Practicing Servanthood

So yesterday, my crew was able to do quite a bit of work (only to have some of it taken down today) but neither of these was the true lesson for me...yes, we are working diligently to fix up an old house built in in 1930...yes, some of these improvements will immediately effect their way of living and quality of life....but that wasn't the lesson either....

We were tired, worn out, sweaty and ready to get home and showered...the home owner, a 78 year old last, came out wearing her big red hat and told us she was going to her red hat society meeting at Cracker Barrel. Of coarse, being as inquisitive as I am, I had to ask her how she was gettin there, you know, ask a question to keep the conversation going...and she told me she and her daughter were walking.....NO WAY!!!

That place was a good 4 miles from her house and the event started at 7pm so they were gonna leave at 4:30 to make it....in 90 degree weather, wearing purple dresses and big red hats....of coarse I offered to take them, and she accepted. 

So we packed up our stuff at 5:00 and jumped in for a ride. Thankfully, Ashley had driven her car so they wouldn't have to sit in the church bus next to a bunch of smelly, dirty teens. We followed them around the town square and they made a short pit stop at the bank. After locating the bank and navigating the church bus through very narrow, old streets, we were back in our way. 

The youngest daughter told me they were gonna surprise the pastor if their church with 100 bucks for his birthday and I immediately thought, "you have 100 bucks?"....and she was proud of this moment....I asked her what her pastors name was and what church they went to back at the house and she said, "I don't know," and walked off.....sounds like they have a close relationship.....

Once we for to Cracker Barrel and delivered the red hat ladies, I noticed Ashley was taking some time to get going...she told me all they had was 4 bucks between the 2 of them to eat on, so one of our students have them a $10.

They were on their way and happy, and we were still sweaty, still tired, still dirty and gross. We were late for dinner, we missed our shower times (and those are coveted moments around here) and we really didn't care! That was one of those, DUH, moments and what Jesus meant when he said if someone asks you to a mile, you go two (Matthew 5:41)...yes the verse says "force" and at the point of wanting food and a shower we were all at, it almost felt forced, haha! For a split second, when we got in the bus, I did think, "why did I ask?" And it it will be one of those moments that live with me forever! To see those 2 ladies, standing outside of Cracker Barrel, smiling big as they posed for a picture, they asked if we could mail them that picture because they don't get pictures taken of the 2 of them that often.....priceless! I will post the picture at some point, when I get it! 

This has been a blessed trip! 

Work Crew 2 Checking In

Work crew 2 here checking in to let you all know what were are up to! We are helping a wonderful family of six that suffered from an untimely job loss. We are finishing out a small 10x10 room addition that will be a room for the husbands mother who is staying with them for medical reasons. 

So far inside we have taped, mudded and sanded the drywall and painted the ceiling with a home-owner recommended mix of water and drywall mud that makes a cool texture. Outside, we have three girls who love to do roofing! They ripped up some incorrect underlayment, put up the right stuff, installed a drip edge, and applied mule hide to the roof. (Mule hide is pretty much a peel and stick roof, but it is not as easy as it sounds) when we weren't busy with our projects we have either been helping out with another group from Michigan who is building a ramp for the new addition or visiting with the family, talking with the mom and teenage daughter or playing with the two little kids who are always around. 

Everyone is having a blast and working hard! Still to come we have to prime and paint the new room, install a door (which is too tall and too skinny), and learn how to install guttering and then do it. Everything here is hard work but a lot of fun doing it!

Our First Day On the Job (Monday)

Today was a whole lotta fun mixed in with a whole lotta frustration. These students can turn anything into a good time and I loved being a part of that! 

Once again, we are scheduled to replace vinyl siding in a house. Once again, the wrong material was provided to us and once again, it was frustrating! 

The interior crew was challenged to replace the Sheetrock boards in a small and cramped kitchen and they rocked it out.....putting up more boards than anticipated. Unfortunately, the insulation that was supposed to be at the house was not and that team was stalled. 

Some students took this opportunity to take pictures, visual with the home owner and have a good time...(as many of you have seen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram today). 

Later in the afternoon, the materials were finally delivered and we were able to complete half of what we wanted to get finished today and have a huge day ahead of us tomorrow. 

Our crew enjoyed a tour of the small house we were working on! These ladies we are working for are amazing! Mrs. Deloris and her daughter Robin and 2 if the most eccentric people I have ever met. They are collectors of everything imaginable and love showing the stuff off and telling stories. 

They are proud of what they have and in our world back home in Alpharetta, it wouldn't be much. These are things we get rid of in garage sales and clean the basement out days....and to these 2 ladies, it is their empire! 

God has provided an opportunity to connect with so many different people this week already and the week has really just begun! If you haven't seen the pictures of the worksite, I have provided some of their treasures below. Tomorrow, the other team will check in and let you know how it has been going on their job site! 

Tonight!

We had our group everywhere tonight! It was Awesome!!! Some of our group went to get ice cream with the team from Michigan, some if them played cards with the team from Michigan, some were playing basketball with the team from Michigan and I sat, in a hallway, with some from our group, talking to students from Michigan.....did you catch the most important part, "with people from Michigan."

My devotion post from a few nights ago about being the body of Christ is playing out right in front if already...completely different, completely looking at life and the every day world in a different way, yet....strengthened and bound together by Christ, we are here to serve under One Head, Christ!

The differences were huge in the conversations I was having....just like a few years ago when we met a group from Michigan at ASP, they were oblivious to having a youth pastor on staff who was there just for them. They have youth counselors at church they love but they are not directly available to the students because they work other jobs, are on a volunteer rotation, etc....the only real counselors they have available to them are school counselors, who give them nice advice about school grades and coarse choices for college prep, but no one they feel comfortable going to with big issues, tough situations and hard questions. You could see the hunger in their eyes....they were very inquisitive and it felt awesome to sit in their world for a little bit and encourage them, hear their frustrations and issues.

Blessed beyond what I had already imagined and we just finished day one. Please pray that God continues to draw each one of the students and adults to Him as we all look to grow in our walks with Christ this week! 

So far today.....

Thank you Kerry Downs for getting there early and helping out with the notary! Thank you Turner Lee for the donuts! Thank you Kari Hines for having all of the paper work in order!

We left the church at 8:30 this morning and made great time! The destination was exactly where map-quest said it would be (Praise Jesus!) and we killed some time at Cracker Barrel. 

We arrived exactly at 2:30pm and had the place to ourselves for a few hours. The crew from Michigan showed up and are really nice!

We got our work project folders and we will be doing some awesome repairs this week! Already scheduled out for us....the staff here has been very interactive!

We are about to head to dinner and take a site tour if our jobs, then chilling for the rest of the night! Work begins with a 7:15 am wake up call and we are in our way! 

Pray for us as we get prepared to get sweaty, tired, have fun, bond, put a little siding and Sheetrock up and grow in our walks with Christ! 

Here is the house my crew will be working on. 

Getting Ready!!!!

Hey guys, I hope everyone is packed and ready to go! This time tomorrow, we will be chilling out at in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee! 

Just a few things to remember last minute....

1. Money: be sure to bring some extra money because we will be going out a few nights to get snacks to pump up the local economy.

2. Tools: be sure you mark your tools with your name! We always have a collection of them at the end of the week.

3. Cameras: be sure that you keep your cameras safe....don't leave them laying around the room when we are back at the center.

4. Water bottles: remember to pack your water bottles!

Those were some last minute things that I had forgotten about....maybe you did too....see ya in the morning! 

Just Some Pics - 2011 & 2012 High School Mission Trips