Day five of our trip brought our hottest day yet with the high hitting 100. Water, water, water was a must! Even with the heat baking us cool weather central coast people the work went on. We started the day painting and moved into several more projects as the day progressed. Luckily today’s shower and rest time also allowed for a nice swim to cool us off.
Today was also youth group day here in Stockton so our group join theirs for their weekly youth group meeting. It’s so much fun to see kids from very different cultures connect and have common ground through their relationship with God.
As the heat of the day faded to night we spent a couple hours out having fun. Then we ended the day painting the same way we began. The drop and the heat made the second coat of paint seem very appealing to complete before we are facing more over the top hot tomorrow.
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We have shifted gears in our work projects from building and repairing to painting and installing. Yesterday half the team started taping off all the rooms in prep for paint and moving out furniture. After breakfast and bible study the whole team will either be attacking the huge painting projects or building shelves for storage. No matter what the task the team is serving well and keeping our col 3:23-24 focus. It’s such a wonderful thing to see the students serve together in harmony.
Keep praying for us as we push hard to finish everything in the next two days.
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It’s our third morning here in Stockton and we have now completed all of out projects off site of the church. Helping do repairs and yard work in homes of people of the community was very rewarding. One home we worked on needed rain gutter repairs and repair done to a wheel chair ramp. When the elderly women rolled out her door and down the ramp she was so excited. It was the first time in two years she could leave her house without someone helping her. She was beaming when she left with her shopping bags for the corner market. At another home we removed old trees and strip a yard bare for others to plant grass this fall.
Watching our students serve people and show Gods love organically has been awesome! Jeremiah Lee, a sixth grade student, said, “it’s so hot and this is hard work I can’t believe how much fun I’m having”. It’s such a blessing to see these students finding joy in hard work show God’s love.
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After driving over to Stockton and settling in last night the morning of our first full day was quite busy. The day started with an early breakfast and our morning study time. Then we went right into prep for Sunday service. Our students ran the entire service with Cassandra Ward, Maddy Houseman, and Isabel Mundo leading our worship. They were accompanied by Veronica Ward and Jessica Gutshall on the piano. Other students did prayer and greeting and the offering time. Several students and leaders present together in the teaching portion of the service sharing about ways they have been stretched in their faith over the last year.
After service we got dirty in our first work project. While we are here there are several homes we are doing minor repair and yard work as a service to people who can not physically handle such tasks. Today we removed three trees and prepped a yard to be planted with seed. It was a huge blessing to the family.
Tomorrow we start our projects here at the church so church back for more updates soon.
