We are 4 days into this trip and I want to give a brief recap of the days and activities. I hesitate to use the term "business as usual" b/c this isn't even remotely true for mission trips. Yes, we keep a schedule similar to years past, but past that, things change and change and change over time. I will try and point that out in my recap ...
Saturday
Loaded up and on the road by 8.30 am - right on schedule! No exciting trip stories - just time for fellowship and music. Arrive to campus around 3 pm, thinking we would check into the apartments and get this part of the trip started. Nope ... didn't work out that way! As I was checking our group in, I was told that our girls would be staying in one dorm and the guys in another dorm - across campus! Granted, Lincoln Memorial University isn't huge - but, since 2007, our groups have always stayed in the apartments and have been right next to each other for the entire trip! Now, that isn't so. The girls are staying in a dorm with other girls - 2 to a room and a community restroom/showers for each floor. The guys are in a dorm where we each have our own rooms and bathrooms. It was assigned this way b/c there is an abundance of girls this year, and they are fitting them in wherever they can. Thankfully, the WOARP girls took most of this in stride and settled in. The rest of Saturday was spent in Middlesboro shopping, eating and preparing. We met for worship that evening and began our week series on "Prayer". It was a good intro to the week!
Sunday
Up by 7 am, breakfast at 8 am, music practice for a while, then at the church by 11 am for worship with Flatwoods UMC. Turns out that their new pastor had his first Sunday that same day! He gave a great sermon on the power of sin and our part in it. Very convicting as we begin a week of teaching kids what sin is and how to repent of it from the story of Jonah!
The church had a cookout following the service, with hamburgers, fried chicken and all kinds of sides. After eating, we changed into our team shirts and shorts and split up to canvas the area. There is a trick to the art of canvassing - we look for any traces of children in and around the house. Toys, little push cars, playgrounds, tree houses ... all of that tells us that they may be some children there. So, we drive around and look for these signs. The youth do a great job of going up to the door and telling the families about why we are there and how much we would love to have their kids join us for the week! After a couple hours of canvassing, it is back to the church to prep the whole church for the week. This always takes longer than I think - but the WOARP youth are great about getting it done and making the church and their rooms so inviting for the kids and engaging for the lessons!
After finishing up, we head back to the basement of the guys dorm to eat some pizza, hang out, learn some new songs for the week and basically rest up for the whirlwind of the week that lies in front of us. Not so much early to bed as much as just taking a deep breath!
Monday
This is it! Up early, breakfast at 6.45 am, on the road by 7.15 am. We are already tired but know that God is always faithful! VBS starts at 9 am with 17 kids! There are a lot of repeats from previous years which is really encouraging. It was a great first day!
Of course, it is July 4th ... but time has a way of slowing down and reality kind of slips away. Many of us forget that this is Independence Day! But, we remember to go into Middlesboro after our prayer meeting. Some of the kids from VBS are there and we hang out with them, play some football, go to the DQ and watch fireworks. Then, back to the campus and into bed for another crazy day!
Tuesday
Even better than Monday! Things ran smooth and the WOARP missionaries are working together like a well-oiled machine. This is a group of youth who love each other, respect each other and want to operate as a team. What a joy to experience this!
Some of the kids asked some tough questions today -what is the Trinity? How does it 'work'? Our youth are happy to field these questions and talk them through.
Here are some pics from this week. Remember to keep track of our Twitter updates. Also, please keep me in your prayers - I am preaching tomorrow night at large group ... pray that I would have clarity of thought and ENERGY!
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