Final Thoughts

 

How we want to think we feel

 

How we really feel! 

We have safely returned to Leawood.  Each mission trip brings new challenges, new opportunities, new team members, and new friends.  Below are some final thoughts about the week.  (Any typos are mine - Barbara)

When I left the house I’d painted, I believed even though I would not be present there, God saw the labor I did and the time I spent there, and they would remain in God’s heart, and someone to live there would feel God’s love and grace. Thank you, God. - Jinhee

My week was good.  I had a great time playing Speed and singing to the music with the other kids.  Although the work was hard and demanding, it was enjoyable.  Thanks to the amazing adults who encouraged and entertained us either through magic or giving us a task both on or off the job site.  - Caleb

I really enjoyed getting to use the nail gun to put up the ceiling.  Working with the dirt was super exhausting but we all did a good job on it. The escape room was also fun.  I think that our group won but it's still up for debate.  It was a really fun mission trip.  I felt like we all got a lot done.  -  David

The work was challenging and productive.  Challenging due to the long list of things our hosts had laid out for us and the weather was really hot and muggy.  The improvements to the Hospitality House were pretty dramatic, both inside and out.  The outside work was really hard, moving a lot of dirt, but the end result after covering with grass seed and mulch was really satisfying.  It was work that was needed and appreciated with a great team of fellow workers.  Excellent mission trip.  -  Gene

This was my first mission trip and I really liked it.  It was really cool to see our effect on ECHO Village.  I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.  -  Cora

This was also my first mission trip and I had lots of fun.  I’m proud of all the work we did at ECHO Village and all the people we helped there.  I’m glad I got to go on this mission trip will all these great people.  I’m excited for the next mission trip and to see who else we can help next.  -  Alex

This was my first mission trip, though I had fought hard to go on more.  I had so much fun and can’t wait to go next year!  I loved seeing how much we did to actually help.  I got to learn how to use a circular saw and we conquered two gigantic piles of dirt.  We planted flowers and painted roofs.  When we left, it looked a lot better than when we found it.  It was such a great experience with everyone and I had a blast.  -  Anna

My heart is full from a week of sharing meals, fun, and hard work with a wonderful group of people!  We accomplished a lot together and met some lovely people.  Yesterday, while weeding, planting, and mulching a garden bed at one of the houses, Cora, Anna, and I met Dixie and her husband, who lived next door and are probably around 80 years old.  We chatted about their flowers and our weeding project.  When I mentioned we were from KC, she said “Oh, we lived there for 40 years!”.  Turns out they attended, and I believe taught at, the Art Institute!

There are lots of stories of connection like that from the week.  It’s so good to get away and experience that every so often.  And now, I’m excited to return home and look for ways to do “good works” with our LUMC family!  -  Melanie

Overall, a very rewarding trip!  It was nice to know that our cabin would be occupied by a veteran who was excited and waiting for completion.  It’s nice to have a future connection.

The youth did a fabulous job at the Hospitality House, although I didn’t see them working directly but saw the results!  It was a blessing and rewarding to spend quality time with church family.  -  Pam

 

What a week! We always return tired but enthusiastic about doing the next trip.  ECHO Village currently has 15 tiny houses that are part of a program to help people move on homelessness.  The village grew out of the health clinic when Dan and Suzie realized that a large part of the patients were homeless.  ECHO Village gives them a place to live as they work toward their future – recovering from drug or alcohol addition, learning how to budget, gaining a skill, finding a job, etc.  Suzie shared a story of one of their residents that was able to go to school and is now an Xray technician and is currently building her own house.  We worked mainly on the house that has been designated for a veteran and on Epley Hospitality House, which will be a gathering place for the community.  Our hard work at ECHO Village will help the program continue. 

This year we were a group of twelve.  Anna, Alex, Cora, Jinhee, Rob, and Tyler were on their first mission trip with Leawood UMC.  It is always rewarding to hear that first time participants want to go again.  As part of the trip, we divided into groups of four and rotated through the tasks of preparing breakfast/writing the blog, preparing dinner, and leading devotions.  Being the hands and feet of God to the people of ECHO Village and to each other makes the trip meaningful.  The mission trip is one of my favorite weeks of the year – it is exhausting but so rewarding.  I feel closer to the team that I have been serving with and that I have served.  It was such a joy to serve with this amazing team.  I look forward to next year – seeing what God calls us to do, who he calls to be a part of the team, and what adventures he has in store for us.  Thank you for helping us represent Leawood UMC in mission.  -  Barbara

 

Sorry for the delayed post - I fell asleep last night before I got this typed up.  Barbara