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