Missions is closer than it appears...

You know those car mirrors that read "Objects are closer than they appear"? Well, I'm applying that same phrase to TreeHouse's mission trip in saying, "Missions is closer than it appears"... how close you might ask? Well we leave for Glenwood, Iowa in approximately 1 HOUR!!! It's crazy to think how fast time flew and that I'm now about to start my 4th week here going on a mission trip with not only our TreeHouse, but the 6 other sites too! So, here's a tentative look at our week ahead so you can get a better idea of the work we'll be doing down there...

We'll be working with an organization called TeenServe that will help us with the majority of the logistical things while we're down there. With TeenServe, we will spend the week weatherizing, repairing or painting homes for elderly, low-income or disabled people. There is no charge to these families for labor or materials. A typical daily schedule will look like:

-Breakfast (this is usually BEFORE  7 am, so lets be praying for this aspect especially since I'm with TEENAGERS!) :]
-Personal Devotions/quiet time
-Depart for work sites around 8-8:30 am
-Lunch around noon
-Resume working at sites for the rest of the afternoon
-Shower/Free time from 3:30 pm - 5 pm
-Dinner
-Evening program/free time (Worship is lead with both a praise band and a speaker)
-Group devotions/individual TreeHouse time
-Prepare for bed (usually between 10 pm - 11 pm; we'll be sleeping on the floor of a classroom in a local school)

So there's a rough skeleton of what our week will look like; God will fill in the rest. I am beyond excited for this opportunity to serve in this new position as a leader rather than a student on a trip like this. Please be praying for safe travel for all the vans today as it is a 6 hour drive (so a 9-10 hour drive with a youth group). Please also be praying for God to continually reveal Himself and the work He's already doing down there in Iowa to both the staff and teens. Pray for safety on the work site and for new and deep relationships to be formed with both each other and Jesus.

I couldn't do this without you family. Thank you for your support. I can't wait to share with you how God is moving! We'll be back Saturday, June 18th sometime in the evening. Until then!