Day One

The days on the mission field very early. Thr breakfast crew has to get up and on their jobs at 6:30. So far they have put food on the table on time.  Everyone has mainted the best attitudes. Kayman Powell, Jacqui Hill, Darien Waite, and Alexandra Knox did “Kid’s Club” for their first assignment. In a nut shell, it is like Vacation Bible School but geared more for kids who don’t go to church.

Our students had to develop crafts, reading activities, outdoor activities and skits.  They all did a really good job considering that they had to work with students from Sunnybrook Community Church in Iowa.

I had some time to talk with returning student missionary Alexandria Knox, I asked her how she was feeling since our arrival.

Alex: I’m really happy!

PJK: why?

Alex: (in her soft voice) Because we have air conditioning!  That is really a surprise because the last place we went to was so different.

PJK: You mean it was more “basic?”

Alex: Yeah, here the bathrooms and everything is much nicer.

PJK: So tell me why did you want to go on this trip when you didn’t know if we were going back to a place  like the last one?

Alex: Well, I thought that it couldn’t be worse than where we were and really it was ok.  Everybody made it and we were pretty happy about it.  It kind of didn’t make that big of a difference.  Air conditioning and nice bathrooms is nice but even if we didn’t have that here I think that I would still be happy.

PJK: Wow, You are pretty serious about this, I wanted to stay in a hotel if it was anything like the last place.  So what is it about the mission trips?

Alex: I feel really good when I’m doing this kind of thing, I mean really good.  It’s like you are really making a difference and It feels good when I’m serving.

Enjoy pictures from the Kid’s Club and a few pictures from Brother Jonathan Thomas’ group featuring Jahmad.  They are sorting beads at a place that is run by people who have mental and developmental challenges.  The task of sorting the beads generates 60% of this organizations’ operating budget.  Needless to say, it is a room filled with more beads than you have ever seen in your life.  I hope to show some pictures and interview some more students.

Check in on our blog this evening.  We are going to the French Quarter.  You will also read my conversation with Sadie Banks second time missionary.

By the way, thanks for leaving comments and words of encouragement. Your words are shared with the students each evening during church group time.  So if you know a parent of a student on this trip, please point them to this blog and tell them to send some words.  PJK

We’re Here!!!

We hit the road with N’olins in our sights. This is a power run to the Crescet City without stoping unless someone is bleeding.
We were 45 miles from the city when it hit us. RAIN, serious rain, buckets of rain, cats and dogs rain, Nohah and the ark rain…well almost but it was so hard that we could only see the lights from the vehicle in front of us.

It was time for decisions, leadership, and prayer. Everyone called for the pastor. He has been silent since we left Jackson, MS. Where is Pastor J?

Fear struck the group as we now reached the long bridge–elevated above the storm angered waters. Pastor J was asleep. Could it have been the fried chicken and collards from shoneys?

“well wake him up, doesn’t he care that we are about to hydroplane off the bridge into the gator infested waters below?” cried out the drivers and passengers.

The wise and kind pastor opened his eyes and spoke “press forward my children, don’t stop and don’t be afraid for G_d is with us.”

And then Pastor J prayed a mighty prayer and the vans drove into the clear.

The caravan arrived safely. Our home for the next 7 days is Grace Lutheran Church. Just a few years ago it was under 8 feet of water aong with the entire neighborhood.

The church has been restored by the hands of volunteers from all over the country and by the hand of Mercy of G_d. Our work will consist of some rebuilding not just of structures. But also of the hearts and lives of the many that we will touch.

Pray that our students will hear the voice of G_d clearly, that they will have an authentic encounter with the Living God, and that they will be more like who G_d is calling them to be.

Enjoy the pictures and as for the story about the rain and mighty pastoral prayer…. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Tomorrow we will get words from Sadie Banks and Alexandria Knox two returning students from last year’s trip.