Florida Mission Update

I wanted to give the CBC body an update from our Father / Son Mission Trip to Jacksonville FLA. From the very start it was clear that God was watching over us as we traveled.  We drove to Florida on Saturday April 16^th and all day we were just ahead of all the tornadoes that cause damage in VA, NC, and SC. During our time in Florida we were able to do major repairs on a home completely redoing the siding and bringing great joy and hope to Miss Mami and her family. During the week we also had the opportunities to interact with a youth group from Bon Air Methodist near Richmond VA. This was clearly God’s hand at work by placing us with this team from VA. Each day we would eat our meals together and in the evening join together for Bible Study. As we spent this time together we were able to share the gospel with many of the team members and it was clear God was using our team to demonstrate God’s love. Please continue to pray for the Youth of Bon Air Methodist that they will come to know Christ as their Savior and thanks for your prayers, sincerely Don Stone Shepherding Pastor.   

Final Update

Sorry we were not able to update the blog during the week. We had a very limited amount of internet access. Overall the week was a great learning experience for everyone involved, we were able to impact so many people just by being at the camp and working on the house.

While we were working we were able to create relationships with people on the TEAMeffort staff as well as the other church group at the camp. Our group was able to connect with the other group while we had lunch with them and while we had dinner with them. During lunch we would all eat sandwiches that we had prepared earlier that morning then would usually play a game or talk before it was time to go back to our work sites. It was a great thing to be able to see God working in the lives of others as well as seeing him work in our lives as well.

We faced a few difficulties while we were putting up the siding of the house. Our contractor had a limited number of machines and saws, these saws required batteries to work because we did not have any electricity the first 3 days. When the batteries ran out of power it was very difficult to work and usually prevented us from continuing. We were able to complete a fair amount of the house before the contractor (who had all the equipment) left to go back home. Because of the donations and gifts that were given to us we were able to go out and buy our own set of equipment as well as get electricity for the power saws that we had in the car. God provided for our needs, we were able to finish off the job on Thursday and stay on schedule.

One thing that was great about the work site was the fresh fruit that was available to us. There were grapefruit, oranges, and kumquats all fresh and available whenever we were tired. Just another great blessing that God had given us.

 The owner of the house was able to travel down from Atlanta to come and see her house and the progress that was being made to it. It was amazing to see her response and realize that our group had made a difference in the life of this one woman. Knowing that we all had a part in making this woman happy was such a good and satisfying feeling. The progress we made on the house was great.

We were able to finish the goal that we had started with, which was to complete the siding on the house. We finished on Thursday and then we were able to enjoy the last day by going to the beach and relaxing before the long drive back home.

Getting that siding up

Cutting the siding

After day 2

Ripping the siding off 

After the siding is gone and putting up the siding

After day 3

Screwing in the siding 

Cutting the edging

After day 3 I believe

After day 3

Colin working hard

Progress continues

Camp staff (Josh, BK, Heather)

Miguel, BK, Jake

Us with the owner of the house

The kids with the owner

On the roof working hard

Finishing the other side

Tim (our contractor) and the gang

Peter putting up the siding 

Ivan also working on the edging 

Finished the back

Jim working on the edging

Putting the tools away

The whole work crew

It was a long car ride home

The Work Site

Hello again everyone. We had a very relaxing day Sunday at the beach. We left our hotel at around 10 and had a bit of a hard time finding parking because of the opening of the beach, but were finally able to find a spot with the help of some locals. We walked for a little until we found Jack's surf shop and rented a few boards. After surfing for a while we met a guy named Javen who let us use his soccer ball and played with us for a while. After some relaxing at the beach a little we headed to the airport to pick up Jim, who flew in from VA a day later. Then we headed to Lake Asbury to settle in for the week.

Today we had to wake up and get ready for breakfast at 7:45, and headed out to the camp at 8:30. The work site was a mess. We arrived and thought to ourselves that we were way over our heads. We started by pulling out the siding and taking out the old deck. We met the granddaughter of the house, Lynn, and her husband Jimmy and got to know them as they shared some of their amazing fruit from their yard. They had oranges, grapefruit, and kumquats. We took a break for lunch at a park and were able to play with four kids that were playing on the playground. After we got back from lunch we began putting on the siding for the house. We had a very productive day and headed back to the camp to relax and eat dinner.

We can only blog at the end of the days and don't have much time to so we will get back to you all as soon as we can!

Ready to go for the beach!

Hittin' the surf!

Relaxing before our first lesson.

BK, sweet red hair.

Colin and Ivan working hard.

Before.

After

A short break for lunch.

Putting up the siding.

Acrobatics were needed to put the siding on.

This is what it looked like before we worked.

This is what it looked like after the first day.

Colin working hard.

Hello Florida!

Well, after a long and tiring journey we have finally arrived in Jacksonville. We set out this morning at around 6 and after a few hours were already tired of the road. We hit traffic later in the morning and into the afternoon. At around 1:30 we stopped for an amazing lunch at Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q. With our stomachs stuffed with Bar-B-Q and sweet tea we set back off on our journey. Most of us suffered from a food coma after the delicious lunch and tried to sleep it off. We then courageously drove into a severe thunderstorm with a tornado warning on it and almost had to pull over until it had passed. By the grace of God we made it out safely and without any issues. We arrived at Staybridge Hotel at 9:30 and went out for another great meal at Jason's Deli and are about ready to go to bed. It's been a tough day but we are finally here and are excited for what God has for us this week.

 

Don took the wheel for a while.

Don sleeping after his driving

Jake trying to get some sleep.

Colin definitely got some sleep.

Best Bar-B-Q ever. Period.

Good 'ol North Carolina platter.

Sunset.

Heading Out Early Tomorrow Morning

Hello everyone!!

We're heading out tomorrow morning, in exactly 6.5 hours. It's going to be a 12 hour drive pray that we make it down safely tomorrow. Thank you everyone for your support! It really makes a difference.

We Head out this Weekend!

Thank you for following our Father and Son trip.   We head out this Saturday morning at 530am.  It'll be a 12 hour drive to Jacksonville, Florida.   We'll have a little time of R&R when we get there.   We'll be staying in a hotel then we checking in at the camp the next day around 5pm.   

    We hope that we will accomplish much work on the home being repaired for mother's in transition and that the young men might get a better understanding of what it means to be a man.  Please pray for a safe travel, good weather, and good conversations.  Stay tuned for more!!

Here's our team during practicing building a shed for the CBC Workday.

Jireh gets schooled on the miter box saw.  ARR