Sunday Worship

Delivering a moment for mission at First Congregational Church of Fresno

Fun Day!

Today we spent our free day at a Fresno water park, cooling off on slides and in the lazy river. It was a great end to the week!

Time with FIRM

From Brianna:

Work camp is a great experience because the youth and leaders all have to put up with each other for a whole week. The time is set up so that we have both time to chill and have fun as well as time to be creative and do service. The communities we work with, FIRM for example, are church communities who share our general morals and always welcome us. It seems that each year it takes me a while to feel comfortable with the people we are serving as well.

By now, I have gotten familiar with the elders we have tutored and the kids we have played with at Family Fun Camp. Yesterday I was in charge of beanbag toss at the camp. In general kids were shy, excited, or bossy, but all of them had smiles and energy to practice their aim on the frog painted beanbag toss. I had an older kid come up who was really friendly and well mannered who ended up organizing the younger kids himself and helping them to play. Another kid skipped from 400 to 600 in keeping track of his score because he was so excited. It’s amazing to get to know new groups of people this closely. It feels like there is no judgment dividing us now. We are a community.

As a smaller group of Winthropites at the Church, everything has given our best efforts, from cooking breakfast to playing cards, tricycle races, and bets. I feel like we are appreciative of everything that anyone has to offer, be it ideas or talent or non-talent or simply one’s presence and laughter. We have strong opinions, for instance we debated the existence of the “Guy’s” bet today, and we like being sarcastic, yet we all mean the best. We are stuck with each other and so we put up with the imperfections, be it not remembering the craft box, or losing things, or not sleeping enough. In moments talking, playing cards, cooking, listening to music or just hanging out, I feel like I have once again come to feel at home with the Winthrop group. The experience of participating at Work Camp allows us to let go of our worries and judgments, it strengthens our bonds and reminds us to be ourselves, enjoying each other and spreading love to the communities we visit (FIRM).

a flashback to Monday...

From Olivia:

Today is Monday, June 18 2012, which marks the first full day of work camp! Woohoo!

This morning was an early one (for me, at least) and breakfast tasted very good after a near sleepless night on our pads. Today was also our first shower day, in which generous hosts offered over their houses so we could be clean throughout the week. I personally ended up at a house, which was home to a three year old, and after my shower I found myself being bombarded with toys and fake watermelon.

Afterwards, we briefly stopped back at the church to drop off our towels and such, then headed out to the real reason we drove three and a half hours out here; FIRM! When we arrived we were interrogated at the entrance to make us feel like we were crossing the border;  an experience that a lot of the refugees had to face. 

to be continued.... (something interesting must have been happening in the corner) 

Morning person?

From Lia:

So it's Thursday morning and the time is 7:41. I’m not a morning person but after Workcamp I usually turn into one. For breakfast we will be enjoying crepes, breakfast burritos, and other wrap like things. The weather here is amazing now, it’s perfect. Just hot enough to wash yourself with an icy cold hose and air dry after at 9:00 at night. This morning after breakfast we’ll be going to FIRM tutor the elders and help out, then come back to the church and relax until usually 3ish. When 3:30 comes we drive back to FIRM and start helping with the family festival.

A poem

From Patrick:

A great time will be had by all,
though I sure wish the weather was more like fall,
but oh well, we'll make it through
keeping it fresh like the morning dew
together we'll progress through the week
hoping our water bottles do not leak,
we truly are just like a family
supporting each other, it's great, golly.

Little to no Internet and general busyness all day has delayed our postings! We'll see if we can get more toward the end of the week, but for a while it may be quick phone updates!