wanting to change their lives and become a functioning part of soci- ety,” Henry says. “We try to offer mentoring and/or discipleship train- ing to these people.” Micheal Woods and his team at Western Carolina Rescue Ministries in Asheville, North Carolina, use summertime to train groups that do cold weather outreach in the winter. The ministry uses about 100 extra people during the winter for “Code Purple” nights, so summer is a great time to prepare all of these individuals. Renovating or repairing facilities is another good use of time during this season, the mission in Las Cruces has found. “This year we plan to do stucco repairs to our buildings and pay attention to possible areas of roof leaks,” Henry says. “We can also have some people work in our gar- den area and see the results of their labor when they sit down to eat.” He continues: “Instead of being lazy and coasting through the long, hot summer, it is our desire and obli- gation to our residents to do the best we can to improve their lives and foster a feeling of worth within them.” Take a Break L ast but not least, those who serve in rescue work can— and should—use summer for recreation and vacation. It’s a great opportunity for both personal time off and staff fellowship. “Summer is a time for many staff members to take a much-needed vacation,” says Herb. “And it is the time for our annual staff/student pic- nic! Personally, I take vacation and try to refocus for the upcoming fall marathon. I like to visit other mis- sions and like agencies while away to see different needs and approaches. I was amazed one summer to see fami- lies putting out mattresses and living in little housing structures on the streets of Paris. Another time I got to see homeless people in Russia who were total outcasts to their local communities.” You don’t have to travel far to get a break from your routine. And even if getting away is harder because fewer volunteers are available—as is the case at Lewis County Gospel Mission—it’s still needed. “During the summer, office staff and myself are highly encouraged to schedule a week or two off in order to keep a healthy balance of work and personal time,” says Fay Ternan, executive director of the Washington mission. The signs of summer are undeni- able: Staff members are storing the heavier clothing and bringing out the spring- and summer-weight items. Cooks are serving fewer heavy, hot meals and making more salads as people donate locally grown produce. And whether the overall pace slows down or speeds up at your mission, the change of seasons should serve as a reminder to get away from your usual routine and allow God to refresh you. Ĩ 48 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAY/JUNE 2017 Natalee is a freelance writer and full-time mother of two. She also works part time for the Association of Christian Schools International in Colorado Springs. You can reach her at divegirl777@msn.com. Whether the overall pace slows down or speeds up at your mission, the change of seasons should serve as a reminder to get away from your usual routine and allow God to refresh you.