I don’t know if I expected a bolt of lightening, a clap of thunder or a  clear loud voice saying “GO”.    I want to say that we were directed to  our very first mission experience in some massive GOD like way.  However, it really didn’t happen like that.

 

Part of our journey has been social media stalking other full time RV families and Traveling Missionaries.  One of the “stalkies” has been KidMin Charlie, of Kid Grow Quest.  I have stalked his page for close to a year.  I’d often pray that we would have the opportunity to cross paths someday.   Pastor Charlie and his wife Jennifer travel around the USA spreading the Gospel to children via his street ministry.  You can find out more about Pastor Charlie on our Mile Marker page!  In early January, Pastor Charlie was working with a church in northern FL to rebuild the ministry and the body of believers.  It just so happened that we were at an RV park only 15 minutes south of the church.  So what I expected as a “BIG CALL” was more of a  Godincidence.  The ministry I had been “stalking” for a year had an opportunity for us to serve,  only minutes away.  We immediately “just knew”  we were supposed to go and assist with the project.  No lightening, no loud voice and actually not even a whisper.  It was an open door that we walked through.  An opportunity that was presented and we seized, knowing it was from Him (even if He didn’t use his LOUD GOD VOICE to tell us about it).

Other then the occasional community service projects at our home church, this would be marked as our first “official” work as missionaries on the road.  Even as I type these words,  it sounds weird to even call ourselves MISSIONARIES.  Are we actual missionaries?  I still do not know.  We had talked about working for the Lord multiple times with our children, but this was our first real action they would see since our departure.  We really did not know what to expect from the girls or how they would react to “the work”.

When we arrived, we saw that it was an ideal situation for a family living in an RV. There was a wide open area to pull in and park our rig.  We were able to connect to both electric and water hookups for most of our stay.

 

 

The work was rather simple, but labor intensive.  We needed to clean up the church property and organize/move a food pantry to a new building.   We would work on the property during the day and go to meet the children of the area after school.  Once we were given direction, we went to work.

Edging sidewalks and yard work

 

 

Food Pantry           

         

 

Upon finishing the work on the property, we would clean up and head to the local bus stop in the Quest Mobile.   As we waited for the bus arrival, we handed out postcards and spoke with the parents,also in wait for their children.   Each day, the post card had a specific time and location to where the Quest Mobile would be parked if the families would like to visit.   Once the bus dropped off the children, the pickup area cleared out quickly.  We then made our way to the designated area to set up and wait.  The area we were serving in was one of great need; people living on sand filled roads, small trailers or shacks and some with little food each day.  Slowly kids would start to arrive.  They either saw us at the bus stop or had heard the music blasting from the Quest Mobile from their homes.  We played with GIANT Bubbles!  Eventually Pastor Charlie would start a short but extremely powerful message.  He doesn’t tell simple well known bible stories, he digs deep into the word.   He plays amazing music to teach the children a scripture verse and he talks about His AMAZING DAD.  Some children don’t get it.  However, when they do get it, WOW it is amazing.   Even for those who don’t get it in the moment, Pastor Charlie has planted a seed.  After about an hour of service, we would say good-bye and pack up the Quest Mobile.  We had bags of food ready to go for those who were in need as they left.

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We did this same routine for a couple of days, then we packed up and headed to our next campground.  It was awesome but simple at the same time.  We got dirty and we worked hard for the Lord.  It felt great to work for Him without the constraints and pressure of $$$ signs boxing us in to a specific agenda.  We definitely learned some valuable lessons to carry with us to the next project.  We are ready for the next calling Lord!  We are ready when you are! Maybe we will get a lightening bolt or at a least a soft whisper on the wind this time.