Hump Day of SERVE

I'm in the middle of a busy, busy week, a community service blitz called "SERVE" that my employer/church does every year. Stats: 36 agencies such as the local mission, shelters for women, food banks, etc. + cleaning up blighted neighborhoods, helping the elderly with yard and reconstruction work, visiting nursing homes, etc. = SERVE. One hundred thirty-five youth grades 6-12, who spend the night all week long + many younger children + some "Wee Servers," + all of the adult leaders = ONE GIANT operation.

People are exhausted, but it's a good kind of tired. Trying to show love in a tangible way in our community.

So here are some pics.

I had a great pic inserted here of the young puppet team preparing to share at a nursing home, but then I remembered privacy issues and took them out of this post, dog gone it! So cute!

This is Command Central, where the 13 youth teams come get their work gloves, water, car washing supplies, etc. for the day. This is my main responsibility this year.



This is Kristin and me with two of Kristin's closest friends. One is on the media team; one is on her team which is doing hard manual labor.



Here I am with two co-workers, Hope (youth associate pastor) and Christy (Children's Pastor). Both are on the planing committee for this behemoth of a project which takes months to organize.




Here is one pic from an annual Wednesday night hog roast we do, where kids play and relax and rest, if they want. There is great food, of course, and lots of Indiana land to run and slide on a giant slip-n-slide, or dance the Cha Cha Slide or play Frisbee golf, volleyball, etc. Then they worship and share thoughts/feelings about the week so far.



Here is my girl, the one with the legs across the divide, catching about a 10-15 minute nap with teammates yesterday around 2pm in a busy building just across from Command Central. I told you they were exhausted!