It Is Finished

With no VBS in the morning, we were blessedly able to sleep in another hour,  not having to shower until 8 o'clock. After we returned to the church, we feasted like kings on eggs, sausage, pancakes, and bacon. We began on our service projects at about 10:45, weeding and trimming around the church with some of the local youth. After a couple hours of this, we split up to begin other projects. Most of us emptied a shed of onions which had gone bad after the last food drive. We loaded them into a couple of trucks and drove out to the pasture of one of the congregants, where we unloaded them with spirit, heaving spoiled vegetables with reckless abandon. While we were gone, Charlie and Dave replaced a faulty toilet, which Ty then smashed.

After the onion runners returned, the Crew had a delicious lunch of spaghetti before returning to their labors. We again split into two teams, one of which went to finish painting the benches we'd started on Monday while the other team went to do yardwork at the home of an elderly couple. The painting group only had to add a second coat to the benches and tables, which they did with care and panache. While we were there, we were able to give Scott, the caretaker we'd spoken with before, a Bible which we'd all signed. He was genuinely pleased with it and we were very blessed by his gratefulness in receiving it. The majority of the Crew went to work at the elderly church members' home, where we chainsawed trees, whacked back weeds, and cleared debris.

We worked until 5:00 before adjourning to the church, and left at at 6:00 to go to the pool. After an aquatic frolic, we moved to the park for youth outreach. We had one new kid today, a 16-year-old named Chase, and, after football and Ninja, Sam, Haley, Elaina, Amanda, Kirby, and Megan all shared their testimonies. Interspersed with worship, it was an incredibly moving experience. We retired to the church for pizza, cookies, ninja, and frisbee. At 10:20 we had our final family time and began preparations for leaving in the morning.

We thank you for all of your prayers throughout the week, and we ask that you'd pray for a safe trip home and for those we've been in contact throughout the town this week. Most of all, we ask you to praise God for all the amazing things he's let us be a part of over the course of this week.
I'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone one the Harrington team, to Pastor Jim, and to all the volunteers who helped make this the amazing week it was. For the Harrington Crew, this is Jonathan Sigrist, Signing off.

The Beginning of the Endings

Vacation Bible School is over for the Harrington Crew. After a sensational, wonderful, awe-inspiring, breathtaking ride, it is finished. The day started as usual, far too early and with showers at the school. We appreciated the yet again sunny weather and were finally able to play VBS games outdoors. Today we had the largest VBS turnout of the week, with 19 children in attendance. Although we had 23 kids total attend throughout the week, today was the most we had in one day. We unambiguously finished strong, with a plethora of water balloon games outside and Bible Jeopardy inside. The undoubted climax of the week came during the closing program. Pastor Jim asked all the kids to bow their heads and close their eyes, then asked any of them who wanted to ask Jesus to live in their hearts to raise their hands. 5 or 6 hands went up, and Jim led the children in a prayer. It was hands-down one of the coolest things that we've ever experienced.

After the children were dismissed and lunch was eaten, we marched forth to do combat with the forces of debris. We arrived at the high school and were assigned to bus cleaning, parking lot sweeping, and detritus clearing. We labored diligently at our tasks, disregarding the relentless solar rays beating upon us. We completed our work around 3:00 and retired to our temporary residence to don swimwear. This accomplished, we retraced our journey and spent an hour at the high school's pool, before heading back to the church to prepare for the VBS evening program. We showed a slide show, performed a skit, and presented the theme songs and silly songs the kids had learned over the week. The program was a rousing success, with about two-thirds of the kids showing up and bringing their parents

After the program ended, we immediately retired to the park for a barbecue, bringing most of the VBS families with us. Caleb Stapp brought the worship band from his church in Deer Park, and they did a fantastic job with the music. The Davenport team brought their youth and met us there, swelling the attendance to 120 total. Hot dogs and hamburgers were served and games of Ninja, Ultimate, and Duck-Duck-Goose broke out. After the barbecue finished, the Davenport team returned to the church with us to help load our VBS stuff onto a truck for transport. While they were there, an amp was produced and a dance party ensued, with several classics such as Celebration pumped out and lots of hectically frantic dance moves performed. 

After the Davenporters packed up and left, the Crew drove to Pastor Jim's house where we had family time and cookies, before finally returning home to prepare for bed. With no VBS tomorrow, we get to sleep in an hour and there has been a promise of bacon for breakfast. Brandon returned today as well, and stayed the entire day again, but was much more comfortable around us, which was a huge blessing. Continued prayers are appreciated for Brandon, and thanks for a blessed VBS. We also ask prayers for energy and safety as we head into the final day of service.

Day Five In Connell

                                         Hey this is Megan and Natalie again!

We started off the day with calm 5th and 6th graders, the enthusiastic 3rd and 4th graders, and rambunctious Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders. It was filled with exciting games, crafts, music and bible stories.Tonight we had our VBS program. There was only about 15 kids there and their families but we still managed to have a blast singing songs, watching the skit, and the slide show. Right after that Natalie, Megan, Cody, and Ron headed over to the park to start youth outreach. Tonight was our biggest night! We had 15 youth come and some of their families! We played games and listened to Janice and David share their testimonies which was very uplifting! Great job guys! A few of us gathered up the courage to go talk to the kids at the skate park and even though they still weren't interested in joining us, some were close to considering!
For our service project some of us headed over to the bike path to finish our project we started Tuesday, while Megan, Natalie, Cory, Jonathan, and Mary went to an elderly lady's home to weed and move brush. We were joined by a VBS volunteer who became a good friend named Cody! 3 hours later the weeds were pulled and the bike path was clear! Today was the hottest day reaching almost 90 and many of us are SUNBURNED. We also found out that Jonathan can drink 3 water bottles in 10 minutes... lets just say it was a hot cooker!

The 3th-4th graders at games

5th-6th at Story Time

3rd-4th at music

Megan and Fransisco (Poncho) at crafts

Cool Cool Summer

Sitting on the bush pile at the elderly ladies house with Megan, Natalie, Cory, Jonathan, and Cody

Yesterday, we went to the lake instead of doing a service project and Pastor Paul brought his boat and intertube to give us a relaxing afternoon. Unfortunately, after only two people getting a ride, the tube ripped! Alyssa (the pastor's wife) and Bobbi drove to the nearest Walmart to see if they could find another one, but they couldn't. Soooooo we ended up with most of us relaxing in the sun (getting either tanned or mostly burned..) and some of the other kids attempted water skiing with one ski. While they were out, the boat stopped working and brave Megan and David M. started pushing the boat to shore! Luckily, after a short while, the boat started up again and they were saved!

A SHOUT OUT TO.......ANGELA PIERCE!!!! We really miss you and wish so bad that you could have come with us! Hope your job is going well and we are praying for you!

A song that the kids learned at VBS from David Robinson that they really really love, has been stuck in our heads all day. We want to share it with you, (just part of it though)....

He's the beeeeeeeeeeest. HUH! J-e-s-u-s!

With our week coming to a close we all are starting to realize what we have been doing here in Connell is making an impact in peoples lives; not only in service projects but in VBS, and the youth.  With comments coming in from parents and Pastor Paul about how we are changing the youths perspective on church, we feel uplifted on what we have done!

Looooveeeee,

Natalie and Megan :)

Concert in the Park

Late nights are catching up to me so tonight's Davenport blog will be brief, very brief.  If any parts seem disconnected, it might be that I dozed off a bit, please forgive me.

VBS was again a rousing success with lot's of enthusiasm.  We were able to give a Bible to 3 or 4 kids who did not have one.  We had our family program in the evening and had a very small turnout, while not what we expected, we gave it all we had and laughter filled the church.

We were able to return the the baseball field and complete our assigned task of removing and re-installing the green fence strips that were installed backwards.  Instead of the ball field, four of us went to the local food bank and wire brushed, sanded and primed a small outdoor shed.  We also pulled weeds that eventually turn into tumbleweeds where Aaron Thivyanathan earned the title of "Human Weed B-Gon".

Aaron Thivyanathan...Human Weed B-Gon

All of the students have worked long and hard throughout the week, so we went to a new, old fashioned ice cream parlor.  Ice cream always tastes sooooooo good on days like this.  The swimming pool and showers were also a well earned (and needed) reward.

After our evening VBS program we then piled into the cars and headed to Harrington and again met up with our group there and enjoyed a concert in the park by the band Renew.  They are a band that consists of brothers and sisters with one of the members being Elisa Baggenstos' husband, Caleb.  It was wonderful to see Elisa and Sam together again. Estimates put the number of people in attendance at 125 or so, a very big deal for a town of 400 to 500.  It was a great night of fun and fellowship and the students did not want to leave each other when it was time to leave.

The students are now realizing that the week is almost over and that they don't want it to be.  That is great to see and hear and again my heart is warmed and filled with hope.

I want to personally thank everyone for all they have done, we could not of had these wonderful experiences without your help.

Good night.

People Tipping at Midnight

For the first time this trip, we awoke to sun rather than rain. With bolstered spirits,we undertook our early morning shower trip. Freshly rejuvenated, we returned to the church where we were surprised to encounter Brandon, one of the youth we'd met Tuesday. Although he'd been quiet the night before, he stuck around through VBS, our afternoon activities, and late into the evening, not leaving until he'd participated in Family Time at 11:00.

Vacation Bible School was again a fabulous experience. We had 18 kids in attendance, the same as Tuesday, and we were able to start a third class, this one for students kindergarten and younger. Today was the big day, the day where we shared the Gospel Story with the kids. Although there were no tears shed, every single child was rapt with attention throughout the story and they were able to answer every review question, even the preschoolers. We also gave out our second Bible, this one to a 1st grader named Maddox. Although not as effusively grateful as Kaylen, he was still very excited to receive a Bible of his own.

Today we made youth outreach a main focus, not doing service projects in favor of a trip to Porcupine Bay with the local youth. We played Ultimate Frisbee, swam in the lake, played Ninja on the dock, played volleyball, threw a football, and eventually met up with the Davenport team and their youth. After catching up and playing games, we sat down for a delicious barbecue and feasted on burgers, hot dogs, and watermelon. A graduate of the Davenport youth group gave his testimony and spoke about his vision of God.

We arrived back home in Harrington at 7:40 and swung into full bore preparation mode. The skit people went to work on the Thursday program, the rest of the students hashed out a slide show for Thursday night, and Kim baked deliriously wonderful snickerdoodle cookies. After the slide show and skit were finished, the Crew prepped water balloons for VBS in the morning. Luckily, there happened to be an excess and water balloons were launched with reckless abandon. When the last balloon had flown, we gathered for family time. After finishing our traditional schedule, we took a few minutes to recognize Brandon before he went home for the night.

Before the evening concluded, Charlie and Dave took the students to a field in the absolute center of Nowhere. One of the students introduced the Crew to Starlight Tag, wherein the volunteer spins around for several seconds and is then flashed with a bright light. The participant falls over and hilarity ensues. When we finally finished with the game, we lay down in the field and watched the stars, absolutely awed by the sheer scope and vastness of God's creation.

On the whole, Wednesday has been an extremely successful day, and we were blessed with Brandon's presence and absolutely beautiful weather. Thank you for your prayers and we ask that you keep them coming, and we ask for prayer for Brandon, Kaylen, Maddox, and Scott. Pastor Jim's wife has been having back problems as well, so please pray for healing for her. Also, the grandmother of one of our youth has been having problems with the chimney of her house, and prayers would be appreciated.

Outstanding in our field

People Tipping at Midnight

 

Wednesday in Davenport

THE SUN IS BACK!!!! After a Western Washington-esq Tuesday, we had a beautiful Wednesday here in Davenport filled with a sun and pleasant 70 degrees weather.

VBS attracted a few more kids today, and we finally got to play an outdoor game, kick ball which thrilled the kids. There are a few children that may have professional kickball careers ahead of them. As Heather and Sarah teach the songs to the young kids, my mind often floats back to when I first learned them from Mrs. Rendle years and years ago. After finishing VBS, the students split into two service projects. One was finishing the painting inside the church here, while the other was working on a gazebo at the local hospital. There, we scrapped old paint off the gazebo and then put a layer of primer on the structure. Mark Manso did a project of his own and did some work on Pastor Ted’s electrical system.

After an afternoon of work, we made the half hour trek out to Porcupine Bay, a hangout for the locals. There we met with some Davenport youth, our mission trip team from nearby Harrington, and some of the Harrington youth. At the bay, which is on the shores of Lake Roosevelt, we met for some swimming, barbequing, and some catching up between friends. It was great to hear stories from the other group. The more you talk, the more you realize that the last three days have felt like three months. A Davenport native named Chaz, who is currently at Portland Bible College, shared his testimony and focused on not going through the motions in our walks with the Lord. The night ended with a few hours of Volleyball. Pastor Ted is a volleyball coach, and he brought his portable volleyball kit out to the park to show us how it’s done. After some awe-inspiring plays, and some laugh-causing horrible plays, Chari and Diane made us pack up and go home. If it wasn’t for their insistence, we would probably still be in the moonlight playing volleyball.

Chaz (red shirt) sharing with Harrington and Davenport teams

That’s pretty much our day, but I wanted to quickly talk about the “Davenport Culture.” Every mission trip team develops their own rituals, games, jokes,  etc, so I thought that I would share a few of ours.

1). Slapball. Slapball is a game developed by us boys here, but loved by everyone who has come in contact with it. In a nutshell, the point of the game is to slap a stress ball from person to person in the air without it touching the ground. If it touches the ground as a result of your mistake, you take a point. If you accumulate three points, then you lose. The last man without three points wins.

2.) Mafia. Another game that we play. It is a pretty common game, and most of you are pretty familiar with it I’m guessing. The easiest way to explain it quickly is to call it a less complicated and time consuming version of the board game risk. We get pretty into it, and is the source of non-stop laughter.

3.) Chari forgetting her camera. Yesterday at work, Chari forgot to pick up her camera, but Mark found it and instituted a rule we have at our C-group. Instead of just giving it back, the group got to decide on something she would have to do to get it back. We decided to make her make pancakes for breakfast one day. She hasn’t done it yet, but we won’t let her get out of it. J

I can hear everyone yelling downstairs from Mafia, and I want to join them. Over and out from Davenport.

-Joel

This is Mark and I would like to add a few things about the students, our's and Davenport's
First and foremost, each and everyone of our students are to be commended.  They have embraced this mission trip, be it in VBS with the skits, music, story telling, games, crafts or being a class leader or a Service Project or Youth Outreach, they are each giving it their all.  As I am taking pictures and listening to everyone, my heart is warmed by what I see and hear.  Our students are also bonding very well as a group, their support of each other is very evident and sincere.  Then there's the laughter, I don't think they ever stop laughing and it's very infectious to us all.

Team bonding

We are continually encouraged by the local Davenport and Harrington students (many Harrington students attend the Davenport functions and vice versa)  As Joel mentions above, the local students have gone through some pretty rough things and are able to stay true to or discover their faith in Christ.  More than a few times our students have commented on much they enjoy hearing their talks.  I believe it gives our students more courage to share their stories.
I do want to talk about the kids attending VBS and how they are bonding and becoming comfortable with our students.  Although everyone is tired, today was by far our most energetic day.  Music was especially spirited and if volume and enthusiasm are a barometer, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.  We continue to come up with new "Little Green Frog" variations.  I can't wait to try our newest one, the Cookie Monster.
I am reminded each year as I attend a mission trip of how rewarding and far reaching the impacts can be.  Growth is evident in each student which in turn strengthens and encourages me and definitely gives me hope.

5th/6th graders having fun

Owen and Sarah

Veronica enjoying kickball

K/2 getting into the music

Haley and Amber...best buds

Connell, Day 4

VBS

Good turnout today; over 40.  We are getting to know the kids better; day went smoother overall. Looking forward to the Thursday night program where we meet with the parents. Better weather, so we were able to take the games back outside.

We went to the Lake today and swam a bit instead of the Service Project. Pastor Paul brought his boat.

Outreach
We had nine local youth tonight; so numbers improved. Played capture the flag, trash can and Ultimate.  Testimonies and music went well.  We are going to try a barbeque to attract the skateboard crowd; so far they still are not interested. Pray that God will give us the right approach, and that they will be open.