Mission: Arlington

Sunday, July 1, 2012

This morning we arose early and headed to a laundromat here in Dallas. To Erica’s luck, it was located next door to the donut shop. After loading the washers, we walked next door for breakfast and to look over the VBS curriculum for this week. Each day we would travel out with a youth group to help lead VBS in various apartment complexes in Arlington. We are working with an organization called Mission Arlington. They organize volunteer teams to lead VBS programs at the apartment complexes and also provide a dozen more outreach programs to the community. The things that Mission Arlington does for this community is simply an amazing ministry.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Today starts day one of VBS. Each day we get to work with a different church, so by the end of the week, I’ll have worked with 4 out of the 5 churches, and will be traveling home with the remaining church. Today I’m working with Asbury UMC from Springfield, MO. After knocking on doors and rounding up the kids, our morning began with parachute games. Playing with the large parachute and running underneath it brought back memories of my elementary PE days. We continued with a puppet show, songs, and more games. To conclude our morning we all broke into small groups and read a Bible story and colored our coloring pages. The kids here are so precious. Some of them will even join in on telling the stories and they shout the songs with so much enthusiasm!

After our lunch break, John, Erica and I departed Mission Arlington in a box truck. Yes, yes you heard me right. A box truck. As John drove, Erica and I took pictures, enjoying this new adventure as we drove to a house to pick up donations. After successfully cramming donations into the back of the truck, we concluded our afternoon and departed for our “home” in order to help get dinner ready.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

This morning I worked with Kennett UMC. Unlike the other VBS sites, Kennett has been working in a trailer park, instead of an apartment complex. Today was filled with fun, games, and load of laughter. The kids seem to keep getting cuter! Today a girl colored a bookmark for me and told me to take it home and use it in my Bible. It now rests in my Bible as a simple reminder of the impact we had this week on the lives of these young ones.

Setting up chairs, tables, and easy up tents soon became our afternoon assignment. This evening Arlington would have their firework display (which I was super excited to attend) and needed chair and tables for the kid zone. We gladly put up tables and chairs, only to learn that we needed to move them. After moving them several times it became frustrating, but we continued to work hard.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Today I joined Pathways UMC in Alba out to a different VBS site. We weren’t really sure what to expect for a turn out today, as it is a holiday. But to our surprise there was an abundance of kids to greet us as we unloaded the VBS supplies out of the vehicle. The kids were super sweet and you could tell that they had fallen in love with the youth from Pathways. Here at this site, was a very unique situation. A young boy, who had recently lost his father, didn’t really want to get connected and participate in the VBS. Charlie, one of the adults from Pathways, reached out to the young boy, and really made a remarkable impact. The two quickly bonded through their shared enjoyment of fishing. Today Charlie brought a fishing pole and tackle box filled with lures for the young boy. His face quickly lit up with excitement. God has definitely been at work this week.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

This morning I worked with Huffman Memorial UMC from St. Joseph. Once again the kids were just as cute and had loads of energy! Today is the last day of VBS, and you could tell through the kids’ interactions with the youth that all were going to miss each other greatly. After singing songs, coloring our Bible pages, and playing lots and lots of four-square. It was time to say goodbye. Being able to work with all of these groups with tons of kids was a very different experience for a mission trip. Most mission trips are focused on building and housework or yard work, but this was very much relationally focused. This week has been awesome.

Friday, July 6, 2012

7:00 am – Time of departure from Arlington, TX

7:45 pm – Time of arrival home

While this trip was significantly shorter than our trip to Colorado Springs from St. Louis. This trip home felt unending. Maybe it was simply the fact that I wanted to be home and was extremely exhausted from the previous 4 weeks. Either way, once I stepped foot inside my house. It felt so good to finally be out of the car. I was ready to sleep my carsickness away! It has been a great 4 weeks, and I’m super excited to gain some rest and head back out at the end of next week for 3 more!