Amy - Tuesday

This morning we played with preschool children for the entire morning!  Wow, do these little ones have lots of energy.   The Irene Wortham Community Child Care Center provides services for preschoolers, some with special needs.  My group (Ben, Kelsey and Grant) played with 4 and 5 year olds on a really nice playground.  The children LOVED having the “big kids” around to play with.  Many of these preschoolers receive therapy at Irene Wortham, I spent time talking with Jessica an intern at the preschool that helps with therapy and in the classrooms.  Seeing the smiles on the kids faces (preschool and high school) was priceless.  Unfortunately, we were unable to take pictures with the children but we will cherish the time we spent with them. 

Kelsey and Ben raced to the flag.

We spent the afternoon at the Western Carolina Mission Super Thrift Store – “poppin tags”.    (pic four) We spent the afternoon folding and organizing shelves and bins of clothing.   The kids also found numerous clothing items to purchase (see pic) and wear for SBN.  

The highlight of the day for many in the group was a stop at Krispy Kreme for hot doughnuts!

Evening programming included games, bible study and a prayer labyrinth.

Our last day of work tomorrow and then white water rafting.

Emma Again

Hello All Again,

As I write, it is midnight and we are officially TIRED!  Our last work day is tomorrow and we are looking forward to finishing the work week strong.  The highlight of the day was a surprise trip to Krispy Kreme Donuts for a little snack after our showers.   The roar of applause and excitement from the youth was as if told them we were taking them on an all expense paid trip to Disney!  But a definite highlight...those were some good donuts!  Breaking news:  Third day without Cell phones...and they are still doing well.  A Veteran at one of the work sites today actually said (when asked what advice would you give kids today) "Put down your phones.  Stop texting and actually talk to people."  A very timely thought as we continue to engage in conversation and grow as a group without our regular routines and distractions.  

Tomorrow we are off to different community sites in the area, so check back later in the evening for some stories.  I hope to upload some random photos also tomorrow.  

The youth are doing really well.  I've enjoyed being able to laugh, cry, and talk with each of them.  

We hope all of you are well.  We have been praying for you and looking forward to sharing all we've learned from this week when we return. 

Grace and Peace 

Emma

Day 2 Trenton

Today my group and I went to the VRQ. We were neatening the area around the prayer knoll. This included bringing mulch to the area and spreading it. My group had to carry large rocks to surround the wood chip area. After the rocks were moved we helped with mulch. After a while I got sleepy and almost fell asleep in the wheelbarrow. Then we went to lunch and I met a veteran named Larry. He was a man with many stories.  He talked about his experience in a hurricane and the Olympics in Germany. Like many other people I have spoken to he told me I should play basketball. Another veteran told me by the time I am 18 that I will be seven foot two inches tall. Overall the experience was good, we got to be social and work behind the scenes on the projects. I look forward to go back to the VRQ tomorrow to play games.
-Trenton

Day 2 Reagan

Today my group went to the Irene Worthem House and I worked with 2 year olds. Although I have worked with young kids before, it was a completely different and new experience for me. Most of the kids that were there had some sort of special need. I think that because of this, it made even closer since I had to anticipate what they wanted or needed since most of them couldn’t speak. Overall, I think working with these kids has been my favorite work site, seeing the smiles on their faces shows me the difference I am making. Being here in Asheville is so eye opening and life changing. I have been on three previous mission trips and knowing this is my final one with the FPCN youth group is bittersweet. I think it is the best one yet and I love getting to know everyone, including all the new people on a new level. The week just started, but if it is already going this well, I can’t wait to see what is in store for my final mission trip!
-Reagan

Day 2 Brittany

This week my work group has spent a lot of time working with men and women veterans here in Asheville.  We clean around the facilities that house people who are trying to get back on their feet and merge back into real life.   While I think that the work we’re doing is good, I cant help but think deeper about the lives of these people, and how we only are experiencing them for a few days, these people wake up and have to live like this every single day.  Some of them suffer from physical injuries, some have mental diseases, and some are even trying to find refuge form domestic violence situation.  While we as a youth group will return to Northville, these men and women will continue to have to deal with these things long after we are gone.  I also have gained a crazy amount respect to the leaders of the many organizations we have visited that have dedicated their existence to improving the lives of others.  I truly have seen God working through them and it is inspiring me more and more every day.

-Brittany 

Day 2 Ben

This morning our group went to the local preschool to play with the kids. I mostly worked with 4 -year olds. They were very excited to see us there. We played at the playground with the kids. They had a TON of energy and kept wanting us to chase them through the yard. They liked playing soccer, basketball, LEGOs, and in the sand-box with us. After an hour I got pretty tired out but the kids kept going. When all of us went back in side to eat lunch with the kids, the moods of the children very much changed. They grew crankier probably because they were hungry and tired as was I. Later this afternoon, we went to a thrift store to help out. Kelsey and I swept and dusted and later folded linens. The day ended with Krispy Cream donuts thanks to Emma. The day was very fun for many reasons. I thought it was interesting to see the kids in school during summer. They said the reason for this was they had nowhere else to go. The thrift shop was fun because you were able to see many goofy clothes.

-Ben

Day 2

Today, my group went to the VRQ (Veteran’s Restoration Quarters).  We helped in making the prayer knoll a nicer and prettier place.  In the morning, Aaron, Trenton and I put stones in a wheelbarrow.  We then used the stones and used them to create a perimeter surrounding the prayer knoll.  An hour and a half or so into the yard work, we moved to mulch duty.  We just placed mulch into a tractor that then carried the mulch to the prayer knoll.  At lunch, we had to sit with veterans.  I sat with a veteran named Marshall.  He was a nice, polite, and funny man.  After lunch, we broke into three groups, I was in the group that put mulch onto the prayer knoll.  It was hard work, but I enjoyed making a difference. 

-Lem