The Last Day...

Friday, July 5th...the last full day of our mission trip experience to Columbus, Nebraska

We planned to get up early enough to drive nearly an hour to Fremont, NE to work on a project for a woman in hospice care. I was awakened by some early morning storms and rain (yes...I often am up at 5 a.m.). Barb came up and found me in the meditation room and shared that she had received word that the woman had died peacefully in the night. The contractor who was coordinating the repair effort said also because of the rain and not having all the supplies on hand yet, we shouldn't plan to come today. It was a sad moment for us all, but it did allow for some folks to sleep a little later.
We began the process of assessing our options, contacting our local coordinators for alternatives.
In the end, I talked Pastor Joe into letting us tear out the water damaged support framing under the stairs and landing. Connor, Kate, and I tore out the old and put in new supports with help from Barb. Now we won't have to wonder if the stairs ever collapsed in years to come.
The mural project was completed beautifully today, too! Check the picture! We finally got things wrapped up enough to take a break and go see Toy Story 4! We all loved it. Great break for the team. Overall for the whole week, I am always amazed how we come together to "be" together as a small community of faith, sharing stories, prayers, joys, concerns all while working on such a wide variety of tasks requiring so much flexibility. It seems everyone pitches in even at times when is not one's "turn" to cook, clean-up, blog or lead devotions. I'll let Kate finish up thoughts for the day, but will say that this pastor is humbled to be part of this team and our work. Thank you Kate, Molly, Connor, Peter, Pam and Barbara!
Pastor Howard

To continue where Howard left off (his account of most of the day is pretty accurate), after Toy Story 4 we were all so full from popcorn and sour patch kids (of course) that we decided to postpone dinner and do devotion outside at a local park. Barb led a beautiful devotion followed by good discussion and communion. Then, Connor ran to the Pokemon gym and Molly went with him to get in her minutes for online PE. The park was right next to the levee, so we got to witness ourselves what literally saved the town of Columbus. Overall, the day definitely did not go to plan but I think our best skill as a group is to adapt to whatever needs to get done (and eating sour patch kids). Enjoy these pictures from the day!
Kate