Differences

(Youth at Service Tonight)

Tonight we were honored to attend a service with New Covenant Mission Baptist Church. We sang and danced all while praising our Father together as one community. This church was in a community that was run down and mostly african american. (You could say that this community and church was the complete opposite of our little Oviedo community.)  In today’s society, it is easy to get caught up in the stereotypes that we all place on one another. Even if this isn't our intention, we still can sinfully look at each other differently than our Father looks at us; as his children. This evening, the High School Youth were shown how no matter where we come from or no matter how different we are, we are ALL His children and we are SO loved.  As Christians, we all want to serve him and love others the way he loves us no matter how different we may act, look or seem on the outside. Why is it hard then to fully love and accept one another like Christ does?

Malachi 2:10

“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”

A Senior Youth and I had a discussion this week about why it is so hard to work with some of the children in the area. The organizations that we are serving all have children who have grown up in poor and underdeveloped neighborhoods. The oldest children raise their younger siblings and take care of them as if they were their actual parents. Kids here don’t know when or how they will get their next meal and violence seems to be the only way to communicate.This is a new experience for our Senior Youth. These children are different then them which  can make serving frustrating, agonizing and most of all heartbroken. As the youth and I talked, we went on about how the kids were different and why that was. Then the light bulb clicked. These kids are hurting and in pain.This world is broken. Sin is real. God is all we have. These children need Him just as much or more then we do. How can I, as a Senior Youth do that?

These are the moments in ministry that make all the hurt and pain subside. When our Youth experience and see God in a whole new way. In a way that they can then turn to others who are in need of His love and grace. A way where they can put aside their differences and truly see that person for who they are; God’s child.

This week is not over yet and I can’t wait to see how else God works through our youth and how the community works through them! Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts on our trip!

Living on Mission

(Youth at Hearts & Hands Thrift Store)

   
Thank you all for your continuous prayers and thoughts! Today wraps up day four on our Mission Trip. The youth along with the adult mentors have served in various places and  different organizations the past two days. We have done many task from working with kids at the local Boys and Girls Club to sorting clothes at a non-profit thrift store. When we go on these mission trips and adventures we all have expectations. Expectations on what the people will be like, how the community will look and most of all what we will be doing the week that we serve. Each and everyone of us also can say that we have expectations not only for these times of outreach but also for our everyday lives.  What your coffee SHOULD taste like in the morning or maybe even how your kids SHOULD act. Realistically, we have all seen our expectations be completely demolished by the world around us. Or is it the world around us? Throughout the bible, there are countless stories on figures who know what they want or have expectations on what should be happening in their lives. For example Moses. Moses never saw himself as a leader or even a public speaker, yet God had different plans for him and his life. His expectations were not what God intended.

During this week of service, there have been times where we have not had too much to do at our work sites. Sometimes we end up just talking with the people or playing sports with the locals. This is not what you expect on a mission trip. Many of us came into this trip with our own expectations on what it was going to be like and how serving connected to Missions. Our expectations have been shattered. When you think of a Mission Trip, you most definitely think about manual labor or working with your hands and it can be frustrating when that isn't the case at all. However, this isn’t what God always intends for us on these trips.

Missions isn't just about serving others in a way that makes us feel good or to conquer our own expectations. But it's about living day to day in relationship with God and others around us. Sometimes, we forget that our expectations are not what God has instore for us just like Moses. We stray away from our relationship with Him and lean into our own understanding and expectations. The Mission not only test  these High School youth and adult mentors but also test every single follower of Jesus. Our lives should be about being on Mission and leaning into our Father for guidance instead of our own.

Psalm 143:8

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

West Virginia... Mountain Momma!

We have made it to West Virginia!!!! Thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts while we travel! We are all ready for a hot meal and bed before we start in our work groups tomorrow!

WE MADE IT!

We have made it safely to our hotel for the first night! Please be praying for a refreshing night so that we are ready to go bright and early tomorrow!

Thursday and Friday...

Two entries for the price of one (sorry for not posting last night...)

We have had an amazing last few days here in Bayou La Batre Alabama. We woke up Thursday ready for another day's hard work. After a filling breakfast we had some deep devotions going further into what being a part of the kingdom of God looks like. We split into our groups and had a great last day of Kids Club with safari day and continued to paint houses in the community. We all gathered back up to host a community cookout at a local park. Some of the local kids joined us in our exploits on the monkey bars and our frisbee game. The park was right on the bay and we were able to enjoy a great sunset together on the pier. Our last night at the Community Center included a foot washing ceremony symbolizing Christ willingness to serve others in the same way we should serve others. It was an emotionally draining night.

Friday morning we awoke VERY EARLY to breakfast, cleaning the building up and an emotional goodbye to our home for the past week in the Bayou.  We are now settled in at Laguna Beach Christian Camp for the next two nights for some rest and relaxation at the BEACH!  It is spectacular here and we have spent time in the Gulf of Mexico and the pool already.  Tomorrow we plan on a canoe trip and some more beach and pool time.

Home around 2:30 (ish) on Sunday so we may not blog tomorrow... we will have to see.  Lots of tired and emotionally spent people on this trip so far.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support.

Wacky Sock Wednesday

Day four in Bayou la Batre, Alabama is complete. The day started off with a nourishing break fest that gave everyone a boost to get to there service projects. The service projects consisted of painting, weeding and helping out with kids. These projects went on from 9 A.M. to 3 in the afternoon. Everyone did a great job and kept everything running very smoothly. 

As everyone started to finish up there work projects, dinner was a must. Dinner served fresh pizza from Little Caesars and watermelon on the side. It was a great meal to end the day with. After dinner, the vans were prepared to leave and take the kids to Friendship Baptist Church. Once they arrived, a pastor took the time to talk to the kids about worry. He explained to them that you should never be worried about material things and to just let God take control. He helped the kids realize that God is always in control and that worrying is a waste of time. After the sermon, the kids all gathered in a big circle and cheered there friends as they played basketball. It was a complete success. 

To end the night, root-beer floats were made as a night snack. The lesson to close the day off was sacrifice. 

The kids learned that giving up something for the people you love is beyond important. At the end of the day, Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice. He saved us from our sins and we will always be  grateful for that. 

Today was a good day in sunny Alabama. 

Also... for those headed to BAyou La Batrie... remember Wednesday is "Weightless Wednesday" at Cafe Yo.

YouthWorks Goin Up.. On A Tuesday

Another successful day of work projects and kid's club! More painting took place, as well as some tree branch cutting, which Brad Kramer totally owned. It was also Lori McNatt's birthday today! She spent the day in the sun with her work group painting, like a champ. 

After showers and tacos, we all hopped in the vans again and headed out for the fish market, T-shirt shopping, and a tour of the Bayou La Batre. At the fish market, we ate shrimp, fruit, and chatted with the owner, Rick. The T-shirt shop we visited offered custom-made shirts and hats, and we finished the evening off by watching the beautiful sunset on the Bayou. Then we headed back to the community center for club, family group time and birthday cake.

Day Two was very successful, and we're excited to switch kid's club and work project groups tomorrow morning!