Wednesday at Miracle Farm: including "Blue Bell, before the Apocalypse!"

Wednesday morning we got up and finished up some projects until lunch time, then cleaned up and relaxed a little before heading in to Brenham to tour the Blue Bell Factory. Everyone was having fun and being fun to be around!

Cleaning gutters for the host families

Bluebonnets!

I can't get enough of this tree!

The little girl on the chair next to Mike and Rebecca is a child of some of the house parents. She came over to visit us after lunch, and she and Rebecca were walking around when she stopped by a flower and then started screaming. I rushed over to her and looked for fire ants on her ankles (we had dealt with fire ants constantly) but there were none. So I told her I was sorry but I needed to pull her pants down (as she continued to scream). When I got them down I felt something brush my hand and a yellow jacket flew out! It had stung her SEVEN times. I felt so bad for her. We got her back to her mom, and she later told us that she already had a doctor's appointment that afternoon, and that she was fine. Except that she had to have blood drawn at the appointment--and seven stings and a blood draw make for a pretty bad day!

Shortly after that excitement, we left for Blue Bell. This was after the first listeria outbreak but before the 2nd. I've been on the tour three times, and still enjoyed it, especially the free scoop at the end. If you ever go, remember that you can ask for as many samples as you want before you get your scoop! I ended up choosing Sea Salt Caramel. Mmm. 

From Blue Bell we left to drive an hour to Montgomery to eat supper at The Pizza Shack. Buuuut...had a double blow-out on the way! We were exiting the highway when it happened, so were going slow enough that Mike never lost control and found a safe place to wait for help. And it was before 5:00 (barely) so Mike was able to find someone to bring us 2 tires and put them on. And the weather was pleasant as we waited an hour for it to be done. So it wasn't the worst thing I've ever experienced on a mission trip! (That would be this story.) And the pizza was really good!

Tuesday at Miracle Farm

Tuesday morning Mike and I woke up and made biscuits and gravy for the students, then they got to work! I worked on filling Easter eggs when I wasn't cooking, cleaning up, or delivering snacks and water. The students quit working around 3 and helped knock out 2,000 eggs!

The building Jesse is power washing is the dorm where the students sleep.

After supper Mat, Mike, Ashley, and Rebecca practiced roping and we all hung out and played games. It was very relaxing and fun!

Miracle Farm Mission Trip, Monday night worship

After supper Monday night, the boys and their host families came over to the retreat center where we stayed for ice cream with toppings and for worship led by our students.
Jessica, Mikayla, and two girls (who grew up in our church as well as being in our BCM) signed to the 2014 KLOVE mash-up (you can see the video here), then another girl gave her testimony. She has a background very similar to the boys at the ranch, and several of them came up talking to her afterward. I felt like she showed them that there is hope in Jesus Christ! After she spoke, two of our guys did a skit, and then another student spoke. They all did a good job and I was very proud of them.

Mike introducing everyone

Kyle and Clint in the "Do-over Room" skit

That sunset!

Zane included an object lesson with his devotion.

 Afterward we stood around talking with the boys until they had to go home to bed, then our students just hung out having fun with each other!

The boys talking to Ashley. I literally heard one of the boys say that he was listening the whole time, but when she said she had been diagnosed with PTSD, he listened even more, thinking, "That's what I have!" :(

Playing "dance signs"

NOT playing "dance signs"