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stairways and bathrooms. Little did we know how many opportunities to serve each other and the Carthage community awaited us.
Our first two days, we were assigned to 'Kids
Club' - a two hour afternoon event working with disadvantaged children of the
community. We planned the sessions and took turns mentoring the participants
as they enjoyed the activities we offered. We sang songs with movements,
created hand puppets, played four-square, basketball, and drip, drip, DROP!
We taught bible verses and scripture in ways that were fun for the kids.
The second morning was spent at a nursing home where we interacted with the residents and played bingo. Most of the folks there had no family, so we stepped in to give them some love, attention, and engaging conversation. Then back to Kids Club for another round of fun and action.
The next two days we took on serious work projects. We cleaned a garage, weeded an entire yard and garden, painted a 30' porch ceiling, worked on a Scout Trailer, and washed windows. The temperature rose to 108 degrees which was very challenging to endure. We drank loads of water and looked forward to our one shower at 3:30 in the afternoon.
As the "Marshmallow Mateys" work team, we took our turn helping to prepare breakfast and dinner for the rest of the churches' youth, cleanup the church building, wash the dishes, empty coolers, set up chairs and tables, and much more - all of which occurred before or after we did work outside of our facility!
There were 64 of us youth and adult leaders working and worshiping together. The day began and ended with devotions that got us thinking about the way we look at life and our relationship with God. The theme was 'Freedom' and what that actually means to a practicing Christian. "It was life-changing," says 14-year old Autumn Helm. "I came with my usual attitude that I have at home and realized that wasn't going to do me any good. So I prayed, really prayed that God would help me get along with everyone and do a good job. And it worked!"
The evening activities consisted of a skating party, a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, an incredible Youth worship service at the church, and the grand finale, a community cookout which was attended by several of the children and residents that we helped during the week. It was so neat to have a group of children run up to us, hug us, and want to sit with us while we ate hamburgers and hotdogs together. "I feel we really made a difference," says 12-year old Tennessee Hill. "I made so many friends; it's going to be hard to say goodbye."
On Friday morning, phone numbers and addresses were exchanged, we cleaned the entire building once more, and we all got together for a group photo. The return trip was animated and enthusiastic as we discussed how we can start a mission team in our own community. It was an awesome experience and we are resolved to build on what we have learned and also plan another mission trip next year.
