And just like that...

And just like that it's over. The last day on site was completed and with no major injuries and a lot of tired campers. Sure there was some paint in conspicuous places and they wore dirty clothes and had sweaty bodies but there was a real sense of accomplishment. We did missions this week!

Without spoiling the surprise, I'll let them share on Sunday night July 24.

I am amazed that 47 people can come from 47 perspectives and places in their spiritual lives and watch God meet everyone where they are. There is no human way to try to pull that off. It is definitely a God thing. I asked everyone to share their week's perspective on a card which I hope to get in your hands by Sunday. I don't read them until I get home but there was certainly some thought put into them. We have laughed a lot and cried some together and I am grateful to be heading home.

Tonight was mega relay. A night of goofy relay events with 500 participants. It's loud and competitive and good, clean fun. It does a youth pastor good to watch hundreds of kids have such a great time. Gotta love Nate Francis' headband and Tanner Myers' cheesecutter cap (that's a flat cap to the rest of you). Very natty.

Planking is this year's favorite pasttime. I know, right? I had to be reminded about this arcane art that is exeriencing a resurgence. I am sure there will be pictures. Disclaimer-no student, animal or public property was hurt during the taking of the photos.

For you who wonder about the next generation, how about these comments: "I wish the preaching was longer," and "I like it when they do an altar call."

In the boy meets girl department: Austin has discovered girls! Now back away from the facebook post Mrs. Carpenter. It 's more like girls have discovered Austin. You might ask him about it but he's keeping pretty tight-lipped :) I am thankful he was carrying his inhaler.

In the when in Rome department. No RC Cola but you just have to have a moon pie when you're in KY.

Try as we might (and I went to four nursing homes in Corbin, KY with Adam) we did not find one person who had ever seen Colonel Sanders in person. I did meet one lady (the green snake lady) that had no desire to see him. Probably a chick-fil-a fan.

We're coming home-see you soon.

Day Three-Second day on site

The heat returned when the clouds burned off but we are getting some things done and projects are being completed. Our emphasis this week is for all of us to see how our mission assignments connect to our own faith journey. It is very easy to see these things as projects and to do lists and it makes it hard when you are not having face-to-face interactions with people. Dan was able to share that he has learned that tackling the cleaning of a food and clothing center enables the center workers . It gives them the time to minister and not have to worry about the other things. I think we are starting to get it.

Tonight's special recognition goes to our adult chaperones. Mission trips would not happen without them and they outdone themselves. They have been positive and engaging and intentional. They are a gifted group and I am grateful for everything they do. If you see them Sunday, pat them on the back and tell them thanks. We also held a talent show and the FBC youth praise band got to perform. It was a high energy performance and a lot of fun to watch. Congratulations to the band.

But, it is not lost on anyone that tomorrow is our last day on site. The challenge is to go out and make it the best day yet. Please pray that it is.

I just want you to know how well our kids handle themselves at these events. I am really proud of them in every way.

So while Dan and Rob are off playing euchre with the boys and Dave and Al are safely tucked in their beds and Lynda and Shanna and Missy and Patty are having another late night conversation with the girls, I believe I will probably read about four lines in my book before I fall asleep.

Day Two-First Day on Site

Kids got to spend the day at their ministry sites today but first we had to endure a significant lightning storm before we could head out but it only set us back a few minutes. Just to give you some ideas of the variety of things kids are doing: Karissa is painting the home and clearing the yard of a lady in the hospital. Shania is building sandstone steps at a local camp. Note: Shania now has pick ax skills. Adam is playing guitar at nursing homes. Chad and Alana cleaned and sorted in a local thrift store/ shelter. Ethan is mowing yards tomorrow. Rob painted a cafeteria at juvenile facility. Nathan is doing vbs in housing complexes. Kids are all over and you have my permission to ask them about it.

Our goal as adult leaders is to engage every student, every day. We are debriefing kids at dinner and in our group time and letting them process the day's activities and the day's lessons from scripture. Today's theme was connecting to the lost.

Tonight we (our church group) honored our "seniors". We are blessed to have 8 kids who have graduated yet took the time in this crazy, busy transition period before college to come serve with us. I think that's pretty special.

We also got a treat from Bev. She put together snack packs for all of us in chinese food take out containers. Each box contained a puzzle piece that our seniors put together. Connected together we formed a recognizable picture. Scattered individuals are not nearly as effective as a unified group hence the importance of being connected. Tomorrow we honor another special group. Stay tuned for details.

On the lighter side of camp, tonight we had nightlife with minute to win it games. Xavier Taylor found the winning skills to move a cookie from his forehead to his mouth using only his face-Fear the Beard! Maddie McConnell took first place by stacking three apples in the shortest time. Not exactly marketable skills but...

Things I should verify on wikipedia: I was told by a nursing home resident today that if you throw a green snake into fire his feet will pop out. How does this come up you ask? I really can't remember, I was too busy trying to stay engaged in the conversation. But honestly a lot went by while I kept thinking about tiny little snake feet. There is a story about a Peruvian death worm but that requires further wikipedia research.

Not much changes: I hitched a ride with Al to grab lunches this morning. After a few unsuccesful attempts to find his way, Al told me that he and Dave made a run last night to find the lunch place to avoid...wait for it..."just what was happening right now".

And in the let's make convesation but I really want to know department: We (Adam and I) spent some time in two nursing homes today in Corbin, KY. I overheard Adam ask one lady if she had ever seen Colonel Sanders having grown up here. So far I have not met any Corbinites that have actually seen him. Yeah, it's true, I wanted to know too.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is day two on site. Please pray that the kids will see that doing things in Jesus' name is significant regardless of whether we can "connect" all the dots or not. Let us not be weary in well doing.

Day One Is Nearly Done

I think we are finally settled in and the excitement is running high. We all found the dining hall and the information overload began. We have things to do, places to be and people to see and there is a lot to process. We try really hard to make sure new kids feel comfortable about their schedule and their surroundings.

Tonight we met our camp pastor who introduced our theme of "connect". There has got to be something God wants me to get since everywhere I go, that's the theme. We were divided into track groups tonight. That's the type of ministry we will do. None of our kids are alone in a group and we have lots of different places to go. More on that in a minute. Adam Droscha and I are creative. Or so they think. We will be visiting six places to share and sing. We will be in Williamsburg, Corbin and Jellico, TN. I think we have people in 18 different tracks and tonight we shared stories of what was to come. Yardwork, shelters, nursing homes, apartment complexes are all on the list. There will be plenty of stories after tomorrow.

Tonight was also the night to share prayer partner cards with everyone. Thank you to all the prayer partners for your commitment. All that God does here is because people pray.

There is definite excitement about the ministry opportunities. Tomorrow will be a great time of church group devotions.

It's been a good day. Of course any day on a mission trip without the introduction a law enforcement official is a good day.

Notes from all over:

I (Ryan) have a girl in my track that shares that she is REAAAAALY sensitive to getting poison ivy. I guess holding hands with her in the prayer circle would be a bad idea. Makes you scratch your head and think doesn't it? At least I do.

Lynda reports that Austin is the mature one in her group. Compliment to Austin or criticism of her group-you decide.

I take Bev to Shipshewana for our 30th anniversary. She buys a giant pixie stick for Austin. Where did the romance go?

Rob noted that the steep embankments on campus would make perfect sliding venues should we receive a gully-washer like last year.

Thanks to Justin for reminding me that I need sunscreen for mi cabeza.

I'll be happy to pass on your comments to the group. Until tomorrow.

Welcome to the surface of the sun

"Sweltering heat hits central U.S."

No kidding! I cannot remember this kind of heat. It's only a 106 heat index today. On the bright side, kids made it to church for our early take-off and we made it out the door by 3:45 am. With two potty stops and lunch we were ready to tackle the Cumberlands. We did have a small bout with a carsick student. If you call three walmart bags full a small bout. All was better after ginger ale and crackers. Gotta keep moving.

We arrived shortly after one and registration is always a challenge with lots to keep track of. Keys, pictures, room asignments, name cards, maps, etc. With a little practice we will all get the routine down. The next scheduled event is dinner and then our opening celebration! The kids are excited for a great week of ministry. I think they're ready.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my wonderful chaperones on their first trip to Walmart for water, their souls to keep...

Almost home

Just like that it's over. Another mission trip comes to a close except for that twelve hours on the road part. I will share the kid's impressions of the trip with everyone in next week's bulletin. We also will share in person on the 25th at the Sunday night fellowship at the Halliwell's. It's a bittersweet thing when these things end. Some of us want to get home. Some of us want to stay where it's fun and exciting and safe and easy to live out your faith. All of us need to go home and do what God has told us to do.

We have finished closing celebration. I blame Maddie for bringing the beach ball. It's always a good time for me to watch kids having fun. Right now kids are out for the last few minutes collecting names for Facebook requests and exchanging cell phone numbers. They'll have to write them down of course because our kids don't have their phones to enter them remember?

We'll be leaving tomorrow at 10 and making it all the way home.

Things I learned today:

1. Rap music is less appreciated at a nursing home than cake and ice cream.

2. Alabama/ Auburn is a big deal here. I had a kid on my track that wore an Auburn hat. He met a man that introduced himself as: Jack Burgans-Roll Tide

3. Austin makes a great wing man.

Our camp pastor closed with the best thought for the week. It's easy to leave camp celebrating the friends we met or the music or the ministry. But we should leave celebrating the One we do all this for.

Keep praying. See you in church.








Things I learned today:

1. Rap music is less appreciated at a nursing home than cake and ice cream.

2. The Alabama/Auburn rivalry is a big deal here. I had a kid on my track that wore an Auburn hat to our site. He met a man today who introduced himslef as: Jack Burgans-Roll Tide

Mega Relay and the Rainstorm

There's something funny that happens when we realize that we don't have much time left. Our attention gets more focused. It happens at camp on Thursday when you realize there's just one more day left. I decided to write in the morning because I just ran out of gas last night. I suppose missing some sleep the night before with Sara had a lot to do with it.

We have kids doing vacation Bible school for a country church. We had kids working at homeless shelters and food banks and in rec centers. We have kids mowing lawns, weeding and picking up trash. We have kids in housing projects playing with the neighborhood kids. We have kids playing bingo and checkers and doing puzzles in nursing homes. You can be proud of your kids. All the reports I have received tell me that our kids are participating and serving with enthusiasm. The truth is they are looking for that big, emotional experience, that big story that just may not come. I pray for a year that God will accomplish what He needs to (which He is going to do anyway) but also that I will see it so that I can point it out to them along the way.

As I shared earlier, this is the year God is teaching us the progression of life in Christ. We have a starting point. This is a journey. We are adding endurance to our faith one sermon at a time, one quiet time at a time, one act of service at a time and one mission trip at a time. This is the process of becoming like Christ. This is how it works.

This morning a student wants to have breakfast and I was told to put on my big boy pants because they have some questions. I'm not sure what that means but I will find out. Sounds eerily like Job 38:3. Another leader had a brief conversation with one of our kids about salvation. They (the student) are just not sure. They don't quite understand and are just not ready yet. I believe their words were "I am a little scared". I can appreciate their honesty.

In any case the day is before us.

Sara is doing better. She doesn't look 100% yet but is so much better than yesterday. Thanks to Missy who spent the day with her and took care of her. Leaders like Missy are indispensable.

Things I learned today:

1.Gravity still works-all the time. We experienced a very heavy rain shower yesterday afternoon. Samford is built on the side of a hill and I knew that the rain had to rush down from the top. After all God had been teaching me about gravity all week. Sure enough on the slope near the cafeteria the water was cascading down the stairway. Some of our boys were also sliding down the wet grass, getting muddy and having a great time. Enter the first responders. It seems campus security frowns upon such exuberant behavior. The boys were told to stop but not before they had had plenty of fun. Not to be outdone, Patty lost her footing and had her own slip and slide adventure. She's all right and assured me she takes harder falls at school. Footnote about the hilly terrain. Yesterday Dan said there were boys "throwing" Bryant down the hill. Bryant was participating voluntarily. When I asked why, he said: There was a hill, there was Bryant..

2. This old man can still roll home-Yes last night was mega relay, a gigantic, one after the other, usually messy relay race. We participate with our mission track groups. My group was desperate for some veteran leadership. OK they were just desperate, so I got to participate for the first time and I have the floor burns to prove it. The field was too wet from the rain so we were in the gym. Running, diving and crawling, I did the best I could. And I will have you know this included doing one push up. That's right ONE. Good thing I have been working out.

3. Austin makes a fine wheelbarrow. I didn't see it myself because I was PARTICIPATING but Austin was the wheelbarrow for his team in the classic wheelbarrow race. Let's just say the the "pusher" got moving faster than Austin could and well you can guess how that worked. Austin, taking one for the team, plowed on-literally.

4. One scraped up knee looks pretty much like the next. I made it to my bus yesterday to see our track leader swabbing the leg of a student who had fallen. Sure enough, it was our own Aly Hill. Undaunted she continued and participated vigorously for our team in mega relay eating chocolate pudding out of a diaper. It's a mega relay thing.

5. It still feels great when a student says thank you. I shared with our group last night that each trip is different and cautioned them about comparing how "good" a trip is. God works in each one differently because we all come to these things at a different place. She told me thanks because that was what she needed to hear. That's exactly what I need to hear.

The final footnote on the day. Yesterday was Sam Freiburger's birthday. I heard happy birthday sung three times to Sam. In the cafeteria on my track at lunch and in our church group devotions. Her mom sent a gift and requested that I get Sam a chance to call home. I told her I would and at this moment I am not sure if it happened. If she didn't...Dear Mrs' Freiburger: Sam was having so much fun that she forgot to call. Yeah, that's not going to fly. I'll just have to apologize in person.

Keep praying. One day left on site.