Something still feels very wrong about this mission trip.
Surely it’s not all supposed to go this smoothly.
So today is Monday and usually on mission trips Monday morning
is really slow moving and students almost never get loaded in vans until after
9 and by the time you get to the work-site and by the time work gets actually
started its 10 then lunch from noon to 1. Then back to work for about 45
minutes before someone needs to potty. You have to load up the van to head to
the convenience store to go potty and 30 minutes later you get back to the work-site just in time to do 30 more minutes of work before heading to the
showers, because you have to have time to pit-stop at sonic before dinner.
Usually that means you get about 3.5 hours worth of work done on a Monday.
That wasn't what happened today… not even close.
When the alarm went off for the guys to wake up at 6:30 most
of them were already awake and moving about getting ready for the day.
Breakfast was served, lunches were made, tools were sorted, supplies lined up
for everyone to take to their different work-sites and the last van, by some
miracle, rolled out of the parking lot by 8:15.
8 work teams swarmed Philly Mississippi today and a lot of
work got done. Some work teams completely finished their first work project
already.
My particular work team has so far been the most efficient
work team of any youth trip I have been on. Ryan and Brad worked all day on
re-doing some siding with Hardy Board. The students from Cleburne got the rest
of the house prepped to be painted by washing and scraping. Autumn folded some tin
flashing to match the roof of the house for a repair that we will be doing. The
project, which I have seen similar ones take all week and not be finished, is
almost halfway done after day 1.
Other teams with Lake Cities Students had similarly
productive days.
Patrick, Dylan and Ian’s worksite has been painting a
ministry of the local church here called God’s Closet. Almost a thrift store
but not quite, that concept seems to be following Patrick a bit. The worst part
(sarcasm) of their day was that the UMW would bring them by fresh baked treats
nearly every hour.
Matt, James, and Gabe’s work team did some major work
setting foundation footings for a wheelchair ramp they are building. Although
when I asked the students what their favorite part of the day was, they only
mentioned girls and conversations about conspiracy theories. They are certainly
having fun while getting some work done.
Laken, and Eli are on a work team together but I didn't get
a chance to hear about how their day went.
The evening activity tonight was a game of Kill-ball. Ask
one of the students when they get back how to play.
Worship tonight was about how God calls us to do big things
that can sometimes give us a bit of anxiety. We think that we can’t do it and
God says we can.
Hopefully my air mattress isn't above the basketball goal again
when I head in there to sleep.
