Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
A Followup from the Homeowners
I got an email from Eddie Bingham and thought I would pass it along. He is the homeowner of the main project we worked on last week. Eddie writes...
Pastor John;
If possible, I would like for you to share this with the families of the group that came to the Basin, and with you congregation.
Until we meet again, God Bless.
Pastor John;
If possible, I would like for you to share this with the families of the group that came to the Basin, and with you congregation.
I would like to start with saying thanks for all you all did to send tha "Kids" into our lives.The work they done to our house was greatly needed, and as much as the work they done, having them come into our lives, was a blessing from God. As you all should know they are some great Kids.I know they are young adults, but when you are 56, 12 to 20 is kids.
This old house needs lots of work. We moved out of a much better house than where we now live, but this is Betty's old home place. After her Mother and Father went on to be with our Lord, She inherited the old home place.We can sit on the porch since the work was done by the group and she gets tears in her eyes as we talk about the kids and what they done for us.
It was not just the Kids, but Pastor John, Amy, Al and Jean. They were great with the Kids. By the time they left our area, it was if we had know all of them for years.We may never meet again in this life, we hope to some day. If not,we will meet in Heaven.The Bible talks about you never know when you are in the presence of Angels. I can say that the last week of July, 2009, we had 18 here at our house.
Zack, when you got home and your parents ask about your trip, I would love to have seen their faces when you started talking about the garden and brought out your eggs.
D.J. you were worried about not being able to do much with your knee injury.We love and respect all of you that were here.
Sara, I love the spirit that you have. Never change.
Philip, on the table you wrote that you hope we think of you all every time we go on the porch. After what you all done for us, and spending time with you all, you will never be forgotten.
Jake you were always thinking and planning on how to do a job.
Danielle, when I look at the house I can see you laying on top of the house,reaching under to paint the eaves, in the rain. Wonder what your parents would say to that.
Katlynn and Stephanie, every time I see the baby chickens in the yard I look to see if you are after them. I am sorry that I did not catch them for you to hold.
Jessie will never eat another yellow watermelon without thinking of you.
Charlene and Dominique you two arrivied on Monday shy and quite, like caterpillar in a cacoon. The last time we say you, you were two beautiful butterflies.
Cristina you were always smiling. When you get to college, remember you have another family in McCaysville.
Anna, last but not least. What was that favorite word, awesome? That you are alonge with all the group that was here.
We let Betty read the poems at Horseshoe Bend Park that night because Jaclyn and I did not think we could get through them. After we left you all, Jaclyn said that she had things to say but was afaid she would start to cry.We want all of you to know you are always welcome at our house. Pastor John will have our address and e-mail if you ever want to contact us. Pastor you are welcome to give it to anyone that ask.
Just a few hours after you all left for home we had an earthquake in Ducktown. It was a 3.2 and the center was close to the camp where you stayed. I said it was God filling in the void caused by you leaving the area.
Words can never say thank you enough. You will always have a place in our hearts, and there is always a place for you when you are in the area.God bless you all, and walk with God in your hearts.
Until we meet again, God Bless.
The Binghams - Betty, Jaclyn, and Eddie
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day Seven - Saturday, August 1
Grace and peace...
I was the only one who showed up for breakfast at 5 am. All else were desperately clinging to a few more minutes of sleep. I understood this because I too was exhausted. Still, I managed to get up after only 3 1/2 hours sleep, so I was not pleased that we had the camp crew show up at 5 am to serve us breakfast and no one but me showed up. I was not sympathetic to cries of hunger later in the morning. I was not happy that the 5:45 am time set to load the van time was a half hour later because the girls cabin was not ready. I was tired and ready to leave. I was the horse moving faster with the barn in sight. I was ready to go home.
Fortunately, once we were finally down the road a few miles, I felt better. About an hour from the camp on the north side of Atlanta, we went right by the first house Cile and I bought and the home in which our girls first lived. Not far from there, we passed by the exit to the church where we worshiped for nearly ten years. It was the church where I went from knowing about Jesus to actually knowing Jesus in a real and personal way. It was the church in which our daughters were baptized. Not far from that exit we were in downtown Atlanta where we dropped off one of the students, Stephanie, who was going to spend a few weeks with her aunt. My family and I spent many hours in downtown. We would often go downtown after church. Cile worked at an advertising agency not far from where we dropped off Stephanie. We went to concerts, plays, ball games, ballets in Atlanta. We met friends for dinner. The trip that morning to familiar grounds was a reminder to me of how God works in human lives. There is a connectedness to life. God met me and my family in those very places, that geography, and that terrain. Through those places and experiences, God was preparing me for my life's path of seminary and then life as a pastor. He was also preparing my wife and children for their life's path which would take them from Atlanta to Princeton, Scotland, Ohio, Tennessee and then back to our home state here in Florida. Through weary eyes, I was aware during our drive to and through Atlanta that God had been orchestrating so many events, seen and unseen, that prepared me for all that followed. The result was a warm glow of gratitude that I felt more so than was consciously aware of in the moment. I was thankful to God that morning. God had given us a great week and God had given me life, love, family, calling, friends, mission, purpose and hope.
We made it the rest of the way home without incident. All but Amy and I slept during that tedious drive (have you noticed that the state of Georgia seems to be about 2,000 miles long?). Amy was nauseated and didn't feel well the whole way home. She said it was exhaustion. I put my money on the sloppy joes the day before. We got back to Dunedin, distributed children to their homes or delivered them to their drivers at the church in the evening and all went home.
Those responsible for laundry in each home likely went to work right away. Stale towels, wet clothes, mud and paint stains filled each suitcase. I didn't wear everything I brought, but every bit of it went in to the wash.
The best part of coming to a close of a trip like this is the pondering of what God will do with all that happened. These students and leaders worked hard, played hard, grew closer together and experienced God in the mountains of Tennessee and Georgia. One cannot return from such a time unchanged. I suspect that the group will reunite with a different sense of bonding. I suspect that they will go back to the sarcasm of youth culture, but with an asterisk in their mind as they do so: "I have been to the mountain and met God with this person. I have spoken words of praise about this person. I can only go so far in my criticism of them because this person means something to me." I have no doubt conflicts and frustrations and other things will continue, but it is my great prayer that this group will not forget what happened in Tennessee. It is my hope that the parents, family and friends of this group won't let them forget. It is my hope that this group returns to the mountain of God in their minds many times after this trip. I know I will.
I am certain that sleep will be no problem for this team tonight. Church is tomorrow and I can't wait. I hope I am able to think straight. I pray, as always, that no matter my state of restedness, God speaks clearly through me.
I cannot close this final journal without thanking you who have been praying for the team. Your prayers have been valuable and I hope you have read how God has been working. Perhaps you have seen specific answers to your specific prayers in these posts. Bless you for your faithfulness in praying for us.
I was the only one who showed up for breakfast at 5 am. All else were desperately clinging to a few more minutes of sleep. I understood this because I too was exhausted. Still, I managed to get up after only 3 1/2 hours sleep, so I was not pleased that we had the camp crew show up at 5 am to serve us breakfast and no one but me showed up. I was not sympathetic to cries of hunger later in the morning. I was not happy that the 5:45 am time set to load the van time was a half hour later because the girls cabin was not ready. I was tired and ready to leave. I was the horse moving faster with the barn in sight. I was ready to go home.
Fortunately, once we were finally down the road a few miles, I felt better. About an hour from the camp on the north side of Atlanta, we went right by the first house Cile and I bought and the home in which our girls first lived. Not far from there, we passed by the exit to the church where we worshiped for nearly ten years. It was the church where I went from knowing about Jesus to actually knowing Jesus in a real and personal way. It was the church in which our daughters were baptized. Not far from that exit we were in downtown Atlanta where we dropped off one of the students, Stephanie, who was going to spend a few weeks with her aunt. My family and I spent many hours in downtown. We would often go downtown after church. Cile worked at an advertising agency not far from where we dropped off Stephanie. We went to concerts, plays, ball games, ballets in Atlanta. We met friends for dinner. The trip that morning to familiar grounds was a reminder to me of how God works in human lives. There is a connectedness to life. God met me and my family in those very places, that geography, and that terrain. Through those places and experiences, God was preparing me for my life's path of seminary and then life as a pastor. He was also preparing my wife and children for their life's path which would take them from Atlanta to Princeton, Scotland, Ohio, Tennessee and then back to our home state here in Florida. Through weary eyes, I was aware during our drive to and through Atlanta that God had been orchestrating so many events, seen and unseen, that prepared me for all that followed. The result was a warm glow of gratitude that I felt more so than was consciously aware of in the moment. I was thankful to God that morning. God had given us a great week and God had given me life, love, family, calling, friends, mission, purpose and hope.
We made it the rest of the way home without incident. All but Amy and I slept during that tedious drive (have you noticed that the state of Georgia seems to be about 2,000 miles long?). Amy was nauseated and didn't feel well the whole way home. She said it was exhaustion. I put my money on the sloppy joes the day before. We got back to Dunedin, distributed children to their homes or delivered them to their drivers at the church in the evening and all went home.
Those responsible for laundry in each home likely went to work right away. Stale towels, wet clothes, mud and paint stains filled each suitcase. I didn't wear everything I brought, but every bit of it went in to the wash.
The best part of coming to a close of a trip like this is the pondering of what God will do with all that happened. These students and leaders worked hard, played hard, grew closer together and experienced God in the mountains of Tennessee and Georgia. One cannot return from such a time unchanged. I suspect that the group will reunite with a different sense of bonding. I suspect that they will go back to the sarcasm of youth culture, but with an asterisk in their mind as they do so: "I have been to the mountain and met God with this person. I have spoken words of praise about this person. I can only go so far in my criticism of them because this person means something to me." I have no doubt conflicts and frustrations and other things will continue, but it is my great prayer that this group will not forget what happened in Tennessee. It is my hope that the parents, family and friends of this group won't let them forget. It is my hope that this group returns to the mountain of God in their minds many times after this trip. I know I will.
I am certain that sleep will be no problem for this team tonight. Church is tomorrow and I can't wait. I hope I am able to think straight. I pray, as always, that no matter my state of restedness, God speaks clearly through me.
I cannot close this final journal without thanking you who have been praying for the team. Your prayers have been valuable and I hope you have read how God has been working. Perhaps you have seen specific answers to your specific prayers in these posts. Bless you for your faithfulness in praying for us.
Day Six - Friday, July 31
Grace and peace...
Today was a day for the team. There was no labor. No painting or projects; only playing and worship. The day began with the usual breakfast of some tasteless things and then the team was off to white water rafting. DJ, my young friend, and I were on injured reserve and did not go, so I report what others have told me. DJ hung around camp for a while and I slept the sleep of the dead for about an hour and a half. It was raining, I was exhausted and sleeping under a tin roof with rain falling while in a warm sleeping bag was the rest state of a fetus in the womb.
White water rafting was a blast for all. It was not only raining as they rafted, but it had been raining off and on throughout the week, so the water level and speed were both elevated. Most managed to stay in the raft, but a few got to experience full immersion into the 70 degree water. On one particular rapid, the rocks sent the raft one way while inertia continued its riders forward and the team watched Christina in a weird slow-motion kind of way slide over in the raft and then right over the edge into the water. Christina has been giving Phillip (son of Felinto, our Brazilian seminarian friend) a hard time since then because, as she says, "He just watched me slide into the water and didn't reach out to grab me." Phillip has his defense and the two are enjoying verbal sparring over the episode. A few others fell in a different points, but all made it through the rapids safely.
Teamwork and unity are a requirement in white water rafting. When the guide says to paddle, all have to paddle. When the guide says to pull the oars up, all have to do it. Again, this was a good exercise for our youth. They were required to work together for a common purpose. I wish I could take the entire church out for an event like that so we could realized that we are all working for a common purpose of making Christ known and work together to make that happen. The youth came back from their white water excursion chattering away about the trip and in a way most didn't realize: closer to each other.
When we were all reunited and the rafters put on dry clothes it was time for lunch. I will tell you that the enjoyment of mission camp is the mission itself (see previous post for how I now see this mission), not the food. The food at camp keeps us alive. That's about all I can say about it. Today, it was sloppy joe's for lunch. I could only get through about a quarter of my sloppy joe before giving it a proper burial in the trash can. And that is unusual for me because I hate throwing away food. But it was that bad. The fries with the sloppy joe's were like eating pencils. We determined then and there that we wanted pizza from a recognizable source like Papa Johns or Dominos for dinner.
After lunch we went into town to do a little sightseeing. Small as the town of Copperhill is, at this time of year, there is a constant stream of tourists. The Blue Ridge Expressway train carries a new load of tourists in every hour. There are shops with mountain decor and speciality items, a nice scenic river, and a few places to eat. Near the center of town, there is a blue line painted across the main street and into some parking lots that is the official state line between Georgia and Tennessee. Several posed for pictures with a foot on both sides of the line proving that a person can, in fact, be two places at one time.
We returned to camp, had some free time then headed back to town for our closing ceremony. We were meeting Al and Jean MacKenzie at the Horseshoe Bend park again. Al and Jean picked up Pizza Hut pizza from Blue Ridge. They stayed in Ellijay, Georgia at an RV park and Blue Ridge was on their way to Copperhill. Blue Ridge also had the only chain pizza place around. Pizza Hut was a big hit. Compared to camp food, it was five star dining. Veritable manna from heaven.
Eddie, Betty and their daughter Jaclyn, owners of the house where we spent most of our week, joined us in the park. They came to bless and thank us. They also brought a bench that our team started and they completed, painted and wanted us to sign. All of us signed it and Betty was going to seal it then put it on their porch to remember us. We circled together and talked and laughed for a while. Betty shared some poetry with us on what it means to them to have met us and how we helped them. With tears in her eyes, she thanked us. Eddie too talked about what this week meant to him. It was hard for this strong man to not be able to provide for his family after a job loss and with a chronic health issue causing him great pain as he walks. It occurred to me that many in this country know Eddie's inner struggle in today's economy. With a prayer from Al MacKenzie and after lots of hugs from the team, they were off and that chapter of our mission was over. There was a feeling of loss mixed with the satisfaction of having done something useful for God and for a family in need.
The final act of the week took the next four hours. In that same circle, the team took turns sharing where we saw Christ at work in each of the team members during the week. When it was time for each person, we began with a fun award printed on a paper plate for each person. Little Charlene, for example, got overcoming her fears award for dealing with her fear of bugs, minnows that nip at your toes, "roller coaster" roads and others. I got an award for being able to change out of jeans and into a bathing suit in broad daylight with complete modesty under cover of a single towel. The bathrooms were closed and I wanted to swim, so I got into the bushes, grabbed a towel and improvised. After each person got their award, the sharing began. And so did the tears. And so did the laughter. It was a meaningful, if not exhausting (four hours!) process. No one was skipped and heart-felt thoughts were shared. Poor Amy started the tears when she began to talk about Al and how much he meant to her. Then the faucet of her eyes opened more when she got to Jean who is like a mother to her. By the time she moved on to a few others, she was a wonderful, blubbering mess.
Imagine yourself as a middle or high school student and a group of your peers and leaders share their thoughts about what an important person you are and how God is visible in your life in very specific ways. Imagine what an affirmation that is. In a youth culture that is filled with biting sacrasm and put-downs, this was the polar opposite. This was encouraging. This was seeing the good and speaking it. This was blessing in the fullest sense of the word.
Part of the reason for the lengthy ceremony is we had to leave the park when it closed. We also left the strangest duck on the planet. It was a black duck with no fear of humans and a not-all-there kind of personality. He wanted food, of course, but even when he realized he wasn't getting any, he still hung around and stared us down. Odd duck. Once we got back to camp, we also had a few episodes of teenage drama to deal with during the closing. In some ways, they were welcome relief to the tears and laughter and heart-felt sentiments being shared. It other ways, they were just plain frustrating.
Satisfied, we finished the ceremony at 1 am. Breakfast I announced, was at 5 am. Departure for home was 6 am. Like the trip here, travel would be done on little sleep, especially for Amy and me, the drivers.
Today was a day for the team. There was no labor. No painting or projects; only playing and worship. The day began with the usual breakfast of some tasteless things and then the team was off to white water rafting. DJ, my young friend, and I were on injured reserve and did not go, so I report what others have told me. DJ hung around camp for a while and I slept the sleep of the dead for about an hour and a half. It was raining, I was exhausted and sleeping under a tin roof with rain falling while in a warm sleeping bag was the rest state of a fetus in the womb.
White water rafting was a blast for all. It was not only raining as they rafted, but it had been raining off and on throughout the week, so the water level and speed were both elevated. Most managed to stay in the raft, but a few got to experience full immersion into the 70 degree water. On one particular rapid, the rocks sent the raft one way while inertia continued its riders forward and the team watched Christina in a weird slow-motion kind of way slide over in the raft and then right over the edge into the water. Christina has been giving Phillip (son of Felinto, our Brazilian seminarian friend) a hard time since then because, as she says, "He just watched me slide into the water and didn't reach out to grab me." Phillip has his defense and the two are enjoying verbal sparring over the episode. A few others fell in a different points, but all made it through the rapids safely.
Teamwork and unity are a requirement in white water rafting. When the guide says to paddle, all have to paddle. When the guide says to pull the oars up, all have to do it. Again, this was a good exercise for our youth. They were required to work together for a common purpose. I wish I could take the entire church out for an event like that so we could realized that we are all working for a common purpose of making Christ known and work together to make that happen. The youth came back from their white water excursion chattering away about the trip and in a way most didn't realize: closer to each other.
When we were all reunited and the rafters put on dry clothes it was time for lunch. I will tell you that the enjoyment of mission camp is the mission itself (see previous post for how I now see this mission), not the food. The food at camp keeps us alive. That's about all I can say about it. Today, it was sloppy joe's for lunch. I could only get through about a quarter of my sloppy joe before giving it a proper burial in the trash can. And that is unusual for me because I hate throwing away food. But it was that bad. The fries with the sloppy joe's were like eating pencils. We determined then and there that we wanted pizza from a recognizable source like Papa Johns or Dominos for dinner.
After lunch we went into town to do a little sightseeing. Small as the town of Copperhill is, at this time of year, there is a constant stream of tourists. The Blue Ridge Expressway train carries a new load of tourists in every hour. There are shops with mountain decor and speciality items, a nice scenic river, and a few places to eat. Near the center of town, there is a blue line painted across the main street and into some parking lots that is the official state line between Georgia and Tennessee. Several posed for pictures with a foot on both sides of the line proving that a person can, in fact, be two places at one time.
We returned to camp, had some free time then headed back to town for our closing ceremony. We were meeting Al and Jean MacKenzie at the Horseshoe Bend park again. Al and Jean picked up Pizza Hut pizza from Blue Ridge. They stayed in Ellijay, Georgia at an RV park and Blue Ridge was on their way to Copperhill. Blue Ridge also had the only chain pizza place around. Pizza Hut was a big hit. Compared to camp food, it was five star dining. Veritable manna from heaven.
Eddie, Betty and their daughter Jaclyn, owners of the house where we spent most of our week, joined us in the park. They came to bless and thank us. They also brought a bench that our team started and they completed, painted and wanted us to sign. All of us signed it and Betty was going to seal it then put it on their porch to remember us. We circled together and talked and laughed for a while. Betty shared some poetry with us on what it means to them to have met us and how we helped them. With tears in her eyes, she thanked us. Eddie too talked about what this week meant to him. It was hard for this strong man to not be able to provide for his family after a job loss and with a chronic health issue causing him great pain as he walks. It occurred to me that many in this country know Eddie's inner struggle in today's economy. With a prayer from Al MacKenzie and after lots of hugs from the team, they were off and that chapter of our mission was over. There was a feeling of loss mixed with the satisfaction of having done something useful for God and for a family in need.
The final act of the week took the next four hours. In that same circle, the team took turns sharing where we saw Christ at work in each of the team members during the week. When it was time for each person, we began with a fun award printed on a paper plate for each person. Little Charlene, for example, got overcoming her fears award for dealing with her fear of bugs, minnows that nip at your toes, "roller coaster" roads and others. I got an award for being able to change out of jeans and into a bathing suit in broad daylight with complete modesty under cover of a single towel. The bathrooms were closed and I wanted to swim, so I got into the bushes, grabbed a towel and improvised. After each person got their award, the sharing began. And so did the tears. And so did the laughter. It was a meaningful, if not exhausting (four hours!) process. No one was skipped and heart-felt thoughts were shared. Poor Amy started the tears when she began to talk about Al and how much he meant to her. Then the faucet of her eyes opened more when she got to Jean who is like a mother to her. By the time she moved on to a few others, she was a wonderful, blubbering mess.
Imagine yourself as a middle or high school student and a group of your peers and leaders share their thoughts about what an important person you are and how God is visible in your life in very specific ways. Imagine what an affirmation that is. In a youth culture that is filled with biting sacrasm and put-downs, this was the polar opposite. This was encouraging. This was seeing the good and speaking it. This was blessing in the fullest sense of the word.
Part of the reason for the lengthy ceremony is we had to leave the park when it closed. We also left the strangest duck on the planet. It was a black duck with no fear of humans and a not-all-there kind of personality. He wanted food, of course, but even when he realized he wasn't getting any, he still hung around and stared us down. Odd duck. Once we got back to camp, we also had a few episodes of teenage drama to deal with during the closing. In some ways, they were welcome relief to the tears and laughter and heart-felt sentiments being shared. It other ways, they were just plain frustrating.
Satisfied, we finished the ceremony at 1 am. Breakfast I announced, was at 5 am. Departure for home was 6 am. Like the trip here, travel would be done on little sleep, especially for Amy and me, the drivers.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Day Five - Thursday, July 30
Grace and peace...
We finished the work on Eddie and Betty's house yesterday, so today we moved on to Birdie's house. Birdie is an older woman with some type of speech impediment who was just thrilled to have the team there. Her home and her neighhborhood reminded me of homes in Central America. It was build on a cut-out of a mountainside. Ground level was a good five feet below the road level. The work was painting and the challenge was stabilizing ladders on the sloped terrain. The team got done what was needed and what we could, although weariness was evident on the part of all. It's been a long week.
I got to thinking about this work we are doing this week. We are on a mission trip. We have done them before and, God willing, we will do them again. But these are not OUR trips. We are the participants and leaders, but the mission of the team, like the mission of the church, does not originate in the heart of humans who lead Christ's church. These are God's trips and they originate in the heart of God. And the mission of God is often times not what we initally think. The mission of God seems always greater, always, higher, always bigger than our human minds can imagine. In our case, we may have thought the mission was to work on a few houses for those who truly are in need, but God's mission on this trip has been, is and continues to be greater still. It certainly is the work of our hands, but it is more as well.
Our mission has been rooted in a larger mission of God this week. In case you didn't know it, our youth group has some strong personalities. We are not that different than other youth groups. But still, we have some intense personalities. We also have students who have experienced pain, rejection, betrayal, and struggles with parents, to name a few issues. At the same time, all of these students, like the many in this camp, are searching for meaning and identity in their young lives. They are watching the grown ups all around them to see if we really believe our faith does do all we say it does. They are questioning whether God is for or against them and whether God can be trusted with their lives. So we come here thinking that our work is to paint and build and do some landscaping while God is saying, "I have so much more in mind for this trip. I want to go to those places from which those strong personalities originate... I want to go to that pain of the students... I want to go to that place of search... I want to go to those doubts... AND I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF KNOWN AND LET THESE STUDENT KNOW MY GREAT LOVE FOR THEM." Whatever else has been happening this week, that mission of God has broken through in undeniable ways and is has been good.
Late this afternoon, we met at the stable on the ranch and went horsebackriding. All of us rode through fields and through mountain trails. Some rode for the first time. One of the young men on this trip, DJ, was riding his horse, Striker, in front of me on the trail. My horse, Joe, got a little too close for comfort and Striker took a step forward and kicked Joe with all he had. Fortunately for Joe, Stiker did not live up to his name and missed Joe. Unfornately for me, I took the full force of the kick on the muscle part of my shin. We decided to change the name of that horse to El Diablo. My sin nature about which I will speak on Sunday was trying hard to make its way out. Translation: I was ready to shoot that horse. Six hours and one ice pack later, I am just now beginning to get feeling back in my foot and lower leg and what I am feeling is sore. Ironically, DJ, Striker's rider, slipped and injured his knee the other day. His horse kept brushing him against trees which aggrevated his knee. So this evening, DJ and I were a mess during worship. We hobbled around together and discussed what we would be doing together while were WEREN'T going white water rafting with the rest of the team in the morning.
Even with conflicts that have arisen from the strong personalities, even with the questions and doubts, even with the injuries, God continues to amaze me with his provision and care. Tonight after worship, our team went out to the field on top of the mountain and we, the leaders, washed the feet of the students. It was a moving experience that was rich in symbolism of the kind of life we are to live as a follower of Jesus here in this place and, more importantly, when we get home. Particularly meaningful was when my daughter Christina washed my feet. Like last night, many tears were shed, especially when we moved over to the large cross around which the entire camp circled and sang praises to God. Even the steady rain that began to fall could not take us away or diminish our spirits. God was on that mountain tonight and his missional purposes were being fulfilled.
I look forward to being back with you on Sunday. We return Saturday evening and hope to see you in church.
We finished the work on Eddie and Betty's house yesterday, so today we moved on to Birdie's house. Birdie is an older woman with some type of speech impediment who was just thrilled to have the team there. Her home and her neighhborhood reminded me of homes in Central America. It was build on a cut-out of a mountainside. Ground level was a good five feet below the road level. The work was painting and the challenge was stabilizing ladders on the sloped terrain. The team got done what was needed and what we could, although weariness was evident on the part of all. It's been a long week.
I got to thinking about this work we are doing this week. We are on a mission trip. We have done them before and, God willing, we will do them again. But these are not OUR trips. We are the participants and leaders, but the mission of the team, like the mission of the church, does not originate in the heart of humans who lead Christ's church. These are God's trips and they originate in the heart of God. And the mission of God is often times not what we initally think. The mission of God seems always greater, always, higher, always bigger than our human minds can imagine. In our case, we may have thought the mission was to work on a few houses for those who truly are in need, but God's mission on this trip has been, is and continues to be greater still. It certainly is the work of our hands, but it is more as well.
Our mission has been rooted in a larger mission of God this week. In case you didn't know it, our youth group has some strong personalities. We are not that different than other youth groups. But still, we have some intense personalities. We also have students who have experienced pain, rejection, betrayal, and struggles with parents, to name a few issues. At the same time, all of these students, like the many in this camp, are searching for meaning and identity in their young lives. They are watching the grown ups all around them to see if we really believe our faith does do all we say it does. They are questioning whether God is for or against them and whether God can be trusted with their lives. So we come here thinking that our work is to paint and build and do some landscaping while God is saying, "I have so much more in mind for this trip. I want to go to those places from which those strong personalities originate... I want to go to that pain of the students... I want to go to that place of search... I want to go to those doubts... AND I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF KNOWN AND LET THESE STUDENT KNOW MY GREAT LOVE FOR THEM." Whatever else has been happening this week, that mission of God has broken through in undeniable ways and is has been good.
Late this afternoon, we met at the stable on the ranch and went horsebackriding. All of us rode through fields and through mountain trails. Some rode for the first time. One of the young men on this trip, DJ, was riding his horse, Striker, in front of me on the trail. My horse, Joe, got a little too close for comfort and Striker took a step forward and kicked Joe with all he had. Fortunately for Joe, Stiker did not live up to his name and missed Joe. Unfornately for me, I took the full force of the kick on the muscle part of my shin. We decided to change the name of that horse to El Diablo. My sin nature about which I will speak on Sunday was trying hard to make its way out. Translation: I was ready to shoot that horse. Six hours and one ice pack later, I am just now beginning to get feeling back in my foot and lower leg and what I am feeling is sore. Ironically, DJ, Striker's rider, slipped and injured his knee the other day. His horse kept brushing him against trees which aggrevated his knee. So this evening, DJ and I were a mess during worship. We hobbled around together and discussed what we would be doing together while were WEREN'T going white water rafting with the rest of the team in the morning.
Even with conflicts that have arisen from the strong personalities, even with the questions and doubts, even with the injuries, God continues to amaze me with his provision and care. Tonight after worship, our team went out to the field on top of the mountain and we, the leaders, washed the feet of the students. It was a moving experience that was rich in symbolism of the kind of life we are to live as a follower of Jesus here in this place and, more importantly, when we get home. Particularly meaningful was when my daughter Christina washed my feet. Like last night, many tears were shed, especially when we moved over to the large cross around which the entire camp circled and sang praises to God. Even the steady rain that began to fall could not take us away or diminish our spirits. God was on that mountain tonight and his missional purposes were being fulfilled.
I look forward to being back with you on Sunday. We return Saturday evening and hope to see you in church.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day Four - Wednesday, July 29
Grace and peace...
I begin with this evening. During chapel tonight, a young man named Andrew talked about humility before God. The message was about being honest with ourselves about who we are and the need to live consistently for Christ. He spoke of how it happens that we are faithful and committed to Christ only to fall away again to a lifestyle of selfishness and sin. He told his own sturggles with this pattern and then showed a video of a dance done in a church that was, in a word, powerful. I've seen the video probably a half a dozen times before and cry everytime. It shows the personal nature of the life the Father in heaven wants to have with us and the many distractions that pull us away from him and eventually turn destructive. It shows the Father protecting us and fighting away those destructive things in order to gain back the personal relationship with us. Afterward, we sang a song that spoke of the love God has for all of us.
Sometimes words can't describe an experience. Something happened in that chapel tonight that brought together four days of work, laughter, prayers, conflicts, and study. God fed the minds and stirred the hearts of all of us. Not one person, myself included, left unchanged. Tears were flowing. During the last song and into our group time after evening worship, God settled on the group like the fog on these Blue Ridge mountains. God engulfed us and hearts were opened. Students opened their hearts, shared their struggles and sins, prayed for renewal of life and cried in each others' arms. Christina led the discussion, Amy had history with them and was able to talk directly to their life situations and I led a prayer of invitation to commitment/renewed commitment to live for Christ. Around a fire ring on a Tennessee mountain, we stood on holy ground and talked, wept and prayed. Heaven and earth touched this night and the presence of God was palpable.
Some have said it takes the lens of history to accurately see all the factors that play out in any given moment. It will take weeks if not months to begin to see all of the dynamics at work in this night and on this trip whole. For now, I can say that a handful of people you know and love have drawn close to God this night.
Briefly, we finished Eddie and Betty's home today and we will spend our remaining work time helping others teams complete their projects. Also, yesterday we had rain all afternoon and night. We are sleeping in cabins with tin roofs and heard the rain fall all night long. Even an occassional slamming door didn't take away that sound and peaceful sleeping. Oh, and we took an evening swim in a place called Bluehole at the Cherokee State Park. It was good to relax together after our longest day of work so far.
It is late. Very late. No rain tonight, but I think sleep with be just as sound. Time for bed.
I begin with this evening. During chapel tonight, a young man named Andrew talked about humility before God. The message was about being honest with ourselves about who we are and the need to live consistently for Christ. He spoke of how it happens that we are faithful and committed to Christ only to fall away again to a lifestyle of selfishness and sin. He told his own sturggles with this pattern and then showed a video of a dance done in a church that was, in a word, powerful. I've seen the video probably a half a dozen times before and cry everytime. It shows the personal nature of the life the Father in heaven wants to have with us and the many distractions that pull us away from him and eventually turn destructive. It shows the Father protecting us and fighting away those destructive things in order to gain back the personal relationship with us. Afterward, we sang a song that spoke of the love God has for all of us.
Sometimes words can't describe an experience. Something happened in that chapel tonight that brought together four days of work, laughter, prayers, conflicts, and study. God fed the minds and stirred the hearts of all of us. Not one person, myself included, left unchanged. Tears were flowing. During the last song and into our group time after evening worship, God settled on the group like the fog on these Blue Ridge mountains. God engulfed us and hearts were opened. Students opened their hearts, shared their struggles and sins, prayed for renewal of life and cried in each others' arms. Christina led the discussion, Amy had history with them and was able to talk directly to their life situations and I led a prayer of invitation to commitment/renewed commitment to live for Christ. Around a fire ring on a Tennessee mountain, we stood on holy ground and talked, wept and prayed. Heaven and earth touched this night and the presence of God was palpable.
Some have said it takes the lens of history to accurately see all the factors that play out in any given moment. It will take weeks if not months to begin to see all of the dynamics at work in this night and on this trip whole. For now, I can say that a handful of people you know and love have drawn close to God this night.
Briefly, we finished Eddie and Betty's home today and we will spend our remaining work time helping others teams complete their projects. Also, yesterday we had rain all afternoon and night. We are sleeping in cabins with tin roofs and heard the rain fall all night long. Even an occassional slamming door didn't take away that sound and peaceful sleeping. Oh, and we took an evening swim in a place called Bluehole at the Cherokee State Park. It was good to relax together after our longest day of work so far.
It is late. Very late. No rain tonight, but I think sleep with be just as sound. Time for bed.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day Three - Tuesday, July 28
Grace and peace...
Today was a day of working, struggling and seeing God's hand among us. We continued to work on Eddie and Betty's house The porch railing is complete, all but about five feet of scraping was done, much of the house got a coat of primer and some of it got the final coat of paint. Al MacKenzie is going to pick up some mulch tomorrow and we will do some landscape beautification. Rescreening will be done as well.
It was the usual start to the day. The other guys in the guy's cabin are from the Church of the Slamming Door Way Too Early in the Morning. These guys have something against cabin doors that close quietly Oddly enough, they are from Largo. Our skulls begin rattling about 6:30 a.m. when they got up. With that awakening, we made our way to the breakfast carbo-load. This morning it was hash browns, biscuits, fried chicken breast, cereal, and muffins. Believe it or not, our bodies are craving such food. We have been working hard. At 8:15 or so, we followed our leader, Hillary, to the worksite.
Hillary. Oh, Hillary. Let me tell you about Hillary, our young site leader from Alabama. Yesterday she drove her car into a ditch. After we got her out (no damage to her BMW), she got lost taking us to a park in a town with two stoplights where we were to have lunch. This morning, an announcement was made to the campers during breakfast saying some car keys were found. Hillary's. Then on the way to camp, she drove off the right side of the road several times and then drove across the center line several times. She was alone, so none of us were driving with her and she wasn't fiddling with the radio or cell phone. On the back window of her car, someone had written "Nice try." It was an inside joke from earlier in the summer. We concluded it must be a commentary on her driving. Sweet girl, loves the Lord, fun, happy and driving is just not her skill.
Lunch today was at the Horseshoe Bend Park in Copperhill. On a beautiful day with blue skies and perfect weather, we ate our Subway sandwiches at a pavilion next to Toccoa River. After lunch, we sat next to the river like people in a Monet painting. A few brave souls waded into the -75 degree water. Or so it seemed.
The family at the worksite is amazing. They are constantly working alongside us and excited about getting the work they were unable to do for themselves done. Eddie even went out to a nearby Amish market and bought watermelons to serve to the team tomorrow. I found out about this after we left and it is an act of great generosity on his part. Like the Hondurans, he doesn't have much, but what he has he wants to share with gratitude to God and the team.
On the worksite, the youth played the "Who I would rather get in a fight with" game. To play, you must choose between two people and decide which one you would rather fight. They were desperate for entertainment. The choices today included Batman or Superman, Twoface or the Riddler, Captain Kirk or Sirius Black, Sauron or Gimli, Pastor John or Pastor Norm (they like Norm better), Pastor John or Derek Womack (they liked Derek better... I see a pattern), and various combinations of themselves. This occupied two hours of arguing while painting. Nerd central.
The team is coming together well. Again, the leaders are having to deal with some tensions and some interpersonal things with the students, but overall the unity is strengthening by the hour. I'm proud of our older students for how they are including and looking after the younger students, Charlene and Dominque (7th graders) especially.
Shortly, we will head for chapel. I can tell you that two in our group are experiencing God in new ways, perhaps for the first time. It seems we are witnesses to an awakening of souls. I know we are all are experiencing soul renewal. I want to say that the several who are on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough are most on my mind, but the reality is I see that God has something in mind for every single person on this trip. Watching it unfold is like seeing large cumulonimbus clouds unfurl. You know what it is, you can't hurry it along and it is breathtaking to experience.
Pray for our students and us as leaders. Pray for safety, health, stamina and above all hearts that will be malleable to the shaping by the Holy Spirit. We miss you and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Today was a day of working, struggling and seeing God's hand among us. We continued to work on Eddie and Betty's house The porch railing is complete, all but about five feet of scraping was done, much of the house got a coat of primer and some of it got the final coat of paint. Al MacKenzie is going to pick up some mulch tomorrow and we will do some landscape beautification. Rescreening will be done as well.
It was the usual start to the day. The other guys in the guy's cabin are from the Church of the Slamming Door Way Too Early in the Morning. These guys have something against cabin doors that close quietly Oddly enough, they are from Largo. Our skulls begin rattling about 6:30 a.m. when they got up. With that awakening, we made our way to the breakfast carbo-load. This morning it was hash browns, biscuits, fried chicken breast, cereal, and muffins. Believe it or not, our bodies are craving such food. We have been working hard. At 8:15 or so, we followed our leader, Hillary, to the worksite.
Hillary. Oh, Hillary. Let me tell you about Hillary, our young site leader from Alabama. Yesterday she drove her car into a ditch. After we got her out (no damage to her BMW), she got lost taking us to a park in a town with two stoplights where we were to have lunch. This morning, an announcement was made to the campers during breakfast saying some car keys were found. Hillary's. Then on the way to camp, she drove off the right side of the road several times and then drove across the center line several times. She was alone, so none of us were driving with her and she wasn't fiddling with the radio or cell phone. On the back window of her car, someone had written "Nice try." It was an inside joke from earlier in the summer. We concluded it must be a commentary on her driving. Sweet girl, loves the Lord, fun, happy and driving is just not her skill.
Lunch today was at the Horseshoe Bend Park in Copperhill. On a beautiful day with blue skies and perfect weather, we ate our Subway sandwiches at a pavilion next to Toccoa River. After lunch, we sat next to the river like people in a Monet painting. A few brave souls waded into the -75 degree water. Or so it seemed.
The family at the worksite is amazing. They are constantly working alongside us and excited about getting the work they were unable to do for themselves done. Eddie even went out to a nearby Amish market and bought watermelons to serve to the team tomorrow. I found out about this after we left and it is an act of great generosity on his part. Like the Hondurans, he doesn't have much, but what he has he wants to share with gratitude to God and the team.
On the worksite, the youth played the "Who I would rather get in a fight with" game. To play, you must choose between two people and decide which one you would rather fight. They were desperate for entertainment. The choices today included Batman or Superman, Twoface or the Riddler, Captain Kirk or Sirius Black, Sauron or Gimli, Pastor John or Pastor Norm (they like Norm better), Pastor John or Derek Womack (they liked Derek better... I see a pattern), and various combinations of themselves. This occupied two hours of arguing while painting. Nerd central.
The team is coming together well. Again, the leaders are having to deal with some tensions and some interpersonal things with the students, but overall the unity is strengthening by the hour. I'm proud of our older students for how they are including and looking after the younger students, Charlene and Dominque (7th graders) especially.
Shortly, we will head for chapel. I can tell you that two in our group are experiencing God in new ways, perhaps for the first time. It seems we are witnesses to an awakening of souls. I know we are all are experiencing soul renewal. I want to say that the several who are on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough are most on my mind, but the reality is I see that God has something in mind for every single person on this trip. Watching it unfold is like seeing large cumulonimbus clouds unfurl. You know what it is, you can't hurry it along and it is breathtaking to experience.
Pray for our students and us as leaders. Pray for safety, health, stamina and above all hearts that will be malleable to the shaping by the Holy Spirit. We miss you and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
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