Sanford: Day 6

"Hey Steve, can we stay another week?"

"Hey Steve, we stayed up late last night brainstorming all these ideas for things we can do in Sanford!"

"Hey Steve, can we fundraise money to build the kids a new playground."

Yes, our teens have caught a passion for mission work in Sanford.

Anyone who knows me well knows I hate it when teens get stereotyped as lazy, selfish, and irresponsible. I hate this because I know the stereotype is not true. Our students this week have constantly proved this stereotype wrong.

They gave up a week of their summer vacations, when they could be hanging out with friends, sleeping in, earning money, or a whole host of other stuff to sleep on the floor, wake up early, work hard (for no financial gain), take 3-minute showers, let three 4-year olds hang from their arms, and put aside almost every selfish desire for the sake of someone else.

Today our teens finished a five-day drywalling job on Day 4.

Today our teens led a flawlessly-executed day camp program for the most kids we have had all week.

This week, our teens learned how to mulch, weed, plant, cut and hang drywall, paint, stain. Not only that, but they picked up on it fast enough to accomplish more than was expected of them.

This week, our teens left a massive impression on this community, encouraged a struggling community organization, made some children in need of love feel super-loved, and and brought joy to a sad part of the world.

This week, our teens learned to love the unlovable, care for the broken-hearted, and cultivate soil so that Evergreen Covenant can come in and plant some seeds.

This week, our teens learned to wash people's feet, to serve people to the point of near-humiliation, to love everyone.

I was blessed tonight when Pastor Frank told our students that he was a youth pastor for 15 years, and worked with several youth groups, and that our group of kids was the best he had ever seen.

I agree with his appraisal, wholeheartedly.

Parents, you should be proud of your kids.

I know I am.

See ya tomorrow night,

Steve