Our WorkCamp has nearly 200 people, including campers, adult chaperones, and staff. There are 5 priests with us including our Camp Chaplain. Here's one of the priests at a work site.
Tim Z's work team is serving at New Covenant Fellowship soup kitchen and food pantry. They also provide other services to the men and women who come to them.
Alexis' team is working at a Christian service organization which has clothes, household items, and furniture available to individuals in need. The team worked hard to receive new donations and also to prepare the items for future clients. Everything is given freely in Jesus' name to the clients in a spirit of love and respect. There is no charge. Clients can visit once a day and are welcome to all that they can carry.
No rain predicted for the middle of the day but it poured this morning. Rain is expected this evening. The high school we are staying at has air conditioning. This is keeping the humidity and temp low for sleeping. Evan's work team is painting in the home of a widow in the area. She is very grateful and excited to have young people help her with a difficult task.
We've arrived safely and on Monday, July 4 we had breakfast from 6:30-7:15 am then had Mass at 7:30 am. We were then ready to be on our work sites by 8:45 am! Everything has gone relatively well and we have an enthusiatic and postive group, who are ready to experience what God has in store for them on this mission trip. We were able to enjoy a half hour long show of fireworks later at night by the University of Illinois Champagne/Urbana.
The day of our departure is drawing near for our mission trip from July 4 - 9. We'll be sharing highlights and testimonies of our mission trip this summer with you, our parish. You'll be able to share in our experience and be with us in Spirit and prayer as we encounter Christ through serving others. Our God pursues us relentlessly and desires to Beseige us with His love and mercy. We will be called to surrender, let go, and let God. We're anticipating some amazing stories of what God will do, so stay tuned!