Wednesday

Today we worked all day at the community center. Our group is the first the Helena Community Center has had work over Spring Break so the kids are really enjoying a "taste of summer activities" in the Spring. The numbers have grown every day, today we were probably up to 75 kids over the course of the day. This morning before the kids arrived we did work projects around the center: painting, fixing computers, organizing supplies, cataloging books for the library, and other general "sprucing up" that moves the back burner once the children arrive.

In the afternoon we had lots of kids at the center, the older children and teenagers went with half of our youth to the local park and played a game of softball...that ended in a tie...probably the best outcome! Others from our group were at the center tutoring, reading and playing games with kids, engaging kids in craft activities, and finishing the bookshelves for the Bookshelf Buddies program. We ended the afternoon with a movie - a special treat for the kids.

Each night after dinner as we debrief from the day, the youth share about their experiences with the children. Many of them have had opportunities over the week to talk with kids about God's love for them. Others have bonded with kids and teens who have not previously opened up to outsiders. Others have given of themselves physically and mentally and have truly experienced what it means to pour yourself out for others.

So many times in life we want to know the end result and forget to enjoy the process of life. Especially on a mission trip, the temptation is to want to "see results" or "see what we did for the week" in order to gauge success. All of us have been involved in a "God process" this week in Helena, and we may or may not see what becomes of our efforts. But it is blessed to be a part of the process, and my prayer for our youth is that they continue to enjoy and engage in this process, both here in Helena and back home.

Blessings,

Amy