Last week we had our mission trip through World Servants in the ever so small town of Jellico, Tennessee. Jellico is located at the northern border of Tennesse, so much so if you walk four blocks north of Main Street you are now in Kentucky (not joking). Spenser, Kate and I met up with an outstanding group from First Baptist Church of Hamilton, Ohio. Throughout the week we held a sports camp/VBS type activity for the kids of the area. Over 50 kids joined in each day to learn about football, soccer, basketball or cheerleading. In addition, they were exposed to God's love and his Word.
In the afternoons, we worked on a few other projects including demolishing/rebuilding a deck, putting a new roof over an existing (leaky) roof and painting a couple houses. If was amazing! I can now say I know how to build a deck from the ground up and that it is even level and rock solid.
Aside from the work, World Servants stresses one thing: relationships. Relationships within the team, relationships with the families we are working with and relationships with the community as a whole. It was awesome. I worked on the deck of this delightful woman named Wanda. She went out of her way to make us feel welcomed. On Tuesday, both homes we were working on hosted lunch for us. Chicken and dumplings, full turkey dinners with all of the fixings, fried cabbage, corn dogs, hot dogs, cornbread and so many desserts I am still full on sugar. I have never seen such hospitality. These families gave fully of themselves and their food when they did not have money to spare. They gave because it was what they could give and they did it with such joy and warmth. You felt that you were part of the family.
I hope to have more pictures from the week up soon and a few more tor