On Sunday, June 25, 5 youth and 3adults headed south to Manassas, VA to be a part of a Week of Hope mission camp.  Those attending:  Colleen Carr, Olivia Dubendorf, Andrew Mariani, Zach Workman and Mike Feeley with Ann Aichinger, Tim Love and Lynne Trout (a candidate for ministry from Deep Run Pres.) as adult leaders.  Bill and April Reeser were on staff with the camp, and were in charge of food (they did a GREAT job) and office needs. 

We went to an area of the country that is booming with population and yet the division between people is growing.  Wealth and poverty are becoming dividers between the people there.   In a Week of Hope, we were about building relationships with each other, with God and with the people we served.  We worked alongside of youth and adults from other places and from other denominations:  Northern New Jersey; Richmond, VA, Manassas, VA and Gaffney, South Carolina.  There were 80 in our camp and we were divided up into work teams to serve at a variety of sites in the area.

§          Reston, VA doing food drives at stores and then stocking shelves of the Interfaith Food Bank.

§          Summer basketball camp for under -privileged kids.

§          Christian summer camp for kids in the area.

§          A family shelter, working with the families there as well as cleaning the facility.

§          Community clean up from the storms of late June.

§          A Senior Day care facility—playing games, talking with those who came for the day, and making friends.

§          Food drives in the Manassas area and took the food to the local SERVE food bank.

We made friends and learned what it meant to have a Jesus Attitude.  In our Christian living we are to live with humility, obedience to God’s calling, serving others as Christ has served us and giving sacrificially of ourselves.  Worship and sharing was a part of our everyday experience whether as a whole camp or in our work crews.  We saw God at work in our lives and in the world.  We are looking forward to going again on another Group Work camp experience next year.   Here are some excerpts of our reflections:

Olivia Dubendorf:   “This week was an amazing experience that I will never forget.  I came home with a southern drawl, knowledge of mud bogging, sweet tea and grits, and lots of new friends. In running food drives and stocking shelves, I helped the local community by providing food for those in need.  I enjoyed my week and all the people I met.”

Colleen Carr:  When I started to think about coming on this trip, I was ready for hard work.  I wanted to get dirty—but I was assigned to the Senior Day Care Center.    We didn’t know if they really wanted us there.  We started seeing more people smiling and talking.  We danced, snag songs, played games, and watched movies.  No one really realized how much of a difference we made until an elderly woman named Lucy started crying the day we left.  There were no miracles, but we helped some people and will stay in their memories, which is what I was there to do.

Andrew Mariani:  This week has taught me so much.  I did the Bible studies with 2^nd graders.  During this time, I became friends with Tristan who was amazing.  Though he didn’t say much at first, by the end of the week he volunteered to say grace over our lunch.  I learned to lead in the prayers and I gave my testimony.  After this trip, I have a better idea of what God has put out for me to do.

Mike Feeley:  This was a very inspirational and fun week.  I enjoyed working in the basketball camp. One of my favorite parts was worship every night.   This week we lived out a Jesus attitude. 

Zach Workman:  This was my first ever mission trip.  Manassas is a wonderful city that has the most amazing Christian experience.  It’s the best things that could ever happen to you.

Tim Love:  I started on this mission trip with an open heart and open mind which brought me a long way.  Jesus touched me in so many ways.  I learned to allow my reservation for people’s attitudes to bounce off of me.  Use your energy to do good, to help others and to spread God’s word.  How much more I feel and love Jesus.  Many of the messages have been sent my way, and I’ve told myself I must heed them for it will bring me closer to the Lord.

Ann Aichinger:  Mission and making a difference is at the very heart of my ministry.  I am proud to have served along side of these incredible people—and to see how God was at work throughout the week.   Each evening at worship, we shared “God sightings” and the stories were amazing.   Thank you for the opportunity to venture out and to serve Christ in a variety of ways.