Just about headed home

This last week has been a good one. In order to make sure I finished my roof this week I got two youth groups. I really prayed that they would get along with each other. They got along so well that if one youth group hadn't worn matching shirts, I probably wouldn't have been able to distinguish which kids were in which youth group. On top of that, they worked so weel that we were also able to paint the neighbors house across the street. It was a cap to an equally awesome summer.

The last three days we spent taking down the CORE base camp we have been at for the summer. It's crazy seeing an open field were for almost a year, there have been many military style tents for volunteers. We can only hope and pray that UMCOR, which is taking over relief operations here in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, can do the same work that CORE was able to do before them.

Thanks again to all who have been supportive of me through my time here in Mississippi. May God continue to work on the gulf coast and show the people of the area that there are people who still care.



 

Pictures from Week 4

 

Home in three...

There are now three weeks before I'm back home in Minnesota. Two more weeks with campers and one week of clean-up and relaxing. I realize I haven't been keeping up with my blog and on top of that I recently realized I had saved my previous post but hadn't actually posted it. I guess I have three weeks to make up for.

Week four was another good week. I helped with a group from Richmond Hill, Georgia. The youth group was about 60 students and we split them up onto three houses on the same street. I started a new house and I was able to rip off the whole old roof and start shingling it. We also did some painting of Mr. Clayton's trimwork. It was crazy working with such a large group, but it only prepared me for the much larger group I would have a couple weeks later. I really appreciated seeing such a large youth group still able to focus on God during devotions and during our services each day. The week ended with a trip to the beach at Gulf Shores, AL.

Week five was a "light" week for us TEAMeffort staff. There were only 110 campers and our fearless leader, Tim, took the week to go home and be with his wife. That meant the 14 of us staff were in charge by committee. It worked out well, partially because we were coming off of our largest week of the summer with 320 in week four. With a much lower camper/staff ratio, I ended starting with one group and changing to another part way through the week because I was need elsewhere. It was different not really having one group to call my own, but I'm here to do what needs to be done.

This last week was our sixth week and it was another great week. This week I worked with Palm Harbor United Methodist Church from just outside Tampa. This youth group had 90 students. The high schoolers, which totaled about 60, went back to the street I was on two weeks ago. Due to the lack of numbers the week before was took a break on that street and resumed this week. It was a very productive week. We finished two houses we had started before this week and started stripping a third house as well.

More importantly, I was once again impressed with the spiritual maturity of such a large youth group. After each of our nightly services, they had their own devotion and praise and worship. Wednesday they had an amazing time of praise and worship. Without any kind of message there were several commitments and recommitments. It was really cool being able to see these kids on there knees and seeing them pray for each other. After the services last night it was much the same and once again it was awesome seeing kids praying for each other. On this closing stretch of summer it has been a very uplifting week for me as I'm starting to get ready to come back home.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and I'm looking forward to another two amazing weeks before I head back home to Minnesota.

1...2...3...

The youth groups from Week Three left this morning. It was our largest week yet with at 260. Although that is a lot of kids, I'm glad it has been a gradual increase over the last three weeks. Next week we'll have around 325.

Last week my group was from South Carolina. Although they weren't the same group I had from the previous week they were awesome nonetheless. Once I realized that each group has its own strengths and weeknesses in different areas the week went really well. In fact, on Wednesday after we finished our workday, my group really surprised me. They had noticed one of the tires on my car had gotten down to the threads. Without saying anything to me about it they got some money together and handed me $200 cash to replace it. It was a real blessing and I didn't know what to say. All I can really say is "God is good."

Two weeks down and six to go!

We have complete two whole weeks with campers now. Last week was week two, but it was my first week with my own group. I will have to say it was an awesome week. The youth leaders were awesome and so were the kids. I had a lot of fun hanging out with and after work was done on Thursday they invited me to supper and to the beach on Friday. The only problem with having them the first week is that it will make it hard for me to adjust to any other group that comes in. I just know I loved my group and if I ever swing through Nashville I know I have a place to stay.

During the last two weeks I've also had the privilege, along with Will and Jensen, lead to students in worship five nights during the week. It's kind of crazy seeing how the youth are a little tentative worshiping on Sunday night, but by Friday night, they're usually much more into it. Even seeing my own group change over the course of the week was pretty amazing.














The homeowner I've been working with is Mary. She been very hospitable and even though we have sack lunches, she has provided something for lunch every day. The first day was fried catfish and anoher day it was chicken. My personal favorite was the catfish and I definitely agree that no one can cook catfish as well as people from the south.

Payton and Amanda playing with Mary's grandson Tay.






Kayla, Hannah, and James possibly having a little too much fun putting on the drip edge.



Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers as I serve God in Mississippi.

End of Week One

It's just about over. The kids from Week One leave for home tomorrow. Since I didn't have my own group this week, I don't have to wake up when they do to make sure their tents are clean. That means I'm sleeping in!

This week I went with Buddy, a retired electrician from Texas, and John, another older gentleman from New Jersey. It made quite an interesting combinatin, two guys over 65 and me at 22. It worked out well and I learned a lot about the circuitry in a house. I learned how to wire outlets, switches, 3-way switches and 4-way switches. I also learned a 3-way switch is really a 2-way, and a 4-way is really a 3-way, but if you don't know anything about electricity, there's no use confusing you more. We were only a crew of 3, but we were able to accomplish much.

These next few weeks will be interesting. This week was mostly training so I can do electrical work if they need me to. Next week I'll have a youth group to lead, but Tim, the TEAMeffort leader, isn't sure whether I'll be on a roof or doing electrical work. Either way, I'm excited to have a youth group to work with.

Earlier this week I ran into Dot, the homeowner of the house we roofed over spring break. She and her husbasnd told me that their house is just about completed. When we were there, there was basically a cement slab with four outer waller and a bunch of bare stud inside. They told me to stop by and take a look at it one of these days I'm free. I'm looking forward to going, taking pictures and sending them back to my crew that helped roof their house. I was proud of the work we had done over spring break, but knowing it's just about completed makes me even more proud. To see a house that was mostly destroyed restored and to be able to say "I help with that" is one of the most amzing feelings in the world.

Once again I'm pushing my bedtime, so I hope things are goign well with all of you. Take care and God bless.

Kids arrive today!

Hey everybody. Quick update first. My address has changed. If you send mail to the mailing address that was previously on my website it'll still get to me, but not as quickly. The updated contact me page should have the updated address.

Today is the first day kids will be here. I'm not sure what to expect, but this week is supposed to be a "light" week. By that we mean that there will only be 200 kids here instead of the normal 300-350.

I realize I haven't really said much about what we're doing so I'll do a little bit now. TEAMeffort is an interdenominational ministry that organizes missions trip for youth groups. We have four different sites in the Southeastern United States and I'm at the site near Gulfport, MS (Ocean Springs to be exact). Each site does building and rebuild, but since we're doing relief work from hurricane Katrina, we'll be doing all rebuild. Most teams will spend the summer roofing houses. Tim, our site leader, expects us to get 40-50 roofs done this summer.

I will be one of a few TEAMeffort staff who will do something other than roof. For at least part of the summer, I'll take teams out to pull old electrical wire and run new wire. Tomorrow I get to go with the CORE electrician to learn how to do it. I'll most likely do some electrical and some roofing. I'll find out better once the summer is coming along. It's about time for our meeting prior to the first youth groups arriving so I'm headed out.

Thanks for all you prayer and support.

Day Two in Mississippi

Today was our second day in Mississippi. The most significant thing for the day was puting up our homes for the summer. By that I mean two 18 by 32 foot tents, one for the guys and one for the girls. We slept in some of the tents that were already up last night, but TEAMeffort decided to put us up in something a little more permanent (although not much more permanent). A few people in our group built stairs for the second shower trailer and the rest of us set up our tents. Putting up the tents wasn't too bad, but it sure was hot while we were doing it. We managed to reach a high of 93 degrees. It was near a record high for this time of year. I don't imagine it will be much different for the rest of the summer, so I'm assuming I'll just have to get used to it.

After the work we put in today we went to a place called The Shed for supper. it wasn't too far away from where we are staying and had some of the most amazing barbeque I've ever tasted. After that we wrapped up our day with a trip to Wal-Mart for some camp necessities. Now it's time to get some more rest before another day of even more work tomorrow.

I highly doubt I'll keep updating this blog daily, but I'll try to remember as often as I can.

I'm here!

After a long drive from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Ocean Springs, Mississippi we are finally at our destination. This place will be our home for the next two months.

The trip start last Friday afternoon (May 26). Ben, Jackie, and I left St. Paul at around 4 p.m. and drove straight through the night to Gatlinburg. Shortly after noon on Saturday we arrived at Wafloy Resort near Gatlinburg. It was a long tiring drive so after we arrived, Ben and I had lunch and then took a nap until everyone else arrived.

All staff from the four different sites came together at the resort for a few days before we all went our seperate ways this morning. We did some on the job training as well as CPR/First Aid certification. I had no idea what to expect coming in, but these last few days have worked out much better than I had ever imagined they could have. Our Mississippi team is the largest of the four teams with 15 staff members, but we have been able to really grow together as a team in the few days we've known each other.

William, a fellow staff member from Georgia, and I have the opportunity to lead worship this summer for the youth that come down. With William and I on guitar and a few other guys on percussion, we should do a good job of leading worship this summer. We had a few chances to lead worship at the staff retreat and in that short time together, we've already started to get a feel for each other. By the end of the summer I don't think we're going to want to leave.

I should get some sleep. Tomorrow we get to set up some tents that we'll reside in for the summer and probably do some more training to get ready for the kids coming on Sunday. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Take care and God bless.