Well what can I say, another amazing Solid Rock Mission Trip! I'm sitting on the bus with 3 hours left until we pull in to St. Stephen, Bruce Almighty is playing on the small TVs, half the students are asleep from, the adult leaders are all reading and attempting to stay awake, and the rest of the students are somehow wide awake, talking, and enjoying their last few hours together on this trip.
It is hard to describe this week in words. This is my third mission trip and the best yet! I have never seen so much passion in these students and have never seen them work harder. This week was a complete God experience and I believe that everyone involved experience His presence with us every step of the way. The week started out a little on the slow side as we tried to figure out all of the details of the work ahead of us. It's funny to think now, but Monday night the adult leaders sat down to talk about the next day and our biggest concern was the lack of work we had and we were very concerned there would not be enough work to get us past Tuesday! Little did we know how much work was in front of us with re-roofing a whole house!
Throughout the week the adult leaders and I saw our students transforming in their relationships with each other and with God. They would sit on breaks and speak with Ms. Ward, Ms. Florida, and Mr. Roosevelt speaking with them and hearing their stories. This happened each day we were at the work sites and by the end of the week we had new family in Alabama!!
Thursday was the highlight of this trip for me. To start with the students with no prodding or encouragement from any of the adults decided unanimously to get up an extra hour early so that we could finish the roof. Once at the work site they worked harder than ever before. It had to be around 130 degrees on that roof but those students didn't let it faze them! We had teams on the ground cleaning up the yard that was littered with shingles and nails, and teams on the roof, laying singles, hammering, and tearing. It was a heavenly thing to see! Jesus was among us this day; He was in each and every one of the students, in their hearts keeping them going.
It was around 2:30pm that afternoon when I stepped back from the project and it hit me..., "We're not going to finish this." The biggest most overwhelming feeling of defeat flooded me and I didn't know how to break it to the students. Slowly I approached the student leaders and the adults. The students knew in their heads that we weren't going to finish but their hearts said otherwise. They asked to stay until 7pm or 8pm or until it got dark. They asked to come back in the morning early again to finish the project. The truth is, a few more hours that day and we still wouldn't have finished. We needed at least two more full days of work. It was too hot to be on the roof and working and if we pushed any harder we would have students dropping like flies. The attitude of these students and their desire to finish the job was too much for me. I stepped away after seeing all of them crushed and had to gather my thoughts and just ask God to help me and these students understand why we couldn't finish this job.
It was about an hour or two later when we finally got everyone off the roof and Mr. Roosevelt came to speak to us under the tree that had provided us shade and shelter all week. His words brought me to tears. He explained to the students how they were an answer to their prayers. How a home is not a home unless there is a roof to cover their heads and these students provided this to them and made it a home again! He thanked God for these students and all they did and he was not at all fazed by the small part of the roof that was not finished. He told us, that his home was now our home and anytime we were in the area he wanted us to come by and see him. He told us the door is always open for us, both doors, front and back, so we could come "home" anytime! If this wasn't a God thing, I don't know what is! I saw Jesus in Mr. Roosevelt and Ms. Florida that day and I think it was at that moment that the students realized why we were there. I know that's when I realized it...
We do mission trips, not to complete projects, or to put on roofs, or to learn new skills. Those are all benefits of these trips but that's not why we do it. We do these trips to bring the love of Jesus to others who might not know him, or who maybe haven't experienced his love in a long time. Sure we want to complete the tasks that are put in front of us, but that is not always in God's plan. That was not his plan this week. Instead His plan was for us to grow our family, our Solid Rock family, our St. Stephen family, our Christian family. And I am proud to say that this task was fully completed! Pastor Lee said in our last evening in Mobile, "When two or three are gathered Jesus is present". Well I will tell you what, there were 34 of us there this week and Jesus didn't leave our side for a second and we ALL felt that!
It is a blessing beyond all blessing for me to be a part of this group and to lead these students. Just when I think they can't make me more proud, they step up like they did this week and blow me away. The grace of God was present this week and our mission to blow grace to all ends of the earth I think was accomplished! These teenagers ARE changing the world, they ARE impacting lives and they ARE the life of the church! There is no doubt about it!
But our mission is not over. It is only beginning because now the biggest challenge is ahead of us. We return home and we must now keep God present in our lives and continue to show everyone back home, friends, family, and strangers what we experienced this week. This is our mission, to create disciples of the risen Christ, these students are doing that in the mission fields of these trips, but now we must all learn how to do that in the mission fields of our daily lives and that is what we return home with, our stories to encourage and explain ALL God's never ending grace and glory, forever and ever! And when we all have the feeling and the attitude these 23 students had this week...well then that is heaven.
As we return home I thank you all for all the blessings and prayers you provided us with this week. We couldn't have done it without you and we are proud to have you join us in mission! I pray that you all can experience what these students have experienced this week and that you will continue to help and support these students and each other in the mission field of life, creating disciples and spreading the love of God! God Bless you all and we will see you all next weekend at worship as the youth begin to share their stories with our Mission Trip Worship Celebrations at all three services!!!
Kenny Champagne
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