Friday...

It's Jeremy's birthday

We were challenged this morning by Pastor John Meyers during devotion time

to embrace the hardships and thorns of life and allow them to shape us into 

vehicles that God can use for His glory.  

He spoke of 

Humility

and 

God's grace

of His goodness towards those who will depend on His strength.

The kids listened intently as he spoke of his heart for the people of the City of Hammtramck

and saw the desire he has to transform the whole community.

We've been blessed to be loved on by both John and his wife, Janell...

 There's a reason for these orange Crocks.  John wears them EVERY day and they are a tool he uses to talk to those he meets about God's love. He wears orange ones because it represents the mix of red and yellow.

Red= God's blood

Yellow= humanity

 ...and their son, Seth

As I type the students and leaders are spending the morning 

cleaning 

the church

the church vans

and the church property

I have WiFi and time to download the videos and pictures that I've not had time to the last few days.

So here's a quick glance of 

our week 

and 

our kids...

{Kali's lament}

{A view of the workshop where we've been building a wheelchair ramp}

{attempts...and fails}

{A trip to the ice cream shop...and thievery}

The plan is to finish up our cleaning and packing and be back on the road by 3pm.

We'll head back to Toledo where we will be attending 

a Toledo Mudhen's game and fireworks.

We'll then head back to the Helton's house for the night 

and be back on the road tomorrow morning around 9...

If we're lucky, we'll have a little of this to look forward to:

Thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf...
there's more fun to be had and we're going to soak it all in until the last minute!

A little of yesterday and today...

It's mid-afternoon and I've finally been able to check for a wifi connection.  It's been on-again, off-again all week and I decided to take advantage of it while I can!  Thanks for those of you who've been leaving messages for your kids...if I can keep the connection, I'll make sure I have them sit down and read them.

Yesterday was a busy day for our kids.  The older kids spent another long day building the deck, but we were blessed with a cool breeze and no humidity, so they returned with more energy than they had the day before.  They ended their day with a cook-out for the Acts 29 youth group.  

The 9th and 10th graders split up their day with construction of a ramp, Bible clubs, ESL and ended their day in the park with some of the middle school kids from the community.  The local kids were full of energy and had seemingly endless amount of room for food.  They had a great time playing games with our kids and putting together banks that they will use to save $30 to attend the Acts 29 summer camp.  Our kids were surprised at how eager the local kids were to play and interact.  

We all hit our beds with about as much eagerness after such a long day.  Before we knew it, the alarm was going off and it was time to start again.  

{The girls enjoyed the "Broadway" rendition of "Rise and Shine" performed by Wendy.}
  

After a breakfast of pancakes and sausage, we were split back up into our groups to  continue on with the different projects we'd been working on.  

Parents, I think you would be really proud of the way your students have worked hard and conducted themselves.  They are having a BLAST working alongside each other!

Each day we have been led in devotions by one or two students.  We've been working through the Fruit of the Spirit and the kids have done a great job researching their assigned "Fruit" and sharing with the rest of the group.  We've also gathered for a time of prayer over the students, two at a time...they are sweet times of circling together in one accord.

.............................................................................

It's evening now...as it is, it seems I get about five minutes at a time to sit here...and then the moment is gone.

SO...now it's dinner time and we're headed out to a Middle Eastern Restaurant-having absolutely no idea what to expect, except FLEXIBILITY.

We're getting good at it...seriously, just ask your kids.  

From now until FOREVER, they will be flexible to do 

ANYthing and EVERYthing 

you want them to do-

 I promise.

Because I'm pretty sure my five minutes is about to end,

 I'll post a bunch of random pics of the last two days...

Enjoy!

......................................

Yep...as I suspected...I've just been called away...

This is only about 1/3 of the pictures I wanted to post.

there's always tomorrow...

Good morning...

I had trouble sending a post last night....no matter what I tried, I could not connect to wifi.

After a good night's rest 

we are all gathered together at the church...

The smell of bacon has drifted to every floor of the church

as we all wait in anticipation of breakfast and a new day of work.

{Chef Kim and Chef Renee}

We've been split into three groups.

Today,

 Team one {All 11th-12th graders} will continue to build a deck

Team two will begin constructing a wheelchair ramp for one of the church members

and later will do an event for Middle Schoolers

{Kierstin, Emma, Kali, Drew and Jason}

Team three will put on a Kids Camp for a nearby neighborhood

{Kelly, Courtney, Emily, Faith, Wendy and Terri}

We'd appreciate your prayers throughout the day.  

We've had no major injuries 

{Kierstin's big, bad blister injury}

{SOMEone must be praying, 

we have power tools!!!}

All is well...

No pictures tonight...I have about 21 seconds to write and push send before we are loaded up 

and sent over to the apartment where we will be staying for the next few nights. 

 The boys will be going in one direction, and the girls in the other.

It's been a very hot day, but the kids have worked hard through every minute.

This evening we sat through a class with the church that was very interesting and the kids were challenged to know what they believe and how to share their faith with those around them. We just returned from a tour of a Mosque down the street where we sat through the call to worship and the prayer time.

Your kids have a lot of things to share, I'm sure!  

I'll try to get a few minutes to update tomorrow with some pictures...

until then, please continue to pray for health and safety tomorrow.

*A group of kids will continue to work on a deck nearby

*Another group of kids will take part in a children's day camp

*The last team will do an event for Middle Schooler's in the park

Thanks so much for checking in on us...

leave your kids some comments, they love checking to see who's reading!

Day 1...

Just a quick update to let you all know we've made it safely to Toledo.

We met this morning bright and early...

Packed up the vans and the trailer

were covered over in prayer by Pastor Doug

endured enjoyed hugs from friends and family

And finally we were on our way...

{with only one mishap}

we napped a little

ate a little

played a little

laughed a little

 posed a little

 {and a lot}

all in all it was a fantastic day...

We're staying in the home of Renee's friends.

They've been generous enough to open every floor to us...

and we are sprawled out EVERYwhere!

They fed us...

and allowed us to enjoy their beautiful yard

I'm sitting alone at a booth in the local Burger King

{"stealing" a little WiFi}

while Renee does a little grocery shopping next door.

Just wanted you parents to know 

we're here...

we're having fun...

and we're ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

{The plan is to be back on the road at 8:30am and, as I understand it, 

we are about two hours away from Hamtramack}

Thanks for your prayers throughout the day,

we covet them greatly throughout the next few days.

Oh, note to Pastor Carl...

you should probably know that Jason may need some disciplinary action 

based on the depth of his competitiveness 

 and his scare tactics...

just saying...

teamwork...

We've been making lists and piles

our bags are packed up and waiting to be loaded...

We're sleeping one last time in the comfort of our air conditioned homes...

Tomorrow at 9am we'll be packed into two vans and a trailer...

waving our last 

goodbyes

and 

see ya later's

.....

We're ready for whatever lies ahead.

 "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, 

you must clothe yourselves with

 tenderhearted mercy, 

kindness, 

humility, 

gentleness, 

and patience.  

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. 

Remember, the Lord forgave you,

 so you must forgive others. 

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, 

which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.

 For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

 And always be thankful.

  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. 

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. 

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 

And...

whatever you do or say,

 do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Colossians 3:12-17

We're looking forward to traveling and serving together this week!

In union there is strength.  ~Aesop

{google images}

Be intentional....

FOR US:

"Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention...."

FOR THEM:

"Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand..."

Philippians 2

Be prepared...

"But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully." I Peter 3:15 We cannot give out what we do not have. So, Today, devote a longer time to sitting with the LORD  and  growing in HIM... so that you are ready to give an answer for the HOPE that is IN you. Draw near to HIM and HE will draw near to you...

Today's scripture...

Michigan team:
If you're doing your homework, 

{AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE!!!!!}

then this is just a review of what you read this morning 

when you were praying for Faith and Nathan...

But it's good stuff, and I thought it worthy of being reminded of:

{Plus, I like to read in several versions and I really liked this version}

  "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

  So, dear brothers and sisters,work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.  Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

II Peter 1:3-11 NLT

So, today, as you read the WORD, don't just read...obey.

Ready yourself for whatever God has in store for the next 9 days, and beyond. 

 He's given you EVERYTHING you need for godliness.

COUNT DOWN: 4 more days!

New Chapter...

For 4 summers in a row we have been blogging here as we've taken our youth on 

various missions and conference trips.  

We're about to embark on a new adventure as we pack up 

2 vans, 16 students and 6 leaders 

and travel Westward to Hamtramack, Michigan.

Hamtramack is located inside the city of Detroit.  

We will be working alongside a C&MA Church called  Acts 29 Fellowship

Here's what the church has to say about their communityy:

"The city of Hamtramck is home to five major people groups: African American, Polish, Arab, Bosnian and Asian Indians (from Bangladesh).  The two square miles of Detroit that are within our target area for ministry is 80% African American. This empowerment community represents some of the lowest standard marks in the nation in terms of family structure, economics, education, employment development, and housing. The Christian faith is proclaimed by some, but not lived out in any way. More prevalent is the Islamic faith, which is proclaimed by nearly 60% of the population of Hamtramck."

We have the opportunity to join Acts 29 in reaching their community for Christ this week.  We are going as willing hands and feet, ready to do whatever tasks we are given.  For some of our students, this will be their first trip away from home in which there is not a "schedule of events" set in stone.  They will be stretched in ways they have not had to be before and will need to practice 

FLEXIBILITY and SELFLESSNESS

...but we are confident that this is GOOD and that they are up to the challenge!  

Click HERE for a look at what other teams have been doing at Acts 29 Fellowship

Would you join us in praying for our group?  

We go as as servants of Christ, 

but we are not unaware that the enemy would like to trip us up along the way and distract us 

from serving and from growing.

Pray for the students {and leaders} as they prepare

 their hearts for service

and

their bodies for travel...

We'll update here whenever we have  free time and  free wifi

Join us...