Deep Cries Out

 

some the girls singing & dancing to Deep Cries Out on the way home from the work site

Group Picture!

Last Day of Work

Hi there, 

Kim here. It is late. It has been an incredible week. I can hardly believe that tomorrow we are packing up & heading home (except that I'm sure ready to see my baby boy!).

{charlie & crew built that trellis!} 

Today we were split up into 3 teams. One crew worked on Diane & Ken's, the house we've primarily worked at, finishing up landscaping, staining the deck, and building the trellis. It was terribly hard to say goodbye to this incredible family. But we will keep in touch. It was such a blessing to work with this family. To see their attitudes and faith in our living God through their storm.

{one last picture}

My crew had a pretty awesome day. We did some cleanup on a property for a house that is yet to be built. The house that is being rebuilt is for a single mom and her daughter that lost everything in the storm. Even though our job was minimal we were reminded of the lasting impact we're making for the kingdom by one of the disaster relief workers, Dawn.

We also worked at a woman named Pat's house. We cleaned up, organized, and did some garden work for her. It was blessing to talk with her, hear her story, and help her out!

 

{garden work at Pat's}

 

{organization at Pat's}

Lastly, Manny & his crew worked at the home of a man named Dan. He also lost everything in the tornado and needed help at his new home. They worked on brush cleanup and lots of mulch!!! 

The crew worked very hard. What would have taken Dan and his son almost a week because of drive time and shoveling only took our crew about 3 hours! 

  

{mulch crew}

We are SOOOOOOOO  PROUD of these kids!!!!

We can't wait to get home & tell you more about what God has done and how He has changed us!

See you tomorrow!

Love, Kim

Day 5 Video Blog

Day 4 Student Interviews

Leaders Perspective- Natasha & Charlie!

Hey guys!!! This is Natasha and Charlie. Because we are both leaders for the first time, we have witnessed some amazing things that God has done in the hearts of our students.

 

{yes. yes. caution. we're working}

It is incredible to think that that one of the only complaints we have heard out of our students is that they want more work because they want to glorify God. And while the kids are taking their, much needed, water breaks they talk with the family that we are working for.

 

{busy working}

While speaking with the family it is evident that their hearts desire is to share Christ's love and as a result the family has been so open with our student and have shared in depth what they have experienced and have even showed us pictures.

 

{we were able to bring some flowers pots to the home we've worked on}

I think that me and Charlie will agree that our expectations of what the students would accomplish were not high but the students have more than surprised us. Every student has physically worked to the point of exhaustion and have poured out their hearts. Needless to say we are two proud leaders.

 

{tools. we cut this hill down almost 2 feet}

 By Natasha and Charlie 

 

{doing good}

Day 4 Video Blog

late night worship

some of the team joining together for some late night worship!

had a little fun too!

Fun in Joplin!

(From left to right, top to bottom) 

After a hot and exhausting day full of shoveling rocks and placing rock walls, the team decided to have some fun in the water! What you can't see in this photo, though, are the three diving boards that occupied most of our time -- and cheering. 

After the pool (next photo) the local youth group invited us to their youth time, allowing us to play a game with them and listen to the wonderful message their pastor Cody had to speak.

 The next photo is a snap-shot of all the boys hanging out at the pool. Around the table, we played a game of Cups in where each person followed a certain rhythm that ended in passing the cup. 

The next two photos on the right are of the diving boards -- make sure to congratulate Charlie, Duncan, and Dakota for doing belly-flops off of the highest diving board! 

Last but absolutely not least, in the bottom left is a picture of Manny and Kim posing with their 'Happy Anniversary' cake; we were all so glad that they could share their special day with us here in Joplin.

By Kristin Hancock & Megan Adams

The boys talk about the trip!

Audrey's Blog!

Today was our third day in Joplin. It was one of the hottest yet, and it's only supposed to get hotter the rest of the week! We have been working on landscaping at a house of a family with an incredible story. They were driving home from their son's graduation during the tornado and their car was picked up and moved. When they "landed" a piece of sheet metal had gone through the middle of the back of their car. The thirteen year old daughter had a cut on her leg through to the bone. The thing that got me was Monday she told us that she was collecting money for victims back in the Springs effected by the fire. It was amazing to see that even with all the work they had to do on their home she was willing to put others before herself. Every day her younger sister, who is probably 7, comes and gives us all cold towels to cool off with, she is so sweet! It is amazing to see the hope and faith the people of Joplin have.

 

{some girls working on landscaping}

It's been amazing to see our group come together. Even though there is not always work for everyone and people sometimes get frustrated, we come together to get things done. Yesterday a retaining wall we were building started to tip back, and within a matter of minutes everyone got up there and put rock and dirt behind it until it was supported.

 

{some of the retaining walls we've completed!}

Monday we took a tour of the town. The hospital, or what is left of it, is still standing, no windows left, and half of the building and the parking garage are gone. The site of the old high school is completely leveled. The sign of the high school used to say "Joplin High School" and in the storm the J L I and N  were torn off. Someone came up and put letters H and E up on the  sign so it now says "Hope".

 

{we dug a hole, Nathan fit inside}

I am really excited to see what else God has in store for us the rest of the week, and what other opportunities we will have to show God's love to this community.

Audrey Brewster

Work Day 2

Today we split up into two teams. 10 people worked really hard on painting a garage. The rest of us worked moving rocks, building a retaining wall, and cleaning areas to get ready for landscaping. The team worked together so well! It was over 100 degrees out most of the work day and no one complained. Everyone took care of each other & were always ready for the next job. 

Towards the end of the day, some of the crew was working on getting to a stopping point with the bigger retaining wall. Suddenly, the wall began to lean backwards. A few leaders and students jumped behind the wall and pushed it up while the rest of the crew worked quickly, effeciantly, and selflessly to back fill and build up support! The team moved an incredible amount of heavy rock and dirt in an incredibly short period of time. I was honestly amazed at how they worked together and how much they accomplished to keep that wall standing! 

This was a great day of work and unity! We are so proud of our team!

-Manny & Kim

Maggie

We've been serving this family. Their house was completly wiped out. One of the daughters was seriously injured and spent along time in the hospital. They also have 9 year old twins. Yesterday while we were working the girl, Maggie would come out and just kind of watch us. Today she was watching and then she ran inside and got towels soaked in ice to give us to help with the heat. Then Christ mentioned soemthing about music and she ran inside again and brought out a radio so we could have music. I thought that was really thoughtful. At one point she even helped carry bricks to the retaining wall we were working on. Kim even had to yell out that Maggie was doing more work that they guys & that we needed to get back to work! 

I thought it was really cool because she didn't have to come out and do that stuff. She could have just stayed inside, in the air conditioning and done whatever a nine year old girl does. I guess it was just a way for her to say thank you for everything were doing.

- Narrated by Grady Brewster

We're Working!

 

{on the drive}

 

THE DRIVE......

The drive to Joplin was long. But we got to meet and talk to new people that we haven’t talked to before.  Almost the whole time we played mafia. That was our first team bonding and it went really well. The drive set the pace and environment for the whole week, and since it went well, we were off to a good start.  Did I say it was LONG!!!  We got to the church at 9:45, didn’t go to bed until midnight and had to wake up at 6:30.

By-  Sydney H.

 

 

{don't worry they're eating!}

 

{praying to start the day}

First Thoughts.....

When I first saw the houses damaged by the tornado, I was really sorry for the people. The hospital was half destroyed and luckily/sadly only 4 people died. There were some houses totally destroyed and some just had wind damage. There were some pretty crazy stories; for example, a girl and her family were picked up by the tornado in their car and the girl had a gash as long as her thy. Luckily, both she and her family are ok now. This really makes you think about what life is and how we should be thankful for it. 

By- Meghan Adams

 

{one of many projects completed on Monday}

FIRST DAY!

Monday we went to the house we had to move a bunch of stuff outside. We worked so much faster than expected that they ran out of work for us to do before lunchtime. We went on a tour around the city of Joplin and then went to the park to eat lunch. In the meantime they found more work for us. Back at the first house we split into two groups, one staying at the house to paint the garage and the other going to another house to do landscaping.  Then we came back to Carthage to eat, shower, and all that fun stuff. The nice part about knocking out the work is that we get to hear the stories from the owners of the house. 

By- Felicia Marshall

This is a picture of the hospital. This is from the internet, but it still looks the same as it did since the tornado hit. More to come tonight!

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