PROJECT HOME


WHY PROJECT HOME

Houston is one of the largest cities in the nation with over 5 million people. We feel, at Grace Student Ministries that learning to serve in your home city helps to build a foundation where students can then learn to love on their neighbors wherever they are. We believe that serving should be a way of life and not just confined to one week during the summer. We desire for students to bridge the gap between a missions experience and their personal, everyday lives. Project HOME happens every other year and this will give them the opportunity to build this foundation by serving right where they are.

Questions? Please contact Amy Robinson

FAQs

What are the dates of Project HOME?

  • June 10-15th 2012
    • Commissioning is Sunday, June 10th, at the 9:00AM & 11:15AM Services
    • Student drop-off is Sunday, June 10th from 4:30-5:30PM in the Grace Welcome Center
    • Project HOME will conclude Friday, June 15 at 8:00PM
    • Parents and siblings are invited to join us for a closing dinner and worship celebration. This begins at 5:30PM with dinner and concludes with a 6:30 worship celebration. The cost for dinner is $5 per parent or sibling. We would love for you to attend, so please RSVP by Monday, June 11th to Amy Robinson, arobinson@gpch.org OR 713-267-5011.

What types of projects will students be doing?

  • Working with Grace Presbyterian Vacation Bible School
  • Working with our partner organization, GenerationOne in Houston's 3rd Ward.
    • Housing and Construction Projects
    • Lot Clearing
    • Relational Ministry amongst community in 3rd Ward
    • Prayer Tour

How are the teams broken out?

  • Our Project HOME teams will be all rising 7th-12th graders
    • Rising 7/8
    • Rising 9/10
    • Rising 10/11

Where are the accommodations for Project HOME?

  • Students and leaders participating in Project HOME will eat, sleep, and have nightly worship gatherings on the Grace Presbyterian campus.
  • Shower trucks are being brought in to allow for showers to be taken on campus.

How will the students be transported to and from the worksite each day?

  • We will be traveling to and from the 3rd Ward on buses. Students will travel on a bus according to their team. They will be picked up at Grace after VBS and will be brought back after the workday in the 3rd Ward is completed.
  • This is the only traveling they will do during the week of Project HOME. All other time during the week is spent on the Grace Presbyterian Church campus.

Can the students bring cell phones, MP3 players, or other electronic devices?

  • This year we are doing a special activity with our students' cell phones. We are encouraging them to bring them with the understanding that while we are not using them their small group leaders will hold on to them.
  • Students are asked to leave all iPods, MP3 players, PSPs, or any other gaming system at home.

Are cameras allowed?

  • Yes, students may bring a camera. However they are responsible for keeping up with it and we are not responsible if it gets lost or stolen during the week.

What will campus and worksite security look like?

  • We will have a 24-hour a day campus security guard.
  • The building will begin a lock-down process at 7:00PM and will be completely locked-down by 11:00PM. Students will not be able to leave their respective places after this takes place.
  • Onsite, we will have several adult leaders, plus a site coordinator at each work location.

If I missed one of the Project HOME meetings how can I get the information that was given out during the meeting?

  • All of our important documents (packing list, student waiver, schedule, etc.) can be found online at www.gpch.org/projecthome
  • If you were unable to attend a meeting, you can contact Amy Robinson and she will send you any paperwork you might have missed.

What are the support teams and how can I volunteer for one?

  • We have many opportunities for people to volunteer for the week of Project HOME. One of the easiest ways to get involved is to join one of our support teams.
    • Encouragement Team - these individuals prepare items of encouragement (for each day of Project HOME) that are placed in our students encouragement bags.
    • Construction Team - these individuals meet us onsite and help us to coordinate, work, and facilitate our construction projects.
    • Meal Team - these individuals sign up to work in the kitchen to prepare and serve our students meals.
    • Prayer Team - these individuals do many prayer activities before and during the week of Project HOME for our students, leaders, church, and community.

Will students need spending money for Project HOME?

  • Students should bring at least $20 for spending money. They can purchase VBS t-shirts, CD's, and other items during the week.
  • Students may also have the opportunity to go to Dairy Queen, get a drink from Sonic, or another snack-like item during the week with their small group.

Can I come up during the week of Project HOME and see my child?

  • Even though we are staying right here at home our students are still participating on a mission experience, and we do not encourage parents to just drop by. Unexpected visits from parents can cause distractions or lead to homesickness. However, if you would like to volunteer to serve, please see our support team volunteer opportunities.

How will my student be fed during the week of Project HOME?

  • We have a wonderful meal team that will prepare and serve our meals during the week of Project HOME. We will have breakfast and dinner at Grace in Massey-Tucker Hall, and lunch will be eaten on the bus on the way to the 3rd Ward.
  • If you would like more information on what is being served during the week please contact Laura Maham (lmaham@gpch.org) or Beth Craig (bcraig@gpch.org), they are our meal team coordinators.

Who will be the keynote speaker for Project HOME?

  • Paul Helbig will be speaking during our evening program and will be teaching on the book of 1 Thessalonians.
  • Paul is the lead Teaching Pastor for Katy's Grace Fellowship UMC high school program and is also a professor at The Bible Seminary and Bible Institute.

What should the students pack for Project HOME?

  • A packing list can be found on one of the drop down tabs on this web page

What will the schedule look like for the week of Project HOME?

  • Please see the tab on this web page entitled 'Overview Schedule'
Packing List

Work Project Clothing Requirements:

  • 4 work shirts
  • At least 2 pair of long pants for work projects
  • 4 pair calf length socks for work projects
  • Closed toe shoes or boots for worksite
  • Gloves that cover the wrist
  • Laundry bag for dirty work clothes
  • Eye Protection Glasses (can be sunglasses)
  • Bandanas/sweatbands/headbands for the work site
  • Hat

Your work clothes will be subject to paint, sweat, mud, etc. Please wear work clothes that you don't mind getting extremely dirty.

General Packing Needs:

  • Clothes to change into after each work day (No spaghetti strap tops)
  • Shoes in addition to work shoes
  • Flip-flops for showers
  • Socks in addition to work socks
  • Underclothing
  • 1 swimming suit (one piece - not a bikini or tankini)
  • Pajamas
  • Towel & Washcloth
  • Sleeping bag and pillow
  • Air mattress (twin size) - optional
  • Toiletries (shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap, etc.)
  • Flashlight
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunscreen (SPF 30 and above is recommended)
  • Bible
  • Glasses as well as your contacts - there will be a lot of dust
  • Your Prescription Medicines - (Given to us at registration)
  • Must be in original bottle
  • Spending money ($20 recommended)
  • No portable electronic devices (IPod's, PSPs, etc.)
  • Camera - optional
  • Plastic bags for holding dirty clothes or wet items

Small group leaders will hold onto cell phones.

Parents please also include the following:

Last names beginning with A-H

Homemade items such as:

  • Brownies
  • Cookies
  • Cupcakes

Last names beginning with I-Z

Individually wrapped snacks such as:

  • Pretzels
  • Chex Mix
  • Goldfish
  • Fruit Snacks
Schedule

Click here to download the Project Home Schedule