DR Work Day 3 and Day 4

A little catch up is in order. Our work day on day 3 went smoothly. You can see some pictures of the progress around the pool where we continue to back fill the pool and cut out another spot in the side of the mountain for some bathrooms. In addition there are some pictures of our painting process that continues around camp to give camp a face lift for the campers that arrive in July. There were lots of sore muscles and the heat was real that day but we were surprised by an early end to the day in order to give us some rest for our tired bodies. But, despite the fatigue, spirits were high and many of our students stepped into conversations with the Dominicans we work with. It was a great day.

Day 4 was the sabbath day and therefore we had the entire day off from working around camp. Instead we were able to get to know our Dominican friends more. In the morning we took a hike just outside of camp up to a waterfall. A good 30-45 minute hike up and through the river to the base of the falls. Our kids loved it and the water was so refreshing. After the falls we returned to camp for some napping before heading to church. In the afternoon we all headed to church where we had a translator for the message that many of our students found very relatable. The message was about the things we attempt to fill our hearts with - attempting to find purpose or meaning to fill our hearts through work, electronics, friends, ministry, etc. but that in reality the only thing that fills, the only thing that quenches our thirst is God. Our students loved the service. That night we had some dance instructions from our Dominican friends. It was awkward but smiles all around as we attempted our best at mastering Dominican dance steps.

But in the midst of these awesome events the coolest thing to see happening with our group is continued unity as we work together. And even more so, the devotional times that we have had each morning and evening has been amazing. Good conversation about what it looks like to follow God and put him first in our life to what it means to trust in his provision and plan. Students have been leading these times for each other which has provided some growing experiences and provided good insightful topics and questions.

Continue to pray for our time. Today we begin work day number 4 and many of us are tired. Pray for stength and energy. Pray for joy to be felt in the midst of the work understanding that we are not just painting or moving dirt but that we are truly preparing a place for the love of Christ to be felt this summer. That the dirt we move may just become the place someone sits and meets Christ. In addition, continue to pray for the team to grow together in order to go even deeper in our conversations about Christ in our life. And continue to pray for encouragement to step into Spanish in order to show love to our Dominican workers here at camp.

DR Work Day - 2

Our second day of work was another great one. It was a slow wake up but we made it to the construction site. Day two is usually when we start to see the turn in our students willingness to reach out and try Spanish with our Dominican friends. And this year didn't disappoint. Our kids tried their best to speak Spanish during construction and of course that comes with some teasing both ways and laughter. But the best part was at durning our short break after lunch and our kids started to teach our DR friends some of the games they know from home. So an international game of ninja was formed and a bunch of other "line waiting" games. It seriously was awesome with smiles and laughter on faces. After work finished we went to a local river near camp for swimming, which our team hooted and hollered about! They had a blast. We followed that with many games of signs and devotionals that night. It was a great day. We look forward to what will happen today as students begin to become even more comfortable with their surroundings, with our hosts, and with the Dominican workers here at Pico. Pray for those walls to be broken down. That the reason we have come in person is because of the chance for relationship to happen - the work and building is secondary to that call. Again you can see pictures and some videos on http://www.instagram.com/hsmfirstpres

DR Work Day 1

We discovered our jobs for the week. We will be back filling the new pool here at Pico with mounds and mounds of earth. In addition, we are sanding and refinishing a fence that surrounds the camp. One of YL's mottos is that everything speaks - to the paint on fences down to the way forks are laid out. Here in the DR camp may be the equivalent to Disneyland in terms of its upkeep and presentation just because of some of what the day to day looks like for the youth that come here. It's a blessing and amazing to be apart of that story of these youth. Our Colorado students are feeling that impact - they are feeling that they truly are having a hand in youth meeting Christ at Pico by the work they are doing with a shovel and a paint brush. Work went well and we are making some serious progress. We finished the day by going into town, Jarabaoca, for the chicken man and some ice cream. They all loved the pollo and of course loved the ice cream as well - even though that was quite the experience trying to order and figure out the flavors. It was a great day, and now, we get ready to repeat it. A bunch of our Dominican friends are back working alongside us this year which is wonderful. Today we will try to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to struggle through any Spanglish we can muster up. Keep praying for us to leave the comfort of English and the ease of talking to one another. Pray for strength and energy as we go back to moving dirt, painting and working in the sun. Great times and great laughs have already been had - it's so great to be back.

DR 2015 Team Has Arrived

The DR 2015 Team has safely arrived at Pico Escondido. We have had a quick orientation and some free time to learn just how much you sweat playing basketball here and all about what real tropical insects actually are like :). We are about to sit down to dinner with our Dominican friends and our YL work boss's. It's great watching those that have been in the past include and introduce this wonderful place and these wonderful people to those who are here for the first time. We are excited for our week! Tomorrow we learn what exactly will be doing for our work projects while we are here. Until next time!

Arkorado 3.0 - Returning Home

We've missed many days of updates on the blog due to all the great, but exhausting, work we've been doing this year. It has been another amazing year in Arkansas where God has touched us and this community in amazing and transformative ways. Tomorrow we begin our last leg of driving from Oklahoma City to First Pres Colorado Springs. And due to the lack of updates make note of asking these team members to tell you about this wonderful people :: Kenny and Sarah Shaw, Rubye and Leroy Emerson, Cindy And Don Smith, Justin, Jason Martin, Charles Graham, Sandra and Alana, Jason Curtis and the Deer camp, and many other amazing people in McGehee! Also ask them about our final night together at the Oklahoma City Memorial Garden.

Blessed to be a part of these students journey with Christ! Thank you for entrusting us with their care and well-being. Pray for our remaining journey tomorrow! We shall see you all soon.

-Scott

Arkorado 3.0 - Day 3

Another fabulous day today here in McGehee! We celebrated the sabbath well today with food and fellowship! This morning kicked off the festivities with a potluck style nreakfast with the McGehee folks. After that we joined them for church where our own Nate Stratman and a few of our students took parts in contributing to the experience. From there we prepared for our evening activity - the grand ice cream social. The change this year is that we made our own ice cream. Seems like a simple event but like one of our awesome students observed - us being here and McGehee FPC providing the space and vision for this evening allowed for many different people from different walks of life to gather under the same room that really wouldn't happen at other times of the year. We spent time laughing, encouraging and experiencing life here in the south. We even got to see some of our friends from the Methodist church and our friends from the Vera Llyod home.  It really was a great way to start off our work week which begins bright and early tomorrow morning at 5:40am. On that note good night for now.

-Scott

Again, be sure to check out pictures and follow us on www.instagram.com/hsmfirstpres or on Facebook.

Arkorado 3.0 - Day 2

Day 2 started of great! Jack, our contact at First Presbyterian Church Oklahoma City, spent the morning visiting with us as we prepared for the rest of our drive. Before we left he gave us a your of their beautiful church filled with gorgeous stained glass windows. Pray prayers of thanksgiving over this church that have transformed their entire basement into a space for teams from around the country that are providing disaster relief in OK or that are passing through like us. It truly is awesome to see the body of Christ coming together like this - even over a simple thing like an overnight stop - it allows our youth the chance to see what other churches are doing in the kingdom! AWESOME!

After Jack saw us off we hit the road for our remaing 6 or so hour drive. And it was uneventful, which is great! Means no flat tires or anything of the like. On the great note - kids were filed with excitement that we would be arriving in McGehee later that evening and finally get the chance to see these people that we have been talking about for months.

When we arrived safely in McGehee we went straight to the Lucky's house who opened up their home to these stir crazy teens for swimming, tennis, and a place to get their first taste of southern fried chicken...mmm mmm good! On an added bonus, Zach's birthday is today! COS and McGehee combined together in celebration for his special day. Our college and Ark friends got a cake and Zach's parents sent some fun bday celebration gifts. Just was awesome to see a family singing together that spreads across state lines. If this coming together over a bday is signs of what is to come, then I couldn't be more excited for this week!!!!

More to come! For Zach's bday pic check out our instagram account http://www.instagram.com/hsmfirstpres

-Scott