More Final Thoughts

Greetings from Saint Paul, Minnesota! In contrast to the hot, humid climate of the Alabama Gulf Coast, it is 64 degrees and rainy this morning! It has been almost two weeks since the last post when I promised you all some final reflections from the Adult Advisors' team. So, as I sit in the Student Center at my alma mater, Macalester College, I will offer you what I have from three of the fearsome fivesome. I am still waiting for reflections from Tom and Marian -- they were busy driving when all this work was going on! Please remember that these were written on the last afternoon of the trip -- June 26.

MARTHA:

My best moment - Getting to know the “Group C” youth and watching them work so tirelessly to help others – they amaze me!


My most memorable person -- Quentin from Waterfront Street Mission because he took total responsibility for where he was and knew what he needed to do to turn things around and was willing to put in the work to get to where he wanted to be.


What I learned -- I learned about the APC youth (and chaperones) as individuals and their personal stories and faith. I am grateful for the opportunity.


RICK: My memorable moment -- Serving breakfast early Monday morning at the Coffee Club – seeing the appreciation in the faces of the people when we treated them like real people and not just poor unfortunates off the street. Also, Mr. Pettaway was awesome – his story is so touching -- I hope that our group will share it with everyone!


My most memorable person -- Jimmy at Waterfront – he has been homeless for a month and hates it. He wants someone to believe in him and give him a chance. He wants to become employed, so that he will never be homeless again.

What I learned -- I learned that people can change over the years. In 1973, I when I was last in Mobile, black people could not be served in places like McDonalds; this time, I saw a community that was much more accepting of its “minority” population. This doesn’t mean that racism has disappeared, but people are trying to live and work together more. I am very concerned about the future of many of the young inner-city kids, mostly African-American. I could say more, but I would be probably accused of becoming political!

CHRIS: It has been a long, exhausting, exhilarating, fun, memorable trip. Like a lot of the kids, one of my most memorable moments was walking into Taylor Park and having all the little children swarm us like we were rock stars! Another moment I really savored was watching Martha play with the youth in the bay, really building strong bonds and friendships with them.


Some of the people I will always remember are the homeless men we talked with at Waterfront Rescue Mission. They were funny, likeable, and gracious. One big African American man was very quiet at first. I thought to myself, he really thinks we are a pain in the bum sitting here at the shelter and eating their food. However, towards the end of our time there, he perked up and really told us something of his life. He noticed Cory’s ISU shirt and talked about how he could have gone to the University of Iowa to play college sports. The men ended by telling us about all the Alabama food we needed to try before we left!


On this trip, I learned that our youth have perseverance, true compassion, and a zest for life. I also learned that they could go a whole week without their phones and electronics and still have a great time. It was a joy working and living with the youth and adults in our group for the past 10 days.


Well ... that's what we have for you all. Please remember that we will be sharing more pictures and stories from the trip during Morning Worship on Sunday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. It will be a great day!

Blessings on the journey,

RICK (for the APC Youth Mission Crew)

Trip Reflections -- Part Three

TRIP REFLECTIONS -- Part Three:

Welcome to the Mission Trip that keeps on coming at you! This is the third installment of the final thoughts from this year's Alabama Adventure! By the time this blog is done, you will have heard from all the kids! That just leaves the adults to tell there version!

Before I let you hear from the kids, I want to introduce you to a wonderful friend of mine, Kristin Austin. Kristin, the young women in the picture with me, is one of my many Texas kids -- yes, Sue knows about all of them! Kristin is the Intern on the staff of Government Street PC in Mobile who is responsible for coordinating the Urban Mission Camps of the church. Kristin is a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas (time for a shout out to all the 'Roos reading this blog) and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. Kristin is one of the few people I know who has graduated from not one, but two schools with the same name as she! Kristin helped to create the great week that we shared in Mobile, and on behalf of the group, we want to say "Thanks, Kristin"!



Cory: Today is our last day of the trip, last day of van rides, and last day of being out of state for a while. My best memory was Coffee Club - we meet a lot of really nice and thankful people. For everyone who doesn’t know what Coffee Club is, it gives homeless and poor a chance at a warm meal each week day. The day I was there I had my first taste of Grits. My favorite person I met was a guy named Allen, he was from Missouri. He was a great person to talk to. One of the many important lessons I learned was that we must be thankful for the big things we have like TV’s, phones, and even a warm breakfast. I will always remember my first mission trip.



Fuller: Best Trip Moment: Probably helping out at Taylor Park. Most Memorable Person: I think my most memorable person would be Ty (Kristin's assistant with Urban Mission Camps), he was a ton of fun to be with. What I learned: There are a lot of people that need help and we don’t really notice it.








Adelaide (Addy):

Best Trip Moment: Meeting all of the cool new people and getting to learn more about them as we help them and having fun while growing closer to the other youth the same time.

Most Memorable Person: A cute little girl named Daja from Taylor Park along with the other kids there, they were so welcoming, they just jumped right in like we’d been coming forever, demanding piggy-back rides, hugs, hand games, showing us pictures, chasing us around, and braiding our hair, they were so sweet!

What I learned: Don’t listen to any stereotypes, ever, because most likely they will always be proved wrong.





Connor M.:
Best Moment: Meeting Walter when we went to Waterfront Rescue Mission

Most Memorable Person: Walter from Waterfront because he had only positive things to say.

What I learned: God works in many ways and not all of them positive.





There you have it -- in their words. There is still more to share, both in words and pictures -- so don't stop following this blog! Also, remember -- SUNDAY, July 31!

Blessings on the journey,

RICK

Trip Reflections -- Part Two

APC YOUTH MISSION REFLECTIONS -- THE VIEW FROM BAYTREAT and BEYOND -- PART TWO:

As promised, here are a few more of the kids with their reflections!








KATIE (Doing "YMCA" at The Hangout -- believe me, I tried to find a better picture, but this has to be "the one"!)

It is over (picture five sad faces here). My best moment on this trip would be working and playing with all the kids at Taylor Park. They were so cute and so much fun! I will miss them! I will remember everyone I met on this trip. The people I will remember the most will be Willy and Eddie from L’Arche. I loved coloring and talking to them. They were so kind and so willing to talk and play with us. I have learned from this trip that even when you don’t realize it, you affect everyone you meet. People affect you too, sometimes in the smallest way. I will never forget this. It has been so much fun!!




HANNAH:
My Favorite Moments: Meeting all the kids and the older people at the mission sites.


My Most Memorable Person: A little girl at Taylor Park named Enia because, she was so much fun to hang out with.


What I learned: That everybody has their own story to tell and we don’t all come from the same background.

CONNER S:

My Favorite Moment: Monday morning we served breakfast at Coffee Club - seeing all the happy faces on the people was so heart warming, because we tried to treat them like real people and not insane creepy people that live on the street with torn up clothing. When you treat them good they’ll talk to you and they are really nice people.


My Memorable Person: Willy at L’Arche because when I got there he was the first one to greet me in the community. He was so fun to hang out with. It was kinda hard to understand the way he talked but I caught on and I would play peek-a-boo with him, and when I said Michaela's name he would do kiss noises. I helped him read a book and it was fun.


What I learned: That we should be grateful for what we have. We take things for granted and we don’t realize that some people don’t have any thing and would just be grateful just to have blankets; but some time God will give them a job. God led people to build shelters for homeless people so they can have food, a bed, showers, and friends so they can slowly get back on their feet.

DAKOTA:

My Favorite Moment: Meeting all of the kids at Taylor Park and having them instantly latch on was fun. They were so cute and knew lots of hand games.

My Memorable Person: Sarah from L’Arche was definitely cool. She loved to make jewelry!

What I learned: that everyone has a story, hopes, and dreams, and stereotypes shouldn’t get in the way. No matter how we live, we are all essentially the same, and need to be treated as such.

BRIANNA (Monday Morning at Coffee Club):

Memorable Moment: Taylor Park, when I got to play with all of the kids!


Most Memorable Person: One of the most memorable persons for me was Sarah (from L'Arche) because she was nice, funny, and had a unique personality.


What I learned: On this trip I learned that it is easy to help people out by just noticing that they are there and talking to someone and being a friend.


And so, the adventure continues. The next posting will include the reflections of the remaining youth and some of our trip's Adult Advisors! Stay tuned for more!

RICK