Matthew the Painter / Comedian - Matthew M

Well hello there guys, its Matthew Morris! Today and this whole week has been pretyy amazing. Lots of close fellowship and lots of great times have been had in Joplin, MO. This week has been managable but this heat is another story however. Lots of heat. I felt a strong connection with the people that we worked for.  Mark and Vicky were great people and it felt good to help them out. We painted all day today, and however yellow it is I think that it looks great! I must say toay that I tried to lighten up the work environment. I got a lot of laughs but the majority were boos...but they secretly, deep down loved them. Well, its pretty late right now and I am looking forward to Silver Dollar City tomorrow. So good night! Or morning, or afternoon, whatever time it is for you right now. See you back in Brentwood! - Matthew M

Taking Care of Vicky - Colleen W

Hey everybody! This week has been wonderful and hot and wonderful some more and I can't believe our work days are finished. For the past two days, we have been helping a woman named Vicky repaint a house for her mother to move into. Vicky is currently taking care of her children and three households all at the same time, so it was clear that our help was needed. As a result of the heat, we weren't able to work past 2:00pm today and were not not able to completely finish painting the house. We were disappointed that we wouldn't be seeing a finished product, but an immense amount of work was done none the less. Vicky was incredibly appreciative for our presence and work at her house and had us all sign a picture frame that will soon hold a photograph of Brenthaven's Youth ROCKS. I am so excited and happy for Vicky and her new bright yellow house. This week has been wonderful and hot and wonderful some more, and Silver Dollar City, here we come! Adios - Colleen W

Will the Painter - Will E

Today, I felt like we accomplished a lot more than any other day. We started painting the house fisrt since we chipped off the old paint yesterday. We ended up up painting almost the whole house in a bright yellow color. The whole youth group worked very hard today and never even looked fatigued on any day of the week. - Will E

Mission (Trip) Possible: A Short Story - Davey P

It was a warm night in the summer of 2012, as the Youth ROCKS team began to settle for bed. The shadows were increasing in number and silence started to spread. Davey had received his mission. He didn't have a reason for it, he didn't need one. Not knowing who was friend and who was foe, he accepted the mission. Poised in his sleeping bag like a cat ready to strike that was waiting in a sleeping bag, Davey watched closely as the targets were revealed. But if that were the end of it all. it wouldn't be a mission worth writing about. The owner of the flip flops that were Davey's target to take, Kip Rush, was less than a foot away. A nervous Davey, trusting nobody, knew that the chance to sneak in quiet was long gone, and waited the many minutes till the lights were extinguished. The unlikely ally, who out of respect has not been named (we'll call him Zoah), dimmed the lights and turned the other way. Humming the tune to Mission Impossible, Davey sneaked over and took the prize for his own. Davey sneaked out and placed the shoes at the door of his employer, and disappeared into the night. The following day, Davey and Zoah's covers were blown. So Davey has two questions left - Why was this mission put upon him, and who revealed his identity? Only time will tell... - Davey P

Farms, Food and Fellowship - Jim G

Yesterday we went to a person's farm. We helped him clean up outside so he can move back in. There were sticks everywhere. We helped him move the sticks to back in the back and saw the mine back there. He hopes to move back home this week. Then we went to Golden Corral for dinner. That was very good and I have had a lot of fun this week! - Jim G

The Lost Mine of Joplin - Hannah H

Yesterday, Tuesday, our youth group went to a man's house named Mark. His property was the first place that the tornado touched down in. He had a lot of land. We were loading sticks and debris on to trailers in the front of the property and taking it to the back of the property. Haley and I got to ride to dump the sticks once. When we got back there, there was piles and piles of sticks and debris. Also, there was a thing that they call the "Lost Mine of Joplin." We were told that they used to mine lead there. Also, it is flooded, and there was a lake at the front of the cave. Mark was once offered 2 million dollars for it, and he wouldn't sell it! That is my favorite part of the trip so far, because it was so beautiful - Hannah H

Demolishing a Ceiling - Zoe N

On Mondy Colleen, Matthew, Joe, Mr Day, Mr Morris and I went to a house that was damaged by the tornado. Unfortunately, we did not have the tools that were necessary to do the job, so we hd to wait for 3 hours for them to get there. But we had fun getting to know each other a little better. Once the tools arrived we demolished the ceilings of two of the rooms. Even though we did not have much time, we got a lot of work done and had fun doing it. I can't wait to see what we have in store for us later in the week! - Zoe N

Video #3 - The Work in Joplin Continues...

It's Getting Hot Out Here! - Noah Q

In case you haven't heard yet, it has been pretty hot here in Joplin. Besides the heat, everything has been great. The attitudes of everyone on this trip, adults and especially the youth, have been amazing. Our work has been tough and everyone has worked much harder than expected. Each year we talk about how amazed we are at the effort and excitement our youth put into these mission trips, so I shouldn't be suprised. Wednesday and Thursday will be tough, but I know that we will find the strength to do the work that is ahead of us. Please continue praying for us and thinking of us throughout the day - Q-Dawg (Noah)

What We Do - Joseph M

We get up really early and have to eat breakfast. Then after breakfast we play Gotcha. After that we load up in the bus and go to Americorps for our daily work assignment. Then we get to work. We get breaks while we are working. Then we come back to the church and rest. Joseph M

Sticks and Mines and Art - Miquel T

Yesterday we moved wood and other scraps. It really felt good becasue I knew we were helping the man who owned tha land a lot. At the end of the day, I got to ride in the truck and see the old mine and how much wood we had collected. The mine was really cool and was where the man had church. The whole day we took about 20 truck loads of wood to the mine. Me, Will and Mrs Emerson made a flower and some yard art that looked really good. - Miguel T

My First Mission Trip - Haley C

On Tuesday we went to this guy's house named Mark. His three trailers got hit by the tornado. Over 100 trees got knocked down, so he had a lot of brush to pick up. We probably loaded up on the truck after at least 3,000 pieces of brush. In the heat and bugs and thousands of brush, it was such a great experience. Later that night, all te girls dyed a piece of our hair. Over all the mission trip has been so much so far. I can't wait for next year! - Haley C

What a Sight - Joe the Weather Guy

During this trip so far to Joplin, we have already seen lots of damage to homes and businesses. Yesterday we went to the place where the tornado first was documented touching down. The owner of the property said one of his trailers was picked up by the tornado and wrapped around a nearby tree. We spent most of the day cleaning up debris and sticks. The day before I helped demo a home and carry in drywall. Unfortunately, we had to stop short due to electrical issues. We also saw what was left of St John's hospital that was documented a lot by several news sources. The hospital looked, to be honest, awful. Hopefully it will be restored soon. So, that has been my experience so far and I hope to get a lot of work done. - Joe G.

Here We Go! - Devin R

Here we are in the great ol' state of Missouri. The locals have been welcoming to our group and all other groups volunteering here too. On Tuesday Ashley and I put on a garage door. That last sentence is misleading because we held things and watched, but Marty and Jim did all the work. This week has been exhausting. After being in Africa for 3.5 weeks, London for 24 hours, and 48 hours of plane rides later, I can't even believe I'm here. I miss my home and family. But I know that I get to go home and see my Mom! The people of Joplin weren't so lucky. They lost their home and some lost their family. It's good to know that I can help and give them a piece of what they lost before - Love, Devin

Day Three! By AshleyD

Hey everyone! This is day 2 of mission work in Joplin. We had a wonderful breakfast this morning, eggs and bagels! After quite a few rounds of gotcha (a basketball game), we went to a man's property to clear debris. He was the first to get hit by the tornado, and there was a ot of brush and rocks he wanted cleared so that his property wouldn't catch fire. After about an hour there, Devin, Marty, Jim (dad), and I left the group to install a garage door for someone else. I had no idea where to even start, so basically Devin and I just did what Marty and Dad told us. We got started on the project but didn't have all the supplies we needed yet. We decided it was time to break for lunch and met up with the rest of the group at the church where we're staying. We had sandwiches and lots to drink, and then continued playing gotcha. While us kids and many adults shot hoops, Marty and Dad watched a how-to video on garage door installation. Then the big group went back to the first man's house to clear debris, and our small group set out to the home depot to shop for supplies. After Marty and Dad picked out what we needed, we headed back to our garage project. It was a lot hotter by the time we got back, and we stocked up on water. Devin and I learned how to saw wood blocked and screw stuff (which is way harder than it looks). We got the door installed into the wall after much hard work, and decided to call it a day. Dad and others will go back in the morning to finish it. We came back to the church and waited in long lines for showers, along with more gotcha and four square. Around the time we finished, it was time for our dinner reservations at Golden Corral. After many rounds of food, we went back to the church. At this point, most of the group began bleaching their hair to prepare to colorful dying. The rest of us played a very competitive game of four square. Then it was time for Joe's devotion. We learned about the scientific aspects of the tornado, along with a nice biblical reference. Then we did highs and lows. After this most of us (including boys and adults) began the hair dye process. This was a very messy but fun experience. Now we're all waiting for the dye to set as we prepare for bed. I'm excited to see what we'll get to work on tomorrow and what everyone's hair will look like!!! Love and miss you guys!

Video #2 - Our First Work Day in Joplin

Jack E "Jopwin"

All the Youth ROCKers are super pumped for this year's mission trip, even though the road to Joplin was much more tiresome than we first expected. After 14 long, painful hours and lots of unsuccessful attempts at sleeping, we arrived at Byers Avenue United Methodist Church. The church is really nice, much to my surprise. They have provided us with towels, shampoo, toothpaste and even more. Quite the accomodations. On Monday morning, the majority of our group, including myself, went to an empty lot and cleaned it up a bit. A lot. We ripped out weeds, picked up trash, and cleared out most of the rocks. We got to see the visual effect of our hard work, and that was pretty cool. Joanna worked a little too hard and passed out but she is okay now!!! Now we are all just chillin out in the common room(?) and giving each other hair wraps. I got a hair wrap. It's chill. I think we're about to eat, so I'm gonna roll out. ~Peace N Blessins~

Video #1 - On the road again, and again, and again...

"Too Hot in the Lot" - by Kristin W

This morning was rough, just because we got in at midnight. Joanna got us up by playing Disney music! We all got up and played "Gotcha" yaayy. Then we ate breakfast and went on our way to the Rebuild Joplin orientation. This lady told us what was needed and what she had been through. We went to this yard, where the house isn't a house anymore. Its just a vacant lot. And we had to pull large weeds with shovels and weed eaters, and sledgdhammers. It was great... But actually it wasn't too bad. We were doing it to help the community and better the place. Poor Joanna almost passed out from the heat. Love you J-Town!