Photo Album Week One and Week Two

Check out the photo album from Summer of Service - Sandusky, OH.

Click here to view or to add your photos.

Week 2, Day 3

We had an awesome day today!  

This morning we went to the Ohio Veterans Home, which is located about 3 miles away from the church we're staying. Our task for the day once we were there was to setup a picnic for the residents. Today's picnic, however, was a bit different in the fact that we had a picnic on the interior courtyard of the grounds with the lockdown ward - any veteran residents that are in psychiatric care due to dementia. We were a bit nervous and didn't know what to expect...

Once setup was done, we wheeled or walked out with the residents and got them seated at tables. We had a blast trading stories with them about our lives and learning all about them and their families, some of whom joined us for the picnic. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and cole slaw and there was even live music for us to enjoy all afternoon! Even though it was a misting rain all morning and beginning of the afternoon, from what we could tell no students or veterans seemed to mind at all.

Due to respect for the confidentiality of the veterans, residents and their families, we didn't take any pictures of the group w/ the veterans during the lunch, but we do have a picture of something else that was plentiful on the grounds of the OVH...

PEACOCKS!!! There were tons, at least a dozen, and even an albino one! So cool.

After the residents were all taken back to their rooms after the picnic, the music was still playing and it was still raining so of course we started DANCING!

After our great morning and afternoon at the OVH we returned home to dry off and get cleaned up. We had an awesome taco dinner and were led in worship by some amazing students, sharing many of the stories and experiences and names we had learned earlier today. We were truly touched as a group by this amazing experience.

We appreciate your prayers for us as we push into the final portion of our week together. We'll be fighting fatigue and lack of sleep as we head into a day tomorrow at the Boys and Girls club of Sandusky. Can't wait to report back with where we encounter God along the way!

Week 2, Day 2

We had an amazingly successful and fun day!  

This morning, we went back to Nehemiah Center to work with the kids summer day camp that meets there Tues-Thurs each week. As kids arrived and began to eat breakfast, we hung out with some of them around the grounds before the "official" activities started at 10.

Once all of the kids had arrived, we started with a skit from Pirate Pete!  He had some help from Kate and Olivia.

After our skit, we split up into three different age groups and had three different stations or rotations to go to throughout the morning. First was crafts, where the kids and our students got to make tie-dye t-shirts for their project today!

After crafting, each group went up to the second floor to get a bible lesson for the day, led by some of our students.

For the last rotation, the groups went outside (it was hot!) for a lesson from the local golf pro, Dave, on how to chip and putt!

Once the activities were over and all three groups had rotated through all three stations, our students helped to feed lunch to the kids before they were officially done for the day. We stuck around w/ a few of them for a while afterward and played some kickball! Before we left for the afternoon, we made sure to get a group shot with our friends from Nehemiah.

Tonight we get to go to a concert in the park after dinner, and we look forward to another wonderful and fulfilling day tomorrow as we travel to the Ohio Veterans Home. Thank you for your prayers for our group as we continue on this journey together!

Week 2, Day 1

Wow! That is the best way to sum up today. 

Amazing students and amazing work. 

Today we were at Nehemiah Center in Sandusky. This is an incredible organization that serves the community by providing for its children. The students completed a number of tasks today which will allow the organization to focus on its main mission. 

Here is a partial list of the wonderful work this team completed today...

Painted three entrances...

Painted to interior doors black and pink...

Weeded parking lots...

Cleaned graffiti off of a playground set...

Fixed a fence...

Dug a trench under the fence to allow it to hang straight to the ground...

Cleaned the entire bottom floor of the center...

Cleaned and organized a closet...

Picked up trash in the fields around the center...

Spent time with local children...

Tonight we will have smalle groups, a lasagna dinner, and worship.

Thank you for your prayers. We feel them every step of the way. Tyler arrived at 2:30 today so our group is complete. 

Enjoy these pictures from our day. 

Week 2, Arrival - We're Here

We made it. More pics to come. 

Week 1, Day 6 - Trip over...adventure just beginning

We made it home! 

What an amazing week it was. 

Everyone was transformed by the work, the people, the activities, the friends, and the God who met us there. 

In an unprecedented move last night the annual Cheese Danish award was presented to the entire group! The keeper of the Danish was randomly selected and fate fell on Christian Coler. This pastry has traveled far and wide for approximately 22 years. Yes...yuk! Everyone received their own facsimile of the original. Some ate it, and some stored it for future use. 

We are so thankful for this trip and cannot wait to see what lays before week 2 with different students and adult leaders. 

We are thankful for such opportunities to give of and grow in our faith. 

Week 1, Day 5 - Cedar Point

Today was Cedar Point! It was a perfect day with perfect weather. 

Great fun. Lots of laughs, lots of rides, lots of memories made. 

This has been one amazing week filled with incredible students giving of themselves in service to God and growing with one another. There is so much to share about this adventure. Thank you for your prayers. 

Check out these pictures with a few surprise guests. 

Week 1, Day 4

Today the group worked really hard at a Farmer's Market at the local Lutheran Church. This was not your everyday market. This one is designed to be free and to provide fresh produce for those who usually cannot afford to buy fresh for their families. The students helped sort, package, shop, and deliver the produce to the guests throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. It was both a challenging and rewarding morning as the students got to meet and talk to several of the people who came to visit the market. 

When the market was closed a group of students went to the town square to pop and sell popcorn for het United Way. It was fun to see the community from this perspective. One of the students even tried his hand at catching the local "fauna" (the gulls that seem to outnumber the people). The rest of the group continued their work at the Lutheran church doing some clean up and lawn work. 

After work we had some time to relax, had small groups, ate an amazing dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill that two of our students put together (see photographic evidence below), worshipped together, reflected on our day together, and had movie time (the Secret Life of Walter Mitty). 

After the long day it was off to bed to get ready for Cedar Point!

Thank you for your prayers. They have sustained us. We are looking forward to a wonderful day tomorrow in the park. See you soon. 

Week 1, Day 3

Day three down!  

Although it was a bit cloudy and cool out today, we had a great time serving the veterans living at the Ohio Veterans Home. After breakfast this morning, we drove over to OVH to help with their Wednesday summer picnic. Many of the veterans that live in the nursing home on sight can't get around well and must be in wheelchairs or on walkers, so our students spent the morning wheeling them from their rooms out to the pagoda on the grounds for a picnic. It was an amazing way to start conversation with a person that has so many intriguing and exciting life experiences and stories to share.  

After taking the vets out to the picnic, our students and some other volunteers got to serve them lunch, standing in line to grab a tray and fill it and take it to a veteran at their table. Once everyone was served, we sat with them at the tables and got to have some fellowship and laughter with them during the meal. When they were ready to leave the picnic after lunch, we wheeled and/or accompanied them back inside where many students sat with them for upwards of 30-45 minutes just to talk about life. It was a truly unique experience for our students and we have some great stories to tell!

Once the picnic and our conversations were complete we ate lunch on the grounds as a group and even got to take a closer look at the Wurlitzer that they had out for the festivities!

Once we returned from the Ohio Veteran's Home, the group still had about an hour to spare and so we had a trash-pickup contest in the neighborhood downtown around the church. Each group had an hour to find as much trash to collect and dispose of, and between the three groups we collected three huge trash bags full for the dumpster. Along the way, we found a few friends to help...

(We call this "Gull in Street" by Tyler Wolfcale, budding photog)

Tonight we're going to enjoy some delicious pulled pork BBQ for dinner and then have a fun movie night together. Tomorrow morning we'll get up for our final day of work, which will be only a few blocks away working with the local Lutheran church for a farmer's market they put on twice a month.  

Please continue to pray for us to have renewed energy and refreshing sleep as we head into the latter part of our week, and for safe travels as Brian comes out to join us tomorrow.  

Week 1, Day 2

Day two is almost in the books. We had an awesome day today and have the pictures to prove it!  

But first, what're you lookin' at?!

(This guy was just chillin' on a fence behind our kickball park today. Looks like he runs the place!)

This morning we got up bright and early to head back to the Nehemiah Center where we worked yesterday. But this time there was one big but also small difference - KIDS! We got to spend the entire morning and part of the afternoon with about 50+ children that were there for summer day camp. We had groups from K-8th grade and they got to do crafts, bible study, and even learn archery outside! Our students helped to lead each portion, afterwards serving the kids lunch and then playing some foursquare and kickball with them for a while in the afternoon.

(Some of the students doing craft time with kids building treasure chests)

(Ever seen this?! Christian was a pirate teaching bible stories!)

(We had to clean up the freshly mowed grass off of the field so the important stuff could happen...)

KICKBALL GAME!!!

Tonight we'll have our second evening of small groups and worship together, and we got to walk down to the local park where we heard an hour long concert from some of the local school jazz bands. Tomorrow we're going to the Ohio Veteran's Home where we're going to work with and have a picnic with the veterans there.

We appreciate your continued prayers for our week together, and we can't wait for another fun filled day of service together!

Week 1: Arrival & Day 1

We made it to Sandusky!  

After an easy trip with no issues (and World Cup soccer action!) from Indy, we arrived to First Presbyterian Church in Sandusky just after 7 p.m. to the sounds of gulls overhead. There was a decent view...

This morning we went to the Nehemiah Center, which is about a mile away from where we are staying for the week.  What used to be an old school building was bought years ago at auction for $5, and now it's used to enrich the lives of kids in the local community.

During the school year, the Nehemiah Center has after school programs that include an evening meal for kids from kindergarten to 8th grade. During the summer, they have summer day programs for kids of the same age. Today, we got to work around the grounds inside and out to help clean up the property. Tomorrow, we'll head back and get to hang out with the kids!

We cleaned three floors of rooms and floors and windows, we swept and mopped staircases and hallways and a gymnasium, and we weeded and mowed and trimmed all around the spacious outdoor areas on the grounds.

We were all worn out by the time we returned to the church this afternoon, so we took some time to relax (and get a few short naps in for some of us) and now we're off to have dinner and do small groups and worship. We've had an amazing start to our trip, and we're excited to head into day two! Thank you for praying for us along the way, we'll be back soon to share more of our adventure.