MINI-OUTREACH

Two weeks ago our entire school and staff went on outreach to Bellingham, Washington. We worked there with Mosaic, a church led by Atkins. He taught on the father heart of God in the mornings and throughout the day we worked with local community outreach programs. With 70 of us, we were able to accomplish quite a lot and really got a heart for the people of Bellingham. I spent a good amount of time landscaping for some of the non-profit organizations. I also was able to work with the homeless downtown, we just enjoyed sharing stories and food with them. It was so amazing. One day we were in the street chatting with a few of the homeless people and we had just given them sack lunches. Another man came, with a sack lunch in hand from one of my team members and he offered it to me!! This man, was homeless and had just been given food, and not knowing I was a part of the team - offered his to me! I was just moved...really! The week was amazing as other teams worked with an organization on a Christmas drive for homeless children and some worked in an after-school program. It was an amazing week as we learned from the pastor and people of the Mosaic church that relationship is really the way to see people come to know the love of God. They really focus on loving and meeting needs rather than throwing theology into a debate with people. I also discovered this is really the heart of the Father for each of us. In all that He does He wants us drawn to His love and to know Him in that way! It was amazing. Also, being away really brought our school together. It just adds and element and really brings people together. I was really able to get to know the staff in a greater way, and they are so amazing!!!

We did especially bond - tromping through the mud and rain all week - sleeping in a room with 30 people (some snoring...some building snoreproof walls with their journals and blankets) - squeezing 15 people in a van for twelve hours - having a van break down and playing in a store parking lot for three hours - making sack lunches in a parking lot on a cart flipped upside down as our table - getting lost on the way home...12 hour road trip = 13 and a half hours - playing perfect guy...but his hair is made of string cheese - waking up to a great breakfast every morning and worship - canoeing on a lake - playing sardines outside in the dark - having dance parties in the van - dying of heat in the van - and just getting to know the wonderful people we are family with now!