I know, I know we're late!

Sorry about the lateness of the blog! One we have been extremely busy, two limited access to internet, and three we or may I say I forgot the password. Enough with excuses, I'm sure you want to hear about the day. Just know that it is late and I am very tired, so I the grammar or punctuation may not be up to par. We started the week by getting tons of ping pong balls thrown around the room. Each ball had a name on it and what color group/work team the person is on. This was the beginning of our little, new families. We were no longer Cypress, but UM ARMY Cameron. We have joined youth and adults from Katy FUMC and Wesley Memorial Huntsville. Our kids were all split up and joined youth and adults from the other churches. There was a little complaining at the beginning. We played games, got ourselves oriented about UM ARMY, and ended the night with worship. Monday was our first day on the worksites. We have a variety of tasks from building wheel chair ramps, replacing porches, replacing facia boards, sheetrocking, putting up siding, painting, repairing roofs, and I'm sure the list goes on. They are doing a great job in the sweltering heat. The teams are truly becoming families and it is amazing to see. There are spirit competitions and of course, the Cypress kiddos are really getting into it. They are branching out and meeting new people. It is amazing to watch. Our kids are actively involved in the worships morning and night. Our youth have prayed, helped lead worship, been involved with skits, Courtney Vossler gave a short message yesterday, and Marissa plans on giving one later on in the week. I am so proud of them!! I shared at our adult meeting last night that I know there were a lot of people who were a little skeptical about this trip and we know there was a lot of complaining from the youth. It was hard because it was not our normal Camp Barnabas or our Mississippi Mission trip. Those trips have somewhat become our comfort zones in a way. They are trips that we are used to doing because it is what we have always done. The youth this week that decided to come on this trip are truly practicing risk taking mission. They have stepped out of what they are used to doing and have tried something new even if it may have been uncomfortable or different at first. Isn't that what God calls us to do? The kids this week are being challenged to get to know and work with total strangers. I think it is an awesome way to prepare them for life after high school. I love UM ARMY and am definitely a supporter (not just because my brother works for them). Lives are being changed this week and it is only day two. Awesome friendships are being made. They are definitely bonding with their groups (I think I have already said that)!! I am also on a worksite, so I can speak from personal experience. Our group has truly connected and have had some pretty awesome conversations. The theme this week is transformers. we have focused on the verse Romans 12:2 and have really discussed how we need to be different from the world and transform ourselves from the inside out. the first day's theme was Seize the day and today's theme was No Worries. We went to the community pool last night and had an intense (haha) game of sand volleyball. Tonight we had a kickball tournament out at the baseball fields. that is all I can think of at the moment. Please be in prayer for Kathy Schwegmann, one of our adults. She fell in the parking lot Monday around lunch time and had to get stitches on her nose. her husband brought her back to Cypress to heal. her work team was very sad to see her go, and I took over her work team. If you are reading this...We love you Kathy!! You should be very proud of your kids this week!!! Feel free to post comments. i am off to sleep! Days are long here at UM ARMY!
Much Love from Cameron,
Christie