To summarize today, we did two major service projects – Food Bank and the Boys & Girls Club. After that, we had dinner, worship & Senior night, followed by cleanup activities as we’re leaving our host Churches tomorrow morning.
We started the day with breakfast, quiet time, and then a short thought from Pastor Lauren Gully.
Food Bank
A team went to the North Helpline Food bank to help sort their food donations.
While we did not serve people like yesterday, we connected with other volunteers and had some God Sightings – like a cross on a nectarine.
The students understood the value of food and how the food close to the expiry dates are donated to food banks.
Boys & Girls Club
Projects
In the morning, we did several projects at the Boys & Girls club – removing weeds from planter boxes, leveling the sand box, fixing the chicken coop, organizing the tools shed, etc.
Canvassing
Couple of our teams went to spread news about the frat programs at the Boys & Girls club by handing out flyers
Picking up Trash
Another team went around the neighborhood picking up the trash
Youth group picking up trash in the neighborhood
Trash Ninjas
Water Party
In the afternoon, our group was divided into four teams and manned several stations – water slide, water balloon toss, running through the sprinklers, face painting, tie dye, blowing bubbles, writing with chalk, some indoor activities, snow cones, etc.
Dinner
We didn’t have time for showers today and went directly to the Church. We will have showers at the hotel tomorrow.
Here you see two very able ladies bringing our dinner
Other fun pictures
Michele and Alex’s group had lunch by the lake:
Larry having fun on the swing
Worship
We had a good time of worship followed by a short thought from our fearless leader Keris
Senior Night
Senior nights are usually very difficult because of all the free-flowing emotions without any inhibitions. Tonight was no different.
We were all overwhelmed by the love in the room as people started talking about the seniors. It was especially hard when siblings (of which we had 10 on the trip) shared about their seniors.
It was amazing to see how much LOPC gave to the seniors, and also how much they gave back to LOPC and all the youth.
We want the readers to know what a powerful community we have at LOPC and how it is not only the youth, but also the adults that benefit and thrive in this inclusive, welcoming community.
PJ sang a beautiful song after the sharing time:
Colleen shared a verse from the Bible as a charge to the youth, which applies to all of us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
We’re off the Gates Foundation Museum tomorrow and maybe even the beach!!