Good Morning Star

Last week the Tacoma Rescue Mission was blessed with an energetic group from Morning Star Church in Salem Oregon. Morning Star’s youth program sends high school kids out on mission trips every year during their spring break. The high school freshman came to Tacoma to serve, deepen their faith, and try to understand what it means to live a life of service. Morning Star has done this the past three years with their freshman group and this year was a group of around forty that came to the City of Destiny. This group of forty couldn’t have been any more willing to serve. Their hearts we so kind, flexible, and Christ-like.
Among other service projects throughout Tacoma they participated in, the freshman, which also consisted of some junior leaders, helped the Tacoma Rescue Mission by serving lunch all week at both New Life Square and the Family Shelter, working in the Need-A-Break donation center, sharing a VBS with the after school programs at both Tyler Square and the Family Shelter, putting on a family night, and ending with a bar-b-que at Tyler Square and loving on all of the youth. One of the favorites was definitely the VBS worship songs with the guitar which none of us could get out of our heads. The youth were clapping their hands and singing along, begging to hear another song.
Thank you Morning Star for sharing your spring break with all of us involved in the youth program. You could have played video games all break or gone somewhere relaxing in the sun with friends. But you chose to raise $300 each over the past couple of months to pay your way to come and serve during your spring break. You slept on cots, showered sparingly at the local gym club, and even missed a couple of meals in all of your service. Thank you so much and may you be blessed from your experience. You truly blessed us all with your hearts of service!!!

Reptile Man!

A couple of weeks ago, Tyler Square hosted the Reptile Man! He came to the office with all of his wild animals in tow, and he presented us with an exciting, informative, and interactive show. The kids and parents alike watched in awe as he brought out lizards, snakes, alligators, and turtles that were only five or ten feet away. And the Reptile Man has trained these animals to handle the human touch, so everyone who wanted to was able to hold a snake, pet a turtle, or tickle an alligator. Isn't God's creation amazing? We don't necessarily need to be faced with snakes and alligators in order to realize it, though. God's beauty and creativity is all around us.

We're so grateful at Tyler Square for all of the fun events and opportunities we have that let us learn, laugh, and grow in fellowship. There is so much joy and laughter here, and I think both joy and laughter are wonderful aids in helping people transform their lives.

We have another opportunity later this week on Thursday night: a church group will be throwing a Family Night event at Tyler Square with root beer floats and the movie UP. It is a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together.

Thank you to all who give their time and effort to bring laughter and smiles into the lives of people at Tyler Square!