Friday's pictures

Today we did a road rally, had a pool party, and we're now off to set up for Summerfest at Mission Possible. Here are pictures for today:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150729383675613.720884.695475612&l=b8650a49d0&type=1

Cathy

Thursday pictures

Here's Thursday's pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150727782865613.720405.695475612&l=7d4ed3cb52&type=1

Today we are finishing up work projects at Green Acres, Boys Club, and Grace Resource Center. Last day of BYBCs and sports ministry. Yesterday we had over 177 participants. Tomorrow we have a road rally and then Summerfest. Hope to see all you parents there at 5:30 at Mission Possible at 12th and Chicon. Thanks for all your prayers of support.

Cathy

Go Austin - Wednesday pictures

Here's where we are posting Wendesday's pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150726539270613.720028.695475612&l=12c77ac2dc&type=1

So far we built a stone-lined mulch trail at the Green Acre Urban Farm, started water day with our BYBCs, painted words on a mural at the Boys and Girls Club, took extra snacks to the coffee shop, and sorted clothes and other items at the Grace Family resource Center.

Look for more pictures tonight....

Cathy

Go Austin - Tuesday pictures

Here's pictures from Tuesday...still adding more later tonight. Worship is ending and we're getting ready for ice cream sundaes and a pool party. Had a great day interacting with visitors at Gandalph's coffee shop across from Mission Possible, and work projects on the Green Acre transitional housing land on Cameron Road, Girls and Boys club, and the Grace Resource Center at the Ebenezer church. 166 participants in clubs and sports ministry today.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150725096985613.719518.695475612&l=05082173a8&type=1

Cathy

Here's some pictures from our Monday at Go Austin:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150723349850613.718924.695475612&l=08d51c5e92&type=1

Cathy

Hi everyone,

So today was our first full day on GoAustin and we were blessed with a variety of different opportunities to serve and witness God's work in the city. Team X-Men got the chance to work at Gandalf's Coffee Shop this morning, which is a free cafe run by Mission Possible where people from all walks of life have the chance to enjoy coffee and a pastry, escape the heat, and connect with one another in a safe environment. I got to talk with a few of the regular patrons and I heard some amazing stories that just exemplified the awesome power and unfailing love of Jesus Christ. One man has been in Austin since Katrina hit and he shared his story with us, ending it with a prayer where we all held hands and he blessed us and our time spent together. Another man shared his trials and losses with me, but confidently expressed that he knew the Lord was in control and that things would work out. It was eye-opening to see such strong faith from someone who has endured so much hardship. While he and I were talking, there was definitely a God moment where a verse that the Lord has used in my life recently was laid on my heart so I decided to share it with him. When I opened the Bible and he read it, he immediately began to tear up and closed his eyes, praying aloud right then and there. He then shared that the Lord had used that verse to call him out of a dark time in his life previously, and he also said he was going to go back and read the entire chapter from that book.

It was just an awesome experience for each and every one of us to get the chance to connect with people who have experienced so much. I know that the Gandalf's patrons truly blessed us and I think that the students were able to do the same for them. The Lord is good and so faithful and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for this week. Please keep us in your prayers and praise the Lord for all that He has done already!

~Jamie

Family and friends,
It's day 2 here at GoAustin. Today we got up and headed to do work projects. We did many different tasks from picking up trash to paint projects. We had 146 total participants in backyard bible clubs today and six kids accepted Christ (praise the Lord). The afternoon was spent going to parks and playing with the children we came in contact with. Every group had a good turn out of kids which helped with our spirits considering it was a hot hot afternoon.
Tonight we had a worshipful evening led by the Response band and Kirsten Anderson. Kirsten read us the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 and talked about how David was a man focused on God. She reminded us that God prepared David through being a shepherd for the moment he would take down the giant just as God is preparing us for what He has for us in the future. We ended the evening with a lesson in line dancing taught by Dorothy Cielonko. This put a fresh pep in everyone's step and everyone was dancing the night away (or atleast attempting to :) ).
Please continue to pray for us as the week continues and we begin to get tired and sleep deprived. Specific prayer requests are that God would bring more kids to each club, He would help our kids remember, "it's not about us," and in the places where we can't share the gospel the children would recognize there's something different about us and there is something more to the value stories we are teaching them. Another request is that there were some sports centers where we could not get in today but hope to be able to get in tomorrow.
As we go out tomorrow our prayer is that the gospel would be shared in the city for the city.
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Britney

Go Austin 2011 - Sunday

After collecting food for the HCBC backpack drive and packing up the white vans, we drove to University Towers to drop off our luggage. Then we headed over to the Church under the Bridge. It was the first time to visit there for some of the kids, but they did well - engaging in conversations with some of the homeless and hearing their stories. Before we left, we gave out 300 Bags of Grace with food and also toiletry packs.

After lunch back at the towers, the teams went to neighborhoods through East Austin and near downtown to hand out BYBC invitations for our clubs this week. With the temp around 104, we went to cool off with snow cones in front of the Fiesta Market. Then we spent an hour in our teams planning out our week before dinner in the cafeteria.

As evening began, we drove out to Mt Bonnell for worship. Stephen Parker led worship songs with his acoustic guitar while we sat on the mountain top overlooking the city of Austin. Kyndall read scriptures from Philipians 2 and challenged us to remember that this week is "not about us." Stephen taught us about the Holy Spirit actively being our helper, testifying about God, and bringing others to Christ - not us.

We ended the night with team spirit competitions - dressing up as heros, team cheers, and a game involving stacking red cups but protecting them from flying balls.

Check out some pictures from our day: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150722729570613.718721.695475612&l=12417489f8&type=1

Ready, set, go! Leaving for Go Austin at 7:30 AM.