Day 3

Three workdays down and one to go (!!!!!) YEsterday we finished work on the largest tabernacle and began on the second one. Also, we had a group go to Feed My Starving Children, an awesome group which you'll hear more about when we return.

The weather's been great. Not to brag but the highs have been in the mid-80's and the lows in the 60's. At night, we've been able to open the windows run a few fans and enjoy the cool breeze. A few of the boys have provided us with some breezes as well but they haven't been as refreshing.

Tomorrow is sight-seeing with stops at Sears Tower, the Field Museum, and Lake MIchigan.

Things are going well. Keep praying!

Pictures: I only have pics from Feed My Starving Children today due to a dead camera battery.

Days 1 and 2 in Chi-town

Hey everybody! We are just beginning our third work day (actually, it's 6:30 and everyone is still asleep and Josh is at Starbucks using their wireless and sneaking some good coffee!). Our first two days have been great! The Des Plaines Methodist Campground where we are staying and working is a pretty great place. It is very historic with many cabins dating back to the late 19th century. So far, we have cleared out a badly damaged cottage which was being used by the camp as a thrift store, and we have rehabilitated one of the camp's two tabernacles. The tabernacle is a pretty impressive structure. It was built by the same firm which built many of Chicago's most historic buildings including the First UMC Sky Chapel in downtown chicago.

Everyone is having a good time and working very hard. Today we are continuing work at the camp and also traveling to Aurora, IL to work preparing emergency food aid for shipment at Feed My Starving Children, an aid agency.

Last night we went to the Edwards' cousins' house for swimming, fishing, other games, hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, and more. They were the nicest people and we had a great time with their children.

We are praying for you all back home and hope you are doing the same for us. We did have one hospital trip yesterday for Brittany. Fortunately though, it was a false alarm and we were all very relieved. Hopefully it is our only hospital trip for the week. See you all soon!

Pictures in no particular order: 1) Brittany and Casey scrubbing flood debris at Waldorf Tabernacle, built in 1906. 2) Taking a break from cleaning the cottage for the band to perform. 3) Hauling muck out of Waldorf.

Pic 1 - The group getting just before leaving.

Pic 2 - Andy working out in the fitness room of the hotel.

Pic 3 - Katy, Melissa, and Nomad in front of the Haunted Inn - oooooooh scary?? - in Missouri.

Day 1 - The Drive to St. Louis

This morning we are waking up in St. Louis, MO! The drive was long but went by fast (or at least as fast as 12 hours can go) and everyone is having a good time. Our route took us through the middle of Arkansas before we turned north just before reaching Memphis, TN. About a hundred miles outside of St. Louis we hit a pretty intense thunder storm. The lightning was awesome with bolts stretching from cloud to cloud across the horizon. The rain was pretty intense though and Josh's and Pat's knuckles were pretty white on the steering wheel towards the end. Fortunately, the journey was safe. This morning we're headed to the Gateway Arch before getting on the road and traveling the final stretch to Chicago and our home-base at the Des Plaines Methodist Campground. Blessings to all of you back home. See you soon!

Introduction to Our Trip

Welcome Axe UMC congregation to the official youth blog for our 2009 mission trip. You'll be able to log on and get updates about our trip along with a few pics of the experience. We hope you'll be praying for us as we travel July 11-19. Thanks!