By to our WA Team but God Blessed the Barbque!

Well our Washington team left this morning and I already miss them. The barbecue was wonderful. The community came out from all over and had a good time. Many people appreciated the food and the fellowship that the youth and adults had. It was in the high 90's and still the people came. Not once did the youth complain about anything. They played with the kids and talked to the adults and had fun. They had hola-hoops and I thought Allen was going to fall down. Yes he tried it and even put it around his neck and it was a sight to see. There was chalk drawing on the sidewalk with the kids, and even water balloons. I got soaked and got everyone else around me soaked. There was chicken hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans everything you needed to have a good time at a barbecue.

Also, they gave away bags of groceries to anyone who wanted food and believe me there was not a bag of food left. Little kids was giving us hugs for just being there. What we found out was that the night we had the barbecue was the same night that the city had an even all over town called "Stop the shooting" The people of the city is really trying to get their city back. Maybe not the government but the people want peace and life. The MP's even stopped and had a little something.

Well I would like to say to a new friend Roberta that she and the team did an awesome thing here and I hope they come back. God Bless you all.

My nephews went home today and I am a little sad because I miss them. It was nice having family here for a while. They did a lot and were changed also. I love you guys.

Until next time...Lots of Love .. from Allen and Dovie

Well the team has done int again. They have went through the neighborhood and cleaned up so many houses and yards. I cannot believe their drive and exuberant attitude toward their work. It was so hot today and so humid it felt like it was 100 degrees but they kept working all day. I have had a chance to work with some of them and they didn't care if they were pulling weeds or cleaning bathrooms which some of them did. I do appreciate their attitude and drive.

Tomorrow is there Bar-B-Que for the community and I know it will be a good one. They are very excited and ready for this event. A little girl in the neighborhood came up to one of the girls and asked for a hug. It was such a small thing but meant so much not only to the little girl but also to the teen that gave the hug. They have had people stop and ask for prayer and just talk to the people in the community. There was a contractor that just stopped and bought them snowballs simply because they were cleaning up the trash in the neighborhood. That is what they concentrated on today cleaning up the trash. They are hard workers. Tomorrow I will have a lot of pictures for you to see and a lot to tell.

Just as an FYI for anyone reading my blog, we are coming home from 8/24 - 9/9 and would love to bring the pictures and information about being a volunteer for a week to your church if at all possible. Just email me on the blog with your email address and I will get back to you. Until then keep us in your prayers and remember...lots of love .. form Dovie and Allen

Hi Everyone. Another couple of days since my last blog but I am back. I first want to say a farewell to our California team of men that left Saturday morning. They were a great group of men who did a lot for us and the community. The church looks awesome! Thank you guys for coming and giving you all to get things finished.

We work colsely with SUM (School Of Urban Missions) which had another team form California with them and most of them were women. These women put on roofs for the whole time they were here. This is the first pictures you see. I could not believe the way they maneuvered their way around on the roof. There were men that came with them and worked hard too but the women really showed them what they could do. We ribbed the guys a lot because the women was working around them. All the team worked really hard. It is a chore in itself trying to take off a roof then going to another house and putting on a roof. They were a great bunch of people who I take my hat off to. I do not like heights and don't know if I could do it.

We still have the Washington team of teenagers here and they are doing a great job. They have cut and pulled so many weeds down from houses so the houses can be worked on. They have dealt with bees, mosquito's, fire ants and they still kept going. They had a barbecue for the community Saturday and it went great. I could not attend because I had other commitments at the church but Allen said it was great. They are having another barbecue for the community at the church, St. Luke's on Tuesday so I will be attending that. I will take lots of pictures of the event and let you know how it turns out.

This is the last 3 days I will have with my nephews and Robin so I am going to try to spend more time with them. They are working so hard and I am so proud of them. I really have enjoyed their stay. Please keep them in your prayers.

Allen and I will be going home at the end of August so those of you at home we will see you soon. To all of the teams that look at the blog I will make sure I let you know when we leave and come back.

Until next time... Lots of Love ... from Allen and Dovie

Welcome California and Washington Team!

We have two teams this week one is a group of men from California with many skills and is doing a great job. The other team is from Washington and they are teenagers YEA! I love teenagers, I think I have said that before but I will say it again. Any way the team from CA is doing a great work on the church. It looks so beautiful with the new floor down in the side entrance. It was really in need of a floor and now it has one. The men work so hard everyday and even go back after dinner and work because they want to get things done. I pray God blesses them more than they can bear.

The teens are great too! They have been here one day and they are tearing it up. They went through the neighborhood today and pulled up weeds higher than the houses that they were pulling the weeds from. They fought bugs, wasps and other elements getting those weeds out but they did it and didn't complain once. It amazes me how teens will take a week out of their summer to come and help us. They have a lot of compassion which is wonderful to see.

The first picture is of Allen and our two nephews and their friend that are visiting with us. They saw the big cross at the warehouse that has been cleaned out and it reminded them of the cross that Jesus bared for us. I took a picture of them and now their parents can see them too.

The second picture is of the chapel this morning with the CA and WA group together. The third picture is of the CA men. They will be leaving Saturday and we will miss them.

Well it has been a long day and I will get more information on the blog for you so keep looking and planning on coming down. Until next time.. Lots of Love coming from..Allen and Dovie

A Different Evening.

I am sorry it has been a few days from our last communication but we have been very busy here and I have my nephews and a friend with us and I find myself spending my spare time with them. I love having family here and they are a joy to have. I thought I would let you see a little something different. Last Friday night we went to a Hip Hop Show that another church put on to bring out the community and let the community get to know them. This is a wonderful church that is reaching out to the community right where they are. They put on a Hip Hop show that gave praise to the Lord. Anyone could express there talent by singing or dancing or free styling rap but all the lyrics had to be centered around the Lord. It was so awesome. Our friend Robin who is visiting with us started off the show by doing some break dancing. He was awesome! You can see him in the last picture . No one wanted to get up but Robin started the show and then everyone else was a little less shy and started to show their talent. Give a big Yea to Robin! There were small children, teenagers and adults showing their stuff. I think it is awesome the way a church will not be constricted by what they are thought of and step outside the box to reach the community. God told us to go forth and preach the word to all the world and sometimes that means stepping out of our comfort zone and going beyond the four walls of the church and meeting the people where they are. In their culture, in their neighborhood and sometimes right in our back yard. The music was very loud and it reminded me of my youthful days when I use to go to concerts only this one had all the right lyrics that feeds your soul. To see the teens express their love for the Lord in such a way that made their faces shine with excitement made me want to cry. I cannot express the love they showed for what they did and whom they did it for.

The picture with the guy and girl singing are two of our team members Mark and Susanne. They sang a worship song together which got the crowd rocking. At the end of the show was what they call "Free Styling" where anyone can get up and rap lyrics to a beat but it is not rehearsed and it is off the top of your head. Well there was t

his little boy of five years of age that got up there and just rapped for the Lord. He truly blessed our heart.

Well I wanted to share a little something different with you and hope you can understand and appreciate it because we sure did. Until next time..Lots of Love coming your way...Allen and Dovie

A Night Of Hip Hop

They Did and They Did Some More!

Hi Everyone. I wanted to dedicate this page to justl pictures of the two teams that are here. I have some great pictures of them hard at work so I won't be saying much today. They are a wonderful bunch of teens that gave a lot and did a lot more. Everyday was a great day.
Lots of Love...Allen and Dovie