Just in case there are some that have been following and don't have kids they just picked up we have made it back safely to home.  Hooray for that.  We had another great breakfast this morning and all the kids cleaned up our sleeping spaces and hit the road by 9:30am.  Got to church right at noon and unloaded and said goodbyes and then watched as the kids told stories to their parents and sibling before even getting out of the parking lot. It was good.  Thank you YouthWorks staff from ATL!!!!!
Until next time.

QOTD

"well we were running like a well oiled machine"

As we were driving the down all the different roads today to get to the river for tubing l started wondering what people think when they see six 12 passenger vans driving through their small town.  l then started wondering what people might be thinking when they walk into their Ole country buffet and see 45 HS kids and 9 adults in line ahead of them.  l wonder what people think when we tell these people that we have brought these kids to do service, voluntarily, for a week several hundred miles from home.  And while l thinking about all these people looking in to our group and wondering all this l started wondering if the parents know how great these kids are.  l started wondering if anybody realizes how lucky we as adult leaders are to be able to be on a trip like this with kids like this.  l wondered if people realize what the kids went through all year long to be prepared and do this trip.  l wondered how often the YouthWorks staff that stay at these sites all summer, go overlooked or unmentioned or unappreciated time and time again.  So l thought this the best chance for me to just try and express our appreciation, as the leaders, to the parents of all kids/young adults for all the support they have given.  Us, as adult leaders, thank you very much for letting us take your children and trusting us with them for this week.  We thank you for giving us such great kids to work with and have fun with.  And l hope that you don't wonder about what we did for this last week, but that you will know what happened and know that it was worth every sacrifice made to be here.


We started off our Saturday with a 6:15am wake up call.  The kids were very unhappy that we continued the "no coffee" rule for this morning as well.  Little do they know that tomorrow morning I am making coffee for those that want some because l know it will help make them happier for the last couple hours of the trip- hahaha.  Had some bacon and eggs and fruit for breakfast, did a quick cleanup and then left camp by 7:30 to go tubing.  Arrived at the park and got our tubes and as we were waiting in line for the tram to take us to the drop-in site, it did start raining.  Some kids did realize the rain was no big deal since we were about to jump into a river and after the first 100 yards of tubing the sun started coming out and it turned into a beautiful day.  We went down the river once and came back to the parking lot for burgers and hotdogs.  The option was given to do another half way float and almost everyone went back in, including the adults that didn't want to go the first time.  We finished up at the river and came back for some nap time and then dinner.  Dinner was pulled pork and potato bar with salad.  Finishing up the day with some s'mores and worship and of course some fun.  The kids are getting their phones back tonight and are pretty excited about that, but at the same time don't seem like it's a huge deal that they haven't had their phones for a week.  lt has been great to have their full attention this whole week.

Thank you so much for prayers this week.  l think that patience was present today in both the kids and leaders.  We are all looking forward to seeing families and being back home in our own towns, houses and especially beds.  Just some final prayer requests.......safe travel tomorrow, good rest tonight and prayers of thanksgiving for the past week going so well.


Since l didn't have time this morning and l know ya'll have been on the edge of your seats all day for this, here it is............

POTD
Many things got done
In just one quick week
So many people met
So many places seen
Into the world we'll go
No enemy can stop us now
Going to do our best for God
All memories held close
Together we did the task
Let us follow Him




"Not only am l the smartest person in the world, but l am also an awesome dancer"

So l decided to write this before our evening devotion time so that l could be done before 1130pm at least once this week.  But then these kids pulled out a surprise that l did not expect.  Some of the kids just put together their own worship time for our whole group tonight.  l was sitting there expecting Rick Betteridge to get up and give another great devo but then Shelby stood up for opening prayer and then a group of Mackenzie, Aaron, Gabrielle, Chuck, and Alaina lead us all in music and it sounded incredible.  Scott then stood up and delivered our devo message followed by our closing prayer by Shelby.  Just when we adults think we've see it all our kids surprise us with this.  The just came together after this devo and just said "WOW".  We could not be more proud.


Goodnight to all and see you tomorrow.

Gone from Atlanta......
  The adults made it up early enough to make a starbucks run this morning, which made them very happy considering how much this day contained.  We packed the vans and cleaned our building all before 8am and then had time to relax with a more healthy breakfast than a usual friday....cereal, poptarts and muffins, oh and milk.  But of course we couldn't eat inside because we had just cleaned all of our space so we ate on the steps of the church.  We spent the next few minutes saying our goodbyes to the AWESOME youthworks staff that we had all week, got a group picture in front of the church and then loaded up and headed out.  We took off a little after 8am and stopped in Valdosta at an Ole country buffet.  This meal seemed a little overwhelming with there being so many options for what to put on our plate.  The kids l think got a little excited with the ability to indulge in soda to go with their meal.  Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed the food we ate, but for some water, water, water all day can get old.  We packed back and hit the road with our next stop to be the North FL Christian Camp......oh yeah and another bathroom break because a few kids had a little too much soda/sweet tea to drink at lunch.  We did arrive here at the camp about 430 and unloaded our stuff and put it into our air conditioned rooms.  There was also a faint cry of praise as people realized there was more than one shower and two toilets in each of our bathrooms as well.  We sent to kids to play and swim and Lawton and AJ prepared dinner with help of cayla, shannon T, shelby and alaina(pasta, garlic bread and salad).  After dinner kids were enjoying the ability to shower longer than 7 minutes and have some free time and we hooked up a computer to a projector to watch some of the opening ceremonies, and it was weird to be watching something on a screen after a week of no tv.  We just finished a short devo time for the night and getting ready to send the kids to bed.
l would to ask for prayers to be for patience, patience and patience tonight and tomorrow.  lt is the day we come home and all of us are tired and stressed and maybe have been rubbed the wrong way by someone this week.  And l just pray that these things will be able to be solved or taken care of before they become bigger than they need to be.(lf you have experienced weeks like this l think you get what l am asking).  Quick update on tomorrow.......early wake up and breakfast and then headed down the road a little ways to do some tubing and grilling out.
    We were very thankful for quite the team we had leading us in the ATL this past week.  The kids today have mentioned several times how they will miss the leaders we had.  Several of the kids were able to connect very well over the last few days and seeing the youthworks leaders be willing and wanting to spend the kind of time it takes to get to know some of these kids was good to see.  We always like to think that our group from st. lukes will leave the biggest impact on the memories of the youthworks staff.  Not always sure if that hope is a good thing, with how some of our adults act(all good things of course, but maybe just a little silly)but we pray that our kids will leave some positive things behind.   Thank you for leading our group this week Steph, Stephanie, Mel, Aaron, and Adele!!!!!
So, since our morning was a little rushed and our youthworks team was so AWESOME(that one was real and not just for you Steph haha) l left them in charge of our....duh duh duh da........drumrolllllll...........

POTD!!!!!!

We as a staff
Could never say enough
About a group like St Lukes
So wonderful and tough
We were blessed by their service
We were blessed by their faith
The enemy has a reason to be nervous
ATL will never be the same


And also.................get excited...............here it comes............


QOTD

"The toilets have here have walls.....and there's good AC in the our rooms!!!!"

Good night from your Sr. youth students and adult leaders.

Wow......it is thursday night already.  When we arrived here in Atlanta the end of the week seemed so far away.  And when some of the groups were unloading a truck full of mattresses the end of the week seemed so far away.  When some people were just standing in an assembly line and time was going slow the end of the week seemed so far away.  When some were laying down to bed at the start of the week and weren't able to sleep the end of the week seemed so far away.  And now that the end of our week here at youthworks in Atlanta is coming to an end it seems like such a short time that we were here and some wish we just had more time to do more for those that need more.  Looking back it seems hard to believe how much we packed into just one week.  The experiences that we had, the people we met, the places we went.  lt was so incredible to see the kids all work together and interact together with everything we did in this one week.  There was a huge amount of fun had.  There were emotional roller coasters.  There was the want and desire to be able to do more for the people that we encountered.  There were rough times in this week and also some awesome moments that happened this week.  New bonds were made within our group between the adults and within the kids and new communication lines opened from kids to adults.  And l think that there was one fact that kept coming up through all of this, and that was that there were 45 absolutely amazing kids here with us this week.
     We spent the week inviting people to our cookout that we had tonight in the park across the street from the church.  The kids got to spend some time with people from the community one last time.  We then ended the evening with many many people realizing that tonight was the end of our time here.  But we pray that everyone realizes that this is just the beginning of their mission work in their communities and everywhere else they go.
  Again we are all very thankful for everything that was done for us to be able to make it here.  All the prayers were greatly appreciated.  We are waking up at 630am tomorrow and cleaning all of the space we have used in the church and packing up.  Then eating breakfast and hitting the road down towards FL to our next stop.  l hope you have enjoyed reading a summary of what has happened this week and encourage you to ask your children more about it all.

Goodnight for the last time from the ATL


QOTD

"I always bring my monkey"

What a wonderful morning we are having here in Atlanta already.  A couple of us adults ventured out into the city with no gps in hopes of finding a coffee shop.  A couple of turns later we were in the starbucks parking lot picking up coffee for the adult leaders who were very excited to see us return.  Now that the leaders that need coffee have their "fix"l think they are ready for the day ahead of us.  Today is our last full day here at youthworks and l think that fact will start setting in as the day goes on.  Would like prayers for when the kids start realizing that and to help them realize that us leaving is when our chance to witness and serve the rest of the people we meet in life begins.  lt is usually a lot of mixed emotions as we get closer to the end as the kids who thought they wouldn't get anything out of this trip don't want to leave because of the people they have meet or experience they have had.  Also a prayer for the all of us to not slack off at all just because it will be our last day at our work sites.  

Thank you again for all your prayers and support.

And nowwww

POTD........

Two went to find coffee

Hot as something on fire

Everything is happening

Serving those around us

I don't want to leave

God is so good

Never forget your lunch

Are you in a group of three

Lets go

Good evening to everyone who is still following us.  All the groups today went to new work sites so we had a quick orientation and then headed to get to sites by about 9am. A new site today was called Cafe 458, where people come to go through group training to help them get back on their feet or improve their situation.  The kids did food prep and then the people came and sat down restaurant style and the kids took their order and we plated the food and served them and waited on them.  The kids took their lunches and sat with some people that had tables and got to talk with them and converse.  The kids then cleaned everything up.  Other groups went to places that our kids had already been to and were able to see what some of their friends had been up to and experience a little of the same thing themselves.  lt has a been a very different trip than the last couple years with not designated kids club or work projects.  We have a lot of community service time and a lot dealing with people directly.  Just a little different from what we are used to.
After work crews came back there was some free time.  The free time was used for anything from going swimming again, to playing in the park, and a few of us caught up on some running we did not do in the morning and some just wanted to stop and shower and write some more "Hotlantagrams."
For our evening activity tonight we went to Destiny Metro Worship Church.  lt was very different than any service we have ever had at St. Luke's. It was a praise worship and was a little longer than what we are used to.  From all the feedback we have heard from the kids they really enjoyed the service and their attention was held very well by the message that was delivered.  We then came back to our "home" for some shortened club time and then family group time and had some brownies to celebrate Matthew Quintana's birthday.  There are lots of good stories being shared between everyone and l hope that when you see the kids or adults from this trip you get a chance to ask them about this week.  We are all very thankful for the support that we received from everyone in the congregation and relatives.

And now it's time for.........drum roll!............

QOTD
"lf they were going to put that much water there, at least put some fish in it"

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Good night to all from the ATL
ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Good morning mom's and dad's and friends of all ages.
We have a pretty usual morning about to happen here.  Some kids are gonna find out they are being woke up in about 10 minutes and then the rest getting that same news about 20 minutes later.  Breakfast is cereal, toast, yogurt, oatmeal.  Today is exciting though, because after breakfast and morning devo time we are all going to new service sites.  So we'll have another quick orientation right after devos and then find out about our new places to where we are serving.
Little thought for road here.....Would you rather be abducted by aliens or ride a massive tornado???

And of course the POTD..........

Going nonstop all day
Another Day ahead of us
No turning back now
Going out for service
Shoes get left behind too
Down to the pool we went
Open to new opportunities
Dat was AWESOME
Three took a break today

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QOTD...........

"Wait, what happened in the 3rd floor bathroom?"
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Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers throughout the week.  Things are going great.  Please keep praying for safety during travel, work sites and free time and also for the kids to keep learning so much about themselves.
Have a great day!!!!