WOL NY Mission Trip Day One

Wow! What a fantastic first day of work!
After a rather restless and hot night (no AC in the dorms), we got started with a devotional on God's Sweetness. A verse that resonated throughout the day was Psalm 104:34: May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD.
We ate breakfast and started the morning picking weeds. The weeds here are happy to leave their earthy homes and have no spines, certainly not Texas weeds that prefer to dig in and protect themselves with spines and chiggers. This task was interupted by an untimely fire alarm in the dining hall that required all personnel on site to relocate to the soccer field. Luckily it was nothing of note, and we were released quickly to get about the day's work. Our next stop was the campfire area with amphitheater seating up a hill. There we had a nice hangout time by the lake as we waited for the mulch and equipment. The kids took that time to get some playing in! Then mulch was unloaded at the top and we spread it around the benches to prevent weeds. Beginning without wheelbarrows, we improvised by shoveling the mulch onto tarps and dragging that to wherever it needed to go. The kids and several diligent adults then took that mulch and spread it around. Fortunately, two wheelbarrows did arrive and we got a rhythm down and knocked out the rest before lunch.
 

After lunch we got to work on two areas. One crew headed off to clean the Bible Institue buildings, and the rest of us went to a project I loved! We began creating a walking path for the younger campers to be able to walk to their meeting hall without being on the road with vehicles. This meant we got to explore the wooded mountainside!  Eventually the path will be leveled for golf carts to be able to use it also, but we began by just identifying a trail. Then we started the clearing process and marked it out with logs. We (at least the kids and I) had a great time finding logs all through the woods to use. Below you can see the entrance to the trail beside the tired, but content crew.

As we walked back to get much needed showers, Chandra recalled what Paul said about Onesimus in Philemon 11: Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me. Both crews were certainly useful today! We worked hard, but have a great sense of accomplishment, success and usefulness.
Tonight we went over to see the gospel presentation for The Ridge camp (middle schoolers). As about fifty kids came forward as first time believers in Jesus Christ, I teared up thinking that in heaven I'll get to talk with all of these young brothers and sisters and say "I was back there, praying for you and cheering you on." Years from now when other kids sit on the benches or walk the path we worked on and the Holy Spirit moves their heart to belief, what a privelige to know I got to be a part of God's plan.

Yes indeed Lord, as I rejoice in you, may my meditations be pleasing! (And may the night be cooler)