.JPG)
Here is an update from our spring break trip to THCR in Long Island, New York:The ranch is currently home to approximately 30 at-risk, middle school aged boys. Our job was to provide labor for the ranch throughout the day, and spend time with the boys in the afternoon and evening. The guys we took did an outstanding job in every facet of the trip.
We arrived late Saturday night and awoke early Sunday morning for a worship service that was led by our own Zach Caton. After lunch (New York style pizza), we departed on a ferry across the Long Island Sound for the Timothy Hill Church Camp in Northampton, Massachusetts. We arrived to over a foot of snow and some very cold temperatures, but that did not deter us from spending all of Monday cutting down trees and splitting firewood. That was quite an experience.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday were days spent back at the ranch in Riverhead where we did things such as cutting down more trees and splitting more wood (Zach Caton, Jeremy Townsend, RF Hendricks, Corey Baber & Jackson Edwards), erecting greenhouses (Austin Smithey, Jaycob Baker & Brad Parker), and painting (Josh Powell, Kurt Adams & Jordan Watson). We had devotional time in the evenings, and recreational time with the young men of the ranch after the devotionals. Tuesday’s devotional thought was led by RF Hendricks, and Wednesday’s by Brad Parker. Both did a great job of relating to the guys at the ranch.
On Thursday we spent the day in New York City, which, for many of us, was a first time experience. We were able to see lots of sights (Ground Zero, Times Square, the American Museum of Natural History, Madison Square Gardens, the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Chinatown, Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, etc.), and experience the fast paced life lived by millions of New Yorkers. It was a great day, and one we will never forget.
Saturday consisted of one more game of football between our guys and the young men at the ranch. It was a bittersweet time for us. After a long, hard week, most of our guys were ready to get back to Arkansas, however, some new relationships had been formed, and it was difficult to leave just when things were really starting to blossom.
We arrived late Saturday night and awoke early Sunday morning for a worship service that was led by our own Zach Caton. After lunch (New York style pizza), we departed on a ferry across the Long Island Sound for the Timothy Hill Church Camp in Northampton, Massachusetts. We arrived to over a foot of snow and some very cold temperatures, but that did not deter us from spending all of Monday cutting down trees and splitting firewood. That was quite an experience.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday were days spent back at the ranch in Riverhead where we did things such as cutting down more trees and splitting more wood (Zach Caton, Jeremy Townsend, RF Hendricks, Corey Baber & Jackson Edwards), erecting greenhouses (Austin Smithey, Jaycob Baker & Brad Parker), and painting (Josh Powell, Kurt Adams & Jordan Watson). We had devotional time in the evenings, and recreational time with the young men of the ranch after the devotionals. Tuesday’s devotional thought was led by RF Hendricks, and Wednesday’s by Brad Parker. Both did a great job of relating to the guys at the ranch.
On Thursday we spent the day in New York City, which, for many of us, was a first time experience. We were able to see lots of sights (Ground Zero, Times Square, the American Museum of Natural History, Madison Square Gardens, the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Chinatown, Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, etc.), and experience the fast paced life lived by millions of New Yorkers. It was a great day, and one we will never forget.
Saturday consisted of one more game of football between our guys and the young men at the ranch. It was a bittersweet time for us. After a long, hard week, most of our guys were ready to get back to Arkansas, however, some new relationships had been formed, and it was difficult to leave just when things were really starting to blossom.
Overall, the trip was a true blessing to us. We went to serve, and hopefully we did, yet we too ended up being served. To experience and witness all that the Hill family has done in the name of helping “the least of these” was quite inspiring. They have dedicated their lives to these young men, and for that I am sure that the Father is well pleased.
Lord willing, we will return next spring break.
Its great to see that kind of dedication to God from a football team. I cant wait to be a part of that.
ReplyDelete