Summer Journal 2007

Yesterday we worked with the Episcopal Dioceses of New Orleans to provide relief supplies, clean-up crews, and encouragement to those who are trying to rebuild.  The lower 9th ward still feels empty and devoid of major redevelopment.  As we talked with and listened to residents you could sense their frustration.  They feel forgotten - and as you look around one can see why.  Businesses and houses are still boarded up and there is a general sense of, "where have all my neighbors gone?".  Our job was to listen to their stories, encourage them, pray, and give relief supplies to those in need.  It was a very rewarding day. 
 
I witnessed students and adult leaders working their hearts out listening to residents, picking up trash, meeting with residents at their homes and even providing worship music at our relief depot location.  Many approached hot, sweaty and tired but left with a smile.  What an opportunity - to bring hope to the hopeless and a cool drink of water to those who are simply worn out in the midst of very difficult circumstances. 
 
As our combined worship team sang songs for 3.5 hours our relief supply team gave and listened.  A man named Archie decided to hang out for a while and share his experiences with one of our team members.  As Katrina came he was one of many who decided to stay.  No one was expecting the water to breach the levees.  As the water began to fill his house he had to break through the ceiling, lift his family members into the attic and then break through the roof to be rescued.  The boats came - 3 day later.  No food or water just waiting for help.  The help came in the form of a boat and they made it - but not everyone did.  He recalled memories of seeing bodies floating down the street as other were clinging to anything that would float.  These memories and more will be hard to forget and have left deep scars in all those who survived. 
 
We have loved and learned alot in this last week of work.  Memories I hope we will never forget. 

It is our last night at Casa Hogar, here in Mexico. Our team is scattered throughout the room, many of us squished between babbling Mexican orphans pushing their unwanted food onto our plates. The families from St. John's Cross tore down an old dormitory, stained and finished a new play room, pulled nails to salvage a heaping pile of wood, picked up countless bags of garbage, told parables, painted faces, crafted bracelets and necklaces, built airplanes, and played and played and played. But I'm not thinking about all that we've accomplished this week.

I am thinking about yesterday, when little girl on our team named Sarah walked up to me, grabbed my hand and asked me: "How do you say 'will you play with me?' and 'will you be my friend?' in Spanish?" I smiled and told her, and Sarah skipped away to practice her newly-learned Spanish to the first child she found. She understood what I am able to put words to, today.

Earlier in the afternoon, John told the parable of the Good Shepherd. Our group meditated upon the story and now we better understand that we are all God's sheep. We are his sheep and He is our Good Shepherd and He has taught us to love each other as children. God has taught us more than a little broken Spanish and a good story: He has taught us to how to play.

Holaaa! This entry is written by the team genious, George, with the help of my compadres. First of all, we would like to say to all of our parents, boyfriends, girlfriends, intermediate family, extended family, St. Martin's parishoners, we love you.

We started. Thursday morning by attending an ancient Visigoth service at the cathedral in Toledo that has been held for over a thousand years, the whole thing in Latin. A really cool experiance for all of us. In the afternoon, we hit up a Jesuit church. The coolest thing for us was the climb to the top of the belltowers, where the view over Toledo kept us busy for more than 30 minutes. Then we spent our last night in the quiet monestary. The quiet was interupted for a moment as 2 leaders, Katy and Kim, got lost on their way back to the monestary. But fortunatly they made it back safe and sound. Then we all climbed to the top of the building to take in our last Toledo sunset over the distant mountains. Sappy stuff right?

First thing Friday morning we had the long trek out of the city with all our luggage. Not so sappy. Before we left we took a group photo on San Martin Bridge over the river. Then we embarked on a ride thru the beautiful Spanish country side. 2 hours later, the city of Avila came into view, the birthplace of Santa Teresa, the patron saint of Espania.

The day was spent visiting her birthplace, her old convent, and a mad siesta for yours truly. An interesting dinner was topped by a very enthusiastic chiquita offering us free cervezas! But our very protective Spanish guide, Alex, chased her off. Tonight we make our way to the spanish capital, Madrid. Don't worry Mum, we have many more adventures ahead.

Love,
Nate, Spencer, Katy, Catie, Tim, Kim, Anne, Will, Matthew, Bobbie, George, Stewart, Molly, Christine, and our guides Shawn, Jason, and Alex

Today, we visited the Cathedral of Toledo. The inside is one of the biggest cathedrals in all of the Spain. We attended a Visigothic service that has been done everyday for the past fourteen hundred years! The service was said and sung in Latin. After the service, everyone explored the incredible space and took time to journal about what they saw and felt.

When we returned to the monastery last night, we reflected and shared about our experiences in the cathedral. There were a variety of stories; some shared that they did not like the huge, ornate catherdral while others were impressed and moved by everything it had to offer. The different responses demonstrated how God touches everyone in a different way when he or she is on their faith journey. God was definitetly present with our group today

My story in the cathedral was an affirmation of God's call in my life. I saw and felt the presence of our Lord in all of the art and architecture. I can't begin to describe how moved I was in one particular room with beautiful tapestries and the tombs of two past kings! I believe Gods brought me to the cathedal to show me His faithfulness and love for me and what I have done with my life since I became a believer and follower of Christ. We truly have an awesome God!

There is more to serving the city of New Orleans than restoration from Katrina. The youth from Albans, Epiphany & Apostles also held Vacation Bilble School at Mount Olivet Episcopal Church. Their time at VBS reminded me of two recurring themes in the Bible, that Jesus always had time for children and saw their infinite value & that the Jewish people always passed down stories about God to their children.

The students taught the children lessons through storytime, creative arts, music, acting and play about love, obedience, worship, trust and faith in God. It was incredibly rewarding to see the children remember the lessons and actually incorporate them in discussions throughout the day.

I really have to give props to the guys & girls who worked VBS. They ran the whole program themselves and shared the love of Christ to the little ones of New Orleans.

Toledo is a labyrinth of streets that never quite seem to be pointing in the direction you want to go. The team is in heavy exploration mode trying to take in every nook and cranny of this small but complicated town.

We started by exploring the Carmelite monastery we curerently call home. Many were touched by the simple life of the monks and their dedication to their calls. 16 of the brothers were shot to death in the front of the church during the Civil War simply for what they believed causing us to consider what we believe.

We explored the Church of San Reyes built in honor of Isabella and Ferdinand (whose reign launched both Christopher Columbus, the Inquisition and the mighty Spanish Empire), enjoyed siesta in a park, visited a local sinagogue that tolf the history of the Jews in Toledo and rode the ZocoTrain around the whole of Toledo giving us a panoramic view of its beauty.

That evening we gather on the ancient walls of Toledo, in the Carmelites garden and shared moments of wonder we experienced. This is a fantastic group of kids and leaders and we are over-joyed to lead them in this adventure.

We arrived - two teams from Dallas and one fron Philadelphia- in New Orleans, LA for a week of work among those who have suffered the effects of hurricane Katrina.

Everyone made it on time and we began our week with a time of sharing, challenge, journeling and prayer.

Our first day was filled with challenges as we began our work. We traveled an hour awa to partner with a local church and make some improvements on their property. The first half of the day was great - as we weeded, painted, and dug some trenches for a water line. But then the storms moved in to challenge our resolve. We stayed put, worked on the grounds and had some fun playing in the rain. Our evening ended witj some sweet fellowship, great BBQ, and swimming in the bayou.

Ireland is full of sacred spaces, and the team from St James Episcopal Church is quickly discovering many of them. From the beautiful grounds at Esker Monastery to the storied bog where lies St Kerrill's Well, the students are exploring Irish history and culture while strengthening their bonds of communitym

Today we traveled to Clonmacnoise, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in all the world.  For centuries the faithful have visited here to learn and to pray.  We were privileged to celebrated the Holy Eucharist inside Temple Ciaran; the burial place of St Ciaran, the founder of Clonmacnoise. What a joy it is to partake of this memorable meal in such a sacred and "thin" place. We look forward to what the Lord has in store for us next, and we pray for the ability to recognize His presence.  

St. Martins Church of Charlotte North Carolina joins us for our first Wonder Voyage into Spain, a land rich in history. Roman, Visgoth, Moor, and Catholic have all once ruled these lands. At one point, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived side by side in peace and prosperity in the historic city of Toledo- a far cry from todays world.

Our first home in the journey is the Monastery of the Barefoot Carmelites. It is a tranquil haven first established in 1586 under the guidance of both St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. It is a simple and beautiful setting with stunning views of medival Toledo and an inspiring church.

The group is poised for exploration of both Spain and their faith. May the burdens they carry with then fall off this week as they engage the Holy and seek the face of Christ.

Although the rain made the University of the Incarnate Word campus incredibly beautiful, it hampered our plans to go outside and have an encounter moment by the grotto.  Instead, we cozied up with sleeping bags and pillows to listen to Pr. Joe speak about the layers of junk that had hardened our hearts, just like the calcification of the rocks at the grotto.  Holding our stones in our hands, we realized the need to let go of everything that was holding us back from the cross. 
 
Our time of worship began, and kids that had never before lifted their hands in amazement and wonder at the living God began to tear up, realizing His awesomeness and power to heal.  We prayed together and encouraged one another as sin was renounced and new lives were begun in Christ.  One by one, students knelt at the cross made out of construction paper and laid down their rocks, giving everything that they were to God. 
 
Once back in my room, I noticed a pair of jeans lying in the trash can.  Covered with words in permanent marker and now sitting in the garbage, they had become a symbol of an old life turned new.  She looked at me and said, “I don’t need these anymore.”  It’s these moments that I live for, seeing God transform lives that now honor Him.

As the students from Heritage Church return home, they have many things to ponder. This was their first mission trip...a new church...a new youth group. They have learned to work together, to live together and to play together; they have learned to care for each other not just care about each other. They have also learned about the abundance of love received when one gives love abundantly.

On our last evening in Mexico, we discussed the story of Stone Soup, and how in ministry, like in soup, it is the combination of ingredients that makes it rich. The Heritage students were encouraged to speak out the gifts they had observed in their teammates, over the previous week. Pastor John Byrne then exhorted them through the Scriptures to encourage and develop these gifts in each other for the building of the ministries at their church.

It is hard for us to leave Casa Hogar. The simple rythm of life here is contagious. The joy of the children and the care of their leaders is inspiring. We leave with prayers tht God will continue to bless the lives of the people here; we leave with the hopes that we will be blessed to return some day.

For the last week, the students from Heritage Church in Dallas have been working hard and playing joyfully on the grounds of the Casa Hogar Benito Juarez Orphanage ion Reynosa, Mexico. Part of our days have been spent helping with construction of a new building and destruction of an old one. The other part of our days have been spent laughing and playing and bonding with the precious children here. The students thought they were coming to give; they had no idea of how much they were to receive...especially in hugs!

One of the most memorable moments this week was when orphanage director Mark Russell came back from the states with a huge inflatable pool for the kids to use. There was much excitement in the air, but with only one small water hose, it rapidly became apparent that it would take the better part of a day to fill this 4ft deep 18 ft diameter monstrosity. One of the orphanage staffers remembered that the water pump from the well had tremendous pressure, but the problem was we didn't have enough of the right size hose. So, with a combination of old fire hose and PVC pipe, the students from Heritage and the kids from Hogar constructed a most amazing water pipeline. Even the smallest children participated, everyone holding up a section of hose or pipe, and the pool was filled by day's end. It was a glorious sight: Americanos and Mexicanos, children and adults, the body of Chrsit working together. The only hitch in the plan came when the rain started to pour down; but it will be a hot summer in Reynosa, and the Hogar kids will have tons of fun in the pool that was filled by our incredible pipeline.

The voyage with Skillman Church of Christ to New Orleans was a tremendous success. The work they accomplished and the experiences they had were life changing. The students and leaders worked hard without complaint even in some difficult conditions.

Everyday we would have moments of encountering God in deeper and richer ways as the week rolled on. Our final "encounter time" was particularly powerful in that many of the students shared openly what they learned and would take back to Dallas and what they were going to change in their lives and leave in New Orleans. Sarah, a sophomore, bravely shared her realization of how fortunate she had been all her life, yet had not been thankful for the many blessings she had been given. She recognized that what we have is not guaranteed and that not taking life for granted is important. We were proud of her honesty and candor.

Finally, the students honored their leaders with Memory Boxes containing an important memory each student had while in New Orleans. The students presented the boxes to the leaders and said that whenever there was a moment they needed some encouragement, to read the little messages in the memory boxes. It was a way for the students to say "Thank you!"

We at Wonder Voyage say "Thank you" to Skillman Church of Christ for their hard work, willingness to learn and passion to serve.

One of my favorite things about a Wonder Voyage trip is building up the mystery of "what's next". The most common question directors get on a trip is "What are we doing next?" I usually answer something like, "We are called Wonder Voyage, so go ahead and wonder."

Yesterday was a little different because I was the one kept in "wonder". It started when we went to work at a place called Daily Bread. You see, I have been there before and knew what to expect. It is a ministry that sends out tons of food and supplies to people in need or to other ministries to give out as needed. I told the kids all about it and had them excited and ready to go. There is usually a lot of other volunteers and workers there to help with the distribution and loading but when we arrived there were only three people there. I told the first person I saw who we were and that we were ready to get to work and she got all excited and said, " Great! We have been been getting ready for you guys since Saturday. We bought paint and paint brushes and are ready for you guys to paint the office." I went and rounded up the team and said,"Guys, sometimes God has different plans for us. Today, we paint." They quickly broke up into teams and went to work.

Soon after, the rain came. It didn't affect our painting but it did affect our afternoon at the Riverwalk. Instead we headed to the mall, but the Wonder Voyage staff are not really mall people so I added a little twist to our mall experience . Breaking the team up into 3 smaller teams I challenged them to a photo scavenger hunt. They ran throught the mall as quickly (and politely) as possible and returned with some great photos (which I hope to post soon so check back).

The day turned out to be a lot of hard work and a lot of fun and I ended it by taking these northeners to eat some real Texas BBQ, which is always a great way to end the day.

Gutting houses with Skillman Church of Christ was packed with excitement, hard work and emotion. The students worked tirelessly cleaning out two duplexes, essentially four houses.

The houses Skillman worked on had not been touched since Katrina, which means everything from the morning paper to food in the refrigerator was still inside. Watching the students painstakingly remove photographs, the family Bible and a US military issue American flag and give them to Taylor, the son of the woman who lived in the home and grew up there himself was very moving. Nathan a sophomore and soon to be Eagle scout and Hayden, a senior Eagle scout, found the flag and folded it properly.

The woman who owned the house, who passed away just before Katrina, helped those in her community by renting the other side of the duplex out for just over, $100 a month. Taylor, a diabetic in his early 60's, wants to follow in his mother's footsteps and give folks an inexpensive place to live in order to make a difference in people's lives.

Both houses needed to be taken down to the studs, which means ripping up carpet and tearing down drywall. Allie, a sophomore, worked tirelessly to accomplish the mission. She put the guys to shame.

Skillman Church of Christ exemplifies what it means to work tenacity and passion.

After 30 hours of driving, the 11 youth and 4 leaders from Believers Fellowship Church in Moorhead Minnesota finally made it to San Antonio. We had a great dinner and a quick orientation because this tired team had a very early start the next day.

We began at 6am at St. Vincent de Paul and worked a full 8 hour day preparing food for the hungry (both breakfast and lunch), unloaded a truck full of food, helped organize the storage room, serving the guest their food and even taking some time to visit with them. It was an amazing morning of selfless service.

In the afternoon, the team took a long deserved rest and then we went out for a great dinner. Afterwards, we stopped off at Marble Slab for ice cream and then went and played in the park. The night ended with a team exhortation activity called "Talking Good Behind Your Back" in which everybody had a piece of paper taped to their back and everyone wrote uplifting words to them. It was a fun night as the this team from Minnesota as I get to know each other a little better.

Side Note: Many on this team are kids from a Muslim background who are involved in Believer's youth outreach program- not your typical "churchy" team.

I have to give it to Skillman Church of Christ - their arrival on Sunday was on time and they were ready to go. Upon arrival we served up good New Orleans dinner, went through orientation and had discussion afterwards about what it meant to be the Body of Christ.

Monday, Skillman's true colors shined through. We were scheduled to work with Quin Bates and the Mobile Relief Minstry in the lower 9th ward. We met, loaded the trucks and set up in two different locations. Just as we got organized the rain started and didn't want to stop. The students pressed on with relief work until lunch and then our Wonder Voyage staff made a few phone calls to find out if we could start gutting houses early. The answer was yes and we made a a quick shift across town to an home in dire need of attention.

Within two and a half hours the team of 31 cleaned out an entire two family duplex. To watch a house that had not been opened in 2 years under go such an amazing transformation was a sight to see. The team took out everything except the kitchen sink and claw-foot tub. I can't wait to see what happens next.

We had a very interesting (fun) experience while at our base camp in Colorado. In the afternoon a brown bear came and visited us - looking for food in the trash dumpster. This is not an unusual experience since our camp is adjacent to the National Forest and in a wooded area.

Upon our arrival (Sunday) we were told about the animals of the area and given rules governing bear sightings. As we left the mess hall on Thursday and were awaiting the arrival of our bus when we got a first-hand viewing of a brown bear. The bear seemed young, skinny and hungry - looking for food in the dumpster. It did not bother any "humans" and as the campers massed on the porch to view this site it ran back into the woods.

During dinner we were told the bear was back and the campers / staff were looking at it through the dining hall windows. The Wonder Voyage staff immediately went to take a look, advised the Camp staff to call the Forest Ranger and scared the bear into a tree and eventually back into the forest.

As we were returning to our cabins after dinner was officially over - Jason and me (Eric) found the bear leaving an empty cabin, alerted Shawn, and the camp staff. Jason, Shawn, Nick and I, chased the bear into the woods with the help of Nick's rock throwing abilities. The best part of the day was our move from cabins to a beautiful / roomy lodge at the Camps expense because of our friendly bear encounter.

Kudos to Nick "Bear Killer" (FBC), Wonder Voyage Staff (Brave) and the Staff at Templed Hills (for the upgrade in accommodations).

The days in Colorado just keep getting better. The team is doing well - working with focus, unity and determination. Through out this week we have been participating in a work project on National Forest Land. We rebuilt 3 rain drainage run-offs and worked on fortifying 3 hillsides along the road leading to a Christian camp. This is important because the National Forest Service requires that land owners adjacent to it's lands keep certain "common areas" in a particular fashion to lessen the environmental impact of the forest / creeks. The team completed their tasks and did a great job.

After our last work-day the team journeyed to Green Mountain Falls for a 5 hour hike into the mountains. During our hike the team encountered beautiful waterfalls, great trails, huge rock formations and a high-altitude valley. We climbed over a 1000 feet to reach over 9000 ft. in elevation. Coming from Dallas it is a long way up!

While on the hike we stopped for a time of exploration and a team encounter. Nick led the team through a time when each member was challenged to identify areas of unforgiveness in their lives and then to begin the process of forgiveness / release. Each of us wrote about our 6 biggest burdens, used rocks as a metaphor for the burdens we had been carrying and then had the opportunity to release those rocks into the waterfall as we felt ready. At that point - we had a quiet group leaving the mountain.

Another day to remember!!!

It is so hard to believe our time in the Tetons has come to a close. There is so much to see and do here, and this team has approached everything with such adventurous and joyful attitudes. The congregation of Christ
Episcopal Church, New Bern has much to be proud of.

The youth from the J2A program glowed with the light of Christ all week llong. They took care of each other and responded to all challenges with grace and enthusiasm. On their last day, they were able to take in the
"big three" of cool American animals: moose, bald eagles, and a grizzly bear!

Our final night together was spent with a very special Euacharist around the campfire. After donuts in the aiport this morning, we said our
goodbyes and exchanged tearful hugs. Our prayers is that these young people return to New Bern and continue on the journey that they began this week...with new perspectives and servant's hearts.

In addition to the mission / service element of this trip, Colorado offers a ton of adventure options for our team. On Tuesday we took the team down the Arkansas River for a white water rafting trip.

Drifting down the river on this full-day adventure took us through calm waters, wonderful scenery and awesome class two and three rapids at high water levels. The best part of the raft trip was hearing the screams and laughter of our six boats as we navigated the rapids.

After the adventure was over we decided to take the team up river for an encounter / reflection time called, "Leaving the Boat." Nick, the youth director at Fellowship, did a great job facilitating this time as the team really responded to his words and the environment we were in.

Words hardly seem adequate to describe the majesty of the Grand Tetons Mountains, or the huge diversity of plant an animal life here in Wyoming. It is also difficult to sum up the amazing journey the pilgrims from Christ Church, New Bern, are having.

We have had the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in two amazing places: at the Emerald Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, and at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in
Grand Teton National Park. We have served with the "veg crew" of the National Park Service; and today we will have a whitewater rafting adventure. Our focus this week is on the fact that God has the sovereignty to bring order from chaos...in creation, and in our lives as well.

Christ is along for the journey, even when our lives are chaotic. As our time together draws to a close, we are in joyful anticiaption of
what God has in store for us this final day.

It’s a beautiful day in the Grand Tetons, and the students from Christ Church of New Bern, North Carolina are ready to explore the beauties of Yellowstone National Park. Our adventures yesterday included horseback riding, hiking at Jackson Lake, and a magnificent thunderstorm.

We are exploring the themes of Christ in chaos, and we look forward to learning about the ways that God joins us even in the chaos of life. We are excited about exploring the amazing sites in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national park. Our prayer is that the lord will continue to bind us together as a community.

Colorado has been a wonderful experience. With a great winter snowfall and plentiful Spring rains the colors have reflected the majesty of God's creation. And in the midst of it all the team is really experiencing God.

Yesterday was our secod day of the journey. The team worked dilligently on a road project at a Christian Camp where they were seeding grass and flowers, working to stop erosion, and removing dead bushes and tree limbs. The lesson learned: God has called us to be good stewards of our environment as we serve and care for others.

We ended the day with a 3 hour hike to a red rock deposit where we meditated on the "storms of life" in the midst of afternoon clouds and light rain. A beautiful moment happened when, at the end of our concluding prayer, a breeze blew, the sun came out and there was a real sense of God's presence among the team.

Many moments of wonder continue to accompany this team...

Jason and I (Eric) are now heading to beautiful Colorado to meet up with Fellowship Bible in Dallas. One of our longest standing partners, they have been to many destinations serving in the name of Christ.

We are excited to work with this team on several work projects and adventure activities. The theme of our Journey is: REVEAL! Can't wait to see how God chooses to Reveal Himself to the team / staff on this trip!

More to come...

Our tireless team from Hendersonville, Tennesee departed New Orleans for home this morning. They have seen and done so much this week.

In the Lower Ninth Ward they handed out supplies and helped Miss Augustine with her plumbing problems. In Algiers, they assisted our friends at the Youth With A Mission base on the construction of a building to house the tools used for rebuilding projects all over the city. They also served our friends at Mt Olivet Church by handing out VBS fliers in the neighborhood. For three days they worked in the Gentilly area gutting the homes of some elderly victims of the storm. All of this work, and yet they made friends in Midtown with a nightly streetball game. They even left the basketball behind for the kids in the neighborhood.

So much done in such a short time, and all to the glory of God. Our prayer is that the team goes back to Hendersonville with the same tireless attitude. The mission field is wherever our feet are planted today. We pray they take the Tennessee mission field by storm.

The voyage to Mexico was not only a success but seemed to change and challenge individual lives. As our time ended at Benito Juarez we prepared for our Fiesta time with the children and the staff.

After a morning and early afternoon of finishing the work we had begun - it was time to prepare the goats for the evening meal. Some gathered to see just how it was done while the others prepared games, dances or just connected with kids who had become friends.

As evening came around the conversations flourished as we ate, laughed, and cried together. The evening ended with the traditional Piñata game and a bonfire. During the fire our host, Mark, gave each a chip of wood. This symbolized one thing we wanted to leave behind (a personal stumbling block). As we threw our blocks into the fire we gave many hugs, said our good-byes in Spanish, and loaded the bus to come home.

The team from Point View and Holy Nativity have done a tremendous amount of work in four days time. The team has finished construction on the second floor of the new boys house, hung sheet rock, fixed electrical issues, dismantled the roof of another building, preserved all usable wood, directed a VBS program, taught dance, cleaned many different areas of the campus (and the list just keeps on going).

But even with all the manuel labor that goes into a trip like this - one of the most rewarding sights is members of this team caring for the children. This team has adopted these kids into their hearts. I see kids falling asleep in the arms of our team members, football / soccer games exploding w laughter, tag games lasting until we're out of breath, a lot of dancing, conversation and a continual expressions of love.

The hardest part of the trip is not the work or play but leaving the kids - who have touched the deepest part of our hearts and impacted our lives with their love.

The average person wouldn't consider being sweaty, itchy, and covered with sheetrock dust and insulation as something cool; but the students from first UMC Hendersonville are gutting machines.

For the last 2 days here in New Orleans they have been pulling up carpet, pulling down walls, and creating hope for some devastated families. The amazing part is that their energy is still high enough at the end of the day to take on the neighborhoos kids at street ball. Even the ladies have been invited to play by the girls in the neighborhood. This team worked last summer in Biloxi, so we expected a lot from them. We have not been disappointed. They are pressing on as they strive to help the people in New Orleans "turn a corner."

The team arrived with out problem on Sunday at Benito Juarez - an orphanage about 20 minutes south of the border. Out of the 40 + kids staying here one stood out from among the rest. His name is Wincey. Wincey arrived at Benito Juarez at the age of seven with the marks of physical abuse and a medical condition that caused him debilitating seizures. Not able to walk he crawled until the age of 15. The doctors said he would not live beyond 25.

With lots of prayer and personal care from the staff Wincey is now 35, bi-lingual, and is so fun to be around. As we assessed our projects for the week - one stood out above the rest. We were going to be A part of finishing Winceys house on the grounds of the orphanage.

As the team began their work on the his home - Wincey couldn't wait. He had to see the progress. As he walked in the work team gave him a tour and showed him his new room, bathroom, and living quarters. He was so excited his body stiffened up and a smile came to his face.

Wincey is a perfect example why we come to serve, "the least of these."

Eric Neubauer leads a plethora of summer trips for Wonder Voyage. When he is not leading trips he is directing Compassion Corps., a non-profit organization dedicated to serving marginalized people around the world.

The students from 1st United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee have arrived in New Orleans ready to work hard. Today, however, is our day to worship and play, and the group did both things with great enthusiasm. After celebrating the Eucharist with our friends at Mt Olivet Episcopal Church, we enjoyed a huge meal and then headed out for some fun with alligators on a swamp tour.

The real highlight of the afternoon came when the guys on the team headed down to the neighborhood court for a little streetball. Even though the team got "schooled" on the court, they were able to make some new friends and to become more accustomed to the culture of the neighborhood.

Our focus this week is about "turning a corner," and what it means to come to a point at which significant change oocurs. Truly this game was their first step. Some of the team members were able to turn a corner with regards to their perceptions of the people in the neighborhood. Others turned a corner when they realized that ministry can happen on the blacktop. The neighborhood kids have invited the team back for more hoops tomorrow. Who knows what God can do with a dunk shot!

The weekend, relaxing for most, starts two very busy trips for Wonder Voyage. Molly and Mike Flickenger (one of our Adminstrative Directors in training) are about to lead 30 eager students from The 1st United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, Nashville for a trip that will combine the restoration of Katrina damaged homes with the restoration of spiritual journeys. Their theme is 'Turning the Corner: Learning to be a Missional Community'.

At the same time, our directors Eric and Jason lead 36 eager adults from our old freinds at Point View Baptist and our new friends at Holy Trinity Episcopal of Dallas, to Mexico. They are our first of our 5 summer teams partnering with Casa Hogar Reynosa, an amazing orphange just south of the Texas border, to build a new dorm facility and to bring much needed educational and medical aid. This is a new type of endeavor for us and we hope to see more expansive projects like this one in years to come.

Please take a moment and pray for wisdom, safety, and spiritual transformation for each of these two unique trips.

As we sat back in our seats preparing ourselves for our take-off to return home, we felt a deep sense of God’s faithfulness. Twelve wonderful individuals embarked on a voyage of wonder. Along the way, we felt the encounter of our Lord as He challenged each pilgrim to hold His compass and be led down a path of discovery that, at times, can feel disheartening. This truly was a life-changing pilgrimage.

New life-rhythms were explored as we embraced a monastic spiritual rhythm and learned to source truth together as a community of faith. We laughed a lot, played hard, and encouraged one another as we sought to push forward in order to receive all of the wonder that God had for us. First United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma came to Ireland discovering the beauty of this emerald land, reflecting on the history of its culture and people, but returning home with new perspective. God’s invitation for this community of faith was to trust Him more, be open to others, and enjoy the freedom that comes from knowing Him.

As we taxied down the runway, the plane felt a bit lighter as it lifted into the air, possibly because the weight we once carried had been left behind. “Come to me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Learn from Me, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”