SHigh Mission Trip 2012: Rest Day 1--Friday, July 20th

Today was our "relaxing" day. We started out the day visiting the Joplin Art Museum, where they have an exhibit dedicated to the tornado and the days that followed. It was truly a moving experience. 

Afterwards, for something a little more lighthearted, we went on a tour of a local candy factory and got some free samples. 


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4365658824446&set=a.2298874756136.135825.1377167824&type=1&theater

In the evening we had our final worship experience as well as a time to talk with some of the Next Step staff. It was a powerful evening and many of us are emotionally spent. 

We plan to leave Joplin around 8:00 tomorrow morning and I will send out an email when we depart. 

Pray for a safe journey to Dallas. 

Merchant

SHigh Mission Trip 2012: Work Days 3 and 4--Wednesday & Thursday, July 18th & 19th

I'm so sorry for the lack of an update yesterday, it was a full day!

Our two groups worked a hard day, with heat warnings.  The Hot Buns (Roofers), Caroline Clark, Jeremiah Gress, Elizabeth Dobbs, Bailey Phillips, Bryce Barron, Sam Thomas, Chris Vanisko, Ashley Lewis, and myself worked until the roof until it was just about too hot to touch.  We were confident that we would be able to finish the roof on the last day.  The Honey Buns (at Billie's house), James Hallonquist, Kaitlyn Smith, Shelby Eckelkamp, Katie Rogers, Ben Murley, Caroline Dobbs, and J.R. Leal began their painting job on Billie's Porch and continued their work on the new gutters.  All in all it was a great work day.

In the evening we were a part of a really powerful evening.  It began with another video, this time from Bizzle a Christian Rap artist.  You can watch his testimony here: http://www.mystep.me/truth-or-dare/bizzle

Afterwards our groups split up and we participated in a foot washing.  This is always moving thing to do and our group always shares their hearts with each other.  It was a long and emotional night, and as always, a wonderful time.

This morning we started early.  The Hot Buns, in an effort to try to beat the heat and finish the job, arrived at their work site 45 minutes early.  We needed the extra time because we still finished 30 minutes past our regular end time.  The reward was finishing the roof up to the last shingle on the peak.  Yeah Bailey!  It was a very long hot day and we were definitely exhausted.  The Honey Buns worked hard as well, they finished Billie's rain gutters after lengthy problem solving and learning all about water flow.  They also cut and finished wood trim, shutters, and finished painting the porch.  Billie definitely blessed us all this week and we got to paint handprint butterflies on her porch.  The story of the butterflies is truly a special one and and I can't wait for you to hear about it at report-back.

This evening we again watched another powerful video, this time by Harmony Dust, a victim of sexual abuse who has founded a ministry that helps women who work in the sex industry.  You can watch her testimony here: http://www.mystep.me/truth-or-dare/harmony-dust

Afterwards we had our own opportunity to share privately with God anything burden that has been placed on our hearts and release it all to Him, another moving experience.

After that we had a fun time in Next Step's version of Fear Factor, ten rounds of really gross food to see which crew's teams could eat the different foods the fastest, as well as hold them down.  It was a spirited game that lasted well into the night, but I am proud to say that St. Luke's was the winning team and all those Messy Games Nights we have had over the years have finally paid off.

Today was our last work day and tomorrow will be a day of rest before we depart back to Texas in Saturday.  We have had a wonderful time serving the Joplin community and we are looking forward to our final days together.  Please pray for continued strength and energy.  Although we are no longer working, it is always nice to have energy while driving our wonderful youth around in large white vans!

Merchant

SHigh Mission Trip 2012: Work Day 2--Tuesday, July 24th

Today we spent a solid day of working at our sites.

We were again greeted by a note from Billie, water, bananas, and Honey Buns. She also shared with us her experiences the day of the tornado as well as the days that followed. It was moving to hear her talk about how much her faith has carried her through those days, and a gift that she shared it with us.

At Billie's we installed a new rain gutter in the front, painted, and did more shutter repair.

 Across the street the roofers are getting accustomed to the roof, laying the tar paper, and sitting on hot shingles. It has definitely been an experience on working in high places.

The team enjoyed another night of worship and tonight watched a video about Sam Childers, "The Machine Gun Preacher."  You can watch that video here:  http://www.mystep.me/truth-or-dare/sam-childers

Please pray for us to stay hydrated tomorrow. We have been very good about drinking our water, but tomorrow is supposed to be hotter than today was, so we will need all the strength we can get.

Merchant 

SHigh Mission Trip 2012: Work Day 1--Monday, July 23rd

Today we began our first work day.  Our high school mission trip is a little different this year for our team assignments.  The other youth groups that are here this week requested to stay intact which means that our group is also staying together.  Our group has split into two teams that are working across the street from each other.  One team is working on the roof, and I have to say this is the steepest roof we have been on so far.  Pray for sure footing!  Across the street, our other group is working at the house of a wonderful woman named Billie.  This morning we were greeted at her house with a lovely note, and a cooler full of cold water and bananas.  Here's a photo:


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4231944006105&set=a.1056398099442.10571.1510542998&type=1&theater 

During our day, we also took a tour of the path of the tornado which was an eye-opening experience of the extent of the destruction.

This evening we enjoyed our second round of worship music as well as our first discussion video.  This evening we watched a testimony by Mo Isom, former soccer goalie for LSU.  You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ptcSmKIihA

Please pray for our work day tomorrow.  We will be have a full work day tomorrow and after the prep we were able to do today we should be able to make great progress on both sites.

Merchant

SHigh Mission Trip 2012: Travel Days 1- 2--Sat/Sun, July 21st/22nd

Sunday, July 22nd


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4227773141836&set=a.1056398099442.10571.1510542998&type=1&theater

We have safely arrived in Joplin and are settling in. We were pleased to see some familiar Next Step faces from both New Mexico and Mississippi.  There will be churches from North Carolina, Mississippi, and Nebraska. 

Pray for a good start!

Merchant


Saturday, July 21st


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151033895613766&set=p.10151033895613766&type=1&theater

We have eaten dinner and are settling in for the night at St. Mark's. As a bonus, they have showers!  So we should be nice and comfortable for our drive tomorrow to Joplin. 

Pray for a continued safe trip and start to our service week. 

Merchant 

JHigh Mission Trip 2012: Day 5--Friday, June 22nd

We started the day early, serving breakfast at The Waystation. This is a program at Palmer Episcopal Church. They serve breakfast every weekday to anywhere from 300-400 people. This morning we served pancakes until there was no one left.

After a bit of a rest, in the afternoon we served at Open Door Mission, a men's facility that has a 9 month drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. In addition to that, they also provide GED education for those that need it. We helped prep, clean the kitchen, and then serve dinner to the residents.

Tomorrow morning we plan on leaving by 8:00 am which, with stops, should have our arrival time around 12:00. I will have the youth begin calling their parents when we are about 1 hour from arrival.

It has been a wonderful trip, please pray for a safe journey home tomorrow!

Merchant