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2011 Junior High Mission Trip Blog
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Click here to see pictures from the mission trip. Updated frequently.
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Tuesday, June 21
Downtown exploring the city and interviewing the homeless, public transportation, bus station etc. Caught in the rain and security guard felt sorry for us and gave us some trash bags!
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Tuesday, June 21 Happy First Day of Summer
Team Lemon was out the door early this morning preparing and serving breakfast at The Waystation,
which is a ministry of Palmer Episcopal church
Team Lime Update: This morning we worked for Kids Meals...delivering over 90 meals in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the Houston area. The address structure was crazy because so many single family homes had been split into two, three or even four units! This afternoon we head back to REACH to hang out with at risk children and teens.
Update at 10:30 p.m. from Craig
So today began with a wonderful surprise... Rain. We were all excited and thanking God for the rain... Right up until we realized that the morning program was urban plunge, an exciting adventure where we would be dropped off somewhere to discover facts about that area of the city, then a quick jump on the metro rail to another part of the city for further discovery. Sounds very exciting right up until we realized that it meant four hours of walking around the city in the POURING RAIN. Urban plunge was quickly dubbed urban drench.
Lunch and dry clothes later an we were back outside, this time for a sweet lady, Mrs. Evelyn, where the team adopted a fourth quarter attitude and we quickly removed enough bushes and ivy from her property fence to create a small forest.
The day conclude with a very spirited concert hosted by the Salvation Army Harbor Light Mens choir, and debrief over some very good ice-cream from Amy's. A great day was had by all.
Thanks for all the prayer, but don't stop... This is a junior high mission trip:)
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Monday, June 20
Team Lime started the day at Salvation Army's Harbor Light facility. We worked in the kitchen assisting in the preparation of their lunch and dinner. The facility offers temporary residency for men trying to over come addiction. We peeled and chopped hard boiled eggs for egg salad. We cut up potatoes and opened cans of corn then prepped fried chicken legs.
After a picnic on White Oak Bayou looking at the Houston skyline we ventured north to our anchor location. We are assisting with a summer program that serves residents of a low income housing community. Trevor and Jake learned a few new moves on the court. While Brittany Porrier and Emily Smith read to 3 and 4 year olds. Scott and Isaac played kick ball with another group. The dynamic duo of Ana and Alicia sat in on a sign language class with older girl youth. The afternoon was capped off with a water distribution in Herman Park.
We at dinner with Team Lemon at the Reggae Hut, Jamaican cuisine. Jerk chicken washed down with fresh lemonade! Everyone cleaned their plates. We drove through third and fourth wards and stopped for prayer along the way. Scott Lennard gave up his Bible to a homeless young man we encountered near Covenant House, one of our prayer stops.
It was a great day and we were certainly blessed by the experience. What will God show us tomorrow?
Team Lemon: Today they are volunteering at Generation 1 this afternoon. The job for today is picking up trash. Generation 1 is committed to making sure that the next generation knows what their potential is and believes they can achieve it. They work to clean up and rebuild the community while providing tutoring and Vacation Bible School for the kids in this community. They are in a competition for a $25,000 grant. They hope to open a school here soon. Please vote for them:
Team lemon spent the morning at the Houston READ center where some students participated in an ESL class while others worked with individuals in the computer lab helping with math.
Team Lime: This morning they worked at the Harbor House and it was amazing. They prepared food for lunch and dinner for over 200 hundred recovering men.
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Sunday, June 19
Today we arrived at our mission site which is just east of I-45 on Broadway. We are sharing the site with three other churches. We are divided into two teams: Limes and Lemons, and each team has a mission host. Teams went to authentic Mexican and El Salvadoran food before orientation.
Team Lime is going to Harbor Light Salvation Army to serve in the kitchen.
Team Lime Members are: Trish Thompson, Donna Matthews, Alicia Salinas, Jake Ober, Ana Rangel, Trevor Matthews, Emily Smith, Isaac Thompson, Scott Lennard & Brittany Porier.
Team Lemon is going to Read Commission to work with adult literacy program.
Team Lemon Members are: Craig Vickerman, Aurora Rangel, Bridget Spier, Kaylee Hane, Evan Matthews, Emily Shafer, Josh Thompson, Blake Spier, Blair Stratman, Brittany Brasher, Allie Zimmerman & Noah Elkins.
Pray for our youth to be touched by God in a real way. If you have not dropped off your care box, please take it to church office by Tuesday 3 pm. Also the mission company does not give us a t-shirt. We can purchase one for $15. If you would like to leave funds for your child place it in an envelope and leave it in Trish's office.
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| Team Lemon |
Team Lime |
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