One of the defining moments of the trip, and my favorite, occurred at a place called St. Thomas More. As we woke up that morning we were scheduled to work at another local kitchen/shelter in the town. However, upon our arrival, we were slightly dissapointed and at the same time somewhat excited to find that the entire building had been closed due to a sewage backup. The backup had become so bad that it had become a health hazard, and everybody, even staff, had been ordered to leave the building. It was kind of a bummer not to be able to help. We had been told that this would be the best kitchen that we had worked at yet, and there was a strong Christian foundation too, something lacking at the other kitchens. But after waiting around for a little while as our hosts made a number of phone calls, we were soon on our way to St. Thomas More's, a hospitalized retirement home that also dealt with rehabilitating injuries and the mentally ill.
I was very excited. I love medical stuff, and the idea of being able to talk with these people had my full attention. Sam, an avid outdoorsman and very good friend of mine, and I immediately headed to the third floor and walked into the first room that we were invited into. In that room we met a man by the name of Donald. He was a local, having lived in DC his entire life, a former stone mason, as well as a fan of hunting. We immediately hit it off, and listened as Donald told his story to us, his desire to get out of there as soon as possible (a common feeling among the residents there), and about his interest in and experience with hunting. Stories were swapped, laughs were shared, and we all had a good time.
Eventually, as the time came for our group to leave, Sam began to make his exit (I had left 15 minutes prior due to somebody on the fifth floor asking for company). Before Sam left though, Donald thanked the both of us for coming by. He's been in there for a month now, and nobody visits. His family does not call. He feels as if he's been forgotten. The churches in the area that do visit, quickly stop in, say a prayer, and leave. Donald thanked us for coming, for being the first ones to come and actually take an interest in him, and for taking the time to talk with him. It was somewhat hard to leave that place knowing that he would probably be alone for a long time afterwards, but I believe that God had us there for a purpose. I believe that we touched his heart just as much as he touched ours. And I can honestly say that I have never been happier about a sewage backup in my entire life.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Mission:DC
So we just got back from our missions trip in Washington DC, and it was awesome. We were there for a five days working among the homeless and helping out in some not-so-good parts of town. The trip was everything that I had hoped for. We went there with the goals of sharing the gospel, serving others, and opening up our students eyes to the world around them with the hopes that this would leave a lasting impact on their lives. And I think that all of our goals were met too.
I'm super proud of our team. This was the first missions trip for pretty much everybody, and they did an amazing job. Our students were more than happy to have the opportunity to serve others, were never afraid of stepping out of their comfort zones (or if they were, they did an excellent job of hiding it), and reached out to others on a daily basis.
How did they reach out and serve though? Well, our time was spent mainly ministering to the homeless. Every morning the group would go to a different kitchen/shelter around time to help prepare and distribute the meal, which turned out to be a lot more labor intensive than I thought it would be.
Evenings were spent in a local neighborhood working a VBS program for the kids. By the end of the week we had probably around 20ish kids coming for VBS, and another 20ish coming to play basketball, where we'd talk to them about Jesus as well.
After VBS, things weren't as routine. One day we toured the city, another the group went on a prayer walk, another was spent in worship, while on another day we did probably one of my favorite parts of the trip, the Urban Plunge, which was a way to experience what life is like as a homeless person. One is given a minimum amount of money ($2), and told to go throughout the city to find a meal for oneself as well as a homeless person, find a place to stay the night, and find a pair of socks. As you can imagine, it was a pretty difficult task, but it was very rewarding, and as the group met back together it was awesome to hear the stories that were shared.
Overall, this was one of the most rewarding missions trips that I have been on, as well as the most labor intensive. I think that being able to watch these guys do things that they had never even dreamed of experiencing before, and watching them thrive while they were doing it, was probably one of the most encouraging aspects of the trip. The groups eyes were opened, and they did their job better than we could have ever asked for. I'm proud of them, and looking forward to see what we can do for next year...
I'm super proud of our team. This was the first missions trip for pretty much everybody, and they did an amazing job. Our students were more than happy to have the opportunity to serve others, were never afraid of stepping out of their comfort zones (or if they were, they did an excellent job of hiding it), and reached out to others on a daily basis.
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| Mixing pasta by hand now = ibuprofen later |
Evenings were spent in a local neighborhood working a VBS program for the kids. By the end of the week we had probably around 20ish kids coming for VBS, and another 20ish coming to play basketball, where we'd talk to them about Jesus as well.
After VBS, things weren't as routine. One day we toured the city, another the group went on a prayer walk, another was spent in worship, while on another day we did probably one of my favorite parts of the trip, the Urban Plunge, which was a way to experience what life is like as a homeless person. One is given a minimum amount of money ($2), and told to go throughout the city to find a meal for oneself as well as a homeless person, find a place to stay the night, and find a pair of socks. As you can imagine, it was a pretty difficult task, but it was very rewarding, and as the group met back together it was awesome to hear the stories that were shared.
Overall, this was one of the most rewarding missions trips that I have been on, as well as the most labor intensive. I think that being able to watch these guys do things that they had never even dreamed of experiencing before, and watching them thrive while they were doing it, was probably one of the most encouraging aspects of the trip. The groups eyes were opened, and they did their job better than we could have ever asked for. I'm proud of them, and looking forward to see what we can do for next year...
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Yep, She's Probably Right
As I was riding in the car with my little sister, Maddy, earlier today we started asking each other somewhat challenging, yet ridiculous questions. When it was my turn, I asked whether or not if Jesus lives in your heart and you get a heart transplant, are you still saved? After thinking for a moment she replied, "He probably just moves to your liver." Sounds good to me.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Why Forks Are Better Than Spoons
At the aforementioned camp, while eating in the cafeteria one day, I noticed that much of the food in there made me want to gag when eaten with a spoon. However, when I ate the same food with a fork, the same food somehow became edible, if not somewhat tasty. After sharing this discovery with the rest of the table, I was surprised to find that I was not alone. It turned out that nearly everyone at the table had come to the same realization in the past. After discussing with each other for a while about our finds, these are the reasons that we came to believe that forks are better than spoons.
1) Circles taste gross - wait a minute. How can a shape have a taste? Much less taste disgusting? I believe the answer to this question relies on the shape that a spoon causes your tongue to conform to. Depressing one's tongue down into a bowl shape is very similar as to when a doctor gags you with an overgrown popsicle stick while you're getting your tonsils examined.
2) People can't slurp a fork - for those of us who suffer from the pet peeve of loathing the noise of people eating, this is a Godsend. Even if one tried their very best, slurping of a fork is practically impossible.
3) Forks don't feel slimy - think about it. Spoons just kind of slide right of your tongue. That's gross.
4) Spoons get in the way of your tongue - typically, when food is eaten with a fork, the food is on both sides of the prongs (a pretty cool word by the way. Another reason that forks are better.). However, when one eats with a spoon you taste the cold, slimy metal part first, as you tilt your wrist upwards in order to dump the spoon's contents into the back of your mouth. This process alone is bad enough, but add to that the metallic nastiness, and it becomes virtually unbearable.
5) Imagine eating a forkful of corn. -Not bad, eh? Now imagine eating a spoonful of corn. I just shivered a little.
So as you can see, forks are much better than spoons in just about every way. From the sound they make, to the consistency, all the way to the taste, forks have proven themselves superb. Next time that you have a choice between a fork and a spoon, pick the fork. Your tongue will thank you later.
1) Circles taste gross - wait a minute. How can a shape have a taste? Much less taste disgusting? I believe the answer to this question relies on the shape that a spoon causes your tongue to conform to. Depressing one's tongue down into a bowl shape is very similar as to when a doctor gags you with an overgrown popsicle stick while you're getting your tonsils examined.
2) People can't slurp a fork - for those of us who suffer from the pet peeve of loathing the noise of people eating, this is a Godsend. Even if one tried their very best, slurping of a fork is practically impossible.
3) Forks don't feel slimy - think about it. Spoons just kind of slide right of your tongue. That's gross.
4) Spoons get in the way of your tongue - typically, when food is eaten with a fork, the food is on both sides of the prongs (a pretty cool word by the way. Another reason that forks are better.). However, when one eats with a spoon you taste the cold, slimy metal part first, as you tilt your wrist upwards in order to dump the spoon's contents into the back of your mouth. This process alone is bad enough, but add to that the metallic nastiness, and it becomes virtually unbearable.
5) Imagine eating a forkful of corn. -Not bad, eh? Now imagine eating a spoonful of corn. I just shivered a little.
So as you can see, forks are much better than spoons in just about every way. From the sound they make, to the consistency, all the way to the taste, forks have proven themselves superb. Next time that you have a choice between a fork and a spoon, pick the fork. Your tongue will thank you later.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Need a LIFT?
So my youth group just got back from possibly the most amazing camp on the planet, LIFT camp. It was awesome. Why? Well, it wasn't just the awesome campus we were on, the ice-skating in shorts, the broomball, hanging out with friends, or the indoor soccer that made this place great (though it certainly helped). No, the main thing that made this camp such an amazing experience was watching and feeling God move through the students there. Over 100 students asked Christ into their lives this past week, and countless others made life changing decisions for Christ. The highlight of the week though, would have to have been last Thursday.
The night started out like any other night with both a lot of people and a lot of music. Then the drama team, Clear Vision, went up on stage. The skit they performed was about suicide. It showed a young girl's death, and then went on to show what the people who were closest to her were going through. The skit wasn't even over and dozens of people had already left the building in tears. I saw some of my guys slip out the back so I went back to check on them to see if they were alright. About an hour later I came back in the doors to find people everywhere in little huddles crying, praying, and talking. It turns out that this particular skit hit a lot of students closer to home than originally thought. Before the message had even began, four students had been saved, and there were even more after the night was over, including one of the guys from our group. It was such an awesome night to be able to see what was happening from the somewhat detached perspective of a person that didn't even get to see all that had happened, only a few minutes in the beginning. I was particularly proud of our group as well, because whenever one of them left for the back they were quickly followed by a good sized group of friends whom were willing to listen.
And for all this I say thank you to LIFT, Clear Vision, and to our students who were willing to help. Without all of you and your willingness to act like Christ none of this would have ever happened, and for that I am thankful.
The night started out like any other night with both a lot of people and a lot of music. Then the drama team, Clear Vision, went up on stage. The skit they performed was about suicide. It showed a young girl's death, and then went on to show what the people who were closest to her were going through. The skit wasn't even over and dozens of people had already left the building in tears. I saw some of my guys slip out the back so I went back to check on them to see if they were alright. About an hour later I came back in the doors to find people everywhere in little huddles crying, praying, and talking. It turns out that this particular skit hit a lot of students closer to home than originally thought. Before the message had even began, four students had been saved, and there were even more after the night was over, including one of the guys from our group. It was such an awesome night to be able to see what was happening from the somewhat detached perspective of a person that didn't even get to see all that had happened, only a few minutes in the beginning. I was particularly proud of our group as well, because whenever one of them left for the back they were quickly followed by a good sized group of friends whom were willing to listen.
And for all this I say thank you to LIFT, Clear Vision, and to our students who were willing to help. Without all of you and your willingness to act like Christ none of this would have ever happened, and for that I am thankful.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Through Hiker Season
It's that time of year again. Through-hiker season!, the few weeks in June when the majority of those through-hiking (going from Georgia to Maine) the Appalachian Trail pass through nearby to where I live. It's the time of year when one can come across individuals known as Leprechaun, Frenchy, Stinky, or my personal favorite, Cosmic John. If this doesn't make any sense, everybody that hikes on the trail sooner or later picks up a trail name based on a personal characteristic. Leprechaun was 4'5" with a red beard, Frenchy was from France, Stinky smelled, and I'm assuming Cosmic John used to use drugs, a lot.
I decided to set out to meet this year's most recent group in town. Knowing that the average through-hiker can burn well over 6,000 calories a day, I decided that instead of being that weird creepy guy that just shows up wanting to talk, I would hit up the Food Lion on my way out the door to be certain that I would be welcome. I then raced to the nearest, and often busiest, hiker campground only to find that it was completely deserted. Well, maybe not completely deserted. The campsite stretched a good distance into the trees and figuring that somebody would be way in the back I kept walking. My intuition proved itself correct, because I did find someone, at least their clothes anyway. The site is bordered by a river, which apparently happens to be a great place to go skinny dipping. I decided that I could find someone else to talk with instead.
When I finally got to where all the hikers were (a local hostel), I found that they were all (about 20) plopped down in front of a TV watching Tron. I said hi and that I had brought some Coke for them. They said thanks. Then I said that I had brought bananas for them too. This time they said thank you a little louder and with much more enthusiasm. Then I mentioned that I had brought ice cream sandwiches as well. At this the entire room erupted with cheers as smelly, greasy people came up to me and shook my hand, asked for my name, and gave up their seats for me so that I could watch the movie with them. I think that's the moment I won their trust.
It was an awesome night. We all watched the movie as jokes were made, and luke-warm Cokes (I looked for the hikers at the original site longer than initially expected) were passed around. I even picked up a trail name, Flip Flop! I did a lot of praying too. Mainly due to the guy beside me picking the skin off his foot and throwing it into the trash can on the other side of me though. I think for the most part they were answered. I never got hit, anyway, but his hands never got the severe cramps that I was praying for.
I decided to set out to meet this year's most recent group in town. Knowing that the average through-hiker can burn well over 6,000 calories a day, I decided that instead of being that weird creepy guy that just shows up wanting to talk, I would hit up the Food Lion on my way out the door to be certain that I would be welcome. I then raced to the nearest, and often busiest, hiker campground only to find that it was completely deserted. Well, maybe not completely deserted. The campsite stretched a good distance into the trees and figuring that somebody would be way in the back I kept walking. My intuition proved itself correct, because I did find someone, at least their clothes anyway. The site is bordered by a river, which apparently happens to be a great place to go skinny dipping. I decided that I could find someone else to talk with instead.
When I finally got to where all the hikers were (a local hostel), I found that they were all (about 20) plopped down in front of a TV watching Tron. I said hi and that I had brought some Coke for them. They said thanks. Then I said that I had brought bananas for them too. This time they said thank you a little louder and with much more enthusiasm. Then I mentioned that I had brought ice cream sandwiches as well. At this the entire room erupted with cheers as smelly, greasy people came up to me and shook my hand, asked for my name, and gave up their seats for me so that I could watch the movie with them. I think that's the moment I won their trust.
It was an awesome night. We all watched the movie as jokes were made, and luke-warm Cokes (I looked for the hikers at the original site longer than initially expected) were passed around. I even picked up a trail name, Flip Flop! I did a lot of praying too. Mainly due to the guy beside me picking the skin off his foot and throwing it into the trash can on the other side of me though. I think for the most part they were answered. I never got hit, anyway, but his hands never got the severe cramps that I was praying for.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A Broken Bottle
As I looked into the distance as I was walking down the beach the other day, I was surprised to see that something very shiny had just washed up in the surf. At first, I thought that it was probably somebody's old trash that they had simply been too lazy to throw away, but my curiosity got the best of me, and so I went to see what it was anyway. As I got closer, I realized that I had just stumbled upon (great website, by the way) what just about everybody that's ever been to a beach has dreamed of finding, a message in a bottle.
As I picked it up to get a closer look, I thought that some grandma somewhere had recently found a great way to bond with her grandkids. However, as I looked closer I didn't see the colored pirate ships and dinosaurs that I was expecting, but instead a younger woman's handwriting. The bottle didn't look to be too old. It was a 2010 Italian Pinot Grigio (I'm not sure what that says about the woman's tastes), and the label on the bottle was not worn barely at all. In fact, it looked like it could have been thrown in the water the day I picked it up, and seeing that I found it about 200 yards from a fishing pier, the owner was probably nervously watching as I picked it up.
As soon as I got back to the house I gathered my family and we cracked open the bottle as carefully as we could. The moment that the contents of the bottle were within reach, hands shot out from everywhere grabbing every last piece of paper that had previously been inside. It turns out that the message was one lady's form of venting. My little sisters quickly figured this out and put the pages back. Within those pages a plethora of people were addressed, in especially not-nice language, stating the ways that they had done her wrong. These peoples' lack of judgment, sheer stupidity, and extreme incompetence were all discussed over and over again. It turns out that the lady had watched as a coworker who had been there three months got promoted over her, who had been there three years, as she looked on in anger and frustration, and that this bottle was the only way that she could truly express what she was feeling (and boy, did she express it!).
I'm not sure what I really learned from this. Probably, that if I put a message in a bottle someday, I'm going to put a fake treasure map inside to get the reader's hopes up.Think about how much cooler of a post this would have been! I'd be writing about my preparations for a nationwide treasure hunt, instead of a random angry person. However, I did learn what this lady's grocery list was, as it was scratched out at the top of one of pages. Looks like watermelon and toilet paper were on the list for this week.
As soon as I got back to the house I gathered my family and we cracked open the bottle as carefully as we could. The moment that the contents of the bottle were within reach, hands shot out from everywhere grabbing every last piece of paper that had previously been inside. It turns out that the message was one lady's form of venting. My little sisters quickly figured this out and put the pages back. Within those pages a plethora of people were addressed, in especially not-nice language, stating the ways that they had done her wrong. These peoples' lack of judgment, sheer stupidity, and extreme incompetence were all discussed over and over again. It turns out that the lady had watched as a coworker who had been there three months got promoted over her, who had been there three years, as she looked on in anger and frustration, and that this bottle was the only way that she could truly express what she was feeling (and boy, did she express it!).
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| She must have been angry. There's over 30 pages here! |
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