The boys woke up at 6AM and we went to breakfast at the DC Diner. Pretty much reminds me of when I do Prison Ministry because everything is geared toward efficiency. They feed over 1500 meals a day for those on campus (everyone from about 200 men in recovery - called disciples, DC staff, those on short term missions - STMs, and those in the DC leadership program from around the world). In line, we met a couple of people from other STM teams and we reached out and prayed for them. (Our approach is that we let them know we are from Hawaii, give them our HE>i band, ask for any prayer requests and the group or an individual team members prays.) I gave them a brief prayer evangelism training Monday night where they even practiced on one another. They are quick learners and challenged to hear God and walk in faith. Their goal is to pray for at least one stranger a day as we experience the various outreach ministries.
We have 15 mins to eat our breakfast and then get ushered out...sort of like a cafeteria factory. The boys seemed to enjoy the food...I guess Iolani does not set too high of a bar :).
Then after everyone doing their business...yes there is only one bathroom in our room for everyone...we went down to the tool shed to help out along with the DC DISCIPLES. There is a lot of construction going on at the DC as they continue to claim more of the space for God's work. After 1 year of planning and preparation, they are opening up a wing for at risk teens. We went there and helped clean up and move furniture. The God part is we prayed for our DISCiPLE leaders and gave them our HE>i bands. They were blessed by our hospitality and they shared their testimonies. They were so blessed that they asked us to pray for a lady at the door (she was a young adult, African American female who at one point was a good basketball point guard. Our Troy stepped up and approached her...introduced himself and then the group came along side and prayed for her. She was encouraged and shared her heart with the group. After a couple of hours or serving, we went back to the toolshed...prayed out and went back to our rooms.
We had a couple of minutes for lunch...where we had baked potatoes and onion soup and ate outside. Our next ministry was painting/priming. We were taken to another wing they were renovating for incoming students from around the world. Our leader trained the boys how to prime the room. I thought this is going to be interesting...praying against any horseplay that quickly spiral into a paint fight.
Well we split our group and started with two rooms. They boys did GREAT. Some paint in the hair, accidental bumps of paint on shirts (I think accidental), stepping on paint and tracking it all over the room. We were interrupted 1/2 way through to help carry some mattresses into the rooms. (The boys seriously need to lift some weights.) Granted we had to walk across the parking lot, up stairs, around corners and up the stairs into the dorm and down the hall but they were pretty weak...put to shame by some of the boys at the DC.
We then hit a wall and had to press through quitting as we struggled to finish our painting assignments. Painting was now laborious and we wanted it to end. We had a full time person just cleaning the floor. :) Well we finally finished and then the job of clean up begun. Now this is a whole job just in itself. Washing all the pans, rollers, brushes and at the same time trying not to get soaked. Proud of the boys and everyone was good except for some paint in the hair, on the face, actually everywhere (especially on Jordan's new black hat:).
They boys had about an hour of down time so they went to the basketball court. I think they did suicides together or something like that because Jonah promised his coach to run. They shared later that they felt good doing it together!!!
They returned to the room (me and Brandon took a short nap) and then they all showered. For those of you wondering, the men's shower room has three stalls and has separate stalls. We then went to Men's Ministry at 7PM. The Men's ministry had awesome worship. The Holy Spirit was definitely present and something awesome about men worshipping together with passion and abandonment. There was a great message and more worship/ministry time at the end. The boys shared later that the worship impacted them and brought them to another level in their relationship with Jesus.
When we got back to the room we did our devos, debriefed and had team affirmation. We did a quick 7-11 run where we bought a ton of stuff. (These boys can eat and fut and dodo.) Funny the guy at 7-11 knows us already and brings out a big bag when we come. The boys went to sleep about 11PM. It's 6AM so I need to make sure they are up for our 630AM breakfast.
Bottomline is the sharing by the boys is gold. They are going deeper in their faith and walk with jesus. The takeaways are life changing and it's only Day 1. Thank you God for your goodness and faithfulness. Please continue to pray that we walk in God's favor and their lives are changed forever as they become His light at FCA and Iolani for the years to come! In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.
We have 15 mins to eat our breakfast and then get ushered out...sort of like a cafeteria factory. The boys seemed to enjoy the food...I guess Iolani does not set too high of a bar :).
Then after everyone doing their business...yes there is only one bathroom in our room for everyone...we went down to the tool shed to help out along with the DC DISCIPLES. There is a lot of construction going on at the DC as they continue to claim more of the space for God's work. After 1 year of planning and preparation, they are opening up a wing for at risk teens. We went there and helped clean up and move furniture. The God part is we prayed for our DISCiPLE leaders and gave them our HE>i bands. They were blessed by our hospitality and they shared their testimonies. They were so blessed that they asked us to pray for a lady at the door (she was a young adult, African American female who at one point was a good basketball point guard. Our Troy stepped up and approached her...introduced himself and then the group came along side and prayed for her. She was encouraged and shared her heart with the group. After a couple of hours or serving, we went back to the toolshed...prayed out and went back to our rooms.
We had a couple of minutes for lunch...where we had baked potatoes and onion soup and ate outside. Our next ministry was painting/priming. We were taken to another wing they were renovating for incoming students from around the world. Our leader trained the boys how to prime the room. I thought this is going to be interesting...praying against any horseplay that quickly spiral into a paint fight.
Well we split our group and started with two rooms. They boys did GREAT. Some paint in the hair, accidental bumps of paint on shirts (I think accidental), stepping on paint and tracking it all over the room. We were interrupted 1/2 way through to help carry some mattresses into the rooms. (The boys seriously need to lift some weights.) Granted we had to walk across the parking lot, up stairs, around corners and up the stairs into the dorm and down the hall but they were pretty weak...put to shame by some of the boys at the DC.
We then hit a wall and had to press through quitting as we struggled to finish our painting assignments. Painting was now laborious and we wanted it to end. We had a full time person just cleaning the floor. :) Well we finally finished and then the job of clean up begun. Now this is a whole job just in itself. Washing all the pans, rollers, brushes and at the same time trying not to get soaked. Proud of the boys and everyone was good except for some paint in the hair, on the face, actually everywhere (especially on Jordan's new black hat:).
They boys had about an hour of down time so they went to the basketball court. I think they did suicides together or something like that because Jonah promised his coach to run. They shared later that they felt good doing it together!!!
They returned to the room (me and Brandon took a short nap) and then they all showered. For those of you wondering, the men's shower room has three stalls and has separate stalls. We then went to Men's Ministry at 7PM. The Men's ministry had awesome worship. The Holy Spirit was definitely present and something awesome about men worshipping together with passion and abandonment. There was a great message and more worship/ministry time at the end. The boys shared later that the worship impacted them and brought them to another level in their relationship with Jesus.
When we got back to the room we did our devos, debriefed and had team affirmation. We did a quick 7-11 run where we bought a ton of stuff. (These boys can eat and fut and dodo.) Funny the guy at 7-11 knows us already and brings out a big bag when we come. The boys went to sleep about 11PM. It's 6AM so I need to make sure they are up for our 630AM breakfast.
Bottomline is the sharing by the boys is gold. They are going deeper in their faith and walk with jesus. The takeaways are life changing and it's only Day 1. Thank you God for your goodness and faithfulness. Please continue to pray that we walk in God's favor and their lives are changed forever as they become His light at FCA and Iolani for the years to come! In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.
Wow, thanks Creighton for the detailed description of a day in our boys' lives at DC! Sounds like you guys are having some "chicken skin" moments over there!!
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