Cornerstone Church

They are here, clean and now full! Tonight we go back to the church for a great nights sleep before the big week starts! We are really looking forward for what God has in store for us this week! Please pray the Lord works in mighty ways this week! 

Today we begin with morning devotions. Getting our minds set on the Lord to equip us for today! Today we will be stretched and our eyes will be open! Pray the the Lord will help us open our hearts and eyes to receive what he has for us! 

After breakfast we took time to pray for the students that would share their testimony in service this morning! These students have amazing stories! The Lord is going to use thier story to reach people and inspire people in the name of Jesus! We ask that you continue to pray for us through the entirety of this trip! God is already doing great things! 

Our team packed up over 100 lunches to go serve the homeless in San Francisco's Tenderloin District.  These peeps literally live on the streers-no tents or cardboard boxes.

Our team is ready to be stretched and engage in conversation and prayer with each that we meet.  We are EXPECTING the UNEXPECTED thus afternoon, PLEASE pray for us!!

Today not only did we pray and hand food to the homeless but we were blessed to be prayed over by them! The Lord is moving in this city and it's only been day one! God is so good! 

Today we started the day with morning devotions and then we got down to work! Some of us stayed at the church to help finish painting and others went to pick weeds and prepare the pastor to move tomorrow! I so wish I would have taken a before and after picture of the yard because when we finished the yard looked amazing!! 

Sooo much fun AND ministry happening here at the Community Center...we fed and are playing with over 100 kids...its soooo great to hear giggles, squeals and laughter in the name of Jesus. 

After we had an amazing lunch with the kids we went outside and cleaned up the playground with a fun game of trash-a-rama! The kids had such a blast! After it was all cleaned the team was able to let loose and have fun! We danced  and played games with the kids! Hearing the kids laugh and seeing their smiles just warms our hearts! Praise God for these little blessings! 

Beauty Shop..Our team's ladies are getting their hairs braided by the best!!!  Love seeing our team BE Jesus with skin on... 

Afternoon "inside activities...Isabel reading book after book, tons of lanyard weaving and Lego adventurers ... most of all, it's all about conversations and friendships!  Absolutely love watching our missionaries make friends while sharing Jesus.  

Tonight we helped start up a youth group! While hanging out and playing some nine square the team was able to reach out to the youth in the neighborhood! It's so wonderful to watch this community grow closer to Jesus! 

Today we had the privilege to help move the pastor and his family of Living Word Chapel into their new home! Yesterday the prep work we did cleaning the yard and cleaning the new home allowed us to begin moving them in today.

 We were able to get a lot done in the short amount of time we had! We are so happy that we were able to help them relieve their stress by getting most of it done! Please pray that the Lord blesses their family and the time they will have in their new home! 

These kids.

These missionaries.

Jesus with skin on...

Today we had the opportunity to go swimming with the kids that we played with yesterday! These kids are so sweet and just a joy to be able to spend time with! Nothing is better then building those relationships with these kids that can hopefully impact their lives! 

Soo we had some extra food from serving the kids and so we took the opportunity to take Taylor and Jordan with us to the Community we have come to love on 2nd Street in Berkeley.  Grateful, loving family members who were glad to meet new friends from Long Beach.  ABSOLUTELY loving the heart of these missionaries. 

Tonight during our youth out reach Pastor Ryan spoke about how we are made to stand out and be different! God has called for something better and something higher but we can't get there being like everyone else. We are called to be different and be our own person! Don't give in to what the world wants but stand up for what God wants! God created for a certain reason don't worry what everyone else wants! 

We started our last work day by helping the Pastor move the last bit of his family's  stuff in the old house into their new home! We are so happy that the Lord was able to use us to bless the Pastor and his family! It is crazy to believe that today is the last day of working! This team has grown so close and I can already see the Lord working with in them! 

Now we are headed to go play with the kids we played with Monday and yesterday! Please pray for the students as they say their goodbyes! 

Today we say goodbye! These kids have been such a joy to play with! They filled us with such laughter and happiness. From playing on the playground to climbing on our shoulders like we're a jungle gym to watching them dance in dance class they leave us with such happy memories! These kids are going to be greatly missed! 

Please pray for these kids! They need people like this team in their lives everyday. They have seen and gone through things that no one of any age ever should go through! Pray for protection and spiritual guidance through out the entirety of their lives! God bless these precious babies! 

Last night we had the wonderful privilege to worship with some of the Cornerstone worship team that is here on the trip! Even though they didn't have the equipment that they are use to, it was absolutely amazing! The presence of God was evident and the spirit moved! These students did and absolutely fabulous job!

After 4 students shared their testimony Linda taught us a way to pray that admires and glorifies God rather then giving him a list of all the things we need him to do and leave it at that! God moved in mighty way and we finished with tears of joy and morning with stories of the kids we met this week! 

I can not believe today is our final day with this team! I have been so blessed to be able to help lead this team and watch them grow in just one week! God is so good!! 

Happy Birthday Jordan!!!

How fun it has been to celebrate Avery's birthday on Tuesday and roday is Jordan's.  

We have been blessed this week by the birth of EACH team member, but especially "tasty" having 2 birthday celebrations during our trip.

Looking forward to pur full day of Sabbath  today exploring and eating our way through San Francisco tiday.  More to follow.

Painted Ladies, Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf for the afternoon....perfect day...SF breezes, fog and tons of sunshine

YUMMMMMM...

Chocolate...

Missionaries...

And now off to dinner (choices of cuisine on food trucks) at the Presidio.

And there is still MORE ahead on our itinerary through our last night together.

Sooooo many choices for our team.  

Great view of the Golden Gate, summer breezes and delicious smells, too

This evening we began our evening activities with a mini-Sinatra-concert by the "original" Jesse J.  We sang, we cheered and thoroughly enjoyed our special time together.  

We also some more birthday celebrations by our cooking staff, even included candles that were all blown out in one breath.

Simon led us in a time of communion and Ryan spoke personally into each of the team with a "Word from the Lord"...hearts were touched, affirmations & vision were sealed into our minds which we will hold onto way after this trip is completed.

Oh...of course, it was a late night....lots to process, many more words were being spoken into lives...plus we HAD to finish all those snacks!

Wow!!!

We sooooo miss you...EACH of you...

We are very thankful that you came to love and to serve in "our backyard".  We thank God for your answer of YES to come here on your mission trip.   Each of us--Jesse, Lea and myself will gladly serve with you again wherever the Lord leads you next summer.

Please continue your daily lives as a life on mission---Loving, praying and serving the "one right in front of you."  So many people need for YOU to see THEM, to pray for them, to listen to their stories, to help meet their needs and to hear the Good News of Jesus' love as seen through YOUR story.

We don't live far away and we will keep in touch (we have the technology).  We look forward to hearing your updated stories of God's involvement in your lives and the impact your lives have on others.

You are loved and you have family just 7 hours away...so come back anytime!