Thursday Recap

Just now posting Thursday's events.  It's amazing how time flies on these type of projects.  Maggie and Andrew provided Morning Glow for our group.  We were encouraged to listen to things differently.  

The farm group headed out early and the first task was picking weeds out of a natural habitat of grass.  This in turn would attract bees for pollinating the apple trees.  The science fell on mostly deaf ears but the hands were up to the task.  This is a 200 acre farm with the primary goal of feeding hungry people through their intentional efforts.  After we pulled weeds, we then fed the goats which was a first for our group!  Next it was on to the flatbed for a tractor pull and bumpy ride to the fields to plant broccoli in very dry soil.  It made us appreciate the farms cry for rain to fall soft upon the fields. Farming is very intense, manual labor.  We appreciate the Hunger Task Force's commitment to eliminate famine.

Another group returned to the UM Children's Services where they continued staining, planting in the community garden and installing lights in classrooms.  The lighting project is something they had waited on for 5 years to be funded and volunteer labor to complete.  One of the highlights today at UMCS was Gray reading her book to the children in the daycare.  After reading her story, she gave the children autographed copies of the book for them to keep.  The organic relationships continue to be built among our youth and the Washington Park neighborhood. 

A group went to the Northcott Neighborhood Center for the first time this week.  While located in a very impoverished area, this is a safe haven for the people of the community.  We worked in the clothes closet, packed grocery boxes, and played with children.

Work continued on Pastor Justin's parsonage.  One of the church members said it best "your youth group was an answer to a prayer we didn't even know to pray."

After showers, the youth strolled the streets of Whitefish Bay, a quaint town much different than our work environments.  Thanks to all the parents who sent taco fixings and fillings for our dinner.

A game of "hug it out" started us out with a bang for our evening devotions.  Our work teams debriefed the events of the day paying particular attention to things they heard throughout the day - sounds of joy, cries for help and God speaking to us in each of our ministries.

The evening concluded with journaling and worship led by Maggie and Jake. They affirmed each person in the group through their words and communion.