It is hard to believe that this was the last day with the Mustang group. What an amazing journey it has been. And to think that  they were a part of what we believe is the beginning of a great work God is going to do in the city! We have always been on the giving end of missions trips. Visiting major cities all over the United States we served in places just like BOH, but being on the receiving end from such a generous group gave us new eyes and a great appreciation for the body of Christ. They will never be forgotten and my prayer is we will meet again soon!

As far as work projects went on Saturday the boys finished the last of the mulch and the barbque grill started up. We began serving at 5 pm and what a party it was!!! About 200 were fed and at last count 75 children at bible school that night. We finished the night with a Json concert.  Json has performed for us on many occasions and his message for Christ is so clear and his testimony really touched the people who came out. Bible school was a success ONLY first and foremost because God was in the center but secondly because of the HUGE network of people who supported Bridge of Hope. Prayers, money, food, time , talents, most of all the faith to believe that it could be possible. Thank yous would be impossible because I would be crushed if someone was left out. May God bless your efforts and the heart behind your motives. Thank you for loving our people and building a bridge with us! These are great days.

Pastor Stephanie we love you!

Friday June 20th, 2008 

As the week was winding down it seemed bible school was building! On Friday the children began arriving around 1:00 pm. Let us not forget that bible school didn’t start until 6:00 pm but that didn’t stop those kids that couldn’t wait to see our Oklahoma teenagers. They spent the whole day on the yard throwing a ball or jumping rope or just playing around with a teenager that they formed a bond with the night before. The teens finished almost all the giant mulch project and re-stained the back deck of the church. Some just were a huge help getting ready for the service that evening. What a blessing. Opening service was always a blast to watch. The teens would dance with the kids and then when it was time to bring a few on the stage they really would get up there and ham it up! That evening Angel (our story teller) gave a alter call and probably 50 kids and some parents came foward and prayed a prayer. It was awesome. The really neat thing about this bible school is that ALOT of parents and grandparents in the neighborhood stayed and really engaged in the service. Everything from puppets to the children’s songs with actions. They could have just dropped off their children but they stayed and got something out of it too. That evening of bible school we believe our count was about 112 all together. Praise God!! I’m not sure how they did it but after working all day, then playing with kids all night the teens went to the city museum and hung out some more. Those Mustang teens know how to have a good time!

Thursday June 19th, 2008

Praise God! I write this message in such awe of the things that have happened at Bridge of Hope through the blessings and presence of an amazing youth group from Mustang, OK.  Our first night of VBS was more than we ever dreamed and was a huge success! I believe we “jacked the swagger of the King!”(ask your teens and leaders about that one)

But I would be getting way ahead if I jumped right into an outstanding evening! A trip to the Arch started their Thursday. A St. Louis icon and a breathtaking view from the top. From the pics you can see that that our Mississippi is flooded onto the landing but they were still able to go up in the Arch. Parking was tricky but they pressed on and 5 minutes later in a TINY elevator they arrived at the top.

Of course, there hasn’t been a day yet where there wasn’t hard manual labor involved.(and they still like us?) Try 20 yards of mulch. Thanks to Hansen’s Tree Service they came down to the city in a dump truck and poured the load right there in the street and at a  price that was probably the cost of  their diesel fuel only. What a blessing! So that is what they did for 4 to 5 hours straight. Dug out the bed, removed the dirt, shoveled wheelbarrel after wheelbarrel of mulch. The yard is beginning to look like a park! During all this, I must tell you that people in the neighborhood stop and look. They are taking notice and it is fantastic. I write this message trembling because it is bigger than us and God is in it!!! It is about relationships and the Mustang teens and leaders have done just that with our neighbors.

Vacation Bible School was awesome! We had 47 children from the neighborhood and our daughter Emma! 97 total with wokers! Our opening songs and bible story was so good and the kids were engaged and listening. Then games, snacks, PLAY TIME WITH TEENAGERS(they loved that), and a closing ceremony with trivia about the night and hip hop concert. Being in youth ministry here in St. Louis for 8 years prior to the current position we had a lot a hip hop concerts for teens. So how relavent is this music even to the youth of today. Titus and Chi’ke are dear friends and preachers of the Word in their songs. We danced and sang and the kids thought they met someone famous. It was really fun. What great role model for these youth people.

We ended the night with moving our new friends, Jimmy, Kai, and their son Jaylen across town. Jimmy loves the Lord and recently got a full time job and things are turning around for his family. But unfortunatley has to move out of his present house. It was a humbling experience. His entire contents fit in half the horse trailor. If we were being honest our bedrooms alone probably would not fit in the horse trailor. Perspective. Who has it better? We are learning so much and being challenged in so many ways. 

We can hardly wait to see what will happen night two of VBS!  Pray Pray Pray!

Wednesday June 18th, 2008

Today was a proud day for Bridge of Hope and Mustang made it possible! The job of painting our rusty chain-linked fence to hang our church sign was a whole days work for a few of our church people but not for the teens of Mustang. It looks amazing and our signs are now hung for all the neighborhood to see and identify when we go out and talk to people. They also planted some tall grass around the perimeter of the fence. As if beautifying our property wasn’t enough the began cleaning up the abandon lots across the street. The improvement of these yards WILL bring pride to the neighborhood and we thank them for being willing to do that. The personal stories our endless of the people that the teens and leaders have met in the neighborhood but those I’m sure will filter out when they get home. Another large job that got done was the ripping out of the rest of the molded wet drywall that was in both bathrooms and in the hallway. We could never express our gratitude and are so excited how God is moving. Pressing on when the going gets tough will be a little easier when we remember the heart and efforts of Mustang, OK

A much deserved trip to Six Flags ended their day and more memories were made!

1 box yellow cake mix

3/4 c. Crisco oil

4 eggs

8 oz of sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. brown sugar

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

Mix first 5 ingredients and put half of the batter mixture in a 9 x 13 greased and floured pan. Mix cloves, cinnamon, and brown sugar and sprinkle half over batter and swirl with a fork. Pour rest of batter in and top with remaining brown sugar mixture and swirl with a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar

4 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and pour over hot cake

Share with Randy!

Tuesday June 17th, 2008

Greetings from BOH!

Another full day of activities and jobs accomplished! First, I must share that it is nearly impossible to keep these teens and youth sponsors busy.  Just when we think the list of needs is going to last a full day the jobs are done is a matter of an hour or so.  Shawen continually shares with me how talented they are and their work ethic is unbelievable! No task is too small that they don’t get right to it and do it with great care and no task is too big that they don’t try. 

The day started out with a little fun since BOH needed their help more in the evening hours. A trip to St. Louis Zoo is always a good time. The weather was beautiful and the teens enjoyed hanging out together. The work began in the afternoon.  I feel like a list would be easier since it is INSANE how much they got done.

1. more yard work that included planting flowers around the entire fence line, edging the outer sidewalk

2. repairing the fence to prepare for our playground that is being donated

3. moving solid wood 12 ft pews from the stage in the sanctuary to the basement (strong backs necessary)

4. decorated for VBS!!!!!

5. more alley clean up (that job is never done)

On Tuesday nights BOH usually hits the streets surrounding the church. Sometimes we give a loaf of bread and homemade jelly to new families we meet or last time we brought homemade salsa and a bag of chips. It is great way to get to a place where they are comfortable and share the love of Christ. At that time we then tell them about our barbque we have each weekend and invite them to come. God is working in amazing ways and God is opening doors and softening the hearts of these people. SO, we could hardly wait to do this ministry with Mustang teens. They filled up coolers with ice cold bottles of water and had all our flyers ready for VBS. They went door to door giving out water and inviting the families to VBS. With the warm weather there were lots of people out and there was alot of activity going on. It is amazing when we ask God to give us His eyes the love begins to overflow. The teens loved on our neighborhood and made an impact with their efforts.  We cannot thank them enough and these days are good and something we will never forget.

Monday June 16th, 2008

The youth group of Mustang, OK spent their first day of their mission week in Wellston. Pastor Charles Pennington’s church was so generous to BOH when we were “hopping” around from location to location we felt it only right to bless their church FIRST! The teens spent a good eight or nine hour day cutting down trees, clearing brush, and picking up leaves and trash.  The property that AME sits on was overgrown with a “wall” of brush that made AME not visible from the side of the road that is the most busy and would catch the eye of someone passing by.  Pastor Charles stopped by at the end of the day after he got off work and was overwelmed with the job that was done. It looked so beautiful in a neighborhood that is neglected. But the teens did more than just spruce up the yard. They served cold water and smiled to those that live in that area. When someone would walk by and wonder why in the world a group of white teenagers were there, they showed them love of Jesus and the motive for which they serve.  Ironically, we spent the evening hanging out in yet another of our former locations, THE LOOP! Dinner at Fitz’s and then we hit the streets to experience the diversity of The Loop and the people that hang out there.

Sunday June 15th

The teens and their faithful sponsors arrived Saturday evening from Mustang, OK! They are ready to serve and full of excitement which has already encouraged the hearts of Bridge of Hope and New Hope church. On Sunday morning they worshipped with Ferguson Church and on Sunday evening after a minor set-back(flat tire) arrived at Bridge of Hope. We had an awesome service and fellowship time. We can already see their passion for the Lord and the enthusiasm to minister along side of BOH in the neighborhood God gave us. We can hardly wait to see what will happen next and the work that will be accomplished in His name.  We had to expose them early to some St. Louis culture by a trip to Ted Drew’s. Pictures and stories will not be able to expain the fun that was had and the memories already made.  Hopefully we can post each day their tasks and fun along with stories of God moments I know we will see on the streets of St. Louis. Let’s rebuild the city!!!

What a blessing!

On Friday, June 13, 2008, Trinity Church of the Nazarene in North County came and served in such an awesome way! Throughout the day 20 plus children, adults, and teens did a great work at Bridge of Hope.  Not to mention those that donated numerous food items such as snacks for our upcoming Bible school, everything needed for a fantastic community barbque and supplies to do work projects on the property.  Here are few of the tasks accomplished in just 5 hours!!! The removal of two VERY large, old organs in such a creative and stress relieving way. Sledgehammer meets keys!!! Our alley got a facelift with the tedious task of pulling and spraying weeds, picking up trash and broken glass, and increasing the width to its original state. We now give tours and charge money. ha ha! The much used empty lot attached to our building was mowed, edged, and trimmed and looked great for the neighborhood when they came to the barbque! Major spring cleaning happened in the entire lower level of the church and that included cleaning the kitchen. Picked up, organized and decorated a room that needed a little TLC! We now have water outside thanks to Charlie Qualls and John Schilling. The repair of the outdoor spigot feels like such a luxury! A not so fun job was the removal of wet moldy drywall behind the stove in the kitchen. About 10 bags to be exact!  But the biggest thanks was not only all of the hard work but the heart to serve in the place we now call our home. Trinity extended the love of Christ and fellowshipped with our new friends in the neighborhoodand over 50 people were served. This is the stuff our mission statement is made of…Bridging people with people Bridging people to God!