Though this has certainly been a summer of swimming (with family, with neighbors, with friends from afar…), a large part of the season has also been spent working at OneWay’s new facility. It has been perfect for our family because not only are we being challenged to work hard, we are working together.

Every Wednesday morning, we meet at the building and get to work. Derek labors with the boys team accomplishing outdoor tasks–mowing the grass, spreading mulch, pulling weeds, and watering plants. Jake leads a team of kids aged 4 to 8 (including Peter and Jeremy) to carry out indoor tasks such as cleaning the bathrooms, washing windows, and mopping floors. He then takes the kids outside and teaches them a story from the Bible.

See the smiles? Imagine a group of kids enjoying cleaning the bathroom…they really do. They know they are contributing in an important way–if they don’t clean the bathroom, then the job doesn’t get done.

Some of the older girls help an adult tend to the babies and toddlers in the nursery. The ratio couldn’t be better on this particular day.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with each other and with good friends to accomplish a common goal.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-11)