Mission Trip ’05 Reflections
By Chris Piercy & the Mission Trip ’05 Team
“May 22nd marked Day One of Mission Trip ’05 for the Youth and College of our church.” This was the second year that we were able to work at Victory Mission in Springfield, Missouri and like any sequel worth its box office gold “MT ‘05” came complete with a bigger budget, better special effects and cheesier dialogue. Okay, perhaps not.
However, what this mission trip did have in store for us was a week full of service and surprises as well as plenty of fellowship and, as mission tripper Bobby Thompson would so precisely say: “Funniness!” We learned a lot about helping others and at the same time we were able to learn a lot about ourselves. For instance, we learned that Connor Mayhue spins moralistic yarns as prescient as Aesop’s Fables. We also discovered that Randi Howard carries on, um, interesting conversations in her sleep and that sponsor Kay Shaw shows no fear in the face of even the most death-defying Silver Dollar City rollercoaster. And our youth group can consume a lot of energy drinks in a week’s time.
Our trip started out on a bum note though. Matthew Pippenger was the victim of a very unfortunate injury received while rescuing a small child and a dog from a burning orphanage. I’m pretty sure he was really just playing volleyball the day before our trip began and the whole orphanage thing was a bit of a stretch. “Pip” was sorely missed but the incident did award me the opportunity to bestow upon him a new nickname: “Pip-a-Limp”.
We stayed in the same Springfield church that we did last year but this time we brought along gourmet cook Kay Shaw and her trusty sidekick, Rick, or as we prefer to call him, “R-Unit”. By the end of the week the Shaw’s were not just our sponsors, they had also become our close friends. One of the most rewarding parts of this trip was the chance to grow closer to these members of our church family. Of course I have had to spend all of my spare time back here in Ada at the gym working off the thirty pounds I gained eating Kay’s daily splendid smorgasbord.
Once again we led a chapel service for the homeless men of Victory Mission. Jeremy Haney and Hialee Howard each gave wonderful mini-sermons and Connor delighted the audience with one of his brilliant morals. Rumors of the bribery by me for Connor to do his stand-up routine have been greatly exaggerated. Also, to paraphrase Hialee, our spiritual gifts don’t exactly include musical talent, but Taylor “Tay Ray Charles” Howard did play one mean piano. In all seriousness though, I saw visual proof that we were able to touch several of these people in a way that has very little to do with rehearsed professionalism. What we were doing may not have been polished but it was from the heart and that is what these people needed.
As I’m sure you can tell, we each had a lot of fun, but we also worked hard, whether it was doing yard work at the women’s shelter, sorting clothes and unloading trucks at the clothing warehouse, serving dinner for the homeless, delivering toys for children, or putting together 12,000 newsletters. As with last year, we did not put a stop to homelessness, but we were able to serve as strong witnesses to Christ’s love. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every one of you who helped to make this mission trip possible. I am sure that I am not speaking only for myself when I say that “MT ‘05” was an experience of bonding, impromptu comedic outbursts, and spiritual growth that will not be forgotten. Here are a few thoughts by my other mission trip friends.”— Chris Piercy
“This mission trip was one that taught me a lesson that I won’t forget. As we woke up everyday knowing a long day waited ahead, I tried to prepare myself to serve in any way needed. I did just that. The task was easy, the work a breeze and a lot of fun with the fellow mission trippers. But one thing that really hit me was the difference in people that we served this year verses the people we served last year. Last year we were welcomed, thanked & appreciated from the ones that were being served by us. This year it was like we were received like any other person they see. Many didn’t outwardly express appreciation. At this time I realized I was thinking of the past. For the present time, the word humble came to mind & I knew that in the Bible God talks to a lot about storing up treasures in heaven and not on earth. I now feel more appreciated not by those we served in Springfield, but my Lord Jesus Christ.”—Daniel Gehm
“The mission trip was in a lot of ways similar to last years. It was overwhelming to see the amount of help the mission needed because they serve so many people. It feels humbling to know the work I was doing was helping people who really needed it. The church service made me feel like I was really setting an example and sharing my Christianity with the people of the mission. They all seemed impressed that a group of our age would come as far as we did just to help them and share our faith with them. I also felt like I grew closer to the entire youth group and sponsors. I feel even more comfortable sharing my faith with everyone and feel more like brothers and sisters in Christ.”—Jeremy Haney
“A mission trip is a way to help people in need. I believe we accomplished that on our trip. Not only do I feel good for helping people, I know that I have done God’s will as well. This trip taught me to be thankful for what I have. Some of the people there have nothing and somehow still thank God everyday for what little they do have. I am thankful that I had the chance to do God’s work and help those in need.”—Hialee Howard
“This year’s mission trip helped me realize that you have to keep your faith in God & remember what you are doing serves a purpose, even if you can’t see it. It also taught me sometimes your mission is not right in front of you or what you had planned, sometimes you have to find it.”—Randi Howard
“This year’s mission trip, I had a lot of fun helping Victory Mission & getting to know my youth/college group better. Everyone opened up & it made work more fun.”—Taylor Howard
“I was able to get help with something that had been hindering my life in Christ for a long time.”—Steven Lyon
“I had a lot of fun when we went to Springfield & Branson. Rick & Kay were good cooks & nice.”—Connor Mayhue
“I got to see how other people lived & got to know the youth/college group better. Then of course the fun.”—Will Robson
“The Mission Trip of 2005 was an extraordinary trip for us, as relatively new church members; we had not been around this group of young people. This mission trip gave us a brief glimpse into the lives of 10 wonderfully funny, hard working & dedicated young adults. The mission trip opened a new door of appreciation for the youth of our church, they worked hard, played hard & more importantly they all worked together to provide special help to people that needed to see young people that cared about them. Our most memorable moment of the trip was the evening this special group conduced the entire worship service, from music, prayers & a sermon for a room full of homeless men, to see the Lord’s hand guiding this group to share their love of God with men that had nothing. Their sincere love of God shone so very brightly that dark evening. Our wish that every church member could know each of these young people the way we do & feel the LOVE this group gives so very freely. The saying of “It takes a village to raise a child,” well First Presbyterian Church of Ada should be very proud of their job of raising a group of young people that loves God & served “Him” everyday of their lives. If Rick & I had not taken this trip we would never have known all of these young people or have the opportunity to love them as much as they LOVE the Lord.”—Rick & Kay Shaw
“Most of the people at the mission really needed help. I'm glad I went and was able to help people. The trip made me realize how lucky I am to have what I have.”—Bobby Thompson
“Mission Trip ’05—what a week to remember!!! When the students decided that they would like to go back to Victory Mission & work last October, we immediately started praying for this special week ’05. I told the students several times before we left Ada & when we arrived in Springfield, to not expect the same results or opportunities as we had previously had in May ’04. When we arrived at Victory Mission on Monday, May 23, those of us who went the year before, quickly saw that this week would be different. Even though it was different, we all learned a lot about life. I am so proud of the 10 students that went and gave one week of their time to help others who might not know where their next meal might come from or might be. I am so grateful to Rick & Kay Shaw. Rick & Kay took a week from their business that they own & spent it with 11 of us. Some of us they knew & others they got to know during that week. Thank you, church family, for providing us this opportunity to go on this Mission Trip ’05! We are already looking forward to Mission Trip ’06!”—DCE, Janey Wilson