One Down... Four to Go...

We knew the trip would be interesting when it was pouring down rain when we arrived at the church to load the van on Sunday afternoon. Luckily, Amy was prepared! (Good thing Amy read the packing list that Laura provided but did not pack her own rain gear!)

So about that rain jacket… (Amy made Laura insert this terrible picture of herself NOT wearing the rain gear that was listed as a must have!)

We were a little wet – but very happy to arrive – great dinner was waiting for us when we arrived! (Thanks Lucy!)

Monday –first day work day – started out rainy too! But Carol, Amy and Elise made the best of it.

Since it started raining – right as we were getting to work in the morning - we had a small change of plans and did some cleaning up inside. Jake and Ian sweeping in a very dusty (dry-wall) room!

Even Ms. Lucy got into the action and helped us sweep! FCC Slidell is also having their VBS this week – so kitchen duties are a little crowded and uncertain. But Ms. Lucy is making sure we’re all fed and taken care of – and contributing to the building as well!

Tom on the other hand was the first to take advantage of the sun! Doesn’t he look so relaxed? (You should see this photo!)

When the sun finally did come out – we were ready to jump into action! Jake and Ian were more than willing to help, and joined DHM Interns Gabe and Corey along with Steve’s supervision in hanging up soffit.

We did have our first injury of the week – and what we’re hoping to be the last. A scratch and possibly an allergy – but all is well. Carol M - we promise we'll take good care of your scratch - as long as you promise to have the ONLY injury all week!)

Carol didn’t let a little thing like a scratch prevent her from jumping in and getting dirty – Carol learned how to use a circular saw today, and was quite good at it! So good at it in fact she had a face full of sawdust to prove it! Way to go Carol!

All in all we cleaned up the mission center to get it ready for the finishing touches on the inside. We’ve hung doors (Amy’s team hung 5 doors today – and Tom’s team hung at least as many!), hung trim, baseboard, and soffit, cleaned up the mission center and prepped it for the finishing touches we hope to make this week. Spirits are still high, energy is waning just a little, but great food and good fellowship has helped bring that energy right back! After a good night's sleep we'll all be ready for a big day tomorrow.

Now it’s on to relaxing and hang out time - on to a game of the most exciting dice game we have found to date – FARKLE!

Amy won last night – and Jake only lost by 7,000 points. He hopes to make a comeback tonight! Stay tuned to find out. :D

We've Arrived! (And we LOVE Farkle!)

We've arrived in Slidell!  First Christian Church of Slidell has opened their doors and welcomed us - and we're ready to get to work!  We met 5 Disciples Home Mission Interns that will be working with Office of Disciples Volunteering throughout the summer and we're excited to be working with them.  We also met the rest of the long-term volunteers (we already know Lucy and Tom!) and they are ready for our energy.

After a fun game of our new favorite dice-game, "Farkle," we are headed to bed and getting ready for a big day of work tomorrow!  Come back for more stories and pictures tomorrow, we're ready to show you what we're working on.

In the mean time, please consider praying this prayer with us throughout the week.  It is a modified version of a poem and a prayer by St. Teresa of Avila - and the Serenity Prayer.  We're looking forward to the ways the spirit will support us throughout the week and thank you for your support too!

Holy and Loving God, we know that Christ has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours, ours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, ours are the feet with which he walks to do good, ours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.  Ours are the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, we are his body.  Christ has no body now but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours, ours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.  Christ has no body now on earth but ours. Help us to use our bodies, our minds and our hearts to be the body of Christ in this world.  Help us to be carriers of your light to all those we meet.  Grant us the courage to accept change in the ways we can.  Grant us the serenity to accept those things we cannot change.  Grant us the wisdom to see the difference.  Grant us the compassion to live one day at a time, as your body here on earth.  Amen.

New Adventure!

We're off on a new adventure!  This time our mission team will be headed to Slidell, LA May 30 - June 5.  We have a group of eight willing and excited volunteers ready to help with more Hurricane Katrina recovery.  We hope you will join us in our journey by following this blog! You can also "follow" this blog by clicking "follow" on the bottom left hand side of this page, or by clicking on the RSS feed link at the top of the page.  Thank you for being a part of this important mission of the church!