The Holstein family spent the week at a place with several children who did not own a pair of shoes. A couple of nights ago, they shared that with the rest of the groups during our La Croix time at the end of the evening. They shared some of their experiences and there was a definite hush over the room as our kids thought about what it would be like to not have a pair of shoes when they are going across the street to Kroger a couple of times per day to get sodas and candy.
At the end of the evening, kids from every family group - not just the ones who were serving at that site - went to Shelly and gave her some money. The next morning, she had over $80!
They went and bought shoes and gave them to the kids the next day. They took pictures and videoed their reactions and we got to watch it together last night during our La Croix time. It was amazing! This one little girl didn't want to go home because she was afraid she would have to leave the shoes there. She carried the shoe box with her everywhere she went for the whole day.
A beautiful example of the true meaning of the body of Christ...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Random Act of Kindness
My recap of a highlight told to me by Emily Johnson...
Her family group was on the way to their job site and pulled up to a stop light underneath an overpass. In a pile under there, you could see some belongings that clearly belonged to a homeless person. Sumner Sparkman asked Blake to pull the van over. When asked why, he said that he wanted to leave part of his lunch on the persons stuff so that when they got back they could eat.
Blake pulled over and the entire van gave parts of their lunch for the homeless individual and wrote a note to go along with it telling them that God loves them deeply!
You all raised them...we just get the pleasure of hanging out with them all week:-)
Her family group was on the way to their job site and pulled up to a stop light underneath an overpass. In a pile under there, you could see some belongings that clearly belonged to a homeless person. Sumner Sparkman asked Blake to pull the van over. When asked why, he said that he wanted to leave part of his lunch on the persons stuff so that when they got back they could eat.
Blake pulled over and the entire van gave parts of their lunch for the homeless individual and wrote a note to go along with it telling them that God loves them deeply!
You all raised them...we just get the pleasure of hanging out with them all week:-)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Holstein Family
The Holstein family is led by Shelly Stone and includes: Megan Smith, Paige Messerli, Alexis Runnels, Catie Dovin, Caroline Kasten, Creigh Miles, Caleb Ambler and Lauren Sides.
This group is spending their entire week at the Avesta Drive Community Center...for pretty much the same reasons my group is at the Charleston Boys and Girls Club for the entire week. The kids at this center need consistency and want to be able to develop relationships.
Avesta is a summer day camp, where kids from the area come and play and get away from the stresses of their home lives. Many of the chilren come from broken homes, as the center is located in a rough area of town. They are getting to do lots of activities with these kids, including sports, crafts and water games.
The family groups LOVES these kids and says although they have nothing, they are amazingly well-behaved and well-mannered. This is not so much the case with the kids at CBGC:-)
This group is spending their entire week at the Avesta Drive Community Center...for pretty much the same reasons my group is at the Charleston Boys and Girls Club for the entire week. The kids at this center need consistency and want to be able to develop relationships.
Avesta is a summer day camp, where kids from the area come and play and get away from the stresses of their home lives. Many of the chilren come from broken homes, as the center is located in a rough area of town. They are getting to do lots of activities with these kids, including sports, crafts and water games.
The family groups LOVES these kids and says although they have nothing, they are amazingly well-behaved and well-mannered. This is not so much the case with the kids at CBGC:-)
The Hensley Family
The Hensley family is led by Blake Driskell and Carly Rees. Their students are Sammy Rees, Sumner Sparkman, Garret Jackson, Emily Johnson, Maddie McDonald, Drew Wilson, Lauren Uhls, Linzee Rosen and Josh Thomas.
They actually get to visit three different mission sites throughout the week. Monday and Tuesday mornings they went to Covvenant House. Then in the afternoons they went to Good Living. Today and tomorrow, they serve at Union Mission.
Covenant House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working for justice by offering direct services for those in need and creating social change through advocacy and education. Covenant House, Inc is essentially an emergency day shelter and drop in center. They provide showers, laundry and financial assistance. At this site, our students helped with basic maintenance, landscaping and cleaning.
Good Living is a very small nursing home and has a very welcoming and home-style feel to it. It currently houses 8 residents. They needed our help with some landscaping, maintenance and painting jobs to help improve their neighborhood.
Union Mission Ministries seeks to meet the needs of WV through the provision of shelter, clothing, food, counseling, and structured programs for the poor, the needy, and those bound and bruised by addictive lifestyles. They house several ministries including food distribution, family counseling, a homeless shelter and a thrift store. Today the students helped in the thrift store - which was apparently an amazing experience...they loved it! Drew says he actually wants to work there when he grows up - because they are doing so many cool things to help people.
Union Mission is the reason we will be adding a typewriter to our cargo van (see previous blog entry), a keyboard that Sumner picked up - it was a "steal", a dress that is adorable that Maddie got for 50 cents, and also a ... oops, Emily Johnson swore me to secrecy on her "find".
They actually get to visit three different mission sites throughout the week. Monday and Tuesday mornings they went to Covvenant House. Then in the afternoons they went to Good Living. Today and tomorrow, they serve at Union Mission.
Covenant House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working for justice by offering direct services for those in need and creating social change through advocacy and education. Covenant House, Inc is essentially an emergency day shelter and drop in center. They provide showers, laundry and financial assistance. At this site, our students helped with basic maintenance, landscaping and cleaning.
Good Living is a very small nursing home and has a very welcoming and home-style feel to it. It currently houses 8 residents. They needed our help with some landscaping, maintenance and painting jobs to help improve their neighborhood.
Union Mission Ministries seeks to meet the needs of WV through the provision of shelter, clothing, food, counseling, and structured programs for the poor, the needy, and those bound and bruised by addictive lifestyles. They house several ministries including food distribution, family counseling, a homeless shelter and a thrift store. Today the students helped in the thrift store - which was apparently an amazing experience...they loved it! Drew says he actually wants to work there when he grows up - because they are doing so many cool things to help people.
Union Mission is the reason we will be adding a typewriter to our cargo van (see previous blog entry), a keyboard that Sumner picked up - it was a "steal", a dress that is adorable that Maddie got for 50 cents, and also a ... oops, Emily Johnson swore me to secrecy on her "find".
The Adkins Family
First of all, since I just posted the Fisher family as well...now would be a great time for me to point out that these two families - unfortunately - are in places that do not allow photographs. So, I apologize - but the only pics you will see if your kids are on one of these teams, are pics once we are back here at the church where we are sleeping:-( I've asked both families to try to 'sneak' a few on their phone...but you know...some people are rule followers...lol.
So, on with the Adkins family. It is led by Karen Bangert and includes the following students: Parker Outman, Sam Unger, Gray Hallman, Ryan Begley, Morgan Asendorf, Emily Holman, Rachel Juhlin, and Addie Stucker.
This group is hanging out at Valley Center in the mornings and Coal Branch in the afternoons.
Valley Center is a care facility, which provides nursing and rehab care for its residents. Our students are serving them by spending time with their residents and giving them individual attention they wouldn't normally get. The nurses and nursing assistants try their hardest to make personal connections with each resident, but often their job keeps them from actually sitting down with the residents and having long talks with them. The goal for this family is to serve relationally. Listening to stories, playing board games and giving them the attention and time they need and crave.
The Coal Branch Community Center is a safe haven for kids in the area to come during the day. The kids that go to Coal Branch are often at risk kids who come from broken homes. On average, up to 25 kids come to Coal Branch everyday with ages ranging from elementary school through middle school ages. Coal Branch creates a Christian atmosphere for the kids, which includes activities, such as Bible study. The kids there love when the older kids come spend time with them, as their lives have a lot of low points since they aren't growing up in the most peaceful of neighborhoods.
So, on with the Adkins family. It is led by Karen Bangert and includes the following students: Parker Outman, Sam Unger, Gray Hallman, Ryan Begley, Morgan Asendorf, Emily Holman, Rachel Juhlin, and Addie Stucker.
This group is hanging out at Valley Center in the mornings and Coal Branch in the afternoons.
Valley Center is a care facility, which provides nursing and rehab care for its residents. Our students are serving them by spending time with their residents and giving them individual attention they wouldn't normally get. The nurses and nursing assistants try their hardest to make personal connections with each resident, but often their job keeps them from actually sitting down with the residents and having long talks with them. The goal for this family is to serve relationally. Listening to stories, playing board games and giving them the attention and time they need and crave.
The Coal Branch Community Center is a safe haven for kids in the area to come during the day. The kids that go to Coal Branch are often at risk kids who come from broken homes. On average, up to 25 kids come to Coal Branch everyday with ages ranging from elementary school through middle school ages. Coal Branch creates a Christian atmosphere for the kids, which includes activities, such as Bible study. The kids there love when the older kids come spend time with them, as their lives have a lot of low points since they aren't growing up in the most peaceful of neighborhoods.
The Fisher Family
The Fisher family is led by JT and an adult leader from one of the other churches, Brian. They have 10 kids in the group, but only 3 of them are La Croix kids...they are Josh Stone, Alex Stone and Mason Turner.
This group is spending the whole week between two places...one in the mornings and another in the afternoons.
They are going to O.S.C. and Oak Ridge.
O.S.C. stands for Outrageous Sports Camp and is a Youth Works run camp that runs 6 weeks throughout the summer. It is primarily aimed at ages 10-14, but some weeks they work with kids as young as 6 years old. The camps serve as an outreach tool for the community and focuses on a different sport each week. Through teaching and interaction, the goal is to show Christ to these young people. The sport for this week...football! The boys are in heaven...JT, on the other hand, has a really sore shoulder:-)
Oak Ridge Center is a nursing home, which also provides short-term rehab services. This family group is serving with the center - where there are great relational ministry opportunities. Whether it's a simple "hi" or sitting down one-on-one and hearing about their lives, the residents just appreciate someone taking the time out of their day to spend it with them.
This group is spending the whole week between two places...one in the mornings and another in the afternoons.
They are going to O.S.C. and Oak Ridge.
O.S.C. stands for Outrageous Sports Camp and is a Youth Works run camp that runs 6 weeks throughout the summer. It is primarily aimed at ages 10-14, but some weeks they work with kids as young as 6 years old. The camps serve as an outreach tool for the community and focuses on a different sport each week. Through teaching and interaction, the goal is to show Christ to these young people. The sport for this week...football! The boys are in heaven...JT, on the other hand, has a really sore shoulder:-)
Oak Ridge Center is a nursing home, which also provides short-term rehab services. This family group is serving with the center - where there are great relational ministry opportunities. Whether it's a simple "hi" or sitting down one-on-one and hearing about their lives, the residents just appreciate someone taking the time out of their day to spend it with them.
More thoughts from your kids...
Here's a few more things I've heard from your kids...
I was really impacted by a girl I met that told me that last summer she came to this camp and she met a girl named Deborah who was with Youth Works. She told me she gave Deborah her address at the end of the week so she could write her. But then she told me that Deborah never wrote her. She said...'she must have been too busy to think about me.' I knew then that I could be different and could make an impact in some of these kid's lives even after we go home. Emily DiamondI can't believe how appreciative these little kids are for the smallest things. They have nothing. Catie Dovin
As we were leaving the nursing home, I heard this lady screaming for help. She was in a lot of pain. We went to her and called for help...but waited there for more than 10 minutes before anyone came to help her. It made me really sad that there are not enough people to give these people the care that they need. Morgan Asendorf
I loved getting to eat the same lunches as the kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Cody Likens (for those of you who do not know Cody...this "highlight" he shared with the group was DRIPPING with sarcasm:-)
Highlight of my day...
Each day when we are finished at our ministry site, we head over to a place called the Martin Luther King Center, where we are allowed to shower. Because there are only 3 showers in the ladies locker room, it's a fairly long process. So, when we get out of the shower, we all hang outside waiting and sharing stories, catching up on and comparing our days.
Today, I was standing outside after my shower, when Drew Wilson ran up to me with great excitement. His team has been working at a ministry that includes a thrift store. He says, "Angel...Angel...you are NEVER going to believe what I got at the thrift store today for JUST $2.50!!!"
He had this neat little cross necklace that I hadn't noticed before, so of course, that was my first guess. "NO...I knew you would never guess!" he goes on...
"I got a TYPEWRITER!!! Not just a normal typewriter either. This thing was ANCIENT. You wouldn't believe it if you saw it. You don't even have to plug it in! It's crazy, I'm telling you!! It uses something like...like a ribbon...or something! For $2.50...can you believe it???!!!"
I simply stared at him in awe...until I could find the words...
"No WAY???!!!!! You don't even have to plug it in??? Dude, I've SO got to see this..."
Today, I was standing outside after my shower, when Drew Wilson ran up to me with great excitement. His team has been working at a ministry that includes a thrift store. He says, "Angel...Angel...you are NEVER going to believe what I got at the thrift store today for JUST $2.50!!!"
He had this neat little cross necklace that I hadn't noticed before, so of course, that was my first guess. "NO...I knew you would never guess!" he goes on...
"I got a TYPEWRITER!!! Not just a normal typewriter either. This thing was ANCIENT. You wouldn't believe it if you saw it. You don't even have to plug it in! It's crazy, I'm telling you!! It uses something like...like a ribbon...or something! For $2.50...can you believe it???!!!"
I simply stared at him in awe...until I could find the words...
"No WAY???!!!!! You don't even have to plug it in??? Dude, I've SO got to see this..."
Thoughts and insights from some of our youth...
Our kids are on a journey...one of learning, one of growth, one of building relationships. Although our kids have been made aware of world poverty through various experiences at La Croix (Feed My Starving Children, Hope Rising, or mission trips they have been on out of the country), many of them have not experienced the drastic gap between how some people live right here in our own culture.
Many of the kids we are working with do not have shoes...they eat once a day (and that's a government meal of bologna on stale bread with some mushy carrots)...they do not get the love and affection we are accustomed to. These kids are not just physically hungry - they are emotionally and relationally starving.
It's definitely making an impact on some of our youth. It may take a few blog entries, but I want to share some of the insights and thoughts that your youth have shared with me and the rest of our team so far...
Many of the kids we are working with do not have shoes...they eat once a day (and that's a government meal of bologna on stale bread with some mushy carrots)...they do not get the love and affection we are accustomed to. These kids are not just physically hungry - they are emotionally and relationally starving.
It's definitely making an impact on some of our youth. It may take a few blog entries, but I want to share some of the insights and thoughts that your youth have shared with me and the rest of our team so far...
I'm amazed at how the kids totally fell in love with us so fast - even though they don't even know us. They really just want someone to pay attention to them. Amanda Webb
I fell in love with this little boy who totally followed me around all day and clung to me constantly - it was awesome! Also, when the kids had to get on a bus to go to the pool, they were banging on the windows and hollering for me and Cody. They didn't want us to leave. Riley Knight
I was really surprised at how appreciative this elderly lady was - when all we did was simple stuff like clean and paint for her. Drew Wilson
I saw a glimpse of myself as a child...no literally, this kid looks JUST like me! Mason Turner
I just loved sitting and talking with and listening to the amazing stories of these people in the nursing home we visited today. Rachel Juhlin
I loved how the kids faces lit up as soon as we walked in the door on the second day! Sammy Rees
There were only two boys at the place my team is serving and I took them and played basketball with them all day just getting to know them and develop relationships with them. It was really cool. Parker Outman
I loved how all of the kids gave us hugs when we were leaving - after only hanging out with them for one day. Creigh Miles
I was just heartbroken by some of the stories these kids were telling me. Lauren Sides
Psalm 119
The theme of Youth Works this year is "Be Different". However, within our La Croix group (there are two other church groups serving with us), JT has assigned Psalm 119 to us to read. We are reading about 25 verses each day and discussing it as a group each evening. We will not be finished with the whole chapter by the end of the week, so we are hoping that they will continue reading once they get home. The entire chapter stresses the importance of God's word...thus we are using it to not only emphasize that importance to them but help them get in the habit of reading the Bible daily and taking the time to reflect upon it.
We would love it if you would join us in this experience. Pick up your Bible - flip over to Psalm 119 and spend a few minutes reading and reflecting on what God may be saying to you. When your youth get back in town, encourage them to keep reading and take a few minutes each night to discuss and reflect on the reading with them. I believe your relationships will be enhanced because of it...your relationship with God and your relationship with a teenager who needs to see that this is important to you too!
We would love it if you would join us in this experience. Pick up your Bible - flip over to Psalm 119 and spend a few minutes reading and reflecting on what God may be saying to you. When your youth get back in town, encourage them to keep reading and take a few minutes each night to discuss and reflect on the reading with them. I believe your relationships will be enhanced because of it...your relationship with God and your relationship with a teenager who needs to see that this is important to you too!
The Gandee Family
As I mentioned, all of the teams this year are called families, as we are named after popular names out of the phone book.
My group is called the Gandee family - led by me and Windall. It includes Emily Diamond, Jessie Muir, Taylor Janota, Amanda Webb, Riley Knight, Cody Likens, Caleb Likens and Riley Duncan.
Our family group is spending the entire week at the Charleston Boys and Girls Club. The CBGC is run by the Salvation Army and works with underprivileged youth and children in the area. In the summer time, they offer a day camp, which is what we are helping with.
We were divided to working with different age groups and will stay with our assigned groups the whole week. These kids need consistency, something many of them are lacking in the rest of their life. Our being with them for the entire week allows us to form closer and stronger bonds.
The age groups are 6-7 year olds (Cody Likens and Riley Knight), 8-9 year olds (Caleb Likens and Taylor Janota/Amanda Webb), 10-11 year olds (Emily Diamond and Jessie Muir), and 12-14 year olds (Riley Duncan and Taylor Janota/Amanda Webb). Windall is primarily with the 10-11 year olds, I am primarily with the 6-7 year olds - but we are trying to help out wherever we are needed most.
There is a crazy amount of kids shoved into this facility and they are extremely understaffed. Yesterday, my 6-7 year old group had 43 students with only 1 paid adult staff member! Without us...I think they may have not had a staff member at all by today:-)
That's pretty much the scoop for the Gandee family. I'm going to try to get all of the families listed tonight...so keep checking in...
My group is called the Gandee family - led by me and Windall. It includes Emily Diamond, Jessie Muir, Taylor Janota, Amanda Webb, Riley Knight, Cody Likens, Caleb Likens and Riley Duncan.
Our family group is spending the entire week at the Charleston Boys and Girls Club. The CBGC is run by the Salvation Army and works with underprivileged youth and children in the area. In the summer time, they offer a day camp, which is what we are helping with.
We were divided to working with different age groups and will stay with our assigned groups the whole week. These kids need consistency, something many of them are lacking in the rest of their life. Our being with them for the entire week allows us to form closer and stronger bonds.
The age groups are 6-7 year olds (Cody Likens and Riley Knight), 8-9 year olds (Caleb Likens and Taylor Janota/Amanda Webb), 10-11 year olds (Emily Diamond and Jessie Muir), and 12-14 year olds (Riley Duncan and Taylor Janota/Amanda Webb). Windall is primarily with the 10-11 year olds, I am primarily with the 6-7 year olds - but we are trying to help out wherever we are needed most.
There is a crazy amount of kids shoved into this facility and they are extremely understaffed. Yesterday, my 6-7 year old group had 43 students with only 1 paid adult staff member! Without us...I think they may have not had a staff member at all by today:-)
That's pretty much the scoop for the Gandee family. I'm going to try to get all of the families listed tonight...so keep checking in...
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Another La Croix First...
Totally forgot to mention this yesterday, but definitely worth mentioning...
Lights out every day is at 11pm, but it seems to be a very difficult task to get the kids to go to sleep - especially the boys - even though the rest of us are totally exhausted.
The first night we were here (after meeting at La Croix at 5:30am for quite a long road trip), lights out was at 11:15pm, as they are trying to fit in a few extra details. As it turns out the big detail is that the Youth Works staff comes around to each sleeping room and reads over the rules of safety for the week.
Apparently, our fearless male leaders - JT and Windall (this is Blake's first year, so he didn't know any better) - forgot about this minor detail and went ahead and turned the lights out early, in attempt to get the boys to calm down.
When the Youth Works staff came by to read the rules, they turned on all of the lights and nearly all of our boys were already asleep! Now, this could be the first time ever that the boys would have all been asleep, giving our adult leaders an opportunity for a full night of rest.
But thank you Youth Works for bringing that 'first' to an abrupt halt!!!
Lights out every day is at 11pm, but it seems to be a very difficult task to get the kids to go to sleep - especially the boys - even though the rest of us are totally exhausted.
The first night we were here (after meeting at La Croix at 5:30am for quite a long road trip), lights out was at 11:15pm, as they are trying to fit in a few extra details. As it turns out the big detail is that the Youth Works staff comes around to each sleeping room and reads over the rules of safety for the week.
Apparently, our fearless male leaders - JT and Windall (this is Blake's first year, so he didn't know any better) - forgot about this minor detail and went ahead and turned the lights out early, in attempt to get the boys to calm down.
When the Youth Works staff came by to read the rules, they turned on all of the lights and nearly all of our boys were already asleep! Now, this could be the first time ever that the boys would have all been asleep, giving our adult leaders an opportunity for a full night of rest.
But thank you Youth Works for bringing that 'first' to an abrupt halt!!!
Charleston, West Virginia
This is Youth Work's 8th summer in Charleston, WV. There are lots of pre-existing ministries within the city ranging from Boys and Girls Clubs to elderly homes. Here's some info about the city we will be working in this week...
- current population is 50,478, which is down from 85,796 in 1960
- it is the largest city in West Virginia and is the state capital
- it is a river city at the junction of the Elk and Kanawha rivers
- 24.5% of those under the age of 18 in Charleston are living below the poverty line
the racial make up of the city is 80% white, 15% African American, and 5% other
Each year, after arrival, we are divided into groups based on the culture of where we are serving. This year is no different. Last year, we were in groups named after cheeses...this year, it seems there are some REALLY popular family names in this area - based on the number of times you find them in the phone book...so for this week, we have family names.
Today, each time I can get wi-fi (which may not happen again until tonight) I will try to post a family name, the group and tell you a little about where they are serving this week.
Also, I have a few other things to post - a little at a time.
So, keep checking in...
- current population is 50,478, which is down from 85,796 in 1960
- it is the largest city in West Virginia and is the state capital
- it is a river city at the junction of the Elk and Kanawha rivers
- 24.5% of those under the age of 18 in Charleston are living below the poverty line
the racial make up of the city is 80% white, 15% African American, and 5% other
Each year, after arrival, we are divided into groups based on the culture of where we are serving. This year is no different. Last year, we were in groups named after cheeses...this year, it seems there are some REALLY popular family names in this area - based on the number of times you find them in the phone book...so for this week, we have family names.
Today, each time I can get wi-fi (which may not happen again until tonight) I will try to post a family name, the group and tell you a little about where they are serving this week.
Also, I have a few other things to post - a little at a time.
So, keep checking in...
Monday, June 13, 2011
One day in Mission Field down...3 more to go...
Well, Monday day ONE is finished...although we still have a full evening of stuff going on...our mission projects for the day are finished. The first day is often the toughest, as everyone is getting settled in to new environments, learning what they are supposed to be doing, etc.
Once again, we need every single SIMY (servants in ministry to youth...a.k.a. adult leaders) leading a team at a site, there are none of us to spare. So, my visions of being able to update the blog regularly and upload pics, etc just aren't panning out as planned. So, whenever I get a few minutes, I'm trying to get you all a little info.
First of all - we are all safe - no injuries - no illnesses - no homesickness (except for the adult leaders, ha, ha).
Second - everyone is eating. No child is going to starve (now granted, some of you were smart enough to pack some food for your kids!) but seriously, we are across the street from a Kroger's, so the picky eaters in the bunch are in heaven. It seems that there is a HUGE attraction to going to Kroger's, so I decided to investigate. As it turns out, there is a self-check area there. Now I know that many of you shop at Schnuck's and I know these kids have seen these things before...but you would NEVER know it. They act like we brought them straight out of the back woods and this is their first visit to the big city! Quite humourous...
Finally - everyone is getting along great and the groups worked out really well. I'll post more about that later. I'm hoping I can get wi-fi at my job site, so maybe I can write some more stuff tomorrow during the day.
I'm having a difficult time uploading to the flickr account (by difficult, I mean - IT'S NOT WORKING...), so I am uploading pics onto my facebook page. If you are not friends with me on facebook, just send me a friend invite (Angel Hillman). Also, Shelly Stone and Carly Rees have been uploading pics to their facebook pages as well.
Stay tuned, I'll get you more stuff as soon as I can!
Once again, we need every single SIMY (servants in ministry to youth...a.k.a. adult leaders) leading a team at a site, there are none of us to spare. So, my visions of being able to update the blog regularly and upload pics, etc just aren't panning out as planned. So, whenever I get a few minutes, I'm trying to get you all a little info.
First of all - we are all safe - no injuries - no illnesses - no homesickness (except for the adult leaders, ha, ha).
Second - everyone is eating. No child is going to starve (now granted, some of you were smart enough to pack some food for your kids!) but seriously, we are across the street from a Kroger's, so the picky eaters in the bunch are in heaven. It seems that there is a HUGE attraction to going to Kroger's, so I decided to investigate. As it turns out, there is a self-check area there. Now I know that many of you shop at Schnuck's and I know these kids have seen these things before...but you would NEVER know it. They act like we brought them straight out of the back woods and this is their first visit to the big city! Quite humourous...
Finally - everyone is getting along great and the groups worked out really well. I'll post more about that later. I'm hoping I can get wi-fi at my job site, so maybe I can write some more stuff tomorrow during the day.
I'm having a difficult time uploading to the flickr account (by difficult, I mean - IT'S NOT WORKING...), so I am uploading pics onto my facebook page. If you are not friends with me on facebook, just send me a friend invite (Angel Hillman). Also, Shelly Stone and Carly Rees have been uploading pics to their facebook pages as well.
Stay tuned, I'll get you more stuff as soon as I can!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
We made it safely...
We have arrived safely...four 12 passenger vans and a cargo van...with only 3 stops!!! If this is any indication of how the rest of the trip will go - we are going to have a great week!
Leaving at the crack of dawn has some advantages...a lot more 'quiet' going on during the first 3 hours of the road trip:-)
Our first stop was a bathroom break - and as luck would have it, we chose a gas station that had one bathroom - which gave us plenty of time to be the salt and light of the world to everyone that stopped, saw the enormous line, turned around to leave, and then were allowed to move to the front of the line by our amazing teenagers! (I know that many of you parents reading this right now are saying to yourselves..."why don't they ever act like that with their brother or sister?"...but seriously...they are a great group of kids!)
One stop for lunch and then one last stop and we arrived at our destination: Charleston, West Virginia. After setting up our rooms, we went to 'Club' (where we will have our daily devotionals, worship and debriefing each night) and played a few games before dinner. Tonight's meal was pizza from a local pizza place - Gino's - it was really good - so all of the kids actually ate tonight:-) Food tends to not be the yummiest (we are on a mission trip after all), so alot of kids survive on PBJ for the better part of the week.
We haven't divided into groups yet - so once we know who is in what group and what mission site they will be going to - I will try to post that info.
Leaving at the crack of dawn has some advantages...a lot more 'quiet' going on during the first 3 hours of the road trip:-)
Our first stop was a bathroom break - and as luck would have it, we chose a gas station that had one bathroom - which gave us plenty of time to be the salt and light of the world to everyone that stopped, saw the enormous line, turned around to leave, and then were allowed to move to the front of the line by our amazing teenagers! (I know that many of you parents reading this right now are saying to yourselves..."why don't they ever act like that with their brother or sister?"...but seriously...they are a great group of kids!)
One stop for lunch and then one last stop and we arrived at our destination: Charleston, West Virginia. After setting up our rooms, we went to 'Club' (where we will have our daily devotionals, worship and debriefing each night) and played a few games before dinner. Tonight's meal was pizza from a local pizza place - Gino's - it was really good - so all of the kids actually ate tonight:-) Food tends to not be the yummiest (we are on a mission trip after all), so alot of kids survive on PBJ for the better part of the week.
We haven't divided into groups yet - so once we know who is in what group and what mission site they will be going to - I will try to post that info.
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