Canyon Hills Community Church

After 36 hours of adventure fueled by caffeine and adrenaline, the team wrapped up their first full day (and a half)! We landed safely in New Orleans at 5:30am, picked up our bags, loaded up five minivans, and headed to Cracker Barrel for a hearty southern breakfast. After a few too many pancakes and strips of bacon, we packed back up to make the two-hour drive to Jackson, Mississippi! 

We made a couple quick stops at Walmart and Sam’s Club for supplies before settling in at the church where we will be staying for the week. We are so grateful for their hospitality and how they have blessed us already! Before dinner, we set up our beds and enjoyed a few moments of rest (and maybe some pick-up basketball…where did that energy come from?). Dinner was followed by the first team meeting and some time for reflection, worship, and prayer. 

Finally, after a long two days, an early bedtime was welcomed by all. We cannot wait to see how God works tomorrow! Please be praying for a restful night of sleep, strength for the team’s first full day of ministry, and humility as they step into a new culture full of opportunities to share the hope of the risen Savior!

We had the opportunity to serve alongside CareCenter Ministries MS by moving in clothes and bunk-bed frames from their old house into their new house that they will spend their first night in today! We also got to help clean and organize the kitchen in the home as well as organize furniture in their future classroom for the people in their homes! We were so excited to be a part of a lot of progress on their new property today!

What a fun day! After another early breakfast, the team drove together to HillTop Church in downtown Jackson to spend the morning at The Basket, a weekly food bank ministry. After packing over 200 boxes with a generous selection of meat, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, milk, and pastries, the team gathered together to pray and thank God for His gracious provision and the opportunity to meet the physical needs of those in the surrounding community. Over the next two hours, the team was able to distribute every box and take time to have a conversation, pray, and hear the story of each person who drove or walked up to the church. It was a powerful morning filled with Gospel conversations, joyous laughs, and a few tears. The students left encouraged and challenged by the humility and perspective of those we served. 

Blessed by a cool, cloudy day, the team enjoyed lunch on the marble steps of the Mississippi State Capitol building. After an unexpected conversation with an employee arriving for work, the team was invited in for a short tour and enjoyed learning about the history of the building, Jackson, and the state legislature. It has been such a blessing to see the students adapt to the changes in the schedule while trusting in the sovereignty of God who has perfectly ordained every detail!

Once again, the afternoon was spent at Canopy in the same groups with their students. The introductions from yesterday made for a smooth transition for everyone. Conversations deepened, testimonies were exchanged, and God used each activity to provide an opening for the Gospel. The boldness of the team was evident in their eagerness to ask questions, yet balanced by a willingness to listen and a sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are so proud of every single one of them!

The team then had the opportunity to eat an early dinner with the members of the church where we are staying during their weekly congregational meal. The food has been incredible and everyone’s hospitality has left the team speechless. We are so grateful for the generosity of the church here and their desire to reflect the love of Jesus in everything they do. Following the dinner of pulled pork, spaghetti, coleslaw, potato salad, and the largest selection of desserts east of the Mississippi, the team headed back to HillTop Church for their Wednesday night service. After a time of worship and prayer, the team listened intently to a sermon on Genesis 1-3 and the beautiful truth that we are all created in the image of God.

The night ended with a team debrief and more praises from a long day of ministry. The team is tired but was noticeably rejuvenated hearing how God is working in the conversations in each group. Tomorrow cannot come soon enough! Please be praying for continued strength, opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel tomorrow afternoon at Canopy, and dry weather to finish the work projects in the morning! Praise God for His faithfulness and sustaining grace!

This morning, everyone woke up to the familiar drumming of steady rain and the earthy smell of overcast skies. It felt just like back home in Seattle! The gloomy weather made for a slow morning and long sips of coffee, but the excitement of finishing the week’s work projects overshadowed the misty forecast. The schedule for today was a near repeat of Tuesday, with the goal of each group completing their tasks at Canopy and the CareCenter Ministries house. After a quick stop at Walmart to grab a few needed supplies, the team embraced the rain and got to work quickly. At Canopy, the students built the frames for the garden beds and braved the mud to evenly spread the topsoil. At the CareCenter Ministry house, the group finished moving out the old furniture, cleaned the kitchen, and prepared the rest of the rooms for the remodel.

Lunch was enjoyed indoors back at the church, as the team dried off and changed clothes for another afternoon at Canopy with their students. Relationships continued to grow as each group asked insightful questions, but the difficult conversations and harrowing stories led to many opportunities to pray and trust in the hope of God’s redeeming grace. The team continues to display great boldness and resiliency through growing fatigue and the emotional weight of a long week. It has been such a blessing to see God faithfully sustain the team and provide enough strength for each day. 

Dinner provided more time for the team to share stories as they laughed over rice, beans, and garlic bread. The team debriefs capped a somber evening, as the team processed their frustrations and was reminded of the providence of God in equipping each person for the work He has prepared for them. Everyone is looking forward to a restful night of sleep and tomorrow’s activities! Please be praying for health for the team, evangelistic opportunities throughout the day, and wisdom in navigating heavy conversations during our last day with the students at Canopy. To God be the glory!

We got up this morning to head to New Orleans for our Seattle team to catch their evening flight! After some lunch at the food court, we said our final goodbyes! We will miss them and hope to be able to serve together again!