MOVE: The Charleston Trip

This mission trip to Charleston, West Virginia has been in the works for several months, and now it has finally come to pass. There were five of us who went from my church: Renee, Elaine, Laura, and Sue and I, who went as leaders.  I was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, but I am no longer.

Because it was amazing.

The theme verse for the week was Acts 17:28: "For in Him we live and move and have our being."  Thus, MOVE takes its place in the post title.

At the time (at several times) really, it didn't feel that amazing.  It was hot, we all got sunburnt, and many times it didn't feel like we were really reaching the kids we were supposed to be helping.  We spent the entire week at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Center, working with an organization called Communities Closing the Gap.  The demographic of children who attend there is entirely African American, so it was a slight change of pace, coming from a predominantly Caucasian area.  But to me, race is really a non-issue.  We're all human beings, all needing the love of Christ.  I have several black friends, but I never think about the fact unless someone brings it up.  One of the ladies who came to greet us the first day had these simple words to say,"Some are good kids, and some are not so good kids."  Those words pretty much sum up the week for me.  There were some kids who were irresistibly cute, and would take advantage of piggyback rides every chance they got (even when none of us had a free back). Others were less interested in hanging around us, which was fine too.

My buddy for the week was Izhane.  I met her the first day, and we played every day after that. Granted, there were others I would give rides to, and play with.  But Izhane was the one who was there constantly.  By Friday, she'd pretty much decided she was going to do everything with me, which was fine, and I more than loved it.

If one thing was presented to me clearly this week, it was the reinforcement of the fact that I really do want to live my life (and gear my career) for God.  The thought of having to return to work put a huge damper on my mind.  The thought of people thinking I ought to climb corporate ladders for a living is desolating to my livelihood.  I cringe at the very thought, because each step I would take in that direction would pull me farther and farther from my Father, when all the while I'm still just trying to get closer to Him.

The YouthWorks staff were an incredible group.  And they're all my age.  There really was never a question in my mind once I started the trip about whether I'd ever want to be on the YouthWorks staff.  The idea of applying for next summer popped into my head around Monday or Tuesday of the trip, and never once was there a negative thought about all the work I'd have to do being with YouthWorks. Because it would all be for God.  I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard - I know it will be, and very tiring. But it would be a good tired, a gratifying tired.  A for God tired.  And I'd rather be tired for Christ more than anyone or anything else.