Background

On July 14, 30 youth, grades 6-8, and 8 adult leaders will leave for Chicago, well-trained and prepared for the ministry awaiting them. Our ministry will consist of Vacation Bible School, outreach events, prayer-walking, serving in shelters and meeting needs of people living on the streets. Your support is giving this team the chance to withdraw from their ordinary culture in Austin and immerse themselves in a new environment. The goal is for the team to be “in the field,” involved in intense ministry for a full week, learning skills and being changed by Christ to return to the culture here, their local missionary field. The youth will tell you that it is not a vacation and is hard work! Our parents will tell you that the youth who leaves them is not the youth who returns to them. They are eternally changed by their experiences.

Photos

All Trip Photos

Trip Reports

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Debrief

A nice long sleep was just what we needed after a stressful day of delayed flights and quick three minute showers.  We got dressed in our Sunday outfits and gathered for breakfast.  After that we took a quick prayer walk and went to our first church service.  Later in the day we went to our future sites of ministry and prayed for everyone in those conditions. After that we ate dinner and set off to most of our first bi-lingual church service.  I was so glad to praise God in another way and still be worshipping the same God.  It was truly an amazing experience.

-Missy

The music at the Amistad Christiana was awesome and the bi-lingual service was cool.  The message was good and everyone was nice and accepting.  The Philadelphia church was nice as for the people and the message.  The people at both churches were very kind to us.

-Stephannie

The trip is amazing.  We went to two churches.  The first one we went to was the Philadelphia Church.  I really enjoyed that church because it was kind of like the church in Tunica, Mississippi.  Saying, “Yes, Yes, O Lord.  You are good.”  We also went to the Amistad Christiana church.  It was different from what I’m used to but it’s still the same God!

-Paula-Rhea

On our first full day we explored two different kinds of church services.  One was the Philadelphia Church and the other a bi-lingaul church.  They were both very different.  Both had good sermons and messages.  We learned that they were different places – same God.

-Marina

Today was my birthday.  This morning we worshipped at a church with lots of diversity, not many people and older folks leading the congregation.  Later this evening we went to a bilingual church with loud music in English and Spanish.  It was great!  We learned in the message that we are all united as Christians in our worship even though we may speak different languages.  We came back to the “home base” and I was surprised with a cake, ice cream, and a birthday card!  It was an awesome birthday.

-Megan

This morning we went to two church services, one in the morning and one in the evening.  The one in the morning was here at the church we are staying at.  That service was more contemporary and the majority was elderly.  I really liked how the congregation was of mixed races.

-Lauren

On Sunday we went to two church services.  It was fun when we went up on stage to sing “Sanctuary” and “Waves of Mercy”, then we went to Amistad Cristiana and performed our songs again.

-Josh

Monday

Today we started our Vacation Bible School.  About half of the kids could speak English, the other half only Spanish.  I met a little girl named Melissa that couldn’t speak English.  I couldn’t really communicate with her, but when it was time for everyone to move I stuck out my hand to see if she would hold it.  I was amazed when she grabbed it and we started walking.  God is truly amazing for giving us the language of touch!

-Megan

This mission trip has been very moving.  Ever since we did church service at the bi-lingual church I’ve been into the Spirit.  Yesterday we practiced speaking our faith to people, out at the beach.  A friend and I went to a person sitting on a bench; we went up to him and started talking to him.  We started sharing our faith and found out that he didn’t go to church as much as he should.  He was thinking church was money based, he was able to make a connection to us through a common history in our faith.  I think we really helped him to realize he still needs to find a church.

-Connor

During game time at Vacation Bible School, Pastor Lentz decided to clean up the parking lot.  Bag after bag of leaves and trash were filled.  In order to help remove the trash, I spotted a dumpster.  It was far from where Pastor Lentz was at and it seemed content being there.  It was already filled with some trash and was rather heavy.  I called Barry over to help me move it since it was too much to do by myself.  And the hardest part about getting the dumpster rolling was the first push.  We had to overcome the weight of the dumpster to get it on a roll.  And once we had it rolling, we couldn’t stop it.  We had to clear people out of the way!

Standing on the sidewalk in front of the beach, hesitant about the task at hand, we looked a lot like those dumpsters.  We were full of doubt, concerns and anxieties and were quite content with where we were at.  We could see the beach, the water and the people that we didn’t want to talk to.  We needed a push.  Something to get us rolling.  Something to get us over our doubts and fears.  So, like Barry assisted me, each of you assisted one another.  And what amazing things happened.  We shared our faith with total strangers on the shores of Lake Michigan!  And what amazing things can happen when you get rolling.  Nothing can stop you!

-Bruce

Tuesday

We went on a prayer drive.  We saw the wonderful and beautiful city of Chicago.  We saw Wrigley field, Sears Tower and Chicago Space Needle.  Then we went down town to the lower economic community.  We went to a church and saw some really, really beautiful murals.  The murals were promoting Jesus and it was good.  One fo the murals we saw had been painted by over 40 people, primarily done by young men known to be in gangs.  The mural was of a multi-colored Jesus, saying the God knows no color and we are all his children no matter what race.  Kur, our worship leader, told us at one point the painting had been covered in white paint by local business men, but for some reason the paint didn’t stick and the mural behind it was in perfect condition.  Weird occasion, maybe.  But I believe it was a work of God to preserve the mural.  God is truly amazing and seeing him work on a mission trip is like nothing else!

-Liz

The activities we did today were very enjoyable.  First off, we have to get up extremely early (6:30).  Then we go to breakfast and move out to the Church we are doing Vacation Bible School at called Amistad Cristiana.  However, today was a little different for our group.  Instead of going to the VBS group, we went to an old-folks home to visit.  I met a few people and they were very nice.  After that, we went to VBS for the remaining time, then we went to Lake Michigan to practice and put into practice, sharing our faith.

-Stephanie

Yesterday something really cool happened.  Barton, Pat and I were going to the local grocery store to by some food.  We saw a burdened old man trying to take his groceries home and Pat suggested we go help him out.  When we did he was really nice and we walked a block while Barton and I carried groceries.  When we got to his house, he thanked us and it was a really rewarding experience.

-Matt

This morning some of us went on a prayer drive.  We saw Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Sears Tower and Chicago Space Needle.  We just looked around and if anything spoke to us we prayed about it.  We gave thanks for the different things and prayed about what was on our hearts.  Later we went to a Baptist church. An artist was a member of their church and painted a lot of different things about Jesus and the Bible.  One mural was on a public wall.  He painted in different races and countries. It’s a great witness because it is in the middle of a public street and shows Christ love for everyone.

-Rebekah

This morning we planned to do a VBS in a park.  Instead it rained.  We split up into two groups.  One went in the city to do a prayer drive.  The other stayed at the church and did work.  My group went on the drive.  It was so cool.  We go tto see the city and pray for people.

-Marina

Today we went on a mobile prayer walk.  It was really exciting to see the inner city and pray about it.  My favorite thing would have to be the church. I thought that it was very interesting seeing a church from the 1900’s.  I also loved seeing “Jesus Christ” written in 25 different languages.  I am so glad that we went.

-Jenna

Painting the basement today was awesome.  We cleaned the basement, moved everything out of it and washed and painted the walls.  We almost did all of it.  Yesterday, the VBS and walking on the beach was amazing.

-Kathryn

Today was my first day here and I had a blast!  While some people went on a prayer walk, I stayed here and helped paint the basement.  Katryn, Megan and I only had three small paint brushes while the guys had the rollers.  The guys took on big walls and finished them in five minutes, but we (the girls) stayed longer and finished a whole wall.  It was really funny because while everybody was getting ready for lunch, we kept painting the wall and we finally finished.

-Caitlin

Wednesday

Saturday I came into Chicago not really expecting anything. The church we are staying at is on a very busy road.  This a very different environment.  Our plane got delayed an hour and a half in Austin, which shows that you just have to go with the flow.  We finally arrived at the church at 4:30.  We had not yet had lunch.  We were so hungry but we went with the flow.  It was difficult to go to bed that night.  We had 3 minute showers and were also too excited about the next day.  We woke up the next morning already very tired.  We went to church service at the curch we are sleeping in.  It was different but still worship.  The congregation was so nice to us.  We got to sing for them.  We sang “Every move I make”.  We also sang “Sanctuary”.  Later in the day we went to a nursing home to pray and a place where they feed homeless and poor.  We saw a few kids.  One of them went around to everyone and felt in their pockets and tried to grab their water bottles.  It was so sad to see a five year old need stuff so bad.  We will get the privilege of serving food in the kitchen for them later in the week.  That night we went to another church.  It was so loud.  It was like going to a concert.  Everything took twice as long because they had to translate from Spanish to English.  The day was great.  It is cool to know that whatever language you talk to God in, he can understand you.  I’ve already seen God work tremendously on this trip.  When we first arrived in Chicago, I wasn’t very excited.  I was comparing everything to past mission trips.  On Monday, my small group went to the nursing home and I was scared.  .We sang some songs and they loved to sing along.  We met a guy named Ronald.  He knew all the songs and loved to sing along.  It felt great to know that they appreciated us being there.  Later that evening, we met a lady named Laura at the deli.  She is the only Christian in a Jewish family and she asked us to pray for her.  We had an amazing discussion.  God blessed us with the time to bond and share our feelings.

-Samantha