I wanted to shuve ice cream in Ethan’s face, but he shuved it in mind, instead and we ended up getting everyone around us covered, too. Stone threw ice cream at Ethan but it hit Luke and Lindsey. It was a really good fight.

~Karlee

it started yesterday i would run up to th sign and jump over it  so then  i tried it again tonight but it was dark and when i tried the log in front of the sign fell and i flew over sign fliying to the log pile and i tried to block my face so i landed on my arm and i cut it through

it all started when i was raking the leaves behind the church. lindsey was there. i couldnt help but to play around so i tried to untie her shoe with the rake =D and she got mad so she tried to get out of the pickle by thrashing away and the rake clawed her leg, resulting in a life long scar on lindsey’s calf. just kidding!!! but she did get clawed. ok, thats all. sorry lindsey :D

-Luke Mayerhoefer

we r here in remorse for Jeffery the snake. Though i hardly knew him he will be sorrowly missed.

it all started when COREY WHITESIDE was weeding with a rake when all the brush was cleared we saw a writhering baby snake with a gash down its neck jeffery was dieing a slow and painful death :’(

We had no choice but to put him to death.

Rest in peace jeffery you will be missed.

[people who attended the the funeral]

corey whiteside, lindsey bell, lauran goeke, collin karrenbrock, rachael newberry, katie harting, mathew bodine, kenidy leininger, cindy birkner, kevin birkner, allison meyerotto, and emily evans.       

~Brock Birkner

It is days like this that I know there  is something bigger than us at work….   I have seen the face of God over and over again in the youth as well as the adults on this trip.

I have met and am now friends with a wonderful woman named Sharon Sofian.   In her I saw a new kind of faith that is warm and refreshing.

I dont know how anyone can spend time with Logan Balfany and not walk away with a smile on their face.  He is simply a joy and I love every minute that I get with him.

Brenden Riley’s faith is beginning to show…(but dont tell him).   I guess he really was paying attention all year in class!   See Cheryl and Scott!!   :)

I cant tell you how many kids came up to me and asked “what do you need me to do now Cindy?”….   those kids get it.   They are the ones that get the idea of “dont ask what I have to do…but instead, ask what can I do…”

The plays tonight were SO funny.   Hearing the laughter of that many tired kids was a reward in itself.  I love to hear them laugh.

What can I say about Ashley’s candlelit service on “Collin’s rock wall”.   They really can be quiet when they need to be.  The confirmand’s surprised me by singing the song we did during their service of confirmation.  Seems everyone knew they were doing that but me.   Wow…..   it really doesnt go away does it?

And, last but certainly not least I have spent this time with my husband and sons.  I have tried to give them their distance and not be “mom’.   What they dont know, is that I watch them when they do not see.  I am proud to be here with them.  

Greetings to you all at home.   Thank you for your prayers.    Tomorrow we go to Silver Dollar City!!!!!    See you soon.

Cindy Birkner

Check them out!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=bfsg4wvk.49slzvjk&x=0&y=z18ysl&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button

Last night during our worship service by the campfire, a baby deer came pretty close.  We were so excited that it was in our presence, it was very spiritual.

~Collin

Hello this is Lindsey Bell. So far the mission trip has been splendid! We have accomplished a lot. Today at my site, we trimmed trees and pulled like a bajillion weeds. Because of our tree trimming you can now see the beautimous church windows. Lauren, Ethan, Kelly and I all went for a ride on the gator to transport leaves, and twigs and other things to the compost/burn pile. It was a nice way to relax, yet we still were doing something.  While we were driving (pretty fast) over a hill, i fell out. And they made fun of me. :) Don’t worry mom. I’m okay.

  I am excited for the worship tonight because so far they have all been very eye-opening and moving. AND Tomorrow we get to go to silver dollar city! and Allison told me to put in here that i get to hang out with her, my BEST FRIEND. (: That is all for now. I cannot think of anything else to say….bye! Love you all!

Hello from AR!  We are having an amazing time.  We arrived pretty much on time and have been going full steam ahead ever since.  The ride down was wonderful.  The kids had fun playing games and getting to know each other.  These kids really worked hard yesterday and are ready for day 2!  Just to see how they work together is wonderful.  Even when some of the kids were loosing energy…they had cheerleaders right behind them to pep them back up!! 

We had an amazing time in worship last night.  It is so cool to see these kids open up their minds and their hearts to God.  As we were talking about our spiritual gifts, it was so cool to see these kids go “wow, that’s what you think”?  Some of them were surprised at how COOL people think they are.  There were a lot of tears and laughter (some had more tears (Cindy) of joy!  :)  Cindy we LOVE YOU!).  We had tissue box’s going from table to table :)

The cross was amazing (I know, I say amazing a lot but its true :) last night on top of the mountain!  We all just stood there watching the sun set and it was just incredible!  We all had a God moment!  The service Cindy so graciously created for us was awesome.  THANK YOU CINDY!!

Well we are off again to work and it is a beautiful day!  (except…Rev. Rick….Bill S. said he needs a jacket!!)  :)

Keep us in your prayers as we continue on with our mission and the rest of our travels.

Good bless!!

Carolyn Harting

ok so today is our second day of the trip and it has been AMAZING. we are all having a blast. yesterdays mission was very hard. first the adults split us up into three groups. the eighth graders went to go pull up landscape timbers and rebar. we had a blast. after that we went to help the other groups. i thought that all of us really worked hard and well together. at one point a group of us played a stick game to see how many sticks we could pick up in a short amount of time. Sami won the first time but then Regan and I gave her competition. (Sami is writing now and Katie wants me to tell you that they won, but I beg to differ!) We talked about our spiritual gifts and some of us got really emotional. At the worship last night, we talked about God’s creation and then watched the sunset. It was so beautiful. We took a picture that Sami will post so keep an eye out for it. Then we went to the campfire. We threw these things in the fire that made it change colors. it meant that we all have our own color but to make the fire a different color, we all had to work together because the more stuff we threw in it, the more colors it made. (Again, watch for pictures) We ended the night watching Matt Hickey play the guitar and we played “Down my the Bank” and, of course, Sami won. She is so awesome. (Sami is still typing for Katie so may have added on to some of her comments.) 

PS Beckie-we are drinking lots of water! :)

PS-Rev Dr. we have not worn matching socks since we have been here, except for Rachel N. matched yesterday.

PS Thanks Sami’s parents. We hope you liked the card we made for you. See you tommorrow

~Katie Harting and Sami P.