Students did awesome today! Today was the first day in teams. Sports Camp had 10 kids there, 5-7 of whom don’t attend our partnering church. Labor team got going on painting and is ready to hit the ground running tomorrow. Evangelism team spent time blessing the homeless with some hygiene kits and then having spiritual conversations.

In the evening, the youth choir performed for a Celebrate Recovery ministry at the Salvation Army. It was a blast and was in a REALLY nice theater with an incredible sound and lighting system. The people there were encouraged and blessed by our presence.

Pray for our last full day tomorrow. We’ll be back in ministry teams, hanging gospel materials on doors, and singing at a retirement home.

The trip has gotten off to a great start! I’ll try to put a more complete update up on Monday when I can get some wireless access for my computer. Students have been awesome and have really done a great job of engaging people in conversation after each performance. They had a long day Sunday – some got up as early as 4am so we could make a church service at Camp Pendleton at 7am. We have heard that around 12 recruits accepted Christ in classes following one service this morning. Pray for us as we start ministry teams Monday morning and as the choir sings at a Celebrate Recovery ministry that night.

You can see some pictures and updates over at Facebook.com/journeyhsm

Summer is almost here! Don’t forget that Promotion Sunday is just a few weeks away on June 5th. Current 8th graders, we can’t wait to have you join us in high school ministry! Graduating Seniors, you’re welcome to be a part of all our summer events!

For your enjoyment and pleasure:

Don’t forget that Going Public applications are due this Sunday, April 17th along with a $50 deposit!

Going Public is June 25-29 and the total cost is $165 (includes all meals).

Sorry it’s been so long between posts.  Today we finished our ministry time in New York.  Let me try to hit some of the highlights.

Everybody Highlights:
Tuesday was an all day prayer tour.  We spent the day walking over 10 miles ALL OVER the city.  We started in Lower Manhattan at Battery Park, moved up to Times Square, spent some time in Harlem & The Bronx, and then wrapped up the day at Ground Zero.  It was a really cool day of getting a better picture of what life in the city is like and how we can be praying for people and needs here.

Team 1 Highlights:
Wednesday was spent with an organization called Camba.  They do a lot of things to help the community, but one thing in particular is with homeless shelters.  They partner with places of worship to provide meals and beds for the homeless.  On Wednesday morning we helped fold and sort laundry – all the sheets, blankets, and towels necessary to house hundreds of homeless.  Then Wednesday night we got to go to an actual Camba shelter at a church in Brooklyn.  We prepared a meal together (breakfast for dinner in case you were wondering, and Shannon’s pancakes were a big hit).  We then got to join the men who would be staying there that night.  It was pretty cool because it’s a small shelter (8-11 guys max).

On Thursday we helped at Yorkville Common Pantry and helped them do a food distribution.  It was a lot of fun, fast-paced work as food bags were distributed to several hundred clients.  Following the food pantry, both teams met up for a neighborhood immersion.  This involved the students taking the lead on getting a small team around the city, buying a meal on a VERY limited budget, and getting to know a specific community better.

Team 2 Highlights:
On Wednesday they headed to Community Kitchen in Harlem.  They were hosted by an NBA basketball player from the 66ers.  They noticed that it was a great community there and people all worked together well.  The team worked alongside the crew at the kitchen to prepare food that was boxed up for delivery and also served to those who came in.  In the afternoon they worked on the Green Team alongside former prisoners who are transitioning into the workforce.  It teaches them basic job skills, a strong work ethic, and leadership skills.  The team helped mulch an area along the Hudson River.  They unfortunately had to stop early because of high winds that were blowing the mulch into their eyes.

On Thursday they were at the We Care Soup Kitchen in Brooklyn.  The highlight here was getting to not only serve people at the kitchen, but then to eat a meal alongside them.  They were able to hear people’s stories, allowing the guests to forget about their problems for a bit and feel an escape from the tough world of homelessness.  The team was also able to pray alongside the guests.

We had a great flight to New York and got settled into the church where we’re staying with no problems.  We’re divided into two teams.  Team 1 went to The Bronx today and worked with an organization called “Part of the Solution.”  Most of our students worked in the kitchen serving a couple hundred people who very quickly came in and out of the dining room that had seating for about 20 or so people.  Myself (Mike) and Adam Pierpoint spent our time up in the food pantry organizing food and putting together grocery bags to be given out.  Following that, our team headed to the World Vision Storehouse (also in the Bronx).  They get donations from corporations that they then pass on to local non-profits.  Most of the team worked on sorting out some jewelry donations that had been given and two of the girls helped teachers who came in to their teacher resource center.

Team 2 worked at two ministry sites today as well.  First, they handed out meals with “God’s Love We Deliver.”  It was a really neat experience as they were able to deliver meals to elderly and terminally ill people.  They even were able to deliver a personalized birthday cake to one woman and sing Happy Birthday to her.  After that they worked with an after-school program with “Operation Exodus.”  This definitely tried the patience of several team members as they worked with lots of kids!

Following the day of ministry our two teams met up for dinner at a Senegalese restaurant.  The menu included chicken, cous-cous, and fish….the whole fish……eyeballs and everything.  Tomorrow we head out with both teams together for a prayer tour of the city.  Pray for us as we are exposed to the many needs of New York City tomorrow.  We’ll also be walking about 10-12 miles tomorrow so we’ll definitely need our rest and energy.

Here are some pics of what’s been happening so far: