Halstead: the biggest little city in Kansas

Greeted by this sign, each person coming into Halstead knows they are in for a treat. A 1.25 mile drive down blacktop 89 (the shortest highway in Kansas), crossing of the Little Arkansas River, and 2 1/2 block brick main street later, a person has seen almost the entirety of Halstead.

I think Halstead is one of the best places to grow up; kids ride bikes in the middle of the street, people don't lock doors, the town shuts down on a Friday night football game. Not to mention, the community is like one giant family. Never have I felt so blessed to call this place home.

Thanks to Jennifer Swift, the Stienbacks, and the entire family of Crossroads Community Church for making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Out of the blue, they put on a dinner to help raise support for Joe McGinn and I to go on our summer trips to Gulf Shores, AL and Hyderabad, India. Food was donated by the Stienbacks, Jennifer had flyers made, an ad went into the Harvey County Independent, and a facebook group was started. All of the C3 youth got news out by word of mouth. All in all, 133 from the community came out and $1366.27 was raised!

Wow.

It was an amazing night of reconnecting with old friends and teachers, meeting new friends, spending time with family, jamming to worship music with the high schoolers, and feeling gratitude, appreciation, and awe every single moment of it. 

Each time I feel this blessed by others, I always come back to one of my favorite verses. 1 John 4:12 says, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." How true!

$2 shy of $4500 now and at 75% of my goal! Thank you for praying because God is answering.


I hope you enjoyed my first entry! Until next time,
Emma

Look at that main street, all 2 1/2 blocks of it!