2011 PHOTOS
––August––
Our last team of the year was a returning team from Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, Alabama. They worked hard on digging the initial ditches for the second house, with frequent glances up at the first completed house for inspiration! In addition to digging, this group's special gift each year is to bring wheel-chairs for folks in need. We visited two churches and delivered ten chairs, both to senior citizens and to children as young as three. It was a very special ministry and a great way to end our team season.
––July––
We finished the month of July with two great teams. First was Christ Community Church from Columbus, Georgia. This is Ella's home church and a supporter of ours from the very beginning, so we were thrilled to finally host them here. They put on the very first VBS at the Children's Home itself (see pictures under "Children's Home Project" page).
Second was First United Methodist from Lucedale, Mississippi, a returning team from a wonderful church that has partnered with us and with the Home for many years.
We finished the month of July with two great teams. First was Christ Community Church from Columbus, Georgia. This is Ella's home church and a supporter of ours from the very beginning, so we were thrilled to finally host them here. They put on the very first VBS at the Children's Home itself (see pictures under "Children's Home Project" page).
Second was First United Methodist from Lucedale, Mississippi, a returning team from a wonderful church that has partnered with us and with the Home for many years.
––June––
We had the pleasure of hosting two teams in June. First was Oak Grove UMC from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a long-time church of ours that came to work with us for the first time.
Next was Auburn UMC from Auburn, Alabama (the church of Will's sister and brother-in-law), a great group who came for the third year in a row. In addition to VBS, these churches made great progress on the two retaining walls for the second house's lot.
We had the pleasure of hosting two teams in June. First was Oak Grove UMC from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a long-time church of ours that came to work with us for the first time.
Next was Auburn UMC from Auburn, Alabama (the church of Will's sister and brother-in-law), a great group who came for the third year in a row. In addition to VBS, these churches made great progress on the two retaining walls for the second house's lot.
––May––
To start our summer team season, we hosted Heritage UMC from D'Iberville, Mississippi. This first-time team did great work on the retaining wall for the lot on the second house, and they kept up good spirits despite almost every team member (and Will) getting a stomach bug during the week!
To start our summer team season, we hosted Heritage UMC from D'Iberville, Mississippi. This first-time team did great work on the retaining wall for the lot on the second house, and they kept up good spirits despite almost every team member (and Will) getting a stomach bug during the week!
––February––
As in years past, it's been a joy to start our team calendar with a group of "snow birds," primarily from FUMC in Birmingham, Michigan. This year they brought another great two-week team, and as you can see in the first slideshow, they did a lot of work on the last details of the house: sanding, painting, grouting, and general cleaning.
We also enjoyed having a dedication service with the team and other members of the church who were in Costa Rica, as well as some Costa Rican church members, including our bishop. The second slideshow has pictures from this wonderful celebration.
As in years past, it's been a joy to start our team calendar with a group of "snow birds," primarily from FUMC in Birmingham, Michigan. This year they brought another great two-week team, and as you can see in the first slideshow, they did a lot of work on the last details of the house: sanding, painting, grouting, and general cleaning.
We also enjoyed having a dedication service with the team and other members of the church who were in Costa Rica, as well as some Costa Rican church members, including our bishop. The second slideshow has pictures from this wonderful celebration.