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.