I'm home!
Showered, pajama'd, crashed out on my bed, washer running with all my dirty Mini-Mission Trip clothes getting clean.
It was a good weekend--the youth played hard and worked hard and we got a lot (not quite all we aimed for, but almost!) done.
This was likely the last mini-mission trip before the baby comes. After a short night (we play until 11:30pm, and then do worship, finally get to bed around 12:30 or 1am, and wake up at 7:00) and a looooong work day (I was in the group painting the shed. I didn't climb any ladders or chairs, but I did a LOT of squatting, standing, and kneeling all day) I think I'm gonna be very sore later on. At this point, I'm ready to lay low--and I'm not planning any more big events with my job. Plus, I barely fit into my overalls today. We can't have mini-mission trips if I can't fit into my work clothes!!
This is the shed we painted. It took all day--it seemed bigger than it actually is.
Or maybe it really is huge and it took a long time.
Another group tore out an old cork wall in a Sunday School class room, and replaced it with new sheetrock. You can't tell from this photo, but it was REALLY dusty work!
More painting!
Clean up time.
Maybe you can see how dusty it was in this photo?
I'm really very proud of our youth. They are very hard workers. Not only did they do all this work all day Saturday, but Friday night, before game time they spent 1.5 hours deep cleaning the youth house. They're great. They know how much work is expected of them on Mini-Mission trips and they still show up to serve and do it with great attitudes.
Of course, the fact that we play games (Monster is their all-time favorite, but too detailed for me to write about at this point) and have worship encourages participation.
We played some wacked-out twister for a little bit too--I find that the Twister spinner is a waste of time. It's too slow, and tends to hit the same place repeatedly (what's fun about Left Foot Green, Left Foot Yellow, Left Foot Green?)
So, I just call whatever combination I see fit, and throw in other body parts. Right Hand Red, Right Elbow Yellow (yes, you need to still keep your hand on Red...) Left Knee Blue...etc.
A couple of favorite photos:
Right Hand Blue, Right Foot Blue, Left Foot Green, Head Yellow.
Evan (maybe 90 lbs?) getting crushed by Daniel and Josh (maybe 300 lbs collectively?)
Fun weekend!
One parting shot: Ricardo was cajoled, swindled, bamboozled, (other good word suggestions?) into joining a men's rec league basketball team with some other men from the church. They knew that they would probably be playing tough street teams and would lose every game, but they seem to be having fun. Here's a picture of my boy having a good time.
I'm still trying to get the hang of our camera...action shots are not my specialty, but I'll keep working on it!
