Chicago 18 Wednesday/Thursday

It's been a great 48 hours here in Woodlawn! We've had a wide mix of activities, including service projects, discussions about race and reconciliation, a downtown meal share (make sure to ask your students about this!) and time to connect with each other. Students have grown a TON this week; they've been tackling big issues, asking good questions, working hard while they serve and learning more about what it means to seek "shalom" in their own communities. Tomorrow, we'll serve for the last time, enjoy authentic deep-dish pizza, and do a bit of sight seeing at Navy Pier before our final debrief at Sunshine. Continue to pray for health, energy, and the ability to see what God is up to in Chicago!

Chicago 18 Tuesday

We had a great Tuesday here in Chicago! Students spread out to the various work projects, and at  the site I was at today, students used a ton of different ways to develop a community garden to bless the community. Students were picking weeds, shoveling and wheelbarrowing mulch; students were using a hammer and saw to build garden boxes; students were walking throughout the neighborhood to pick up trash. Along the way, they are meeting people in the community; asking good questions, learning stories and finding out what God is up to in the city of Chicago. One student was able to connect with 16 (!) people while serving! This afternoon, students experienced a poverty simulation to help us more fully understanding how there aren’t simple solutions to many of life’s problems. After a little bit of downtime and an AWESOME dinner of fried chicken and mac and cheese, We ended our night with a discussion about the Biblical mandate for justice. Continue to pray for safety, health, and the opportunity to serve the community here at Woodlawn!