Welcome to the Week of Hope! My name is Joy and I'll be leading our programs right here in blank, during our days together in blank. An exciting week is ahead and it will be a thrilling ride. Our prayer is that you're ready to dive in, be bold, and step our of your comfort zone as we work together to serve the people of this community. If this is your first time at a group mission trip, you may be feeling all the emotions- excited, scared nervous, you name it. But as I look back on times in my own life when I have taken on a new challenge, that is when I've grown most as a person, as well as in my faith. So this week can transform you in many ways. I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us.

Our Camp theme this year is FORGED. It's such a cool theme because it will take us on a circular journey from hope to hope, with lots of twists and turns along the way. We'll be talking a lot about how God is always working in and through us to shape us into the people he created us to be. Just as when a metalworker Forges a piece of metal, God uses heat-the suffering we experience in our life- to soften us, strengthen us, and mold us. But I don't want to get ahead of myself... We have several days to unpack what it means to be Forged by God. Trust me, this will be a week you'll never forget. Later tonight, you'll find out all about your work crews and the projects you've been assigned. But I want to remind you about another way we'll be helping this community. At the end of camp, we will have built relationships with our partner organizations and performed hours of community service. But we'll leave something else behind too.

Before you all arrive here in blank, we asked our local coordinator what resources the area residents most desperately need. Do people need canned food? diapers? cleaning supplies? Based on their feedback, we're collecting blank for blank. I can see we've already gotten started. But you have until Thursday night to add your gifts to the pile that will be growing blank. Feel free to add donations to the pile anytime. I'll keep you posted if I find out more specific requests as the week goes on. That's what this week is all about: working together to serve. The community gift will represent love from different parts of the country, different churches, different faith traditions. But this week isn't about what makes us different; it's about how Jesus unites us to care for all God's people. Not only at our project sites but here at the lodging facility and throughout this community. We hope the spirit of serving becomes a way of life for you and an attitude you take home with you at week's end.

Please stand together so we can pray for together for the first time, God, thank you for bringing us here safely to serve in your name. We know you will be working in and through us, celebrating our victories, and supporting us as we face the struggles ahead. Give us boldness to do your work, and help us reflect your love in all we say and do. In your name, amen.