Today was so much fun! We started by all going to breakfast then heading to the bus to go to the Salvation Army. At the Salvation Army, we split into different groups and did different things to help out. My group helped organize two sheds and then after we were done with that we went to go make sandwiches for some people of the community that needed food. After we were done with helping there, we went to Christian Service Center and got into different groups to help around in different areas of the building. I helped with building a ramp for those in a wheel chair to access the front of the building. As soon as we built it, people started using it and it made their day. After we got done with doing the tasks we headed to Universal Citywalk and had dinner altogether as a community. We walked around then went back to the dorms. We got back and hung out for a bit then we all went to our separate floors and went to bed.

Hannah

Today was a very chill day. We first started with heading back to the Salvation Army to finally take down their garden so they could build a new and functioning garden. After we finished we went around picking up trash and leaves around the parking lot, I even got to use the backpack blower. Next we went to Christian service center to help set up ramps for the people that are bound to their wheelchair, allowing them to safely enter buildings that are higher elevation and does not allow them to go. Finally, we ended the day by eating at Bubba Gump’s restaurant at the Universal City Walk, and had really good fun walking around the many cool buildings. That is all.

Connor E.

Today we went back to the Salvation Army, where we finished up some tasks that we did earlier and some new ones as well. My team helped clean up the fences around the campus and we pulled weeds in the park area. And then after that, we went to the Christian service center for homeless people and my group helped repaint the bathroom white. We met lots of people there and got to see how the Christian Service Center serves the homeless community. At the end of the day we went to Bubba Gump shrimp and got food at the Universal City Walk. We were giving compliments to people and making people feel appreciated while we were walking around. Ending the day off we went back to the dorms and got ready for the next day.

 Preston J.

It’s fun when you get up really early and have to move 100 cinder blocks, especially when you drop them on your feet! Other than that, building wheelchair ramps is pretty great. And spending time with people I don’t usually hang out with shows me that they’re a lot of cool people at Crossroads. Fun fact: Blalock has always been fun! And it turns out, spending money on plush animals (Toothless) that I don’t need, is actually really fun.  

 Carter 

So today we started the day off by going back to Salvation Army to finish finishing up the work that we started on Sunday and making the facility look cleaner than it was before. me alongside some people in the junior class were off to the side and working on cutting out weeds and cutting down trees to help the person create a new garden. after that, we had Subway for lunch and played a game of spoons on the table. After lunch, we drove over to a Christian service center. We helped move things out the walkway, and after that we went over to a junkyard to help break benches and to put into the trash. After we were done serving around 4 o’clock, we headed over to Universal City Walk to have dinner at Bubba Gumps. After having dinner, we walked around Universal City Walk to have fun with our friends. Then we all went back to the dorms around 9 o’clock. and that was it for the rest of the night just went to the dorms chilled and then went to sleep.

Josh J

Today we did a lot of fun things ranging from all kinds of service and our own experience of Orlando. First we went to Orlando Rescue Mission for VBS with the kids. My own personal experience was very fun and fulfilling with making a lot of friends there. First we got there and set it ourselves and then they released us and each person had their own experience with many different kids and many different activities ranging from basketball to coloring with making lots of friends we also had a good lunch as well once we were done with them and hung out with ourselves for the time being before we left. Then once we left, we went to mustard seed, so essentially that includes involving mattresses and clothing for anyone who’s experiencing a rough time and the boys we helped move around some mattresses and how it just helped organize for the time being and although it was a lot of hard work, we did have a great time because of our skill sets and minds going into it and how much fun we had doing it with our assembly line our person Jones, who is guiding us through the way was a very nice man and a very strict person. Yes, there were times that he did get upset at us, but he shared a lot of his personal information about himself and that really bonded us all together further making us family. Then we went to Icon Park, which ranged from a lot of fun things from different people just shopping and different people going on some rides and also other people just experiencing the things that Orlando has to offer. I went on slingshot with Chance which officially traumatized us both to become brothers; after that we went to the swingset, which was essentially a long way up to go, and we started swinging down, which was a lot of fun with so many different people after that we went to go get dinner with me and my group and let’s just say we don’t know exactly how tipping works with a group of six or more and that caused about an hour of frustration trying to figure out how much money we needed to split between people. Then right after we went to a Ferris wheel pod. Our group had to split off because we had to split into 10 and five. Me and my group were just there having a good time talking about our experience there while Chance was jumping on the pod scaring the life out of us then after we just walked around and hung out had a good time and we left to go home and that was the blog for today.

Aiden

Today was a pretty productive day with two different missions locations. For the first part of the day we went to give some of our time to kids. We would hang out and have fun there. For the next portion of the day we went to help at a location that distributes clothing and recycles mattresses. The boys would move mattresses and the girls would help out with used clothes. It was a pretty productive day and had a lot of eventful moments.

Glenn

Today was a really special day! We started off by getting some breakfast and then we headed out bright and early to visit a daycare to spend time with some kids. I spent time with one little girl making paper hats, drawings of flowers, and playing lots of hand games; specifically the game “lemonade” which she changed the motions to her own liking. I got to talk about the Bible with her which was really special. Then we got to get some lunch and then we heading to “The Mustard Seed” organization, where I worked with a team on putting dish sets together for families. We would put a certain amount of cups and dishes into boxes and label them with the amount of family members they would support. Then we spent some time at icon park and I got some dinner and spent time with my friends. It was a really great day!

Lucy

Today was so much fun! We started off the day eating some delicious breakfast then headed straight to a shelter where we got to play with a ton of kids! The kids ages ranged from kindergarten all the way to high school and it was an amazing opportunity to not only make friends, but share the love of Jesus! We played basketball, volleyball, made crafts, and believe me when I say, they gave me some pretty good hairstyles. These kids were so loving and loved giving hugs every few seconds, which was super sweet. I already miss them so much! 

After this we ate some Chick-Fil-A, then headed to our next service project at Mustard Seed. Here some people were moving furniture, some people were putting price tags on clothes or shoes, and so much more, all to help the homeless community. 

Next, we went to Icon Park! Here we ate dinner at Sugar Factory (which was delicious), and ate shave ice (which was also delicious). I also went on slingshot!! It was crazy, but so much fun. We also went on a huge ferris wheel and watched the sunset from the highest point of the ferris wheel! It was so beautiful and such a good memory. 

Playing with all of the kids has definitely been my highlight of the trip. I can’t wait for the rest of the week and I am praying we make a difference everywhere we go! 

Ava

We started the day going to a shelter to spend time with a bunch of kids where we played different sports and games or even just sat and talked with them. After that we got Chick-fil-a for lunch, and went to Muster Seed. There the boys got to move a bunch of matresses, and the girls folded and hung clothes. After that we went to Icon park where a bunch of us went on the Slingshot and Ferris Wheel, and got dinner.

Chance

Today, I expected things to go a little more smoothly than yesterday, but I was completely wrong. We werent able to go to the planned church service since we got in so late last night, but everything worked out because we got to do our own little church service in our common room area. I actually liked this a lot more than if we were to go to the actual service because Mrs. B had her own little sermon that focused on following God to anywhere he calls us, even if it’s extremely inconvenient. Which applies to us perfectly since nothing had gone according to our plan. However everything has gone according to God’s plan and thats what we should be following. When we were at Salvation Army today, things didn’t go quite as planned either, but it gave some of us a chance to pray for someone who needs Jesus in their life, which was a really cool experience. Overall, it was a very good day and I cant wait for tomorrow!

Reese

Today is the first day after travel day of the Orlando trip in which we all started the morning by getting to sleep in, then we had impromptu worship session and message lead out by Mr Blalock and Mrs Bularz . After we helped put Salvation Army and broke into groups helping out our own way. It was a great experience and I think very impactful. After this we got to bond as a whole group going to dinner and walking around Disney springs. The second day of missions trips was a beautiful way to impact the community of Orlando and experience the beauties of Orlando. 

Claire

Day 2 on our mission, Day 1 of service!! Since we got in so late last night, we decided to have our own devotional time instead of going to church. And this, was SUCH an amazing decision. We heard a short message from Mrs. B talking about how Ruth chose to stay with Naomi instead of choosing to go back to what was comfortable and familiar. We all made the connection from that story to our travel day. We are choosing to be here despite all the uncomfortable things we’ve already experienced. For lunch we headed to Five guys, which was delicious, and we noticed some index cards on a bulletin board. Each girl at my table decided we wanted to write short little messages on them! Even though it was a small little thing, we have no idea what kind of seed we could’ve planted in someone’s heart. After we got lunch we went to serve at the Salvation army. There, we split into groups and got to work helping the people in this community. Overall, this day was so amazing. I got to see God work not only in my heart, but in my peers and friends hearts too. I’m so beyond excited to see what He has planned for the rest of this trip.

Mahaela

We started off the day by getting brunch at 5 Guys. After eating our food and receiving a copious amount of fries, we headed over to Salvation Army to see what needed to be done. People were split into 4 teams and helped to pull weeds, clear dirt, re-organize sheds, and more. Once we were finished, we went back to the dorms to wash up and headed to Disney Springs for dinner at Planet Hollywood. We got an hour of free time to roam the shops and met back together at 8:30 to head back to the dorms. 

Joanna

After a long travel day we got the amazing opportunity to do so many different things. We were able to go help the Salvation Army with many different task such as helping with redoing a garden, cleaning out and organizing sheds and helping with keeping there facility clean. It was a great experience being able to help out the Salvation Army and the people who are going to be impacted by it. 

After a few hours of serving we got to go have dinner in Disney springs. We got to walk around and be able to go through all the shops. It was a great time to be able to hang out and have fun with people on the team and bond. Though the travel day was a little longer than we expected and a little rough it was so worth it to be able to experience what we did today!

Aryanna

Day 1

March-15-2025, we all gathered up at school and prayed for our trip at 5:30 AM. We left for the airport and departed for our first flight to Nashville, Tennessee for our layover. But then the moment we landed, we got a tornado warning and there were extreme rain and lightning outside. Originally, we were supposed to leave at 5:30 PM to Orlando, but the weather was so bad to the point our flight got delayed to 6:45, then 7:40, then 7:52, to suddenly 7:12! Everyone was super tired by then, due waking up so early but we managed to get on our next flight to Orlando. On the way there, we took a detour down to Louisiana and onto the ocean due to the lightning storm that was occurring on both sides of the plane. We finally arrived Orlando at 11:30 PM where we met our tour leader and left for dorms!

Although it was very tiring, I really enjoyed this very special day of traveling. I was able to talk and hang out with people I don’t usually talk to and it was so cool to see how different people like us get along. During the layover, I played card games with Paige, Joanna, Aiden, and Preston, and it was so much fun. Halfway through, I had feelings of home sickness but there was a voice in me that kept reminding me that we are doing this for God’s people and “it’s not about you, it’s about the people you’re serving or is going to serve.” 

Shujin

My day began bright and early at 4 AM, with a departure to the airport at 5:30. TSA and all that was surprisingly quick once we got our bags checked. The plane ride there was very fun, and our layover was even more fun. Joanna Shujin and I explored the airport and played card games while we waited. We even got a lot of other people to join us in the card games, like Aiden, Preston, Lucy, Abby, etc. I also discovered how expensive airport food is. The plane itself got delayed a while because of a big storm in Nashville, extending our layover. Once our three hour layover in Nashville, Tennessee was over, the plane ride to Orlando, Florida was very fun as well with many, very beautiful photos. Because the layover was so long, half the plane was empty, so we all got to sit next to our friends, making it even better. A lot of our check bags got soaked by water in the storm that delayed the flight, but our hairdryers mostly did the trick to dry the clothes, pillow and bedding off. I quite enjoyed our very long, travel day, even with the problems that occurred.

Paige

Today we had a long day traveling, but it felt so fun! Everyone got to spend immense time with their friends and I loved exploring Nashville with everyone! We all got to experience the beautiful Nashville airport, and the stormy weather outside made me and a ton of my friends super happy! It reminded me of Twilight! I loved the airplanes as I got to talk to friends and just connect with people deeper! I especially loved watching Moana in the bus on the way to the college, and just seeing everyone make the best of the day. Overall the first day of the Orlando missions was a success!

Abby