Mission Ashburn

Ok, so blogging every day didn’t exactly work out…as you’ve noticed!  I was without internet and had no time to run to Caribou or Panera to write.  Sorry about that.  But the good news is that Mission Ashburn was amazing.  I don’t know where to start now that the 7-day monster trip to nowhere far away is over!  We served in and learned about 3 different homeless shelters in Loudoun County, went to the DC Central Kitchen, helped clear invasive plant species from Staunton Park in Herndon, Organized items at a thrift store, cleaned the Binstead’s house, and helped the Collins’ move.  And on top of that, the kids helped run a VBS like no udder!  Needless to say I was impressed!

Cool Story #1: We went to Staunton Park in Herndon to serve for an afternoon.  When i called and scheduled the day’s work, the lady said she’d never worked with a church group before…then after we’d done our work she said that we were the best group she’d ever had - lots of hard work and no whining or complaining!  My heart swelled up like Matt Sedlmeyer’s poison ivy - several of us got wrapped up in it!  The important part for our kids was that they were able to help take care of God’s creation right in their backyards, they were a witness to the three people from the Fairfax Park Authority that we worked with, and they learned that a little sweat and hard work makes a park a much nicer place to be.

Cool Story #2:  On Wednesday our whole group went to Loudoun Emergency Shelter.  A few of us went to work at a different house, but most of us were ushered into the most chaotic and dishelved basement full of clothes, toys, shoes, computers, etc… that we’d ever seen!  By the next afternoon though, huge mounds of trashbags and random toys were all organized and the basement was looking amazing.  Again, huge compliments from the staff.

Cool Story #3: Thursday and Friday many of us worked at a women’s shelter run by Good Shepherd Alliance just north of Leesburg.  We organized a closet, scrubbed cabinets, and painted three rooms. 11 coats of paint later (total in all the rooms) the place was transformed!  Natasha picked out some beautiful, bright colors and the place looked amazing.  Again, compliments and thanks from Grace, the house monitor.

There are many more cool stories, and more pictures to come, but here are a few from the beginning of the week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First day of VBS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Staunton Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greeted with a Rainbow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                         Girls…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying the Bounty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                   Goin’ Deep…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They’re not as scary in real life!

 

More to come later…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ by ryanmcbride on July 23, 2007.