Summer Missions Adventure | 5 Week Photo Essay

Summer camp, for most of us as children, was the highlight of our year and some things never change. The Summer Missions Adventure (SMA) was started in 2002 and is unlike your ordinary "summer camp".
This camp stands apart from others in that the children spend eight weeks in preparation for a one week mission's trip. "The kids have a great time, but the point of the camp is for them to grow in their relationship with God."

The heart and soul behind SMA is Beth McCoun. Beth's desire is for children who have grown up in christian homes to realized how blessed they are, and to understand that they are blessed to be a blessing to the world. Thus the motto of her program- "Blessed to be a blessing."
Throughout the weeks of training, the kids have a good bit of homework involving daily devotionals, prayer, and memory work, as they strive towards learning a gospel presentation. Encouraged to work and grow together as a team, each meeting during boot camp includes a fun team-building challenge, worship, and a deeper study of the gospel. As intense as their weeks of boot camp are, it all builds into what is seen as the grand finale... project week!

Project week is spent partly at The Camp at Sunshine Farm in Shelby County, AL, while the rest of the week is spent around Birmingham visiting different daycares and sharing their gospel presentation. Involving skits and bible lessons, the presentation lasts about 15 minutes. Jesus is the focus. Everything that is done that week, from telling others about The Good News to singing His praises on the bus, point towards who He is.

In the afternoon, the SMA kids either spend time in recreation around the camp, journaling, or discussing and praising God for what they perceived Him do that day. They call it setting up stones of remembrance. Children come back summer after summer looking forward with great expectation to being a part of Summer Missions Adventure.

Beth McCoun is the director of Summer Missions Adventure (SMA). 

Beth says, "SMA is designed for children who want to work to develop their relationship with God, and have a desire to share their faith with others."

The children participating in SMA go through an eight week training program. They practice sharing their faith and learn a gospel presentation in prepartion for project week.

Project week is similar to a missions trip. The kids stay at a camp together, and visit daycares around Birmingham sharing Jesus.

The kids will tell you that time on the bus is an absolute blast! They spend a good portion of their week traveling to six different daycares.

At each daycare the SMA kids read bible stories to the children.

They share the gospel through skits, bible verses, and lessons that they learned during their weeks of training.

After their presentation, they make bracelets with the children. Each bead symbolizes an aspect of the gospel.

Project week is not all work! They spend their afternoon at camp in recreation and playing together as a team.

Later in the afternoon, the children journal what God taught them that day.

Each night is closed in worship, praising the Lord for what He has done for them, and what He will continue to do.

Event Essay- SCAC Student and Instructor Gallery Exhibit

 The Shelby County Arts Council hosted their annual student and instructor art gallery exhibit on May 15, 2014.

The SCAC is located right off Main Street in downtown Columbiana, AL. 

One of the staff members, Sandra Annonio, spent two days hanging around 100 pieces of art work. 

 Many of the art pieces displayed were available for purchase.

Exceutive Director and art instructor, Bruce Andrews, hung the work of a young artist as her family looked on. 

The mother of 14 year old artist, Sophia Brough, commented, "My daughter has thrived artisticly under the encouragement of her teachers here." 

 The Shelby County Arts Council has been open since 2005, and has served over 8,000 children, youth and adults in a variety of arts programs.

 The forms of art included at this exhibit were oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings, drawings and pottery.

Over 30 local citizens came to show their support of the SCAC's attempt to inspire individuals through art. 

The art community in Shelby County continues to blossom through the numerous exhibits and classes that the SCAC offers.

2 Week Photo Essay- The Columbiana Inn

 Diane Moore operates The Columbiana Inn, a small Bed and Breakfast.

 The Columbiana Inn is located on Main Street in Columbiana, AL and is an easy walk to the historic downtown district.

The house was originally built in 1889 and was purchased by Diane Moore and her husband in 2002. It took them 5 years to restore the house to it's original splendor.

 When people call or email about booking their stay at the Bed and Breakfast, all of the inquiries and phone calls ring through to Diane's tablet.

Diane finds that living in the B&B is helpful in keeping the house clean and orderly for her lodgers.

 The day before their arrival, Diane makes quiches for her guests so that breakfast is ready when they arise.

 Diane and her husband Andrew discuss their plans for the day.

 Andrew is always teasing Diane about her obsession with the food presentation. "The fruit colors have to coordinate!"

 Involvment in the local community and making new friends is the best part of running a Bed and Breakfast.

On May 3, 2014, the Moores say goodbye to a faithful patron.

Meet a Stranger- Alyssa Pitman

Hostess Alyssa Pitman seats three customers on April 30, 2014 at P.F. Changs in Birmingham, AL. Alyssa was previously a manager for one of the P.F. Changs restaurants, but she has now stepped down from her position so that she could spend more time with her two year old son.

Meet a Stranger- Zach Bullock

Employee Zach Bullock checks out a customer on April 30, 2014 at the Leaf n' Petal Nursery in Birmingham, AL. Zach began work at the nursery last August.

Meet a Stranger- Mark Slavreh

27 year old employee Mark Slavreh helps a customer at Pastry Art Bake Shoppe on April 30, 2014, in Birmingham, AL. This bakery is known around the city for their cake bites.

Photo Essay Housework- Nutty Fingers

 Nutty finger cookies begin to take shape on the afternoon of April 24, 2014.

 Sandy Murphy still uses the recipe created by her grandmother to make the cookies.

 The place you will often find Sandy is in the kitchen. She loves cooking for her and her family who live in Columbiana, AL.

 The ocassion for the nutty fingers is a visit from her dad who still enjoys these cookies that his mother made for him as a child.

Some things never change. The final product is always the best part!