WOW! Finally, this year is conducive to writing a summary of our mission trip. Yes, we've still been going on the mission trip; and the Lord has been blessing us to continue being a blessing to those we serve. In fact, probably the most significant thing going on is the Lord raising up another leader in our group. It's not just a Biblical principle-even secular corporations make sure they groom people for leadership. And so it is that Bridget has been the coordinator for the mission trip this year. A couple other things of interest happened this year: 1) Our daughter, Bethany, is taking on a leadership role in overseeing the registration team. 2) We had about a 60/40 ratio of veteran team members to newbies. 3) One of our "last minute" team members, Alan, was a shining star during our trip (I always hesitate singling anyone out as it can diminish the effort others put forth. I do this more to show how the Lord can use someone in our group who came at the last minute). 4) We added a third location to our itinerary, Mullens, also turned out to be the largest town. 5) I had an opportunity to break away from the group and meet with other agencies to explore expanding the ministry. 6) In order to make that happen someone had to drive the church bus-Kay Carroll came to the rescue on that. 7) I was also able to take one of Lindy's photo's and prepare it for exhibition at the Beckley Arts Center (she is a woman we have come to know who has shown a gift for photography). Okay, it was more than a couple; and that's not all, I'm saving the best for last.
What makes the framing of the photo a notable event? First, the timing of the event; we were there Aug 9-12, the exhibit opening was scheduled for Aug 17. When I called Hobby Lobby before the trip, I was told it might take two weeks to get framed. Lindy's photo will be on display until Sept 17th; stop by The Beckley Arts Center if you're in the area.They were able to do it one! Kay Carroll driving the bus? The day before we left I had an issue with my eye that lasted seven hours and left me with slightly blurry vision most of the trip.
The past couple years I've started
feeling a conviction to get a tutoring program started at The Open Door.
Before leaving I contacted an Americorps office in West Virginia, who put me in
contact with Volunteer West Virginia, who put me in contact with West Virginia
University Extension Office (Charleston WV), who gave me an email to a lady
with West Virginia University in Beckley (whew). Some might say I was
given the run around; I say the Lord needed me to demonstrate my willingness to
go through a few "hoops" to reach the goal (a measure of my
willingness to persist). My meeting with Barbara was on the afternoon of
the first day. Though the meeting was short, it was productive. The
Board of Education wants to see more local tutoring programs believing kids
will do better and have more support when closer to home. There are,
however, understandably, many requirements.
Meanwhile back in Whitby...As the
group unloaded from the bus and the van they were greeted by Joe and Tammy, our
hosts. The first order of business was unloading kitchen supplies and
getting the canopies up for the VBS stations. What to do with the towns
people who came to participate? An ice breaker game of soccer, of course.
There was a major project to tackle, the new playground set. As the
registration table was set up kids signed in for backpacks with school supplies
they would receive by days end. Because we arrive in the later part of
the morning we go ahead and serve lunch before the VBS activities.
Today's menu, BBQ chicken with potatoes and carrots.
This years theme was "Walk With
Christ" involving five different stations. All five stations were
filled and the kids and adults rotated. There was Terry Carroll's station
of the Last Supper/Foot Washing; those attending partook in a "supper"
of kool-aid and cheez its; Jennifer's station was the Garden of Gethsemane
where participant's completed a garden gate craft; Karen's station was focused
of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the craft being...you guessed
it-a palm leaf! The station was facilitated by Gloria where the attention
was on the Crown of Thorns...no! No! We did not have the children put on their
own crown of thorns! May it never be. It was a wire bracelet
without any "thorns". Object lesson, that's all. The
final station was conducted by Pastor Daniel. He told of Christ's
crucifixion and how being the sacrifice is the payment of our sins. This
was illustrated by having those attending his session to write down their sins
on a piece of paper that dissolves in water. So yes, they leave Pastor
Daniel's table with nothing (in a way that's good).
To close the afternoon we provided
an opportunity for kids (and sometimes adults) to show case their
talents. We then had Church with Yvette delivering a message about
hope. As church was going on, preparations were being made for the
backpack and bicycle distribution. Oh yeah, the playground set crew made
it back to the hotel a little late, but they got the job done. Praise the
Lord.
To close the afternoon we provided
an opportunity for kids (and sometimes adults) to show case their
talents. We then had Church with Yvette delivering a message about
hope. As church was going on, preparations were being made for the
backpack and bicycle distribution. Oh yeah, the playground set crew made
it back to the hotel a little late, but they got the job done. Praise the
Lord.
My Day Two started early, meeting
with Charlene, Director of Operations of the Mullens Operation Center (M.O.C.,
for details visit www.railwv.org) and Ruby.
I learned a great deal about other supportive efforts going on in
Mullens (we don’t want to encroach on others efforts and to find ways to work
together) and that Ruby is very involved in helping children in Rhodell. Once finished, I met up with the team at
United Methodist church. With this being
our first visit here we had to deal with the logistics of a limited parking
space but the benefit of a professionally equipped kitchen. Evelyn works to get the kitchen crew
organized. Our menu today with a
professionally equipped kitchen?
Spaghetti! Which, by the way,
should not be served on flat Styrofoam plates; you can figure what the floor
was decorated with. We had over 80
children register for backpacks and with the significantly larger group it was
helpful that some of the local people were helping us with registration and
other functions during the day.
Our schedule was the same (with
built in flexibility to issues that “pop” up), but it’s also an opportunity to
hone our processes-especially the VBS stations.
After a time of assembly in the sanctuary, kids were sorted into five
groups and guided to the appropriate station.
After two group rotations lunch was served (they must do a great job
waxing the floors because there were no stains [whew]). As the stations were going through their
final rotations some of the team were outside preparing the backpacks and food
bags. Kudos to our team member, Alan, who
took it upon himself to be guardian for two boys who did not seem able to
settle into the group activities. Our
final task was to distribute the backpacks, food bags, and bicycles.
Day three was Rhodell (no meetings
for me today). While the setting is different from the previous two
locations, it is familiar. Our point of contacts here are Paul and Marie;
they've been keeping The Open Door open for many years. By now you know
our routine; but Rhodell is not routine, because we've come to know the people.
One little girl we've come to know is Neveah, she about seven. Asked what
she wanted to do when she grew up she replied, "I want to be like you
(serving others). She was given one of our group T-shirts to grow
into.
While not with them in there
day-to-day struggles we string together the annual pieces of life. For
some it's good; one going to college, another a job at Wal-Mart, for someone
else a new marriage. For others; taking care of a new baby...by herself,
while another experiences a string of loses, and someone else, unable to
progress-is getting left behind.
Oh, I forgot to tell you how our day
started. We made our usual Wal-Mart run dressed in our group
T-shirts. We spread out to gather our days supplies. Myself,
Evelyn, Bethany, Stephen, Karen, and Markell were approached by a tall middle
aged man who asked what our group was doing (you need to know, it was in
Wal-Mart last year when Yvette was approached by the person who connected us
with the Mullens Methodist Church). We explained and he introduces
himself as the youth pastor of one of the local churches!!! They have a
camp ground with a dormitory!!!
Each night we finished with a
devotion and a group meeting to process the days events and discuss the next
days plan. Our last day gave us an opportunity to have Church poolside at the
hotel. We would make a stop at a
homeless shelter in Beckley to leave whatever goods we had left. We spent a little time talking and getting to
know some of the people. At that point,
we were on the road again and given safe passage back home. Praise the Lord! Thank you to everyone who contributed and
provided prayer support.
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