Wow! What an impact a group of 4th and 5th graders can make!   We had another amazing day at Mission Waco and were able to fully immerse ourselves in ministry to this community.  Our kids (and adults) worked really hard and did a great job!

The morning started off with breakfast at "The Rock" and a devotional given by Jimmy Dorrell, founder of Mission Waco.  Jimmy shared some amazing stories about how Mission Waco has been able to take part in meeting the needs of the underprivileged in this community and around the world in the last 30 years. I wish you could hear him talk about the plight of thousands of kids around the world who die due to lack of nourishment and what we can do to help them.  He challenged our kids to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this community - following the example of how Jesus interacted with the poor and sick.

After the inspiring message, we headed off to our morning mission projects.  Several of the groups served in nursing homes, visiting residents, making crafts, and playing games.  The residents loved the interaction and our kids did a great job.  Other groups did cleaning projects, weeded flower beds, and scrubbed sidewalks.  We went intending to bless others, but found that the blessing we received was much larger than anything we could have given.

After our morning missions projects, we took some time to rest and enjoy a mashed potato bar for lunch.  The weather was beautiful and the kids enjoyed playing outside.  Before we knew it, it was time for afternoon mission projects, which included flyer distribution, cleaning at My Brother's Keeper (homeless shelter), The Myers Center (Community services center), the Jubilee theater, the Missions Mobilization Center, and a community park.  These are all well used facilities owned by Mission Waco for ministry that do not regularly get cleaned - the buildings all needed some TLC and they looked (and smelled) different when we left.  We will continue work in these places tomorrow.  One of the groups also did some shopping for Mission Waco and assembled yummy snacks for the rest of the groups and delivered them to us.

This evening after dinner, the boys went swimming and the girls went to chapel at My Brother's Keeper.  Melissa Shaw shared a message from God's word and the girls got to know the men and women staying at the shelter tonight.  They did a great job and made some new connections.  Hopefully, we will see some of these people again at Church Under the Bridge.

Thank you so much for praying for us! We feel you prayers.  Please continue to pray for us.  Pray especially for strength and endurance for everyone tomorrow afternoon - we work hard all day, and sometimes it is hard to keep going on the last mission project. Please enjoy some pictures from today below: