Please join us on Sunday, August 14, 2011, for our Mission Trip Celebration. We will begin immediately following the 10:00 am service (approximately 11 am) and share what we experienced on this trip. We will serve a lunch (approximately 11:30 am) that is just like the community cookout we served in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. There is no cost for lunch, although a freewill offering will be received for lunch expenses. Come and join us!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
HOME SWEET HOME!
We have concluded our trip and have arrived safely home in Fort Wayne. Pish posh. We had an awesome experience. Thank you to the entire congregation of Trinity English Lutheran Church for making this trip possible. We have more to share about what we experienced, what we learned, and how we have changed. We hope to have an opportunity to share with those interested very soon!
Friday, July 1, 2011
So Much to Share...So Little Time!
We were so busy yesterday (Thursday) that I didn't have time to post anything. Sorry about that.
I am posting some pictures from Wednesday evening first. Now, I know this is one of those things that "you had to be there", but I wanted to share it with you anyway. The staff asked for 4 volunteers. Jason, Justin, and Christa immediately volunteered as did a student from the Texas group. Once they were on stage, it was announced that they would be participating in a "dance off". Both Jason and Justin hammed it up a bit. Christa was hesitant...and the whole crowd cheered her name over and over. She ended up doing an incredible dance! You had to be there to fully appreciate it, but take a look at the pictures and I think you'll get a sense of it.
We finished up our work assignments on Thursday. It was 106 degrees. We decided the quote of the day was from Delaney. She commented that it was so hot that her mouth was sweating and her mouth has never sweat before! One of the home owners whose home was being painted treated the work crew to Sno Cones from a truck that is located in downtown Pawhuska. I ended up having to drive the crew (which included Jacque, Brent, and Jon) and had a great time with them. I then took my crew (which included Ross, Justin, Jason, and Austin) and they enjoyed it as well.
My crew (along with Catherine and Meredith) visited at the Pawhuska Nursing Home in the morning to play Bingo with residents. We ended up forming a choir and sang for the residents. After our first song they found some hymnals for us and we ended up singing quite a few.
We enjoyed a community cookout Thursday evening. Many of the people who we had served throughout the week came and joined us for dinner. It was great for our youth to see how much the work they did was appreciated. Marjoleine joined us for dinner as well.
Our closing worship time on Thursday evening was quite moving. We had a footwashing service.
This morning we departed, spending the day at Big Splash Waterpark in Tulsa. It was a great place to spend the day. We had dinner tonight at Romano's Macaroni Grill.
Right now we are about to turn off the lights so that we can get some rest before our 7 am wake up time. While everyone has had a wonderful time, we look forward to returning to Fort Wayne tomorrow.
I am posting some pictures from Wednesday evening first. Now, I know this is one of those things that "you had to be there", but I wanted to share it with you anyway. The staff asked for 4 volunteers. Jason, Justin, and Christa immediately volunteered as did a student from the Texas group. Once they were on stage, it was announced that they would be participating in a "dance off". Both Jason and Justin hammed it up a bit. Christa was hesitant...and the whole crowd cheered her name over and over. She ended up doing an incredible dance! You had to be there to fully appreciate it, but take a look at the pictures and I think you'll get a sense of it.
We finished up our work assignments on Thursday. It was 106 degrees. We decided the quote of the day was from Delaney. She commented that it was so hot that her mouth was sweating and her mouth has never sweat before! One of the home owners whose home was being painted treated the work crew to Sno Cones from a truck that is located in downtown Pawhuska. I ended up having to drive the crew (which included Jacque, Brent, and Jon) and had a great time with them. I then took my crew (which included Ross, Justin, Jason, and Austin) and they enjoyed it as well.
My crew (along with Catherine and Meredith) visited at the Pawhuska Nursing Home in the morning to play Bingo with residents. We ended up forming a choir and sang for the residents. After our first song they found some hymnals for us and we ended up singing quite a few.
We enjoyed a community cookout Thursday evening. Many of the people who we had served throughout the week came and joined us for dinner. It was great for our youth to see how much the work they did was appreciated. Marjoleine joined us for dinner as well.
Our closing worship time on Thursday evening was quite moving. We had a footwashing service.
This morning we departed, spending the day at Big Splash Waterpark in Tulsa. It was a great place to spend the day. We had dinner tonight at Romano's Macaroni Grill.
Right now we are about to turn off the lights so that we can get some rest before our 7 am wake up time. While everyone has had a wonderful time, we look forward to returning to Fort Wayne tomorrow.
Friday - Devotions - Return Different
Our focus for today is Luke 5:17-26: "17One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; 19but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus.20When he saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, "Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? 24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — he said to the one who was paralyzed — "I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home." 25Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
As we prepare to return to Fort Wayne tomorrow, we are returning as different people then when we left. We are glorifying God because we have seen strange things. We return differently in order to Be Different!
As we prepare to return to Fort Wayne tomorrow, we are returning as different people then when we left. We are glorifying God because we have seen strange things. We return differently in order to Be Different!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thursday - Devotions - Love Different
We are focused on John 13:1-17: "Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
Jesus gave us an example of what living differently looks like through humble service to his disciples. We are called to love deeply in a servant-hearted, sacrificial way.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Being Flexible is Important!
Today we changed our work assignments. Those who were helping with Kid's Club did scraping and/or painting today and vice versa.
Everything went really well. It's really nice that the kids are getting both experiences. I tried to ask each which they liked better. Shannon said it was difficult to say because it was really comparing apples to oranges. That is very much true. Several preferred one over the other, but most agreed with Shannon.
We all took a break at Sonic this afternoon and had shakes, slushes, or other cold things to drink. The 71 of us here this week took the place over and it was a lot of fun.
Our evening activity was worship at Pawhuska Bible Church. It was an interesting experience. The Pastor there is also the Mayor of Pawhuska. The worship style was definitely different than ours (and the building is certainly different!) but we shared in the Word of God and in singing. You'll have to ask our youth about it. We have just returned from it, so I haven't been able to hear their reactions.
Right now they are playing card games and it is very loud! They are having a great time. The staff are baking chocolate chip cookies for us and are pouring the milk right now.
Tomorrow is our last work day. Tomorrow evening our activity is a community cook out. We are excited because Marjoleine will be joining us for the cookout.
I anticipate a bit of sadness on Friday. Our youth have formed really wonderful friendships with the other youth here, especially the youth from Minnesota. In fact, we didn't pack any "nice" clothes for church tonight and half our youth are wearing clothes from their Minnesota friends.
We are having a wonderful time. Our youth have just been awesome. They are serving, learning, sharing, laughing, worshiping, having fun, and even getting some sleep. We really couldn't ask for anything more.
As you look at the pictures, you will see "Fort Wayne, Indiana" which is written in chalk on the playground at First Baptist Church of Pawhuska. Haley is the artist responsible for it.
Everything went really well. It's really nice that the kids are getting both experiences. I tried to ask each which they liked better. Shannon said it was difficult to say because it was really comparing apples to oranges. That is very much true. Several preferred one over the other, but most agreed with Shannon.
We all took a break at Sonic this afternoon and had shakes, slushes, or other cold things to drink. The 71 of us here this week took the place over and it was a lot of fun.
Our evening activity was worship at Pawhuska Bible Church. It was an interesting experience. The Pastor there is also the Mayor of Pawhuska. The worship style was definitely different than ours (and the building is certainly different!) but we shared in the Word of God and in singing. You'll have to ask our youth about it. We have just returned from it, so I haven't been able to hear their reactions.
Right now they are playing card games and it is very loud! They are having a great time. The staff are baking chocolate chip cookies for us and are pouring the milk right now.
Tomorrow is our last work day. Tomorrow evening our activity is a community cook out. We are excited because Marjoleine will be joining us for the cookout.
I anticipate a bit of sadness on Friday. Our youth have formed really wonderful friendships with the other youth here, especially the youth from Minnesota. In fact, we didn't pack any "nice" clothes for church tonight and half our youth are wearing clothes from their Minnesota friends.
We are having a wonderful time. Our youth have just been awesome. They are serving, learning, sharing, laughing, worshiping, having fun, and even getting some sleep. We really couldn't ask for anything more.
As you look at the pictures, you will see "Fort Wayne, Indiana" which is written in chalk on the playground at First Baptist Church of Pawhuska. Haley is the artist responsible for it.
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