I usually try to get each mission team member to write a brief (or long) message for our final blog. However, we were having so much fun at the pool and with the shorter travel time, I didn't get a chance to get the notebook passed around. Therefore, you get my comments now and I'll try to get each trip participant to add a comment with theirs.
The end of a mission trip seems to always bring two feelings to me. On the first night back, I am really happy to be back in my own room and not having to carry my things to the bathroom as I get ready for bed. Then, I wake up the next morning wondering where everyone is. I so enjoy each mission trip community - it is hard to believe this was my 10th mission trip. Each group is different in composition, quantity, and interactions but they also have similarities. The joy of working with youth and adults as the hands and feet of Jesus is so hard to describe. The mission trip is always a highlight of my summer. All the people we met and worked with were great - Mark at Metro North Recycling seemed to know most of the people that came on Saturday morning. What a great example - greet everyone as a friend. We worked with just our group that afternoon - a time to grow closer. On Sunday, some of us found an overlap of our communities at church. Linda saw several people she knew and I ran into someone who grew up in our church. Then we worked with the Kebe's to clean up their yard and helping them feel a part of our community. On Monday, we painted at a house of worship that is part of our Methodist community. Tuesday, we picked tomatoes for After the Harvest, which we picked because Jim Merrill is president of the board. (Jim's wife, Charlotte, is a much missed member of our church family community.) We then went to Cross-Lines to work in their thrift store. Cross-Lines has served the KCK community for around 50 years. Our last day, we served at Lazarus Ministries. They have served the KCMO community for 21 years. Each community we served was slightly different but also slightly the same. They were each a part of the most important community - God's community.
I'm sorry to see this trip end but look forward to next year's trip - wherever it may be. Thank you, Connor, Kate, Molly, Howard, John, and Linda for making the trip so special. I will always smile when I think of the week and the special moments that made this trip unique.
Barbara (so grateful I signed that lifetime contract 10 years ago)
Wow! What an amazing week! I was so blessed to be able to go on this trip for a third time, it's always the highlight of my summer. This year was special being the first time I got to spend the mission trip experience with my brother, which wasnt as bad as I thought it would be... haha just kidding love you Connor! Being an in town mission trip really made an impact on me I got to see and meet people who lived right here in my area, it reminded me that we don't have to travel 12 hours to find people less fortunate than us who need our help, we can find and help them right here in KC. And no matter who we helped this week, I could always feel God's presence with us as we were his hands and feet doing amazing work for him and his people. This will definitely go down as one of my favorite mission trips, from the intense foosball (and my many times breaking down from defeat by Howard and Kate), our theme songs (light the fire! and where is my hairbrush???) to the many puns, laughs and times I got to really got to learn more and grow as a daughter of Christ, I will miss this week, but it is nice to be home sleeping in my own bed with my dog again. Here's to another great mission trip next year! Thank you so much Barb, Linda, Howard, John, Connor, Kate and Pam for making this trip so amazing.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
Molly
Connor: What an amazing first trip for me! It was the best one yet! I loved our road trip conversations and any time that we could nap. I was glad I got to go with everyone who came. I had so much fun playing Foosball, sleeping, painting, gleaning, and sleep talking to Barb. I loved our theme song "O where is my hairbrush???" and, "LIGHT THE FIRE." I was really with god and I was really connected the whole mission trip. thank you for everyone who went that made it possible! (Molly, Kate, Howard, John, Linda, and Barb!) I was glad i got to be apart of "CARE CARDS" on the trip it was fun and funny!
DeleteLove,
Crazy Connor
If you don't go on at least one mission trip, you don't know what you are missing. The best part is the fellowship with the kids. They are absolutely the best!
ReplyDeleteLinda