Thursday, December 14, 2017
Cookie Extravaganza!
Our 5th grade students had the chance to bless our community with free cookies yesterday. The students took cookies to local firehouses and police stations as a way to thank them for their service. They also stood out in front of a local grocery store to give out bags of cookies to shoppers, and gave some to nearby businesses. They gave out a total of 130 bags of cookies! We had lots of surprised shoppers, and a few even came back later to thank us again! It's hard for people to believe that we are actually giving away something completely for free, with no strings attached. The students had a great time blessing people and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Phoenix - Day 2
It has been a very busy day and trying to post updates without wifi isn't working very well. Again, we'll post a short note and add pictures when we can upload pictures easier.
This morning, we worked with the Arms of Love foster care organization to put on a Christmas party for foster families. We estimate there were about 300 families who came to the party over the course of three hours. Two hours before the party started, we helped to get everything set up and organized. There was a pancake breakfast, 10-12 craft stations and 4 bouncers, along with a "store" where the children could pick a present for their siblings. After the set up time, the families arrived. Our assignment was to run the bouncy houses and help with the gift wrapping in the store. After the families left, we also helped with the tearing down and putting everything back in its place. The whole foster family party was amazing! We felt very blessed to have even a small part in such a great ministry!
This afternoon, we got to go to a local retirement home and participate in a worship service run by Phoenix Dream Center. The students helped with the music, heard some amazing testimonies from several people in the Dream Center's recovery program, and had the privilege to visit with and pray for many retirement home residents.
This evening, we attended a worship service at Arizona Community Church, followed by dinner at In & Out Burger. It has been a great trip! We're excited to get back and upload some of the pictures so you can see a little of what we've experienced.
Finally, we have pictures from Saturday! Enjoy!
This morning, we worked with the Arms of Love foster care organization to put on a Christmas party for foster families. We estimate there were about 300 families who came to the party over the course of three hours. Two hours before the party started, we helped to get everything set up and organized. There was a pancake breakfast, 10-12 craft stations and 4 bouncers, along with a "store" where the children could pick a present for their siblings. After the set up time, the families arrived. Our assignment was to run the bouncy houses and help with the gift wrapping in the store. After the families left, we also helped with the tearing down and putting everything back in its place. The whole foster family party was amazing! We felt very blessed to have even a small part in such a great ministry!
This afternoon, we got to go to a local retirement home and participate in a worship service run by Phoenix Dream Center. The students helped with the music, heard some amazing testimonies from several people in the Dream Center's recovery program, and had the privilege to visit with and pray for many retirement home residents.
This evening, we attended a worship service at Arizona Community Church, followed by dinner at In & Out Burger. It has been a great trip! We're excited to get back and upload some of the pictures so you can see a little of what we've experienced.
Finally, we have pictures from Saturday! Enjoy!
Foster Family Party:
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| Making example crafts |
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| More example crafts |
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| Unpackaging Hot Wheels for the children |
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| Arranging toys in the store for the foster kids to give to their siblings |
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| In the toy store with the motorcycle group that donated the toys |
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| Helping wrap the presents the foster kids chose |
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| Enjoying the petting zoo |
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| Basketball game |
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| Bungee cord bouncer |
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| How far can you reach?? |
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| Made it out! |
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| Even a bouncer for the little ones! |
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| Supervising the bouncers |
Nursing Home:
Singing Worship Songs
Visiting with the Residents
Visiting with Residents
Some of the girls visiting with a resident
Saturday Evening:
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| All of us |
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| Evening Devotional |
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| Thinking hard about the devotional |
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| Part of the Electric Light Parade we got to see as a bonus! |
Friday, December 1, 2017
Phoenix Fun at the Park
We arrived safely in Phoenix this afternoon and got ready for our outreach at the park. We'd like to share a few pictures of our students playing games with the neighborhood children. Everyone had a great time! After playing games, the neighborhood children heard a message about respecting all people and being good leaders. They also practiced four important things everyone should know in life: God loves me, I have sinned, Jesus died for my sins, I must decide to live my life for God.
After getting back to the church where we're staying, we had our own devotions with a demonstration of one student trying to make a peanut butter cracker without using any muscles. Seems like an impossible task, but her friends came to the rescue and did it for her! Then we talked about how we also need to be ready and available when God calls us to serve.
Note: We don't have wifi and all our pictures aren't uploading. We'll add the rest to this post later!
Finally, we can add pictures! The following are all from the outreach at the park.
Puzzle station:
Making Salvation Story Bracelets:
Games with Pom Poms:
Cookie Face Race:
Cup Stacking:
Story Time:
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| 7th graders with some friends during the Bible story |
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| 8th graders watching for good listeners during the Bible Story |
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| Chatting with a friend |
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