Puerto Rico – Day 1
Indy 2020 – Day 6, The Student Perspective
My trip to Indy was a really great experience and a fun time. Coming into this trip no one knew what to expect and then when we would find out each day, and people would get right to work. During my time in Indy, my favorite job was most likely mulching. Although I didn’t do all of the mulching, I still had a good time. Being with people who laugh, make jokes, smile, it just makes it so much more enjoyable. During mulching, I was surrounded by just that. This made mulching a really great time.
Coming on this trip was questionable and filled with a lot of confusion because of COVID-19. Leading up to leaving for the trip I was always worried that I wouldn’t be with my friends at the dorm rooms and in the vehicles. When we got assigned vehicles I wasn’t with all the people I wanted to be with. This was disappointing and made me fearful I wouldn’t have someone to talk to. Then when we arrived we got assigned dorm rooms and I wasn’t with them again, so this made me think I will never see them because I am not with them in the car or in a room together. As the week went on, I started to realize that it is okay not to be with them all the time. I can make new relationships and build up other ones, and I did. God also showed me it was okay through Sarah, one of our summer interns. Sarah challenged us to start sitting with new people at meals and intermix. This was another opportunity to work with others, have a conversation, and get to know each other more.
Overall, this trip was really great and I would definitely come back. I would not change anything about my first experience here. Even though our current situation in the world isn’t what we want, things turned out just fine. I am looking forward to coming here again in the future!
This year we went to Indianapolis for our mission trip. This has been my second mission trip, the first being Chicago. On this trip, I got to experience many new things, such as mulching, putting up painters’ tape, and going on a prayer walk where we went around the neighborhood praying, and picking up trash. We also painted, cleaned, and weeded garden beds. If you asked me what my favorite project was, I wouldn’t be able to answer.During this trip we all received a devotional that we were able to work on during the week. I think that the one that impacted me the most was the one on Matthew 20:1-16. I feel that this passage shows me that we shouldn’t be jealous if someone who worked less gets the same reward as us. It also shows that even if someone get’s something and we don’t, it doesn’t affect us, therefore we shouldn’t be jealous.
One fear I had on this trip was that I wouldn’t be much help. This was just Satan trying to push self-doubt into my head. God helped me to have the strength to push these thoughts away.
I really enjoyed being able to serve with my friends, and I already can’t wait for next year. I pray that God continues to bring joy and strength to us even through this last day of our trip.
Macee, 8th Grade
This past week here in Indianapolis has been full of sunshine, weeding, painting, cleaning, and of course, laughter. I got to see people I haven’t seen in many years, but I have also gotten to make new friends and strengthen the friendships I already had.
My favorite project was repainting the Horizon Central church sign. Before we painted it, the colors were faded and the wood was worn. You could barely see the sign from the street because it blended in with the building behind it. However, after a full day of standing on a ladder, mixing colors, and cleaning brushes, the sign finally looks new again. My hope for this sign is that it would catch the eyes of people driving by or walking down the street. I hope that it would be a colorful invitation for people to come to Horizon Christian Fellowship and hear the Word of God.
I have been on a few mission trips in the past and I have always struggled with being myself and stepping up into leadership positions. One challenge on this trip that I faced was reaching the edge of my comfort zone and taking that last step to finally cross the line. I have never been a very outgoing person, but as one of the older students and an upcoming senior, I knew I would be looked at as a leader. Throughout the week God has given me the urge to take charge and be an example to others around me. I found myself cleaning up without being asked. I began sitting with the junior highers at meals to get to know them better. I even took initiative to start dancing during worship with a friend, hoping others would join in. On this trip God continued to surprise me by pushing my limits and developing me as a leader.
Gabby, 12th Grade
Indy 2020 – Day 5 Update
Today was a day full of projects. The students have been working so hard, efficiently, and quickly on everything that we have given them, that we are left searching for more projects than what had originally been planned. We all feel so blessed to be able to have spent the past few days working to assist Kids Inc and Horizon Central.
The group of painters continued their work of painting door frames throughout the entirety of the building. With the speed that they were going we quickly realized that more painting projects needed to be found. A few of the students were sent down into the basement to repaint some of the brick columns where the paint was falling off and others got to work on giving a few of the doors a fresh coat of paint. The majority of the painting has been done and the team has enjoyed the task of peeling off the tape and competing to make the largest tape ball.
Another group of students headed outside to the parking lot to patch potholes, repaint posts, and paint fresh parking lines on the pavement. They of course finished this in no time and were split to conquer the jungles of weeds that had grown in a few of the gardens across the property. This was no easy task. The plots of land had been left unattended by human hands since early spring when the school closed, but had been taken over by briar bushes, spiky dandelions, and small trees. It made for hot, tiring work out in the sun. But the students did not let this stop them. They worked until break time with smiles on their faces the whole time, not once did I hear them complain.
This experience has been such a blessing for me, and I have felt honored to be able to come on this trip and work alongside your students. They have worked so hard and continue to amaze me with their dedication to God and their openness to learn. The good that they are doing both for the community here and for God’s kingdom will last for years to come. Thank you for all your support and prayers.
Indy 2020 – Day 4 Update
Mission Trip week is always one of the highlights of my summer. It’s filled with so many amazing adventures. On top of that, we’re able to accomplish so much ministry work in a short time. The students form new friendships and deepen others, in ways that wouldn’t happen outside of serving together like this. But I think the main reason I love weeks like this is because of the spiritual growth spurts that I get to see first hand in each of our students.
Ministry Projects: Today we continued working around the grounds and the building here at KIDS Inc.:
The Grounds Crew finished spreading the last of the 20 cubic yards of much. This was a LOT of shoveling and wheelbarrowing and spreading. They’ve become experts. And they did it all while singing and laughing and deepening friendships. This team then moved to power washing some mud and moss stained areas. Some of this team worked the perimeter of the property and the parking lot, spraying weed killer on some crazy overgrown weeds. They also cleaned out a number of plugged drains and underground entryways that they affectionately nicknamed “the dungeons.” This will help stop some of the flooding they get regularly. This team has learned to use all kinds of yard tools and equipment with skill.
The Movers spent most of the day, you guessed it, moving large and heavy items. They continued to remove unwanted junk from the building and various storage areas into a huge dumpster. They’ve more than filled it. They continued to haul unsightly debris from corners of the property as well. While there’s not much to say about hauling garbage, they did it with great attitudes. I didn’t hear a complaint about the hard work in the heat all day. This team finished with their tasks a bit early, and dispersed to assist the other teams.
The Painters spent most of the day taping and painting. This hasn’t been the easy kind of painting where you quickly knock out a wall with a roller in a few minutes. This has been the painstaking detailed work of painting door frames and lots of trim and repair work. They’ve had to work in hard to get places from difficult angels. Again, without complaint. There’s still quite a bit of painting to do yet this week.
By the way, all of the projects I just described were done by 3pm today! This is an efficient and hardworking team! We finished our work projects a little early today so that we could get out into the community. We divided up into 4 teams with maps, gloves, and garbage bags. We walked the surrounding neighborhoods picking up garbage, praying for the community, and praying with anyone we ran into. It was a very powerful experience and a practical way to show love to the people living in the area.
Our evening worship is one of my favorite parts of our day. We gather and celebrate Jesus by singing together. We take some time to review our daily Bible study. We reflect and share about what God is teaching us. Finally, we evaluate our day and plan for tomorrow. I wish you could hear our students share about how God is working in and through them – it’s amazing!
Indy 2020: a busy but great start to the week!
Day 1
Admittedly, not all that much to report. After pictures and a time of prayer with family, we loaded all our things, tools, food, and supplies. We ate an early lunch then loaded up and pulled out. Our drive was uneventful. We were able to avoid the rain at the park where we ate, which was nice.
We arrived shortly after 7 at Kids Inc. After meeting Jesse and taking a quick tour, we were able to unload and get settled into our rooms, and then went to bed.
Day 2
Energy and spirits were high as we started our first full day. With a desire to be most helpful, we had everyone out helping to clean up the grounds; weeding flower beds, trimming hedges, picking up garbage, and trimming trees. Despite a couple popup showers we were able to get everything ready for mulch!
The team worked very hard and had great attitudes all day. After diner, we spent time in worship, had a short time in the word and then reviewed our morning devotions. We’re going through a week long study looking as some of the hard saying of Jesus. Today’s hard saying “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
Then we spent time together having some down time and some time to play. All and all, a fantastic day.
Day 3
Started with breakfast and our delivery of mulch, 20 cubic yards! After cleaning up breakfast, and time for devos the team hit the ground running. Many started attacking the huge mound of mulch. We also had teams attacking a mound of junk that needed to be tossed. We had a third team scraping old paint and taping to get ready for painting. Our final team began refurbishing the carpet ball table that we built for the ministry three years ago.
The teams worked quickly and efficiently. The large pile of junk was sorted, broken down and completely removed, the carpet ball table looks brand new, the first floor hallway has a fresh new look from the pain, and the huge mound of mulch is nearly gone. Your students and family members did an amazing job!
Please continue to be praying for the community that we’re serving in, and for the Ministry of Kids Inc. Every year we’ve come, we know that we have created interest among those in the community who are not familiar with Kids Inc. and encouraged those who are familiar and those who support what is being done here. We also know that all that we’re able to accomplish greatly aid Jake and Jesse Medlong by knocking out numerous needs on their to do list.
Merry Christmas!
- Remember there will be NO IMPACT night on 12/25 or 1/1 and NO Sunday School on 12/29.
- We are having two identical Christmas Eve services today, at 3:30 and 5. Bring your family!
- Our Sr. High Students are invited to a New Year’s Eve Party from 8 pm- 1 am! Be sure to register HERE.
- We are hosting a board/card game day here in the parlor on the 31st as well, from noon-5pm. Bring money if you’d like to get food.