Friday morning I had to leave the team and head to my daughter's graduation.  It was very difficult to leave, because I knew they would still be making friends at Hyaets and completing projects for the week.  They would probably tell more great stories and continue to laugh and have a great time.  I hate missing the good stuff!!

While making the 2 hour trip, I had time to reflect on my experience in Charlotte.  I want to share some of those thoughts with you.

Thoughts related to our partners at Hyaets:

• Greg & Helms (Hyaets leaders) are truly committed to the people in their neighborhood.  If it means finding extra food to take to new neighbors, then it gets done.  If it means buying clothes, by the pound from Salvation Army, so kids will have something to wear to school, then it gets done.
• Much of the neighborhood know about Mr. Greg!  He doesn't hesitate taking on teenagers in b-ball challenges, he goes to court to help out families in need, he disciplines the 2 teenage boys that live with them.
• They are very intentional about showing God's unconditional love.  The community knows that Thursday night is family prayer night.  It's time their "family" spends talking and singing to God. 
• The door to the house is just like yours and mine, but it should be replaced with a revolving door!  Neighbors are always coming and going, kids are getting food, and everyone is just saying "Hey"!

 Thoughts about the work we did:

• When my freezer needs to be defrosted, I just do it.  Getting it done at the Hyaets house is a luxury! 
• Organizing the games and laundry facilities were huge jobs.  But knowing that it would make life easier everyday at Hyaets gave us extra energy to keep going.
• There was plenty of room for creativity.  Preparing the shed for neighborhood kids to paint was a lot of fun.  (I was walking the neighborhood, meeting neighbors, and introducing them to Hyaets.  One girl said she knew exactly what house I was talking about.  She said, "It's the house with the sunshine shed out back!")  Soon that shed will be adorned with flowers.

Thoughts about my team:

• Gertrude and Martha were waiting for me at breakfast every morning!  Their enthusiasm could only be contagious.
• Add Lee Ann to the mix, and we had the most organized, creative group anywhere.  The talents and gifts of each individual were accented by the gifts of the others.
• If I could eat Gertrude's cooking everyday, I would have to go shopping for bigger clothes!  YUM!!
• Sharing stories and learning more about my team mates was probably the best part for me.  I now have 3 friends that I know much better than I did this time last week.  I'm sure we will find ourselves working together for the Kingdom again in the near future.

In addition to these photos, go to www.hrbcrichmond./mod/gallery/view-gallery.php?gallery_id=185 to see more.  We will be adding photos throughout the coming days.

Even better than that, talk to Gertrude, Martha, LeeAnn or myself and let us tell you about the exciting things going on at Hyaets!

Julie