Man, this title is long!

Everyone was slower getting up this morning.  We’re tired, but a good kind of tired…the tired that comes from working hard…the tired that lets you know you’ve been doing something worth the energy you’ve expended.  Today was another day of working hard, and having it all be worth it.

As we pulled into the community garden this morning, the sun was shining, and a breeze was blowing.  Of course, if you stood too close to the compost bins, the breeze was a little less pleasant.  As the team divided up to do some specific jobs, like breaking up soil so potatoes could be harvested, filling a wheel barrow full of “ready” compost, or harvesting the potatoes, we quickly decided that gardening is HARD work.   During our time in the garden, there were many suggestions for the title of today’s blog, so to accommodate everyone, today’s blog is lovingly titled, “Soft and Squishy…Potato/Puh-tah-toe… Tots Hunting for Taters…The Vegetables of Our Labor”

It’s a long title, we know, but it so completely describes where we are at this stage of our trip, that we had to use all of it.  “Soft and Squishy” describes our hearts. It is at this point in the trip that our hearts have truly been broken for this place and these people.  Many of us are already shedding tears as we think about leaving.  “Potato/Puh-tah-toe” is about different perspectives.  We all have them as each of us sees and feels something different about what God is doing in and through us.  “Tots Hunting for Taters” may not seem as obvious to you, but to us it makes perfect sense.  The BIG 45’ers are just mere tots in many ways, but yet they are digging and searching for the bigger and better things that God has for them.  “The Vegetables of Our Labor” rounds it out nicely.  We want to see the fruit of our labor, so why not ask God for the vegetables too? 

And now what you’re really reading this blog for (not the crazy titles)…

My favorite part today was probably learning some stuff in the garden.  Like…you have to look really deep sometimes to find the good stuff- like the potatoes.  This is like us.  God does good stuff in us, but sometimes it’s deep inside. (Louise)

My favorite part was laughing so hard in the shower that I freaked Emma out.  I also loved telling funny stories and taking funny pictures with Houston and Emily.  (Alexa)

I liked playing with Sarah today.  I’m going to be sad to see the kids leave tomorrow.  (Emily)

I loved seeing Jamarie today.  I also liked breaking down the compost at the community garden- even though it was pretty stinky.  (Maggie)

I hope the kids learned a lot about God this week.  I loved working in the garden today because I don’t have one at home.  It was hard work, but worth it. (Just Jill)

I’ve been having a great time here in Lexington and I’ve been meeting lots of cute little kids at VBS.  It’s saddening to see what little they have.  I have mixed feelings about the VBS ending.  The first feeling is that I’m glad that I don’t have to carry around large containers of crafts. And the second feeling is that I’m sad to see these kids go.  Also, I am sorry to say that the documentary of Lego Bob’s adventures in Kentucky has come to a sudden halt due to his abrupt death by drowning in the sink. May he rest in peace.  (Houston)

All of the kids had a way better time than all of the other days so far.  I’m going to be really sad to go back to Georgia.  I’ve learned that when you show God’s love, you also see it being poured back into your life.  (Andy)

It is amazing how far I’ve come in 3 days.  It’s so amazing and sad what little these kids have.  I am already so sad about leaving and I don’t want to go home.  I’ve learned from VBS with the kids that it’s a good thing to have honor, responsibility, and peace.  I hope on our last day that we can fill these kids’ lives with the love of God.  (Trey)

It is so amazing to see these kids of BIG 45 at work for the Lord.  This week I’ve seen each of the kids’ spiritual gifts develop and being used by God. We’ve had our rough spots, but we’ve also been able to work together as the body of Christ. I’m so proud of these kids and look forward to seeing them at work on the last day of camp.  As for myself- today was hard for me because I realized how much the kids we’re here for depend on the community center and on groups like us.  (David)

I liked working in the garden today.  We also had a lot of fun playing the games.  Not to mention I had a hilarious conversation with Jill!  (Emma)

I was so impressed with the kiddos today when we organized the gift bags for our campers.  They got the task done in no time.  They were like little Ford factory workers in their assembly line.  (Ms. J)

I am just amazed how the team’s gifts and talents fit together so perfectly.  Everyone is doing their part so everything gets done so quickly and efficiently.  It’s like a well-oiled machine.  I love how our kids all love each other- and the kids we’re serving.  I truly think their capacity to love has grown on this trip! (Amber)

It's a Miracle!

Tuesday...
"It’s a Miracle!"

This became the phrase of the day, and even though screaming it out was followed by lots of laughter (to find out why, read Emma’s entry), it really was a great way to describe our day.  The Lord filled our day with one miracle after another.  Only a miraculous God can use nine pre-teen children, and 4 adults of varying ages to do a camp for 39+ kids without a hitch.  And…only a God who does miracles can bring kids from very different backgrounds together in a way that makes a children’s pastor’s heart very, very happy.  Our kids are amazing servants.  That in itself is not a miracle, but it is because of a miraculous work in their hearts.  And now a word from those kids you know and love…

My favorite part was meeting a girl named Sarah.  And I loved the poverty game Geoff and Sherry did with us. (Maggie)

My favorite part was meeting the newer kids that came today. No matter the circumstance, they had a smile on their face.  (Louise)

My husband {Andy} was paralyzed in the simulation game.  At one point, he stood up and walked to give me a form. I shouted, “You’re walking…it’s a miracle!”  Ms. Penny and everyone else stopped what they were doing, and started dying with laughter!  (Emma)

I liked the simulation game we did today.  I had to pretend I was Mr. David’s daughter and he couldn’t read.  I had to read all of his paperwork.  It was really funny because David kept acting like he really didn’t know what anything meant.  (Just Jill)

I liked the simulation game because I was a translator for Maggie and Houston because they didn’t speak English. Houston was trying to learn how to say “Hello” but it sounded like “hallow.” (Emily)

During the simulation game, we were looking for a shelter for the night.  We looked at the Salvation Army, but it was only for women and children.  I told Trey (who was pretending to be my husband), and he said, “I knew it…that’s why it’s called the Army house.”  That made absolutely no sense!  (Alexa)

I had one of the best days ever at camp so far.  My favorite part of the day was playing games with kids. (Trey)

The games went a lot better today.  The kids liked it more because our games team learned to work together a lot better.  My favorite part of the day was making friends with Mayan. (Andy)

{Imagine this in an Irish accent, which sounds more Scottish…like we really know the difference!}  I’ve been perfecting my magic by showing them to all the campers.  My secret agent prayer partner would be proud.  Please don’t beat me with rubber chickens, but seriously…my favorite part of the day was showing kids my magic tricks.  (Houston)

I loved being Emma and Andy’s eight year old daughter, who they named Jillian Bob Cosgrove.  We were the Cosgrove family.  Not sure why we didn’t take the father’s (or even the mother’s) last name!  (Ms. J)

As a last note…we enjoyed wonderful hamburgers (the size of your head) at Sawyers for dinner, and then a trip to Dairy Queen for dessert.  To end our “It’s a Miracle” themed day…don’t you find it miraculous that no one said their favorite part of the day was going to DQ?! 

Bees Live Here

Monday....
Breakfast (lovingly prepared by David, Andy, and Jillian S) consisted of just enough protein, carbs, and fresh fruit to fuel us for our trip to the urban garden.  During the mission trip here to Lexington last year, our team helped prep an empty lot next to Geoff and Sherry's house for a garden.  Two members of our team last year built a chicken coop, and a spot was prepared for bee hives.  One year later, this year's team was able to see the fruit of that labor, not to mention God's goodness.  A sign on the fence into the garden says, "Bees Live Here."  Bees, chickens, and God Himself live in this beautiful place.  The garden is just 1/10 of an acre, but to the "food desert" that is Lexington, that 1/10 is a metropolis of goodness. 

After our work weeding, watering, and mulching the fruit orchard, we got in snack, and then geared up for our first day of camp.  A few words from our kids and some pictures of the day will follow.  It was a GREAT first day!

- It was fun today working with all of the cute little kids at camp.  I did some magic tricks for the kids. They were AMAZED-(so *clang*, Haviland)  I am documenting Lego Bob's adventures as well.  Video to follow... (Houston)

- Bees, bees, and more bees.  I got some fresh eggs from the chickens.  They were heavy!  (Trey)

- I liked teaching the kids the games and playing the games with them.  (Andy)

- It was great seeing our kids teaching and leading the games at camp. Although they are ministering to kids their own age, our kids really stepped up and did the work.  It was also great seeing the smiles of all the kids! (David)

- I was super, super impressed (and let's be honest, a little jealous) with the urban garden!  It was cute how our "city kids" thought picking a red (not ripe) blackberry would be a raspberry.  (Amber)

- My favorite part of the day- all 6 girls piled around me on the couch watching Potter Puppet Pals.  (Jillian C.- from here forward known as Ms. J)

- I love helping the kids make crafts today.  (Emily)

- I like shoveling the dirt...but don't get any ideas dad!  (Jillian S.- from here forward known as Just Jill)

- I thought taking wheelbarrows of mulch across traffic to put on the trees was awesome...seriously!  (Emma)

- I enjoyed putting soil around the trees in the orchard and helping kids do the crafts at camp.  (Maggie)

- I met the cutest baby ever!  (Louise)

- I was exhausted by "flat on back time" so I REALLY liked that!  (Alexa)

 

Now we're all tired.... 

...so all the little bees are going to bed...to dream of fresh chicken eggs, wheelbarrows full of mulch, lots of games yet to be played, crafts yet to be made, and God's work yet to be done.

 

Forgot to mention...

...Maggie grew a beard on the way...

We Brought the Rain

It took 7.5 hours, but we finally made it to Lexington.  In spite of A LOT of traffic and some heavy rain, not to mention an extended lunch at the swankiest Burger King we could find (imagine eye roll here)- we pulled into Lexington with our excitement intact. 
Happenings tonight- pizza dinner, meeting with Geoff and Sherry, lots of games played - which involved TRYING to tire them out, showers, and bed. 
We're ready for working in the urban garden and our first day of camp tomorrow. 

Thanks for your prayers!

We're Ready...

BIG 45'ers are getting ready to leave for Lexington in just two days!  After months of planning, lots of praying, and surviving a few bumps in the road...we are ready to do the work that God has called us to do.  Follow us during our trip July 8-13 as we serve the wonderful people of Lexington. 

Pray for our team: safe travels, that God will work in and through us, and above all else that He will be glorified.  We are trusting Him to do more than we could ever dream or imagine! 

Lexington...here we come!