Mission Wrap-up #1

Hello Everyone! We returned happily and safely to RiverLakes late Friday afternoon. Thanks to all the friends and family that welcomed us home from our mission. We wanted to make a couple of wrap-up posts to give some closure to our time and ministry together as a team in Beatty.

We held our final day of Vacation Bible School on Thurday. We invited the parents to join us for our closing program at the end of the day Thursday. We had over 25 parents and family members join us to hear our students sing their songs and recite the verses they learned all week. Wescott thanked the parents for allowing us to serve their students during the week, and Pastor Jim encouraged parents to help their children continue in the things they had learned. What was especially exciting was how many parents came to the program who do not attend church regularly. It was our prayer that this time would be a great testimony to non-believing parents and it certainly was!

This picture of Katrina and two of her VBS girls really captures what our week was like with our VBS kids. We held our final youth outreach at the park on Thursday night. It was the best attended evening all week. Wescott taught from John 4 and 5 about Jesus being our only source of hope that will never fail us. As the message closed our students were passionate about pursuing gospel conversations with the students who were there. We were excited to learn that several students had already recieved Christ and others were desiring to take first steps in their spiritual journeys. Especially faithful were Christine O, who shared with one student for the better part of half and hour, and Zach and Chris U who were able to get involved in another long, gospel centered conversation with some guys who joined us for the first time.

We will miss our friends Josh, Michael, and Heather. You guys are family to us. We are praying that God will give you boldness and courage in your ongoing witness in Beatty. We can't wait to see you all in Bakersfield soon!

Jim and Peggy, thank you guys for everything. Your love and faithfullness are an example to us. We are praying for you and hope that in God's providence we will be able to work together again in the future!
Here is our final team pic before we leave Beatty. Lots of friends from our week stopped by Friday morning before we took off to say goodbye. We love you guys and will be praying for God to continue the good work He is doing in and through you. Thank you for the chance to share our lives and the gospel of Jesus Christ with you (and thanks for sharing your lives with us as well!).