Fall Retreat '07

The Fall Retreat has come and gone. It was a powerful weekend for many of our students for sure. The theme for this year was "What If?" Each of our sessions were focused around what if questions. From "What if sin really is a big deal?" in our first session to "What if there is more to life?" in the second and wrapping it up in our third with "What if I fail?." Please pray for our students as they strive to carry out the commitments that were made this weekend.

If you attended the retreat please take a few minutes and fill out the evaluation.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AOrBRBrWJZeKXuPNQQoPjA_3d_3d

Homeward Bound!

Well after a long week where God has done so much, we are finally on our way home. Yesterday was our last day of day camp. We topped the week off with a slip and slide with the kids from Washington Heights. God saw fit to hold off the rain this week for all of our activities. God has truly done a great work here with the kids as well as with all of us. None of us are returning the same as when we arrived for sure. We look forward to telling you all about what God has done! Pray for us today to have safe travel. WE'RE COMING HOME!

Winding Down

Tomorrow will be our last day of day camp here with the kids at Washington Heights. We are all very tired and ready to come home to our own homes with our own beds for sure. It is with mixed emotions though that we are leaving.

God has truly done a great work here in the lives of the kids we are ministering to as well as in our own hearts. Last night in our share group I had to stop our students and make them go to bed. Student after student recalled story after story from the week that has impacted them. Many of them sharing passages of Scripture that God had shown them during their devotions this week.

It has been a busy week for sure. Waking up early to pack the trailer and heading over to the day camp sight to unload the trailer. Coming back to the church for lunch and then going out for outreach. Then coming back for dinner to go out to another neighborhood for a block party. Some of us have taken turns passing a stomach bug around. Their has been little to time to sit, but we have made the most of every napping opportunity this week. I continue to be so proud of these students as they serve here. I am looking forward to sharing with you all on Sunday night what God has done here. Please pray for the kids at Washington Heights and for us as we wrap things up there tomorrow night.

Sorry for the sporadic posting, but we have been so busy and our Internet availability has been hit or miss. Thank you so much for your prayers and support this week. God is at work here in Jacksonville FL.

Hands and Feet

Sunday began early with breakfast and church at First Baptist Church Jacksonville. After lunch we went over to Washington Heights. This is the neighborhood we will be having our camp in. There we went door to door passing our fliers and inviting all of the kids to the camp. After dinner we hosted a block party in one of the neighborhoods here. I was so proud of how our students served. They wasted no time in going around helping to set up, going door to door and getting kids and were literally loving on these kids all evening long.

In our share group last night is was overwhelming to hear our kids talk of how God has changed their perspective on those in poverty. On and on the went of how they have been so quick to judge based on appearance and many times even race. To hear them say how much God had already taught them and how much they were looking forward to serving these families was evidence of God at work in the hearts of the group. Student after student spoke of how stupid we are for not sharing the gospel back home whether on outreach or just in our daily lives where we are "comfortable." I'm not sure what all God has in store for us this week but I know one thing for sure...this group will not be the same. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Are you being the hands and feet daily?

We were tired to say the least when we returned to the church. A quick trip to Walmart and a late night snack at Burger King capped off a very eventful day.

WE'RE HERE!!

Well after just around 8 hours we finally arrived here safely in Jacksonville. The trip here was very smooth. Traffic was fine and only spots of rain here or there on the way (thanks for putting the tarps on the trailer Ernie!). It is hot and extremely humid here though.

Once we arrived we were given a quick orientation and then shown on movie on the realities of poverty. A short snack and then some free time to finish off the night. Tomorrow we'll attend church in the morning and then head off to our target neighborhood for a block party.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped by donating the needed supplies and for all those who have been and will be praying for us this week! Please continue to pray for the people we will be ministering to. That they would be receptive to our message. Pray for our students that they would have the boldness to share the gospel with those here who are hurting and in need. Pray also for the weather, there is supposed to be some rain every day this week.

SHY On Mission 07 to Jacksonville FL

Stay tuned here for daily updates on the Summer 07 Youth Mission Trip to Jacksonville Florida! Its a long haul click here to see just how far!

Get your release form for the mission trip here!