Youth Mission Trip - 2008 - Day 5 Update

Day 5 Update (Wednesday)…

The nature of every mission trip is flexibility, and this trip is no exception. Though our week has been wonderfully coordinated between all of our adult leaders, things always come up that make the whole experience a little more challenging…or perhaps a little more interesting! However, every challenge or flexed schedule that’s been faced this week has been handled incredibly well! Today, this included moving some teens around to different mission sites, resolving a building permit issue, discovering new projects in need of repair, and facing multiple scattered thunderstorms.
After our busy day in North Charleston, we headed back to Mount Pleasant and got cleaned up. This year, we rented a 12 unit shower trailer [the company is actually called Nature’s Calling!], so getting all of our teens through them takes a little coordination. But by 6:30 pm, we were all cleaned up and ready to begin our unique dinner, fellowship & worship experience!
We were joined by about 40 students from FBC Mount Pleasant, as well as some other high school and college students from the area. This meal, it was the people of our host church (FBC Mount Pleasant) who provided the food for us. As for the entertainment/fellowship, we had the John Callaway come with a few other musicians to lead an hour long concert. Some our high schoolers already knew John, as he led the worship music for Common Ground (the winter retreat). The music was great and mostly all of our youth ended up dancing and mingling with the other area teens! It was great to see such crossover. At the end of the concert, several students (including Emily Brown and Matt Whitescarver from GBC) shared brief faith stories; this time was followed by some closing worship songs that were sung by teens and adults alike. It was truly a neat event that succeeding in bringing various church groups together to share, learn & worship as one.

Along the Journey…
Casey

Youth Mission Trip - 2008 - Day 4 Update

Day 4 Update (Tuesday)…

Hospitality. That’s what we saw yesterday…in fact, we saw it, smelled it, and tasted it. When we were leaving the work sites on Monday afternoon, the pastor of Saint Matthew Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Clinton Brantley, commented that he would be providing lunch for our group the next day. He said chicken casserole, and we weren’t sure exactly what to expect or if he realized just how much 92 hungry people can eat. At noon on Tuesday, though, we found out he did.
Our teens lined up in the fellowship hall – girls first, since our guys are working on being Southern gentlemen – and the eyes of every student perked up. There was hot, delicious chicken casserole, tasty green beans, dinner rolls, salad and fruit, pound cake topped with strawberries and cool whip, and fantastically sweet iced tea to top it all off. It was a meal that required the coordination of many folks from Saint Matthew, but none more than the Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Brantley. We found out they were up a church pretty late the night before working on preparing the meal. When we finally finished eating our first and second helpings, one of the senior deacons stood up and thanked our students again for the incredible work they are doing here this week. All of this demonstrated a level of hospitality that far exceeded our expectations.
Needless to say, Tuesday’s lunch got us through the day. We actually took the afternoon off the mission sites yesterday so that our teens could spend time at the beach; unfortunately, a distant thunderstorm kept them out of the water for all but 10 minutes of the time. Still, it was a good day that left us all grateful for the warm reception we’ve felt here. Please be in prayer for the ongoing ministries of both Metanoia and Saint Matthew Baptist Church. They serve as true beacons of light in this community.

Along the Journey…
Casey

Youth Mission Trip - 2008 - Day 3 Update

(Monday)…

Sometimes teenagers can go from clean to super dirty in just a matter of minutes. Usually, this kind of thing is the result of some recreational challenge or adventure. Today, all 75 of our teens got incredibly dirty, but they got it the hard way – by spending the day doing for others.
We began work at our various mission sites today; all of these projects are located in a one-mile radius of Saint Matthew Baptist Church (where we worshipped on Sunday), so our students get to interact with one another a good bit. But mostly all of our time today was spent working, not hanging out. Each one of our teens showed an incredible amount of effort, even as the humidity piled on, the sweat rolled out, and the dirt, dust, and paint covered them from head to toe. It was a day’s work that all of our teens – and our adult leaders – could be proud of. And more importantly, it was a day’s work that was done solely for the glory of God and the benefit of others in need.
Our worship time continues to be spiritually refreshing, just as our meal time and ‘down time’ continue to be personally refreshing. We covet your prayers and hope for a renewed energy and strength each new day of this mission trip. The work accomplished today was remarkable [one feat consisted of taking apart an old piano and moving all the heavy pieces down a tight, winding stairwell!]. However, I am more pumped up about the work that will be accomplished at the end of the week – both in the community of North Charleston and the lives of our own teens and adults.

Along the Journey…
Casey

Gayton YMT 2008 - Charleston, South Carolina - Day 2 update

Day 2 Update (Sunday)…
The first two days of the YMT have been incredible. After a pleasant trip down I-95, we were able to head to the edge of Charleston’s downtown district, locally referred to as ‘the battery’. There, though the humidity was quite strong, we had a good coastal breeze and the students were able to walk several blocks by the bay and eventually end up at a scenic fountain. Needless to say more than a few decided to cool off!
Arriving at our hotel was smooth and pretty easy, and our students and adults were able to enjoy an early evening off; most spent it with each other, either playing cards, ‘Catch Phrase’, or hanging out by the pool.
Sunday morning began with a hearty breakfast and a short commute to Saint Matthew Baptist Church, the congregation that is partnered with and shares building space with Metanoia. Saint Matthew is a predominately African American congregation, and while many elements of worship are different than our own at GBC, I can confidently say that it was a powerful worship experience for our students and adults. The church members were extremely welcoming and gracious, and we look forward to developing some relationships as the week progresses. One highlight that must be mentioned took place when an invitation to sing was extended to all of the guests in the service – including our 90+ crowd. One of our teens, Jordan Garrett, accepted this invitation and then sang a 3 stanza solo of Amazing Grace. What a powerful point of connection and worship!
Our group has now settled into First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant, and we are eager to begin our mission work Monday morning. Thank you all for your ongoing support!

Along the Journey…
Casey

Youth Mission Trip - 2008

On Saturday morning, July 26th, over 90 youth and chaperones found their
seats on two busses and pulled out of Gayton Baptist Church on their way to
Charleston, South Carolina.