Through the words of a senior leader in this group, Allison: Through Bridge to life we delivered over 40 meals to homeless men and women. Not only did we give them a meal, but we also learned their life stories and prayed with them. It truly was an amazing experience to see Jesus in each of the people we served!
I'm so proud of this group! They had an amazing opportunity teaming up with Bridge to Life and they DID NOT let it slip away. They stepped BOLDLY out of their comfort zone to answer the call and bring the Light and Love of Christ to homeless strangers under bridges. Truly some great moments came of it--more than just giving some people some much needed food. These kids were shown hospitality, were prayed over by the homeless, were welcomes
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Just woke up from a mini hibernation after a wonderful week spent in Chicago. I was tired enough before getting surprised with a spot-start sermon on Sunday morning. When Sue, our music director, told me there had been no communication with or guest preacher, I figured I might have to step up again to preach after last-minute notice. So, I went through my notes and reflections from our worships of the previous week and gave my initial account of the activity and aftermath of our mission trip. Phew! What a whirlwind. I suppose it may have been better to preach after only being back for about 15 hours rather than having a ton of time to prepare... However, one of these days it may be nice to have more warning than an hour before leading worship. Who knows, maybe I get worse the more preparation I have.
Hey everyone it is Allison! We are more than half way home. Per is driving the senior van...yikes! I think he has started rapping or beat boxing to the majority of songs. He also has smeared his face on our window a couple of times (Becca always enjoyed that) and has climbed over all of us to the back to"get something". Needless to say it is pretty hard to sleep in our van!Speaking of Per, I, along with everyone else, would like to thank him for the amount of time and work he put in to make MT13 possible. We are truly blessed to have a youth director who loves what he does and who does a beyond amazing job at it.We also would like to give a big thank you to our other eight chaperones: Jon, Michelle, Dan, Alicia, Heidi, Sheldon, Janet, and Brian. We really appreciate that they took a week of vacation to spend it with us. They each, including Per, have impacted our lives this past week more than they'll ever know.We also would like to thank each of our parents for giving us the opportunity to go on this trip. It would not have been possible if it were not for both your financial support and more importantly your spiritual support.It truly has been an amazing a week in an amazing city with amazing people! I think we were all a little scared before the mission trip to take on the big city of Chicago, but it felt very safe knowing that God has His arms tightly around us as we went out to serve His children at: the YMCA, Casa Central, Schneider Low-Income Senior Living, By the Hand, Bridge to Life, A Just Harvest, and the Living Room. We were able to see Jesus in all of the people we served this week, whether they were young or old, black or white, or homeless or hungry. And even though we were able to change their lives for the short time we were in them, we all agreed that they changed our lives even more. With the prayer tour, immersion, ethnic plunge, dinner at Puerto Rican, Greek, Thai, Afghan, Chinese, Mediterranean, and Peruvian restaurants, and the beautiful diversity of the city itself, we are coming home with a new prospective on the world. I met a homeless man named Johnny on Tuesday night through Bridge to Life. He told me that we cannot judge each other based on our outside appearances because we each we were created in God's image. He said rather we have to look at their hearts. I think God reminded each of us that this week. Not only were we able to serve the community of Chicago this week, but we were also able to strengthen our relationships amongst each other. We were a special group in that we were all so close. We were able to be ourselves and be completely open with each other. We laughed together, cried together, and gave each other the tightest hugs every night during the exchange of peace at worship. I think each of us made at least one, if not more, new lifelong friend this week. There was also a connection in each of the vans this week that will surely never fade.As we come home and continue to serve our brothers and sisters in need, we must continue to live out our faith. Hopefully, we will also continue to strength our relationships with each other and God as well. It is beautiful that we do not need a mission trip setting to do this. As Johnny told me, two people praising God, anywhere at anytime, is the church. We are the church, so let us continue shining God's light.With love towards all my WOGs and MOGs and brothers and sisters in Christ,Allison
This mural has an awesome story... Rival gang members in the area worked together with a local church to paint it so as it would be protected and preserved!
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Per NestingenThese are the voyages of the LOC youth. We are on a lifelong mission to explore strange, new questions, to seek out new life in Christ and a new sense of community, and to boldly go where Christ calls us to go. Archives
August 2014
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