Love in Action Day 4

Another productive day in Rockport!

Bathroom painting is more than halfway done. We’ll finish the last 2 small ones in the morning.

Our teams moved piles of office and classroom supplies. What surprises everyone the most is how young our team is and how hard they work and how kind they are.

We are leaders aren’t surprised.  We are honored to get to work and serve a long side them.

Charlie and Matthew were awesome chefs.  It was so fun taking them to H E B and letting them shop for the items.  We had fried rice with beef tips and seasoned chicken wings (seasoned with coke and soy sauce) seriously.

Chase Bouloy had to go home today he was not feeling well.  Once we realized it we removed him from the team and his mom came and got him.  We scrubbed everything down 2x.  So far so good with everyone else.

This afternoon we went downtown and blessed one of the gift shops. They were so happy to have customers.  Then even though it was foggy on the water… it was so nice and warm and the team had a great time playing, running and watching the dolphins out in the distance.

Tonight we had our circle of blessing.  Each student/leader took a name of another student or leader yesterday.  Since then we have been observing and thinking how we can bless them with words of encouragement and scripture. Tonight we shared with each other and spoke those words of blessing and shared the scripture we felt led to share.  It is always such a sweet, fun inspiring time.

These kids have been amazing.

Our goal is to leave here about 10:00 a.m.  We will stop for lunch/food on the way home.

We will have the front office email or use the iris to let you know when we are approx. 30 minutes out.

You student will be able to leave once the vans are emptied and cleaned out. 😀

 

Blessed to be a blessing!

Mrs. g

Love in Action Day 3

What makes a team effective?

Works together well – has a great attitude – patience – hardworking – flexible!

It was the question that was asked at the end of our debrief and everything the students described is EXACTLY what they have displayed the last two days.

We stayed on the church campus today and helped 4 people accomplish 4 tasks that were on their volunteer lists. Honestly, one of the ladies hugged me and said, “We were looking at this probably taking us weeks.  What a blessing your group has been to us today.”

Blessed to be a blessing!  We had fun. We worked hard. We worked as a team.

After we finished all the tasks we took a tour around Rockport to see more of the devastation.

Heartbreaking … overwhelming heartbreaking! Travis and Mimi led us around and on speaker phone gave us history and stories about the areas.

Tonight as we were debriefing one of the students said, “As we were driving around it kind of hit me that was someone’s home where they made memories – was all gone in a matter of minutes.”

As we have been prepping for the Impact trips and talking about why we do what we do. We have given the kids a challenge to step outside of their comfort zone. They each have an assignment to ask someone how they as a class can pray for them.  This has three steps.

1. Ask someone in your family
2. Ask someone you know (friend, neighbor, etc.)
3. Ask someone you do not know. Waitress, people that we’ve helped, check out attendant, etc.

It seems so simple but when you have to be bold and ask it can be intimidating.

A few of them pushed past their comfort zone and asked Rob, Larry, Mimi, John, tonight’s waitress and other volunteer workers here, “How can we pray for you?”  What a blessing it was to those we served but even more, what a blessing it is to be able to lift these precious people and their needs up in prayer.

Tomorrow we paint.  This church is so committed to helping Rockport ‘heal’.  They are giving up building space to turn it into volunteer dorms if you will.  We will be painting the bathrooms so they can install the fixtures and finish getting the building ready.  If you can imagine, months later, the work is still in full swing and people here have to be tired. The fact that we can serve those that serve is an honor.

Parents, you would be so proud and moved at the list of tasks this class has completed.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.

 

Grateful,

Mrs. G

 

 

Love In Action … Day 2

It was a cold start this morning. We were all bundled up (thankfully I brought extra beanies and the church had extra gloves).  I don’t think some of them didn’t believe me that it would be colder than walking from building to building.  They believe me now!  😀

 

Our first work project was Rob.  He and his wife had recently purchased a really nice double wide modular home. His yard was full of roofing nails, pieces of shingles, trash and the destroyed flower bed borders and garden mesh.  He is recovering from tongue cancer and our prayer time for him at the end was so sweet.  He kept asking us to have our lunchtime with him, so we did.

We headed to work project #2 but it was no longer there.  The house had been condemned and a bulldozer had cleared the lot.  On to project #3.

Larry had just finished a fixer upper and Harvey hit.  The yard was covered with debris of all kinds.  Larry was limited on what he could do because he had previously had heart surgery.  Our kids rocked it.  2 acres of shingles, wood pieces, trash, limbs, toys, tin, etc.

We logged in 6 hours today.

The track and golf team got their run in.  Dinner is almost done.

I’m pausing and then I’ll come back and write in debrief time!

The evening:

Tonight we each reread Romans 12 and chose the verses that spoke to us individually.  We each shared our verse or verses and why we chose them.  We also each shared the moments during the day that impacted us.

There were many recurring themes.

The overwhelming loss that people have suffered.

It is sobering to know many people lost many personal items yet in their yards were the personal items that someone else had lost.

Even with loss, Larry was so happy we were there to help.  The more we did, the more his shoulders lifted.

To be able to pray with each man was such a blessing. Rob was so blessed we were there with him. Prayer meant so much to him.

After we prayed for Larry he said, “Wow, thank you. I feel lifted up right now.  I just feel better.  Thank you so much”

We finished ahead of schedule, so asking for new projects.

Till tomorrow!

The pictures above

Left -The Back of Larry’s house is no longer there

Middle – Notes left around our living area from people of Rockport

Right – Side view of Larry’s house

 

 

 

 

Love in Action

We arrived at Coastal Oaks Church at 6:30 pm. The roads were clear. The kids were great travelers.

The damage done here in Rockport is intense.  We could barely see as we drove into town. I know tomorrow will be eye opening for all of us.  We have 4 work projects.  Three of them are clearing debris from people’s yards (they are very excited for us to help)  the other is to help paint here at the church.  Coastal Oaks received a lot of damage. They are changing out children’s Sunday Shool rooms to house the incoming teams so the end of the building where we are now (we are at the other end) can be fixed.  The wind tore off the outside siding at the end of the building.

The whole chapter of Romans 12 will be our focus.

We’re ready to serve!  What this church is doing for their community when they have so much they need done themselves is nothing short of amazing.  It’s a reflection of their relationship with Christ.  Truly they set the example of putting others before themselves.

Romans 12:10-13   Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.

Tomorrow we start.  Thank you for allowing your student to come and serve.  I’ll check back in tomorrow night.

 

Mrs. G