This year's senior high mission team, consisting of Dylan Devine, Paul Devine, Rhonda Dunbar, Blair Klostermeier, Marin Klostermeier, and Zach Roman, participated in Urban Mission Camps. Government Street Presbyterian Church (GSPC) in Mobile, Alabama, has sponsored Urban Mission Camps for over 20 years. During the week we lived, worshipped, and fellowshipped at Baytreat with the youth and adults from First Presbyterian Church in Bentonville, Arkansas, along with GSPC seminary intern Emily Martin. Every evening after Bible study, our group reflected through the use of art, music, writing, and questioning.
Our Mission Sites for the week included:
- Dylan Devine
On Wednesday we went to Dumas-Wesley which is a center for children and seniors to stay during the day. We went to go hang out with the seniors. They sat in a long cafeteria room at tables. The first people I talked to were four elderly men playing cards at a table. Through the course of attempting to learn the game it was interesting to see how they interacted. They have come and played cards together everyday for years, and they know each other so well that they knew what each other had without having to speak to communicate. Later, we went to another table to talk to another group of people. Their faces seemed to light up as they began to open up to us. They spoke to us about their families and we learned their opinions on many things which was very enlightening. There was a man who was an ex-preacher. He was 92 years old and had been married for over 70 years. She had recently died, but he still expressed that he was blessed which I thought was amazing. All of the people there had stories of incredible courage and have lived amazingly full lives. But the best part is that they are not done yet. They are determined to keep living their lives to the fullest. I took a lot away from listening to these people and was grateful for the opportunity to do so.
- Zach Roman
Looking back at the time I spent in Mobile, Alabama for my fourth and final mission trip it was hard not to compare them all. This trip definitely topped them all in regards to location and actual housing. (It might actually top my home with location and pure beauty.) But this trip was at the very bottom in terms of my comfort level with what we were doing. A primary concern of mine was spending time with the L'Arche community, a place where people with disabilities and people without live together productively. We were to spend time with them in their activity center where most of them spend their days. Going in I was not comfortable at all with it, I just didn't know how things would be. How would we interact, what would we do? I had no idea what would happen. Our initial moments were a little strained, some introductions, a little mingling. Then we gathered to sing together and I was handed a wooden frog (from Bolivia) that I really had no idea how to play. But Eddie, who was in his wheelchair next to me, was an expert and showed me how to play it. I began to feel a little more comfortable. Once we went into craft time, I sat next to Eddie because I felt comfortable with him. We started making cards together, coloring paper with crayons and using stencils.
As we were making cards, Willie, a maverick-of-sorts, was dancing and just generally messing around. Dylan and I started playfully messing around with Willie. It ended up being Dylan and Willie versus me; Willie making faces at me, me making faces back, and Willie conspiring with Dylan. Somehow through our fun and games it was learned that I was ticklish, and extremely so. When I returned to my seat next to Eddie, Willie followed and started to tickle me. Eddie couldn't help but join and then Harry, another core member, also joined in. I was trapped and everyone gained some sort of enjoyment out of it. My reactions must have been hilarious because there was much laughter and picture taking by Rhonda. Strangely, I wasn't scared or nervous being tickled. I was completely relaxed, I saw Eddie, Willie, and Harry's faces light up when they tickled me. They were so happy.
But it was another smiling face that really made the week for me, it was from David. A few members of L'Arche joined us for dinner Wednesday and David was among them. He was really shy so no one was really talking to him. I went over and tried to start a conversation. Sometimes it was hard to understand him, but I think he enjoyed it because whenever I smiled at him he smiled back. When David smiled his whole face changed. It scrunched up and he showed all his teeth. When he smiled I couldn't help but feel happy myself.
People like David, Willie, Eddie and Harry made my pre-emptive uncomfortableness into complete comfort and even joy at the prospects of going to L'Arche.
- Rhonda Dunbar
If you ask an average person their definition of a mission trip a typical response would include some sort of physical labor. This week, though, has changed my definition of what it means to do mission work. Our entire group struggled at the beginning of the week because the majority of the "work" we completed involved talking and getting to know people we would not typically spend time with. Some of our work included listening to a man that is HIV positive share his story with us, playing with children from at-risk families, eating lunch everyday at a soup kitchen, visiting with senior citizens at a community center, and worshipping and fellowshipping with people with disabilities. During our group reflection time we struggled with whether or not we were doing anything to help. After an amazing time with Eddie, Harry, Willie, and David from L'Arche some of our group struggled with whether or not we made an impact. Chances are that David, Harry, Willie, and Eddie would not remember our names when we saw them the following day. Does general conversation during lunch affect someone's life? Does listening to another person's story have a long term impact on their life? Are we changing anything by being here?
I have come to the conclusion that the relationships I have built this week may not impact the lives of the people we encountered in the long term, but it does not matter. We still fellowshipped with one another and shared our stories and therefore we did mission. The people I had the privilege to talk to this week will have an everlasting impact on how I view others that are in similar situations. They changed my view of their circumstances and humanized their conditions. Regardless of whether or not Harry, Eddie, Willie, and David remember our names, the relationship we had with them will impact the rest of our lives.
- Blair Klostermeier
When we were told that we were going to be spending our lunch time at a place where people can get a free lunch, it is safe to say that we all thought we would be taking turns serving lunch to the patrons. It turned out that we were going to be getting served ourselves. Three out of five days, we ate lunch in the company of the poor and homeless. The first day, to our surprise and dismay, we were sent to the front of the line because of our time constraints. That only added to the awkwardness of the meal. A positive was that afterward, we toured a very old and beautiful church the facility is connected to. The next two days, we spaced our entrances to 15 place to disperse ourselves among the other guests as a form of equalization. Upon entering, you sign your name and are given a number. A man at the front of the cafeteria calls numbers out ten at a time; you need to listen carefully, though; the room is noisy and he doesn't want to yell. As we gathered what comfort we could from our experience and each other, we went on to do what we could for some of Mobile's needy. There were discussions of life stories, family, recipes, advice, and how to get by.
- Marin Klostermeier
Waking up at 5:00 in the morning to go serve breakfast to the homeless and poor is not what most kids would put together with the word exciting but our group did. The morning started with a Bible study that anyone could attend but they did not have to in order to receive breakfast. 24 people did come to the Bible study. At this point what surprised me the most was how even though they had so little and their lives were so hard they still praised God for the good that was in their life.
After Bible study we all went down to the dining room of GSPC and our group started to serve breakfast. Despite the constant questioning of my height (6'1"), serving grits to what came to be many familiar faces was the best part of my week. While breakfast was being served William (a homeless man that we got to know) played the piano. I just wish this experience could have happened sooner than Thursday because being exposed to a group of the poor and homeless in the positive and welcoming environment of GSPC would have made eating at 15 Place much easier.
- Paul Devine
When I first heard that our mission trip would be "relational" rather than our normal "build/clean/paint/demolish" sort of mission trip, I'll admit that I was both confused and disappointed. Aren't we supposed to be here for service? Isn't the purpose of mission trips to build something? And what about the (admittedly selfish) satisfaction of looking at our project when it was complete? No picture of all of us standing in front of some wall or house or hole where a barn used to be, covered in sweat, smiling from ear-to-ear, full of the Spirit? How can this be? And how can having lunch with the homeless in Mobile really help them? Are we really called to just sit with the members of L'Arch, and talk? Is it "service" to merely be present, to talk, to listen, but not take what I deem to be action?
A large part of me wanted to rebel. That really is no shock to most of you who know me. I have a bit of a tendency to push and am not really known for holding my tongue. I knew that I should push myself rather than those around me, so I did my best to be open and to try to see the benefit of sitting with others, instead of trying to "help" them. But the first part of the week seemed so frustrating to me. The first visit to 15 Place, a mission which serves lunch to the poor and homeless, had us bumping ahead in line, getting the same lunch that everyone else was getting, and sitting down to eat with the patrons there. We didn't serve lunch - we just ate and talked. It seemed like we were not only missing our opportunity to serve, but we were taking valuable resources by eating the very food that should have gone to the hungry! Granted, the people we were with were happy to see us. But even seeing the bright smiles of the people we ate with, hearing their stories and sharing our own, seemed so temporary and transient.
It wasn't until later in the week that I began to embrace the idea that, perhaps we were doing something good. Even if the people that we met would not remember our conversation, or even who we are, I would remember. And, even though I didn't come on this trip for my own benefit, I started to see that, by my remembering, by changing me, this mission would have an effect far beyond one conversation. It would affect who I am, and the way that I see thing, and, perhaps, lead me to change things where I live, affecting far more lives than just those in Mobile. And it has. I see now that I am called to action, not just in Mobile, but in St. Louis, in Missouri, and even in the whole United States. Sitting and talking, rather than simply serving, has shown me that the homeless are not merely recipients, not just victims, but my brothers and sisters. It has humanized the poor for me. It has shown me that it is too easy to dismiss the "faceless" poor, to placate ourselves with the idea that we have given something, or built something. It has shown me that it is far too easy to become homeless in this country. It is caused not just by addiction or mental illness, but also by a lack of affordable healthcare. The homeless are not just "that guy in the street" but families who had to choose between paying for a medical procedure and paying the rent. Homelessness is a brutal and curable disease in this country - a country where no one should be forced to make an unconscionable choice between the health of a loved one and a place to live. I thank God that the Urban Mission in Mobile gave me the opportunity to see that.
With his sign will work for food, clothes or cash
and he asked if he could pump my gas, so I let him
Clean the windshield and throw out the trash, so I let him (Hey)
I even asked a brother his name, where he was from,
got kids man and what's their ages
He kinda stuttered for a second, he kinda looked surprised
that anyone would even take an interest in his life
He said young brother dem the only words I done heard
in the last year that wasn't no or get the f*** away from here
How could somthin so simple as general conversation
Mean much more than general conversation? (Hey)
"Don't let anybody tell you you can't change the world. The fact is you can't be in the world and not change it. Everything you do changes the world. It is just a question of what changes you are going to make."
Welcome Back! Members of the Senior High Mission Trip Team have returned from Mobile, Alabama, where they worked with Urban Mission Camps with Government Street Presbyterian Church. Look for their reflections in next month's Trinity News.
Bon Voyage! And off they go again... this time the senior high group and leaders head to Montreat, NC for retreat. Pray for them as they share a time of fellowship and learning together from July 19-26.
Trinity's senior high members will be going to Urban Mission Camps with Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama June 7 through 13th. Pray for our youth as they engage in mission work and look for a reflection from the youth in the Trinity News next month.
Come watch the big game while helping raise money towards the Senior High trip to Montreat and their mission trip to Alabama.
When: February 3rd, 2008 from 5:00-end of game
Where: Trinity's Fellowship Hall
Donation: $5 for adults & $2.50 for kids under 12
*Food *contests *games and activities for kids *silent auction
The Senior High Youth's primary fundraiser again this year is a silent auction of items and services and a Family Football Night. The auction consists of items donated by YOU the members of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Yet again, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of Trinity members, but we can still use more. If you have a talent, a service, or an item you would be willing to put up for bid, please contact me as soon as possible (rhobear3@hotmail.com). Please include a brief description, your contact information (phone and email please), and if you want a minimum bid (not necessary for most items, but helpful for some). The auction will begin Sunday, February 3rd so we need your items by January 27th. Thanks so much - and please bid on the items as well. Bidding starts after worship on Sunday, February 3rd and will be open until after fellowship on February 10th. This fundraiser supports the Youth Mission Trip to Mobile, Alabama, and the youth trip to Montreat, NC.
See pictures from the mission trip here.
Wawokiye (pronounced wah-whoa'- key-yea) is a Lakota word that loosely translates into "helping the people stand."
This year the Senior High Mission team consisted of Dylan Devine, Paul Devine, Rhonda Dunbar, Hanna Evans, Wyndham Ferris, Blair Klostermeier, and Zach Roman. We spent the week at Re-Member, an outreach to the Oglala Lakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Re-Member's mission is to heal the wounds of the Lakota, to "Re-Member," by putting back together that which is broken, and build hope for the future. We thank everyone who made this incredible experience possible! The following reflections were written at the end of each day.
DAY 1 - Wounded Knee
Today we went to the Massacre/Battle of Wounded Knee. Many innocent people died at this site. We heard the story of what took place and then we had communion. After communion, we picked up trash around the mass grave and the rest of the cemetery. The graves looked different from what we were used to. Instead of flowers left by the visitors, there were offerings of toys, cigarettes, and bread. It was explained to us that the Lakotas bring and leave anything that is of importance to them. At first we thought of these items as trash, but we realized what seemed to us as trash was actually offerings and items of importance to others. It was a very spiritual place; however, we couldn't help but feel disheartened and guilty for the actions of our ancestors.
Community Dinner
Tonight was Re-Member's first community dinner of the season. The community dinner is a weekly event on Re-Member's grounds. The purpose of the dinners is to provide a good dinner to the Lakota guests, allow us (the volunteers) to buy crafts, and most importantly to bring the communities together. Before eating we played softball and tag with the Lakota children and partook in the flag raising ceremony. All the volunteers, staff members, and Lakota guests stood around the medicine circle which surrounds the flag pole. The flag was raised while an Indian Elder sang and a volunteer walked around with burning sage. Then a spirit plate was placed at the base of the flag pole. We were told that the spirit plate was the way to recognize those who have passed away be setting aside a little of all the food we were about to eat. Kelly Looking Horse, a Re-Member staff member and Lakota elder, told us if a spirit is bothering you to give it some food. After dinner we talked to our Lakota visitors, looked at the crafts that were for sale, and played with the children. Two Lakota boys decided to follow Zach around. They wrestled with him and used their "spears" of grass to attack him. We enjoyed spending time with the children.
DAY 2 - The seventy volunteers were split into twelve work crews. Three crews worked together each day.
Hanna volunteered to stay back at Re-Member and work in the kitchen.
I washed dishes, swept, cooked lunch, cooked dinner, and helped prepare for some of the upcoming meals. I loved spending the day by myself. The entire place was quiet.
Blair, Wyndham, and Zach spent their Wawokiye day at a family's home.
Today we played with two kids, painted a room, and cleaned up the family's kitchen. We think that we made a positive impact on their house. The family was welcoming and they at lunch with us. Even though we would have liked to stay longer and do more, we feel we made a difference.
Dylan, Paul, and Rhonda spent their Wawokiye day cleaning out an old trailer.
Today was a very difficult day for us. We walked onto a property that looked uninhabitable. We were shown to the trailer. It was filled to the top with garbage. There is no garbage pick up on the reservation so the family was using their old trailer their "dump". We do not know how to describe what we saw and witnessed. Everything that a typical family throws away was in the trailer including dirty diapers. We felt ourselves start to judge the family based on their trash. Tonight we find ourselves in conflict between our sense of charity and self-righteousness. We are concerned that the new trailer that arrives next week through Re-Member will return to the same state. We continue to ask ourselves if we have a right to put limits on our charity.
DAY 3 - Blair, Wyndham, and Zach spent the day placing beds.
Today it was gratifying to go into these homes and see how happy the children were to get a new bed, sheets, blanket, pillow, and book. It was eye-opening to see their living situations. The houses were small, smelled, had many children, and trash was everywhere. Despite this, we were welcomed into their homes. Our last family invited 10 of us to dinner. Our dinner consisted of fried bread, spam, and Kool-Aid. The dinner was sparse, but filling due to their generosity. We are struggling with the question whether or not what we are doing is enough?
Dylan, Hanna, Paul, and Rhonda spent the day at Re-Member.
Today we spent the morning in the workshop at Re-Member sanding and staining bunk bed components. The staining and sanding are completed outside the building in the sanding stations. At times it felt like a never ending job, but it felt good when you finally completed sanding a piece of wood that you know will eventually become a child's bed. After lunch it was raining. We were frustrated that we wouldn't be able to get more done, but the extra time during the day allowed us to spend time getting to know people we hadn't had a chance to before this day. Rhonda and Paul had the opportunity to get to know Susie Looking Horse (A Lakota who runs the kitchen at Re-Member) on a more personal level. Dylan and Hanna had a chance to spend time with the youth from the other groups. Overall, it was not the day we had expected but it was the first time we all felt fully part of this community.
DAY 4 - Tour of Pine Ridge Reservation
Today we all climbed onto the bus for our tour of the reservation. We first drove around and saw the government housing and saw the housing the doctors lived in. The doctor's homes were an extreme contrast from the average Lakota's home. Then we went to the Red Cloud Indian School. This school is a Catholic school. Our tour guide talked about their high graduation rate and continuing education percentages. She also told us about the graduates that are coming back and starting businesses. This gave us hope because we feel it could improve the living conditions if there were more job opportunities. The tuition is held to a minimum; therefore they must raise 10.4 million dollars a year to keep the school running. We then went across the street to the Heritage Museum's juried art show. It was amazing to see the Lakota art. We learned quite a bit from our tour guides about traditional and contemporary art.
Our next stop was dinner at Bette's Kitchen. This is a restaurant out of Bette's home. The scene we saw was amazing as we ate our buffalo burgers, chocolate cake, and fried bread.
After lunch we stopped at Singing Horse Trading Post. We talked to a Lakota man there that broke horses for a living and is training his son to take over the business. After Rosie's we went to the Oglala Lakota College. They had an amazing museum that contained pictures from the time period of Wounded Knee. It was a great experience.
Craft Night
Tonight we made dream catchers with Kelly and Susie Looking Horse and beaded bracelets with John and Lawanda Her Many Horses. We felt it was very spiritual and relaxing once we understood the process. After finishing crafts Blair, Dylan, Wyndham, and Zach danced with the rest of the volunteers while Kelly played drums and sang and Susie explained what to do. Kelly explained how important a hand shake was and that in the Lakota culture a "weaker" hand shake shows respect. At the end of the dancing we all shook hands and in our heads we were thinking about how were shaking hands what it meant.
DAY 5 - Wyndham's opportunity for a special tour with Kelly Looking Horse.
The highlight of today was getting to meet the great-, great-, grandson of Red Cloud. He talked to us and we were able to ask him questions. It was amazing to be able to sit there and listen to his wisdom. After listening to the great-, great-, grandson of Red Cloud we went to a retirement center and met a code talker from World War II.
Blair and Zach spent the day in the workshop at Re-Member.
All morning we sanded the bed components. In the afternoon we started to put the beds together. It was cool to finally be able to put the beds together after sanding all day. We felt like we accomplished something.
Dylan, Paul, and Rhonda spent the day placing beds.
We had a good day being able to set up beds in people's homes. At one home, the room was so small that only a couple of people could work at a time. Dylan felt it was surreal to sit in a Lakota man's home watching "Little House on the Prairie" with him while the group was putting the beds together.
Evening
Tonight we had pizza and sundaes. It was awesome to end the week watching the sun go down with all our new friends. It was an amazing day.
ROSES AND THORNS
Every night we gathered with the other groups in our housing building for "roses and thorns." Roses were the good things that had happened and the thorns were the lows or our worries. Here are some of our roses for the week:
Dylan Devine - Watching "Little House on the Prairie" with the Lakota man while placing beds.
Paul Devine - The entire week was emotionally and spiritually challenging and this experience pushed me.
Rhonda Dunbar - On Monday I was able to talk to Jerome and Tereasa about their lives and views on what is happening on the reservations. This conversation gave me insight into what they are struggling with everyday and gave me an opportunity to know them on a more personal level.
Hanna Evans - I was sick for a majority of the week, but Marcy and Courtney (two of the Re-Member interns) helped take care of me when I didn't feel good.
Wyndham Ferris - Meeting Red Cloud's great-, great-grandson.
Blair Klostermeier - Interacting with the people I met at Re-Member and the Lakotas.
Zach Roman - Eating fried bread with a Lakota family after placing beds in their home.
After the Trinity Senior Highs returned from their Mission Trip to Maryland last summer, they received the following letter from their friends there.
Dear Rhonda, Paul, Blair, Griffin, Ashley, Zach, Hanna, Magdalene, Brian and Jamie:
We miss you all very much! All we have to do to feel a touch of sadness is to see one of the bracelets on the kids. You left a wonderful, deep impression on the children especially. They are eagerly looking forward to other groups coming, because they had the expectation that they will be just like you folks. We all will be very fortunate indeed if our other groups this summer were like you. You set a very high standard, and we learned to love you all very much. I think you could tell that you were not just a "group" to us, but very special individuals and we think of you that way. You worked really hard last week and gave it your all, but your friendship and care was what made the week so special to us. I don't think we can ever do anything to say "thank you" which would be adequate for all you did for us - but we can say that we love you very much.
The real meaning of our week together was the living Spirit which moved among us while you were here. We may never know what great and amazing tings will grow from the seeds which were planted among us, but we can be sure that so much good will continue to come from our experience together. Only God can grant that increase, but it is satisfying to know that we shared together as partners in the amazing work of redemption.
May the road ahead be filled with opportunities for service for all of you beyond anything you can imagine. May God's loving-kindness, gentleness, and peace continue to be the source of your greatest strength.
Shalom, Peace - Carl (For all at Meeting Ground)
"If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together!" - Lilla Watson, educator and activist
This year's mission trip team consisted of Ashley Bender, Griffin Devine, Hanna Evans, Blair Klostermeier, Brian Min, Jamie Schoeberlein, Maggie Schoeberlein, Paul Devine, Rhonda Dunbar, and all of our prayer families.
We spent the week at Clairvaux Farm which is part of Meeting Ground. Meeting Ground's mission is to provide shelter, food, and education to the homeless and help them obtain permanent housing. Meeting Ground, though, provides much more than these basic needs to their residents; they provide a community. Our group was welcomed into the community at Clairvaux Farm from the moment we arrived. Clairvaux Farm was the perfect place for our group to explore this year's theme of community and how it relates to our life and faith.
Below, mission trip participants share their reflections on their experiences.
In my opinion, a community is simply a group of people who share a connection with one another. Here at Clairvaux Farm, there are countless different communities within the larger community. One of thee communities that has affected me the most is the community of children. The day after arriving at Clairvaux Farm, I noticed a little girl from far away and decided to approach her. Her name is Jiera. She was too young to talk but immediately clung to me and for the remainder of the week would always perch herself on my hip. While this behavior is seen all throughout the country, I found it especially important in an environment such Clarivaux Farm, a homeless shelter. Not only Jiera but all of the other children loved playing with all of us and their parents immediately trusted us. I truly felt a strong sense of community within the children of Clairvaux Farm; stronger than any connection I ever felt at such a young age. - Ashley Bender
W
e started our journey to Earleville, Maryland, at 5:30 a.m. at Lambert airport. We then flew to Philadelphia where we rented to mini-vans. After renting the vans we started the hour and a half drive that took us from Philadelphia into Delaware and then to Earleville, Maryland. Earleville is a rural farming community located in the Chesapeake Bay Region.After driving up the long driveway to Clairvaux Farm we were met by Debbie. Debbie explained that we had arrived at the end of the Meeting Ground's annual meeting and weekly chapel service. We were then shown the building that would become our home for the week. After unpacking the mini-vans, we went in the dining hall for dinner. The dining hall was full of activity; there were people standing around talking, others preparing food, and children weaving themselves in and out of all the people. The bustle of the dining hall was overwhelming at first, but early in the week our group became accustomed and a part of all the activity.
Some of our projects for the week consisted of demolishing the old barn, organizing the donation barn, cleaning an empty residence's room, organizing the pantry at Wayfarers house (Meeting Ground's women's shelter), cleaning up at the community kitchen (a weekly soup kitchen), and splitting wood. In addition to our projects we took part in the daily chores of Clairvaux Farm by helping out in the kitchen preparing and cleaning up the meals.
After our day's work, we spent the evening with the children living on the farm playing basketball, making crafts, and playing on the playground. One of the most meaningful parts of the week for me was watching our group interacting with the children. It was remarkable to see the transition in such a short time that the relationship went from strangers to part of the same community. Our group quickly became part of the community of children, exchanging nicknames and jokes.
We ended each day back in our building exploring our theme of community. We did this through music, discussion, Bible readings, Play-Doh, drawing, and writing. This time gave us an opportunity as a group to explore our faith questions and draw loser as a group.
Our week at Meeting Ground changed my view of who is homeless and what a shelter is and can be. The residents taught me that circumstances change quickly and homelessness can happen to anyone. Clairvaux Farm is not just a shelter, but it is a community of people of all ages and backgrounds that live and work together. The residents welcomed us into their community and shared their stories and daily lives with us. I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to become part of the Meeting Ground community at Clairvaux Farm. - Rhonda Dunbar
A
ll the members of the community did chores for the community daily such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening. While cleaning after dinner one night, I was surprised to be working alongside some of the residents and not just other volunteers because I had never been in that kind of situation before. The soup kitchen that I had worked in always had people come eat and leave and there was little to no sense of fellowship between the volunteers and patrons. This place was very different, though. Everybody seemed to know each other and were all very friendly to everyone. This week has taught me that many people would love to open up if you take interest in their lives. - Brian Min
Clairvaux Farm in Maryland is a huge community. Everyone is part of it too and everyone contributes. As we have come to learn this week, members of a community contribute towards its well being. When we came here we were welcomed with open arms and we became members of their community for the week. We contributed like everyone else. We all took turns in making breakfast and lunch and cleaning up after every meal. We worked on the farm making the area better for the community. We fit right in and we had a great time working and hearing everyone's story. - Zach Roman
My experience at Meeting Ground was awesome. I felt that I could really say what was on my mind instead of everything being sugar-coated or a half-truth. It was easy for me to talk to the residents about their problems because I've been in a lot of situations that are similar to the ones the residents have been in. I felt that I really had something that was worth talking about and talking to someone who actually knew what I was going though was so different from talking to someone who had never been though something like that. I will never forget how great that was to be able to open up like I had done. I will never forget this experience. - Maggie Schoeberlein
One of the many communities I saw at Clairvaux farms was the community in the kitchen. I personally did many shifts in the kitchen, either cleaning or cooking. In doing so I worked with many different people that are staying there. There was always such a good flow. They are used to working together and I was welcomed into the different groups. When I would be in the kitchen I would hear stories of people's lives and how they arrived at the farm. Even though the work got monotonous sometimes, the people made it interesting. The people who cook have a responsibility to the other people. Community is all about responsibility. - Blair Klostermeier
Community is.....
*People together sharing everything together to better themselves and grow together.
*a group of people who work together and grow and learn *working together *growth
*helping each other *tolerance *togetherness *Communion *team work *acceptance
*connection *united *confide in people *family *love
Along with suitcases, sleeping bags, air mattresses, digital cameras, cell phones, and ipods, some of the other baggage we brought with us this mission trip was a bundle of preconceptions about the people we would meet and the place we would stay. These notions come from a variety of sources - personal experiences, television, movies and even ignorance. Most of what we hear and see about the homeless involves drug abuse, alcoholism, and mental illness. Mass media portray the homeless as isolated loners, frightened of everyone, connected to nothing. This was my vision of the people I would meet Clairvaux Farm. What I discovered was a community.
Rather than shutting themselves off into tiny enclaves, the residents had formed a true community. The residents and staff shared much more than space; they shared purpose. Each person had duties and responsibilities. All took turns cooking, cleaning and caring for each other. Jim was up at 5 a.m. each day to make coffee and kept the pots full until evening. Gail kept the kitchen stocked and made sure that each meal on each day had several people to prepare it and several more to clean up afterward. Even food stamps and other assistance was pooled to provide for the whole community.
What was most amazing was that none of this sharing appeared to be done grudgingly. One or two of our group would assist the residents at meal time and clean up and everyone seemed happy to shoulder some of the load. They functioned as a family, with each doing his or her part to feed, clothe and raise the other. Of course, as with all families, there was some discord from time to time. You cannot live in community without ruffling someone's feathers every so often. But the tensions came not from a sense of isolation or fear, but rather from the frustrations that truly working together can cause. The Meeting Ground is not immune to those frustrations - it shares them because the members share themselves. They are a true community. - Paul Devine
This past week was awesome. I've met a lot of people who don't have a lot but are trying to start over and reach a common goal: to have a home of their own. The kids that I've met here are so happy and care-free. The kids were always very fun and happy which made it even more enjoyable to be around them. I've learned a lot about people who are homeless and what it means to be homeless. I didn't know that there were places like this where homeless people could come and stay and try to start over. I've really learned a lot about the homeless and what they can do to start over. It was also cool to meet and talk to the people who are homeless to hear their story. I'm definitely glad we came here. - Hanna Evans
This week I have learned a ton! I have learned that to be a good community you need to be there for every and anyone. For example, there is a woman by the name of Danielle. She has three kids ages 15, 13, and 1. Danielle never has to worry about her kids being alone or unsafe because the other people here at this farm will step up to the plate and say "Hey, I'll watch them for you." On top of stepping up, no one ever complains. That being said, when another parent had to go to a meeting she asked Ashley to watch Lee, but Ashley had to clean up after dinner. I said that I would watch him even though I could have been resting after my long day's work in the donation barn. I ended up with Lee and four other kids and didn't complain because that is one of the real meanings of communities. - Jamie Schoeberlein
From a young age I've had Sesame Street and other children's shows preaching the idea of universal love, openness, and community. However, at every turn I've been disappointed by a world in which war is rampant, the individual is non-existent and is led by a mix of governments that don't care about the individual and a closed minded church. However, I have finally found a realization of this ideal community. At Clairvaux Farm the populace is made up of people who have every right to reject the idea of community. We heard over and over stories of how communities let them down, and yet each and every person was open to our presence and grateful for us being there. They openly shared their stories and made us feel not like outsiders but actual members of their community. It is very hard to be open as an individual; for an entire group to be welcoming is astounding. The inhabitants at Clairvaux Farm have done more than just welcome us in to their community; they have reinforced a societal hope that had been quieted in me. They have reminded me that despite the fact that many times communities do not meet their responsibilities some are going far above and beyond. - Griffin Devine
During the week, our group taught the children how to make bracelets out of embroidery floss, hemp, and beads. The children enjoyed these activities and do not normally have access to this type of material. We would like to send a package of art supplies for the children at Clairvaux farms. If you would be willing donate art and craft supplies please contact Rhonda Dunbar rhobear3@hotmail.com. We will be putting the package together after church on August 6th.
