I didn't take this photo but stood in about the same spot with a half dozen elks in the meadow. It's amazing the wildlife you see out here. For me I've seen moose, bears, elks, deer, foxes, and birds like I've never seen before. It's just amazing to be so close.
Picture this now. 52 high school students spread out over a mountainside. The sun is setting and each person is taking a few minutes to grow individually grow closer to God. It was a moment that gives you chills. And it was one of the most dramatic moments I have spent on any mission trip. Last night we took a "Spirit Walk." In small groups, our mission trippers ascended a mountain path. Along the way there were 5 rest stops, with a member of our adult group waiting to share insight into communion. Communion with the church, church family, friends, our families and God were there topics of the insights. Then the small groups gathered near the top of the trail, spread out individually on tree trunks, fallen logs, or just stood and stared at the mountain in the distance as the sun set on our day. It's hard to find words to give the scene justice, but trust me, it was a very special moment.
Yesterday was the day to finish our work for the week. Our fence crew set more than 175 posts on the YMCA entrance. They stretched every 12 feet, so perhaps that is close to a mile of fence post. The other half of our fence crew put in the rails and finished nearly half of the posts set. We'll share photos later, but it looks amazing. The painting crew has finished over 20 staff rooms. New paint, holes patch and shelves and trim all freshened. And our "slash crew" has huge piles of logs and brush piled high all over the children's cabins areas. I can't even imagine how many trees they cleared, certainly over 1000 this week.
The YMCA staff is a bit overwhelmed. Many people come here to volunteer, but most don't commit 3 solid days of hard work to make the YMCA staff lives better. Usually volunteers are serving other guests, in the cafeteria, or front desk or in the facilities throughout the grounds. We came to serve the servants. Our YMCA staff group assigned to our project brought out a gallon of ice cream, chocolate syrup and cookies to celebrate our work. It was a great way to end 3 days in the sun!
Most of the YMCA staff are college students, members of Navigators and here to serve the people who come to enjoy and worship at this resort. Our YMCA staffers told us at the end of the day that they had been on many mission trips themselves, serving others, but they had never been served themselves. It was very touching.
Mission trips are about building relationships. And our kids have truly done that. You start the week with kids that know each other hanging out together. But slowly though the week, they meet the youth from the other church, and friendships grow. By last night you couldn't tell which group was from which church as they were so intermixed.
Today is a free day. We have hikes planned into the mountains, a high ropes course test for everyone, and use of all the great facilities at the complex. Tonight the YMCA is hosting all of us for an ice cream party and then we will have our own bonfire where we will reflect on the week and give the youth and adults the moving forward challenge. Hopefully God will give each of us the right words to plant the seeds necessary for the right seeds to be planted. I won't be posting tomorrow as we leave at 5 AM for home. Sometime after midnight we should be back in Champaign.
But I'll try and recap the trip Sunday. By the way, Derrick, Jim and I will be giving the message on Sunday, discussing all that has been accomplished. I hope I'm awake for that! :) Thank you all for your support, your donations and your prayers. We all know you are thinking of us and praying for us. It really makes a difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment