Home again, home again...
Sunday, October 21, 2007
At 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the first eight of our team, now known as “18* Below Zero,” left the Yellow House to begin their flights back to Rochester. At 8:00 a.m., the remaining ten loaded into the car and the van to begin the long ride. Those flying made all their connecting flights and got home Saturday evening. Those driving made it to Memphis for lunch (at the Rock and Roll Café near Graceland), and on to Festus, MO, to spend the night. Pastor Dave, relentless team leader that he was, made the crew rise to leave for home at 6 a.m. Sunday, and all arrived safely, but tired, at CEFC by 4 p.m. Although everyone was anxious to return home, and to their own beds, it was still difficult to leave those with whom we had spent so much time and so many experiences.
Before we left New Orleans, each person jotted down what he or she believed God wanted each of us to take away from this experience. Here are our thoughts. …I need to keep my eyes open for those in need. That people are able to see Christ living in me. Be a friend to those in need. … A more compassionate heart for the poor. … People matter, so whatever, whenever, however we work, perform or do, do it for God’s people as if to God Himself in the flesh. … To give more of me to Him. … He wants me to learn languages so I will know them and make an organization that will help people with different languages. … I had a great trip. I’m filled with mixed feelings. When I came, I was sure this would be my last trip. Now I really don’t know. My heart is so moved with the need here. My fatigue pales when compared with the fatigue among workers here. Maybe I could keep going. … I learned that sometimes the smallest things could really mean so much. I know I can make more time to help others in need, even if it might take some of my personal time. I loved the whole New Orleans mission, and you can expect me back next year. … I think that God wants me to take home that I don’t have to go far away to serve. We can serve in our own community. We can help out in Rushford. … A heart for the people in need, who we encounter every day of our lives. … It’s all about relationships. We will minister to the Rushford community. … Find opportunities around home to serve Christ by serving the poor or disadvantaged or people experiencing crisis in their life and then act as Christ did. Sign up to help the folks in Rushford. … The Lord has impressed on my heart how important it is to recognize my own expectations as I come down, that change happens as it should, and the Lord continues to do this work. Letting go of my expectations is essential to serve with an open heart. … I think that from this trip God wants me to realize that it’s more important to help people than to focus solely on what needs to get done. … Each day is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. People are priority over tasks. I am taking away a decision to serve people over meeting my own goals. Rather than worrying about the future, I plan to look for the opportunity in each day. … I need to engage with the poor and needy right in my hometown. I even know of one family that really needs help, yet I’ve been too uncomfortable to offer it. I also know of a widow who may need some companionship. I feel more confident after interacting with the people of New Orleans, and feel God has given me the words and ways that I can reach out to them without being embarrassed or embarrassing them. … I love New Orleans. In addtion to bringing home dirty laundry, I brought home new memories, as well as a sense that our Father wants me to go home and help some of the people in my community that need it. … God is calling me to be an example at my school, and to help my unsaved friends. … I believe that New Orleans has been more of a blessing to me than I have been to it. I have recognized that none of this is about me; it’s about our Lord, His love for His people, and about shining my light for Him.
This year’s Great River Missions Trip changed a lot of lives. We can’t say for sure how many of them were from New Orleans, but at least eighteen of them were from Minnesota.
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40
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Susanna