City of Fountains

Look it is the fountain just as I remember it. Well when I was here 11 years ago the water shot way higher in the air but it is still really cool!

First Day Gone Smooth

Breakfast at 7:30, packed vans, dove to church and had devos and worship

Helped out around the church by cleaning basements, closets, buses, vans, organizing things and mowing the grass

Went door to door and gave them fliers for VBS, lunch, VBS set up and go round up kids.

VBS was great! Had a family from Vietnam, Kenya, Mexico, Minnesota, we had a Muslim family come out, a boy with autism and most of them were kids that had never been to church before.

Walk kids home, pack up, quick dinner and off to the Rescue Mission (for the homeless of KC). Got lost on the way but made it just in time for the service.

Set up for the skit, which was a lot of work... big frame, lights, sheet... but oh many was it powerful. They men at the mission really appreciated it. One even said that he had never read or really heard about the bible before but he completely understood it by the skit.

Back to the college right after a quick walmart run and then debrief, a few songs. Ok - now time for bed.

Kansas City

I am now in Kansas City. The group will be here in a little over an hour. Our main purpose of being here is to do VBS and build relationships. The group is coming from MN and is very excited (I am very excited too...I'm becoming a professional at leading day camp).

I was so excited when I found out we were staying at a college. I get a real bed!! I have not slept on a real bed since before graduation. But I not only get a real but I also get my very own room! I made name tags for all the kids coming and it just reminded me of being an RA. Mark Hannah (the resident director at Trinity) has taught me a lot about dorm life that will really come in handy while I am here. (Thanks Mark Hannah).

Well I put my sheets on my very own bed, my towel on the little rack, my suitcase/dresser by the wall and now the room is full of orange, it is just like home :)

SD Group Shot

Here is the group that was in Philly this past week!

First Week of Day Camp

Throughout all summer long the teams in Philly will be holding Day Camp. It is in the afternoons from about 3-5pm. And you would never beleive it but I was put in charge of facilitating it :)

At 2:30 we send groups of three out to pick up the kids at their houses. As the kids filter in they get name tags and there are some activities going on; kick ball, duck duck goose, crafts, soccer, relay races. Then they all come together for songs and a story. The kids get a snack and then we walk every child home.

We pick up the kids and drop them off because while they are under our care we want to make sure they are safe.

So Monday of Day Camp... well... it did not go so smooth. I made some changes and Tuesday was just a little better. Wendesday was even better but Thursday...man that was a great Day Camp. There was no structure or plan just a vision for something great. Good thing God gifted me with organizationsal skills.

During the week of Day Camp a few of the children felt comfortable sharing peices of their lives with the teenages that had come from South Dekota. It was brought to our attention and made very real for our teens that abuse does happen. Please be in prayer for the children that have to endure, the teens that it was made real for, and the staff that is figuring out how to handle it.

Our God is good, even in the troubled times.

Door to Door

Tuesday and Wednesday I lead a group that specifically went out into the community to build relationships. Our focus was to find partnerships with schools, businesses, recreation centers, library and restaurants in the area. Our desire was that we would volunteer at their facilities in efforts to build up the city as well as show them the love of Jesus Christ.

Amious, Austin, Lauryn and I walked up and down the street of Philly. God really opened doors and guided our paths. We build relationships with three of the schools in the area, the public library, a salon, a barber shop, the express pizza, a grocery store and an auto shop.

Right away when we walked into Lou's Auto Shop we saw his need for organization. After some convincing, Austin got up the courage to walk over and ask if Lou needed some help around the shop. Amious game of suggestions on thing we could help with. Then Lauryn looked over and suggested we helped organize his desk. Lou's eyes light up.

After two hours of organizing we only got half way through the papers before it was time to walk back. Lou was very gracious of our efforts to help him. The group wants to go back tomorrow to finish the job.

What a great experience for all of us.

Team from SD

To clarify the church did not have the girls showered finished until Saturday but it was just in time for the teams to start coming. We have not had a team here yet, we have just been preparing for them to come by cleaning, building relationships, learning the community, contacting places to do work projects and lots of praying.

After a 28hr bus ride all 50 students and leaders arrived at 10:30pm. We unloaded the bus and had orientation. It went very well and they loved our 'rules' video. We then prayed for the week, set up for bed and off to sleep.

Today we had church and then we are going out into the community and passing our fliers for the children's camp they are having, praying and getting to know the area. I love to do this. It will be great!

First Group in Philly

Ok we have prepared enough! It is time for the groups to come!

They are on their way. 2 groups with a total of 50 people coming this week. Good thing we finished the girls showers today...

I am really excited to start trip in Philly!

Fun Before the Groups Come

All four of us interns have been trying to keep ourselves busy before all of the groups come and the summer starts to get a little crazy.

We have been cleaning up the church, making schedules, calling groups, taking pictures, videos and eating :) I have been making Doug run with me.

We made some Friends with at the park we will be doing kids camps at. There is a group that comes to play hand ball and they said they would teach me. I am excited to learn.

Even though we are trying to keep busy we still can not wait for the teams to arrive. Saturday is when the first team comes!

Downtown Philly

We figured we would be living in the city for the summer we should probably do all the touristy things so we know what is around.

We loaded up the van, all four interns, the baby and we took a long with us Emmerald (the oldest girl we live with) and her friend Amanda. They are twelve years old and have lived here all their lives and have never been downtown.

We learned all about the history of Philadelphia. My personal favorite is the Liberty Bell. We also went to the old white house and joined the continental army :) That was fun.

Oh and of course we all got a Philly Cheese Steak.

Home in Philly

Here is the house I am staying in for the summer.

There is a family with four kids, ages 12, 10, 6 and 10 months. Marcus and Cathy who are the project leaders and their baby Ramyiah. Jenn is in charge of the house. Then there is the three girls, Sara, Melissa and I. We are all in Jenn's room. Doug is staying in a room in the church.

It is a small house but it will do. We have AC in our room and I try to go to the bathroom right before I go to bed because I can not get in there in the morning. I have to walk over to the church to go, which really is not that far just have to take three giant steps outside and unlock a massive red door.

In Philly

I made it to Philly last night.

My whole team came to pick me up! It was really exciting, nice to be with them again.

We are living in a house the is right next to the church and when I say right next to the church I mean there is not space between the two buildings but we still have to walk outside to get from one place to the other.

Went shopping for food today and did a little exploring.

11 Sheep

Another successful day of sheep shearing. I sheared, well helped shear, a total of 11 sheep! I got better at shearing the second day.

What a great experience and I sure hope the girls form Massachusetts loved it as much as I did.

I am leaving in the morning to drive back to Albuquerque, flying to Texas for a short lay over and then to Philly. My team is driving there from Georgia and will be there in time to pick me up from the airport.

After a week of being here I have really grown to love New Mexico and all the people here. Would love to come back one day. Maybe next year for memorial day to shear some more sheep...

Sheep Shearing!

Today I sheared 4 sheep!

So ok... I may not be the best at actually shearing the sheep but I am really good at rounding them up and tackling them to bring them to the shearing tables. That was my favorite part. I was pushed around a little at the beginning but by the end I jumped right on to those sheep and brought them down. I got a little dirty in the process.

Then we took a ride to Canyon De Chelly. It was beautiful.

Picture: Yep that is me in the sheep pen catching a little (well rather BIG) lamby. These things were like twice my size!

Zuni Reservation

After church and painting the sign for the church we drove down to the Zuni Reservation for youth group. The church is called the mission and the pastor is Pastor Roger. He is awesome!

The Zunis live in clans and there are over 11,000 of them in the reservation.

Less than 1% of them are believers. They have a native religion where they believe in spirits and medicine men. Zunis believe that Christianity is the 'white man's' religion.

If a Zuni makes the step of faith they are often persecuted for their actions. There are about 10 high school students that go to youth group.

It was great to see their enthusiasm and play some games and share stories with them.

The picture is of us on the ride back. We stopped at the cultural center and took a picture of God beautiful creation.

Group Arrived

The group arrived today. They are very nice and very helpful.

There are seniors in high school, Kelly and Melody, one sophomore in college, Amandah, and two leaders who are both parents and teachers, Emily and Karen. They are all from Massachusetts.

We had our orientation and time of listening in prayer. Many things have happened prior to this trip to make it seem as though this trip should not take place. I know in my heart, and through lots of prayer, God wants this trip to happen, even is Satan does not.

It was evident today during our time of prayer that God is at work. He spoke to each one of those girls today and most of them were even willing to share it with the group. He is going to do amazing things!

Be in prayer for guidance, strength, safety and compassion.

Sheep Scissors

I got a good night sleep last night at a friends house and woke up early to drive back to the airport to find my luggage.

My orange suitcase and I were reunited at the United counter. I then met a really nice man at the visitors center who gave me a map of New Mexico.

I drove 2.5 hours to the church in Gallup where I am staying. Met the pastor, got the keys and went shopping. I got food for the group and I for the week. I also went to the T and R Market and picked up a pair of really big scissors or in other words, sheep shearers :)

I am meeting the family that has the sheep tomorrow morning and the church group comes tomorrow afternoon.

Albuquerque

I made it to Albuquerque

Driving a PT Cruser and heading to the Reservation in the morning.

Stuck in Denver

I am currently on my way to New Mexico to lead a mission trip.

I left from Atlanta, GA and had a lay over in Denver, CO. Well there was a tornado in Denver and my flight to NM was cancelled.

I am now working on finding a new flight.

Once I get to NM I have a 2.5hr drive to the Indian Reservation.

It will be interesting.

New Mexico

Sometimes you have a plan but it does not always match up with the plan God has for you...

A project leader had to back out from leading a trip in New Mexico so AIM (adventures in missions) asked me to go lead the mission trip. I said yes and asked what they are doing there. Oh, they are shearing sheep of course... Ummm that sounds great but what exactly is shearing sheep?

Well, for those of you who are from the city... shearing sheep is cutting off the wool of sheep. And I was told there are thousands of sheep.

The packing list requires me to have shears and well, that is just not something I own so I will have to get a pair of these really sharp scissors when I get to New Mexico.

I am leaving on Wednesday to spend a week on an Indian Reservation in New Mexico with a high school group shearing thousands of sheep with really sharp scissors.

To be honest I actually may not be strong enough to do shear sheep but it will be a great NEW experience.