{"id":3210,"date":"2011-04-01T00:28:03","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T05:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=3210"},"modified":"2011-04-01T00:28:03","modified_gmt":"2011-04-01T05:28:03","slug":"spring-term-2011-chicago-day-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=3210","title":{"rendered":"Spring Term 2011: Chicago Day 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we gathered this morning in the lobby to head out, you could tell that everyone was excited about the opportunity to serve Soul City Church.\u00a0 We have really loved the vision of this church and its leaders and realize that they are believing God for big things on behalf of the West Loop and the city of Chicago.\u00a0 Their excitement is contagious enough to have our team up and out of bed early and ready to get back to work.\u00a0 I have been so grateful for the way our team has been on time for everything and has been quick to look out for each other.\u00a0 Our guys in particular have taken on the role of protector and overseer this week and that has been a tremendous blessing!<\/p>\n

We arrived at Soul City Church a little before 9am and had our team devotions.\u00a0 Mrs. Timms shared the stories of Peter and Martha and asked us to think about the distractions in our lives that cause us to miss out on what God has for us.\u00a0 Even in serving the Lord, we can miss out on truly knowing Him.\u00a0 She encouraged us to look for ways to block out those distractions in favor of a closer relationship with God.<\/p>\n

The morning started with our team heading over to Brown Elementary school to clean up the playground, clean out the room they are using for a parent lounge, and helping them move some furniture in the school.\u00a0 Brown Elementary School is in a precarious situation because they are on the federal watchlist in the \u201cNo Child Left Behind\u201d program.\u00a0 For the past several years, their test scores have been very low and the school is in danger of closing.\u00a0 If that happens, hundreds of kids will have to be bused out of their neighborhoods to other schools.\u00a0 Soul City Church is rallying around Brown Elementary to support their teachers, encourage their kids, and look for ways to strengthen parent involvement to try and rescue this school.\u00a0 Gomer and Corey were in charge of the map that gave us directions to walk the few blocks to the school and they did a tremendous job leading us!<\/p>\n

The principal at Brown was a very nice lady and seemed extremely grateful for our help.\u00a0 Brittany and Blake were the captains on the playground job and Chad and Victoria were the captains on the parent lounge task.\u00a0 The four of them did a great job of leading by example and making sure that everyone stayed on task until the jobs were done.\u00a0 We had hoped to have an opportunity to spend some time with the kids, but we only got to see a few of them in the hallway as it was a very busy day at the school.\u00a0 We were pleased to serve knowing that we were playing a small part in trying to rescue that school.<\/p>\n

We walked back to Soul City Church for lunch and our afternoon projects. The guys went back to do one last cleanup over at Warehouse B while the girls helped set up for the \u201cPaint the City Green\u201d art show that SCC is hosting Friday at 5pm.\u00a0 All of the pieces of art were created by kids at Brown Elementary and we had a great time looking at their special creations!\u00a0 The team worked hard all afternoon.\u00a0 There was a lot of music playing and every once in a while\u2026a little dancing broke out.\u00a0 Just enough to be hilarious!<\/p>\n

At 4pm, Dave, Jarrett, Kyle, and Katie invited our team into the auditorium for our closing time.\u00a0 Dave shared with the kids about what a blessing our team had been to Soul City.\u00a0 Jarrett talked to the kids about what it means to do something that is for the Lord and not for yourself.\u00a0 He thanked the team for helping them advance the gospel in the city this week.\u00a0 They also presented our team with Soul City mugs and other Soul City items to remember our week by.\u00a0 We were pleased to surprise them with a love offering that our kids contributed to.\u00a0 They were overwhelmed with the generosity of the team.\u00a0 Our kids were pumped to invest in what Soul City was doing.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it cool to see how God works those things out??!!<\/p>\n

One last time we hopped on the \u201cL\u201d blue line to Jackson.\u00a0 Then, we hopped the brown line to downtown in time to go to the Art Institute of Chicago.\u00a0 We spent almost two hours checking out the museum, visiting with each other, and trying to figure out some of the artwork!\u00a0 It was fun to see our artists really enjoy their time there.\u00a0 After the museum, we headed over to Ed Debevic\u2019s for dinner.\u00a0 We planned this dinner because we knew it would be fun and the last night would be a time to celebrate.\u00a0 It was a blast!\u00a0 The kids really got into the atmosphere at the restaurant and Corey, Dongho, and Mr. Masters really got things rolling as they joined the waitresses in performing YMCA.\u00a0 What a treat!<\/p>\n

The kids had a few minutes of free time to pick up last minute souvenirs before heading back for one last team meeting.\u00a0 At our meeting, we started with singing as we have each night.\u00a0 What a treasure it has been to hear them lifting their voices in one accord to God.\u00a0 We have particularly enjoyed \u201cYou give beauty for our ashes and a hope that\u2019s everlasting.\u00a0 The past has been redeemed, now forever we will sing.\u00a0 You can make all things news, only your power can raise us.\u00a0 You can make all things new, only your love can save us.\u00a0 All hope is not lost, cause you make all things new.\u201d\u00a0 Tonight the team really sang it out!<\/p>\n

All week long we have been praying for our secret prayer partners.\u00a0 Tonight we revealed who we have been praying for and something special that we have noticed about that person.\u00a0 Talk about some major encouragement.\u00a0 It was amazing to see the great lengths that everyone went to in order to encourage their prayers partners\u2026powerful words of life were shared tonight over each student!\u00a0 We finished up by sharing things about the week and then made plans to check out in the morning.<\/p>\n

I am finishing this blog just after midnight and we are meeting for team devotions at 7:15am.\u00a0 Pray for Kelsey as she leads us.\u00a0 Many of our students are headed out Saturday for church mission trips, family vacations, and other endeavors as Spring Break is upon us.\u00a0 But, we head out with full hearts knowing that we have truly experienced Christ this week.\u00a0 Thank you for supporting our team with your prayers and by allowing your students to be a part of this adventure!<\/p>\n

Megan Strange<\/p>\n