Let it Rain!

Flexibility is the name of the game. Torrential rains poured all over the Dallas area yesterday from early morning until close to 2pm. Unable to work in such unsafe conditions. Students returned to Casa View to receive further instructions. The Schedule was rearranged, Concert of Prayer service moved from 7:15pm to 2pm. After many unsuccessful attempts to head for the work sites the rain finally let up at 3pm and crew finally reached their sites. Not willing to lose a day of work, World Changers trooped through all the changes and worked until dinnertime at 7pm.  It was long difficult day yet the students still impacted the Dallas community. A group of students talked to people at the local mall, another group was in the right place at the right time to pray with a woman who was injured at a Walgreens, and one life was recommitted to Christ as a result of the student’s efforts.

 

Mama Jean

A quaint sage green house sits cozily amid lovely gardens. The house wears the aging signs of the many years of use; pealing paint, rotten boards, and the front door is in need of repair.  Aside from the extravagantly well-kept garden, there is something that sets this house apart from the dozens of similarly deteriorating buildings. A crew of World Changers scurry to and fro scraping paint and pulling boards. The sound of hammers ring through the air! Home owner Loda Jean Gowens, known by neighbors as “Mama Jean”, contently watches the progress from her screened-front porch.  Sprawled at Mama Jeans feet, an orange Tabby cat gives way as I take my seat on the front porch. Mama Jean is proud of her beautiful garden, which she developed on her own. We chat about the flowers and the memories of this old house. 32 years of memories are found in this house, memories of family and raising two girls. Mama Jean could see her home was in need of repair so she applied to City Housing for help. “I had applied to them to fix my house up but the cost exceeded the amount that they allowed for,” admits Mama Jean.  World Changers helps to lower the cost of repairs by providing free labor. The 215 students at the Dallas Texas Launch impact the area by making the repairs possible such as those being made to Mama Jeans house.  “ I just love them, thank God for children like them,” said Mama Jean as the sound of the students happily singing the World Changers song lofts through the air.

Get Ready to Change the World!

This morning 215 students from 8 states arrived in Dallas Texas with one goal in mind: share the love of Christ. Students will spend their days restoring hope to communities by repairing lower income housing. In the evening students will explore what it means to be Set Apart. The World Changers Texas Staff is excited to meet all the students offering their hard earned money, a week of summer break and their love for those who are in need. Students will be on 15 work sites building decks, wheel chair ramps, and relationships.

Meet The Staff

 

Where did he come from? German Town, Tennessee

Why Ya here? To Lead students in Worship and documents their week here at World Changers via photos.

What ya doing Later? Taking Music with a concentration in Music History at the University of Memphis.

What ya want to do after that? Serve God through vocational Ministry

Where did he come from? Frederic, Maryland

Why ya here? To produces excellent Action Cams for long lasting memories and to make Jordan sound good during worship (i.e. sound board tech).

What Ya doing Later? Attending Grove City College in Pennsylvania to procure a degree in Christian Thought.

What ya doing after that? Serve God through Youth Ministry.

Where did she come from? Jackson Georgia

Why Ya here? To encourage students to learn about further mission opportunities and also to handle media contacts for the Dallas project

What ya doing later? Working on an English degree with a minor in Christian Studies at Truett McConnell College in Cleveland Georgia.

What ya doing after that? Teach English as a second language overseas.

Where is she from? Springfield, Missouri.

Why is she here? To take care of all paper work, phone calls and manage the Dallas World Changers office. She also doubles as the Dallas Team Summer Staff Leader.

What ya doing later? Seeking a degree in Elementary Education with emphasis in Mathematics at Missouri State University.

What ya doing after that? Would like to continue education, and then teach 2^nd or 3^rd grade and follow God’s lead.

Jess Marriott from Stilwell, Oklahoma will be joining us for his 10th year as our Construction Coordinator 

Charles Bosemon from Dallas, Texas is our Associational Coordinator

Gary Permenter from Columbus, Mississippi will teach the students what it means to be Set Apart.

Shawn Edwards from Fort Worth Texas joins us for his 8th year as Project Coordinator.

Lodging

Students are getting cozy on their air mattresses in the Sunday school classrooms of Casa View Baptist Church. Tomorrow they will head out to their work sites and start changing the World!