This week Parkview Church's college and career group joined us for a weekend of service. The mainly student group from the University of Iowa spent a few days in their winter break helping us with painting, cutting, drywalling and other needed tasks, and living in our volunteer housing. Each day they attacked their tasks with a zeal that translated to high productivity. All together the group of 35 worked for 840 hours. Their combination of energy and expertise saved us hundreds of dollars in sweat equity.
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This is the second year they've come and the second year Jesse Bradley (left, above) has led the group. "We are truly blessed and learn so much by coming here," said Jesse. "We sense the presence of the Lord and the bond we have in Christ. I pray that after students return home, they will see their own I want their eyes to be opened in a different way, to see the needs in the city and the need for racial harmony." Several of the group members returned for their second year. We asked them why. |
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Doug Fern, secondary education major at the University of Iowa, is listening for God's direction. He wants to go into cross-cultural ministry after he graduates. He has also served in the Ukraine and is deciding whether he will serve long-term overseas or in the states. "I can't get enough of this. I enjoy the reconciliation aspect. I feel that's the way the church should be, without those walls. It's hard to get alot of that in Iowa." |
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Emily Martin (left above), nursing student at U of I, came back to see the progress that had been made since last year. "I was really attracted to this area because the people in the church seemed very zealous and focused. I knew that progress would be made." Emily plans to practice nursing in Africa when she graduates. Lynn Rutherford, (right, above) also a nursing student, enjoys helping with construction. She has also worked with Habitat for Humanity. "I like short-term projects because I don't always have big blocks of time in my schedule," she said. |
