COS Family Trip March 2026 Day#3

Today was our final day of the trip but we made the most of it! Due to the hotel still being at capacity, our morning devo time was relocated OUTSIDE near a prayer labyrinth. A gorgeous view of Pikes Peak served as our backdrop as we talked about servanthood and read through part of Philippians chapter 2. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself and willingly died on a cross to save us and give us the gift of eternal life. There is no greater example of a servant. As the song, "Simple Kingdom" states, "Your kingdom is simple, as simple as love; You welcome the children; You stop for the one; We want to see people the way Jesus does; Your kingdom is simple, Lord, teach it to us." 

Children have a humility and a trust which adults often lack. Jesus loved being around children when He was on earth and He welcomed them even when the disciples tried to shoo them away.  Our final ministry project today, Family Life Services, welcomes children and their moms who are escaping a life of homelessness or domestic abuse. Located in the beautiful Ivywild neighborhood, this 2 acre campus provides a fresh start for moms and their kids. Nine apartments provide stable housing for the residential program while the moms attend classes and build community. 

Our first stop was at the main house. Built in the 1890's, this charming building serves as a meeting place for counseling, a home for the residential caretaker, storage, and a huge playroom for the kids. Because there are so many people coming and going, FLS had a list of places on campus that needed to be cleaned and organized. While a few team members worked on the garden helping to prep for its relocation, the rest of us took the kids upstairs to do an overhaul on the playroom. If there's one project that kids can get behind, it's one that involves toys! For two hours, the kids cleaned walls, dusted shelves, vacuumed, reorganized toys and found missing puzzle pieces. They also cleaned multiple stairwells and windows. Back downstairs, two of our team members were steam cleaning carpets and vacuuming the entryway. It smelled like springtime in there! 

Our inside team walked out on the porch to find our outside team laying down twenty bags of fresh mulch around the house. They worked so hard and it made such a difference! FLS works tirelessly to be a sanctuary for moms and their kids as they rebuild their lives. Their desire is for their facilities to be a warm welcome as families pull up and we were honored to be able to help them with the chores that make it happen. 

The final destination of the mission trip was at our Woodmen downtown campus for lunch and a tour.  Our team was astounded to see all of the progress that has been made since the building first opened last Easter! The sanctuary was absolutely beautiful and the kids' ministry wing is so inviting.  We are excited to see how God will continue to use these spaces to shine His light to the surrounding neighborhoods. 

We ended with a trip debrief and asked each team member to describe the week with one word. However, the words "good", "great", and "fun" were not allowed. We heard "eye-opening", "exciting", "emotional", "inspiring", and "compelling." Even though this trip is less than 72 hours, it has a lasting impact on its participants. Several of our team members shared how they plan on continuing to volunteer with the organizations with whom we partnered this week.  We are grateful that God used us this week to continue the work He is doing in Colorado Springs. When the question, "Who is my neighbor?" arises, the answer is, "Everyone." 

- Sharon Adams