Tuesday: Day One

It was a nice flight. We arrived safely last night, got a good night's sleep, and were busy doing God's work by 9:00 this morning. Our job today was to set up, conduct, and tear down a block party at the Heart & Home Thrift Store. There were plenty of hands and feet to go around for the games, inflatables, music, and food. Our team worked at multiple stations, but predominately ran the food station. It was a hotdog lunch, along with chips, cookies, and a cool drink. Warren said we averaged feeding and making contact with 250-300 people during the day (that's a lot of wieners). There were so many different ethnic groups and they all seemed happy to be a part of the block party. The people who attended were cordial and open to our reaching out to them. We wore teeshirts that read, "Love is Essential." Love is essential and we gave it out in big heaping spoonfuls. 

The Essential Church members became quick brothers and sisters and we will be working with them all day tomorrow. Due to our jet lag, they organized only a half day for us. There's three hours difference in time between Washington and South Carolina. Our bodies were still on SC time. By 3:00 we were starting to want dinner...it was 6:00 back home.

Once the block party was over and the event torn down, we set off to find dinner and to look around a little. Seattle is a big city! We walked through the Public Market on the edge of Elliot Bay, where fresh seafood is brought in and sold each day, plus a cornucopia of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

We ate dinner at the Copacabana Bolivian Restaurant overlooking the bay. On the way back, we were delighted to see the Seattle Space Needle. We had to pull over, like any other tourist, and take pictures of one of the best known landmarks in Seattle. But, as we drove along, we searched and would point out any church we saw...there weren't very many. 

Tomorrow is a full day (9:30-8:00). Please continue to pray for each of the team members: Christie, Schuyler, Lyda, Gene, Elizabeth, and me. We pray for opportunities to build and strengthen relationships and share the Gospel with people who are open to receive Jesus. For now, good night from Bellevue, Washington,