FOLDING CLOTHES, PLANTING SEEDS, AND FINDING GOD IN THE SMALL THINGS

We are gradually approaching the final chapter of our summer adventure for the year. Can you believe how time has flown? This week, we hosted our penultimate overnight group for the summer and what a week it was! Grace Presbyterian Church from Houston, Texas, brought their middle school students for their very first Mission Waco Group Experience, and they came ready to serve. At Street Camp in Costa Esmeralda and Brazos Apartments, laughter filled the air as they played games, led Bible studies, and built real connections with the kids. By the end, many of them said the experience is leaving them with a desire to serve in small, everyday ways, not just waiting for the next big trip.

Their impact didn’t stop there. They brought joy to seniors at Highland Nursing Home not just through conversations but also the gift of their presence, sitting with residents in quiet moments that spoke volumes. They got their hands dirty in the Global Revive Garden, helping plants thrive. And at Mission Waco’s Clothesline, they sorted donations with care, knowing each piece of clothing would find its way to someone in need. They didn’t just serve but transformed their sweat and smiles to lasting change. 

Beyond Street Camp and service projects, the group deepened their understanding of Mission Waco’s work, learning more about Fair Trade and Creekside Community Village, engaging in tours and candid conversations. Activities such as the Surviving the Streets board game and the "Everyone Has a Story" activity helped them grasp systemic challenges with empathy. What stood out most was their humility: their questions reflected genuine curiosity, not judgment. By the end, their compassion had grown as tangibly as their knowledge.

We also had groups from Local churches here in Waco serve with us over the weekend.  Volunteers from Holy Spirit Episcopal Church transformed the Training Center, scrubbing floors and wiping down walls until the whole place shone. Meanwhile, the young adults from Highland Baptist Church rolled up their sleeves and gave The Ark apartments a fresh, bright look with a new coat of paint.

To every volunteer who served this week: Thank you. You didn’t just complete tasks; you made a difference in real lives using your gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10-11).