Greetings bloggers!
When I was interviewing for the call at Laboratory, I was asked if I would be willing to be the male leader on the high school mission trip that June. I said I’d have to see how the timing all worked out, but I enjoyed youth ministry so I was happy to be able to dip my big toe in the waters and give them a shot.
That was in early 2020.
Thanks to COVID, an entire year passed before I was able to load up the car, crank up the stereo, and head out for my first mission trip as a solo pastor. This is no small thing my friends! I have been a youth worker long enough to be able to spot the poor soul solo pastor who has made his way on the youth mission trip. They look a good bit like a sheep that has suddenly decided to go swimming in the duck pond. They don’t belong. They know they don’t belong. The kids know they don’t belong. But everyone tries to make it look like they really do belong. I so badly never want to be that guy, so there were some legitimate questions headed in to this one. Do I still have my youth ministry chops after more than a year on the bench? Can I keep up with the kids? Am I even a little bit cool? I mean, my whole vibe is just owning how not cool I am until it seems kind of cool, but can I even pull that off any more? I don’t have a Tik Tok, and that app is probably like three generations old at this point anyway. I am indeed rusty.
Sure enough, there was some rust to kick off before I could hit my stride. For starters, sleeping on a cot is a young man’s game. That first night felt like a herd of miniature donkeys was kicking my C4 vertebrae all night long. That plus the never ending flow of Tums that was required by our nightly dinner menu made me feel like I could apply for Social Security at any moment. But after the first day or so, I got my sea legs under me.
Our job was to work with a summer camp for underprivileged kids in Harrisburg. They threw us right in with a karate class. I have always wanted to take karate since I was a little kid who was a bit too in love with the Ninja Turtles, so I was game. It was easily one of the most fun mission trip experiences I’ve had in a while.
Look at that form!
Through it all, I got to build some really solid relationships with kids that (once again, COVID) I just haven’t been able to connect with yet in this church. I got to remember that while the mission work is important and good, it’s those conversations between the official “things” that the Spirit does its best work. And while I used to bounce back from these in a day or so when I was in my 20s, and I am really NOT in my 20s anymore, I wouldn’t hesitate to go on another mission trip, even if I have to bring my dentures along with me.
As always, and as has been the theme of this blog since it’s reboot, the question on any good mission trip is where you saw Jesus at work in your midst. I saw Jesus in the faces of these inner city kids who don’t often have people show up just to hang, and without agenda. I saw Jesus in the leaders that were pouring their guts out to make sure the trip was everything it needed to be for everyone. I saw Jesus in the guy who sold everything and moved his family in to a house in Harrisburg so that the community could use it. And I for sure saw Jesus moving and working through these teenagers who willingly gave up a week of their lives to serve. I don’t know if any of them knew what they were getting themselves into when we left, but I know they all saw some evidence of Christ while they were there.
And, they let me sit at the cool kids table.
Where have you seen Jesus at work this last week?