The Compass Church

We arrived! We are so excited to be 'home! We can't wait to see what God does this week!

 We got to celebrate Luke's 18th Birthday!

Hey everyone! I'm Justin Borak, the Assistant Trip Leader (ATL) for the week! We are here at Grandview Church of God celebrating His life! One of our awesome students from the compass is playing keyboard for service today! Great start to a great day! 

Emma helped lead worship this morning!

Worship.  I can't help but think that this is what heaven will look like.  When we come together,  no matter where we come from,  what we look like, what church we go to, how old or young we are, we all worship the same amazing, powerful God. The God who loves us,  who saves us, who redeems us. 

This morning we are learning how to talk. Talk to kids, adults, everyone! 

We woke up, did devos, ate breakfast, and now we are training and getting ready for VBS to start tonight! 

 Our guys looking fly in their Pittsburgh camo pants and VBS shirts!

Tonight,  we had 22 kids show up! They were excited about the God's army theme,  and we can't wait for tomorrow!

This morning we went up the Duquesne Incline to MtWashington to pray over the city.

Spending time in prayer for the city of Pittsburgh, and those we have met so far

Spending time in prayer for the city of Pittsburgh, and those we have met so far

After praying over the city we went into the community of where the church is and prayer walked through the neighborhood 

How can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15

Everyone is having a blast on this awesome day! Also, we WENT UP IN NUMBERS! 25 kids came today!    We are thanking the lord for the awesome numbers and praying for even more tomorrow! 

Starting this beautiful Pittsburgh morning right with Devo time! Dave has been leading us all through Mark after we reflect on the chapter on our own! We've been going through the beginning of Mark this week, today was Mark 3! If you wanna follow along, we are doing Mark 4 for tomorrow so read along if you'd like! 

We are heading out again this morning to keep covering the community in prayer 

Helping the church with the cemetery clean up 

Helping the church with the cemetery clean up 

Helping the church with the cemetery clean up 

Helping the church with the cemetery clean up. Pastor Julie came down to help!

I knew you would want me to tell you that. I am having the time of my life though, and I know you would want me to tell you that too. But hey all other family members and friends! Today was exhausting and so was yesterday and the day before but it is the most satisfying kind of tired I have ever been in. It's really amazing seeing God working in all of us students, and now in all of the kids at VBS! They are truly wonderful kids, and it was a pleasure to be able to pray with them to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts today. I am going to be so sad when this is all over, and I cannot believe that the week is almost over! Today we also prayer-walked, and we met a lot of pleasant people and walked up a lot of hills. I already have so much love for this city and it's inhabitants. Being one of the only 2 people from not-Wheaton, I love being a part of this team. It has been so much fun getting to know a whole new group of kids, and becoming close to such an amazing group of people. All you parents, you should be proud of what your kids are doing out here. Big thanks to Jess and Justin and Conce and Dave and everyone at home praying for our safety and success and ministry, love you lots. 

                              See you later alligator(s), Emma :)

Today, we are cooking and sorting donations, at New Hope. New Hope serves the homeless and poor around the North side of Pittsburgh.

Today, we are cooking and sorting donations, at New Hope. New Hope serves the homeless and poor around the North side of Pittsburgh.

Today, we are cooking and sorting donations, at New Hope. New Hope serves the homeless and poor around the North side of Pittsburgh.

Praying for each other

Praying for Bob as he runs the homeless ministry 

Noah and Bryce preparing to speak and everyone getting ready to make out last day of VBS not a sad one for our kids, but an AWESOME one. Also, try to find Annika!

Whe have survived yet another exhausting day in Pittsburgh. 

This morning we went to serve the homeless and we met some new and cool peeps. It was very interesting to hear their stories and we all enjoyed it very much. It was not easy, as we were all put in a very new situation but I think we all jumped right in and made a huge impact. I (Annika) found myself sitting at a table full of homeless men thinking "How the heck am I going to keep these people engaged for a full meal." But, soon we were in deep conversation on the finer points of baseball, football, and hockey. It was really cool to see how God could use me to minister to people that I thought I wouldn't be able to connect with at all in the beginning.

Hey it's JOJO again,

Everything Annika said is true and it is all very amazing.  SO after we came back from lunch with the homeless people we all had a meeting about our VBS. We (Dave) decided that we would have our last VBS day tonight....and we did...and IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!! God made it so packed with fun things to do and we ended up doing 2 lessons and combining 2 skits into 1 longer skit for the kids. I would have to say that every night was getting better and better. We ALL  became even more exhausted each time, but it was worth it. Serving God's children gives me such a feeling of peace and Joy and I love how everyone of us are all His Children. Praise Jesus for loving us all so much and Praise Him for bringing us here safe and sound. Yes, We are all very tired BUT it feels so good when you are serving the Lord. After serving Jesus each day We feel a tiredness that is satisfying and awesome! This trip is DEFIANTLY helping our team and I grow closer and closer and closer to Jesus Christ! I do NOT regret coming on this trip!!!!!!!!! I want to do this all day, every day, 24/7! Serving Jesus gives me PURE JOY. I have also seen how much our team (family) has become even more on fire for Jesus! I LOVE IT! I LOVE YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

OK now it's Annika's turn again!!!

The last night of vbs was great! The kids gave us these gifts and sang a song for us that just brought tears to my eyes because I was able to see the impact that we have already made in their lives that will last forever. I am sad to see our work in the vbs end but rejoice in the fact that God brought us here to touch these kids and that we now have the opportunity to continue our ministry elsewhere. I can't wait to see what God does tomorrow and in the future.

Also short update. Today two members of our team (Joel and Phil) were feeling a little bit under the weather but took some time to rest and are now feeling a bit better (no need to worry mrs kropp and mrs gamble:). It was great to see how God gave them the energy to continue working for him even when they weren't feeling very good. But, please be praying for restored health as we head into the home stretch of our trip.

"well great" -joel kropp 2k17

fin

Vbs

Vbs

Vbs

Vbs

Vbs

Vbs

Vbs

This morning we walked West Park with light of life, helping to clean up the community

This morning we walked West Park with light of life, helping to clean up the community

This morning we walked West Park with light of life, helping to clean up the community

We stopped at Gus and YiaYia's to get snow cones. Gus has been making snow cones since 1934! He loved what we have been doing in the city, he gave us all free popcorn!

We stopped at Gus and YiaYia's to get snow cones. Gus has been making snow cones since 1934! He loved what we have been doing in the city, he gave us all free popcorn!

We stopped at Gus and YiaYia's to get snow cones. Gus has been making snow cones since 1934! He loved what we have been doing in the city, he gave us all free popcorn! We also got to pray over Gus

Kevin, our bravest and best soldier

See you next time.  The round of words flow around us as we hug and pray and laugh with new and old friends.  

Our lives have been changed.  Our hearts have grown softer.  We've grown deeper in the Lord.  This week has been incredible.  We go away feeling this deep sense of awe and wonder and glory of who our God is.  How vast His love is.  How BIG He is.  

Thank you for sending us.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for supporting and praying for us.  Thank you for helping us to love this city better.  

As we go home, we think on how was can bring this mission home.  We know God will lead.

Thank you again.

God is so good.

This is our week

Our week