Urban Immersion 2011

Day 5 Review or I'm a little tea pot short and stout

2011-07-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Heads up world Los Gatos UMC is awake... Hmmm you know we are just giving you a warning, no big deal or anything. So today we woke up, reallllly couldn't have guessed. Okay I know its hard to believe youth waking up on their own before noon, but the youth on our trip do and then live out some pretty amazing love for others. It's pretty cool, not gonna lie. Okay so the day started out with a few of our youth feeling a little ill to their chills. Poor Wynne was feeling pretty gnarly today and Kristina was starting to have headaches. It was going to be a day of prayer, prayer for healing. Can I get an Amen....Amen.

What is absolutely amazing about this group is not that they are crazy about Jesus, which is pretty unreal, but is that they actually live it out. They actually care for each other the way the Jesus taught us. It's like they listen to the word, they hear the word, and then they do something about. It's absolutely amazing that they get it. I mean they could ignore each other and just go on with their day, because that's what everyone else does in this world. Oh your sick, too bad, did I tell you I'm going to do this and this and this. Oh wait you can't come. Awkward. But from the beginning of the day to the end these youth are loving on each other like no other and its really inspiring. They are standing up for each other, they are helping each other, they are being crazy with each other, they are having fun with each other. Praise God for these youth, because they heard the cry of our God and they did something about it....

What are you doing to leave an impression on this world?

So back to today we rolled out of bed, made our lunches, and then went to breakfast. After we got some food in our bellies, we headed out to the Sacramento Convention center. The convention center was packed with 2000 youth. In the beginning there was the word and the word was Good. Here in the beginning all the youth went to workshops that they choose. It was really fun. Some went to a leadership class which was absolutely amazing, others went to Almost christian class about living our faith out in a secular world, some went and painted, others went to sacred space (sacred space has a labyrinth, art, prayer walls, music instruments, and others cool things to draw you to your faith).

After our worships which the youth were so excited about. We were all non stop talking about what was going on. It was so much fun. Then off to lunch, followed by quote unquote bible study. The bible study was ligit. This guy named Olu threw down an amazing story of being more than what you already are and being an entity of God's unrelenting love. Great study and great way to start the day. Oh and before a band called Rez Life played. Rez life is a Methodist band that is made up of 16 to 18 year olds who play for their 800 person youth group every week. Thats crazy oh and their pastor is Adam Hamilton, no big deal or anything.

Word of the day: No Big Deal or Anything AND Heads up

Then to follow that would be insanity, but it was time for the LABS. Labs are small groups for youth. Really cool stuff. They put all the youth in one room, they have youth lead it, and then they have a few people reading the scripture and leading the discussion. Everyone is in small groups of 6 to 10 in this room and the leaders read, give some examples, and then ask the youth leaders to begin the discussion in their small groups about X. Its a unique format that works really well. (NOte the youth pastors and parents are in the back in their own little group, but for some odd reason they are not as fun).

Oliver was one of our youth who lead a group and afterwards he was so excited about what happened in his group. The other youth in our group were participants in their own individual groups and they rocked it. Our group then headed back to Hotel, to eat some food, before heading out again for some more excitement and joy. But before we got to the Hotel I got a call from Kelly Newell, the Young People Ministries Director for the Conference, and she was like hey do your youth want to be in a fashion show. I said, "Hold up wait a minute, let me ask." Hey youth I turn around as we are driving in the Hotel shuttle do you want to be models for a fashion show. AWWWWWWWWWW, screams so loud that it probably broke some glass at least my ear drums. The driver was just a little startled to to say the least.

Joseph and Wynne decided to get some rest and be amazing stewards of God's love by helping Patty order pizza, and clean up the rooms. Maddie, Amanda, Oliver, Mari, Mariah, and Kristina all came with Alex back to the convention center to try on new clothes and prep. Kelly said they only needed 6 and so our youth were sitting down when 4 more walked in and they were like what. After a few minutes the director of the show came in and said we only need 6 or 7 and so we were trying to figure out who was going to be removed and what not. Then Mariah said why don't we go out in pairs. And he was like okay. Pure geniusness.

Went to the Hotel, ate pizza, and then headed back. When we got back we had worship with this band called Christian Stansfield which was spectacular in of itself

Fun times

2011-07-30T06:18:00.001-07:00

Seriously awesomeness today. Where is the love? In the renewing spirit of the lord.
Today after a few days of sickness for a few people god restored us to almost full health. Praising god

Fashion models

2011-07-29T05:30:00.001-07:00

6 of our youth did a fashion show infront of 2000 other youth. Best models. Where is the love? The youth immediately jumped into action and so humbly said yes to being in the fashion show. After the fashion show a ton of kids started coming up to our youth and being like wow your rocking it. Our youth did good and used their Glory to help communicate christ. Thats what it's all about. Then after the show we all went down to the sacred space to make cards for one of our sick youth on the trip. Talking about Loving others like family thats what they are doing here and it's off the wall.

Fashion models 2

2011-07-29T00:26:00.001-07:00

Check our our amazing models. Modeling for Christ

Olivers Blog Day 4

2011-07-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

TODAY WAS AMAZING! I had such a blast today at well springs, it was was one of my most memorable experiences! I started by serving coffee to the woman as they got there food. It was so cool to be able to talk to each individual. The stories they had to tell about there life and all that they have been through. After I worked with the kids. I got to make puzzles and play cards, which was prob more fun for me then for the kids haha. The day just got better and better as it went on and on. We got to the convention of Youth 2011 and it was like walking into the doorways of heaven! It was the coolest thing in the world. A man named Fred Lynch was giving a testimony opener to start off the week as we walked in. I saw god all around me the whole day in the kids, woman, and all the volunteers. Cant wait till tomorrow and the rest of the week. I miss you mom, dad, sophie, maxine and ella. cant wait to see you all.

Wellsping center

2011-07-28T01:26:00.001-07:00

Served 256 people, made birthday presents, played with kids, talked with clients for hours, prayed for clients all around great day. Every celebrate your birthday and think wow I'm getting older or Awww I'm getting older? At wellspring they celebrate birthdays and they go hallejuah I lived another year, I was not shot, ran over, murdered, or destroyed. God has blessed me and so I will rejoice with every part of my body because our God is so good and amazing!

Brent, maddie, and Amanda at youth 2011

2011-07-28T01:23:00.001-07:00

Lifelong friends from camp meet up again at youth 2011. You ever think your alone out in this world? Well your not. God has provided you with an extended family that will love upon you like no other. God is going to grace you with the people in your life that you need when you need it. Brent is part of the LGUMC extended family. He is one of those amazing people that radiates with God's love. We met him at quest a few years ago and ever since our kids have continued to keep in touch. Every day at the convention many of kids recognized people who they knew from previous camps or trips OR welcomed new people into our family. God has blessed us with such amazing youth that have the biggest hearts and the longest arms. May we all be willing to love the way our Youth do.

Love inc

2011-07-28T01:21:00.001-07:00

Unloaded 12 boxes of clothes, built shelves, packed 20 comforters, and more in 3 hours and 98 heat. Where is the love? the love was watching our 8 youth work till they dropped. These youth kept on loving on others by sorting and building till their arms could not move. As it says in the old testament when Moses could no longer lift up his arms, aaron was right by his side to help him left them up, and praising God for all his blessing. Our youth supported each other in ways that equal the same perseverance that Aaron had for moses. Praise to the Lord for these youth who love each other by lifting each other and outsiders up with their words, actions, and prayers.

To its mari

2011-07-27T16:37:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at lunch we danced with another volunteer David. He taught us how to dougie and jerk. It was very exciting experience. Super fun

Day 4- Alex

2011-07-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

So Today I got the joy of hanging out in the front and talking to the clients. I wanted to share with you some of their stories. I probably talked to 10 clients for 10 to 20 minutes each. It was awesome.

There was this one lady probably in her 70's named violet. She was sitting there all alone when I sat next to her. She walks around with a cane. She goes from this center everyday to the senior center to do excercise, she doesn't stop moving and she can barely walk. She doesn't have teeth, but God has given her many tools to eat. She praises God for this place as it is one of the few places that she feels safe in Sacramento. She walks slowly and when I asked to help she said God blessed me with Legs didn't he so I will walk. She doesn't have any family around, has very little, and yet she gives thanks for everything she has and was super funny. She was like that grandma that said everything politically incorrect, but it was so hilarous you couldn't stop laughing.

Then there was Speedy, well her name wasn't actually speedy, but that was her nickname. Her name is so hard to remember that i asked like 10 times before she said everyone just calls me speedy. Sounds good to me. Okay this lady was 70 plus and she was faster than a speeding bullet. I would watch as she ran from one side of the room to the next, out the door, and back in. She never stopped moving like an senior citizen with serious ADD that was my kinda of person. She talked about how she never felt so loved as she did when she came to the Wellness center. She feels like this is her family because her family talks to her very little. Her smile lit up the room. She would greet everyone with a hug, even though she didn't know them. She blessed others with her presence because she had been blessed by this place.

Then there was Ruth, Ruth was probably mid 40's. She moved from Oakland to Sacramento 12 years ago to change her life. One of her sons had been killed by gangs. She was an alcoholic and druggie for many years. She that she used to work at Salvation Army but when she met sister Judy she couldn't stop wanting to be around her and the community she had created. She lives in a one bedroom apartment by herself and she has 21 grand children. Her oldest child is 45. Through the wellspring center and AA she has been clean and sober for 9 years. She's disabled now and kinda retired. She struggles everyday with addiction but the only way that she makes it through is by the grace of God. She says that she experienced a true love for the first time when she moved to sacramento and since then she has never stopped loving others. This is her home and all her grandchildren/children live here too.

The there was the loud one, who we had fun just laughing with called Rebecca. Rebecca was inspiring because despite having nothing. She lived in a low income housing but that was only recently, before she was homeless. She prays when she wakes up, before and after each meal, and before she sleeps. She says that "why should I stop praising God when he has given me another day of life. I will keep praising him for all that I have until the day that I die, then I will be with him." She inspired me because she had so little and yet she had an indescribable joy in her that was far beyond what 95 percent of the people I know had. She celebrated life because it was so precious. She gave thanks for everything, the sun, the food in her belly, her clothes, her life, the early morning. She was loud and we just joked the whole time.

Then there was a lady who I can't remember her name, but she had never lived or visited outside of Sacramento. It was weird in a neat sort of way, kinda like the truman show. She said what is it like outside of Sacramento. So we talked about what's beyond this city. I found it so hard to describe Los Gatos and San jose because she only had one reference point. It was like telling a story to a 3 year old who was so in awe of the magic of the story.

THese are only a few of the stories that touched me. It was an amazing experience that gave me so much appreciation for what I have and where I live.
All of their stories were touching, honest, real, and very interesting. The gift of presence is sometimes more valuable than any gift you can give.

Where is the Love? In the gift of Presence
Many Blessings,
Alex

Day 4 in Review or The Return of The Jedi

2011-07-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Do you realize that none of titles have anything to do with what we are doin?

Okay Good morning...Did someone turn off the sun...knock knock...who's there? LGUMC...
LGUMC Who? Los Gatos Uth Must be Crazy! Ooooo hold me back.. :)

This morning we woke up at 4:45 and the sun hadn't had its coffee. It needed a kick start before the sun started shining. All the youth stumbled into the car and passed out. It was like walking trained bats to a cage. However, some reason the boys perked up when they Got in the car. What is wrong with you....Why are you so lively and the music went from loud to dang is that an earth quake or is your car just shaking from all bumping music and boys rocking out. Austin and Ethan joined us for the whole day.

When we arrived at Wellspring center we were greeted by the joyful Sister Judy, she's a nun if you didn't catch that, and she shared with us about Wellspring. This place is a sanctuary for women and children. Many of the women in there have experience rape, abuse, violence, and/or something very traumatic. God really blessed this place with the right person to tend to the gentle souls, Sister Juday is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. She reminds of mother theresa because of her compassion, love, and pure indescribable joy. Wow no wonder these people come here.

Wynne, Joseph, and Patty were on Dish duty and they were so fast on those dishes that one might question why they had a dishwasher machine there. Amanda and Alex were greeting the door with dance moves and goofiness, actually Alex got distracted...Oooo shiny and ended up talking to clients instead of greeting. Kristina, Austin, Ethan, Mariah, Mari, Maddie, and Oliver rotated between the Children's area and serving food. It was such a wonderful experience.

Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Sister Judy was so impressed with the youth, she said, "They are changing lives by their mere presence and the gifts they have to offer." These youth are some of the most incredible youth. God brought the right group together for this mission trip. They are filled with compassion, they overflow with God's love, they care for the sick, visit the needed, they love the broken, they help the weak, the resemble our theme of this week John 21:15-17. This is what God has called in this world to do and this is what the youth are doing it's mind blowing.

We finished our emotional journey at the Wellspring Center with watching Sister Judy do hula hooping with one of the clients. Every client that Alex talked to said the reason they are here isn't for the food or services its for the Community and Sister Judy has created a community that is safe, filled with love, and where they are given respect/dignity.

We then headed back to Manteca Church with Patty's car full of youth passing out. We had changed up all the youth and so Alex thought he was getting the quiet group with Wynne, Kristina, Joseph, and Mari. Oh no they start cracking jokes. They didn't stop laughing until they got back to the church then it was Mandatory 1 1/2 nap time for everyone and everyone passed out on the spot. It was the first time all week their was silence and God said it was Good. Ssssh kids sleeping.

When Patty and Alex woke up the youth, they were all like where are we, what are we doing, why are we waking up... uh uh. Off to Love Inc. We arrived at Love Inc and the youth kicked into gear sorting 12 boxes of clothes, packing comforters, cleaning up two storage centers, finish building shelves, and getting the placed organized for ministry.

Stephen Parson, director of Love Inc in Manteca, "We have grown from 4 to 8 sheds this year. We have someone taking over the bike ministry, and someone doing the furniture ministry, but we have no one to do the clothes ministry. Churches or individuals come and don't want to serve because it's so messy, you came at the right time. Your help will allow others to take this from me so I can stop working 80hours a week at LOVE INC."

I believe that God put us here for a reason and that was to help individuals rediscover the love. WHERE IS THE LOVE?

The love is in being somewhere at the right time and then Saying YES to God. Yes I am your child, yes use me, yes mold me, yes help me to change lives. Yes I love you lord and want to grow closer to you, yes I want to know you more by building strong relationships.

Joseph, Patty, and Wynne went and made wraps for all the rest of the youth. The rest of switched jobs in the blazing 100 degree weather. We were sweating so much it looked like we peed our pants and peeing your pants is cool according to Happy Gilmore. After working for 3 hours at Love Inc, it was off to Dairy Queen. (*Note if you want to motivate you, ICE cream in 100 degree weather makes them move super fast)

Word of the Day: ICE CREAM!

After a quick cool down it was up to Sacramento, we ran into our Hotel, dropped our stuff off, and then off to the Conference. At the conference the our Youth got their late to worship but they made their presence known. They were jumping so high they looked like they were levitating, they were louder than the band (and that music was LOUD), they danced till they dropped, and they gave God their full self by getting their Praaaise On.

You know your from Los Gatos when: everyone knows your name after the first worship cause your praising God so loud.

The speaker challenged us to be More than what we thought we could. More Than was the Youth 2011 theme. It was an amazing sermon.

That night we all split into late night activities where most of the youth went to The Agape activity, he's a christian rapper, and he taught the youth to rap and hip hop dance. Kristina, Amanda, and Maddie showed off their white girl swag and got caught on the camera a few times. The rest of the youth got their groove on with him. We went back to the hotel and finished with our circle: praying for each other, highs and lows, blew our mind, and God sightings.

Oh and the Myth, The Legend, NICK Taylor was there.

Praise God for another wonderful day. God is Good!

Day 4 - Joseph

2011-07-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a day full of service. First we worked at wellsprings women drop in center for women who have been abused in many shapes or forms. I worked with a colled student from Cal Poly SLO and she shared her experience about campus crusade. THis is a group of christians spreading God's word at school. Hearing her story about growing up and why she had helped lifted my spirits and pushed me to work harder. Next while the rest of the group were working with Love INC Patty, wynne, and I made burritos for everyone from scratch. In doing this task I felt that we had grown a stronger bond. I saw God in youth 2011 tonight because it's awesome to see so many others who share the same love for God that you have. One of the small group s was a hip hop class and the leader was an amazing dancer who shared his love for God through is awesome dance moves and his talented raps. He showed me that you can show got to others through passion not just words. God's love was reigning down today and I'm so happy to experience it here at the conference, well spring center, and just the whole week with these amazing you.

Alright it's Maddie

2011-07-27T00:42:00.002-07:00

I met koe we're now best friends working at the emergency food bank was so much fun! Meeting another guy david, a 45 year old guy who can dougie like no other. Dance parties on the streets, epic football was in the pool, and bonding ridiculously! Lol call that a successful day. I've definitely made some life-long friendships that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. isn't that why we're here? Not only sharing God's love with those in need, but sharing it with our peers and people working beside us. Maddie

Heeey its kristina

2011-07-27T00:42:00.001-07:00

So today at the stockton foodbank we met this really cool guy named David and he taught most of the group how to dougie. And then somehow we thought how we wanted to cat daddy, and literally the rest of the night maddie, Amanda, and I have made cat dadding an essential part of our life. Cat daddy dancing, the cat daddy mobile, etc. But anyways it was so much fun and did I mentionit works out our thighs! Well anyways got to go ! Toodles.
Kristina

Stockton food bank

2011-07-26T16:55:00.001-07:00

Awesome day of serving
150 peoplee a day get free food
That's over 4000 different people a month

Sacramento food bank

2011-07-26T16:52:00.001-07:00

1400 lbs clothes delivered by one guy

Day 3 in Review or The Monkeys are attacking

2011-07-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

So Once upon a time in a land far far away there was an malevolent emperor who made his devoted followers wake up between 5 and 6 for 4 days straight and the empire felt like it was asleep all the time. The world seemed to be moving so fast that they could never catch up. They worked for 8 to 9 hours a day in 90 degree weather serving others. Hahaha okay maybe it wasn't that bad, but who knows waking up at 5:30 am this morning brought out the wild things in the youth. It was pretty funny.

After our slow like molasses wake up our gears began grinding as we pumped the music and began the car party as we headed towards the land of milk and honey, well, actually the stockton foodbank. Okay another food bank REALLY. Well this experience was to be different from the last right off from the bat.

On the way Patty's GPS went haywired, Alex's GPS wasn't working, and with two GPS' down we ended up driving up and down trying to figure out where in the World is Carmen San Diego. We finally got to our destination and the neighborhood looked a little sketch like the drawing in my notebook. We got out and walked into a warehouse and met the office worker Robin. She iummediately cracked a few jokes and we knew we were right at home. After we got all signed in we began sorting yogurt. At first we were like hmm dump and go. But then like a light bulb a thought went on in our head. Hold up we have X amount of crates left and we have this many yogurt left uhhh this might not fit.

One of the youth came up with an ingenious way of stacking the yogurt. Then we started moving like a well oiled machine, that wasn't operated by BP to avoid all explosions, and got through the stack in less than 40 minutes. Oh did I mention we were singing and dancing. Your Jealous aren't you. I know you are. The manager, Pineapple (no we are not so tired we are talking to fruit, thats actually his nickname), came by and was Dang...Dang...the back of your head is ridiculous... wait scratch that he said dang I thought that was going to take you 2 hours. You know your from Los Gatos UMC if you can sing, dance, and beat the record for fasting yogurt stacking. :)

Our Group then had a break. During break Oliver had a greeeeeaaat idea to run up this stare well and then pretend to fall. His shoulder in the process got a little scrapped up when he fell. So we wrapped him up like a mummy. After the eventful break we went back to work. Patty, Wynne, and Mariah were beasts as they put together food boxes for the homeless clients. Those three were so fast that heads were spinning trying to keep up. Alex and Oliver greeted the homeless clients with pick up lines and then handed them their box of food. "Hey how you doin? (little wink). hehehe Kristina, Amanda, Mari, Madison, and Joseph all worked outside in the hot sun handing the clients bread, produce, and other necessities. Those 5 I would call modern day superheroes they were that awesome.

At 130 we had feed a couple hundred people. It was insanity for sure. At 130 we had lunch. David and Koe joined us outside for lunch. We ask David if he knows how to dance. He was like I got game. So then all of us began to do the dougie. So funny...Oh then the cat daddy, the stanky leg, the running man, white person dance, white girl swag, and so much more. Oh if you had been there your ribs would be hurting from laughing so much.

Quote of the Day: David, " Hey do you know where the water is?" Joseph, "We have GPS."
You know your from Los Gatos when you use GPS to find Water!

After lots of Good times partying like rockstars speaking of Rockstars we all need some caffeine...Oh wait lets go back to church and sleep instead. Okay.
We helped cleaned up and then went back to church to sleep or rest! Praise the Lord. Then off to have a BBQ at Joni Keys house, youth pastor at Manteca, pool party, and showers. Right off the bat it was on, they had two boys Olivers Age and we played 3 flys up. You ever watch the Terminator yeah that was pretty much the scene. There was bodies flying, water crashing, and people dodging. Epic status right there. Joni had a couple daughters who had fun playing with our girls as well. At the end of the night we ate dinner, did a worship, had devotion, and our two groups bonded like glue.

In fact we bonded so much that Austin, Jonie's son, and Ethan, Austin's friend, wanted to join us for our overnight and for the next day at Well Spring shelter. We all drove back to church Wynne and Patty made the best cookies from stratch ever. Oh still thinking about those cookies hours later. We finished the night out with our circle of prayer, devotion, highs and lows, and God spots. So awesome. God is fantastic.

Dear Santa

2011-07-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

I cant lie to you, I have been really bad this year, but if you make my one wish come true this year then I promise I will do better next year. This past year the love of my life has gone to collage and is now dating a child with a tattoo. She deserves better and I know that I can give that to her. If you make her mine then I promise to leave you extra cookies and chocolate milk. I know how much you love your milk chocolate and cookies. I promise it will happen. This is my only request, nothing more. But if you want to give me more then I would like a pretty pony and a giant lego harry potter set. This is all that I need. You are amazing and I know that me and my future wife will be very happy. Love you tons, Oliver S. Parr

Day 2 in Review or Awwww My Sleep Disappeared

2011-07-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

Okay you ever think to yourself...dude I got this I can stay up late and wake up the next morning for work and I'll be just fiiiiiiine. Well this was us. We woke up looking like zombies...(nope not the ones that eat your brains for breakfast) but the ones that can't feel their arms and muscles because they are so tired and its only day two (Oh and Alex left his lights on all night.. Sooo umm yeah his car need to be jumped and not by thugs hopefully, but by two cables from Patty's car) . So the youth, Alex, and Patty half hazardly roll out of bed and into the car. Bing...Search and Decide...Get coffee..."I've Got the Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic.- Magic by B.O.B. And whala all the youth and counselors were awake again.

On our way up we rolled down the windows, pump up the tunes, and threw our hands up in the air like we just don't care. Tunes were pumping, smiles were emerging, laughter could be heard from miles away, and life was just Good. God had blessed us with the amazingness that he is. We rolled into Manteca around 9, unloaded, then rolled out on our way to Sacramento food bank.

Oh check this out someone donated 1400 lbs of clothes wooooo snap. Biggest donation from an individual ever. If you were here you and I mean all of you reading this blog would of been proud of our youth they were beast, like from XMEN, sorting through more cans than I've ever seen before, getting clothes together faster than a speeding bullet, and helping families with huge heart. It was Amazing.

After the food bank we headed back to manteca with the music blaring for another wild ride with Mr. Toad as we headed towards love inc. Stephen Parsons is the director of Love INC. This man lost his wife to cancer a few years ago and he pours everything into this organization. It has grown from 4 storage lockers to 8. Love Inc is operated out of a storage facility. It is crazy. He has two main helpers Don and Jason and other than that he does this by himself. God is using him to change lives and our youth were like wild animals let out of cage (raaaaawwwwr). Watch out animals on the prowl. We started building shelves together, sorting clothes, and helping in anyway we can.

We rolled out the night with some White Girl Swag. Its kinda the catdaddy with a few modifications by Amanda, Kristina, and Maddison. It was hilarous. Oh and we went to Jay and Jeanies house for lasagna.

When we arrived at Sac food bank we all sang... Gloria Gloria Hallejuah! Had we known the lyrics we might have and we would have done it with awkward loudness. At the food bank the group was split into 3 groups. One group worked with the babies, awww the cute little babies who shoot projectile vomit, the clothes closet, and the food sorting area.

Last year 30,000 people plus from sacramento came together in their annual run to raise money for the food bank. At the food bank they serve between 150 and 200 people a day for clothes, about 40 families a day for baby supplies, and over 200 a day for food. They also have an after school program for kids, free day care, art therapy for adults, support services for families, and so much more. The youth were rocking on at the foodbank.

After the foodbank we went to serve at LOVE INC. Love In Name of Christ. Stephen Parson is one of the most amazing people that gives everything for the glory of God. He basically started serving the homeless pb&j one day in the park. He soon got more and more clients. And as he was talking to the clients he realized that there was a Gap in the ministry. People who were on the edge of losing everything and/or people who are starting their life over needed resources and their wasn't a lot out their for them. He began the Manteca Love Inc franchise. This man is inspired by God to give everything that he has to change lives.

Stephen Parson exemplifies who God is by living out his love everyday.
That night we went to jay and jeanies house for dinner, showers, worship, and the most epic games of 3 flys up where all the boys laid into each other, poor alex he looked like a pancake compared to oliver and Joseph. We wanted to eat at 7:30 but we started cooking a lasagna at 7:00 and didn't eat till 9:00 and the youth started looking like vultures ready to swoop on their pray by the end of the night. Ca-Ca Ca-Ca. Oh please lord spare me for another day so I'm not eaten by 8 hungry teenagers.

While playing 3 flys up the boys just happened to make so much splashing that by the end most of the pool water was on the outside of the pool. It was awesome. The splash zone ummmm lets say the whole backyard, which if you saw it your mouth just might drop to floor.

Jay and Jeanie are two of the most spiritual people. They poor out their love onto others and always have their door open. Even when family is sick or things are busy in their lives they always have time to welcome the stranger into their household. Matthew 25 calls us to live this kind of love out everyday and I pray that all of us can stop what we are doing at a drop of a hat to serve those around us and remember the reason we are here is not to make more money or accomplish a job but is to love in a way that others see Christ through our relationships. God has really blessed us by having us be able to eat, pray, and worship with Jay and Jeanie. Worship that night with Jay leading songs and a great discussion it was just magical. Kinda like your at disney and everything else in the world dissapears.

That night we all went back to Manteca UMC to play games, hang out, and to close out in our circle. In our circle we worship God, we share our highs and lows, we talk about what blew our mind, and where we see God and then we pray for each other. God has really blessed us.

Our theme is Where is the Love and the love this day was in Stephen Parson, Jay and Jeanie, Joni Keys (and the manteca family), and anyone who serve or loved upon the lost.

DAY ONE-GOD BLESSES

2011-07-24T23:36:00.001-07:00

It's day one and god BLESSES us all. This morning I got a call that two of our uth on urban may not be able to go due to sickness or other circumstances. God really blessed us today. Oliver parr with 4 hours prior to the trip said he could go. Actually at first he was like wait I have football, then he called his coach and he was able to join us and then alli Buchanan seems to be getting healthier to go so awesome. This week my laptop got stolen with all the info and today I found bits and pieces of the papers all over the place and was blessed by regrouping all the info. We had a rocking uth group god works in mysterious ways and he is good. Going on urban is maddie, Oliver, Allison, Joseph, wynne, mari, mariah, Amanda, kristina, patty and myself. It's going to be the best trip ever. Oh and we are teaming up with manteca UMC....so cool. Tomorrow we are off to sac food bank and love inc. Peace and god bless.

Day 1 in Review

2011-07-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Okay so after much anticipation....Yup its here Urban Immersion 2011. Okay lets be real its been a crazy summer so far and its kinda been one of those summers to make your head spin. Wait it's not stopping. Urban kicks off at 5 with a parent meeting followed by the normal youth group. We played a game called four on a couch which epically failed and turned into a laugh fest. No one could remember anything and the game kept going in circles. At the end of the night we prayed for the youth going on the mission trip and boom like thunder Urban Immersion was on its way. A barrel full of laughs is not a bad way to begin the trip. Ummm my ribs still hurt from that day of laughter, thats a great thing cause by the end of this week they were going to be so sore.

You know your from Los Gatos When....Your ribs feel are sorer than your legs from the activities....

After youth group, the youth chill out in the parking lot playing games, tossing some water on each other, and just having a blast. Oh snap God is doing this great thing called building relationship. Yup thats kinda what this thing called the Gospel is about.

We then rolled out into orientation, packing (oh this is like fitting sardines in a can), and team building stuff. It's a good life. "When your happy like a fool you got to let it out" - by One Republic

Then at 11:00 the mood changed a little bit. Dun Dun Dun. It was a dark and stormy night, we were in the middle of nowhere...Well okay not that dramatic...The youth wanted to go to 7-11. So the whole group decided to head into the darken night. As they were walking towards this beaming light filled with glorious slurpees and candy, they noticed a truck with three people in it staring awkwardly at them. Okay normally this wouldn't be so bad except that these three people's heads spun backwards. Okay maybe not that bad. But it was an awkward stare. So the youth grouped together and started walking very fast to 7-11. On their way back no was in the car, its a ghost who ya gonna call, GHOSTBUSTERS. Naaah we got Alex. (laugh)

When they got back they told Alex about what had happened and Alex called the Cops. The Cops came and checked out the place. And after that the youth just hung out watching movies. Theirs a song called Tonight Tonight and it says

It's been a really, really messed up week.....

La, la, la, whatever
La, la, la, it doesn't matter
La, la, la, oh well
La, la, la

We're goin' at it tonight, tonight

This was kinda our theme for the week. The youth started off this week with such a positive attitude and it carries through the whole week The youth had a blast laughing the rest of the night and just having fun. Going to bed late that night and then having to wake up a few hours earlier to get ready for the next big day. Okay signing off. Whoo Whoo

The Journey Begins in a month and a half

2011-06-02T11:56:00.001-07:00

The youth head out to Urban in 1 1/2 months. Get ready for the excitement of a life time. Come back over the next few weeks to see more details of the trip and to hear about all the stories of the trip.