We are more than halfway through the week and these kids continue to go hard! Today we served at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. Our groups were divided up between three different projects. The largest of our groups helped clear a room that had been filled, floor to ceiling, for at least 15 years. They carried box after box down to a truck via an assembly line of their own making. It was neat to here how they made jokes and such to add some fun to the monotony.
Our other two groups helped with some work in the office, assembling lanyards, and in the Mission’s thrift shop. In the thrift shop we sorted clothes, set them out at the shop, and helped clean up around the place.
Over lunch Henry taught the kids a little game involving apples and the first letter of the name of their boyfriend/girlfriend. Nothing gets the kids giggling like talking about crushes. Ha. Ha.
Please pray that the students would work hard for one more day! They are having lots of fun together but they’re also getting tired. The schedule each day is packed tight with activity and they love being together so they never want to go to sleep. However, I think the lack of sleep is getting to them a bit.
Our team’s Scripture for this trip has been Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Pray that the students would love God and that they would love each other like they love themselves. Out of this may they pour love out to the community of Kalamazoo. It is our longing to see them experience the joy of working in the power of God’s Spirit. May we experience that as we serve on Thursday. Thank you for praying and for supporting these kids.