Serving Springs #1

 

    For the past two days I have been working at the Inn at the Garden Plaza. I have meet so many great people, like one resident Randy who sold guitars and other sting interments for a living and has met some of the biggest names in music like Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe "father of American blue grass".   And I have serverd with Care and Share, doing sorting, unloading, and packing. Thank you Care & Share, Inn at the Garden Plaza.

   - Grant  (grade 7)


 We are having a great week.  The kids are working hard at their work sites and many of them have stories about fun and interesting people.  Last night we visited a family in our church that lives in the burn area and has neighbors who have lost homes.  Another member who lost her home came and talked to our kids.  It was a powerful experience.  God is clearly at work this week and we are looking forward to another great day.  Please keep praying for our kids and leaders. 

- Collin (leader)


This week has been great! I have been working with Family Life Services from 9-12. I have been picking up trash, pulling weeds, and digging dirt. It may not sound pretty, but it's been fun to get to know my group while doing it. Then from 1-4 my group and I go to Zach's Place to hang out with the handicapped kids there. Even though they have disabilities, they are all unique and just like us. Yesterday, we got to go bowling with them. It is so cool to see all the kids having fun and bowling.
Oh, and I also arm-wrestled one of the kids there. I thought he would win, but I won twice. I'm pretty proud of that ;)

- Brooke (8th grade)

McGehee, AR, Trip Report #7 - McGehee's finest

God is at work down here. Since we have arrived, the hospitality has been unbelievable. We have eaten some fantastic food, met some of Mcgehee's finest, and experienced God in all different ways. Our group has grown together, and I see some awesome community with many relationships that have grown. Kenny Shaw and the First Pres Church here in Mcgehee has been an awesome experience as well. From eating ice cream for dinner to tubing in a hot lake with carp jumping out of the water near our heads, we have spent some fun time with Kenny and the people of his church who have done what seems like everything they can to serve us and show us a good time. I just love how much of God I have seen while we have been here, which includes the hospitality we have received, the sweat and dirt that has been shared, the community that has been felt, the relationships that have been built, the laughter and conversation that has been shared, and the love that has spread. God is at work down here.

Michael F. - 12th Grade, Air Academy HS

McGehee, AR - Trip Report #6 - Wednesday Morning

First off, hi mama :) Second off, good morning! It is currently 7:03 Arkansas time and we are up and ready to serve! Speaking of serving, who knew that it could go both ways. From the time we have arrived here, people have been so kind and caring for our well being. I was picking up trash on the side of the road the other day with three other girls. We had stopped to rest in front of a house and a man came out and offered us a drink. Although we declined, he insisted on getting some sodas from his fridge. We had never met him before. I find it amazing that people can be so giving to those they barely even know. I don't think that it's just southern hospitality. I think it's God working through everyone on the trip with everyone in town.

- Colleen D. - 12th Grade

McGehee, AR - Trip Report # 5 - Playing with puppies!

Asher holding a puppy!

Eric playing with one of the more rebellious dogs.

Paula found her favorite pup!

Amy with Piglet, an 8 week old!

Hey Parents!
Today was our second day of work. I'll have some students update with their thoughts later, but I wanted to share some pictures I got with my group while we were at the "Paws and Claws" Pound. We helped mow and weed the yard where all the kennels were, and we also helped them organize and get some food ready. This is a kill-free pound and they have no budget at all. They take animals from around the McGehee area and prepare them for good owners. While we were there we also were excited that they let us play with the puppies! They had 48 dogs ranging from 1 day old to years old. Some students have already planned out how they will smuggle their favorite puppy back home to Colorado Springs with them. Be prepared!

-- Spencer Norman ( FPC Associate High School Director)

McGehee, AR - Trip Report #4 - An Adventurous Monday!

Yesterday was our first full workday here in McGehee. (Sunday was a great Sabbath full of eating, worshiping and more. Our students led the music and liturgy in the service as Collin Downing and Kenny Shaw shared the sermon. We kept hearing the members of the church talk about all the noise and commotion in the church and how they missed the noise that teenagers make.

As for Monday, we started on wheelchair ramps, fences, a playhouse for a grandmother raising her grandchildren and many other projects. While it is humid and buggy, the kids have worked hard and are drinking their water. In the evening we had some incredible homemade pork BBQ while sitting at a hunting camp on the Mississippi. We watched barges go up and down the river. Each night 8 boys join us from a local ministry that is similar to the Dale House. It has been incredible to watch all the kids interact.

On our way back to the Fountains (the plantation where we are staying) we came upon some deputies on the side of the road. I (nate) asked if they needed a hand and they said they did. As I ran up to the ditch on the side of the road,  I saw a crushed car that was upside down in the ditch. We quickly realized that there was someone inside the vehicle. To make a long story short, many of the leader on our trip jumped in the ditch and lifted the car enough to pull the man out of the car. His face was badly damaged and he was pinned from the waste down for a long time. We have been trying to track him down today in the local hospital, but can't find him.

The kids and leaders spent the evening processing this scary event. The kids stayed in the vans and prayed as we worked with the firefighters to rescue this man. We saw God's hand through the entire day and especially during this tragedy. It was powerful to hear our students process these events.

I personally believe that if this was the only reason we came to McGehee, then it was well worth it.

God is Good,
Nate

McGehee, AR - Trip Report #3 - First day in McGehee!

Last night we made it to the house where we are going to stay for the week, it is a gorgeously restored plantation house. Tonight we plan to hear the story of the house from the owner, Charles. This morning we woke up and went to the church for a really good breakfast, of pancakes, biscuits, bacon, and potato casserole. After that we had the church service, where our youth ministry band played, and we heard the sermon from Kenny Shaw. After that we had lunch at the church. We had a really good time!

         -Abigail D. 11th, CMHS



This afternoon, we split up into groups and walked around the surrounding neighborhoods to recruit kids to come to Vacation Bible School. We had an amazing time talking to locals and getting to know the area where we are going to be serving for the next week. However, the humidity is starting to take a toll on us spoiled Coloradans. We are currently hanging out at the church playing games and anxiously awaiting a promised ice cream dinner (in which only ice cream is served), which is long standing tradition in the town. Tomorrow we start work, which many of us are extremely excited for!
  
             -Addy R.12th,TVS

McGehee, AR - Trip Report #2 - We have arrived!

Finally made it to McGehee, Arkansas! The final hours of the drive was exciting and we ended with a time of short prayer in the vans. Arkansas is hot but reminds me a lot of my family's trips to Nebraska. We had a pool party when we first arrived here and also played some tennis. This trip has been a blast so far and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next!

- Matthew M. 10th, TCA

Thanks to the Lucky's who hosted us today!