Update #3 sent July 5

Late Saturday night - so this will be brief. We ended "phase one" of our trip tonight on an unexpected but welcomed note. After three days of very demanding work - physically and spirtually - in a place of both incredible darkness and hope, we were told that another group had arrived early and we did not have to work the dinner shift (5 - 9 pm). Suddenly we had a free night and made the most of it. The students watched the sun sink beneath the western sky while walking in the rolling surf of the Pacific at Santa Monica beach. Later, we dined in elegance at a favorite USC hangout _ "Fatburger" - the name says it all. Early tomorrow we begin phase two by transistioning to Mexico. So many stories already to tell, so many lessons learned from the men and women whom they befriended here - all recovering addicts, most with heavy prison time already in life. The staff here says that our team is one of the best that they have seen, and the men in "the program" have really connected, in a very genuine way, with your children - now ambassadors for Christ. All are healthy and anxious for tomorrow to come. Pray that God challenges them to listen, learn, and model the Gospel