Sr High Mission Trip Blog: Day five

Sam: Today I had a wonderful time with kids as Dumus Wesley. The kids were great I loved entertaining and becoming a human playground. I have a few battle scares but I loved it too much to care. The food at 15 place was a soup kind of substance, a lot of mixed feelings in the lunch area. I saw happy faces, tears and anger brewing. After lunch we made our way back to Dumus Wesley. We watched Home Alone for a short time the kids loved it. As we left all the kids didn’t want us to leave and it was rather heart breaking to see them try to cling to you. Tomorrow is my last day and I hope it’s as fulfilling as the past days. I love the emotional work but I wish we did something a little more productive.

Theresa: The experiences of this day, particularly the morning, were deeply moving. Our group set up and served breakfast at Government Street Presbyterian Church. I loved feeling like I was actually doing real work at last … though each leader said again and again that the point of our participation was to interact, to create a sense of “hospitality” toward those less fortunate. But the Martha part of me loved the “doing” of setting up, serving, and cleaning up afterwards.

After the breakfast, we were oriented to the missions of Government Street Pres, and then went for a walking tour downtown, imagining some of the issues the homeless face every day. We ended the morning in a beautiful Catholic cathedral, contemplating Jesus’ invitation to take His yoke, because His burden is easy, and His yoke is light. To sit in silence in such a beautiful place, having just imagined such difficult circumstances, was a profoundly emotional experience.

My own background was badly impoverished. No matter how hard—or how successfully!—I have worked to overcome my background, some scarring remains. But, my deep heart told me, no matter that scar tissue isn’t pretty: it’s strong.

Sr High Mission Blog: Day four

Seth: Today the main mission for my group was the Water Front Rescue Mission, I’ve picked up completely different vibes from each place we visit. The reason the people at water front rescue mission seemed so open to me, I think is because its night time and for the ones who were homeless, it could possibly be their last night on this earth with us and they were hoping to make the best of it. I feel God placed me in the path of a fifty-eight year old gentleman named Brian I came to hear his life story and why his is homeless at the time. He was originally from Chicago and was a chief in the dangerous and very deadly street gang the “Gangster Disciples”. He explained to me that I could literally point out any car dealership in the city and he had enough money to buy any car he wanted. He had a revelation with his relationship with God and says that God told him that wasn’t the way he wanted Brian making money. God told Brian he wanted him to “lead the less fortunate”. So Brian obeyed and moved to mobile and is now homeless but has not lost hope………. He says that he knows that God is leading him and using him as a leader and Brian is currently writing a book of his journey through Christ. One thing I didn’t expect to get out of this trip was that I would be so inspired by someone that was having such a hard time with life.

Patrick: Today my group went to L’Arche which is a home for mentally handicapped adults. We had a great time playing with all of them. Then we went to 15 place and ate lunch there was a choir group from Anderson South Carolina that sang there which made things kinda weird but it turned out to be pretty good. Then we went back to L’Arche and stayed there for a while. Then after that went and helped serve dinner at the water front rescue mission which helps alcohol and drug abuse victims.

Then after dinner we went for their church service and listen to their pastor who is a little different from my taste but he still had a very good service.

AJ: Uncomfortable. Last night we had a good conversation about the atmosphere at 15 Place and The Waterfront Rescue Mission. Some of the people had a bit of a hard time with the tone that the director of 15 Place, and the pastor at Water Front Mission had. They took a very ‘tough love’ approach, and some of the participants did not like it. One point that someone made however, is that it is a very different people that they are talking to. If Marty got up in front of a third Sunday Fellowship, and told us all not to expect that they will be there next week, that we need to get out there and do what we can to feed ourselves, most people would just be confused. If Marc got up on Sunday and preached with the same tone as the chaplain, people might walk out, even though the massage that we can do nothing apart from God applies just as much to us as them (though they know it a little better). There is a very difficult balance between being caring and compassionate, and not enabling people to keep a lifestyle. We do not come on a mission trip to be comfortable, we do not come to be coddled or to help us feel good about ourselves and everything that we do; we come to be uncomfortable, and in that realization, seek to be better. The world is not butterflies and rainbows, it is thorns and shit (excuse my French, but sometimes it fits). And yet, God loves the world as it is, with full knowledge of the weeping soars and the festering sick holes. Jesus Christ died for the sins and darkness of the entire world, including this. In mission, we go with God into these places that we are not used to, and see where God is already at work, see where God has been and continues to love all of Creation. We are made uncomfortable in the places where we would never go by choice, yet where God loves and lives. 

May God's Spirit continue to make us uncomfortable.

Sr High Mission Trip Blog: Day three

Sam: Today me and my group (Group B) went to the L’Arche community center and hung out with mentally disabled adults. There were about 15 patients. When we first [went] to the place I felt very welcomed. We basically just talked to the people and played games. We were there for 2-3 hours then we went to lunch at 15 Place. It’s a place for homeless to have a meal and company. I felt out of place and kind of shy, but after about 5 min I was in a conversation with a man who was really opening up to me and I felt at home. After seeing how nice this man was I am more than happy to help at the homeless at 15 Place. After the wonderful mac and cheese, we went back to the L’Arche center and had a dance party sort of thing. We hung out until about three. After the tiring day we went to the Water Front Rescue Mission. There we again helped with homeless people. After the dinner at the water front we have a recovery service for the addicts. Only a few went from my group but I enjoyed it to an extent. Today was a fun but tiring day.

McCauley: Today was great to finally get out and start helping out, the reason we came. Although all the fishing and trips to Bass Pro Shops and Wal-Mart were good, it was nice to start focusing on what we had come here to do. My group spent the day at Dumas Wesley Community Center. This is a mission for inner-city children, and for seniors. Where we played on the playground with the kids and played cards with the elderly men.

My high for the day was seeing my first friend from last year at 15 Place. He remembered me, and we picked right up where we left off last year. The good news is: He got a job working to prevent the oil from coming ashore and now has an apartment of his own.

Theresa:

When alone, I’m often Mary, choosing the better part and waiting at Christ’s feet; but in large groups I’m more often Martha, doing too much and perhaps inclined to critique. But even in a few short days, there has been enough time and space to see an ebb and flow between all of us. I’ve had time for quiet reflection, time to work, time to talk. And I’ve been supported by others again and again.

I’ve heard tiny children describe being beaten with switches and belts; l’ve heard old women of color explain their faith. I’ve seen a stony guy pretend to enter conversation by making eye contact and saying “Really” in all the pauses. Some of the young people have opened up … either to me or to each other while we drove to sites.

But the most amazing thing has been to realize that, in seeking God and seeking to serve God, the deepest desires of my heart have also been met. I love the water, and I’ve had a rough year in terms of finances. A friend who owned a second home in Beaufort, and who would lend it to me each year for a personal retreat, sold that home this year. So, thinking rationally and not remembering or expecting God’s grace in this selfish desire, I assumed that time near water would be impossible. AJ asked me to join the group when he was expecting at least one girl from our church to come on the trip and he needed a female adult. I said yes without knowing really anything about this mission trip: and I find myself facing Mobile Bay!

Thank You, dear Lord.

Sr high Mission trip Blog, Day 2

AJ: The day started out with a beautiful morning. We went to Government Street Presbyterian where we spent some time learning about the L’Arshe community that we will be spending some time with this week. They are an intentional community of homes where mentally and physically handicapped people (core members) live with others in group homes. Each member of the home is responsible for what they can manage in the home, and they live together as a family, many times until they die. We met one of the core members, and heard a little about her story. We also talked about the role of loss in the lives of many of the people that we will be meeting this week. We talked about the loss of material things, personality traits, activities and relationships; and how these could be affected by mental illness, addiction, and economic forces.  We thought a little about what it would be like to lose these things that we so often take for granted.

After that, we joined the congregation in worship. It was a great service; wonderful music, and the commissioning of their VBS staff. The message was a great one based on Psalm 146. The Head Pastor, Rev Dr. George Sinclair talked about praising God with our whole being, and putting our whole trust on God. After worship we went back to Baytreat, had lunch, and then off to what I fear may have been the most uplifting part of the day for my boys, going to Bass Pro Shop.

The Deacons from Government Street came over and cooked us a wonderful dinner. The boys did some fishing, and helped Owen, a 5 year old son of one of the other youth leaders, catch a sting ray. We all came together for some devotional time, and then spent the rest of the night fishing, playing guitar, and telling stories. Tomorrow, we begin the mission work of the week; my group will be going to the Dumas Wesley Community Center where they have Day care, as well as events for senior citizens. The other group that our church is in will be going and visiting with the L’Arche community.

Reflection:

AJ: The theme verse of the week is James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For is any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they look like. But those who look at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget, but doers who act- they will be blessed in their doing”

Jesus Christ id the Word of God, God incarnate, Love made flesh. Whenever we speak of the word of God we are primarily referring to Jesus. The Bible of the word of God written down. It is the act of the incarnation in written form. It bears witness to the Word of God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, as well as the eternal Word of God. The fact that we are invited to participate in that word, that we are entreated to be doers of this word, is mind blowing. We are asked to be incarnations of Christ in the world.