Over 150 kids and leaders from various churches throughout the states came to Fresno last week on a mission to serve and love our Southwest Fresno neighborhood.

These young people were a part of World Changers, an organization that  “seeks to provide Christian youth and adults with opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others through practical learning experiences that teach servanthood and personal commitment to missions”.  Clovis Hills did an amazing job organizing and coordinating this weeklong event. (A HUGE “high-five” to Michelle Pellerin!)

The teams stayed at Fresno Rescue Mission at night and spent their days working in SWFresno. This gave them an up-close look at the needs in our city and opportunities to make a difference through their service.  Six local churches provided lunch each day for the teams while they were on the job sites.  It was truly a team effort! (See the list below of all the churches, businesses and organizations that came together to make this week possible.)

Projects included repainting and beautifying homes, a neighborhood church, a local business, an elementary school, and a community center. In 100+ degree weather, teams worked daily from Tuesday through Friday. Those who came from Arizona had no complaints about the heat, however the team from Washington State struggled a bit more and probably applied more sun block during their week in Fresno than in their entire lifetime!

On Almy and Roy Avenues a total of 5 homes were blessed (as were the families that lived there). Houses received a fresh coat of paint, yards were cleaned and clutter removed into trash bins donated by Allied Waste and Southwest Waste.  Each home had a team of 15-20 members working to complete the project. It’s amazing how cleaning up a few houses in the neighborhood inspires other residents to make some changes!

At the southeast corner of Fig and North Avenues both the church and the convenience store were painted.

At West Fresno Elementary, teams focused on repainting the cafeteria.  The staff break room was cleaned and kids also spent time on the campus, picking up debris and trash. But it didn’t stop there! The speed bumps in the parking lot received a bight yellow coat of paint, fire zones were repainted a shiny red, and the curbs and poles at the front of the school were repainted creating a fun and colorful entrance.

On the other side of the elementary school is the middle school. The lower 6-feet of the gymnasium received a fresh coat of dark green paint to cover scuff marks and graffiti. Several teams worked together throughout the week to complete this large project.

At Mary Ella Brown Community Center, teams worked together to clean up the community garden, and adding more planter boxes including some that are wheelchair accessible.  On the inside, the center received new floor giving it a modern updated look!

When the week ended, everyone looked back at the huge amount of work that was accomplished, but even more impactful were the relationships that were made, the residents who were blessed and a SW Fresno neighborhood that looks just a little bit brighter.

Did they change the world?  Maybe not quite yet, but if you ask Mona (one of the homeowners pictured below), we’re pretty sure she will tell you that this team of amazing young people that spent the week working at her home truly changed her world last week!  And for these young people, their world got just a little bit bigger and they no doubt went home with a part of their heart that will always find ways to serve others.  That’s kind of the point of it all!

Just imagine if we all served and loved our city the way these kids did last week!  . . . maybe together, WE could change the world!

Let’s start small!

How about we just start with FRESNO!

 . . . . . . . . .

THANKS WORLD CHANGERS!

. . . and thanks to the following churches, businesses and organizations who helped make this week so amazing:

Allied Waste, Cargill, Clovis Hills, Cornelia Baptist Church, Cravings, Fresno Rescue Mission, Darling Industries, Fresno Grizzlies, Habitat for Humanity, Lifeway Baptist Church, Lowe’s, Mary Ella Brown Community Center, New Hope Community Church, Soma Christian Church, SouthWest Waste, United One Productions, Wawona Frozen Foods and Woodward Park Baptist Church

A Convoy of Hope invaded the Fresno Fairgrounds at the end of November!  Hearts of compassion, grace and love were evident in the 2000+ volunteers that spent the day serving meals, giving haircuts, fitting people with shoes, taking family portraits and sharing valuable information with more that 6000 guests who were welcomed, served, prayed for and loved that day; and those are just a few of the things that took place at Convoy!  Health & Dental Services were also provided, flu shots were given and resumes were prepared. It was HUGE!

The follow through started as people had their groceries carried to their cars and new doors are being opened as the Convoy team now engages in connecting people with churches, small groups, organizations, etc.  At the end of the outreach, before Saturday was through, impassioned Convoy volunteers took some of the leftover prepared meals to folks in need in downtown Fresno, feeding them, engaging them, continuing the Day of Hope and extending it beyond the Fairgrounds. Guests that responded “yes” to offers of connection to a local church are being followed up with follow phone calls and conversations.

People are being connected, resumes are being submitted, transportation is being arranged back to churches through bus tokens, and workshops are being planned with much more to come.   It was an impactful day, but it’s not just about ONE day!  The doors are open now for many to continue to build upon the connections made.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” I Peter 4:9-10

The moms at Lowell Elementary were eager to show their gratitude to the teachers for the time and energy they pour into kids on a daily basis. Many of the mothers at Lowell, however, are not able to communicate effectively in English. But they found a way they could give back and bless the teachers in a meanginful way!

Food is nourishment to both the body and soul! Food connects people! These moms sent a strong message of thankfulness through their loving act of service. The meal was fabulous! The teachers LOVED it! The moms felt blessed by the opportunity to serve and now recognize that their cooking skills are a gift that can be used to bless others . . . this week it was the teachers that teach THEIR children who were on the receiving end!

It’s exciting to watch these ladies use their gifts to be a blessing to their neighborhood!

– Ariana Martinez

Magnolia McClain is an 82 year old resident that lives in southeast Fresno. A few months ago she noticed that the floor of her bathroom was creaking a lot when she would walk in there. Over time the sound became louder and louder and the floor became softer and softer. She suspected that there may be a water leak somewhere in the bathroom. So she told one of her kids.

When some folks from Saint Rest’s Baptist heard of her plight, they wanted to step in and help. They called ENP to see if we could assist in doing an initial assessment of the work that needed to be done. We found a contractor that was willing to help Saint Rest’s with guidance and with the help of some retired gentlemen from the church they were able to re-floor the bathroom and put in a new toilet.

What a joy it is to see the Church in action – being a blessing to our residents, young and . . . not so young!!