Project #16

This morning a group of 7 middle school students and 3 adults/college kids went and painted the front of the Alabaster YMCA. I will be honest... when I found out that we were going to be painting, I was more than a little concerned. All of my limited knowledge about middle schoolers was telling me that: middle school + paint = one big mess! Then to top it off the lady at the YMCA told me we would be painting the front of the building (as opposed to some inconspicuous back wall that no one would ever see.) So after a short lesson on how to use the rollers and the importance of painting evenly and thoroughly....we set out to paint.

As it turns out... they did a remarkable job! The group worked hard and did everything they were asked to do. Cameron was our "ladder man" and tackled many of the high areas, while Will did the job that no one else wanted to do and painted behind the bushes. The girls did a good job as well - painting all the cracks and making sure everything looked good.

In the end, I was way off on our groups ability to do this job well. Acually the biggest mess of the day was from when I spilled the paint trying to pour it into the tray! (It was all maggie's fault -- j/k)

Great work today guys!

Lacy

Mexico Mission Trip Video

We're back! Mexico was awesome!

On March 15th at 6:00AM 47 sleepy students and adults trundled their luggage into a trailer and groggily boarded one of four vehicles. We then began the first stage of a two-day journey to Nuevo Progresso Mexico.

Over 900 miles and many gas-station breaks later, we were greeted by a smiling Bobby Culpepper enthusiastically waving the Mexican Flag at Camp Thicket. Camp Thicket is located about 5 miles from the Mexico Border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley near Weslaco Texas. Quite a change from past year’s accommodations, Camp Thicket is nestled in a small grove of native Texas brush trees. Its amenities included 10 person rooms with bunk beds, a large room for eating and gathering, a large kitchen, a Chapel and a pool.

After a full night’s rest, we awoke, ate breakfast and got back on the busses to go across the border into Mexico. The students and adults then divided into Painting, Distribution and Children’s/Evangelism teams and were given the day’s assignments. Everyone worked very hard painting houses, preparing for distribution of food and donated items and running a home-grown version of Vacation Bible School.

The schedule was the same for most of the week, but Wednesday was a very special day. Everyone got up a little later than usual and worked in the Colonia for about half a day. Then we all piled in the busses and drove to a secluded area of the Rio-Grande. After getting out of the busses, Bobby, Pastor Les, Fish (our Colonia Jardin representative and translator) and Jesus Rodreigus (a resident of Colonia Jardin) waded into the frigid water.

After praying to receive Christ into his heart, Jesus was baptized by Pastor Les in the river. We then returned to the Casa de Dios (House of the Lord) for a Wednesday night service. Over 80 people attended the service officiated by Pastor Les and translated by Fish. Jeff led worship with rousing versions of "Alabare," "Familia del Dios," and "How Great is our God." After the service, some of the residents submitted their names to receive more information about becoming a follower of Christ.

After two more days of work, the team spent half a day shopping in Progresso for rare and much sought after items. We then returned home.

At the end of the week, 24 houses were painted, beans and rice and many donated items were distributed to 193 families and the Gospel was shared with the residents of Colonia Jardin.

Tom Bird (aka T-Bird)

See below for more pictures from the trip.

Mexico Pictures...

Wednesday night recap and we're off to Mexico...

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
- John 13:3-5

How amazing is it to think that at the moment when Jesus Christ, our saviour and the God of the universe, knew exactly who he was and that all things had been placed under His power, chose to bend down and wash the feet of His disciples? In this passage Christ sets for us an incredible example of how he wants us live because in the moment where he could have done anything he wanted, he chose to SERVE those around him.

The thing that Jeff said last night that really made me think was, "Do you walk through your day thinking, 'How can I get people to like me more today?' or do you walk through the day thinking, 'How can I make him look cooler today?' or 'How can I help her today?'

We are set free from the pressure to try and "make people like us" when we stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about about others. We are called to serve and when we take on the same attitude that Christ took in that room with his disciples, we can find our identity in Him.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:15-17
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We leave saturday morning, 6:00am, for a mission trip to mexico. I'm super excited to see what God does on this trip. We have a great team going and an even greater message to share with these people. Check the blog next week to hear all about it!

Project #13

Over 20 amazing Westwood students gathered at Area 51 to create 41 care baskets (one for each room) for the Ronald McDonald House. They also brought A TON of things to fill these baskets - Like coloring books, crayons, pens, pencils, candy, bottled water, toys (watch OUT for the Flarp!), crossword puzzle books, cards, and Ryan even donated one of his favorite Ty bears!
We had 21 sand buckets and 20 Easter buckets to fill and 41 prayer blankets to cut and tie. One group gathered in the front to cut and tie and another group gathered in the back to organize the buckets and all the stuff. Eventually, it seemed like everyone was tying blankets, but we did get done. After that each of the students took 2-3 blankets each, found their own place in the room, and prayed over these blankets. This was the most moving and amazing thing I have ever seen in person. We included a note on each blanket saying this blanket is a symbol that someone does care for you and that someone is praying for you! After several minutes, we took the blankets, placed 1 in each of the baskets, then filled in the rest of the stuff. Every bucket was overflowing!

Ryan closed us in prayer and we prayed specifically for Lydia (Michelle's friend) whose parents are currently staying at the House. Lydia has cancer.

On Sunday, 8 of us delivered these baskets to the McDonald House. Steven prayed for us, the baskets, and the residents one more time, then we went inside. We met Inez, the resident manager, at the front and went door by door delivering baskets. Most of the residents were down stairs at an Easter celebration, however, we did get a chance to meet a few. They were grateful we took the time to think of them. One of the residents has been living at the house since June with a premature baby, she had pictures all over the door of this beautiful baby. Inez gave us a tour of the rest of the house and was extremely grateful the our students took the time to care.

The students of Westwood are both amazing and an inspiration to us all.

- Jeff Long

Project # 12

The messages of Middle School Disciple Now centered around the story of Jonah. He was called to go to a place he did not want to go and to minister to people he did not want to minister to. As a part of DNOW, we wanted to create a ministry opportunity that was similar to Jonah's, so we decided to serve at Thompson Middle School. It is a place the students did not want to go, and we were helping people they did not normally want to help, the school staff and their peers.

However scary the task might have been, the middle schoolers jumped right in and did an excellent job of serving. 100 middle schoolers canvassed the campus and picked up trash. It wasn't changing the world or saving a city like Jonah did, but it was a socially and emotionally challenging project for our students. And, unlike Jonah, they responded with instant obedience.

Middle School Disciple Now '08

100 middle schoolers + great music + crazy games + an awesome message + Jesus Christ = An AMAZING weekend! (and not much sleep!)

This weekend was really cool, not just because it was a lot of fun, but because God showed up and moved in the lives of students and leaders. All weekend long we followed the story of Jonah. This scripture led to a lot of good conversation...and not just about whether or not it was a whale or a fish! We looked at God's compassion and his love for people, what it means to have total obedience, and we also talked about how God is mighty to save.

"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." - Jonah 2:9

In the midst of all the music, speaking, fun and conversations it was also very cool to see students develop friendships with other believers - growing, discovering God's word, and serving together.

Here are some pics...