Hi Everyone!
It is almost supper time so I have a few minutes to write before we eat. Our first day in Port Arthur, Texas has been wonderful. We are thankful to see the sunshine and to be able to walk outside in the warm weather. We have heard about the large amount of snow back home! We hope that everyone is managing okay.
Last night we arrived around 10:00. Miss Mary met us and helped us get set up in our rooms. We're staying in a converted home for the elderly. It is perfect for our stay. The basketball court outside has already been well used and the common areas even have couches. It is an organization that started to help families who have loved ones in one of the local prisons. They are able to stay here during their visits. Since Hurricane Rita they have started taking in groups like ours as well. We were excited to see Reuben van Gilst, a friend of many of the youth, who is joining us for the week. As many of you know he has been working with CRWRC Disaster Relief teams since September.
This morning we attended Thomas Boulevard Church of Christ. The superintendant in charge of the construction sites for the umbrella group for Rita Recovery attends this church. It was an amazing experience. The people were very warm and welcoming and it was even a service focusing on the youth. There were no instruments, but one of the youth led our worship acapella. He had such a strong singing voice. There were many songs we didn't know, but we caught on quick. There were so many harmonies being belted out you couldn't help but sing loud! We were excited to sing "Were you there" and "When peace like a river" as they were familiar. Afterwards we were greeted so warmly by the congregation, being the only white people in attendance they knew we were visitors ;)
After that we headed back to homebase for a delicious lunch... Graham was definitely the right person for organizing and cooking the food! We woke up to French Toast for breakfast too! I'm not sure about the youth, but Rod and I will be eating better here than we do at home. We may just have to move i
nto the Johnson residence when we go home :)
We then did what every good Canadian would do. We went to the beach! It was very windy, making the 18 degrees feel a lot cooler, but this didn't stop many of us from jumping in. (By us I do not mean me. I have lost my wild side I've realized!) The waves crashed hard, the football was thrown around, and holes were dug (although I'm not sure why). We even had a couple girls from Church join us crazy Canucks. They were fascinated to hear our stories about snow (having never seen it!) and we were happy to have people answer our questions as well.
Tonight we meet Andy who will fill us in more on our work for the week. We also hope to have some devotion time and worship. I think our new friends Heather and Cherise from Church plan on staying as well.
One of the church ladies, a very proud grandmother, came around and high fived the group saying how excited she was to meet more of God's family. It was neat to see God's people worshipping in another part of the continent, knowing we can come from such different places and still belong to the same heavenly Father!
We appreciate your prayers and we pray for our families and friends at home as well. I'm going to do my best to post some pictures/videos...
Blessings! Julie
PS Mom and Dad give the boys big kisses for us!
It is almost supper time so I have a few minutes to write before we eat. Our first day in Port Arthur, Texas has been wonderful. We are thankful to see the sunshine and to be able to walk outside in the warm weather. We have heard about the large amount of snow back home! We hope that everyone is managing okay.
Last night we arrived around 10:00. Miss Mary met us and helped us get set up in our rooms. We're staying in a converted home for the elderly. It is perfect for our stay. The basketball court outside has already been well used and the common areas even have couches. It is an organization that started to help families who have loved ones in one of the local prisons. They are able to stay here during their visits. Since Hurricane Rita they have started taking in groups like ours as well. We were excited to see Reuben van Gilst, a friend of many of the youth, who is joining us for the week. As many of you know he has been working with CRWRC Disaster Relief teams since September.
This morning we attended Thomas Boulevard Church of Christ. The superintendant in charge of the construction sites for the umbrella group for Rita Recovery attends this church. It was an amazing experience. The people were very warm and welcoming and it was even a service focusing on the youth. There were no instruments, but one of the youth led our worship acapella. He had such a strong singing voice. There were many songs we didn't know, but we caught on quick. There were so many harmonies being belted out you couldn't help but sing loud! We were excited to sing "Were you there" and "When peace like a river" as they were familiar. Afterwards we were greeted so warmly by the congregation, being the only white people in attendance they knew we were visitors ;)
After that we headed back to homebase for a delicious lunch... Graham was definitely the right person for organizing and cooking the food! We woke up to French Toast for breakfast too! I'm not sure about the youth, but Rod and I will be eating better here than we do at home. We may just have to move i
nto the Johnson residence when we go home :)We then did what every good Canadian would do. We went to the beach! It was very windy, making the 18 degrees feel a lot cooler, but this didn't stop many of us from jumping in. (By us I do not mean me. I have lost my wild side I've realized!) The waves crashed hard, the football was thrown around, and holes were dug (although I'm not sure why). We even had a couple girls from Church join us crazy Canucks. They were fascinated to hear our stories about snow (having never seen it!) and we were happy to have people answer our questions as well.
Tonight we meet Andy who will fill us in more on our work for the week. We also hope to have some devotion time and worship. I think our new friends Heather and Cherise from Church plan on staying as well.
One of the church ladies, a very proud grandmother, came around and high fived the group saying how excited she was to meet more of God's family. It was neat to see God's people worshipping in another part of the continent, knowing we can come from such different places and still belong to the same heavenly Father!
We appreciate your prayers and we pray for our families and friends at home as well. I'm going to do my best to post some pictures/videos...
Blessings! Julie
PS Mom and Dad give the boys big kisses for us!
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