final day of mission project

Sorry for the lateness of this post. The past 48 hours have been very busy. We arrived for the final day at Miss Carolyn's house. We were worried that we may not have enough time to finish it. But the Lord somehow has the answer. We got to work very quickly. One team on the bathroom and one on the Kitchen. By this time we had a well oiled team. The painting went very quickly everyone working together. The outside crew went to work furnishing up the porch painting. At lunch time devotions Evan Davis talked about how Christ's death was serving. The group also was given fake Indian names from "big loud hungry bear who breaks wind". Those who were there will recognize them self. He who women chases in his dreams, He who chases women but never catches, Jumping bean, Winged feet, Larry we will call you Larry and you will like it, Jefffafafa bauman.com, Big freak of Nature, Hay Now, Wounded knee, Silence of the Lambs, Limited Reach, Laughing Stock, Obnoxious human water shield, Marcia marcia marcia. After lunch we finished up and had a little time to get and give gifts. Bob from the Flight school gave everyone a certificate of completion. We were given one at random and we were to describe the persona and everyone had to guess who we were talking about. We the presented a picture we took to miss Carolyn. It is amazing what a picture frame, and Walmart can do for a gift. Miss Carolyn was very happy with the results of the work. We all hope the nice newly painted house will make her day brighter each and every day.

After we left the work site we had a little time to kill so we went to the Ochooe river for some swimming. We swam in the same spot that just weeks ago held the American trails for whitewater Kayaking. Before you get jump to the conclusion that we were trying to kill the kids the Ochooe river flow is regulated by the Army corp of engineers. The dams hold or release water according to a schedule. the river flow is very light on the weekdays so they can let it rip on the weekends. There was a spot where there was a little waterfall and many had fun sliding down the waterfall into the water below.

The evening devotion was lead by Miss Marcia (we have started to call everyone by miss and mister since we are in the south). We were asked to write down an obstruction to getting closer to Christ. We then talked about how to get past these obstructions in our daily life. Doug the whitewater rafting leader sat in this evening and gave some of his thoughts on the subject. At the end we burned the obstructions thus getting rid of them.

Day two at Miss Carolyn's

Today is day two at Miss Carolyn's and we got two bedrooms and the living room done to date. The Front and back porch are now done also. The grounds crew of Marty, Nathanial, and Paul cut her grass, and weeded the property. There is a weird type of vine that grows wild here called Kudzu. It has taken over trees, bushes and entire hillsides. The grounds crew fought the kudzu to a standstill in Miss Carolyn's yard. Dinner this night was on our own so we went to a restaurant in Murphy NC. It seams every time Jeff drives the van it rains. So if you are having a drought on a mission trip call Jeff to drive. Tonight I have some additional help from some of the trippers. First up is Erica Hogue.

Thus far this mission trip has been a great experience for me, helping and serving Miss Carolyn and getting her house back into shape for her to enjoy her new and improved house. When we arrived at her house and saw all that needed to be done I was ready to help her life become so much easier. Also when I started to paint those walls and move furniture it felt really good inside. I am looking forward to finishing this house and help Miss. Carolyn feel really good and safe in this house.

Now it is Samantha Bowes turn:

This trip has inspired me to believe in what I say and to speak the truth. I met this woman named Carolyn and she is what we call our resident her house has been damaged from smoke. Her walls were white and then her walls turned brown. Now her walls are pearl white I HELPED paint the bedroom and then the living room. Although I must SAY that JOSH got paint all over me and then he took a paint brush and painted above me!! But oh well lets just say that I got my revenge and I got him good. Our resident is so sweet I love her. I got to have the chance to actually sit down and talk about her life she said "I don't really get a lot of visitors and I greatly appreciate all of you to help me."

The little video I am adding to tonight's Blog is to amuse everyone back home. It was during last nights barn dance and

First day of real work!

We arrived at Miss Carolyn's house in McCraysville Georgia. Copperhill and McCraysville sit on the Tennessee/Georga border. The state line actually cuts some of the buildings in two. We are paining the entire inside and her front and back porches. You can see her sitting with us along the side of her house during mid-day devotions. Nathaniel Powell lead us in this special devotion "the example of serving" We talked about how Jesus showed the ultimate act of serving in his day by washing his disciples feet. The day was very clear and beautiful 88 degrees hot. Lots of water was drunk, and lots of paint somehow got spilt (both on the porch and on some of the kids). This evening we were given a good Tennessee Bluegrass Concert and barn dance. Nathaniel, Paul, Cassie, and Angie Neely were seen doing the Texas 2 Step.

Day three Trust and more Trust

Day three was a day of Trusting in God and our team. The day started with a low elements course int the woods of North Carolina and rock wall in Tennessee. If you watch the short video you will youth leader Cassie Jones trusting that the team will not let her down. Everyone took their turn trusting the zipper and realized with faith we can overcome our fears. We also got a chance to climb the rock wall at the camp. We all gave it a go and for some the top was found and for most it was a good try. Marty Davis was the first to reach the top. The afternoon was a test of our faith in God and our guide from Eagle Adventure's skill. Three boats of many were full of Wesley team running the rapids, riding the Bull, Surfing the hydraulic, and taking a swim in the Ochee river. This is where the 1996 Olympics held their competition and recently the American trails of this years Olympics were held. Ruby Sean Kopitsky and Ruby Connor lead us in Devotions Monday afternoon and evening. It was a glorious day of fun and adventure.

Marcia took this picture from the front porch of our bunk house. We are starting to get settled in. Our itinerary got switched around a little due to the number of groups here this week. We will be taking our day of team building Monday and reporting to our work site Tuesday. There are five groups in all here this week and talk about diversity. Churches from Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, and Colorado are here with us. Joshua Powell lead us in our devotion tonight. He talked about the feeling we get when we come together as one team to serve others. Also pictured is Marty Davis, Josh, Sean Kopitsky. Jon Gennaria sits across from them. We thank you Lord for the opportunity to serve in unity with each one here.

We are here

We have arrived at the Eagle Ranch in Copperhill Tennessee. For the Geeks out there it is 35.04151N by 84.3162W GPS coordinates, which on a map is somewhere straddling the Tennessee and North Carolina boarder in the Cherokee National Forest. One of the interesting facts is that the state line runs right through the camp. Our bunk house sits right on the line. We arrived safe and sound after another full day of driving. Modern technology might just keep Paul from getting lost anymore. I will send out more later tonight hopefully some pics also. Its dinner time they are wringing the dinner bell.

First Day DRIVING!!!

Most of us assembled bright and early Saturday morning. For some of the youth 7am in the summer is not a time to be awake. Pastor Jay, Eileen Thomas, and all of the parents were there to see us off. For some there were tears others joyful expressions for the week to come. (A couple of the parents were wanting us to take two weeks) The new van was definitely a welcome blessing since is actually can make it up the big hills without need for the four way flashers. Bad news is the van get 10 MPG the good news gas is only $3.83. We count our blessings where we can get them. We traveled to the Wyethville KOA in Wyethville Virginia. This is a great place to stay if you are ever in the area. The great Hoard of kids quickly descended on the pool like that scene from Caddyshack and for some strange reason many of the other campers vacated the area. Well we hope we were not to much of an interruption of their vacations. Paul led us in the first night devotions after a good meal of Baloney and Turkey sandwiches. It was nice to get the group to talk about them self and get to know everyone better. Well it time for breakfast and another day of travel. I will update as soon as possible. God Bless and keep us in your prayers.