A few thoughts from IOWAY ...

Hello from LA,

After returning from the churches yesterday, we enjoyed a cookout of hamburgers and chicken for supper. Then off to a nearby beach for an hour, followed by 1 ½ hours of sharing our adventures of the day, having devotions, praying and planning for today. This morning at 7:30 we had devotions and then off to the churches to canvass, work and plan for next week’s VBS.

Before leaving, I asked a few people to share a thought or two about yesterday:

Kim says: Flat tire was changed to a ‘donut’, then went to Enterprise and they gave us a different van. My team painted the columns inside Good Shepherd. I love the people on my team. Everyone worked hard and then we were treated to Shakey’s Pizza for lunch. We still have paint on our arms to prove we worked

Shelby says: We went to the beach and had a blast and the sunset was beautiful. Five people came back with a mysterious tar-like substance on their legs and feet that they can not remove.

Michael says: St. Paul team is doing serious landscaping work. We are making a play area for the daycare and church youth.. Kenny says: Trip is fun. It is a different experience. First time to ocean..

Amanda says: This trip is a lot of firsts—first plane ride and first time to beach. It is truly amazing. Love my St. Paul Church.

TJ says: Waves are great. Jason at Hope Lutheran was well organized, nice, and is a great devotional leader. Devotional was about Christ being real in your life. Had verses that explained everything well. Jason is a young man who was in a wrong crowd, was injured and is now a devoted Christian because God saved him from a bad accident.

Alma says: Hola! Was fun. First trip to CA. Hope Lutheran Church is beautiful. First time to beach. Was fun to find crabs at beach. First airplane ride.

Abby says: Canvassing was great but met some scary dogs. The people have screens here that the person in the house can see out of but we can not see them. Kinda weird.

Julie says: Blessed by great group of Iowans. Everyone includes everyone and excited about working with Hope Lutheran. Hope is excited about reaching out to their community and are really thankful for us to be here to help them.

Siera and Olivia say: I liked Jason’s devotions about being kind to everyone regardless of what they think of you. He also said we need to have a reason ready to share about why we are a Christian. He said not to say it is because your parents are Christians. Why are you a Christian?

Lee Ann says: Yesterday confirmed to me that I was chosen by God to be here because when I walked into St. Paul’s, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ellie says: At the airport and wherever we go I see young men and women in military. I decided to say a sincere THANK YOU to each as our paths cross. I have been doing that and have had amazing responses from them. It takes 2 seconds…a sincere thank you and a thumbs up! Try it the next time you cross the path of a person serving you in the military.

THANKS for your prayers. I am heading to St. Paul to help with the landscaping project.

Ellie