Alex Barnes writes about June 17:
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But there was 130 degree weather, sun beating down sucking all the energy out of any creature, and heat waves visibly coming off of the roof we were working on. Was this enough to stop the Solid Rock youth group from attempting to accomplish such a huge task such as completing re-roofing a house? The answer is no my friends.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But something occurred on that very day that no one but God could’ve put into motion. First of all, the day started one hour earlier than any of the other days before it… at 6 a.m. You ask, “why the change?” I’ll tell you why… the youth decided to get up earlier just so they had a fighting chance to complete Mrs. Roosevelt’s roof. This was the first amazing event of the day, and it set the tone for the rest of it.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But once to the worksite, there was a fire burning in everyone’s eyes that I cannot explain in words. It truly was God at work. From arriving at the site at eight in the morning, till lunch time, everyone was determined to finish as much as possible before the day became too hot, and kids and adults alike had to be literally forced off the roof to take breaks.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But not only did we crack through the morning hours, but we kept the steam rolling into the heat, sweating out what water we had in our bodies, and using our faith and love for one another to push through the struggle. Drinking water frequently, complaining only when it was about coming down, and never looking back, we pushed. We pushed St. Stephen.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But I fell through that old roof that day, sending everyone into a worried frenzy making sure I was ok. But through the hands and grace of God, I was ok. It was an absolute miracle, and because of it, we found a bad spot in the roof that would’ve been problematic later and probably would’ve leaked.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But after I fell in that roof, not one time did someone show fear about standing on that roof. Not one person backed down to finishing the job. We pushed on, through the afternoon heat, and never lost focus on our goal. We pushed so hard that four people had heat exhaustion, and two people passed out from the excess of heat.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip. But once we found out that we couldn’t possibly finish the job because of the time of day and working conditions, everyone was so upset to the point that they almost cried. Stress and aggravation ran through the youth, but what ran through my veins and heart? Pride and love for all of my peers, because everyone cared so much about two people they didn’t know, and all they wanted was to help them.
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip, but it wasn’t. It was so much more. Nothing will ever replicate that day, and I will never forget the determination and drive I saw in everyone’s face. This was no normal youth mission trip, but a rather extraordinary one. After working so hard on this whole trip, all of the people involved felt so great and spiritually high. In the words of Kenny Champagne,” If everyone felt this way in the world, it would be heaven.”
Thursday would’ve been just like any other day on a St. Stephen youth mission trip, but God didn’t allow it. God made it one of the greatest days of my life.
These guys worked so hard, I wish St. Stephen could have been there to see it. They all worked until they dropped. That night we shared communion on what will be for many the most memorable day of the trip.
-G. Lue
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