How we spent our Friday!

Well I must say- today was fantastic but boy oh boy we are all exhausted! Today was our first full day and it was jam packed with activities! Instead of just telling about our activities- why not show them through pictures! Here are just a few things that we got to do today.

Jillian and Emily enjoying a little breakfast!

Jimmy, who helped start Mission Waco came to talk to the group about how Mission Waco got started and some of the different programs they have for the homeless population to be involved in. 

We got to meet with the Waco Community Development Organization that helps build new homes in the neighborhood. We got to have a walk through of one of the newly finished homes! After the tour we got to go into the neighborhood and help clean up the lots that soon will have new homes on them!

One of our activities for the day was to pass out flyers around the neighborhood.

I'll be honest I'm not sure why they are playing volleyball with a football.

A team ready to start painting!

 Our amazing snack team!

We got to clean some of the Church Under the Bridge vans.

We had a quick tour and talk about the homeless shelter, My Brother's Keeper.

This picture cracks me up. Two sleepy girls and Anna still excited as always!

The girls that cleaned the Church Under the Bridge vans! 

We have tons of pictures that I can't wait to show everyone from today! After all of this we also had the girl's go to My Brother's Keeper to have a devotional with some of the shelter residents. We had the girls pair up and go and talk to one of the residents to get to know them and then tell their facts to the group. I will be completely honest- it was one of the most amazing things to look over a patio to see 28 girls and 13 women sitting around and talking and sharing with the shelter residents. The stories that came out of tonight's activity was amazing. One of those stories you will hear tomorrow. 2 of our 5th grade girls are actually going to tell you in their own words. We heard so many girls say things like, "I can't believe a person who has nothing, no family, no money, and no home can still love God and thank Him everyday!", "The people I met tonight have changed the way I think about homeless people and the think about what I have to be thankful for." We will have more stories coming straight from the kids tomorrow.

We did have something amazing happen tonight. We had a group of 7- 5th grade boys and 2 adults out cleaning up a huge lot. They were working hard picking up trash, cutting down trees, and racking. Two ladies walking by stopped to ask how the adults got the kids to work that hard. One of the ladies has had some recent problems with her 11 year old boy and she was shocked that 7 boys, her son's age, were out there working hard and not complaining. Pastor Trent, who was one of the adult leaders explained that we were here on a mission trip to help Mission Waco. He explained that we were a church group that came to help. One of the ladies mentioned how she hasn't gone to church in a while because she felt like she isn't good enough to go. After talking with Trent she said that she is going to start taking her family to church again!! All of this happened because of our amazing kids stepping up and being hard workers and people noticed! We have been here for 1 1/2 days and already a family has been affected by these kids!! 

The verse we talked about tonight in devotional was-¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

*Please forgive any mistakes. It is late :)