Livin On Your Prayer, , ,Were Half Way There

We arrived in Festus, MO at about 8:15 PM, grabbed some pizza and many went for a swim. We also ran into the Dubuque group at the hotel, we had no idea we had reserved the same hotel. We will be leaving for home at about 7:30 AM. We plan to drive by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis for a quick picture and then it will be about another 10 hours of driving until we reach home. We have about 600 miles left to drive.

Prayer:
Continued driving safety, it appears we will be running into hot weather and some rain along the way.
For a good night sleep.

The Poem Ends.. . .

We kept up the pace
and finished the race

We started off on the wrong foot
going the wrong way
But then we got turned around
and it was okay

The drive was long and we were all tired
So when we got to Festus and we all retired

We wished Eric Happy Birthday
And that is all we have to say.

Sightseeing and our Last Harrah. . .

Wow! What a week. As we write this we are all amazed at how fast everything has gone by. The days highlights included the guys missing breakfast (overslept), trip to the French Quarter for a walking tour and back to CastleRock church to begin a modified day camp at a nearby park. We played soccer, had bible time as well as crafts. It was very hot, even in the shade. We had over 40 children show up. Pastor Dave even got a chance to go to Tre Pennington's (CastleRock Worship Leader and National Project Director) house to check out the finished work that one of our adult work teams did back in August of 2006.

We came back to the church for about a half hour break and some water and headed back out to play with the children at the two project sites. It was nice to have one last time to just hang out, get our hair braided, spin kids and play four square. It was so hard to leave, but we know that beginning next Monday another group will be coming in to pick up where we left off. We praise God for the wonderful relationships that were developed, along with some great conversations about God we had.

Prayer Request. . .
Pray for the Urban Impact/ CastleRock Church staff as they continue to build on what the teams start.
Pray for our team as we look back at the week and reflect on what God has taught us.
Pray for Pastor Dave as he drives nearly 20 hours over the next two days after a long week.

Answered Prayer. . .
Great last day with the children, good attendance and weather.
Safety for all the groups as they all worked very hard.

Our Last Poem Installment will be Saturday Night. Check back again.

Cracking Voices. . .Loving Kids!

Hard to believe we have already been in New Orleans for 5 days, it seems like it just started. Today we thought it was going to be a rain out because of the rain that came just after lunch, just before day camp pick was to begin. The rain slowed down and we changed up a few of the activities. I continues to be great to see our team work so well with the other teams as well as the children of New Orleans. Gary Weldon and Pastor Dave continued to dig holes and get fencing ready at Pastor John's house.

We were concerned about the condition of the play areas at both sites for the evening recreation and Challenge Circle. We were amazed that the areas we were in great condition with a limited amount of standing water. We had nice size groups as both sites and we are not sure who had more fun, our students or the children. Many of the team members voices are cracking because of the cheering and yelling they have been doing. Each time we get together with the kids, our relationships with them deepen and our love for them grows.

Last Minute Update. . . We all headed over to the Creole Creamery Ice Cream Shoppe for a late night snack. It was a nice cool break for the end of a long hot and muggy day. By the way, Eric Baumgartner took the Creole Creamery Challenge of eating 8 scoops of ice cream, 4 different toppings, 8 cherries, wafer crackers and whipped cream. He did it last year and made it into their Hall of Fame (see picture), however this year he went for the record, he missed it by 1 second, his time was 11:01:25. It was pretty entertaining, especially when we hit the bumps in the road on the way back to CastleRock Church.

Prayer Request. . .

Our bodies are getting very worn out, pray for an abundance of energy and love.

Opportunties to share Jesus with the children we have been working with this week

Continued safety as we finish strong and leave everything we have left for the children

Answered Prayer. . .

Every one is feeling pretty good, just tired. We are not sure about Eric after the huge Sundae

For good field conditions for our recreation and Challenge Circle times

With Much Anticipation. . . The Poem!

Hard to believe it was the last day

Where we go to Challenge Circle and play

It rained for a little while

But we were still got to see kids smile

The ice cream was really cold

but Eric was bold

So he dove right in

And finished with a grin

This trip is going so fast

it seems like it's already in the past

*Explanation of the Challenge Circle!

Some of you have asked for a description of the Challenge Circle. We apologize for not giving you a brief description of it. We have dubbed it the AWANA Circle on steroids. The Challenge Circle was created by Glen Schrieber (founder of Urban Impact Ministries) back in the early 90's. It was designed with the urban/ inner city in mind. All the activities take place around a large painted circle, that is broken into four pie-shaped sections. Each section has a color that has a meaning. Green- God Loves Me, Blue- All People Are Sinful, Red- Jesus Died For Me and Yellow- I Want Jesus To Be My Best Friend. Points are loosely given to teams that win various games, show good sportsmanship and are "hyped" (loud and excited). They also learn various cheers that they need to know when the head coach asks them. Examples include: HC- I am a KIDS- Champion, Stay in SCHOOL, Who's In the House? JESUS. With some of the cheers their are sometimes actions that go with them. We play that for about 45-50 minutes. Each team has team members that serve as line coaches, circle coaches and hype coaches. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of coaches and helpers to keep the energy level up as well as keep the kids engaged.

We hope this helps.

Half Way There!

Today started out really hot and then it rained. . .and it got hotter. It was another good day at day camp even though the numbers were down a little bit; all the kids had a lot of fun. We taught them about David and Goliath and made snowflakes in crafts. Day camp ended today with the kids not wanting to leave.

This evening we headed out to go to challenge circle*. When we got out of the vans not many children were there. It didn’t take long for them to show up. We played four square, tossed balls around and we colored the sidewalk with chalk. We started challenge circle with the football toss and all the kids really loved it and finished with a all team relay. After challenge circle we got out water balloons and launched them with a sling shot all the kids went crazy. Many of the team members put the kids on their shoulders to try and get hit by more balloons. So at the end of day everyone was happy and sad we had to leave.


Prayer Requests
Kids at day camp and challenge circle would continue to cooperate.
As the days are winding down that we would have energy to finish and the kids would want to talk about Jesus.
We could keep this mindset when we go home and apply it at home.

Answered Prayers:
The rain didn’t hinder any of our activities at Day Camp or Challenge Circle
Karolyn (Our Female Youth Leader) is feeling much better.

Our Poem. . .

Today we woke with our energy drained
And right before lunch it rained and rained
And even though our voices are hoarse We keep on yelling to finish the course

Gettin In the Groove!

Today we had another great day at sports camp and challenge circle, almost everyone has gotten the hang of it now. Every time we eat we have fun breaking up and talking to other teams and sometimes the staff or interns, they’re awesome!!! Today our team also got to wash their clothes.

It was a great evening tonight, the temperature was comfortable by New Orleans standards, and we were much more comfortable with one night under our belt. We had kids on our backs and shoulders, others did our hair and some we just threw the ball around with them. The teams then proceeded to the Challenge Circle and got “hyped” with the children. The team is working very well.

Prayer Requests:

Pray that all of us would keep having energy throughout the week.
Pray that all the kids would have a good time and learn more about God.
Pray that Cara’s knee would keep healing.
Pray for Karolyn as she is a bit under the weather.


Answered Prayer:

We had nearly 40 children show up at the Calliope Project site this evening.

All the kids had a blast
Even those who came in last
Before we knew it the day had ended
And all our energy expended

First Day In The Books

What a day! Everyone was a bit nervous, since most of our team had not been to New Orleans beofere. In the morning we had a chapel time with Mike Robinson which challenged us to consider "Kingdomnomics." I will give you a hint, it is about People, Relationship and Resources. After lunch we did some prep and were off to our duties for the first day of Day Camp. We had Unity Time, Bible Time, Crafts, and Soccer. Our group did great. Pastor Dave helped out at Pastor John's (CastleRock Church Senior Pastor) house with siding.

After a short break and supper, we headed out to the Calliope & Melph Housing Projects to do our recreation and Challenge Circle. It was a beautiful evening, things cooled down a bit, only a little bit about, to 90 degrees. Cara hurt her knee a bit as she ran with one of the kids around the Challenge Circle. We will know more on Tuesday. We ended the night with a the water balloon launches which are always a blast.

Prayer Requests:
Cara's knee injury
More children to show up at the Calliope Challenge Circle
For continued strength and endurance
For opportunites to tell the children the Good News of Jesus Christ

The Poem Continues. . . .

Today was the start of day camp
by the end we were a bit damp
During Challenge Circle we all got stoked
Then we launched balloons which got us soaked
(substitute poem writer for Cara, Eric Baumgartner)

Trained and Braving The Heat!

Today we were trained in all the activities we will be doing throughout the week (challenge circle and day camp). We learned what we would be doing with the kids all week. The heat index was 102! We also had a Concert of Prayer, which included a time of worship and prayer for our nation and our group this week. Everyone is feeling pretty good, getting excited about our week ahead. Our group was divided into 2 teams that will do ministry at separate sites each evening.

Prayer Requests:
Endurance throughout the week
That God would continue to build unity
That God would work in the hearts of the kids



Before we ate we shouted a cheer
Which made us all get in to gear
We also had fun
In the very hot sun,
Later we prayed
And thought it was a good day

We Have Arrived In New Orleans!

Today we arrived in New Orleans at around 3:30 where we were orientated at the Yellow House and then at Castle Rock Community Church. At the church we did introductions of all the leaders causing Dave to break dance (for real), we learned chants and cheers, after which we played an eventful game of “Eat that THANG”. Eric Baumgartner rocked it, eating a sandwich made up of turkey, jalapeños (lots), cottage cheese, yogurt, mayo, and barbeque sauce, in one bite!! That’s all for today here’s more of our poem.

We arrived in New Orleans today
When we arrived everyone said yea!
When we stepped out of the van
We realized we’d get a good tan.
Eric didn’t even flinch When he was given a gross sandwich.

This is the drive that never ends it goes on and on my friends

Day 2 started at eight when we headed out from our hotel and hit the road. We drove through Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and a little bit of Mississippi. We reached our second hotel of the trip in Memphis, Tennessee at about 6:45. Went and ate at CiCi's pizza, pasta and more for dinner. And then took a dip in the pool and so far that has been our day. To end our day Logan Knutson shared a devotional with the group. Thanks for reading but now for more on the poem!

This is the drive that never ends
it just goes on and on my friends
as we did drive a lot of bends
we played Pictionary with our pens
and every one is best of friends

P.S. Our card reader broke. Sorry! We'll get you the pictures as soon as possible.

Dave drove, we rode!!!

We arrived at church and loaded the trailer and had a time of prayer. We departed First Free precisely at 3:17, once we crossed the Iowa border, we stopped at a rest stop to stretch our legs ;) . The rain was atrocious, a few of our team members got soaked, trying to find the van which Dave had moved. We drove for 390 miles to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We made a quick pit stop at Subway for supper. Now we are here informing you about our day of fun!!!

We packed up the load
Dave drove, we rode
we played catch phrase
and had a good day
we made a nice poem
aren't ya glad we aren't home?

Catch ya tomorrow with some pictures and pay attention to our never ending poem!!!

FROM:
Cara Meidlinger
Heidi Florin
Karen Baumgartner

1 Week and Counting

We will be taking our 9th team of youth to the Central City of New Orleans to partner with CastleRock Community Church and Urban Impact Ministries. We have already had 3 team meetings. Our Team consists of 13 student and 2 adult leaders. Each team member needs to raise a minimum of $550 as well as a prayer support team. Please be in prayer for the team as they make their final plans for the trip. Be sure to check back regularly to view pictures, team member journals, video uploads and specific prayer requests.