Day Four - Hard Work and Hospitality

It is hard to believe, but today was our last day of working at our respective sites.

It was a long and hard day, but it was an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling day as each group was able to make significant and substantial progress! Each of the flooring sites were able to get subflooring down and the roofing crew was able to get the roof completely covered with metal. It really was a great day!

Once we ended for the day, we all met at the roofing site for a DELICIOUS home cooked meal. The families we had been working with this week spoiled us with an endless array of just about every type of food you could think of. The hospitality we received this week was absolutely incredible. We are so very humbled by their profound generosity. 

Our devotions for this evening were led by Kelsey, Colson, Samantha, Heather, and Mariah. Their devotion focused on two passages of scripture - Psalm 133 and Ephesians 3:17-19. Our devotion began with a fun (and competitive!) game of Twister. We then spent time thinking about our family - the JKPC Youth - and how we are so deeply connected through the unity of love as a family.

Day Three - Making Progress!

Our third work day was one marked by a lot of success!

Each group made a lot of progress on their respective tasks, leaving everyone feeling far more positive than yesterday!

We are looking forward to our final work day tomorrow, where we will do our best to complete the tasks which we have started this week. 

This evening's meal was a baked potato bar! SO. GOOD. As always, thank you to our two resident chefs - Alicia and Frank! 

We also got to celebrate a birthday this evening. Felipe turned 17 today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELIPE! 

Our devotion tonight was led by Erin, Amber, Courtney, Matthew, and Lance. Utilizing two passages - Hebrews 13:1-2 and Job 38:33-38 - we focused our time this evening on how we might step back and see things through God's perspective, especially through the lens of hospitality.

They then led us through an activity where we able to create a special memento to share with the families we were so blessed to work alongside with this week.

Day Two - Flat Tires are Dumb, But Jesus is Cool!

Well, our second day of work started out with a...FLAT TIRE.

As one might imagine, this threw quite the wrench in our plans for the day. Luckily, we were able to get everyone out to our respective sites AND get a new tire put on our van. (Thanks, AAA and Mr. Tire!)

Unfortunately, the flat tire served as a metaphor for much of our day as each group encountered quite a few challenges today while working. However, we all got through it and we're looking forward to starting fresh tomorrow morning!

Our chefs - Alicia and Frank - continue to spoil us! Tonight's dinner was Taco Tuesday!

Our devotion tonight was led by Maddie, Jen, Felipe, and Spencer. Tonight's devotion focused on the idea that God's wideness is working in us, with us, and through us even in those times of struggle, difficulties, and challenges - Much like those we had today.

The group invited us to look at three different passages - Colossians 3:12-15; Matthew 6:31-35; and John 15:1-5. They then led us through an activity where we were invited to "prune" away those challenges and difficulties that we might be experiencing as a way to, as our passage from Matthew stated, "not worry about tomorrow."

Day One - Two Floors and A Roof!

Today was our first full day of work!

For today's work, we split into three separate groups - two groups spent the day working on flooring projects while the third group spent the day on a roofing project. As is often the case on our trips, pictures tell a far better story than we can through words. So please be sure to look below for some snapshots of our day.

Dinner this evening was chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese! Thank you Chef Alicia and Chef Frank!

We had an opportunity for a bit of free time before and after dinner, getting a chance to explore where we are staying while also enjoying time for fun and fellowship.

Our devotion this evening expanded on our brief conversation last night, as we wondered together about the wideness of God. We took a look at two passages of scripture from the prophet Isaiah - Isaiah 40:12 and Isaiah 41:5-7.

When then watched a fun video titled - Take a Seat, Make a Friend. Following the video, we took some time to connect together in small groups before closing in prayer.

Roofing Crew - Amber, Mariah, Heather, Kelsey, Felipe, Lance, Matthew, and Tom

Flooring Crew #1 - Jen, Courtney, Spencer, Troy

Flooring Crew #2 - Erin, Maddie, Colson, Samantha, Alicia, and Frank

Arrival in Kentucky!

We have arrived safely in David, Kentucky!

We are incredibly thankful for the wonderful hospitality we have already received from our hosts, His Hands and Feet Ministries.

After stopping for dinner on our way (thanks, Tom for taking us COMPLETELY out of the way!), we arrived at the David School, got the vans unloaded, and took a moment to get ourselves settled.

Thank you to Alicia and Frank who went and got us groceries!

We then spent some time together chatting about the week ahead, thinking about those things we're most excited about as well as those things we're most anxious about.

This week we will be spending our time thinking about the wideness of God, thinking about how God is working in us, with us, and through us in all that we do.

Our passage of scripture for tonight's brief devotion was Wisdom 7:26-27.

We are looking forward to a wonderful and exciting week, one that will push us and challenge us in very fruitful and faithful ways.

Be on the lookout for pictures tomorrow!

Day Four - The Center for Social Empowerment

It is hard to believe, but today was our final day of work!

Today, we spent the day at The Center for Social Empowerment (CSE).

The morning was spent looking at our racial and social identities and the ways in which these identities have been shaped through family, friends, society, and culture. We also looked at the ways in which we have or have not experienced and encountered privilege and/or discrimination.  

We created racial autobiographies through artistic representation as well as took part in an exercise known as a "Privilege Walk."

After lunch, we got to spend time with the kids who are attending the Summer SURGE Academy, a camp that is offered to local children that takes place at Wellspring Church where the CSE is housed as well.

Following our time with the kids, we met for a time of reflection, thinking about the ways in which - as the CSE puts it - we might go back into our own community and "hold up our corner."

As we have been all week, we were spoiled for dinner! Tonight's meal was pasta, garlic bread, and salad. YUMMY! Thank you Alicia and Frank!

Our devotion tonight was led by Jen, Spencer, Samantha, Matthew, and Mariah. The devotion centered around John 21:18-19. The group guided us through three devotional stations where we able to contemplate about our week, think deeper about the text, as well as share about the moments in which we encountered God.

"'Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.' (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, 'Follow me.'" (John 21:18-19)