SPY Day 4

We had another great day on the worksite! Team Orange made a lot of progress on their flooring install. Team Maroon did some more demo and gutting of the trailer and began to cool seal the roof. There's lots more to get done in the next two days, but I think everyone is up to the task. 

This evening was the annual Instagram scavenger hunt which was a highlight from last year's trip! We had a blast driving all over Christiansburg and Blacksburg taking pictures with all the things on our list. Take a look at a few of them:

We ended the evening with a beautiful candlelit worship service focusing on how nothing can separate us from God's love and light. Even when we find ourselves in the darkest of places, God's light shines brightly and cuts through the darkness to guide us and offer us hope. 

We ask that you pray for us to have strength tomorrow at the worksite; it's supposed to be a hot day! 

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Lyndsie Blakely

SPY Day 3

Today was our first day on the job site! Being a big group, we are split into two work teams this year.  

Team Orange led by Rich and Kari spent the day working on pulling up some carpeting and flooring that needs replacing. I want to share a really wonderful story from team orange today. One of the churches that's here this week brought several prayer shawls a few ladies in their church had made.  These shawls were prayed over here in worship yesterday morning and then various work teams were able to take them to give to those in need that we encounter this week. When we went to visit our worksites yesterday, we discovered that the homeowner for team Orange's worksite just lost her grandmother two days ago. So team orange was able to give this prayer shawl to the homeowner along with offering a prayer for her and her family. Sherri was so touched and felt so blessed by this gesture! I thank God every day that I get to work with these amazing youth! 

Team Maroon led by Jeff and me finally got our new assignment for the week.  We are working on gutting a trailer, doing cool seal on the roof and doing a few other repair projects along with some yard work.  While we don't currently have a homeowner, this house soon will. Unfortunately, this trailer had been functioning as a pot house. We don't know much more than that, but either by choice or by force, it is now vacant.  A woman from Fieldstone UMC has acquired this trailer and once renovations are complete, it will serve as a shelter for battered and abused women.  It is such a beautiful story of new creation and redemption and we feel so blessed and honored to be a part of the creation of what will be an amazing place of ministry. 

After dinner we played some awesome Minute to Win It games then the youth were surprised to receive their agape from the church. Thank you so much to those who wrote notes and cards of encouragement to the mission team. They were touched that even people they didn't know are praying for them and thinking about them. 

Tomorrow it's back to our work sites! Thank you for all your love, prayers and support.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Lyndsie Blakely 

SPY Day 2

Today was our first full day here in Christiansburg, and what an awesome day it was! After breakfast and mini clean (different cleaning tasks around the church for each group) we joined Fieldstone UMC for worship. It was a beautiful modern worship service surrounding SPY's theme for the summer, "Let there be..." as we look at God's act of creation and the ways God continues to create in this world! We were reminded that God doesn't just say "ehh that will do" or "yeah, that's alright" when God creates. Instead God says, "It is GOOD!" 

After worship we headed to the Cascades for lunch and our hike to the waterfall.  It was a beautiful day and the youth had a blast swimming in the waterfall. 

We came back to Fieldstone for dinner then had a chance to drive out to our work sites to see the scope of the work we will be doing.  Unfortunately one of our sites required more work than was realized (an entire new roof) that is beyond the scope of our abilities and SPY's budget.  Please pray for this family as they along with Fieldstone UMC and The Christiansburg community figure out next steps to repair their home.  The construction crew is taking a look at a few other sites for us and we should know in the morning where we will be headed. Rich, MacKenzie and Brooke arrived safely this evening, so now we are a complete team of 17! 

We ended the night with an awesome worship service! 

Again, thank you for your prayers. Please keep them coming tomorrow as we begin our work! 

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Lyndsie Blakely

SPY Youth Mission Trip Day 1

14 of our team of 17 have safely arrived in Christiansburg! The remaining three will arrive tomorrow       afternoon as they had a few scheduling conflicts.  Tonight we had orientation, a tour of the church, some games in the basement, and a great worship service. Then there was free time to watch a movie in the sanctuary, play board games or cards or head down to the basement to shoot some hoops before bedtime.

We are excited to worship with the Fieldstone UMC community tomorrow morning then head out for our hike and swim at the Cascades! I appreciate all your prayers and support for our team.  Keep checking back on this blog for daily updates and pictures as we serve in the New River Valley this week!

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Lyndsie Blakely

Spring & Summer Line Up

We have a full schedule of lots of fun activities and mission projects lined up for this Spring and Summer with FUSION Youth Ministries!  Check out the schedule below and let Lyndsie know what you'd like to be involved with!

Sunday Mornings throughout the Spring & Summer: Sunday School

Join us each Sunday morning from 9:45am-10:45am in the youth room for Sunday school.  We will be focusing on various mission activities throughout the summer.

Saturday, May 2: Heart of Virginia Mission Fundraiser

The youth will be selling their handmade necklaces during the Heart of Virginia festival (9am-3:30pm) to raise money for Imagine No Malaria- our conference wide mission project to help eradicate malaria around the world! We need your help!!! Email Lyndsie to sign up for a 30 minute shift to help sell these necklaces during the festival.  Please consider giving a half an hour to help with this amazing mission project!  Check out more information about Imagine No Malaria here: http://imaginenomalaria.org

Sunday, May 3: FUSION Gathering GAME NIGHT

This is our last regular FUSION Gathering meeting before we break for the summer!  Come out from 5:45-7:30pm for pizza, snacks & games.

Sunday, May 10th: Youth Usher

Make your momma proud by helping to usher during the 11am worship service!  Please let me know if you are available to serve in this way.  Don't forget, there is no FUSION Gathering this evening.

Sunday, May 17th: STOP HUNGER NOW Mission Event

Right after the 11am worship service, we will have a potluck lunch and then help pack 10,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now!  You can register to participate here: https://stophungernow.secure.force.com/events/SA_EVENTS__Home?id=70170000000llxAAAQ  We need lots of hands to help pack all 10,000 meals and all ages can participate!  Join us for this wonderful mission event!

Sunday, May 24th: Pentecost Sunday

Come and help us celebrate as our confirmation class joins the church at the 11am worship service.

Friday-Saturday, June 5-6: Youth Lock-in

You've been asking for it, so here it is!!!  Join me from 8pm on Friday to 8:30am on Saturday for our youth lock-in at church!  Food, games, and fun all night long. RSVP by June 2nd so I know how many to plan for.

Sunday, June 7th: Graduate Recognition

We will be honoring all our high school and college graduates during both worship services!  Come and be a part of the celebration of their accomplishments!

Saturday, June 13th: Summer Kickoff Festival

Join us for this family fun and mission event!  We need all the hands we can get to help bag up 42,000 POUNDS of potatoes from the Society of St. Andrew Potato Drop!  We'll have music and other family fun activities going on as we work on this mission project.  Come and help feed the hungry in our community!

Sunday, June 28: Youth Usher & VBS Decorating

The youth are scheduled to usher at the 11am worship service.  Please let me know if you are available to help.  Also, we will be having a quick lunch right after the worship service and then we need lots of help to decorate the whole church for VBS!!  

June 29-July 3: Vacation Bible School

Yes, you are now too old to be a participant. BUT, we need your help volunteering!  Let me know if you are available to help that week from 9am-12pm each day.  You can also register as a volunteer here: http://2015.cokesburyvbs.com/farmvilleumc

Saturday, July 4th: Fourth of July Cookout & Pool Party

Come celebrate the 4th of July at our youth cookout & pool party at the Fillman's House from 6:30-8:30pm! RSVP by June 29th so we can make sure to have enough food available, and plan to bring a side item to share.  The Fillmans live at 41 Fletcher Drive, Farmville, VA 23901

Wednesday, July 15th: OCC Christmas in July

Join us at 7pm in the social hall as Operation Christmas Child kicks off their 2015 mission year.  Help us fold shoe boxes and make craft items to be packed in the boxes for children all over the world…all while eating delicious ice cream and desserts!

Saturday, July 18th: The Adventure Park at Sandy River

Join us for 3 hours of fun in the trees!! Cost is $25.  We will meet at church at 5pm and climb and zip line through the trees from 5:30-8:30pm for their new evening climb session!  Afterwards we will relax by the campfire for some s'mores before heading home.  RSVP by July 10th to reserve your spot!! There are limited spaces available.

July 25-31: Project SPY Youth Mission Trip

Our team of 21 will be headed to Christiansburg, VA to do a week long mission of home repairs in the New River Valley.  If you are not a part of this team, please pray for those of us who are!

Let me know if you have any questions or would like to RSVP for any of the above events.  I hope to see you a lot this spring and summer!

Youth Mission Trip Fundraisers

Our youth are selling these great decorated roof slates from the church and handmade necklaces to raise money for their mission trip to Project SPY this summer!  Help support their efforts today by purchasing a slate for $25 or a necklace for $15!  They make great Easter and Mother's Day gifts!