I can't believe it .... we finally are officially starting on Sunday!!

Well, we're 98% done with prepping for groups to arrive! THANK GOODNESS!! I'm exhausted.. our entire team is. I did not expect for these 2 prep weeks to be so busy and action-packed. But in the midst of all the work, I've had TONS of fun with my team. We are all getting along GREAT, and we laugh a lot and joke around together. Amanda has probably just as loud of a laugh as I do, and probably laughs just about as much, so I feel right at home, and Peter and Andy are complete dorks/nutty, so again, I feel right at home. :) However, we are all really to start and meet the youth groups and do what we all signed up for this summer: to build relationships with teens, work alongside them as they serve and build relationships with the poor and homeless in Anchorage, and most importantly, to encourage them in their faith and love for Jesus. This is what this summer is about and I'm feeling very excited about it and yes... even READY!

During the last 2 weeks we've met tons of contacts here (last week I went to 3 of the urban sites where we're volunteering at to get oriented: the Salvation Army, a soup kitchen, and a day shelter), and just being there made me very inspired and excited to start serving with the teens. We've also done TONS of shopping, and by TONS, I mean that we've probably purchased like 20+ van loads of different items! CRAZY! Today we went to Sam's and Wal-Mart and purchased $1,500+ worth of food for the groups that will be here this week. I also spent a lot of time planning our evening activities, writing/planning orientations, planning our large youth group time each night (club), and many other things!

I'm so excited! Our first groups this week arrive on Sunday and they are from Tennessee and Minnesota! How cool! 2 of my favorite places! They will be here Sunday afternoon to Friday morning.

Here is what our daily schedule will look like:

Monday through Thursday Schedule

6:30 - Wake Up (participants)
7:15-7:45 - Breakfast Buffet Open (Each participant packs their own lunch)
7:45-8:15 - Clean up
8:15-8:40 - Personal Devotions/Quiet Time to Prepare for the Day
8:40-8:45 - Entire Group Gathers for Prayer
9:00 - Depart for Work Ministry Sites
Noon - Lunch
1:00pm - Return to Work Ministry Sites
3:45 - Cleanup Work Ministry Sites
4:00-5:30 - Free Time/ Shower Time (Dinner team prepares meal with staff)
5:30-6:30 - Dinner and Cleanup
6:30-8:30 - Evening Activity
8:45-9:45 - Club (basically a large youth group meeting)
9:45-10:30 - Nightly Staff meeting (Church Group Devotions)
10:30-11:00 - Hang out with students, prepare for next day, etc.
11:15 - Lights Out


This will be a huge learning curve this week, and I know it will be exhausting and hard at times, but I'm looking forward to meeting the youth, serving alongside them and having fun with them!

Please keep us in your prayers that God will keep us energized, and that He will speak through all of us and use us to bring about His truth and love. Please also pray for me as I will be speaking in front of the group every night during the large youth group time and sharing God's word with them! This is a new experience for me! :)

I love you all! Please let me know how you're doing!

Sarah

Phillipians 4:8-9

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. And the God of peace will be with you.