After an incredibly busy- but fun and very blessed time of service in Baton Rogue, then New Orleans, we are resting and doing a bit of work at Rocks Cry Out Christian Retreat near Doniphan, Missouri.
Aaron and Angel Allen bought this huge, beautiful lodge and property from Jesus People U.S.A. (the Chicago-based ministry that built the lodge and owned the property for many years), live here, teach, mentor and share Jesus with young people in the area who are often quite beyond the “at risk” stage- that is, addictions can be the norm.
Each of the past three years the last stop on Project 12’s mission trip (the Bible/Discipleship school within JPUSA) has been at Rocks Cry Out. Then we return to Chicago to finish up our work schedule, classes and help put on the annual Cornerstone Festival prior to graduation and summer break.
The Allen’s are dear people who carry serious burdens for the younger people in the area and at the same time have blessed us with both a bit more labor as well as r. & r. after a great deal of hot and sometimes hard work in New Orleans. The beautiful lodge, pool, hot tub, worship and reflection time, quiet walks and all the pretty woods are a great way to end the trip.
Seeing the lodge that JPUSA built long ago with chainsaws and hand tools using timber from the property is in itself an object lesson for the students as to what a few committed (crazy?) Jesus freaks could design and build with not much more than the willingness and time to do so. Only God knows how many have been touched by all those efforts. God knows some of our grads will have to improvise and build in various ways in various places during their lives… so we think it’s a good lesson to learn.
I’m going to do some Bible-study and take a walk myself today. And post a few pics here in the next day or two.
Thanks for stopping by, and for your prayers!
