Restore Kentucky April 2016
Missions Trip Update #5           

One of the buildings at the Red Bird Mission Base

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Jason and James fueling up for a hard days work

Gary getting creative with a paint roller

Aurelia helping to clean and organize earlier in the week

A few of the flexible painters

Finished Kitchen with new floors, cabinets and walls

Homeowner Misty and baby Natalie

Restore Kentucky
Mission Trip

Fridayday, April 15 Final Update
By: Kathy Smarrella

Let me tell you about our day today. We ate a great breakfast as we have every day. And, before I go on, I want to let you in on something cool. Jason, one of our teammates, helped cooked breakfast most every day this week. He got up early and at 6:15 each morning he helped Lisa (who was alone in the kitchen) cook for the 80 of us who are here (our team, plus several other teams). How cool is that? That's missions in action right there. 

Today was finish the job day! It was our last chance to complete our projects and with God's help, it happened. We drove our big Vineyard bus through the narrow roads of the beautiful Kentucky mountains (which is trickier than it might sound), saw a couple elk (yes, I said elk) along the way, and then dropped off some of our team at Viola's house. There they hung Viola's family pictures on her wall and helped her put some of her belongings away in her bedroom. Others worked on the yard, raking and mowing, and some were able to just connect and talk, even praying for Viola's grandson before leaving-which was an answer to our prayers that he'd see a glimpse of Jesus.

At about noon, they joined the rest of the team over at Misty's house, where we had been working to finish up the kitchen and living room. We enjoyed lunch together-which we hadn't been able to do before-and then set to finishing things up. That morning a couple guys were finishing the plumbing in the new cabinets-which was somewhat complex-and three of the women on our team painted all around them. The new floor was covered in black plastic and I'm not sure I've ever seen such flexible painters, stretching and reaching all around the plumbing crew. Literally as soon as paint dried, the trim team came in and trimmed out the floor with baseboards. . . and believe me when I say this, it was little crazy in there. At the same time, other members of the team were deep cleaning appliances on the porch, organizing kitchen supplies, and even playing with baby Natalie, who finally was warming up to us. We put the house back together and by 3 pm, were were done. We prayed for Misty, Barry and baby Natalie and were able to give them a few small gifts. Then the team headed to Dairy Queen to celebrate a week of hard work and God's blessings on us as a team.

We were joyful that we got it done and glad to see some light shine in Misty's eyes as she walked into her kitchen and declared that it was "perfect." But it was also hard. It's hard not to be able to fix everything. It's hard not to fix everything else that is wrong in the house, to be sure, but also not to be able to repair what hurts in their hearts. We want baby Natalie to grow up in a household that loves Jesus and right now, that just isn't the case. So, we leave with joy, but with tears as well because all is not resolved. But, then, we remember, that part is not up to us. Jesus is the one who fixes things, and in our small way, we pointed them to Jesus this week. And, we will continue to pray to that end. We hope that you will pray with us.

God has been so good this week here in Kentucky. I love being witness to (and participating in) what God has been doing in our team personally and as they have served as Jesus' hands and f eet here in the mountains of Kentucky. I have loved watching relationships happen-some came without knowing the names of everyone on the team, and now they do. Others will walk in the door at Vineyard and greet one another with a friendly chest bump. Many on our team have prayed out loud for the first time here in Kentucky. I love that! Some said that they have found it easier to talk to people about Jesus while on this mission trip. Another had their faith reaffirmed. And several found hope in the midst of challenging circumstances. We ALL flung seeds this week-God seeds in ground that might not yet be ripe for harvest, but is, Lord willing, getting there.

Thank you for your prayers this week. We felt them and we are grateful for them. May God bless you as you have blessed us!


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