JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 4--Thursday, June 21st

We started the morning at Kids Meals. This is a program that provides lunches for needy children who typically only receive lunches when they are in school. We drove through the neighborhood, delivering over 136 lunches as well as extra grocery bags.

In the afternoon we volunteered at the Houston Center for Literacy. Here the kids assisted with a Computer Literacy Class, teaching adults how to use PowerPoint.

In the evening we moved on to Bread of Life.  This program provides many services to the homeless of Houston. Tonight we interacted with many of the people who came in and then served them dinner. We were then fortunate enough to be able to eat dinner there as well.

We finished the night at The Waterwall, a tractional visit for us.

Please pray for Rachelle and Christian who left us tonight for a family vacation. Pray especially for Christian's ankle, which he injured today.

Pray for us for our last work day tomorrow, as always this week goes by fast. Tomorrow we an EARLY start. It will be a fun last day.

Merchant 

JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 3--Wednesday, June 20th

The prayers for endurance must have helped because we made it through the day, but tonight we are crashing fast!  In fact, as I write this at 10:00 pm, most of the boys are voluntarily in their beds with the lights out, falling asleep.

This morning we started with the Urban Plunge. This is a type of inner city scavenger hunt where the kids have to find certain things and interview various people throughout the city, asking them their views on various topics. This involves a LOT of walking and getting to ride the light rail.

In the afternoon we returned to the Haverstock Apartments, where we spent our first afternoon. Today was the kid's splash day where they have the opportunity to go to the apartment complex's swimming pool. For 1 1/2 hours we played with 20 kids in a swimming pool.  Being in the inner city and not being exposed to swimming pools and lakes, most all of the kids, even up to 10 years old, did not know how to swim. This meant that it was up to us to carry and swim with them the entire time.

After our time in the pool we spent some time at a local Hispanic Farmer's Market where the kids enjoyed fresh mango and other treats.

We followed all that up with dinner at Laredo Taqueria, voted as having the best tacos in Houston. Add all the days activities with a heavy meal, and we are all ready for some rest, pray that we get it tonight.

Merchant 

JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 2--Tuesday, June 19th

We began our day at Sheltering Arms. This is a day program that serves the elderly who suffer from various forms of dementia. We had the opportunity to interact with them and participate in some of their activities.

For lunch we had a real treat. We were invited to a Juneteenth Celebration at Independent Heights, an independent living facility for the elderly. 

After lunch we went on a prayer tour of Houston. This is an opportunity to see the diversity of the city and learn about many of the challenges that people face. We finished the tour with a visit to the Houston Holocaust Museum. Always a moving experience, this a unique opportunity to have a new understanding of something that we all should learn from.

For dinner we dined at Reggae Hut, wonderful Jamaican food.

We finished the night at The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center where we blessed by their phenomenal men's choir, always a great way to end a day!

Pray for ENDURANCE tomorrow! 

Merchant 

JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 1--Monday, June 18th

Day 1 began serving at The Beacon. A program of the Diocese of Texas and across the street from the Cathedral, this ministry serves the homeless of Houston by providing breakfast, showers, and laundry service. Today we served in a variety of ways including food prep, cutting chickens, making large amounts of ranch dressing, preparing hygiene packs, and working in the laundry room. Afterwards we went across the street and took a brief tour of the Cathedral.

For our afternoon ministry, we volunteered at a children's program at Haverstock Hills apartments.  A program that serves the children of the apartments, mostly Section 8 Housing, it provides stability during the summer with various activities.

We ended the day celebrating Jack's 16th birthday with a cookie cake. Happy Birthday Jack!

Please pray for our group to be in the right frame of mind for tomorrow. We will be doing a few things tomorrow in addition to work sites that require us to be mature and respectful

Merchant 

JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 0--Sunday, June 17th

We arrived this afternoon and met our City Guide for the week, Tyler, who will be guiding us throughout the week to our various ministry sites. We are safe, sound, showered, and tucked away in our beds.

Part of our week long experience is dining in local ethnic restaurants and today we started off with Mexican food. I know, it's not a stretch, but it was a gentle start to the week. 

Tomorrow we begin our first ministry day bright and early. Please pray for our group as we begin to form bonds that will support us throughout the week as we begin to trust each other. Also pray that we find the best ways to serve at our ministry sites tomorrow.

Merchant

Welcome to Youth View

Youth View is set up to share news about the youth ministries at St. Luke's on the Lake.