Mission Trip Day 4

We had another fun-filled day of working for Jesus! We had one group do another day of Backyard Bible Club. There weren't as many kids today as yesterday, but those that were there were just as important as if there were a big crowd. I helped the team the painted a bathroom at one of the parks. We also had people painting a sign at another park & painting the railings of one of the Jones' neighbors. If you've been following my updates, you know that we've been doing a lot of painting!

Tomorrow's our last full day here. It doesn't seem possible. We'll have one more day of Backyard Bible Club, one more painting project and then we'll cap off the day with a live concert in the park. Our youth band is playing & our drama team will also be performing.

Today has had an extra blessing in the fact that we've seen several people make a profession of faith. While we had band practice, Sergio went over to the neighbors house and talked to some students that were hanging out over there. He explained the Gospel to them and they prayed to place their faith in Christ! He also talked to some people tonight in the park.

We also went to the lake this afternoon. Our students were wanting to swim & we needed to give the Jones family a break from the huge number of people running around their house!

(Sorry I don't have pictures! The camera got left at the Jones' home.)

Mission Trip Day 3

We started Backyard Bible Club today. The kids are listening to the Bible story here. We had 6 kids from the neighborhood today. (The rest of the kids you see are either the missionary's kids or kids that came with us.) Even though that seems like a small number, we'll teach whoever comes. It was a privilege to share the Bible with these children.

Marissa is explaining the craft to the kids.

We brought our water slide for the kids to play on before and after Bible club.

While one group did Backyard Bible Club, another group went to a gas station where they gave away gas cards. Jamie gave cards to people who were willing to fill out a short survey asking general questions about people's view of church. (Here's Kayla on the left with some students from Grace Baptist Church in Russellville, AR who also came up to help the Jones' this week.)

The other group did some more painting. This group painted the bumpers in the parking lot of a park.

It was a good day. We were exhausted by the lunch. The missionary gave us the afternoon off. The humidity was stifling. (It's easy to forget about it after living away from it for a while.) The students that grew up in CO noticed it immediately. One student said, "Give me a straw so I can breathe through it!" I thought that was putting it well! We attended youth group tonight with Cody (in the yellow shirt). He used to go to River of Grace before they moved to Kansas City. It's been great to visit with him & his family. They've been helping us out.

Mission Trip Day 2

Here's the name of the new church the Jones' are starting in Smithville.

Josh starts off the day with a chocolate muffin!

Some of the girls were getting ready for the Backyard Bible clubs

Some of the guys cleaned out a retention pond that had debris from a recent hard rain.

Lunch time!!!!

The second day was filled with preparation for Bible club & service projects. The group that cleaned out the retention pond also painted some playground equipment later. Another group painted bathrooms in a park. Jamie made contact with one of the leaders for the Parks & Rec and he thought of all kinds of stuff that they need done!

Mission Trip '09 Day 1 - Traveling

It's been a while since I posted anything. I thought I'd blog about our Mission Trip!
Here we are getting ready to leave Monday morning!

Here we are traveling to Smithville, MO. We stopped at a rest stop for a picnic lunch. Here I am with Pastor Jacob. He's a church planter from Fountain, CO who came with us.

We're going to Smithville, MO to help Missionary Jamie Jones and family with some service projects, Backyard Bible Clubs & a youth service in the park.