Reflections

I am totally amazed at what God can do on a regular basis, but sometimes things just come together in such a way that it can ONLY be God! I am 100% convinced that God was in complete control of our mission trips this summer. That includes both the Guatemala trip and the Memphis trip. Every trip is awesome in its own way, but every once in a while things come together in a way that I just have to sit back and be in awe of God. A few months ago I was a little concerned about the trip...I had talked to Mission Serve a few times and they said that the youth pastor at the church we were staying at would be arranging our work projects. Well, I wasn't getting a lot of answers (at least not answers that I wanted to hear anyway. I was concerned that our projects were going to be "less" than what we wanted. He kept talking about painting and I kept saying..."we have skilled people and a group that can handle much larger projects". A couple of months ago, Jeff Williamson(youth pastor at Union Ave. Baptist where we are staying) gave me a choice of several houses to complete and I also decided on doing a VBS in one of the innercity parks. I felt a lot better about our projects and after talking with Jeff a few times, I felt even better. BUT, the reception we got when we arrived...to the service we got on our sites and at the church...and on and on and on......I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A TRIP WHERE THINGS WENT SO SMOOTHLY! (Guatemala was pretty much the same way) If we needed something, it was there...If we had a problem, it was solved immediately. I can't even describe how awesome Jeff Williamson was throughout the week and how awesome the city of West Memphis was for supplying everything we needed and more. Our kids had a great experience and did some incredible work! So proud to be the youth pastor of this group. I feel sad because I am losing a great class of kids to college this year, but I am so pumped about the future of The EDGE! Our church, our parents, the folks who give so much to us...BE EXCITED! This group is awesome and will be for years!Steve

Last day in construction!

Reporting again live from Memphis Tennessee, it's Courtney Monier here! (HA, Steve, you DO have a blogger from construction!!) it was an amazing last day for everyone, first we got to the construction site and blessed the home with prayer and gifted mrs. Josie with a bible signed by all on our crew! I just kept thinking thank you God for bringing us here to work on her house, and just bringing us here to the city of Memphis! :) we proceeded to put the finishing touches of paint on our home! (not to forget the major amount that ended up on Some of our bodies!)
Our crew then made the trek over to Keith's site, where we had lunch, had a small water fight, and helped clean up. There we also said a prayer for the home, since the home owner couldn't be with us for health causes. Both crews then packed up and headed over to the VBS, where we hopped out real quick to visit the large group of happy, sno-cone filled children, parents, and youth groupers! :) THEN, AFTER THAT, (almost there) the construction workers graciously received some amazing Baskin Robbins ice cream compliments of the fabulous Keith and Marita Taylor!!!! FINALLY, we arrived at the church where we showered, ate, then participated in a really uplifting concert by Jared Anderson and the desperation band. This has been a great day and week, full of smiles and great work. I'm simply glad I get to spend a week with these amazing people. :) NOW for some pictures;

Last day

Great last day at the park! I can't speak for the construction crews and there aren't a lot of bloggers from those groups so I guess you will have to wait for those updates.

More later......

Jacob's Well

What an awesome experience at Jacob's Well Church. We fed a lot of homeless and impoverished people (and ourselves), then some of us joined them in some outreach ministry after dinner. Their church is built on reaching out to people in need and then those people return the blessings on others. About 10 of our high schooler's and a couple of our adults went with Christy Anderson and Dave (Christy's "reeaallly good friend"!) to hand out some sack lunches to the homeless and sit and talk with them. Our teens were pretty impressed with Dave's ability to engage them in conversation and really know how to pray for them.

Kristi Aupperle, Laura Sammer, and I (along with a few of our teens) went with their pastor and a some of the volunteers to knock on doors and invite people to the church and to a Block
Party they are hosting next Wednesday. We also prayed with lots of them. I think we all had a great experience.

Bounce House, Sno-Cone's, and Jesus

Yep, they all go together in West Memphis! Another successful day at the park. All the kids are very respectful and kind and are really glad that we are there!

Mmmm Mmmm Gooooood!

The consenses of 47 BBQ afficianodo's is that Memphis BBQ Company is WONDERFUL!!!!!!! The BBQ was some of the best(if not the best)I have ever had, and everyone else agreed. The BBQ was excellent, but the service helped make the experience even better. They have a great staff who seem to really enjoy working there. A great big thanks goes out to Hap Zook in LeRoy! He hooked us up with this place, and he definitely knew what he was talking about. Just finished our evening devotions...the mood is one of joy, accomplishment, satisfaction, laughter, etc.... We got to spend some more time with Christy Anderson tonight and will see her again at Jacob's Well Church tomorrow night for the meal we are preparing. Always good to hang out with Christy! Steve

First day of VBS

Here's one of the many adorable pictures taken today of the VBS kids.

-Carson