Saying Goodbye to Newport Tennessee

Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how much he has mercy on you.  Mark 5:19 It's been an amazing week for the St. John's youth!  Today, they cleaned up the church from the week and began saying their goodbyes.  Yesterday, Greg took a pic. of one of the houses they worked hard on painting: Also, this is the Chruch in Newport that they spent most of the week at. The girls slept up in the balcony:   Nikki helping clean.... Greg said this was a pic. of them cleaning up, but it looks like these 2 are about  to play football??    ;) Everyone made friends.  Marshall enjoyed spending time with one of the Youth Works leaders, Rich.  He didn't want to see him go. He will miss him! The kids are getting packed up and ready to leave. Before they go, they have a prayer circle with the Youth Works staff. What a great organization!! Prayer Circle Kids, Jayne, Greg and the Youth Works Staff We all are praying for a safe trip home for them.  We are looking forward to hearing their stories and seeing more photos of their time in Newport TN.  Soon, they will be loading the van and trailer and on their way to Indiana. Here, Greg hopes to do some sight seeing.  They will stay at a hotel there tonight and arrive back in Mound around 6pm.   Looking forward to welcoming you all home!!

Thursday July 26th: Our Last Full Day ~ Dare You to Move!

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.

First, Happy Happy 17th Birthday to Veronica!! We are so glad she decided to go on the trip ~ even during her birthday. It's probably a birthday she will not forget! The crew didn't forget her, either, and made sure to get a cake and celebrate and sing to her.  Okay, maybe THREE cakes, because that's  how special Veronica is!!!    :)

Veronica and her 'cakes'. She did share.  :)

I thought you might like to see a schedule of the day for the kids and leaders. I asked Greg to take a pic. of it:

The kids definitely have structure and are keeping busy! They really have very little free time, so if you are not hearing from them a lot, that is why.  (I hear from Greg for about 4 minutes a day and then he usually exclaims, "OK, I have to go and take a shower, it's my turn." or "Okay, we're meeting for worship now."   They are busy making a difference!  Today was more painting and some childcare. Then the groups were off to the beautiful park.  They are making connections and getting to know some of the local people there.  This is Tony Thomas and his son Taylos from their evening outing today. 

“Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?”  C.S. Lewis

http://www.jango.com/stations/113273030/tunein

Serving in Newport TN - Monday and Tuesday

Monday and Tuesday in Tennessee

Matthew 25:40

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

It's hard to believe the kids are half way through their week in Newport. They are keeping very busy!   A typical day begins about 6:30a. They are off to breakfast by 7a. After Breakfast, they make their lunches for the day, group bible study, break off into individual bible study and  have an orientation about their day and their service projects.  After their service projects, the kids are brought to a facility to shower and then they have some free time. They eat dinner -which they take turns helping prepare and clean up after. In the evening they have an activity coordinated by Youth Works. They do another music/church hour and then are allowed free time until bed at 11pm. 

Some of the service projects the kids have been helping with this week are painting local families fences:

Helping with a local elementary school child care

And helping organize and sort at the local Good Will

In the evening, Youth Works has coordinated activities for the kids to see some of the land and experience some of it's culture. 

 Bridge over the river in the Smokey Mountains

Tuesday, they visited Hal's Farm, where they experienced a professional, authentic Bluegrass Band!

The kids are creating memories and keeping busy. It's hard to believe they will be packing up and heading for their 2 day trip back home already Friday morning. 

They're OFF!

St. John's Youth are Ready to Serve!

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We're looking forward to praying for our youth at St. Johns of Mound: Abby Brustad, Kayla Carlson, Lana Fitz, Emily Hollowell, Marshall Shoephoerster, Andrew Sletten, Veronica Spurbeck, Conner Swanson, Nikki Wharram and leaders Greg Sletten and Jayne Fleming.

We're so excited that Greg Sletten, Jayne Fleming and the St. John's youth are off and have arrived safely at their destination in Newport TN!  Their  first stop was Friday night in St. Louis, MO where they stayed comfortably at Christ Memorial Luthern. Then, the next day they traveled on to Nashville TN for some sight seeing in town and stay at First Luthern Church.  Thanking God for the connections and for these churches opening their doors to them and providing them with a safe place to sleep.  

Youth Room at Frist Luthern Church TN

In organizing the trip with Youth Works, Greg has added in a few stops along the way and a little sight seeing, too!

 Smokey Mountains

The St. John's youth are on their way to making memories and a difference in thier lives and the lives of others!  Please keep them all in your prayers throughout this week. We know God is guiding them this week. St. John's has teamed up with Youth Works for this year's mission trip.  Keep checking this site, we'll keep you posted!

Youth Works Organization provides week long, Christ centered and life changing Christian youth mission trips.  For more information on this great organization, visit  www.youthworks.com.