Summer Journal 2006

There are those who say that Jr. Highers are not capable of focusing, working hard, and going deep with the Lord. They have never met the students from Fellowship Bible Church in Dallas. The students have set and achieved a standard of excellence this week in New Orleans in both their outreach and their spiritual pursuits. They truly are part of the "better days" that God has in store for the area.

After spending two days gutting in New Orleans East, the students switched gears and worked at an altogether different type of ministry. Worknig with Deacon Quin Bates of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, the students spent a day manning the mobile ministry. Here in one of the most severely devasted areas, the mobile ministry distributes cold water, and household items. While some students manned the distribution tables, others were able to walk through the neighborhood and pray with and for the residents. Person after person expressed gratitude for our presence here. Many of the students were amazed at how a smile and a kind word were the tools for bringing a "better day."

One girl from FBC was able to use the sign language she has been learning in school to help a deaf couple receive assistance. Along with WVM staffer Georgia Small, she translated for the doctors and nurses at the mobile medical ministry so the couple could get the medical help they needed.

On Thursday we drove across Lake Ponchartrain to Covington where we spent a day serving the Fairhaven Home for Children. The team divided into groups which tackled such projects as mowing, tending brush piles, sorting and packing clothes to be sent to Romanina, and playing with the children who live at the home. Cissy Huffman told us the amazing story of Fairhaven, and youth pastor Mike Heinz and his brother Matt shared the story of their father, who had been greatly involved in the work being done by Fairhaven. We discussed the importance of leaving a legacy with our lives, and we prayed for the faithfulness to leave a legacy like that of Harry Heinz.

After so many busy days of hard work, the students had a day of fun in the French Quarter and in the swamps near La Place. We spent the evening sharing the stories of how God has worked "better days" in our lives and through our labors this week. The congregation at FBC Dallas should be proud of its Jr Highers. They have truly been messengers of God's love and hope this week.

Though it has been 5 years since the shocking waves of 911 started great change throughout the world we must be vigiliant to remember what happened and who were our heroes that day. The results of that day very much effect our lives at present. Today we were inspired by the heroes of Ground Zero and their sacrifices to save others.

Their courage represents what we have been discovering all week: a long obedience in the same direction. Through our consistency in serving; through hearing God's voice in His word; through learning to prefer our brother and sister above ourselves we have discovered that the face of God is found through our conbsistent actions and His faithful grace.

The team from FBC has been a blast and I will truly miss them as they depart.

We were asked to begin the process of gutting houses in St. Bernard's Parish in New Orleans where 65,000 people were instantly homeless when Katrina came aground.  As we made our way over the bridge, driving through the 9th ward, we began to see the damage of the hurricane. It was just a picture of what was our team from IBC was going to experience. 
 
Traveling through St. Bernard's revealed things you, "do not see anymore."  Stores CLOSED, libraries CLOSED, gas stations, Walmart, restaurants, malls, and small business' of all sorts all CLOSED.  You do not see children playing in the streets or the doors of churches open - they are all closed.  The schools that are open have been converted into local government offices and vacation bible schools for displaced children.  What is amazing is not what you see (destruction) but what you do not see...
 
Finally, we arrive - two houses, two families, and an entire Parish completely destroyed by the rising flood waters (9 to 15 ft.) and winds in excess of 165 mph.  Two houses -blackened by the mud that was swept in by the waves, an ADT truck sitting on the roof of a house, a 60 foot shrimping boat sitting in the middle of the neighborhood, and all they possessed gone forever.  Well, all but a few of the simplest material possessions.  But what was really transforming was the greeting we received.  When we approached Mrs. Terri at her home.  Sharon, one of our adult leaders, greeted Terri with a smile and a hug.  But Terri returned the greeting with tears from the pain, the sadness of what has been lost, and the hope that IBC teens brought through their hard work and sweat!
 
Bless those who serve the, "least of these" says the King!
 

The team from FBC was challenged today by a job so vile, so smelly, and quite wet that no one else would volunteer to do. All week they have been serving at a local ministry called The Father's Heart which is about to go through major rennovations. In the basement of the building is a room double the size a of raquetball court that was filled with a foot of water from leakage. Somehow the locals got into the basement and filled it with junk. Old boards, AC units, old pipes, trash, heaters, rotting wood, old sinks, and plenty of various debris. But worst of all the grease from a broken grease trap had covered everything in a nasty black sludge. The smell was horrendous.

The team took on the mantra of our missions philosophy: give us the job that no one else wants. And they did it with joy and passion. In the midst of the sludge, purpose was fulfilled and joy made whole.

The 36 students and leaders from FBC quickly adapted to the fast pace and busy lifestyle of NYC. After mastering the subway and learning how easy it is to get around Manhattan the team explored the Upper West Side taking in Tom's Diner, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Riverside Park. But exploration rapidly turned into hard work as the team joined the New York City Relief buses (mobile kitchens- www.nycr.org) feeding over 2000 in the Bronx and Coney Island with soup, fresh bread and cool ice tea.

In the evening they joined our host church, The Father's Heart, for Kid's Zone. Their job was to feed and play with the local kids who gather every Tuesday night for a good meal and lots of fun. Tomorrow they will do a 6 hour work project with the church. The team has requested to do what no one else wants to do. They are hard workers and determined to make a difference.

I am particuliarly proud of Jason Wendel, our 6 year volunteer and website designer who has come on staff this summer in a paid position. He has become a fantastic trip director and has taken over the NYC team. Yesterday, the pastor of Father's Heart, Chuck, began to talk to me about he needed the team to do. Then he said, "Where is Jason? I need to talk to him about this since he is in charge." I was so proud at that moment knowing Jason has earned that right. I was passed over but a legacy remained.

The energetic Jr Highers from Fellowship Bible Church in Dallas have joined us this week in New Orleans. From the moment they arrived, they have brought an amazing enthusiasm to every task at hand.  Today's challenge was a house in New Orleans East.  The studetns were able to witness first hand the amount of damage that water can do.  With hammers, shovels & crowbars, the crew worked diligently to strip the house down to it's frame and foundation.  It's really easy to get Jr High boys to knock down walls! After several grueling hours, we were almost comletely finished.  Olnly the edges remain for our work tomorrow.

After much needed showers we talked about our desire to be a part of bringing "better days" to New Orleans.  Each student was encouraged to remember that he or she did just that today.  In helping a family to begin rebuilding, they have brought a bit of hope into New Orleans East.  A day with more hope is truly a better day.  Our prayer for the FBC students is that they continue to "bring it all" this week as they represent a God who truly is about bringing it all.

We are down to our last 5 trips of the summer. The final stretch starts today with 2 teams in New Orleans, the Junior Highers of Irving Bible and the Junior Highers of Fellowship Bible. These 70 young people are determined to be a part of history and not just read about it.

The third team are the seniors of Fellowship Bible, 36 in all, who have chosen NYC as their location. There trip will be physically, spiritually and emotionally challenging but they are up to the task.

May God grip are hearts as wew lay our lives down for Him.

Our last day in Jamaica was filled with fun and sun as the team drove from the mountains of Christiana to the beaches of Ocho Rios (Ochee as the locals call it). The team was treated to a beautiful time of snorkeling, although some of the team took battle with a few of the local jellyfish native to this reef.  There was a great time of body - surfing back in Portmore before we headed out to the airport.

I have been very impressed with Pastor Benito and Pastor Shawn's groups, I have loved sharing my first international pilgrimage with them. I leave Jamaica with a new found appreciation not only for what I have here at home but also for the staff at Wonder Voyage that do this all year long.  As I had shared with Shawn during the trip, I struggled with culture shock the first couple of days, but then fell right in line with what I thought God had us there to do. I tip my hat to the trip directers who have made this call on their lives a full time job. As we look on from the outside we may say that...wow....they get to play for a job! Let me tell you it takes a lot of heart, heartache, stress and giving up a lot of home life to do what they do.

I pray, that as God did on this trip, that the Lord will continue to fill these trips with moments of wonder so that these directors can continue to do this wonderful work. Thank you Wonder Voyage for allowing me to see the other side!

Wednesday night was the last night that the Salem team would be with us, so we took the time to speak words of encouragement to one another but on Thursday morning we entered what was perhaps our most fun adventure of all...WHITEWATER RAFTING! The students spent half a day on the McKenzie River paddling and splashing and laughing like crazy. Many of them were courageous enough to "ride the bull" down the river. It was truly a special day of fun in the sun. There were tearful goodbyes as we bid farewell to our new friends from Westminster. They headed back to Salem and the Holy Trinity students retuturned to Portland for a good night's sleep before our Friday flight home. Before we went to bed, we talked about our week, and lifted up and encouraged each other.

This has really been an awesome week. We have been filled with awe at the beauty of God's creation...the rivers, mountains, trees, streams, and waterfalls. We have been filled with awe at the challenges we were ables to face from high ropes, long hikes, and huge mosquitoes. More importantly, we have been filled with awe at the way God can form, build, heal, and restore communities of faith.

All I could see was the vast blackness staring back at me until we all lit up our torches. What lies in the caverns ahead, I wondered, as the six of us followed our guide past the entrance to the cave. It must have been a 20 degree temperature difference between the outside jungle and first few feet of the cave. “Move slowly, it’s very slick.” said our guide, Mr. Elliott. A few feet later, I was the first to succumb to the slick rock as I entered a small pool of water bottom first. The water was cool as it rushed past me down into the dark abyss. “You okay?” asked Sammy as he helped me up. “Yeah, look out though, it’s slick!” I replied. We all continued on through the cave, moving slowly over rocks, passing carefully under the damp stalactites and navigating our way through small pools of water, all which got deeper and deeper until it was well over our heads. It was sometimes hard to navigate and getting out would be impossible if our lights were to be extinguished but we continued to press on until we came to the end, or as far as we were able to go anyway.

Our end consisted of a 10 under ground water fall into a fairly deep pool of water. Kitch was the first to take the plunge as our guide stood at the top holding his torch so that we could see down. The noise of the splash echoed down the cavern. Jared was next and then me and ending with a yell of “Cannon Ball!” by Shawn as he launched himself into the water. We swam for a few moments before it was time to head back. I took a deep breath and then swam to the bottom to grab a small memento of my adventure. I felt around for a small rock to remind me, not just of the cave, but to continue to live life as an adventure and to continue to pursue God in amazing places. I hope I am making Him proud.

We navigated our way back to the mouth of the cave, put out our lights and headed to the van. As I sat in the back of the van, still dripping wet, I couldn’t help but thing that everybody swims when the come to Jamaica but I swam a few hundred feet under ground in a cave in Jamaica. I love my job. I am a Goonie.

As the Holy Trinity/Westminister team journeys through Oregon we have had the opportunity to see some amazing sights. Two of these we are calling "Todd's Surprise." Todd's first surprise was an after-dinner jaunt to Silver Falls State Park. There are actually three separate waterfalls at this park; we had time enough for only one, but it was beautiful. The crashing water creating a green, misty environment that was cool and refreshing. Many of the students braved the cold at to swim in the pool formed a little further down.

Todd's surprise #2 came the following morning when we walked a trail toward Marion Lake. Our three mile hike through the woods took us to what at first appeard to be a single waterfall. As we walked further, it became apparent that this was actually not one waterfall, but two! We took some time on the trail to talk about how God can often take us by surprise...just like the waterfall. We prayed that God will continue to surprise us not only on this trip, but in our daily lives as well.

We traveled next to Waldo Lake...a beautiful spring-fed lake that is so clear you can see alll the way to the bottom...even in the deepest part. Waldo Lake is actually the headwaters of the Willamette River which runs all the way to Portland in the north of the state. We happened to be at Waldo Lake at the height of mosquito season, and they were quite a distraction, but with long sleeves and lots of deet and citronella, we persevered and had some exhilarating swim time, and some touching moments around the campfire.

We moved from the coast to the interior of Jamaica to the New Vision Orphanage nestled in the Dry Harbour Mountains. I am completely surprised at the poverty in this tiny nation. Yet the people are very content. I have a new found appreciation for what I have in my life.

While at the orphange the team did some much needed work. We did major clean up work on a new building currently under construction. At the same time much of the team played with the kids. This team is great about jumping in anywhere they are needed. The kids in the orphange grow quickly attached to the team.

I also understand what I have been missing the last 4 years. To be able to serve others in this capacity and learn more about other cultures is a dream come true. To share this adventure with my friends on staff and the two churches from Dallas has been amazing.

We had the unique opportunity to explore the tide pools with Suzie Clark, a marine biologist from Salem.  The students were encouraged to take time to look carefully at the small creatures which inhabit this unusual world. We later drove further south along the coast to Beverly Beach. After a scrumptious meal prepared by the students we had a time of worship on the beach and then S'mores bythe campfire.  

We had the opportunity today to build cooperation and conquer our fears at the Ropes Course at YWAM in Salem.  The encouraging staffers from YWAM led us through both low and high challenges, and we were able to do some things that many of us never believed we would have the courage to do.

We have been blessed with great weather...it seems a little cold to the Texans, though.  We have had the chance to see some of the most beautiful places in the Northwest, but most of all, we have had the chance to build a stronger community by building cooperation, communication, and trust.  Our journeys of faith will always be more focused with companions along the way.  Such bonds are being forged this week.  Stay tuned for more stories of exploration and adventure.

Portland, Oregon was the jumping off point for the team from Holy Trinity Episcopal in Garland, and Westminster Presbyterian in Salem.  We hit the ground running with a trip to the Salmon River for a hike through an Old-Growth forest.  For the participants from Texas this was a really cool experience...there are no trees in the Dallas area to rival these.  We pondered the enormity of God's creation, and the enormity of God.

Our second day included a trip to Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River.  Our focus this week is on our great adventure with God, and how it never ends.  As we talk about Lewis & Clark's amazing journey across the continent, we are discussing what it means to be working "off the map."  Many times our lives involve making choices in areas that haven't been explored before, but the Lord leads us forevermore. After a qucik trip to Lewis & Clark's winter quarters at Ft. Clatsop, we settled in at Nehalem Bay State Park for a night of camping and some brisk ocean swimmng.  The view of the Pacific is breathtaking, and the roar can be heard for miles.

NOTE: Sammy is the Director of WVM's Expozure retreats. He had never been able to join a summer trip until now. Read along and enjoy Jamaica through Sa.my's eyes.

For 4 years the WVM summer journals have been both a source of spiritual inspiration and a source of great frustration. After 4 long years I join in my first international trip with Wonder Voyage.

My first morning in Jamaica we were treated to a wonderful breakfast of Auki (a local fruit that cooks up like eggs) aned swordfish. We then took a van ride to Faith Assemly that would rival the best theme park rides in thew world. Our 2 teams were awesome as they served in building projects, street ministry and a childrens fun day. I love seeing the hearts of young people so eager to serve our new Jamaican friends. Thank you Lord for challenging me.

Tonight we are experincing a country wide blackout but we are doing it in style- quiet time on a deserted beach listening to the crashing waves and taking in the star filled heavens.

Our team from Garland First and Crossroads arrived in Kingston Jamaica looking for a Carribean adventure. This team will be pioneering for future trips for years to come.

At the same time, a group from Holy Trinity of Dallas are joining Molly in our first Oregon journey.

Pray for these teams as they launch into new exciting waters for safety and many moments of wonder.

The team rolled up their sleeves again and got a little dirty. We headed back down to the lower 9th Ward but this time we went to pick up trash. The team loaded up with trash bags, broke up into small teams and walked around a few of the neighborhoods picking up trash and talking with a few of the locals who were there cleaning, gutting and salvaging what they could from their own homes.

On Wednesday, we headed a little outside of New Orleans for a Wonder Voyage favorite, the swamp tour, where we got to see George feed a 10 foot alligator...by hand! We then went back to the French Quarter for a good lunch, some beignets and a little bit of shopping and exploration. We were able to fellowship at Mt Olivet for vespers in French, although no one knew what was being said. We then had our celebration feast of seafood pasta and closed the night with Pass the Candle.

Riverside Jr. High woke early this morning for the long drive back and although the week is over, the lives these kids touched this past week will last forever.

Our Connecticut students spent Monday exploring the beauties of Yellowstone, the very first of America's national parks. They got to see elk and bison up close, and some also were able to spot a moose. Our Wonder Voyage staffers actually spotted moose, a fox, and a GRIZZLY BEAR that same afternoon.

We spent Tuesday morning working with Eric Janssen of the National Parks Service's noxious weeds department. Eric and his crew spend their days ridding the park of non-native plants. These plants, if left to themselves, can eventually threaten the native plant and animal life, so we helped dig them up to protect the natural landscape.

The afternoon was spent swimming in the chilly water of Colter Bay. There is probably no more beautiful place to swim than a natural lake with the Teton Mountains as the backdrop. After a huge celebration meal, we returned to the campground for a bonfire and closing Eucharist. The students talked about their experiences both here and at work camp. Our prayer for the students of Trinity Newtown is that they continue to seek God out on the trail of life...in the everday as well as the extraordinary. We wish them a safe journey home and a fun rest of the summer.

It was a long travel day for the Riverside Church of Christ team. They arrived tired and hungry, so we fed them the traditional New Orleans red beans and rice, gave them a quick orientation and then sent them to bed. The next morning we drove through the lower 9th Ward, an area where one of the levees broke and had the kids sit in silence we drove through some of the neighborhoods to show them the destruction that was left behind after the hurricanes. One of the kids said that they had seen a lot of the destruction on television but there was no way she could have comprehended the total devastation until now. That afternoon, we helped a man named Glen Ford, whose home was flooded, to pick up trash and help prepare his house for new sheet rock to be added in a few weeks. He was very excited because a team of 35 did in about 9 hours what would have taken about 3 weeks to do himself.

On Sunday, we went to Mt Olivet Episcopal Church, the Wonder Voyage home church here in New Orleans, and had a great service and great meal prepared by a few of the church members. That afternoon, we went for a ride down the Mississippi on one of the last remaining real steamboats on the river. The kids and adults both enjoyed the 2 hour ride and didn't even let a little rain dampen their spirits as we took the ferry back across the river and strolled through the historic Algiers area back to the vans. The next day the team split up into 2 groups, a few went back to finish up a little work for Mr. Ford, while the rest went to another house that was flooded to clean and prepare for another team to come in a gut in a few weeks. Both teams worked hard and continue to serve the people of New Orleans and each other in amazing ways.

So far we explored the town of Jackson, and then headed out to the Snake River for a whitewater rafting adventure. The mountains look entirely different from the water, and we were able to see an amazing number of birds of prey from our rafts. On Sunday morning we visited the Chapel of the Transfiguration for a Holy Eucharist service. There is no stained glass window over the altar...none is necessary with a spectacular view of the Tetons to see. Many of us were greatly moved during this special service. Our afternoon hiking took us through an area that had been bured by a wildfire several years ago. The new growth emerging from the burned remains of towering trees is a reminder of our new life in Christ.

Today the team takes their free day to drive to Yellowstone, America's first national park. Tomorrow we will have a day of service with the National Parks Service in order to give a little something back to preserve this beautiful place. It is hard to believe we have been here almost a week. We pray to take a little of this beauty home in our hearts.

Our team from Trinity Church of Newtown Coneticut arrived in Jackson, Wyoming exhausted but ready to take in the beauty that is the Grand Teton National Park. We have settled into a routine at Colter Bay Village, and yesterday we hiked up to Inspiration Point, overlooking Jenny Lake and the entire valley. It was a long climb, but well worth the exertion, as the view was breathtaking. All along the way we saw new and different kinds of plant and animal life, and it is fun trying to identify the things that we see.

We focus this week on meeting God on the trail. It is our prayer that, like the Three Kings, our journey will lead us to encounters with the Lord that will change our lives. Our adventure today takes into the town of Jackson for some exploring, and then to the Snake River for Whitewater Rafing excitement. Words are inadequte to describe the unspoiled beauty here. Truly, God is in this place.

Today we went back to volunteering at Daily Bread, a huge food pantry where we loaded up cars, trucks and even a couple U-Hauls with vegtables, bread and lots of sweets. That afternoon, we broke for lunch and headed to Miliam Park for a picnic in the park. We had more food than we needed so the kids made a few extra sandwiches and went and handed them out to a few homeless people in the park. The kids loved it and even sat down with a few of the people and visited with them. By the end of the afternoon, the kids had a new understanding of Mathew 25, "As you have done to the least of these, you have done it to me."

That evening we celebrated the end of our trip with an amazing Mexican food dinner and then headed back to the dorms for our Pass the Candle encouter. The kids told of their moment of wonder for the week and words of encouragedment for each other. This team was stretched to new lengths this past week as they stepped out of their own comfort zone and learned what it really means to serve. May the youth of St. Nicholas continue forth in their journey's with a renewed zeal.

The team from St. Nicolas woke up early, divided into two teams and headed to the missions to do some work for the Parks Department. One team went to Mission San Jose and did about 3 weeks worth of landscaping. Pulling weeds, trimming bushes, hauling branches and picking up trash, this team worked hard and overly impressed Mike, our Parks Departmant "Foreman". The other team was a little more fortunate and got to be "Indiana Jones" for the day doing archeology work at Mission Conception. They helped with an excavation project, where they slowy and maticulasly chipped away at the dirt and revealed inch by inch of a wall that has been buried for a couple hundred years. A few of the team memebers actually discovered a new wall that was apart of the original mission. While both teams worked hard, we gave a lot of credit to the landscaping team for their hard extreme hard work (especially the 2 girls who "found" the poison ivy).

That afternoon, we exlored both the missions we worked at and then headed back to the dorms for some needed rest and clean up. That evening, we surprised the kids with and event that none had ever experienced, we took them to a drive in movie. We ate popcorn, hotdogs and had plenty of drinks to enjoy the movie.

Yesterday the team braved their free day in London. Starting at the London Eye, the largest ferris wheel in the world, we viewed tha massive expanse of this ancient city. The history is overwhelming. You can really only savor a small bite at a time. From there we walked to BIg Ben where I actually asked, "Hey, does anyone know what time it is?" 12 seconds later Ben boomed 3 times. I did not hear the end of my ill-timed question. From Parliment the team jaunted over to Buckinham Palace and then back to Westminster Abbey. We were fortunate enough to participate in the evening prayer, while sitting in the choir of one of the best known churches in the world. The service ended in this prayer:

O Gracious Holy Father
Give us the wisdom to perceive Thee
Diligence to seek Thee
Patience to wait for Thee
Eyes to behold Thee
A heart to meditate on Thee
And a life to proclaim Thee
Through the power of the holy Spirit
Of Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Benedict 480 - 547 AD

Our prayer is that the students of Holy Communion continue on the journey to discover Christ in all His Truth, keeping to the Pilgrim's Path for eternity.

Cantrbury Cathedral, the final stop in our official pilgrimage, was actually the last of the days agenda. We started a mile away at St. Martins Church- the oldest continuosly operating church in the UK. It was started in 590 AD by Queen Bertha, French wife of Saxon king Ethelbert. Ethelbert would be baptized into the faith 10 years later by St. Augustine who wa comissioned by Pope Gregory the Great to bring the light of the gospel to Angland (or land of the Angels) as he would name it. This was the beginning of the faith in England.

A few hundred years later brought us to Canterbury Cathedral where Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, knows he is about to be murdered for standing up to the king, his former best friend, in matters of the church and truth. Four soldiers came to murder him but the monks locked the door. Thomas had them unlock the door refusing to cower. We stood at the place he was murdered and thought about what we were willing to die for. A single candle stands as a reminder of his faith.

Canterbury stirred all of us more than we expected. Sacrifice seems to always stir the heart. Why would someone be willing to die for what they believe in? What causes us to lay our life down for another? A few hundred years later, during the bombing of England by the Nazisin WW II, a small group called the Fire Watchers were formed to attempt to protect the Cathedral. They would stay on the roof with brooms during a bombing. If a bomb landed on the roof without detinating they were willing to sweep it off to the side of the Cathedral to minimize the damage. One bomb landed so close that its concussion blasted out some ancient stained glass windows. Sacrifice inspires sacrifce. May we too be Fire Watchers for Truth and Love.

St. Nicholas drove the 5 hour trip down to San Antonio on Sunday but not before stopping at the infamous Snake Farm. The team arrived just in time for the Snake feeding and then the alligator and crocodile feeding. A few were brave enough to hold the 78 lb. albino python that greet visitors as they walk in. The night ended with a good dinner and a brief orientation for the rest of the week.

Monday and Tuesday were spent at Mission Road Development Center playing with kids that are physically and mentally disabled. Both the team and the kids had a blast. On Tuesday, we had a 4th of July cookout for all the kids and staff at Mission Road and ended the day with interesting water balloon fight. I think more of the team got wet than the Mission Road kids. That night, we headed out to Woodlawn Park to watch the fires works but ended up getting wet once again when it started raining about 2 hours before the show started. We missed the show, were soaking wet but still had a lot of fun.

Today was a day of rest as we headed to some quiet times on the white chalk Cliffs of Dover. From there we headed north on the coast to Deal and the unique Deal Castle built by Henry VIII for the protection of his navy. We were allowed to explore the many passages and rooms in the fortress- castle raiding abounded. The third stop would be Minnis Bay where we revelled in the sand for a few hours. We ended the daily adventures at the Old Gate Inn for a fantastic meal in a classic English pub.

The question was asked today of each student: Why do you follow Jesus? They must find a verse from the gospels that justify their answer. We will see how they respond tomorrow as we head for a mini-pilgrimage at the Canterbury Cathedral.

After two days of gutting houses, our fearless group of Episcopalians journeyed to the Lower Ninth Ward with the Mobile Ministry sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. Under the guidance of Deacon Quin Bates, the students handed out supplies like toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, and lots of cold water. What many people in America don't realize is that here almost one year after Katrina, many parts of the Lower 9th still do not have potable water. Many of the students were able to prayer walk through the neighborhoods and talk to residetns who have returned, and hear their stories of survival. At the end of the afternoon, we toured the area by car to see the path of the water from the broken levee on the Industrial Canal. We were shocked and overwhelmed at the extent of the damage. There is still so much to be done here.

Thursday evening was a night of real treats. We were hosted at a Mexican dinner by the Selby family. We gutted their two homes in Chalmette at the beginning of the week, and they wanted to convey their appreciation. Angelo Selby said he had never in his life met kids like the students on this team...their hard work and honesty just blew him away. Later in the evening Sister Elizabeth Ann Holmes of the Sisters of the Holy Family came to lead worship and to give her story. She encouraged the students to continue to "tramp for the Lord." As in years past, Sister LIz immediately endeared herself to the team.

We said our goodbyes on Friday night, and the team came to see that like in Acts 4 they had been "of one heart and mind and sharing all things in common," during their time in the Big Easy. The city did not see four churches....it saw the Church...in its best light. Thanks be to God for His grace and mercy and protection this week. May we take the lessons learned this week back home and share them with those around us.

It was a day of travel from Surrey to our final destination of Canterbury. But we would start the day in the 100-acre wood. Yes, we visited the country of Pooh! Ashdown Forest was the inspiration for AA Milnes Hundred Acre Wood in the Winnie the Pooh books. We went to Pooh Bridge where he wrote much of his first book- and yes we played Pooh Sticks. By the way, Aaron is the champion Pooh Stick player. We had a great time of exploration.

Or plan was to visit Leeds Castle but it was shut down for a concert so we headed to the hostel in Canterbury early. The hostel is fantastic but a greater surprise waited. Downstairs, in the common room was a big screen TV playing the England vs. Portugal World Cup game. It was thrilling to experience the game at this time although heartbreaking that England lost by one kick.

This team is intense about making the most of their pilgrimage as they gather daily and nightly for prayer, Lectio Divina and the constant encouragement of each other. I am very honored to be leading them as their maturity of a seeking faith grows in leaps and bounds daily.

Our hostel last night sat in the middle of the National Forest on the North Downs Way in County Surrey. Tall trees and abundant deer surrounded us. It was 10 miles to our next hostel so we decided today would be a day of identifying with pilgrims of old who walked from doorstep to doorstep on their way to Canterbury. So the journey began from Box Hill to Holmbury St. Mary.

Starting on the North Down Way we skirted along the mountain ridge taking in sweeping views of the valley below. In about an hour we found an old WWII war bunker which we explored. Eventually we crossed the railroad and made it to the hamlet of Wotton where we stopped at the local pub for water refills and soda. We had been hiking just over 4 miles and we still had another 6 to go. But we were eager so we cut acorss the fields of Wotton and into Wotton Wood. After a couple of miles we came to a serene river and crossed at an ancient bridge. This was the halfway point and we took great rejoicing in the quiet and cut off location.

The journey conintued to take us through woods, farms, fields; along stream, abandoned roads and quiet trails. Every time we reached a reconizable spot on the map we rejoiced. We headed south below Arbinger Common and ended up on the south road at Holmbury St. Mary. Then it was up mountain again to the youth hostel- and there was great rejoicing! We had covered over 10 miles in 5 1/2 hours and we were tired but thrilled. This is what it felt like to be a pilgrim on the road.

The evening would bring one of the most significant times of worship for the group as they all had an epiphany of what a spiritual journey can be. One young man said, "Tonight I believe I finally am a true follower of Christ."

Wednesday we drove an hour and a half through the mountains to Canon City for an amazing day of white water rafting. Half the team sported wet suits while the other half toughed out the 56 degree water. The team had a great time and the only person to fall out of the boat was me (and some guy dressed up as Spider-Man). One of the guides recommended a great local burger joint so we stopped and were pleasantly surprised. We arrived back to the monastery for a short evening encounter time and the off to bed.

Thursday, we finished up the work project around the monastery with more painting, spreading wood chips and cutting down even bigger trees. We then let the team loose in Old Colorado City (the old mining town from the late 1800's) for a little local food, exploration and shopping. We ended the evening with communion.

The team arose early Friday then headed to the base of Pikes Peak. I think the mountain took us all by surprise and was harder then we anticipated. We hiked the Barr Trail, which is 7 miles to Barr Camp and then back down. It long, hard and the last mile was especially grueling but we all survived. That night we went for all you can eat pizza and ended the night with laughter, tears and plenty of encouragement with the Pass the Candle.

This morning, the team woke up early for one more great breakfast from the Benedictine Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery. The team then cleaned the cabins (one of our goals are to try to leave places better than we found it)and then met outside the bus for one last team prayer and to say goodbyes. The 12 hour bus ride home will give the team plenty of time to reminisce over the past week…and hopefully, rest.

After a night of sleep recovery the group from Holy Communion headed to one of the most well beloved monuments in the world, Stonehenge. As we drove up to this 5000 year old monument we spotted it in the distance and a collective gasp was heard. Hundreds of tourists did not diminish the majesty and mystery of this place. Why and how was it built? Is it an ancient temple or a Neolithic astronomy clock? We will never know but its majesty remains intact. This caused us to contemplate our purposes- why we on this planet- and ask the question: "In the midst of the busyness of life will we forget our purpose?"

The afternoon was spent at the ancient sarum or fort of Salisbury and at Salisbury Cathedral where we joined in Evensong- a beautiful and holy time of worship led by an 16 person girl choir (ages 6 - 14) whose otherworldly voices, echoing off the walls of this ancinet place of worship, had a few of us in tears.

Tomorrow we start of Pilgrims Way at the traditional starting point of Winchester Cathedral where we will partake in a private Pilgrim's Eucharist service in the side chapel to prepare us for the journey to Canterbury.

Soon to be posted

“It’s fifty-three years of life out there on the curb.”

These are the words of a heartbroken woman from Chalmette, Louisiana whose home was completely underwater after hurricane Katrina. Our team this week in New Orleans is monstrous…in size, and in passion for serving. Fifty three participants from Church of the Apostles, Church of the Epiphany, St. Luke’s, and St. Alban’s, have converged on the city from Coppell, Richardson, Dallas, and Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The last two days have been spent completely gutting two homes. Homes that have not been gutted by the end of August will be seized by the local authorities and demolished. In order to salvage any of the equity in their homes, many families are stripping their homes down to studs and slabs in order to sell them quickly. Our team helped two thankful families to begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

In the midst of all of this, the students are taking in the overwhelming devastation in the area. Although New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are no longer occupying the front pages, there is still so much to do. The people here are still shell shocked and wounded, and the important task of rebuilding is not just one of homes and businesses, but also of hearts and spirits. We continue our work this week while we focus on the way that God is present before, during, and after the storms in our lives.