Joplin Dec 8-11, 2011 (Day Two)

Here are pictures from Brandi's IPhone and represent our second day on mission in Joplin. Our task was to help a young lady get back into her home before Christmas. We did tasks to help her move closer to this goal. We met her and she told us her story. We were honored and humbled to serve her and the people of Joplin. It is true....God will change the heart of a person who serves. We encourage all who read this blog to set a few days aside to help the people of Joplin.

Joplin Dec 8-11, 2011 (Day One)

Here are pictures from Carlie's IPhone. We will add text and pictures from Brandi's IPhone later. We are so glad we chose to serve.

Slow but Steady Progress

The monthly mission trips give everyone an opportunity to make a difference in Joplin. Every day spent working gets residents one day closer to finally moving back home.

The residents of this house have been out of their home for over five months. This weekend we finished taping and mudding all of the drywall of the entire house except the bathroom and laundry room.

We helped with siding on the outside of the house. We added an electrical box to the laundry room and finished the ceiling.

There is still so much to do but as the homeowner told me, in one weekend we achieved what it takes the two of them weeks to do.

Want to see a happy crew?

Do you see some faces that you don't recognize from COS? Well that is because on this team we had members from another church. They joined us from New Covenant UMC and The Connection. Serving together is a great way to meet new friends.

Here they are with the home owners on the front porch.

Rebuilding Joplin

The November Team headed to Joplin on a bright and beautiful day.

We headed to a house to help with drywall!

Here's mud in your eye.There is still plenty of rebuilding to do. Here is the high school.

October Joplin Mission Team Report

We are working today at the sanctuary of St. Paul UMC which was destroyed in the tornado. They met for the first time on their property last Sunday. They are holding services in their gymnasium. We are going to build some storage, set up the area for their services, etc today. We are also going to help a family from the church move back into their home. Will let you know what else is going on and will try to send pictures.

Kelly Bogda

Most Recent Dates for Joplin Missions

Nov. 10-13, 2011

Dec. 8-11, 2011

Jan. 19-22, 2012

Feb. 23-26, 2012

March 11-17, 2012 Full Week

April 19-22, 2012

May 3-6, 2012

June 18-24, 2012 Full Week

Joplin Relief Mission Opportunities

Hey all - Our August team leaves this Thursday for Joplin, MO, to help with clean-up and rebuilding of this community. Please be in prayer for them as they travel and then put into action being the hope of Jesus Christ as God has called us to be.

Interested in serving as well? COS has committed to sending a team on extended weekend missions (Th-Sun) monthly for two years. Dates are set now through December.

August 18-21 (Th-Sun)
Sept. 15-18 (Th-Sun)
Oct. 13 - 16 (Th-Sun)
Nov. 10-13 (Th-Sun)
Dec. 8 -11 (Th-Sun)

Contact Donna Weaver (weaver-donna@att.net), Missions Leader, to sign-up or comment here and we'll get you the detail.

Updates will be here on the Missions Blog so keep checking back and leaving notes for our team in the field.  They appreciate them!

The end of a perfect week

How perfect? Well first it appears a cold front went through Sedalia today. ;)

But even better was to see how each middle schooler changed as the week went on. Some were even moved to share their thoughts during our worship service.

The last morning arrived quicker than I thought could be possible. We had worked so hard on the Chapel that we divided into two team for the morning to help more families in Sedalia. Here we are outside the chapel discussing job assignments.

Some were sent to cleaning.

Some worked hard to finish the last of the painting.

At lunch we gathered together to eat lunch and share our devotion. Today one of our youth stepped up and led the devotion and study. We were asked questions about where we have seen God working the past couple days and how our lives and relationships have changed here in Sedalia.

After the painting and cleaning we set the sanctuary back up for church.

Here is the entire happy and proud group.

If you wonder what is in the middle of the group - we try to bring back a memento from our time on mission to remind us of friends and the joy of serving others.

For fun we all went swimming. The pool had a great water slide that all the youth enjoyed--(wink)

Because of the early start of the school year we had to say an early goodbye to our sixth graders and high school freshman.

Speaking of saying goodbye-

We also had to say good bye to a new friend. The son of the pastor of the chapel we worked at joined our group for work, worship, meals- heck, he was just one of us. Tears were shed as we all hugged goodbye