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.