Day 7
Our usual writer (Hannah) is off sick this morning, sore throat etc. Rumors abound that she was in fact poisoned by Jon to silence her, however, I am not one to support such scandals, I will simply state “no comment”.
Today was a good day, but a tough day. Miamisburg, Ohio presented us with a great location, and a very welcoming Church to partner with. We took over the music room, close to the main Gym, which allowed us to build a challenging Maze. After we had run the Maze for a couple of hours, Dan was due to speak and share the Gospel. Despite being probably over 100 people in the gym, few seemed to want to listen. As a team, we usually listen to the speaker but today we felt compelled to go and pray. Dan battled on valiantly and faithfully, and despite all the distracted people, God used him, with six kids coming to know Christ! Sharing the Gospel is rarely easy, but awards (ultimately) rewarding.
On a broader note, I have to say that I have done my fair share of service projects and short term missions trips. All of them have been tiring, demanding and fulfilling, bringing surprising rewards and a new respect for those that I worked alongside.
As I considered the Maze trip, it was clear to me that it was by far and away the most daunting missions trip that I would ever be involved in. Yet, after only six days (12 to go!) it has already been the most spectacular.
It has been wonderful to go to each town and set-up the Maze. To see the excited faces of the kids that have gone through and talk to them about it. It has been a privilege to share the gospel message, and to hear that lives were committed and recommitted. It has been humbling to talk one to one with young adults, whose lives are ravaged by overwhelming challenges, yet they saw something in the message of The Maze that gave them hope. To live out the Great Commission, is what our lives are intended to be used for on this earth.
A wonderful additional blessing for me, has been the team that I have been able to serve with. 
They have just been an awesome group. They have each worked so hard, always looking out for each other, encouraging one another, and having a great deal of fun in the process. No one has given anything but 100%.
People talk about “work had, play hard”, this group meets that motto, and some. But on top of that attitude, this group exemplifies that qualities expounded in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
God has without doubt appointed His team, and His Holy Spirit has anointed His team to do His work.
Finally, while we look forward to Laura and Andrew joining up with us, it is with sadness that we know on Saturday one of our group, Greg, will leave us. He will be truly missed …