Post-Missions

A couple days and lots of sleep later the pictures and videos are now available online at www.watershedyouth.org. I'll warn you, I had over 1000 to edit and uploaded almost 400. I also put up a video (part 1 -hopefully another one on the horizon).

Go HERE to see the pix and vids on the youth website

To see the vid in a bit better clarity, go HERE

Grace and Peace

Brian Land

Day 7 - Friday

Well it appears that we made it. No real injuries. No big fat conflicts. Big powerful work by God in our lives, within the group, in the communities. It is pretty amazing to hear teenagers not wanting to leave and threatening to steal local children, wanting to bring them home and love on them some more.

Right now we are in Knoxville, about to go out to dinner at Fuddruckers. We have real beds, real showers that lock, which mean that I am not afraid of buckets of water falling on me or having my clothes stolen.

Let me tell you one of the hundred stories of the week that is sweet.

Every night we would get together to remember the day and prepare for the next. The first order of business was to tell stories; but not just any stories. People had to brag on somebody else. They had to tell the whole group of how great somebody else was that day...and every evening this would go on for quite a long time. Over and over students (and leaders) would point and brag about others, intentionally taking the focus off of themselves. What an unusual and amazing thing for students and leaders.

I am proud of all these guys and gals. It has been a sweet and exhausting week that will create countless stories for years and lives to come.

Brian Land

Day 6 - Thursday

Hey! This is Greg the late arrival. I thought I’d just take a minute and give an update on the amazing day we have had so far. To start out we had a full man crew over at an elderly lady’s house named Jonnie. It was pretty sweet because the two lead men (Slim and I) with the least construction experience to lead Tory, Wilson, James, Trevor, and Val in building a deck/wheel chair ramp. (Luckily we had Jim an experienced carpenter help us). So far it’s going really well with no missing fingers to report!
The VBS in the afternoon couldn’t of run smoother. Jesus clearly was moving in power as He used Candice and Breanna to lay out the story of redemption and salvation through Jesus to all the kids. The entire crew I worked with today loved on the kids with a love that was beyond themselves. A really sweet picture of the kingdom.
Parents, your sons and daughters are so unique and are gifted beyond measure. I am truly blessed to be part of this Kingdom work sharing in the love of Jesus with them.



Hey guys! It’s Emily (Davidson)! How’s it goin’ back in Asheville? This week has been amazing. I came here expecting something similar to last year; and wow, was I in for a surprise! New people, new projects… it’s all just been totally awesome to see this community and our mission team come together. I’ve been working on Annette & Lewis Talley’s home this week (mostly in the bathroom), and we’ve given it a total face-lift. But enough about me and more on the amazing things going on here. Lewis has emphizema and has been living off 1/5 of one lung for the last 4 years. He was put in the hospital on Monday when we arrived, and is returning home tomorrow with Hospice, since the hospital can’t do anything else for him, and he is expected to pass away soon. The night before yesterday God answered our prayers and Lewis handed his life over to Christ. Today me, Jade, Greg, and pastor Scott (from Grace Pres. here in Dalton) went to the hospital to visit Annette and Lewis. Annette’s strong faith, especially in such hard times (her mother passed away a few months ago), is amazing. She has put everything she has into God’s hands, and trusts him with all her heart to do his will and shape whatever happens to her. Her strength, both mentally and physicly, is so rejuvenating, and really makes you know that God’s out there, and he’s watching over all of us. Dalton has been an AMAZING experience. ☺

Day 5 - Wednesday

(all photos today by Ben Dement)

Today was pretty amazing for us all. If you don’t know already, one of the groups is working on a house for a couple named Annette and Lewis Talley. Lewis was taken into the hospital on Monday as we were pulling up to begin working. For me, this project only seemed to be all labor. I didn’t know the couple, and I didn’t know their situation so I could only assume that we were just there to work physically and never did it cross my mind to actually tend to their spiritual and somewhat emotional needs. I didn’t actually sit back and realize that these were real people with real problems that really needed our help.
After I kind of came to that “realization”, today was a lot harder, but also a lot easier for me. It was hard in the sense that I couldn’t really do anything to solve their problems. But, it was easier for me to step in and put strong care into my work. I found myself praying for the team and especially for the Talley’s as I was cleaning, or putting on the door to the front of the house with Slim. Around 10 o’clock, Emily Davidson, myself, and Pastor Scott (from the Dalton Grace Church) went to the hospital here in Dalton and visited with Annette and had hopes to sit with Lewis for a while. It was hard to listen to Annette because I wanted to cry. Such a familiar situation that she was in, I could relate to and yet I could do nothing. But, I found peace this morning when she told us that Lewis had rededicated himself to God. The doctors expected Lewis to pass away yesterday, but I guess on this trip, we are realizing that God really does have a plan for all of us – even the ones who have gone astray a bit. And I find great comfort in that.
--- Jade Kerr


It’s our third work day and we got a lot accomplished today. It was significantly warmer today than yesterday, so that made things a little more interesting. At Miss Yvonne’s today, I was so impressed with everyone’s hard work. We’ve gotten to the juncture in the week where everyone is very, very tired but I’ve been amazed at the good attitudes and hard work that everyone’s still putting forth. A group of kids spent the entire day working on the outdoor painting on her house, doing the difficult parts like trim up high. They also painted the bathroom a shiny new color that Miss Yvonne picked out and a very awesome group of boys worked all morning in the attic, hand spreading insulation…a very dirty and hot job. I, being somewhat limited in my ability to help out with the above projects, carted insulation packs inside to be carried up the ladder but mostly spent time with Miss Yvonne. She’s such an amazing person and it’s really a joy to spend time with her. I’ve never been around someone so very grateful. She loves to sit and chat and today I learned a lot of things about her. She’s such a compassionate person and has had so much difficulty to deal with but she’s not bitter. She was widowed with a three year old back in 1969 and then she spent the rest of life taking care of her parents, her father who passed in 1995 and her mother who she took care of up until she had a heart attack a few years back and was no longer to keep her at home. She’s all alone now, because her daughter lives pretty far away. She’s said on multiple occasions that she’s going to miss having us here so much. I’m truly going to miss her as well. It makes all the difference when you’re about to attach a relationship with the work project…it becomes so much more important.

VBS was really good today as well. We had more kids than yesterday but it was still a small number. But they loved it and were so grateful for us being in their lives. Every time I turned around, one of our youth had a kid in their lap or was kicking the ball with them or swinging them around. The faces on these kids makes all the hard work and heat worth it. There’s a little boy named Geraldo that I’ve become quite taken to. He wasn’t there at first and we were about half way through with the activities when he comes running up, out of breath and throws his arms around my neck. “We made it! We made it!” He and his siblings had run as fast as they could to get here and were so excited. It’s more than projects and tasks…it’s building relationships with amazing people and you can’t help but be changed by it. It’s amazing to see what God is doing and I cant wait to see what happens tomorrow.
--- Brandi White (Leader)

Day 4 - Tuesday

A good, safe, fun, eventful (even powerful) day. A lot of work got done at the houses and Bible Clubs went very well. Michael Dechane had to leave tonight and Greg Lieb will be joining us tomorrow....wild and crazy days here in Dalton!!

On a sad note, Lewis (I misspelled his name the first day) is not doing well in the hospital (he is the owner of one of the houses and the husband of Annette). He's been living with 1/5 of a lung for 4 years. He isn't expected to live past today. I was able to talk with Annette for a little while this morning. Pray for strength and peace for her.

From Ben Dement
Today, after having to listen to Tim snore, we had breakfast and then headed off to the work sites. We finished up the new deck and most of the bathroom at our house, and it all looks great. We replaced the columns in the front deck and we had to figure out a way to replace the supports without the roof collapsing on everybody. Apparently the VBS for the kids at the park was somewhat sparse (something like eight kids?), and the VBS at the house was less then yesterday but it was still awesome. After everything we went to Dalton Falls Putt Putt Course and the girls turned it into hockey more than golf, but what are you going to do?


From Kristen Thompson:
This is what happened when we got to Dalton Falls, the infamous putt-putt golf course. We stuffed ourselves with hamburgers and for the boys….lots and lots of beans. I hope not to be there when that comes back to haunt us. Once we finished we were able to start golfing right away. I grabbed a group and went to play. I figured we might play seriously this year, but was happily surprised when the girls I was with wanted to play my way. Ultimate golf went full speed ahead. The idea is to make sure that your ball goes into the hole and to make sure everyone else’s gets kicked or picked up and thrown in the other direction. It results in full chaotic laughter and goes a lot faster. I mean imagine everyone going at once…golf balls flying in all directions. There was also the technique of hitting the ball…throwing it bowling ball style down the green. Basically it was a work-out and ice cream at the end was blessed.

Day 3- Monday

Today's posts are from Joel Sanders and Michael Dechane

From Joel


Today we rose at 6:30 A.M. to prepare for the day. We then proceeded to the church down below the bunk house to have breakfast. ( which was really good ) After breakfast we went to pack the rest of our group supplies for the day. We have several different groups that have different activities that they are in charge of for the VBS. The work sites were next. There were two different work groups that have slightly different hours. The second group ended up having a longer day today, but everyone worked hard. The first group then had VBS. Approximately 25 kids came. The theme for the day was ‘rescue.’ The kids really seemed to enjoy and connect with us.


From Michael (one of our adult leaders and most skilled worker)

I didn’t see a lot of bleeding today – most everyone seems intact so far as I can tell – tired with big loopy smiles as we continue to ride the gorge on fats and sugars / work and sweat like crazy / nap 15 minutes / gorge / teach / reflect / gorge coaster that is short-term work with teens. Only one pregnancy so far – Brandi White, but she’s married and came pregnant on the trip, so that’s okay. I’ve been really excited to see girls that were helping lead the bible teaching time last year step up to lead the time themselves this year, and ask me to help support them instead -- looks like God has been busy with our gang this last year. It’s also great to reconnect with some folks we worked shoulder to shoulder with last year and hear the latest in their lives – surgeries, births, and just lots of news. I took two of the young men that worked in my team last year back to the house we laid flooring and set cabinets in – we got to visit with Ms. Waters and her horde of stray cats for the better part of an hour and she remembered all of us. She was wearing the nightgown and slippers our girls bought for her last year when she answered the door it was sweet time spent with her for me and these fellas. The weather hasn’t been bad at all, and the group has been so eager to get in there and work and get mighty dirty and sweaty and just be team people and family. What an awesome vacation from my predictable, manageable life. Thanks, God, and thanks to everyone that is praying after us and looking forward to welcoming us home. (Dechane)

Day 2 - Sunday

Our first full day in Dalton and it was a good one. We started out with breakfast at 8 (too early in most people's opinions given that summer vacation just started). From there we all broke up and went to different sunday school classes, ranging from the adult class, youth group, a church history class, a class led entirely in spanish where the interpreter couldn't keep up with the teacher, giving us only 1/2 sentences before moving on to the next 1/2 sentence. Next, being joined by the 5 folks who drove up early this moring, we all went to church service (about a million times different than at our church...but still good stuff) where they had up come up front to be prayed for. Then off to lunch with a bunch of different families. Some going to homes to eat while others went to restaurants.

When we came back, we split up and went out to the neighborhoods where we'll be doing the bible clubs tomorrow. We walked around, knocking on doors and passing out flyers, inviting people to come to our little day camp this upcoming week. The club that is happening at a house was joined in our "walk" by their three kids (two teenage girls and a younger boy) who were able to speak spanish to the door-answerers.

Now it is time for a homemade, authentic mexican dinner. Tomorrow we'll have some students throw in their comments after our first full day of hard work and bible clubs. Pray for safety and God moving mightily as we go out into the community.

--Brian