Monday, October 17, 2016

Fall Mission Trip, 2016 to Presbyterian Children's Home


This weekend we went to the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. This is the second time the youth group went but my first time going. We went not knowing what we were going to do or how we were going to help. We ended up helping to remodel the new thrift store that the home got. They just got the keys to the building this week. This is their second thrift store. The thrift stores provide employment for the mothers when they first come to the Home, which gives them work experience and access to childcare. It's neat because the thrift stores pay for themselves! We stripped peeling paint off of walls, took out patches of rotting wall, and did a bunch of painting and cleaning. It was a bunch of work, but we got the building move-in ready. The adults started moving things in on the last afternoon. We had a bonfire Saturday night with some of the residents. Chelsea, one of the amazing staff members gave a devotional and we ate s'mores. Which, speaking of that, there was a shooting star. Anna and Cindy had never seen one. Too bad Ted missed it! Saturday was amazing. We got to have a tour around the school. The school has four houses, like Hogwarts. Of course, we couldn't miss out on ice-cream our last afternoon at the Pop the Top Soda Shop after a weekend full of hard work. Overall, the weekend was amazing and I can't wait to go back!
--Sarah (one of the newest members of the SHPC Youth Group)