Friday, July 21, 2017
Norfolk Team Update #2 - 7.21.17
This morning, the Norfolk team woke up after a great night's sleep here at Spring Branch and ate breakfast. After breakfast, we headed down the road to Union Mission Ministries. Union Mission is a Christian based homeless shelter that serves the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. We dropped off the donations that our team had brought for Union, and then got to work in their warehouse. We split into teams in different sections of their main warehouse sorting area and spent the morning sorting, organizing, hanging, and moving some of the clothing donations that they had. When we had finished with all the clothes in our section, we went to a meeting room and got to talk with a staff member about what homelessness looks like in the Hampton Roads area and how the donations we brought and the ones that we had just organized are going to help the over 300 men and women that spend the night in the shelter each night. We left Union and headed to a park nearby to have some lunch as well as some team bonding time where the kids (and leaders!) enjoyed the park! Our lunch spot was conveniently located near our afternoon site, Consulate Health Care. Consulate is an elderly health care facility with many residents who have either outlived their family or are not visited very often. Albeit a somewhat sad reality, they absolutely love when they get to have visitors and were elated to spend their afternoon with our team talking about their lives and asking about ours. We socialized with some of the residents and also settled in for what has become our annual Consulate bingo battle and as usual, our team could not hang with these seasoned veterans. We left Consulate in great spirits and headed to the beach for what was supposed to be a hour or two of fun in the sun. However, the weather had plans of its own. This did not deter the high spirits that our team had, as we headed back to Spring Branch and enjoyed our free time in their Student Ministry area enjoying quality team bonding opportunities as well as the added bonus of beating the heat! We ate dinner here at Spring Branch and then gathered together for Porch Time. The team shared fun stories from the day during "Remember That Time" and we also had great participation during "I Saw Jesus;" it was exciting and encouraging to see so many members of our team share where they had seen Jesus at work in the places and people we encountered today. After singing a few worship songs, Nick gave the second talk of the trip which focused on our encounters with God or "Mountain Top Experiences" and how we should revel in them while on these trips and seek to create ways to remember and carry them with us as we head back into our everyday lives. After porch time, we split into small groups to discuss this further and then began to wind down for bed time. We had a great day and are excited to finish well tomorrow as we clean up here at Spring Branch and head to Park Place Child Life Center to spend our remaining time on the trip with the kids there before heading home. Your prayers are appreciated and we are excited to continue to see God at work here in Norfolk!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Norfolk Update #1 - 7.20.17
This won't be too long of a post, as today was mainly a travel/set up day for us. The team left the Chapel and traveled (slower than hoped) down I64, making it to Spring Branch Community Church. Spring Branch has graciously allowed us to stay in their Student Ministry Area for our time down here. When we arrived, we unloaded the vans and settled down for some dinner. We ate and had an opportunity to explore and settle into our home for the next two nights. We then all came together for this class's very first Porch Time! Porch Time is a staple on all of our Student Ministry Mission Trips. Tonight we set up what the "Remember That Time" and "I Saw Jesus" portions of Porch Time are so that they would be prepared for tomorrow night. For those of you who don't know, each of these are opportunities to share with the whole team both funny moments from the day, as well as times where anyone had seen Jesus at work in the people we interact with, at the sites we work at, or in their fellow team members. We then were led in a time of worship, where we joined our voices together to sing praise to our God. When the singing had ended, Nick gave the first of three talks of the trip. Tonight we spoke about the idea of "opportunity." Everyone on this trip had the opportunity to not come, to do something else with their time and yet here we all are. Just as God acted in Paul's life on the road to Damascus, which led to Paul's conversion and actions for Christ, so too has God acted and will God act in our lives. In response to this action, we are called to be "ambassadors of Christ" as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:20. Part of being an ambassador of Christ is doing the work that we are called to do, as well as reflecting Christ in all that we say and do. After the talk, the team split up into small groups to continue to discuss this further. As small groups wound down, so too did the night and the team got ready for a good night's sleep in preparation for a full day tomorrow. For those who want further updates throughout the day, please text "NORFOLKPARENT" to 41411 and as always, prayers for God to move on this trip are appreciated!
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Nashville Day #6 - 7.14.17
Today was our final day in Nashville as we closed out our week at all of our ministry sites. So, we began our day eager to see all of our ministry sites one more time.
Group 1 went to Project C.U.R.E. in the morning where they continued to help the organization take inventory on all of their supplies. It has been years since they have had a true inventory of everything and so the group helped provide the manpower to sort all of the medical supplies, scan them into the computer, and stack them on the shelves. It was a huge step for the organization to be able to track the supplies they give and receive to better meet the needs of the city. In the afternoon, group 1 went to a ministry called Operation Stand Down that seeks to serve veterans. They provide counseling, clothing, job help, and other services to veterans that are in need of help. The main project for the group was to paint a huge storage shed that contains a lot of the supplies and donations that the organization gives to and uses for veterans. It was eye-opening for the group to see and hear about all of the challenges that face veterans after they get back from war.
Group 2 spent their morning at a new ministry site called Matthew 25 which is a shelter for men. It specifically targets men who are a significant portion of the homeless population in Nashville. In addition to learning about the struggles that homeless men face in the city the group served lunch, sorted clothing donations, and cleaned up. This was a great opportunity for the group to see an organization that targets a specific population which allows them to focus how they do things to see the specific needs of needy men. During the afternoon, group 2 went back to Magnus Potter boys and girls club to have a final afternoon with the kids that they have gotten to know throughout the week. It was exciting to see the kids again, but it was also sad to have to say goodbye to all of the kids that have become special to the group.
Group 3 had a great morning with the Andrew Jackson boys and girl club that they have been serving all week. The group has established some deep bonds with the kids that they have been serving and getting to know all week. Although it was sad to say goodbye the group was confident that they left the kids motivated to continue working hard in school and in life. After lunch the group headed downtown to participate in "Beat the Heat". This was an exercise that pushed the group to interact with local people in Nashville by handing out waters to those that look like they could need it. It was interesting to see where the homeless congregate on a hot day and how grateful they were for the water. The group sought not only to handout water but to also have conversations with the people they meet and hear their stories which is always a great opportunity to hear why they ended up on the streets and how they hope to get off.
Group 4 spent their entire day at one of the local soup kitchens called Loaves and Fishes. The soup kitchen was not actually serving food today because they only serve food on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. So, the group spent the day cleaning, organizing, and packaging. They cleaned the kitchen, floors, bathrooms, and even some yard work to make the outside look nice. In addition to cleaning the building the group sorted clothing donations and packaged them up to be handed out later in the week. The day of service was a huge gift for loaves and fishes so that the staff would not have to take time doing it themselves and it really allows them to provide a clean place for all of the homeless men and women to congregate.
After breakfast Group 5 just stayed at the housing site to write letters of encouragement to all of the people we partnered with. All of the sites we went to partner with so many volunteers throughout the year that they rarely get feedback from the volunteers on their experience. So, this was a great opportunity to give some kind and encouraging words to these wonderful people who have sacrificed their lives to serve the city of Nashville. After lunch group 5 went to a new ministry site called Open Table that has multiple homeless shelters around the city and also advocates heavily for the rights of and housing for homeless men and women. They work hard to provide food and temporary housing, but their main goal is to establish long-term housing for as many people as possible. Our group setup all of the beds and tables for the homeless men and women that would be staying overnight. We finished the setup early and so wanted to provide an special gift to the residents, and so the group ran to Walmart to buy some chess/checkers boards to provide entertainment for the men and women who were coming that night.
It has been a great week and we are excited to head back and see everyone tomorrow. If you would like to receive text updates with our eta throughout our trip then please text NASHPARENT to 41411.
Group 1 went to Project C.U.R.E. in the morning where they continued to help the organization take inventory on all of their supplies. It has been years since they have had a true inventory of everything and so the group helped provide the manpower to sort all of the medical supplies, scan them into the computer, and stack them on the shelves. It was a huge step for the organization to be able to track the supplies they give and receive to better meet the needs of the city. In the afternoon, group 1 went to a ministry called Operation Stand Down that seeks to serve veterans. They provide counseling, clothing, job help, and other services to veterans that are in need of help. The main project for the group was to paint a huge storage shed that contains a lot of the supplies and donations that the organization gives to and uses for veterans. It was eye-opening for the group to see and hear about all of the challenges that face veterans after they get back from war.
Group 2 spent their morning at a new ministry site called Matthew 25 which is a shelter for men. It specifically targets men who are a significant portion of the homeless population in Nashville. In addition to learning about the struggles that homeless men face in the city the group served lunch, sorted clothing donations, and cleaned up. This was a great opportunity for the group to see an organization that targets a specific population which allows them to focus how they do things to see the specific needs of needy men. During the afternoon, group 2 went back to Magnus Potter boys and girls club to have a final afternoon with the kids that they have gotten to know throughout the week. It was exciting to see the kids again, but it was also sad to have to say goodbye to all of the kids that have become special to the group.
Group 3 had a great morning with the Andrew Jackson boys and girl club that they have been serving all week. The group has established some deep bonds with the kids that they have been serving and getting to know all week. Although it was sad to say goodbye the group was confident that they left the kids motivated to continue working hard in school and in life. After lunch the group headed downtown to participate in "Beat the Heat". This was an exercise that pushed the group to interact with local people in Nashville by handing out waters to those that look like they could need it. It was interesting to see where the homeless congregate on a hot day and how grateful they were for the water. The group sought not only to handout water but to also have conversations with the people they meet and hear their stories which is always a great opportunity to hear why they ended up on the streets and how they hope to get off.
Group 4 spent their entire day at one of the local soup kitchens called Loaves and Fishes. The soup kitchen was not actually serving food today because they only serve food on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. So, the group spent the day cleaning, organizing, and packaging. They cleaned the kitchen, floors, bathrooms, and even some yard work to make the outside look nice. In addition to cleaning the building the group sorted clothing donations and packaged them up to be handed out later in the week. The day of service was a huge gift for loaves and fishes so that the staff would not have to take time doing it themselves and it really allows them to provide a clean place for all of the homeless men and women to congregate.
After breakfast Group 5 just stayed at the housing site to write letters of encouragement to all of the people we partnered with. All of the sites we went to partner with so many volunteers throughout the year that they rarely get feedback from the volunteers on their experience. So, this was a great opportunity to give some kind and encouraging words to these wonderful people who have sacrificed their lives to serve the city of Nashville. After lunch group 5 went to a new ministry site called Open Table that has multiple homeless shelters around the city and also advocates heavily for the rights of and housing for homeless men and women. They work hard to provide food and temporary housing, but their main goal is to establish long-term housing for as many people as possible. Our group setup all of the beds and tables for the homeless men and women that would be staying overnight. We finished the setup early and so wanted to provide an special gift to the residents, and so the group ran to Walmart to buy some chess/checkers boards to provide entertainment for the men and women who were coming that night.
It has been a great week and we are excited to head back and see everyone tomorrow. If you would like to receive text updates with our eta throughout our trip then please text NASHPARENT to 41411.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Nashville Day #5 - 7.13.17
Today was one of the only days where all of the groups did the same thing for part of the day. We all partook in something that CSM (Center for Student Missions) calls the Urban Plunge. This is an opportunity for everyone to engage with the city to learn about different perspectives on the city, pray for it, and think through how each of us would engage with homelessness if we ran the city. Everyone split into smaller groups with a leader and tried to speak to a homeless person, a local police officer, a visitor to Nashville, and a native to get their perspective on the city and how it is run. This was a special opportunity to hear about the city from different angles as each of us starts to figure out how we feel about the problems the city faces. In addition to these conversations the small groups each went to the top of a parking garage to look out over the city and pray for the different needs and perspectives of the city and that God would give clear guidance for and care over the city.
In addition to the urban plunge, group 1 continued its work at N.I.C.E. where they continued to engage with the kids and help them grow in their educational studies. At this point the group has become very comfortable with the kids and how things work so they are able to immediately jump in and pick right back up where they left off. The opportunity to serve at the same location everyday has given group 1 a unique opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the kids that they have poured into everyday.
Group 2 went to a new location to start there day called Isaiah 58, which is a local soup kitchen in Nashville. The unique thing about Isaiah 58 is that they not only have a main building to serve food, but they also have a food truck that travels around the city to deliver food to the needy in multiple locations. Group 2 was able to help serve the food as well as spend some quality time with everyone who came to the truck for food. The group was impressed and inspired by the creative approach to feeding the hungry through the food truck.
Like group 1, group 3 went back to their usual boys and girls club site tp spend another morning playing games, doing crafts, and educational exercises. Everyone in the group has worked hard to develop an individual relationship with 2-3 kids. The kids look forward to their arrival and our group has created some great bonds with everyone at the boys and girls club.
Group 4 also went back to the Project Transformation day camp that they have been going to throughout the week. This was a bittersweet day for the group because they were excited to see all of the kids again, but this was going to be their last day at Project Transformation which was a little sad. It has been a really fun and educational week for the group and the kids at the program have left a lasting impression that the group will take back with them to Williamsburg.
Group 5 spend the morning at Project C.U.R.E. which is a huge warehouse filled with medical supplies that the staff distributes throughout the city to ministries and care facilities that need it. The group spent the morning helping update the inventory list at the warehouse because they haven't had a fully updated inventory list for years. They scanned equipment, packaged it up, and placed it on the shelves which led to a very productive morning.
After a full day of serving the team headed back for Taco Dinner at the housing site followed by our third Porch Time. Tonight, the team headed to a local park called the Bicentennial park because it has a large amphitheater that provides great outdoor seating for all of our evening activities during porch time. We shared memories, sang some worship songs, and then listened to a talk by Luke out of Romans 1. Luke used Romans 1:18-25 to describe why suffering and hurt exist in the world. He said that selfishness always leads to suffering because our selfish tendencies lead us to only think/care for ourselves rather than focusing on the needs around us or our relationship with God. We closed out the evening with some great small group discussion to continue processing our time and the realities of suffering in the world that stem from our selfishness.
Tomorrow is our final day of service so please continue to pray for all that we do and all that God continues to teach each one of us.
In addition to the urban plunge, group 1 continued its work at N.I.C.E. where they continued to engage with the kids and help them grow in their educational studies. At this point the group has become very comfortable with the kids and how things work so they are able to immediately jump in and pick right back up where they left off. The opportunity to serve at the same location everyday has given group 1 a unique opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the kids that they have poured into everyday.
Group 2 went to a new location to start there day called Isaiah 58, which is a local soup kitchen in Nashville. The unique thing about Isaiah 58 is that they not only have a main building to serve food, but they also have a food truck that travels around the city to deliver food to the needy in multiple locations. Group 2 was able to help serve the food as well as spend some quality time with everyone who came to the truck for food. The group was impressed and inspired by the creative approach to feeding the hungry through the food truck.
Like group 1, group 3 went back to their usual boys and girls club site tp spend another morning playing games, doing crafts, and educational exercises. Everyone in the group has worked hard to develop an individual relationship with 2-3 kids. The kids look forward to their arrival and our group has created some great bonds with everyone at the boys and girls club.
Group 4 also went back to the Project Transformation day camp that they have been going to throughout the week. This was a bittersweet day for the group because they were excited to see all of the kids again, but this was going to be their last day at Project Transformation which was a little sad. It has been a really fun and educational week for the group and the kids at the program have left a lasting impression that the group will take back with them to Williamsburg.
Group 5 spend the morning at Project C.U.R.E. which is a huge warehouse filled with medical supplies that the staff distributes throughout the city to ministries and care facilities that need it. The group spent the morning helping update the inventory list at the warehouse because they haven't had a fully updated inventory list for years. They scanned equipment, packaged it up, and placed it on the shelves which led to a very productive morning.
After a full day of serving the team headed back for Taco Dinner at the housing site followed by our third Porch Time. Tonight, the team headed to a local park called the Bicentennial park because it has a large amphitheater that provides great outdoor seating for all of our evening activities during porch time. We shared memories, sang some worship songs, and then listened to a talk by Luke out of Romans 1. Luke used Romans 1:18-25 to describe why suffering and hurt exist in the world. He said that selfishness always leads to suffering because our selfish tendencies lead us to only think/care for ourselves rather than focusing on the needs around us or our relationship with God. We closed out the evening with some great small group discussion to continue processing our time and the realities of suffering in the world that stem from our selfishness.
Tomorrow is our final day of service so please continue to pray for all that we do and all that God continues to teach each one of us.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Nashville Day #4 - 7.12.17
Once again our team started the morning by eating breakfast here at the housing site and then packing our lunch to bring with us to eat later. Our morning routine has become second nature now as everyone knows the things they need to do to get ready for the day. Every group heads out at a little bit different time and so our mornings are filled with people at different stages of preparation for the day.
Serving group 1 began the day at Loaves and Fishes, a program that provides bi weekly meals to the homeless and working poor populations of Nashville. The kids had the opportunity to cook, clean, and serve meals, as well spend time engaging the guests and hearing their stories. We even had a chance to reconnect with some friends that were at our serving site across town the previous morning, which was encouraging evidence of fostering continuing relationships in a community that needs consistent love and support.
After lunch, group 1 once again went back to the N.I.C.E. camp. The program's commitment to loving and educating refugee children has been a humbling experience for our kids. The organization truly lives out Jesus's compassion on the lost and lonely, and our kids have been able to experience that compassion in a very tangible way.
Serving Group 2 started their day at Operation Stand Down Tennessee, which is a non profit organization that helps veterans in the Nashville area. Part of the group painted a storage trailer they had that they use to supply their thrift store, and another part of the group put together invitations for a fundraiser they will be having that will benefit veterans without homes. They spent the afternoon at the Magness Potter Boys and Girls club. Students get to build relationships with kids, playing all sorts of games and modeling what it looks like to listen and respect the authority figures in charge. Albeit simple tasks, you can tell the kids appreciate the new faces each week and it's clear the staff appreciate the extra help, too!
Serving Group 3 spent the morning at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club again. The students played games with, helped prepare meals for, and painted with the kids. The students spent their afternoon at a Catholic Charities satellite location that had never been visited by service groups before, which was very beneficial to them as they are getting themselves started. The students helped with planting flowers and picking weeds as well as sort, organize, and repackage clothing, books, and dishwater donations for the refugee population that the ministry serves. It's amazing how many different services and organizations exist in the area, and exciting to see continued growth and support for those in need.
Serving Group 4 had a similar morning routine as they had the previous two days. They served at Project Transformation, primarily reading with kids one on one. If our volunteers outnumbered the students who were reading, a few would go downstairs to assist with "Moving Minutes," where they play games that reinforce the theme of the week (in this case, "self control"). It's been cool to see them read with students in the sanctuary of the church they're serving at, because you don't know what God is sowing today to be reaped later on. I know there are many memories of church growing up that I didn't think would stick or impact me the way they have, so it's cool to imagine how kids might get to look back on this church as the place they were loved, taught, disciplined, and encouraged. After Project Transformation, Group 4 went to Loaves and Fishes to help clean up the facility after their lunch. Loaves and Fishes is a feeding center that serves meals three times a week. While we didn't get to engage with any guests who had eaten there, it was still a privilege to clean and hear from Mr. Jim, who oversees the operation.
Serving Group 5 went to Second Harvest Food bank which is a huge warehouse filled with food that they distribute to about half of the state of Tennessee for people that are food insecure, or unsure where each meal is going to come from. Our group was given the task of unloading and re-packaging over 5,000 pounds of frozen meat. Each team member was assigned one of five different roles: sorters, inspectors, packers, recyclers, and disposers. The inspectors checked each frozen package to see if it was spoiled or had any holes in the packaging so that the sorters could then split the meat up by type (poultry, pork, beef, and bison). Next, the packers boxed up the meat and placed it on pallets to be hauled away later. Finally, the recyclers and disposers took all of the boxes and trash out to their respective dumpsters outside to be crushed. The group was a well-oiled machine as they went through all of the packages of meat.
After eating lunch along the local river called the Cumberland river our group took a few cases of water and distributed them to local construction workers and homeless individuals. It was a hot day and so this was a chance to not only provide a little hydration, but also give us the opportunity to start a conversation with some of these men and women and hear about their lives. These conversations helped humanize these men and women that we often just try to avoid. It was inspiring to watch the group boldly ask if people wanted water and then strike up a conversation with them.
Instead of our normal porch time, our team was able to have a night off to go and experience a piece of the entertainment side of Nashville. We headed downtown to a famous restaurant called the Wildhorse Saloon which has a family friendly atmosphere before 9pm. As we serve in different vans throughout the day, this was a fun opportunity for everyone to be together and either learn how to line dance, play pool or foosball, or just hang out while enjoying the live music and Nashville atmosphere. We're back now and settling in, ready for another day tomorrow!
Serving group 1 began the day at Loaves and Fishes, a program that provides bi weekly meals to the homeless and working poor populations of Nashville. The kids had the opportunity to cook, clean, and serve meals, as well spend time engaging the guests and hearing their stories. We even had a chance to reconnect with some friends that were at our serving site across town the previous morning, which was encouraging evidence of fostering continuing relationships in a community that needs consistent love and support.
After lunch, group 1 once again went back to the N.I.C.E. camp. The program's commitment to loving and educating refugee children has been a humbling experience for our kids. The organization truly lives out Jesus's compassion on the lost and lonely, and our kids have been able to experience that compassion in a very tangible way.
Serving Group 2 started their day at Operation Stand Down Tennessee, which is a non profit organization that helps veterans in the Nashville area. Part of the group painted a storage trailer they had that they use to supply their thrift store, and another part of the group put together invitations for a fundraiser they will be having that will benefit veterans without homes. They spent the afternoon at the Magness Potter Boys and Girls club. Students get to build relationships with kids, playing all sorts of games and modeling what it looks like to listen and respect the authority figures in charge. Albeit simple tasks, you can tell the kids appreciate the new faces each week and it's clear the staff appreciate the extra help, too!
Serving Group 3 spent the morning at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club again. The students played games with, helped prepare meals for, and painted with the kids. The students spent their afternoon at a Catholic Charities satellite location that had never been visited by service groups before, which was very beneficial to them as they are getting themselves started. The students helped with planting flowers and picking weeds as well as sort, organize, and repackage clothing, books, and dishwater donations for the refugee population that the ministry serves. It's amazing how many different services and organizations exist in the area, and exciting to see continued growth and support for those in need.
Serving Group 4 had a similar morning routine as they had the previous two days. They served at Project Transformation, primarily reading with kids one on one. If our volunteers outnumbered the students who were reading, a few would go downstairs to assist with "Moving Minutes," where they play games that reinforce the theme of the week (in this case, "self control"). It's been cool to see them read with students in the sanctuary of the church they're serving at, because you don't know what God is sowing today to be reaped later on. I know there are many memories of church growing up that I didn't think would stick or impact me the way they have, so it's cool to imagine how kids might get to look back on this church as the place they were loved, taught, disciplined, and encouraged. After Project Transformation, Group 4 went to Loaves and Fishes to help clean up the facility after their lunch. Loaves and Fishes is a feeding center that serves meals three times a week. While we didn't get to engage with any guests who had eaten there, it was still a privilege to clean and hear from Mr. Jim, who oversees the operation.
Serving Group 5 went to Second Harvest Food bank which is a huge warehouse filled with food that they distribute to about half of the state of Tennessee for people that are food insecure, or unsure where each meal is going to come from. Our group was given the task of unloading and re-packaging over 5,000 pounds of frozen meat. Each team member was assigned one of five different roles: sorters, inspectors, packers, recyclers, and disposers. The inspectors checked each frozen package to see if it was spoiled or had any holes in the packaging so that the sorters could then split the meat up by type (poultry, pork, beef, and bison). Next, the packers boxed up the meat and placed it on pallets to be hauled away later. Finally, the recyclers and disposers took all of the boxes and trash out to their respective dumpsters outside to be crushed. The group was a well-oiled machine as they went through all of the packages of meat.
After eating lunch along the local river called the Cumberland river our group took a few cases of water and distributed them to local construction workers and homeless individuals. It was a hot day and so this was a chance to not only provide a little hydration, but also give us the opportunity to start a conversation with some of these men and women and hear about their lives. These conversations helped humanize these men and women that we often just try to avoid. It was inspiring to watch the group boldly ask if people wanted water and then strike up a conversation with them.
Instead of our normal porch time, our team was able to have a night off to go and experience a piece of the entertainment side of Nashville. We headed downtown to a famous restaurant called the Wildhorse Saloon which has a family friendly atmosphere before 9pm. As we serve in different vans throughout the day, this was a fun opportunity for everyone to be together and either learn how to line dance, play pool or foosball, or just hang out while enjoying the live music and Nashville atmosphere. We're back now and settling in, ready for another day tomorrow!
Nashville Days #3 - 7.11.17
Today our team woke up excited for another day to go out into the city and serve those who are in need here in Nashville. Everyone went through our morning routine of showers, making breakfast, packing a bagged lunch, and loading up the vans to head out to all of our ministry sites. It is exciting to watch a group of teenagers wake-up excited to go and sacrifice their days for others.
Serving group 1 started their day off by visiting a local soup kitchen for the homeless men and women of East Nashville. They helped prepare food, serve it to everyone in attendance, mingle with the homeless men and women, and then clean up everything. It is an eye-opening experience to see the lives of homeless people and hear their stories. The group realized how we take for granted something as simple as the choice to eat what we want on a daily basis because everyone that attends the soup kitchen only gets to eat whatever is prepared that day.
After eating their own packed lunches, group 1 headed back to the day camp called N.I.C.E. that they had participated in yesterday. It was fun to have kids excited to see them back after building relationships the previous day. The group continued to help them in their math, english, science, and art lessons throughout the afternoon. They have helped provide encouragement for these kids who struggle to find the motivation to work hard in school sometimes.
Serving group 2 headed to a brand new ministry site to start their day as they partnered with Warner Parks which is the organization that oversees the local park system. The group specifically went to Percy Warner park where they walked through 4 miles of horse and hiking trails to clear brush and debris off of the trails. It was a tiring project that pushed the team physically, but ended with a satisfying and beautiful overview of the city skyline once they made it to the top of the mountain. The gorgeous scenery reminded them of the gift that their effort to clear the trails will provide for countless people that hike the trails to enjoy the same natural view.
After finishing at the park and eating lunch, group 2 headed back to the Magnus Potter boys and girls club in the afternoon where they reconnected with the kids they had met yesterday. The entire group was excited to have another afternoon with all the precious kids they had gotten to know yesterday and the long morning hike didn't keep them from joyfully playing and other games or crafts with all of the kids. The group considered it a huge blessing to have the opportunity to continue building meaningful relationships with all of the kids at the program
Serving group 3 began their day by going back to the boys and girls club that they visited yesterday. Like some of the other groups, they felt a huge rush of excitement as the kids faces lit up in seeing them again. The group all had kids who they knew and were eager to talk to and play games with throughout the morning. The day camp that the boys and girls club runs throughout the summer provides great structure for these kids so that they are consistently in positive environments that promote healthy learning and safe fun. Group 3 felt privileged to help be a part of this great service to the community.
In the afternoon, serving group 3 ate their packed lunches and headed to a ministry called Project C.U.R.E. that helps supply medical supplies to lower income and homeless communities. After a morning filled with relationships the group was ready for a physical labor project. So they unloaded pallets and took inventory on all of the supplies so that the organization knew exactly how much they had to distribute. The team worked so well together that they were able to unload over 25 completely filled pallets of medical supplies, sort them, document them, and get them ready to be distributed. The group showed a great work ethic and desire to set this organization up for success so that the staff could just focus on getting the medical supplies to the places that really needed them.
Serving group 4 left the housing site and headed back to Project Transformation where they once again spent time helping develop the literacy skills of some local children by reading to them and helping the kids read on their own. Without this organization these kids would be falling behind in school and so the encouragement to improve their reading skills was a huge gift that will help these kids tremendously in the future.
In the afternoon serving group four went out to a local park to participate in an activity that CSM calls "Beat the Heat" where everyone take a water bottle to hand out to whomever needs one on the hot day. The team split up into small group and walked around a given area to handout the bottles and get to know the people they were helping. It was inspiring to see how something as simple as a water bottle can break down the barriers between the people living on the street and our group so that they could hear each other's stories and learn from each other.
Serving group 5 ended up going to the same site for the entire day with a lunch break in between the morning and afternoon. The group went to help at a local branch of the organization Catholic Charities. In Nashville, Catholic Charities provides a transition plan for refugees that need to get out of their country in Africa or the Middle East. They pick up the refugees from the airport and then drop them off at a fully furnished apartment so that they feel welcomed and cared for. It was sad to hear about how these individuals had to be displaced from their original homes, but hopeful to know that their are people in Nashville who have devoted their lives to serving this population. The group helped with the jobs of the refugees who were working in the building as well as any other odd jobs that the director needed help with. It was amazing to watch the group be willing to serve in the same jobs for five hours so that they could leave the warehouse in a much better situation than it began.
Everyone left their job sites in the afternoon, ate some dinner, and headed back to our housing site for Porch Time. Luke had everyone look at Matthew 25 and Colossians 1:27 to think through the idea of what it means to see and be Jesus. He talked about the fact that in Matthew 25 Jesus says that whenever we serve the "least of these" in our communities that we are actually serving Jesus who is present in those people. In addition, the Colossians verse tells us that Jesus is not only present in the least of these but Jesus can also be present in each of us as well. Representing Christ to others comes with a huge responsibility, but also can be filled with great satisfaction as we start to view the world through the lens of Christ in us rather than our own wants and desires. To close out the night everyone had some great small group discussions to continue processing the day and everything that Luke discussed in his talk.
Serving group 1 started their day off by visiting a local soup kitchen for the homeless men and women of East Nashville. They helped prepare food, serve it to everyone in attendance, mingle with the homeless men and women, and then clean up everything. It is an eye-opening experience to see the lives of homeless people and hear their stories. The group realized how we take for granted something as simple as the choice to eat what we want on a daily basis because everyone that attends the soup kitchen only gets to eat whatever is prepared that day.
After eating their own packed lunches, group 1 headed back to the day camp called N.I.C.E. that they had participated in yesterday. It was fun to have kids excited to see them back after building relationships the previous day. The group continued to help them in their math, english, science, and art lessons throughout the afternoon. They have helped provide encouragement for these kids who struggle to find the motivation to work hard in school sometimes.
Serving group 2 headed to a brand new ministry site to start their day as they partnered with Warner Parks which is the organization that oversees the local park system. The group specifically went to Percy Warner park where they walked through 4 miles of horse and hiking trails to clear brush and debris off of the trails. It was a tiring project that pushed the team physically, but ended with a satisfying and beautiful overview of the city skyline once they made it to the top of the mountain. The gorgeous scenery reminded them of the gift that their effort to clear the trails will provide for countless people that hike the trails to enjoy the same natural view.
After finishing at the park and eating lunch, group 2 headed back to the Magnus Potter boys and girls club in the afternoon where they reconnected with the kids they had met yesterday. The entire group was excited to have another afternoon with all the precious kids they had gotten to know yesterday and the long morning hike didn't keep them from joyfully playing and other games or crafts with all of the kids. The group considered it a huge blessing to have the opportunity to continue building meaningful relationships with all of the kids at the program
Serving group 3 began their day by going back to the boys and girls club that they visited yesterday. Like some of the other groups, they felt a huge rush of excitement as the kids faces lit up in seeing them again. The group all had kids who they knew and were eager to talk to and play games with throughout the morning. The day camp that the boys and girls club runs throughout the summer provides great structure for these kids so that they are consistently in positive environments that promote healthy learning and safe fun. Group 3 felt privileged to help be a part of this great service to the community.
In the afternoon, serving group 3 ate their packed lunches and headed to a ministry called Project C.U.R.E. that helps supply medical supplies to lower income and homeless communities. After a morning filled with relationships the group was ready for a physical labor project. So they unloaded pallets and took inventory on all of the supplies so that the organization knew exactly how much they had to distribute. The team worked so well together that they were able to unload over 25 completely filled pallets of medical supplies, sort them, document them, and get them ready to be distributed. The group showed a great work ethic and desire to set this organization up for success so that the staff could just focus on getting the medical supplies to the places that really needed them.
Serving group 4 left the housing site and headed back to Project Transformation where they once again spent time helping develop the literacy skills of some local children by reading to them and helping the kids read on their own. Without this organization these kids would be falling behind in school and so the encouragement to improve their reading skills was a huge gift that will help these kids tremendously in the future.
In the afternoon serving group four went out to a local park to participate in an activity that CSM calls "Beat the Heat" where everyone take a water bottle to hand out to whomever needs one on the hot day. The team split up into small group and walked around a given area to handout the bottles and get to know the people they were helping. It was inspiring to see how something as simple as a water bottle can break down the barriers between the people living on the street and our group so that they could hear each other's stories and learn from each other.
Serving group 5 ended up going to the same site for the entire day with a lunch break in between the morning and afternoon. The group went to help at a local branch of the organization Catholic Charities. In Nashville, Catholic Charities provides a transition plan for refugees that need to get out of their country in Africa or the Middle East. They pick up the refugees from the airport and then drop them off at a fully furnished apartment so that they feel welcomed and cared for. It was sad to hear about how these individuals had to be displaced from their original homes, but hopeful to know that their are people in Nashville who have devoted their lives to serving this population. The group helped with the jobs of the refugees who were working in the building as well as any other odd jobs that the director needed help with. It was amazing to watch the group be willing to serve in the same jobs for five hours so that they could leave the warehouse in a much better situation than it began.
Everyone left their job sites in the afternoon, ate some dinner, and headed back to our housing site for Porch Time. Luke had everyone look at Matthew 25 and Colossians 1:27 to think through the idea of what it means to see and be Jesus. He talked about the fact that in Matthew 25 Jesus says that whenever we serve the "least of these" in our communities that we are actually serving Jesus who is present in those people. In addition, the Colossians verse tells us that Jesus is not only present in the least of these but Jesus can also be present in each of us as well. Representing Christ to others comes with a huge responsibility, but also can be filled with great satisfaction as we start to view the world through the lens of Christ in us rather than our own wants and desires. To close out the night everyone had some great small group discussions to continue processing the day and everything that Luke discussed in his talk.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Nashville Day #2 - 7.10.17
Today, was our team's first opportunity to split up into our different serving groups to spread out around Nashville. It is inspiring to think about how the seventy people in our group are able to accomplish so many different things in one day. Every group went on a prayer tour around Nashville in which our CSM hosts gave us a guided trip around the city of Nashville to learn about its history, needs, and main industries. It gave everyone an amazing overview of the city, a glimpse into the rich/poor dynamics of the city, and the different ways that the city is trying to engage with issues of homelessness, job opportunities, and economic inequality. Along the prayer tour each group would stop at different spots in the city to pray for the specific needs and opportunities of each part of the city. In addition to the prayer tour every group served at a local ministry site in Nashville.
Serving Group 1 served at a local ministry called N.I.C.E. that has built a community for immigrants rthat have made it to Nashville. This organization holds a summer camp every year to help children of immigrants catch up in school or simply have some extra tutoring. Group 1 helped children in the subjects of math, science, and reading to encourage their growth and excitement for learning. It was great to watch our team develop relationships with these kids and do whatever they could to help them gain an education so that they can have bright futures.
Serving Group 2 went to a local Boys and Girls Club that holds summer programming for lower income kids. Group 2 played games with the kids and helped them do arts and crafts. Our group started a little tentative because they didn't know any of the kids, but quickly warmed up to the kids and jumped right in. It has been impressive to see how willing they are to move out of their comfort zones in order to meet the needs of others
Serving Group 3 went to the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club which is a different club from the one that serving group 2 went to, but had a real similar feel in serving the kids. Group 3 played games with the kids and helped with the activities that the staff had planned for the kids. The group was excited to hear that they will get to return to this site throughout the week and continue to develop relationships with the kids.
Serving Group 4 went to a location called Project Transformation that helps little kids with literacy. Some of group 4 sat and read books with the kids to encourage them about the importance of being able to read and develop their reading skills. The rest of the group played games with the other kids who had finished reading or were on a break from practicing to read. Group 4 was impacted by the difference between their own school experience growing up compared to the experiences of these kids.
Serving Group 5 served at a local soup kitchen called loaves & fishes that serves a hot breakfast and lunch to homeless men and women every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Group 5 helped get the room setup for lunch, served lunch, spent time meeting the guests while everyone ate lunch together, and then cleaned up everything after lunch. It was inspiring to watch the group be so eager to hand out drinks, mop floors, and hold conversations with homeless men and women. The staff were extremely grateful for our help and everyone had the opportunity to make a new friend with someone that was there to eat lunch.
After serving, every group went to eat at some sort of ethnic restaurant ranging from Indian to Turkish food. Following dinner the whole team gathered in the Chapel for our evening porch time. Porch time is our nightly time to process what we have been seeing and hearing each day on the trip. After sharing memories from the day and singing songs, Luke gave a talk entitled "Leave it all behind" where he looked at Luke 10 as a model for how to get the most out of our week. Jesus challenged his 72 followers and us to leave behind insecurities, fears, and distractions that might cause us to miss the whispers of God in our lives. He challenged the team to be present here in Nashville and jump right into whatever God asks us to do each day. In Luke 10:17 the 72 followers returned with joy and Luke encouraged the team to look for the God-given joy that comes when we are willing to make life about serving God and others. Finally, we finished our evening with our first small group time to discuss the things that Luke introduced in his talk and the things that everyone experienced during our first service day in Nashville.
It has been a great day and we look forward to sharing with you what day 2 brings tomorrow.
Serving Group 1 served at a local ministry called N.I.C.E. that has built a community for immigrants rthat have made it to Nashville. This organization holds a summer camp every year to help children of immigrants catch up in school or simply have some extra tutoring. Group 1 helped children in the subjects of math, science, and reading to encourage their growth and excitement for learning. It was great to watch our team develop relationships with these kids and do whatever they could to help them gain an education so that they can have bright futures.
Serving Group 2 went to a local Boys and Girls Club that holds summer programming for lower income kids. Group 2 played games with the kids and helped them do arts and crafts. Our group started a little tentative because they didn't know any of the kids, but quickly warmed up to the kids and jumped right in. It has been impressive to see how willing they are to move out of their comfort zones in order to meet the needs of others
Serving Group 3 went to the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club which is a different club from the one that serving group 2 went to, but had a real similar feel in serving the kids. Group 3 played games with the kids and helped with the activities that the staff had planned for the kids. The group was excited to hear that they will get to return to this site throughout the week and continue to develop relationships with the kids.
Serving Group 4 went to a location called Project Transformation that helps little kids with literacy. Some of group 4 sat and read books with the kids to encourage them about the importance of being able to read and develop their reading skills. The rest of the group played games with the other kids who had finished reading or were on a break from practicing to read. Group 4 was impacted by the difference between their own school experience growing up compared to the experiences of these kids.
Serving Group 5 served at a local soup kitchen called loaves & fishes that serves a hot breakfast and lunch to homeless men and women every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Group 5 helped get the room setup for lunch, served lunch, spent time meeting the guests while everyone ate lunch together, and then cleaned up everything after lunch. It was inspiring to watch the group be so eager to hand out drinks, mop floors, and hold conversations with homeless men and women. The staff were extremely grateful for our help and everyone had the opportunity to make a new friend with someone that was there to eat lunch.
After serving, every group went to eat at some sort of ethnic restaurant ranging from Indian to Turkish food. Following dinner the whole team gathered in the Chapel for our evening porch time. Porch time is our nightly time to process what we have been seeing and hearing each day on the trip. After sharing memories from the day and singing songs, Luke gave a talk entitled "Leave it all behind" where he looked at Luke 10 as a model for how to get the most out of our week. Jesus challenged his 72 followers and us to leave behind insecurities, fears, and distractions that might cause us to miss the whispers of God in our lives. He challenged the team to be present here in Nashville and jump right into whatever God asks us to do each day. In Luke 10:17 the 72 followers returned with joy and Luke encouraged the team to look for the God-given joy that comes when we are willing to make life about serving God and others. Finally, we finished our evening with our first small group time to discuss the things that Luke introduced in his talk and the things that everyone experienced during our first service day in Nashville.
It has been a great day and we look forward to sharing with you what day 2 brings tomorrow.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Nashville Day #1 - 7.9.17
Today began with a lot of energy and excitement for the trip ahead of us as we departed from the Chapel. We traveled for about 5 hours to Marion, VA where we had the opportunity to take a pit stop at James Austin's family farm (James is one of our summer interns). They own a beautiful piece of land in the hills of Western Virginia and graciously provided snacks and drinks for everyone. In addition, we had the special treat of getting to feed and pet their herd of alpacas. It was a fun experience that broke up our travel nicely.
After our quick stop at the alpaca farm we loaded back up for the second leg of our journey to Nashville, TN. We arrived at our housing site here in East Nashville where we were greeted with friendly faces and hot pizza. Everyone enjoyed the delicious dinner before we unloaded all of our stuff inside. Once we all picked out our beds we gathered to meet our CSM hosts, take a tour of our housing site, and hear about what we had in store for our week.
Finally, we got settled into our beds for a good night sleep in preparation for our first day of serving tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for details on all of the places and people we will be serving to begin our week. Please continue to pray for God to challenge and guide us throughout our week.
After our quick stop at the alpaca farm we loaded back up for the second leg of our journey to Nashville, TN. We arrived at our housing site here in East Nashville where we were greeted with friendly faces and hot pizza. Everyone enjoyed the delicious dinner before we unloaded all of our stuff inside. Once we all picked out our beds we gathered to meet our CSM hosts, take a tour of our housing site, and hear about what we had in store for our week.
Finally, we got settled into our beds for a good night sleep in preparation for our first day of serving tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for details on all of the places and people we will be serving to begin our week. Please continue to pray for God to challenge and guide us throughout our week.
Saturday, July 8, 2017
NC Update Day #5 - 7.7.17
Our last full day here in North Carolina! We woke up early and had breakfast, but no morning worship today. Instead, we gathered with the other group that is staying here with us and prayed for the clients who's houses we are working on, the staff here at ReCreation, and each of our respective teams. After our prayer, we headed to the work site and got after it! The team worked so hard to finish up the final two projects that we had; digging the septic trenches and painting the house. We finished up the trenches before lunch and began laying in the piping. Once that was set in place, we buried the pipes and leveled out the yard so that the homeowner can reseed the yard. We braked for lunch and were thankful that Cody, the homeowner, came out and shared his testimony with the team. It was great for us to get to hear about how Cody came to know Jesus and to get a chance to talk with him about his life! After lunch, we all hit the painting hard and ended up finishing painting the house before our time was up at the work site. Because we finished early, we had a little extra free time before dinner. The ReCreation staff put on worship tonight as a part of the end of the week celebration that they put on. This celebration included a slideshow that they had put together from the week and one final talk from Dave Torbit, which really challenged our kids as our minds are beginning to turn towards heading back home to Williamsburg. After the ReCreation worship, we went straight into our final Porch Time of the trip where Nick talked about Paul, the feature of our character study leading into this trip. We talked about things that hold us back from reaching what we called "The Beautiful Struggle" which is when God takes a struggle in your life and turns it into something beautiful. Porch Time ended with each student receiving a card that they had filled out at Missions Night or at one of the pre-trip meetings, on which they had written a fear they have that is holding them back from a relationship with Jesus. The team broke into small groups and continued to discuss further until it was time for lights out. Tomorrow we are having breakfast, cleaning up the housing site and then hitting the road. If you aren't already, please sign up for our text list "NCPARENT" to 41411 to receive updates as we travel home!
Thursday, July 6, 2017
NC Update Day #4 - 7.6.17
The pattern continued with our new normal morning routine of early wake-up, breakfast, and worship! It was great to see the team continue to dive into opportunities to worship, even early in the morning! After worship, we heard from Dave (the ReCreation Director) talking about the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and how this act of humility and service was shown to all of the disciples, even Judas. He challenged us to lean into forgiveness through humility and seek opportunities through the day to serve each other. With that charge on our hearts, the team headed out to our work site for our third day on the job. The team worked tirelessly to get to a great stopping point going into our final day tomorrow. We finished the roofing project and with those hands freed up tomorrow, should finish the septic trenches and get the new coat of paint on the house. After leaving the work site, we headed back to ReCreation to shower and have dinner. We have been grateful for the ReCreation Staff for not only working with us all day on the job site, but they have been serving us breakfasts and dinners here at the housing site. We had some free time after dinner and then gathered for our second to last porch time of the trip. We had a great time during an extended rendition of "Remember That Time" and "I Saw Jesus," as well as an awesome time of worship! After worship, Nick spoke from John 11 and used Mary and Martha as the two examples of the paths that we can take as we start to think about heading back home to Williamsburg. We can be hesitant and doubt what we've seen or we can rise swiftly and seek out Jesus, falling humbly before Him. Porch Time gave way to small groups, where we split up and discussed these ideas further! Once small groups had subsided, we wrapped up the night and headed to bed to prepare for our final full day here in Weaverville. It is bittersweet to acknowledge that our time here in Weaverville is drawing to a close, but we are excited to take on our last day head on. Thank you to everyone who came to the parent prayer meeting! Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
NC Update Day #3 - 7.5.17
Today began with our normal routine at ReCreation. We had an early wake-up call, ate breakfast, and had a great time beginning the day worshiping our God! After worship, we headed into downtown Weaverville to the Brian Center for Health and Rehabilitation. We have had a partnership with the Brian Center for several years and our kids love getting to go and spend some time there. We split up into groups upon arrival, with one group helping with some cleanup projects, one getting to spend time in the Alzheimer's wing, and the third group went around and visited with some of the residents who had just finished up eating breakfast. Once they had completed their tasks, the cleanup group came and joined the others and enjoyed getting time to get to know some of the residents. It is a beautiful thing to see Middle School students jump into an uncomfortable situation and share about their lives and ask about the lives of the elderly residents they were speaking with. After a full morning of relationship building, our team was generously provided lunch by the Brian Center staff who were very appreciative that we had come to visit the residents, many of whom do not receive visitors at all. After we finished eating, we left the Brian Center and headed into the Pisgah National Forest to spend some time at Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls. Sliding Rock is a natural water slide and Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall that flows into a lagoon where visitors can swim and take in the view. It was incredible to be able to have an afternoon of fun with the team while at the same time being able to take in the majesty of God's creation. From Sliding Rock we headed to the May Family Farm, which was the special location for tonight's dinner and Porch Time. Megan May was an intern a few years and we have been blessed to be able to go to her family's farm and use their barn on our day off. At Porch Time we heard from Brady Wilhide, one of this year's summer interns, who spoke on "comparison vs. compassion." He spoke out of Acts 9, looking at Paul's interactions with the disciples right after his conversion on the road to Damascus. We talked about how so often we are like the disciples and compare people to who they were or what they have done and not who they are now. And each time we are comparing ourselves to others in this way, whether it be here on the trip or at home in Williamsburg, we are not taking an opportunity to show compassion towards that person or situation. After Brady's talk, we loaded up the buses and headed back to ReCreation, and had some great conversations about that topic on the drive home. Once back at the housing site, we had a little bit of free time before winding down for the night and heading to bed. We were grateful for our day off, but the team is excited to get back to work these next two days!
As a reminder, we are sending out text updates when we move throughout the day and to get those you just need to text "NCPARENT" to 41411. Not only do we send out updates while here in NC, that will be the main way we update parents about our eta on the way home on Saturday!
Also, tomorrow (Thursday, July 6th) there will be a prayer meeting in room 211 at 7 pm for all who would like to come!
As a reminder, we are sending out text updates when we move throughout the day and to get those you just need to text "NCPARENT" to 41411. Not only do we send out updates while here in NC, that will be the main way we update parents about our eta on the way home on Saturday!
Also, tomorrow (Thursday, July 6th) there will be a prayer meeting in room 211 at 7 pm for all who would like to come!
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
NC Update Day #2 - 7.4.17
Today began with an early morning wake up call and breakfast at ReCreation. Even though the team was a little sleepy-eyed during breakfast, we woke right up once worship began! We danced, we sang and we worshiped. Beginning the day focusing on Jesus, the one who gives us the strength we need for the day, is a great way to have our team focused as we head to the worksite. After worship, we heard a short talk from Dave Torbit who dove deeper into the idea of storms and that while we need Jesus as our anchor during the storms of our life, we need Him as an anchor during the calm times as well. We then set out for our second day at our work site where we made some great progress to match the great start we had on Monday. The septic trenches are ahead of where we were expecting them to be, the house has been completely primed and the back half of the roof has been stripped and re-shingled. The kids have been working with great purpose and are eager to get back to work and finish the job! We left the worksite after a great day and headed back to ReCreation for some free time and dinner. After dinner, we then went into Porch Time and recounted the good times of the day during "Remember That Time" and the places where we saw God at work during "I Saw Jesus." Houston led us in a time of worship and Nick gave the second porch time talk of the week. On Monday we spoke on the idea that we were sent here and tonight we looked at what it is that we were sent here to do. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, doing the work that He sent us to do. We read from John 15 where Jesus says, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you," and talked about how that love is a sacrificial love. We are called to "be Jesus" as we love each other as humbly and sacrificially as Jesus loved us. After Porch Time we broke into small groups to continue discussing this idea. There were many great conversations had about the sacrificial love that Jesus asks us to show to each other. As a special treat for 2 awesome days at the work site, the whole team drove 5 minutes down the road to a clearing and we were able to catch the local fireworks display to celebrate the 4th! Once the final firework had faded into the night sky, we headed back to ReCreation and settled in for a good night's sleep. Thank you for your continued prayers and we are looking forward to our day tomorrow and cannot wait to see how God will work in and through this team!
Monday, July 3, 2017
NC Day #1 Update - 7.3.17
We had a great first day here in North Carolina! It began as all our mornings will from here on out, with an early wake-up call, breakfast, and morning worship. Worship is put on by the ReCreation staff and is a bit more up-tempo than we see at the Chapel, but the team embraced the difference and sang/danced the whole time! When worship ended we heard a brief message from Dave Torbit, the director here at ReCreation, who spoke on "In the eye of the storm", their theme for the summer. Dave spoke on having Jesus be our anchor in the storms of life and that when the anchor is strong, no matter how bad the storm rocks the boat, the boat remains. We then set out for our work site, which is about 40 minutes from the ReCreation building. We are working at a home where the family has fallen on some hard times and a few work projects are needed to allow them to remain in their home. We are putting on a new roof, repainting, and digging a new septic line for them. While this sounds like a lot of work, our team was enthusiastic and accepted the challenge head on. They tore into the three projects from the get-go and we finished the day at a great place to set us up for success to finish them all on schedule. After a great day of work, we headed back to ReCreation to clean up and have some dinner. The team got some down time after dinner and then we gathered together for Porch Time. Porch Time is a Chapel Mission Trip staple that consists of a few key elements. We start off with "Remember That Time" where students have the opportunity to share funny stories from the day that not everyone was likely a part of. This is followed by "I Saw Jesus" where the team shares stories of where they saw Jesus at work through the team and throughout the day. We were then led in a time of worship by Houston and ended porch time with our first talk of the week. Nick spoke from Luke 10 and tied the story of the 72 being sent out by Jesus, the story of Paul being sent in Acts 9, and connected it with our team being sent here to Weaverville, NC. We studied Paul in our pre-trip meetings and throughout the week we will revisit Paul's encounter with God as we work through our own. We discussed how in Luke 10, it does not say what happened when they were sent, just that they returned with joy and that as we work through this week, regardless of how well it goes "according to plan" God is behind it and God is with us! After Porch Time we split up into small groups to further discuss this idea and then began to wind down the night as we headed to bed to rest up for another great day! Thank you all for your continued prayers and we are so excited to continue to see and feel Jesus at work!
Sunday, July 2, 2017
NC Team Update - Sunday 7.2.17
Not too much to report on today, as it was predominantly a travel day and the team made the drive effortlessly. We only stopped twice during the trip for a restroom break and a dinner/gas stop (which may be a record for fewest stops ever for this trip!) We arrived at ReCreation Experiences, our home for the week, to a welcoming committee comprised of the 3 ReCreation Staffers that will be with our group for the week and two of the directors of the organization. After an orientation talk from the staff, our team unloaded the trailer and spent the remainder of our time, before lights out, settling into our new home. We are heading to bed with great anticipation and excitement for how we can both experience God through our service and through our team members! Tomorrow we will have our first day on the job site and will update you on our travels throughout the day via the text list ("NCPARENT" to 41411) Keep us in your prayers as we serve in Weaverville this week!
NC Team Leaves Today! 7.2.17
We are leaving today after the 11 o'clock student service! Please bring a lunch or eat lunch before as we are not stopping for food until dinner. Check in will begin a few minutes after the service ends, so if you need to turn in any forms or money that would be a good time to do it. We are hoping to get everyone's stuff packed and loaded up to leave by 1 pm and are excited for the week. We will see you soon!
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