It's too cold!

Yes, those were actual words spoken when we got off the bus last night around 11:35pm. Of course it was still 70 degrees out, but compared to 105 that is pretty darn chilly. Our week concluded in a pretty amazing way. On Wednesday my group flipped from working on a home damaged by both Katrina and Rita and moved to working at Kid's Club. It is nothing for kids at Kids Club to be coming from homes where parents are in jail, on drugs, drug dealers, or prostitutes. While our work there may have seemed insignificant to many, playing games, running around for hours with kids on our shoulders/backs (they ALWAYS wanted to be doing that) singing a few songs, making crafts, and doing a skit with a meaning, I think we were making a pretty big difference with God's help. If it was not for Youth Works and offering this program 3 hours a day 4 days a week most of the summer many of these kids would have few positive role models and would not hear about Christ, right and wrong, or be shown constant love and attention. I know this was a really eye opening experience for most of our students, seeing poverty first hand and really bringing the gospel to those who needed it. You will no doubt here some powerful stories about Kids Club from our students in the coming days and weeks.

Thursday night was a real emotional night as we were led in a footwashing service. Jennifer told us that we all need to be willing to descend as Jesus did, lowering ourselves and serving Christ in humility with a God first, others second, me last attitude. This was a real emotional and challenging service for me personally, and many students said it was for them as well. This night also saw our group really come together and love and unity in a way that I can only describe as amazing and miraculous. God is certainly working in our youth in great ways!

Friday saw us say goodbye to the youthworks staff and to the many friends made throughout the week. How funny that we went from the #1 fear of the trip being having to be with other people to many students planning trips to VISIT other people. Thanks to the Internet I have a feeling many of these new friendships will continue for awhile. Our group then loaded the bus around 8am and headed for Gulf Port/Biloxi Mississippi for a day at the beach and malls. The ocean water was bath tub temperature, so yeah pretty much like Lake Michigan. The day concluded with pictures and devotions done overlooking the ocean at sunset.

As many of us were changed by God this week, and as the ocean water washes away so much, we are all now challenged to return home and descend on behalf of God. God washed away much this week, now its our time to live new lives that our focused on God.