Friday Is Wrap-up Day

It can't be over yet, but it almost is.  Today was a hard day, a tearful day, and a day where the whole team felt like family.

Additionally, I feel like God has been extending the daylight of everyday, like he did for , it can't be a regular 24 hour day.

Breakfast was BACON, BACON and eggs.  I repeat BACON was served for breakfast.  What a great start to any day :-) 




 After breakfast we made our sack lunches and our teams headed two different directions.  Team 1 was headed to a house of a lady that needed furniture moved.  It doesn't sound like much, but it was tremendous for the lady.  She wore a back brace and her 83 year old mother lived with her and she needed things moved around in her home.  She shared very emotional stories of how Sandy negatively affected her family, and how they are still recovering emotionally from the hurricane.  She was so thankful for their help that the kids were overwhelmed.  Also she wouldn't let them leave until she made tuna fish sandwiches for everyone.  She also mentioned that after Sandy all the sand on the beach was gone.  It is hard to imagine how quickly things in your life that you count on, or things that you are used to can suddenly change.

This Bob "Da Builder" he was our Forward Edge Field Coordinator, which means he is the guy that builds relationships with the local disaster relief organizations and coordinates where the incoming mission groups will help.  He is so good at his job, we always felt taken care of and that we had an ear to the ground about where the need was, and how people in need were doing.  Here he is acting in one of his many other roles, "Gopher Guy".  Thank you Bob!

Team 1 was sent back to the house that we were sheet-rocking and as we walked into the garage I told them to finish strong.  They did just that.  You, our supporters can be proud of your students, their hearts were right, they were the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Long Island and Long Beach.

Regina with Dennis and "the crew".

Regina with Steve and "the crew".

Regina was teary eyed and so very thankful that she wanted to give each of us a hug.  I told her that her basement was built with love, and she said that she felt it, and that she would never forget what we did for her.  We want to reflect the love that Jesus showed us by dying on the cross for our sins.  This week the whole team did that.  Thank you students!

For a treat, a couple of leaders bought Italian Water-Ice for the team at Ralph's Famous Italian Ices.  Super good summer treat.

The  boys noticed the Water Line mark on this house and stopped to talk to the owner.  That is where the water settled for a while after a surge which was about a foot or two higher.  Unbelievable.

This is a beautiful bathroom.  I say this because this was one tricky wall.  Great job guys.  I hope she likes green :-)  Before there were no walls.

Pack it up, time to go.

We have left more than just these footprints on new pavement on Long Island, we left footprints on the hearts of everyone we interacted with.

After our busy work day was finished it was time for worship and devotion.

Christine was very proud of the work her team did at the church...See the very nicely mudded walls behind her?  They weren't there two days ago.

Worship lead by Calli and Andrew.  Great job to all the worship leaders this week, you help keep us in the right spirit.

More worship.

The chipmunks...ask your student to explain :-)

One of the team members received some bad news from home, and the whole team surrounded with love, with hugs, and with support.  It was good to see how we remembered that this mission trip was about relationships more than about 2x4s and drywall.  Good job team.

Until tomorrow, I will leave you with this song from our very own "Chipmunk Choir".