Mission Trip

Yes, it's true...it has been over a month since last we posted. But here is the promised "Mission Trip" post!
Amy took 9 students (along with 1 other chaperone) to Boston, Mass. It was a long trip, but a great one! The crew left morning of July 4th and made their way to Chicago. We stayed at North Park Covenant Church (near North Park University). We tried to see some fireworks, but Navy Pier was closed and traffic was horrendous. The youth were very good about it though! We had fun with light ropes-things, and having delicious Giavonni's pizza!
After Chicago we headed to Liverpool, NY. We landed there late on Saturday (okay only like 8p.m. but after 12 hours in the car-it felt late). The church we stayed at was extremely welcoming, even made us breakfast! We stayed and worshipped with them Sunday morning and they fed us again...a potluck lunch! The staff there was so inviting and welcoming-we joked that if we needed them to, they'd come with us and support our missions. They were wonderful people.
Finally, we were on our final leg to Boston! What should have been a 3-1/2 hour trip turned into a 6-1/2 hour trip. I neglected to remember the 4th of July traffic and heading toward Boston/New York City. OOPS!!!
But, alas, we landed in Boston and started our week off with a bang! We were assigned as a large group working at a camp that is associated with the Boys and Girls Club of Lynn, Mass. When we arrived it was a blast! We were assigned different crews (I was a Grey Squirrel) and worked with the same kids all week. We swam, boated, played lacrosse, kickball, talked, laughed, took goofy pictures, and jumped in the pond-and so much more! It was a great time to watch the youth grow in how do they portray Christ in a relationship. And the youth were opened up to a new way of life. It was crazy for me to even fathom that not a single kid (except for the camp director's son) was from a 2 parent-married home. If both parents were still together they weren't married, most of their parents never were married, but if they were they have been divorced. The confusion of all that is difficult to understand, and I was privy to witness them experience raw emotions, shock when I told them I had 2 kids. It was funny-they thought I was only 15 years old...guess I'll be grateful when I'm 40. :)

The week was great, we connected with 2 other churches from New Jersey. One was the Chinese Christian Church of NJ and the other was St. Bart's Catholic Church from NJ. It was fun talking to them about faith, but mostly about our cultural differences. They had no idea what Lutefisk was, but we had never had Canollis (I may have misspelled that) so I guess that's fair.

Thanks for all your prayers as I traveled and as Mike once again, held down the fort for my time.

Following HIM,
Amy