Week of Hope - Nicholas Weaver

For those of you who know me, I am prone to make plans, leave town on a whim, and return with some crazily entertaining story. I do have a couple crazy stories, but this time I skipped town to do some volunteer work in San Diego, California.

Just a couple weeks ago, a spot opened up for an adult volunteer to go with Holy Cross Lutheran Church to Group Workcamp’s Week of Hope. I somehow haven’t made a trip out to California ever, and thought this would be a great opportunity to check out the west coast.

The premise of these work camps are to do service projects in communities of need. Projects range from building homes to cleaning up trash along the beach. Basically, whatever the need is, all the volunteers buckle down and do whatever they can to assist the project coordinators and those in need. Its a great experience and something I would encourage you to look into for yourself or a youth group you’re involved with. Kids and adults alike learn and grow so much as individuals through out the week and it provides them with an opportunity to get outside their normal comfort zone.

: During a lunch break and devotions at Olivewood Gardens.

: Peterson & Connor Hard at work

: The whole gang after our first service project was completed. The people of Olvewood Gardens learning center and their vision is amazing. It was a honor and pleasure to work with this organization.

: Mission beach after one of our service projects. Another crew was tasked with cleaning up the beach and surrounding area.

: Tom Boseker and Zach Heck at La Jolla beach. These guys kept me in line throughout the whole trip. Solid dudes

: Tom and I on the cliffs of La Jolla beach.

: Two crews from Group Workcamp’s Week Of Hope helping out at a local food band in San Deigo, CA

: Our group after two days of work at this community garden. We built four raised flower beds, two compost bins, organized their scrap wood, and leveled out the garden base.