Day 5: Go-Karts and Putt-Putt

After several weeks of preparation and a full week of hard work in Salem, our mission trip with Union Gospel Mission is finished. It was a great experience for everyone involved. It was obvious from talking with the men and women involved with the mission that the work our students did was a great blessing and encouragement, and it is also apparent that our students learned a ton about ministry and God through the experience. Yesterday, our group went to Bullwinkle's and had a day to have fun together. George, one of the men who recently graduated from the program at UGM and is now an intern there, also came with us, along with his son, and it was great to get to spend some more time with him. We are all so thankful for everyone at Suburban and elsewhere who supported us with your prayers and encouragements. Also, I (David) am very thankful for the students on my Media Team (Ted, Alex, Michael, Jema, Sarah, and Maria) who helped design this blog, write for it, and take tons of pictures! Here are a few pictures from our day yesterday:

Day 4: Saying Goodbye

The easy part of our trip for our students is now done. Tomorrow they will face the more difficult, discouraging aspect of the trip--being owned by me (David) in go-karts and mini-golf at the family fun center. Today was our last day of work, and our students finished strong. A third of the students went to the men's mission and cleaned in one of the residence areas. Another group went to the Grear House, which offers transitional housing for graduates of the mission's program. At the Grear House, students did things that they are now pros at by laying bark dust in flower beds and painting lines in the parking lot. It was a great day, and our group has had a fantastic trip!

"Today was the last day of working at the mission. I had a lot of fun trying new things, and sometimes stepping out of my comfort zone to talk with the homeless and staff at the mission.  We spread 15 yards of bark dust, and used up about 12 and a 1/2 gallons of yellow paint.  We worked hard, and it was fun doing it.  It is fun getting to know all the kids in youth group and the staff better.  Aside from being bonked on the head a few times, I have had a ton of fun.  Hopefully I will get to go again in two years!"
-Jema

"Hello! :] Today has been pretty awesome... my group spent some time cleaning the men's dorms, like sanitizing the bunk beds and scraping gum that they stuck on the beds. I think we got these kinds of jobs instead of spreading bark dust or pulling weeds because they ran out of things to do for us (hehe :D). A guy named Gary played guitar and the sax for us, and he was pretty amazing at it. We all feel pretty proud of the accomplishments we've achieved here, but the fact that we're working in God's name is the satisfying part. I've really gotten to grow closer to the people in our youth group, and learned a lot about the men and women at UGM. Talking to them just feels fun and fulfilling, and hearing their testimonies touched me; I've teared up a few times... hahaha. Anyways, it was hard saying goodbye to the amazing workers at the mission, and I hope I'll be able to see how their lives have changed as time goes by. This mission trip has been an amazing experience for me; I've gotten closer to the kids at the youth group and learned so much about God. Please continue to pray for the people at the UGM; they still need more help then what we've given them. :]"
-Lauren


So, my day consisted of touring a new part of UGM, painting parking lot lines, and asking Chuck for more work. Today was a good day. :) I went two years ago and had an awesome time. I came this year and had an amazing time. I would really like to thank all the people that helped us get here. Whether it was through financial support or prayers. I would really like to thank all of our adult leaders. They took the time to come here with us and be amazing leaders both through work and in faith. Love you guys!!! :) This mission has meant a lot to all of us.We have met some pretty amazing men who had some pretty bad lives but were able to turn them around by devoting their lives to God. This mission trip has brought me closer to God and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. Sadly, this mission trip has gone by too fast. We have all had a great time!
 Thanks for all the Prayers, Love and Support,
-Jordan

  Cleaning the men's housing area.

In case you're looking for a good picture to put on the front of your family's next Christmas card.

Our new friend Michael; one of the men at the mission who worked with us all week.

Gary sharing music with us before we leave.

Our team! They're now available for hire for all your landscaping needs. All proceeds go to late-night Taco Bell runs for David.

Day 3: What Happens to the Gum You Put Under Your Chair

We're now on the homestrech for our trip. Today was our third day of working with Union Gospel Mission, and it was another busy one. Our students were split up into three different locations. Some returned to Simonka Place to finish laying bark dust and wood chips where they were needed. Others went to the UGM thrift store to paint lines in the parking lot, lay bark dust, and finish organizing the books. Our third group went to the men's mission, where they worked on cleaning up the chapel area. Our students have continued to do a great job. They seem to be impressing the staff at the mission with how quickly and how diligently they complete their tasks. They have also be doing a fantastic job of stepping out of their comfort zones and interacting with those at the mission when we eat their for lunch. We have more more day of working before we go to the family fun center on Friday and then head home! Thanks so much to those who have left words of encouragement. Keep them coming!

"I have to say, we did a pretty good job today. My group went back to Simonka to finish up the work over there, which included spreading barkchips under the playground and putting new barkdust on all the flower beds and around the trees. From what I've heard, there's not that much work for us to do tomorrow. If we all work hard then we can get that done and get some of the things that they didn't expect us to do =). We really need prayers for the strength and energy to get a lot done on our last day of work. I know I need it! I was so tired that I had to go take a nap as soon as we got back!!"
-Ted

Hello blog world. I was so happy with what we got done today. I got to paint almost an entire parking lot until we ran out of paint :( Being here at the mission has been life altering. Being around all of these people has made me realize how lucky I am and it has made me altogether more happy
-Sea

Hello, today has been amazing. Amazing people, stories, and perseverance. I can't even begin to explain just how proud I am of my youth group. I'm in an amazing group of people that worked very hard today. We did atrocious tasks with servants hearts. Things like scraping gum off of the bottom of chairs and cleaning sticky stuff and dirt off the walls. Although these tasks weren't fun, God really touched all of our hearts. I didn't hear a single complaint. Yesterday I sat by a guy named Steven, today I saw him and said hey and he smiled the biggest smile I have seen in a long time. We have also been blessed by an amazing group of people writing devotions for us, so that we continue to have servants' hearts. We did so much today that we ran out of things to do and had to go back early :( but I'm kinda happy that we worked so hard. Anyways, continue to pray for us, we still have one more full day of work to do :)
-Haley 

Eating lunch at the men's mission.

Finishing up the bark dust at the mission store.

The chapel at the men's mission, where our group did a lot of cleaning!

Taking a dip in the creek after a long, hot day of work!

 Some of the gum our students scraped off the bottom of chairs in the chapel. Sick!

Day 2: Landscaping 101

Today was a very busy day on our mission trip! All of our students went to the Simonka Place and did various jobs outside. Some painted new stripes in the parking lot (and some on their hands and clothes!), while other pulled weeds, spread new bark dust and wood chips, weed-whacked, or cleaned up trimmings from bushes. It was a very full day, but at the end of the day it was satisfying to be able to look at all we had accomplished. We're now halfway through our trip, so please continue to pray for us that we would continue to have the energy we need and the right attitudes as we serve. Also, parents and others, if you want to leave a comment to encourage our students, I (David) will be sure to share it with them. Just click on the link at the bottom of the post, choose "Name/URL," (or "Anonymous," if you'd rather), and write some words of encouragement. Thanks!

"Today I got to go to a place where there are great people..... and FOOD. Good food. God really touched my heart today after hearing BIG Mike's testimony (a good guy at the mission). I really want to come next year to see all the progress that we helped to happen. After this week I will cry more than a million times, I am so touched by the men at the mission, deeper than I think I have ever been before. It was spectacular! I am a lot closer to God and not only am I friends with more people, I feel like all the people that came are my family..... Well a good thing is I am not homesick because the cook is my mom! It is not only fun to help cook but to see my mom every day is so cool! And I know what we get eat before time :) ."
-Michael

"Well, today everybody went to Simonka Place to try to finish there. We worked on the hedges and the playground. The hedges were trimmed and we put down new wood chips in the playground. When we went to the mission for lunch our entire group went to eat with the men there. It was cool because no one was not by a man there (there were no woman, we were in the men's mission). I heard some stories about some of the people there. All of the stories involved bad choices which demonstrates the importance of good choices over bad."
-Alex

"I was certainly impressed with the work ethic of our middle schoolers.  Speaking as one who was recently at the same age as them, I can clearly remember NOT being as willing, determined, or persevering as they were today in working.  The main thing that they lacked were complaints, they were a little excessive in joy, and perhaps could have curbed their enthusiastic spirits to help and seek out work.  I'm proud that they have started finding their focus and realizing that these people they are helping are very real and in need of help.  I'm sure that they are leaving an impression on those at the Mission and in turn are being impacted by the experience and people they meet.  I, for one, am feeling the impact of both seeing the lives of the homeless men and women and the changing in attitudes and hearts of our students."
-Cameron

Repainting the curb at Simonka Place. (Next to the dumpster too. Hope it smelled good!)

Clearing out a flowerbed so we could put down new bark dust.

Cleaning up shrub clippings. 

Michael trimming the shrubs. After we were done working, he shared a very powerful testimony with us.

Day 1: Our Conquest Over Weeds and the Alphabet

It's finally begun! Today was the first day of our mission trip to Union Gospel Mission. We have been working so hard to prepare for the trip, and we are so excited that it is finally here. Today was a great day. We began by first taking a tour of the mens' mission, and we heard testimonies from three men whose lives have been changed by Christ through the work of UGM. We then split up, and some of us went to the mission's thrift store to do some weed-pulling and book-alphabetizing, while others went to Simonka Place (a women's and children's shelter) to do some yard work. Our hope is that by taking care of some of these chores, we will free up the staff of UGM to work directly with the men and women who are ministered to. 

"So today was are first day at the mission. It was sooo cool because we got a tour of the mission. I didn't really know what the mission was going to be like but I was really blown way with the mission and what they were doing. They really do run an amazing program at the mission. I also got to go to the thrift store. It was a cool place and one of the things there that really stuck out to me was that they had free Bibles and free bread at the thrift store which compared the Bible to our daily bread. At the thrift store I worked sorting books which was fun and it felt good to help even in small ways. I am excited for tomorrow and the rest of the week. I am also excited to help in other ways."
-Brooke 

"Today was the first day working. I began working in the women's and kids shelter. When we got there, we went on a tour of the Simonka Place. I was surprised that there were so few kids, counting up to about two or three. There was one teenager and one toddler. The toddler was so adorable. As we went through the tour, she took up to a lounging area for the short term women and kids. when we got in the room, the teenager was sorting out all the Uno cards in like 5 decks. I was in the front of the group and the teen and I made eye contact. She smiled and waved and I just smiled back. I had no idea if she knew what we were doing there. When she smiled and waved, it stuck out to me because even though she didn't know me, she was still welcoming. I'm excited to see whats in store for me."
-Erica

 With the tools of their trade to work outside at the store.

Organizing books at the store. It's a pretty big job!

Pulling weeds at Simonka Place.

Our men. Doing what men do.

And Away We Go!

The day is finally here. In just under an hour, we'll be heading off to Salem for our mission trip with Union Gospel Mission. Please be continuing to pray for us as we are gone this week: that we would be a blessing to the mission and that we'll become closer to God and to one another as we serve. Each night this week, we'll try to have a couple students write some thoughts about what we've been doing, so be sure to check in on those updates. Right now, we want to put up the last of what our students and adults wrote about why they are going and what they're looking forward to:

"Obviously missions work is extremely important in a believer's life. The clear benefit is the blessing that we can be to those involved with the mission. There are also spiritual benefits for myself. I'm hoping that I can be a help to the Kessis and James. I feel as though perhaps I can help the middle schoolers with my perspective as a high schooler. Of course I am sure to learn a lot about myself and how to be a leader by this experience."
-Cameron

"To help the less fortunate and to get some other things out of it."
-Alex

"The reason why I'm doing this is to help reach out to others and show them my love for Jesus. Also so I can make a difference in their lives. Another reason I'm going is because I feel God is calling me to go on this mission trip. The last reason I'm going is so I can help them with their place and just show them my love."
-Renee

"I hope to get something out of this trip like helping the poor."
-Josh

"I am going on this trip mainly to help other people and to grow closer to God. I am excited for getting to do a lot of work with my friends."
-Ted

Pray For Us!

Our mission trip to Salem is less than a week away! It's amazing how quickly the time has gone as we have been preparing to work with the Union Gospel Mission. In this last week before we leave, we would very much covet your prayers. We know that our trip will be much more fruitful when backed by the prayers of God's church. Here are a few ways that you can be praying for us between now and when we get back on July 16th:

• Pray that we would be safe in our travel and work, and that we would have good health while we are there.
• Pray that we would be productive in our work and that we have the energy we need to carry it out.
• Pray that we would have the right attitudes while we are there--that we be respectful and responsible.
• Pray that God would use this experience to draw us closer to him.
• Pray that we would be able to develop better relationships with one another as we work alongside each other.
• Pray for the staff and volunteers at UGM--that the work we do would be a blessing to them and the work that they have already been doing.
• Pray for the men and women who are ministered to by UGM--that they would see Christ in us and be encouraged and challenged in their own spiritual walk.

Finally, here's a few more selections of what our students and adults wrote about why they are going on the trip and what they're looking forward too. There's not too many of these left, so I'll do my best to make sure they all get put up before we leave!

"I am going on this trip mainly to help other people and to grow closer to God. I am excited for getting to do a lot of work with my friends."
-Ted

"What I am planning is to help, worship God, have fun, grow in ministry and help the less fortunate."
-Michael

"I'd like to go so that I can come closer to God and so that I can help to spread God's Word to people who need it. I'd also like to do it for the experience and to become closer with others in the youth group."
-Jema

"I want to go because I went last time and I got to meet cool people. It's really cool meeting new people and to see how God worked in their life. I liked helping them. It's fun to hear their stories and working with them. It's also a chance for us to get to know our own youth group more. When God works through their lives, you can tell."
-Libby

"To cook for everyone as a ministry and serve in any way I can."
-Kristie
(and that's a ministry the rest of us are all thankful for!)