August 16- Pilgrimage Director Molly Wren
Final Thoughts
It is hard to believe that our summer journeys have now ended and fall approaches. It was an amazing summer to be a part of; in worship and prayer, exploration and adventure, mission and service, God worked in and through the Wonder Voyage teams all summer long, all over the world.
In our "home away from home," New Orleans, our teams were able to minister to people through the work of their hands and the work of their hugs. From gutting houses, to staffing a mobile ministry, to helping with a VBS, to working in a children's home, hundreds of students from as far away as Pennsylvania were able to participate in God's renewal of New Orleans. In Del Rio, our Jr High team from Hillcrest was able to assist the staff of a small congregation to put on a "Superhero" VBS. This summer we also pioneered three new locations: Memphis, the Grand Tetons, and Oregon. Along the mighty Mississippi, we met the Lord in the faces of His people living in the streets and in housing projects; and we heard the voice of the Lord through the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the great northwest we encountered God in the beauty and majesty of His creation. Mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, and wonder were the backdrop for the building of community.
We give thanks to God for His guidance and protection, His provision and sustenance, His mercy and grace. He was present with our teams all summer long. We pray that each student, leader, and staffer that made a Wonder Voyage this summer will continue to seek His face and experience the wonder, to continue to live the adventure of the journey, and to continue to serve Him by serving His people in the seasons to come.