More photos!

Here are two more links for more photos from our trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/TEXASCITY2010# (Pictures I took)

http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/BHueyTEXASCITY2010# (Pictures Bryan Huey took)

Enjoy!

~ Richie

God's Surprise

In the beginning I figured this trip would be another routine experience. I convinced myself to let go of any doubts and fears thinking that last years trip to New Orleans had prepared me for any and everything I might encounter. Of course I was just kidding myself because nothing is ever the same and there are always new lessons to learn.

Last year I went to New Orleans scared of what I might endure and left thankful for the enriching experience. This year I came to Texas thinking I have to make the best of this trip. However, I quickly learned you can not force fun or predict the future. I originally thought I would come, work hard, and rebuild houses as well as lives, but I forgot how my life would be impacted and changed.

I truly believe there is a blessing in every lesson, but as always God surprised with how much he spoke to me and revealed to me. I am definitely glad I repeated this ASB trip, but even more thankful to learn God and God’s work is never mundane!!

~ Daniqua B.

Finally Settled in Texas City

After going to Slidell LA last spring break, I had my hopes set high for this trip. I'd had such an amazing experience, and I had only assumed the same of this trip. That's why I feel like I had gotten a little thrown off in the beginning when everything went differently. Things felt strange when we didn't know the exciting places to visit in downtown Houston like we did in New Orleans, or when we were split into four different groups as opposed to just two at the work sites. However, after the first couple of days, I feel that things have finally clicked.

For this trip, our group is working on a home for Brian and Carol. We are one of a few groups that have worked on the house, and are now helping with the finishing work. The good news is that the house should be able to be finished completely in the next couple of weeks and they can finally have their home back. While the finishing work is tedious at times, it is all still important. Our group has really meshed and have all begun to bond in various ways, which is awesome. Helping us with all of the this work and also keeping our spirits high are Sam and Ethel, a couple originally from New Orleans who have been staying at a church in Houston while on a three month mission in the Galveston area. After spending a few days with them, we learned that this is one of many mission trips that they have gone on, and they have devoted many months of their time helping out with relief in New Orleans, Iowa, and now Texas. Just seeing such devotion to serve and to help others is really very inspiring, moreso given the fact that they are both probably over that 70 years old and still have no intentions of slowing down. Spending time with them and seeing the house progress towards a home has made this experience very rewarding so far, and has really started to bring into perspective why we're here as well as what we're capable of on a many levels. I'm really bummed to see that this week is going by so fast, but I'm most certainly going to get the most out of the time that remains.

~ Alex T.

More Photos!

Here are more pictures, this time donated by Alex L (Thanks Alex!). To view these pictures, visit here: http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/2010ASBTexasCityPartII#

Here I am Lord

At the beginning of this week I didn't think that I would write an entry, thinking that I wouldn't have anything as profound or inspiring as other people but today I've actually thought of something. We went to a dinner today for the entire group and for the people's whose houses we are building the speaker/leader mentioned one of my favorite church songs "Here I am Lord". He talked about how the song was appropriate for our trip because we are doing God's work and we need to listen to him to continue to do his work. But for me it brought me back to when my grandmother, mother, and I would go to church and I would get excited when this song would play, I still do. I'm not sure why this song reminds me of my grandmother, I don't know if it was her favorite but it makes me think of her. She's gone now but I know that she would be proud of what I am doing here. "Here I am Lord" brings together the past, present and future for me and what I could be doing. I think of the happiness that I would bring her doing this and the happiness that it has brought me now and will continue to bring me when I do this next year. This entry is dedicated to the parents, grandparents, and guardians that allowed us to go on this trip and that are hopefully proud of what we are doing. I hope that other entries in this blog inspire others to join our group or other groups like ours and feel what we are experiencing.

~ Meagan P.

An Unexpected Tasked

Okay, today did not go exactly as planned.  I caused a bit of a set back
but also a learning experience for our group at the work site today.
While we were insulating the ceiling, I accidentally fell halfway through
the ceiling.  That forced everyone in the group to stop there own projects
at the work site to help me fix the problem.  We did not finish dry
walling the ceiling until lunch.  But God was present and allowed for a
beneficial aspect that consisted of us learning how to dry wall and build
a stronger bond with my group members.

~ Tim M.

Fire Ants and Turpentine

This morning, I woke up with a smile. Usually when I wake up at 6:00 am, there is no smile in sight. Usually when I wake up at 6:00 am I am not going to do something very meaningful. But today was different – not just because I wasn’t whining about anything and everything to anyone and everyone who would listen. Today was different because I woke up with a purpose. And who wouldn’t want to smile with that thought?

I came on this trip knowing a few people, but I wasn’t sure how helpful I could be. That doubt was only increased by the countless times people laughed in my face as I told them I was going to build houses in Texas. But when people tell me I can’t, I will work twice as hard to prove that I can. And that’s what I love most about this trip and this group of people; they all believe that everyone here can do the things we’re being asked to. To find twenty-two people who believe in you is a very special opportunity that I wish everyone can experience at least once.

That leads me to my day. Today, Alex T. and I finished tiling the bathroom floor at our work site. Yesterday the site leader Sam L. and his wife Ethel told us how difficult, tedious, and important our job was. I volunteered nervously, but it was like pulling teeth trying to get someone else to volunteer. Thankfully Alex stepped up and Sam set to work teaching us the skill. I was very nervous, having never tiled anything before. This was someone’s bathroom, where they would step every day. To mess it up would leave a lasting impression that would be unflattering at the very least. However, we got the hang of it and plowed through despite our Spiderman-worthy sticky fingers and the turpentine smell that was anything but pleasant. After putting in that last little strip of tile, Sam, Ethel, Danielle, Jill, and Sarah came to see the finished product. Their exclamations of praise and excitement were all that I needed to know that I could, in fact, be helpful. And to top it off, we got to meet the original owner of the house, eat lunch on the pier AND watch Ethel play with the fire ants in the yard. Watching a 70-something year old woman march around a yard with a stick in her hand stirring up trouble is a site worth seeing! With the prospect of setting a large fire, finishing up the painting, and visiting Galveston in my view for tomorrow, I think I won’t mind waking up at 6:00am again.

~ Alex B.