This campaign got off to a pretty smooth start. We hit the road from rainy and slightly snowy Denver, Colorado dark and early around 6:00 AM. Our destination? Claremore, Oklahoma.
The drive to Claremore is about 10-12 hours. The team? Those going on this campaign are Nathan and Jessica Mcveigh, Ray Birchett, One who desires to remain nameless (for good reason ;) ), our student campaign director Tony Johnson and myself David Malley. We stopped in Salina Kansas for a burger at Freddy's Steakburgers. Good stuff :-). It rained most of the way but by journey's end the weather began to clear up and we had some sunshine. We had to leave as early as we did so that we could arrive in Claremore by 6:00 PM where we would meet and have dinner with the people we will be working with in the coming days. However, we did not arrive until closer to 7 PM. While in Claremore, we will be working at the Hope Harbor Children's Home alongside BVBID class of 2011 graduates Chris and Shirley Brill as well as other staff members of the facility.
At dinner, we had sandwiches and had the opportunity to chat with the staff and different kids which are mostly teenagers. Following dinner, Nathan led an awesome devotional based on Philippians 2:5-11 in which we were reminded that humility is the key to service and how in Christianity "the only way up is down, down on our knees in prayer and down in our hearts in humility and service." Service is what this campaign is going to be all about.
The team is staying in different areas. Tony and the nameless person are staying with Chris and Shirley. Nathan and Jessica are staying with a couple in one of the cottages here on the Hope Harbor campus. Ray and I are also staying in one of the cottages with Bill and Joy Hartsock along with three of the boys that live here on the campus. Ray and I had the privilege of spending some time with one of the boys Gannon. He is a really outgoing boy. We got to play fooseball, pool and a couple of rounds of ping pong with him. I look forward to getting to know Gannon and the other two boys Jeffrey and Austin along with the other kids that live here at the home. The cottages are really nice. I am fortunate enough to even have my own room and bathroom while I am here.
Tomorrow (Sunday) should be a pretty relaxing day as we will be attending worship with the congregation that oversees the work here at Hope Harbor. We will take the afternoon off and attend evening services either in Claremore or with the Brills in Owasso, Oklahoma. Monday is when we will begin our actual work. It appears we will be working with the Hope Harbor Thrift Store with various projects throughout the week.
The Oklahoma campaign is looking more and more like it is going to be super productive and super fun. I am looking forward to working alongside the staff here at Hope Harbor and I especially look forward to working alongside the BVBID team that I came out here with. My initial impression and experience on this first day has by far been a great one. The kids and the staff alike here are very polite and seem as eager to get to know us as we are to get to know them. I look forward to serving alongside the brethren here as we seek to let the light of Christ shine through our acts of service.
Thanks for taking time to read about what a small group of preaching students are doing to advance the Lord's Kingdom at the Hope Harbor Children's Home with the help of the other brethren that serve here full time. I will do my best to keep everyone updated on a daily basis until we leave on Thursday October 13th. I simply ask that you keep us all in your prayers as we serve the Lord by serving others over the next several days.
Until tomorrow, this is David Malley signing off from a cottage in Claremore, Oklahoma.
THANKS FOR READING! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!
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