3/11/14

Well another full day completed!  The work (Lew, Zach V., and Zach L.) crew at 8 Mile made great progress today!  They made the forms for four more concrete columns and filled them with concrete this afternoon.  The concrete is curing overnight and the forms will be removed and put on the final four columns tomorrow.  Just before lunch they were able to round up enough extra hands from the neighborhood to get a 40 foot long floor beam hoisted up 16 feet in the air and placed on top of a row of the concrete columns. 

We were able to purchase a motor for Kenny’s concrete mixer, which was a huge blessing.  Mixing that much concrete by hand is hard work!  The work crew was also blessed by the tireless work put in by Jose, one of the young people that has been particularly affected by the love that Tina and Kenny offer those in their community.  He has been there every day, with our group and every other group, working on this community center.  What a joy to see God at work in this young man!

Work crew lifting floor beam into position

It was great to return to YES today.  It is always a bit like coming home to greet Ms. Karen and Pastor Ruth and the other staff each year!  Several of the girls were in the program last year and remember us this year.  Diane and Laura lead a beautiful devotional time with the girls this morning and it was so evident the gifts in teaching the Lord has given these two ladies.  After the worship and devotional time the girls were split into two groups, one spent the morning painting canvases and the other started the flag sewing project. 

Laura leading morning devotional activity at YES

We had some time to speak with Ms. Karen and Pastor Ruth about YES.  The school is financially struggling and in need of lots of prayer.  The situation is such that really only God can intervene and provide a solution for permanent funding for the program. 

Jim helping Jennifer and Ms. Karen prepare lunch

We are excited to return to YES tomorrow as the Lord has already been at work all day today guiding and shaping how we are to present the gospel to these girls and encourage them with the hope that we have in Christ.

Please pray for:

Safety on the work site as the guys finish the concrete columns and build the floor beams.

The YES girls, that their hearts would be softened to God’s love for them.

The YES staff that they would have an extra measure of strength and energy to continue serving.

The YES school, that God would reveal a radical plan for self-sustainment.