Youth Mission Trip to Louisville, July 3-8, 2011

Front row Liz, Gary, Brevin, Steven, Mary Lynn
back row Kurt and Mary

Five youth and two adults from Garden City Presbyterian Church traveled to Louisville KY on an youth mission trip, July 2-10.  We drove a little over half way and stopped at Trinity Presbyterian in Columbia, MO where Rim Massey is pastor.  Surrounded by trees and with a park behind, it was a great first night stop.  Pasta factory for supper!  Yum!

Here we are Sunday evening as we arrive  - Louisville or bust!  Notice we are traveling in the Trinity Lutheran of Garden City church van - thanks Leland!

Arrived in Louisville - 900 miles from Garden City - on Sunday evening about 5:00 pm where we met the other 6 church youth groups.  They were from United Methodist of Platteville, WI,  Zion Lutheran of Belvediere, IL, Christ Lutheran of Valparaiso, IN; Church of the Nazarene, Webster Grove, MO;  Trinity UMC, Defiance, OH; Swatara Church of God, Harrisburg PA.  There were seventy-two of us, plus four staff from YouthWorks in Louisville to serve with love as Jesus hands' and feet and face. 


Our home away from home was the Youth Suite of the Second Presbyterian Church of Louisville.  They had a great kitchen facility, classrooms for sleeping, a gym, showers and an atrium for games and morning devotions, evening worship and free time. 

Gary & some new friends

We were mixed up and divided into five work crews.  After 7:15 am breakfast we packed lunches, had morning devotions, and by 8:45 we were to be leaving for our work sites.  Work crews were named for Louisville icons: Jockeys, Sluggers, Ale 8’s, Cardinals and Seabiscuits. 

Packing our own sack lunches.

Steven and Gary were assigned to the Cardinals, along with adult leader Kurt.  Mary Lynn, Liz, Brevin and I were Seabiscuits.  On July 4^th all five YouthWorks crews reported to the Crescent Hill Arts and Music festival where we  erected a tent, manned gates, carried water, picked up trash or worked in the jazz or food booth, and did whatever we were asked to do by the festival organizers.

After Monday the Seabiscuits went to a different work site each day, but it always involved painting. New Directions is a housing agency with lots of painting and fixing projects – Mary Lynn, Brevin and I worked at the home of an older woman who used to be a volunteer, but now needs help keeping her home up.  We painted the foundation of her home, dug out shrubs and vines along her fence and even washed her car.  Another day we re-stained a very long wheelchair ramp with lots of spindles, in 101 degree heat and high humidity.  

Lots of 4 sided spindles to cover!

Temperature was 101, shade for lunch was a blessing!

Some of the Seabiscuits got a break from painting on Wednesday where the work site was Americana, a resource center for immigrants.  We reported to the Americana community center, where two busloads of youth from a Nazarene youth conference were also coming to work. Some of the YouthWorks youth, including Mary Lynn were assigned to work in the kitchen on the chowline, where they served 400 meals to community members and workers.  Liz, Brevin and I were assigned to work with different painting crews, painting the garden patios and entries of apartment buildings.  My new work crew included four Nazarene youth and their youth pastor from Kansas City, KS.  Several of the apartment dwellers interacted with the youth – a family from Ghana and a family from Burundi each had young children who wanted to help paint, so they were given brushes too.  I met a woman from who told me that day was the 11^th anniversary of her arrival in Louisville from Cuba, where her husband had been executed. It was high point for me that I could communicate with her in Spanish.  After lunch there were volleyball and soccer games for those who had any energy left. Liz commented, “It was really cool to do what we did, and meet the people we met.”  We all felt the same.   

Waiting to be assigned to work crews at Americana

79 people groups are served by Americana.

Mary Lynn and others on the chowline.

Burundi children wanted to help paint their entryway too!

The Cardinals worked with children at the Portland Salvation Army Day Camp playing games, including “tiger tag” on hands and knees (my knees hurt just thinking about it!) , helping them with crafts or in the computer lab, taking them to a spray park, listening to them and about their lives.  We were asked not to take pictures of any of the children there, for their protection, so we can't show you their friends or activities there, but Steven, Gary and Kurt found that even in three short days, they made friends with the kids there and learned a lot about them.  One young artist invited Steven to come to her studio some day.   

Craft room at Salvation Army

Chelsea, one of the Cardinals

More Cardinals, Rachael and Sophie

Most days work crews returned to the Second Presbyterian Church, for showers and free time before supper and evening activities.  

Crews took turns preparing breakfast, or in this case spaghetti dinner.

Mary Lynn & Cindy draining pasta.

Nick, Brevin & Kyle on the pasta detail.

Steven and Kurt washing dishes. 

Kathryn & Mary Catherine with the marinara & alfredo sauces. YUM

Bruce from Valparaiso, great in the kitchen, and a great sense of humor.

Salad bar every night.

Bunny bunny toki toki...

Steven, keeping up with B90 (Bible in 90 Days) during free time.

Liz at table tennis

Evening Activities:
Monday evening the 4^th, called for a trip to the riverfront for the fireworks; 

Tuesday was a trip to the Derby Museum before supper and free time afterwards. 

Wednesday night we really celebrated and worshiped at Bates Memorial Baptist, a black gospel church.
http://www.batesmemorial.com/
  The congregation warmly greeted the YouthWorks group with big smiles and hugs.  The sermon, “You Need More Jars,” involved lots of Amen’s and lively responses from the congregation.   Kurt especially enjoyed the full harmonies of the choir, and wished the GCPC choir could have been there! 

Thursday evening, like every Thursday during the summer, the Salvation Army, together with YouthWorks, sponsored an evening meal served by the church youth.  This was the evening meal for all of the YouthWorks staff, leaders and youth, and used up any leftover food from the week. I did get permission to take photos of the YouthWorks youth preparing to serve.  And we all got to meet the kids the Cardinals had been serving all week. 

Evening activities weren't complete until 1) evening worship and 2)church group time.  The YouthWorks staff led a worship service based on the morning devotion and the theme for the week – Be Different. (Jesus was different – he hung out with different people, he had a different view of the Law, he served instead of expecting to be served.) The Thursday night closing worship was a high point for Mary Lynn. Held in the gymnasium instead of the Youth Suite, after opening songs and message, each church group was seated together in a circle.  The YouthWorks staff brought a basin and towel and washed the feet of each group leader, and prayed for them.  The leaders in turn washed the feet of each youth, and prayed for each one individually.  It was a reminder that Jesus called us to be servants, like Him. 

Keeping the Faith: Transitioning from High School to College

Keeping the Faith, Transitioning from High School to College without Losing it! 

One of the great workshops I attended at the APCE conference in February 2011 was presented by Adrian McMullen, Associate for Ministries with Youth, Evangelism & Church Growth at PC(USA) national offices in Louisville.  He gave some great ideas for parents, youth group leaders, Christian Educators. 

Where do teens get their information about college life?  From the movies, of course!  Here are 16 of those movies: Son-in-law, how High, Accepted, Rudy*, Paper Chase, With Honors*, Dead Man on Campus, Real Genius, Slackers, Van wilder, Back to School, Road Trip, Old School, Revenge of the Nerds, PCU, and #1 …Animal House.  (Adrian recommended parents and teens together  watch Rudy and With Honors.)

There’s got to be a better way to help kids understand what college is going to be like!

Did you know:

53% of college students get their bachelor degree in 6 years.

One-quarter drop out before the end of their freshman year.

College students have the highest rate of STD’s and the most abortions.

In 2005, 40% of incoming freshmen were on anti-depressants.  This means they were vulnerable in high school, and many hit a crisis point, large or small, as college freshmen.

70% wander from faith in the transition between high school and college.

The move into college is a major transition – but

It is not a cliff, because changes start to happen in high school or before.   Young people start falling away from church and faith after confirmation, after getting their driver’s license, after getting a job, or when church becomes an option.  They begin to have conflicts between church and other activities, just as adults do.  Their plate starts to fill up, and they think of God as one item on the plate, instead of God being the plate.

The move to college is culture shock – a physiological shock response to certain forces, a foreign culture in a short period of time, as missionary or military personnel would experience. Changes in environment and academic protocol can lead to distractions and feelings of failure.  They experience changes in how they have to manage time and money.  They often have easy access to credit cards and unlimited options on how to spend their time, and NOBODY is keeping tabs on them, or encouraging them.   The incoming freshman will need help to see and understand what is happening, help in avoiding a gut reaction to stress and loneliness which drives youth to try to fit in. 

Before college, youth need parents, mentors, youth groups to help them

- maintain their health, including their emotional and spiritual health.  

-know what they believe and who they are. 

- be able to be on their own and deal with being away from the support of their church, youth group and leader. 

-learn to walk on their own, not to remain insulated.

-be ready to take initiative when they are on their own.

Youth need a mentor – informal, to listen to them to be there for them, and 5 people from the congregation they can relate to.

Exploring ways to help

-Strengthen parent/teen relations,

 help kids understand why parents say no.

help parents understand their own faith and transmit it,

teach parents how to integrate faith sharing into daily living,

teach parents how to intimately proclaim their own faith to their children.

-Change youth ministry culture

Think about where we want these kids to be in 20 years and how to get them there.

Practical advice on living out your faith

Help them internalize faith

Paint a realistic picture of what happens in college, or on a job

 prepare them for being on their own, not just having a good time in the group

faith growth through a variety of challenges – mission trips, questions that make them talk about who they really are,  ask “what did you feel when…”

-Prepare them for the transition

            Graduation isn’t the end, now there is a new set of goals

            Exploration, honestly considering options

            Commitment, making life decisions based on discoveries

Give them the name of a pastor, or someone in the school community, but also have that person contact them.  Ninety percent of college students couldn’t name a pastor, youth minister or campus ministry!!

Prepare interview questions or promote a conversation between seniors (or graduates) between parents, spiritual mentors, someone out of college 20 years, someone currently in college, a college professor, a campus pastor Asking them about their experiences in college, their decisions, expectations that were or were not met.

-Stay in touch while they’re at college

Andrew recommended reading;

How to Stay Christian in College, by  J. Budziszewski 

Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, by Christian Smith, Melina Lundquist Denton

Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults, by Christian Smith, Patricia Snell 

The Slow Fade:  Why You Matter in the Story of Twentysomethings, by Reggie Joiner, Chuck Momar, Abbie Smith

Recommended websites:

www.youthtransitionnetwork.org

www.fulleryouthinstitute.org

Daddy, we're going on vacation...

When “Daddy” refers to our heavenly Father, how would you finish this sentence?

Daddy, we’re going on vacation…

…We’ll see you when we get back.

…We’ll see you at Grandma’s church.

…We’ll be looking for you.

… Come with us!

… _______________________________

    (fill in the blank)

Parents, plan ahead to encounter God with your children this summer!  Here are a few ideas:

-Find out worship times on Sundays or other days where you will be.  Go!

- Use discussion starter cards or games in the car (take a break from electronic!) , at meals, around the campfire.  Check the library or with Mary for  FaithTalk, Chicken Soup, FaithKidz card sets.  For purchasing your own,  go to www.youthandfamilyinstitute.com .

-Ask family members for their highs and lows of the day.

-Tithe 10% of your vacation time – do a family service project;  visit another church and discuss differences, what you liked, disliked; read your Bible.

-Take along

     -a Bible, and don’t leave it in your suitcase.  Take it up to the mountaintop, or to the beach or the park.  I love reading Ps. 24, 100 or 104 on a mountaintop!  Take turns reading Proverbs, or the Epistles – they are short letters, and great reading in the car.

     - a children’s bulletin. (See Mary.)

     - the booklet of spoken and sung graces that we used on Wednesday nights.

     -Christian music in some form!

Grace and peace be with you this summer, in town or out of town!  - Mary

30 Hour Famine at GCPC

The Garden City Presbyterian Church Youth Cartel put together an awesome weekend for a 30 Hour Famine for World Vision.  Their goal was to raise enough money to feed four Haitian children for a year, $1,440. World Vision estimates it cost $360 to feed one child for one year and GCPCYC and their friends raised $2,643.88, enough to feed more than 7 children. 

They did it by detailing 15-18 cars on a hot Sunday afternoon in March, by babysitting, fixing computers, doing chores for members of our congregation, and by seeking donations from individuals.  They set up a K-State/KU challenge for the congregation to vote with donations, with Pastor Denise donating the prize.  Denise offered to dye her hair the team color of the winning school - only if the goal was reached.  Denise has dyed her hair purple for the week, a week which included a meeting of Presbytery, Ministerial Alliance meetings, her turn at preaching for Thursday's Lenten luncheon, and Sunday worship!

The 30 hours of fasting began after lunch Friday and ended Saturday with communion, with bread they made themselves (oh, it was hard, smelling freshly made bread 28 hours into the fast!).  But they were committed to learning what it meant to be hungry, and to work while they were hungry.  Friday, they set up our sanctuary for a Christian band concert, with bands from Bible Christian, First Christian and First Baptist joining our 88 Hours band, and Marching in the Fall a band that Amy, the concert organizer, plays in.  Steven and Trace did a great job on the sound board.  Steve wrote the liturgy to be used between bands, and read part of it, with Amy also reading.  Denise had lyrics up on the screen so we could all sing. It was so great to have youth and adults from all these churches singing  and praising God together.

Unlike most activities at our church, there was NO FOOD, only water and juice!  After the concert we played some games, held devotions in the chapel and were in our separate sleeping rooms by midnight.  I think that's a record for lights out at a church lock-in!  The nine youth and four adults who participated in the lock-in were up at 8:30 for - not breakfast - but juice, water and prayer.  At 9:00 we split into two work groups, one to reset the sanctuary after the concert and ready it for worship; the other group to work in Fellowship Hall, preparing it for the evening potluck and celebration for our church's 125th Anniversary.  At 10:15, our crew headed to the Habitat for Humanity storage building where a mountain of things were carried out to the curb, or to the dumpster, or re-organized in the 2-story building.  It was heavy, dusty and hard work, carrying wood, appliances, sinks, concrete mix, 5 gallon buckets of paint, large rolls of carpet, etc.  I was really proud of these kids - they worked hard, with no complaining, and took direction from the HFH people with a smile and willing hands.  I pulled three nails out of a board, but my main job was videotaping the work and the growing mountain of stuff by the curb!  As we were finishing, people in pick-ups were coming by to look through the mountain and carrying off much of it!

We took a water and juice break just before noon and decided that we should all go back to church, wash up and start making the communion bread.  While the bread was on its first rising, we went out to wash windows for two church members - including celestory windows on one of the condos and a basement window well in the other.  We also split into groups to clean two car interiors and to wash the windows on the outside of our building.  About 3:30, or 27 hours into the fast, they were beginning to feel the effects of no food, but no one even tasted the bread dough as they learned about kneading bread and shaping the dough into rolls.  Denise noted that the dough was well loved - sometimes four kids had their hands on the ball of dough at the same time!  Giving instructions on working with the dough brought back memories of making bread with my mom.  While the rolls were rising there was a game of Apples to Apples in the atrium.  They really weren't interested in being in the kitchen while the bread was rising or baking - the smell wafted out into the atrium and that was enough!  So I handled that part, but had them carry the four baskets of rolls into the sanctuary and place them on the communion table.

Denise had prepared a short but meaningful worship for us.  Communion was such a meaningful way to end our fast. The bread was delicious in our mouths, and we took more than a pinch! When Denise poured the wine from the pitcher into the cup, she poured so that it overflowed out of the cup and onto the plate it was set on, and I thought of how God's love overflows in our lives.

So thanks to Alison, Kurt and Denise, the adults who were with the youth this weekend, who challenged us to think about being hungry for food, and hungry for God in our lives. And a huge thank you and congratulations to the youth who participated and accepted the challenge to go without food for 30 hours: Steven, Brevin, Gary, Kyle, Zack, Mary Lynn from the Presbyterian Church, and Josh, Michael and Jessi from First Baptist.  Others who participated part-time included Amy, who organized the band concert, Trace and his friend Sam, and Austin from First Baptist.  Thanks to all the bands, the parents and our Administrative Assistant, Jane.  It was a great weekend to work as the hands and feet and heart of Jesus!

P.S. I'm still learning how to get photos & videos off the cameras and into a format that I can import into my blog.