Day 3-Transformers

The Transformers are working in Decatur this week.  This team was met with adversity due to not having materials when they first arrived at their work site. Because of this, they went down the road to help another family team at their work site.  There's nothing like teamwork!

Once this team had their materials they started their project, which is a handicap ramp coming off the front porch.  We met up with them as they worked to unload materials and start measuring for the ramp.  The power tools were started and they were off to work!

This team looks forward to completing the ramp and then joining another team close by to help with their projects.

Day 3-Iron Servants

The Iron Servants are working in Decatur this week.  We met up with them during lunchtime.  Their cheerful, positive attitudes were contagious! This team had the plans to build a 30 foot handicap ramp for the homeowner but were met in the morning with different plans by the homeowner.  Their new plans are to build an 8 foot ramp, build a couple gates to the backyard to provide a little more security, to paint the trim and the barn, and continue to clean up and do "odds and ends" projects.

Although they couldn't begin their planned work due to a change in the materials needed, they got right to work.  By lunchtime, the Iron Servants had already cleaned out the gutters, cleaned up around the homeowner's yard, and accomplished a few other odds and ends.

They're already looking forward to getting started tomorrow with the appropriate materials and their new plans!

Day 3-Incredible Knights of Christ

It was a rainy morning here in northern Alabama.  Thankfully, the family group that was most affected by this rain had a lot of indoor work to begin on during the morning showers.  The Incredible Knights of Christ are working in Danville this week.  This work site is located about 15 minutes from our campsite and is the home of a war veteran that is in a wheelchair.  We met Joe's daughter, Charlee, which was very welcoming of all the help and was eager to make lunch and some other treats for the entire family team.

This team will be building a handicap ramp as well as widening the front door and hallway door frame for Joe so that he will be able to maneuver throughout his house.

By the time we arrived, this group had only been working for a couple hours and had door frames removed and the ramp started!

Day 3-The Illuminators and G2 T.O. (VBS)

The Illuminators and G2 T.O. (our Middle School age family groups) started the Vacation Bible School here today at a local daycare in Hartselle.

Their morning had started out with singing and getting to know each other.  We met up with them as they were enjoying popsicles with the kiddos that joined them for VBS.  Next was a fun game of "Faith Sounds" where kiddos, blind-folded, had to find a specific animal noise in the circle just from listening to everyone make various sounds.  The rest of VBS this morning included a craft, a video, a bible lesson, and more singing!

These teams spent their afternoon visiting another work site to surprise them with popsicles and then came back to camp to plan for tomorrow's VBS.

Ms. Laura shared with us that they had already had a great interaction with one of the adults at the daycare during the morning.  As this worker joined in with some of the VBS songs, she shared with Ms. Laura that she was just having "one of those days" and really needed to hear the VBS song.

What's so important is that these two family teams aren't just reaching the hearts of the kiddos with God's love, but they are also reaching the hearts of the adults there at the daycare.

VBS will continue tomorrow!

Day 2-Fun in the Sun

Today was our free day due to the 4th of July!  We spent the day at a local water park in Decatur, Alabama called Point Mallard.  The day was spent swimming in the wave pool, diving off diving boards, playing beach volleyball, enjoying water slides, and having time of fellowship with each other.

Our plan was to grill out for dinner and enjoy fireworks there at the water park.  However, a storm set in and changed our plans.  We headed back to camp in the evening for another great dinner prepared for us by the kitchen team, fellowship time, worship, and small group time in our family groups.

During worship tonight we were challenged to consider what God's will is for our lives and what distractions might be in our way of determining and/or following God's will.  We studied Acts 20:7-12.  Below are the questions we discussed within our family groups.  Take some time to read this passage and reflect on these questions at home as well:

1.  Do you know what God's will is for your life?
2.  What distractions can get in our way at times?
3.  What specific distractions are in your life right now that could be hindering your relationship with God?

Tomorrow will be our first day on the work sites and in vacation bible school! We can't wait to share the light of Christ among the people of Alabama!  We will post in the afternoon or evening about how each work site and vacation bible school went along with many pictures from the day.

Thank you for all the prayers!

Day 1-On the Road and Settling In

Well Mission Trip 2011 is finally here! We couldn't be more excited to see what God has in store for us this week here in Hartselle, Alabama! Our day started off at 8:30 this morning!  We were blessed with prayers and support by our church family during the first service and then we were ready to start packing into the vehicles!

Team Picture (click to enlarge)

Our caravan consisted of ten vehicles, two of which pulled trailers.  As a group of 66, we come with a lot of cargo!

Mission Trip wouldn't be Mission Trip without a hiccup or two! However, we can't complain.  God provided guidance, direction, and a way through what could have put a big road block in our way.  About half an hour into our trip, one of the trucks started having trouble.  Not just any truck...the truck pulling almost all of our cargo! Through some teamwork and quick decisions, three of our vehicles turned around and were heading back to rescue a few of our team members and move trailers from vehicle to vehicle while the rest of the team continued down the road.

During our quick stop to change trailers, our "secret" team member was revealed to David Sr...David Jr.  It took a while for David Sr. to discover there was an extra passenger in the truck we were leaving behind, but it was all smiles when the secret was revealed and David Jr. was hopping into the truck to get back on the road with the rest of us!

After two bathroom stops, a lunch stop, and a few gas fill-ups, we were pulling into the camp here in Hartselle, or as the town welcome sign says, the "City of Southern Hospitality".  (You can find more details about this welcoming, southern town by clicking here.)

As soon as the vehicles were parked, we were off to unload.  You can't find better teamwork than watching 66 youth and adults unload two trailers and unpack all of the cargo in about thirty minutes.  Bunks were chosen, beds were made, food was placed in the kitchen, bible school supplies were organized, and then the relaxing and fellowship began! To see pictures of our loading, unloading, and evening activities, watch the video below.

The food team is already hard at work...our first dinner will consist of yummy spaghetti.

The games are in action all around the camp...card games, volleyball games, lacrosse, ping pong, and guitar picking are in full swing.

The fellowship has begun...porch sitting, rocking in the rockers, and conversation.

Our evening will end with our first night of worship.

Thank you already for the prayers from home.  We feel them and deeply appreciate them.  You all are an important part of God's work here in Hartselle.  Remember to check the blog daily.  We will post updates from each work site, the bible school, and include pictures and videos often in the posts.  To view all videos that we post, check out the "Daily Videos" tab at the top of the page.  We will sometimes add picture videos there that may not be included in a post.

God bless!

(P.S.  Please feel free to add comments to our posts throughout the week! To find directions on how to do this, check out the below post about how to comment!)

How to Post a Comment

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