sake of germs and propriety he shouldn’t kiss me on the lips. That wasn’t good enough for him so he tried to reach around to my lips. Again I turned the other cheek and yet he managed to sneak around to my lips anyway. It was hard not to laugh. Talk about melting my heart.
I can’t imagine not getting to help out in Compass Kids. It’s especially wonderful to serve with my husband who enjoys it as much as I do. Every week we hope they walk away feeling loved, cared for, and encouraged by the God of the universe. I know we do!
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Hey. My name is Matthew Lacy, and I have been teaching with Compass Kids for the past couples years as a co-op parent (moving on up in the age ranks as my daughter grows older). We’re currently in the preschool/kindergarten class in the Compass Kids catacombs, and it has been an incredibly positive experience. Ask me to describe what that looks like, and I’m left with some disjointed thoughts that ripple together like an active creek:
Knee-level high-fives. God’s simple truths that I’ve made complicated becoming simple again. Circle time. Awesome junior high helpers. Watching kids grow and learn over the course of weeks and years. Being a bit hesitant to volunteer and being surprised by how easy the kids make it to teach. Getting to know more people at the half-door. Snack time. The honor of being an active part of a greater whole in our community. Getting a “Hi teacher!” joyously bellowed at me from a car pulling out of the church parking lot. Praying with kids. Pretending to play Angry Birds on the palms of our hands. Teaching a kid how to use scissors. Seeing the wonder and the love of God sincerely reflected in the lives of children.
I’m skipping stones here, but the last time I winged a flat rock across moving water it made me pretty happy. This list, and so much more about the pre-k classroom, makes me happy. I look forward to adding to the stream.
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
At the beginning of this year, I received an email inviting me to a Focused Living Retreat for ladies. I really wanted to go but we had just incurred some unforeseen expenses when my father-in-law became ill and my husband had to fly to California. I said thanks, but that we couldn’t afford it currently, but to please keep me in mind for the future. My father-in-law then passed away and we had to make another trip to California. On the way there, our car broke down and we had to spend over $500 on repairs, in addition to all of the expenses of traveling. I knew I really couldn’t afford to go to the retreat. I then received a nice email in response asking me to pray about it and then if I still wanted to go we would make it happen. I had received some money for my birthday and I decided I would put it towards the cost of the retreat, because I felt God was really calling me to go.
At the retreat, we did small group activities about the things in our past that have shaped who we are-in the present. We shared our inner-most secrets and we cried and laughed and cried some more. We prayed for each other, we gave encouragement and we sat in awe of how strong we each are. We also made special friends that weekend. One of the exercises had us looking to our futures and asking what God had in store for each of us, what we are called to do with our lives and how best to reflect God’s love to those around us. This has always been a struggle for me because I never quite knew what my calling was. Some people know from the beginning what they “want to be when they grow up,” a doctor, a teacher or a fireman. I never had a clear calling, so this exercise was going to be hard for me. We prayed about it as a group and then we were encouraged to go our separate ways and pray some more, meditate or relax. I chose to walk on the beach because it was a beautiful, sunny day on the Oregon coast and I wanted to take advantage of it. While walking, I was talking to God and praying about how He could best use me. I told Him my idea was to be involved with the deaf community by using American Sign Language somehow, to reveal God’s light and love to people who may not otherwise know about Him. At that moment, I heard God say to me, “Denise-you need to work with teen moms.” I was very excited by this because I had been a young, single mom and I knew what kinds of struggles and prejudices that young parents face. I had heard about Vida’s Ark months earlier but hadn’t given it another thought, until now. I told my group about what happened on the beach and they encouraged me and prayed for me. We left the beach on Sunday and on Monday, I emailed Vida’s Ark. The founder, Julie, put me in touch with the volunteer coordinator, Tacy. I met with Tacy the following Saturday and I’ve been volunteering ever since. I do things like sort clothing donations, bundle diapers (each mom is given 15 at time so they need to be bundled), and assemble donations for the moms in Younglives. Most recently, my husband Joe and I organized a shoe drive at his company picnic. We took in 47 pairs of shoes and 279 pairs of socks. What a blessing!! This past weekend we held a yard sale on the grounds of Compass to raise money to help buy a new van for the moms and kids in the Vida’s Ark house. The van will also be used to transport donations that are given. We raised over $500 total!!
My life has been forever changed because I spent that weekend at the coast and heard what God put on my heart. I thoroughly enjoy the work my family and I are doing at Vida’s Ark and look forward to making a difference in the lives of these young families.
~Denise Valtierra
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,
It has been a busy summer, I can’t believe it is already the middle of July! Where did June go? I have been teaching a group of beginner English students. The majority of them are teachers and professors. A few have found it difficult to change roles and become students! Overall the class has been great. A lady that works next door has been coming and it has been great to watch her grow in her English. She comes into the center all the time for coffee, and I have really enjoyed getting to know her better. We finish class on Thursday and will have their oral exams on Friday and Monday.
I have also been leading a book club for high school students. We are reading the Little Prince and there are 2 students that come. We have had great conversations about life, character, responsibility, loneliness, and God. I feel blessed that they have been willing to be so open about their thoughts and feelings. While I was hoping for more students, I am thankful that it is small and we are able to trust one another.
God’s Gifts
I had originally planned on going to Germany in August to visit a friend who was studying abroad. Plans changed due to visas and my friend ended up coming to Kosovo in June. It was truly a blessing to me to be able to talk to an old friend in person. She is the first person from the States to come and visit me, and it meant the world to see her.
Last fall, I had my English students write letters to some former kids in the States. My friend had written one of my students. While she was here, she asked me if she would be able to meet the student to whom she had written. Unfortunately, I had not seen that student in 6 or 7 months and did not have her phone number. One day as we were walking around Gjilan we “randomly” ran into the student she had written to! I was amazed at God’s incredible attention to details as He prepared this “random” meeting.
Prayer Requests
**Please pray as I finish up classes that we will end well. Also be praying for the book club students, as we continue to talk about issues that matter.
**The month of August is a Muslim holiday called Ramadan. Pray for Kosovars, that during this time of spiritual awareness they search for truth. Many believe whatever their family believe and have never searched out truth. Pray that this August they may do so.
I hope you are all enjoying your summers, and are able to spend time in the sun with friends and family.
Love,
Carrie
Tell us a little about yourself.
