Working Together to Better the Community

This week I have learned to see. (Everyone has eyes, but not everyone can see). I learned to see I have more than I give credit for. Comparing my life to  the lives of the affected opened my vision of how great my life is. Also, I was able to see and understand, even though it seems like a little deal to me/we/and or you, it can be a big deal to the person effected. 

This week the team always had discussions. Sometimes we were confused, and together we discussed why things were and how much we were helping. We were able to learn to work together and find answer to our questions. Also I feel everyone expressed good collaboration. we all worked together and got the job done. Not only did we get the job done, but we made things easier for each other.  

Lastly, I was able to meet new friends. In just one week I became close to a group of people I had never seen before. Work week was a very successful week this year. 

 - Lakeia

Thanks!

We couldn't have made it through this week without the generosity and giving spirit of others.  We'd like to say thank you to the following:

Thank you so much to the Dorrisville Baptist Church for all the accommodations and meals.  And for putting up with having 16 teenagers all in one place.

Thanks to Project STORM and especially to Bosco for providing us with work for the week and keeping us hydrated.  We also thank Betty who not only provided us with a trailer containing 5 showers, but also baked brownies especially for the teens staying at Dorrisville Baptist Church.

A huge thank you to the St Stephens Episcopal Church for your hospitality and fabulous meals.  We thought we would be losing weight this week with all of our hard labor, but you all fed us so well that none of us think that this happened. In fact, we might have put on a pound or two.  It was fantastic!  Thank you Mrs. Denny and Lucas for driving down to Harrisburg from Springfield to work with the St Stephens family, hosting us every evening while we were in Harrisburg.

We thank the Illinois Volunteers for teaching us how to roof and use powertools, and for just being fun to be around.  Thanks also to the Iowa team who joined our fun at the church and taught us new construction skills at the site.

Thanks to Mrs Wakeland for donating spending money that we used to buy ice cream from the ice cream truck that just happened to drive by after we'd finished a hot day of work.

Thank you so much to the Vaughns for a GREAT pool party and awesome brownies with ice cream.  Also to the Maves family for providing the pizza for this pool party on Thursday.

Thanks to Mr Boschert for designing, ordering, and delivering  our shirts in time for Six Flags..  They are awesome!  We were the brightest in the park (along with Six Flags staff).  Many asked us to tell them about Harrisburg STORM when they read our shirts, and a staff person told us how she saw us riding rides from a distance and confused us with staff (who wear the same color and who are not allowed to ride the rides).

Thanks to Dad Joe, Linda, and Lara for being the adult leaders this week, and thanks to the Design Team for your thoughtful leadership and decision making.

Thanks to our family and friends for following our blog, sending us texts and emails, and saying prayers to keep us safe.  Thanks to our parents who allowed us to travel away from home and who made it possible for us to have this experience.

Thanks to our home churches for the funding and support that enabled us to go on this trip.

Thanks to Todd Hall for the excellent accommodations in a peaceful setting.

We thank one another for the friendship and welcome.

Most of all:

 Thank You God!