And so it begins… a summer of more plane rides, receipt books, and ministry partners. This summer I am leading several short-term mission trips with Adventures in Missions. I kick started this season off with a trip to Dallas. My group included six eager youth group members and two leaders from a small town in Kansas. As they packed their bags Friday night and left the Sunflower State Saturday morning, they had no idea what all the Lord had in store for the upcoming week.
(The group plus the Adventures Project Leaders)
Sunday night was a casual orientation. We looked over the schedule, talked about expectations, and made plans for the week ahead. But as always, we held these plans with open hands so the Lord could do all he wanted.
Every morning we worked with OurCalling (www.ourcalling.org).
Their mission statement: “We believe that we are “called” (mandated) by God to help poor people. That help includes meeting both their physical and spiritual needs. We want to teach people how to live life to the fullest and to break the chains of poverty and dysfunction that have contributed to their situation.”
Each day we talked with people at the shelter, served them lunch, prayed with them, provided some of their physical needs, and more. One day we drove around the city and looked for people to give out food to. But our time at OurCalling was not just about providing the needs for the homeless. It was sitting and listening to stories of how faithful our God is. It was looking into the eyes of a poor man and seeing the eyes of Jesus. It was worshiping with fellow sons and daughters of the Most High God.
(One of the team members praying for a man that is homeless)
In the afternoons we partnered with Vickery Church to do a VBS at a local apartment complex. We sang songs, played games, taught the 10 commandments, gave out snacks, and just loved on some precious kids. The first day we only had 10 kids. By the end of the week, we were up to 40 kids. As we shared and played with them, they touched our lives with their smiles, laughter, and hugs.
(Water balloon fight the last day of VBS)
It was a beautiful week of being the Lord hands and feet to this city. It was not only life changing for those we were serving, but it was also a week to remember for everyone in our group.
Some of the kids said this about the week:
– “It was the best week of my life!”
– “I will never forget this week!”
– “It was awesome. Awesome! AWESOME!”
– “I can’t wait to come back next year.”
One of the kids even experienced God in a way he had never experienced Him before. After lots of talking, reading scripture, and praying with this team member, we BAPTIZED him Friday morning.
This week was an incredible week for me. I was so blessed by the ministries and the team.
