First Baptist Church - Amarillo: Home

Our Amarillo Mission Trip was an exciting (and tiring) week of working in our community to show Christ's love. From July 4th-8th we worked with local ministries around our city and led Vacation Bible School in three locations. You can read about our week and see pictures below.

Friday Update

Today was our last day in a week of very hard work. In the morning, we split into two groups, each working with Buckner ministries. One group went to Buckner Family Place--just three blocks south of FBC on Tyler. Family Place provides reduced rent for single parents attending college. Our team did some painting and gardening. Our other group was at the Bruce Ford Community Center, across from Whittier Elementary. This after-school program provides excellent care and activities for children while their parents are working. We cleaned out and replanted a flower bed and painted the computer room--a lovely shade of neon yellow.

Our last day of VBS went very well--with our largest groups yet at Amarillo Estates and at Eastridge. The Amarillo Estates group had the great idea to make homemade ice cream--perfect for an outside VBS with temperatures over 100! At both locations we had some tearful farewells with the children.

At Eastridge we held a wrap-up party with pizza, VBS songs, and our youth choir. They head out next week on their mission trip. I am so grateful to all of our FBC volunteers this week. They worked incredibly (in high temperatures) and showed Christ's love in a variety of ways.

Thursday Update

We had a large group from FBC meet at the Maverick Boy's and Girl's Club this morning. Many from our team talked with children and worked beside them as they played games, did crafts, and played in the gym. Others painted, while another group worked outside to clear out debris in the back. I had no idea how heavy swimming pool lane-dividers could be!

While we had more children at Amarillo Estates and Eastridge, we completed our VBS at Win-Lin Apartments. Thank you to our leaders there who worked without a bit of shade!

Tomorrow morning we're working with two Buckner ministries: Buckner Family Place and the Bruce Ford Community Center. We're looking forward to a great last day of VBS!

Wednesday Update

This morning seven of our group went to the High Plains Food Bank Garden. We worked outside digging holes in the garden for tomatoes. With the garden, the Food Bank grows their own produce for the school system and for nonprofit food ministries. We also worked on their irrigation system.

Another part of our group assisted the Hope Welcome Center. This ministry, founded by Baptists in Amarillo, provides rooms for families in town visiting loved-ones in prison. Our group painted their large meeting room and worked outside, mowing, weed-eating, and cleaning flower beds.

This afternoon we worked through the heat at our three Vacation Bible School sites. We again had great participation from our church in engaging these children in songs, games, Bible stories, and memorizing scripture. Our verse for the day was John 3:16.

Tuesday Update

We started our day working in two locations: we had a group of 10 cleaning glass out of the field at Eastridge Baptist Church. It wasn't the most glamorous job, but the children had a great time playing in the field this afternoon. About 20 worked with Nancy Haning at "A Time to Share." Here are a few of Nancy's comments: "It was a great morning with lots accomplished!!! I especially enjoyed the mix of ages - from young to older!!!!!! What a real blessing! Thanks again for getting so much done that will put us ahead in the Fall."

This afternoon we had great participation from our church leading Vacation Bible School at Eastridge Baptist, at Amarillo Estates, and at Win-Lin Apartments. We are hoping and praying for more children (we had about 50 overall), and we think the word will spread. Thanks for the great work today, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

Blessings,

Jeff

Monday, July 4th: Thank you to everyone who helped today with the Eastridge cookout. We couldn't have asked for better weather for a July day in Amarillo. We served over 250 handburgers and 160 hotdogs, and had a great time. We're looking forward to the week!