Mission: Rhodell - 2012

MISSION: RHODELL 2012 - WE’RE BACK

“Reader’s Digest” version:
15 team members
1 Bible lesson presented
7 (minimum) in-depth interactions with people
1 soul saved
1 bathroom & utility room cleaned and repainted
1 set of faucets replaced
1 basketball backboards secured
2 basketball rims/nets repaired
2 swings on an existing swing set put up
1 new swing set
1 lawn cut and groomed
1 community meal served
4 bags of purple sand (yes, purple sand by Crayola)
Lots of clothes, bicycles, and backpack with school supplies
This is just what I know of…

…And now, the rest of the story.
As a group we’re new to doing mission work; as a result, we learn a great deal each year.  This year I learned it’s not about the donations (what and how much); but rather how well the team deals with adversity (by no means did we encounter anything life threatening - well, there was that 18-wheeler coming ‘round the mountain, but I digress).  The team that deals with adversity is the team that travels to success.

DAY 1 - GOAL: Depart on Jul 9th at 10 a.m. arrive in Beckley at 4 p.m.
       REALITY:  Without going into details I’ll just say I knew there was trouble when I arrived home from working a midshift on Jul 9th at 8:10 a.m. having to walk around half-filled suitcases as I’m greeted by our dog (who should have been boarded) while seeking to have a quick breakfast before Evelyn had to go to Wal-Mart to straighten a mistake regarding money wired to the Philippines…is Silas awake?
       ADVERSITY: I manage to pack the bags into the Jeep as Silas goes to get the trailer with bicycles on them while Evelyn and Bethany take Cookie to be boarded (she’s our dog).  I’m calmly approaching the church parking lot minutes after 10 a.m.  Eager faces look at me as I roll up to the crowd, I exit my vehicle to announce, “How ‘bout we leave at 11!”  Quickly explaining the hold up, I encourage everyone to move indoors as the heat began swelling in the rural air.
    In all honesty I can say panic had not set in; urgency, yes but not panic.  The next 30 minutes was a blur as we rushed to fill a trailer, switch from a van to a truck (then transfer the bikes), and (oh, yeah) load the luggage into the church van.  Then, while I was inside making some copies I looked out the window to see…Evelyn and Bethany - it only took them 30 minutes (Praise the Lord!).  I step out into the hallway - BACKPACKS! The backpacks with the school supplies still had to be loaded.  We get that done and about 11 a.m. we were on the road.

    GOAL:  Arriving at Beckley West Virginia by 4 p.m. there’s enough time to travel to Rhodell and scout out the work to be done; thereby, allowing us to pick up supplies on the way in Tues morning.
    REALITY:  We arrived at 6 p.m. We discuss our options and determine there is a need for us to go out to Rhodell - tonight. 
    ADVERSITY:  I call our point of contact, Marie.  No answer, I leave a message.  We have pizza; I call Marie.  No answer, I leave a message (I should mention I called her twice in the van before getting to Beckley).  We didn’t go.  The “Land Hurricane” that came through the area the previous week had knocked out power and phones.  We’re now looking at having to go out, survey what we can do, drive to town (30 minutes - minimum), get supplies, lunch, drive back.  More than half the day will likely be gone.

Day One comes to a close with a devotion given by Karen and singing praises to the Lord.

Rhodell Town Hall/Police Dept.

DAY 2:  Breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by devotion from Pastor Keith on the importance of representing Jesus Christ and how that relates to our testimony.  We’re through the mountain roads and into Rhodell before 10 a.m.  We greet Paul and Marie (they oversee The Open Door) then begin unloading the trailer with boxes of clothing and other goods.  Our main goals are to clean and paint the bathroom, as well as, do some work on the playground (including putting up a new swing set), interact with people in the community, and share Jesus in word and deed.
    As we survey, we list.  I ask about being able to speak with the Mayor.  We hope to be doing some work in his community I figure we should get the Mayor’s okay on it.  Two are asked to help prep the bathroom, DeeDee and Monte.  As we assess, we list.  I ask about being able to speak with the Mayor.  He’s on his way.  Pastor Keith, Silas, and BJ are working on the existing swing set.  The Mayor is over at the Town Hall!  I inform Pastor Keith and in a few moments we’re on our way over.  Before we even introduce ourselves he’s taking us around to the back of the Town Hall/police station.  He’s a couple paces ahead of us, we lose him going around the back corner.  We’re behind him by only a second or two when we clear the corner and see the door of an aluminum storage shed being raised.  The mayor presents us with a few boxes of swing chains, brackets, and swing seats.  Taking the boxes back to the front we introduce ourselves, what our purpose is, and how we came to take an interest in Rhodell.  He was receptive to what we had to offer (touché, a blow against adversity).
    With the cobwebs down, walls washed, floors swept, and work done on the swing set we made our list and strategized about coordinating lunch, picking up supplies, and picking up the swingset ordered at Wal-Mart.
    ADVERSITY:  First, The Wal-Mart holding the swing was on the opposite side of Beckley.  Now, Beckley is no San Francisco, but when you’ve already lost half a days work…Second, I’m stepping into Wal-Mart, I brush my back pocket with my hand to check my wallet - IT”S NOT THERE!  It’s 12:30 p.m. I need to shop and I haven’t had lunch yet, and no wallet; I do have some cash.  I score lunch at the deli and buy a drink.  My phone rings, “Hello.” 
The voice says, “Hi Dad, Mom wants to know if you have the credit card designated for this trip.”
Does adversity come in herds?  I respond, “No.  No, I don’t have it.” 
    As I reflect back I realize there was no panic setting in.  This is the Lord’s mission trip.  We are simply being used to carry out His tasks; so, I figure, “Let me check in at the ‘Site-to-Store’ counter and verify the swings presence while I’m working on lunch.”  Little did I know I’d be waiting 15 minutes before getting help.  After that it was five minutes at the paint counter.  While waiting, Evelyn comes to the store.  I keep looking for her, and the children who are traveling with us, to come around the corner; but, they never show.  Since I know they’re in the store I finish getting the paint and some other items on the list then headed across the store - I find them.  They’re shopping for tomorrow’s community lunch.  Well, after all is said and done we’re back in the van and headed for Rhodell. 
    Once we hit Rhodell we all dispersed to our tasks.  Monte, DeeDee, and I went to paint the bathroom and the utility room.  Evelyn and Mr. Noah worked on the BBQ grill.  Pastor Keith, Silas, and BJ wrestled (literally) with the basketball backboard and rim.  The kids were doing what kids do best - play.  Karen was getting to know Paul and Marie and helping to prepare for tomorrow‘s community meal.  As far as when we finished - specifically, I couldn’t tell you.

 7:00 p.m. - We were in Applebee’s for dinner.

9:00 p.m. - I check the, “Our Daily Bread” reading I intended to use for tomorrow’s devotion - Aug 12, it’s about service; seems appropriate.

1:00 a.m. - I’m still up; been trying to sleep for an hour.  “Check the ‘Daily Bread,’” I find myself saying.  So, I roll out of bed, pick up the devotional and start thumbing through the days, past the subscription card, then I find it.  “Why does that seem familiar?”  I’m at peace.

DAY 3 - CONFIRMATION:
    Breakfast and my turn to do devotion.

    Something you need to know before I continue.  For almost a year I’ve been carrying tri-fold pamphlets that I created about Rhodell.  On the front is a verse of scripture.  Galatians 6:9, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (NASB, emphasis mine)

    I opened the devotion by sharing what the Lord had showed me regarding the purpose of this mission trip.  While our donations were meager compared to last year that’s not what this year was about.  It was about handling adversity.  I said adversity either tears a team apart or it pulls them together.  “The team that handles adversity is the team that travels to success.” (I know this was from the Lord because I’m not the inspiration saying type of guy).  I moved on to the devotion by asking Gracie to read what was on the front of the pamphlet about Rhodell.  I then read the devotion, “Touch One Life,”  want to guess what the scripture was that went with the reading?  Galatians 6:6-10.  This is how God’s Word confirms.

    So, as we’re headed out to the van when someone says, “Are we going to get more water?”  “Yes.” came from somewhere in the crowd.  This meant stopping by Wal-Mart (No, there was another Wal-Mart on our way to Rhodell).  Silas parks the van at the front of the store, Evelyn gets up to go in as Karen says she’ll go with her.  Moments later DeeDee says, “Do they know to get the basketball net?”  We all look at each other with puzzled looks suddenly knowing what this means - three women in Wal-Mart and we’re in a hurry.  Needless to say we were getting restless.  I offered to go in, but they wouldn’t let me.  I promised to tie a rope around my waist so they could pull me out if need be.  After more coaxing I was hopping out of the van.  Entering the store I thought I heard the sound of the Mission: Impossible theme song - maybe not.  I made a run down the check out lines; realizing when I got to the end they may have gone out behind me when I wasn’t looking.  I expedited my exit to the door I had entered - the van was gone (I really needed that theme song music now!).  Looking down toward the garden center I see the van hidden behind a pallet of dirt…um, soil.
    No sooner do I get in the van when I look out the back window to see the “shopping crew” come out with two cases of water, the basketball rims and nets, a number of other bags, two plants, and four bags of purple sand (it’s made by crayola).

    The play-by-play as far as the work is concerned is not as important as the other events of the day.  Shortly after rolling into Rhodell and getting to work Mr. Noah was tending the fire in the BBQ grill and Karen is gathering the children for a Bible lesson.  Those of us on the paint detail worked for a couple hours then ate lunch.  About this time, I noticed Pastor Keith and Evelyn talking with a young man named Ricky.  About 20 feet away I saw Sharon and a police officer looking on while conversing (I’m not sure, but I think it was about this time that the Lord made time stand still - I‘ll explain later).  I had already spoken with two of the residents and made my way to speak with the policeman.  Some more work and we’re finished with the bathroom, now the utility room which I’ve already prepped.  With the utility room being smaller than the bathroom and three of us working it I go on to another task - speaking with the Pastor of the Church of God.  Without an appointment nor any prior notification of my wanting to meet with him, he motioned for me to come in his office.  I let him know who I am, why we are here, and if we might partner with him and the Church to work with the residents of Rhodell.  He shared that he’s been pasturing there for 27 years, his love for the people of Rhodell, and the story behind the parking lot.  He said he welcomed the support.  We prayed before I left to go back to The Open Door.
    As I walked back I looked over to the playground area and realized they had started putting together the swing set, “This late in the afternoon?” I thought to myself as I returned to the bathroom.  Some finishing accessories needed to be put up and we were done with the bathroom.  About this time Karen came inside mentioning both her and Silas thought it was about time to go home.  As I gave her comment some thought I realized I found myself thinking the same thing as I walked past where the swing set was being put up.  With the bathroom done, I headed out to help with the swing set.  This in itself was several “You had to be there” moments which equated to opportunities for handling adversity.  They were the pretty standard occurrences: short one bolt, bars on the wrong side of support poles, the main beam across the top was upside down (after putting the bench swing and another swing on).  What made the moments of adversity special opportunities was having a group of people, including one local resident, working together and in the midst of these misstep no fights, no arguments; and all of it done by about 6:30 p.m.  It was on the drive back to Beckley it was shared that Ricky had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior (PRAISE THE LORD!).

 

     For the evening some wanted to go shopping, the kids wanted to go swimming, Pastor Keith and I went to the IHOP next door.  All I was wanting were some flavored pancakes and Pastor Keith had his taste buds set on Belgian waffles.  Lo and behold the waitress tells him the waffle maker is broken (adversity right to the end).  I suggested she bring him some pancakes with a blueberry on it.  She was a good sport and brought his pancakes with a single blueberry on top.  We finished our meal and headed back to the hotel.

DAY 4 - WE TRAVEL
    After breakfast the next morning Sharon gave the devotion before we headed out.  We were shooting for 9 a.m.; got out about 20 after.  The six hour ride home (which took us seven hours on the way there) took us about six hours and ten minutes.  We praise the Lord for all that He did and all that He provided.  We look forward to seeing Him move more “mountains” in Rhodell.

Mr. Noah & Sonja

A Real Community Effort

The New Rims & Net Get a Workout