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June 14, 2011

Day Seven: Friday

Well, the Mission Serve 2011 Memphis project it on the home stretch. All thats left to do is load the buses and head out in the morning. The paint is dry and the ridgecaps are down. All of the worksites were completed this afternoon and there was no last minute scrambling or late afternoon labor. Eleven homes were repaired this week by the Mission Serve participants.

Our speaker, Bryan, gave us a wonderful parting message. Using the example of his experience of having to fly a small airplane, he said that when we are in control, everything goes wrong. We must leave it up to the One who knows what He's doing. God is our pilot, not ourselves.

Many obstacles were presented leading up to this project. Our PC Jeff put it best. He said that Satan was trying his hardest to put a stop to this project with tornadoes and flooding, but we would not give up. We were coming to Memphis no matter what was put in our way.

The participants are packing their bags and saying their final goodbyes. They have some long drives ahead of them to Texas and Ohio, Missouri and Alabama. Please keep them in your prayers as they head home Friday night and Saturday morning. God has certainly been in Memphis and West Memphis this week, and he will continue to be with the grops as they return to their hometowns.

With Love from Memphis,

Mikki and Taylor

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June 23, 2011

Day Six: Thursday

 

Saying that rest does the body good was certainly proven in Memphis today. The groups got the afternoon off to do as they please, and hit the ground running this morning.

Yesterday the squads got to the sites bright and early to get to work. Many of the squads seemed to manage to fit an entire days work into a mere few hours. They spoke of how they were more than halfway done with the project going into Wednesday, and expected to finish late Thurday or early Friday. They knew the harder they worked, the sooner they would be able to see the reward of a finished worksite. Wednesday afternoon, the groups took to galavanting around Memphis, with groups heading to Beale Street, The Peabody, the mal and the movies.

The evening off resulting in the participants rested, rejuvinated, and ready to work. The squads did not waste any time getting out to the worksites this morning, and dove right into their work without a second thought. Though no squads officially completed their work today, many are expected to finish within very little time of arrival tomorrow and are prepared to relocate to another site to assist the other squads.

This evening was finished off with a bit of fun. At the auction, four people bid on the chance to pie Taylor, Mikki, Jeff, our PC, and Drew, the lead singer of the band, in the face. Whipped cream was poured, the plates were thrown, and faces were covered in the sticky stuff. It may have been silly, but they pies alone raised more than a hundred dollars towards the offering.

Please keep the squads in your prayers as they head into their final day of work. Pray that they stay safe and work hard.

Love from the Bluff City,

Mikki and Taylor

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June 21, 2011
Day Four: Tuesday
 

Well, we've almost hit the middle of the week here in Memphis, and I know our squads are looking forward to a little rest tomorrow. They've all been working super hard in rebuilding the communities of West Memphis. They've been coming back covered head to toe in paint, roof grit, and joy. We have yet to see anyone complain about the hard work; they are all eager to get back out to the sites and complete their projects. It's been all smiles as they get off the bus, sharing stories of their day.

Tonight, in place of worship, we held our Concert of Prayer. It began with the band leading us in a time of worship, then in a time of prayer. The participants were then invited to come to the altar, write down their confessions, and place them at the foot of the cross. The offering was collected, and the participants were asked to get into small groups within their squad. The participants prayed for each other, thanking God for the prayers that he has answered, prayed for their homeowner by name, and prayed for their youth groups, their youth leader, and the project as a whole.

After the Concert of Prayer and youth group debriefing, we held our auction to go towards the offering. Items auctioned included a Mission Serve blanket, dinner with the band, a pass to the front of the shower line, and a chance to pie the staff in the face. After the offering and the auction, the total was more than one thousand dollars. We were astounded that the people here at the project were eager to give so much. It truly showed that God is great.

Keep us in your prayers tomorrow as the participants work their half day. Pray that they get good work done, and that they stay safe as they venture out with their youth groups.

In Him,

Taylor and Mikki

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June 20, 2011
Day Three: Monday
 

Today the squads ventured out for their first day on the worksite. It was definitely a hot one in Memphis today, but no one let the heat get them down. They blazed through ripping up old shingles, powered through scraping old paint, and muscled through the clean up project so fast that the Sierra squad is already days ahead of schedule.

The potential threat of rain in the middle of the week has motivated the squads to work even harder today. Our Project Coordinator, Jeff, told them that they had set the bar pretty high today and I know they won't dissappoint on Tuesday.

Keep the squads in your prayers, as well as the squads all over the country.

With Love,

Mikki and Taylor

 

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June 19, 2011
Day Two: Sunday
 

Another wonderful day in the Bluff City! We had a great worship this morning with the congregation of Union Avenue Baptist Curch as they welcomed us into their beautiful church. The participants met their squads last night, and will visit their worksite this afternoon. There is no doubt that the church lines have been blurred as all of the participants, both youth and adults alike, have quickly made new friends and connections. This evening at worship, our speaker Bryan spoke about the fact that being a Christian isn't about being popular, and that we were modeled after God's own heart.

It's going to be a hot week here in the Midsouth, so make sure to keep these amazing participants in your prayers. Pray that they stay safe throughout their first venture to the worksite, ready and willing to serve, and pray that lives are changed: the lives of our participants, our homeowners, and the community.

In Him,

Mikki and Taylor

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June 18, 2011
Day One: Saturday
 

Well, today was a great first day in Memphis! All of our participants got here after lunch and they were just as excited as we were to meet and get started letting God use us here. God has definitely tested us as a staff, we've had everything from a flat tire to technical difficulties. It took us a few upset moments to realize that it's simply Satan knowing what we're here to do and he's trying to put a stop to it. It won't happen though! We have worked through all of it with God's help! We're ready to get these amazing participants out on their sites to show God's love to the city of Memphis. Keep us in your prayers, please. Pray that God keeps everything running smoothly, keeps everyone on site safe, and allows us to show his love to this community!

Love from Memphis,

Taylor and Mikki