"Making New Friends"

For our first day of Ministry Work here in Logan we split from our Faith "group" and into five different groups, along with the other youth groups.  These groups are who we will be working with throughout the next week including our Ministry Days and the evening activities.

Being able to join with the other church groups to help the community will be the most valuable experience of the next week.  It was very interesting to meet people who are not Lutheran and share our stories together.

3 of our groups are assigned to work projects where we will travel to seperate work sites in the community and help a specific family with building projects including finishing the roof on a shelter, building a porch and completing a wheelchair ramp.

The other 2 groups are working at the YouthWorks site with some of the older kids from the community and helping them to connect with eachother through sports.

Our first day was all about orientation and preparing for the work we will do throughout the next 3 days.

-Lynn, Hannah K., Kylee and Ashliey

"We Are Ready!"

Sunday has brought us to the first day of our mission work with YouthWorks in West Virginia.  On our way from Charleston to our mission site in Logan, WV (in the southwestern part of the state) we stopped for some sightseeing at the New River Gorge National River.

This huge river gorge and moutain range is part of the National Park Service system and offered breathtaking views, white water rafting, swimming, hiking and more.

We took some time to truly enjoy the wonders of God's beauty and enjoy the outdoors.  Cameron and Haley also took some time to teach their amazing stone skipping skills.  The New River Gorge is highlighted by a massive bridge that offers views both on and below.  However, in order to get tot he bottom of the gorge and into the river, both 15-passenger vans had to ensure a very steep and narrow drive down the Fayette Station Road complete with 4 hair pin turns that were never designed for vehicles the size we were driving, but we made it and everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the river and then we had lunch in the park before departing on the drive to Logan.

As we departed the New River Gorge area and we began the 2-hour drive to Logan, many slept as we navigated the majestic highways that cut directly through the mountains, and on may occasions went up one side and down the other.

When we officially arrived in Logan, our experience with YouthWorks began with orientation and dinner and then the group moved in to our nightly gathering called "Club".   Our YouthWorks site has 82 total ecumenical participants this week including church youth groups from a Roman Catholic Parish in Eagle River, WI, a United Methodist group from Springboro, OH, a Presbyterian Church from Rochester, NY and finally a large non-denomiotional group from a newly formed ministry in Southern Illinois.  All in all, we are a nicely diverse group.  Some in our group are nervous about how the new interaction between the group will be and how new friendships and relationships will form.  BUT, even in all of that uncertainty....

"WE ARE READY!"

-The Youth of Faith Lutheran

And...it's early!

Yep....it is WAY too early to be blogging, however, due to extenuating circumstances we are awake at 6:30 a.m. so we can tell you about where we have seen God so far on this trip.

The day began with an awesome continental breakfast provided by Cross & Crown Lutheran church and then we were off to Cincinnati, OH to spend the day at Kings Island Amusement and Water Park.  We split into smaller groups and many of us spent some time at the water park and on the rides throughout the week.

After a very HOT and humid time in the park we loaded up and made our way towards Charleston, WV.

As soon as we got further south into Ohio and West Virginia the scenery began to become moer and more breathtaking.  The drivers especially appreciated navigating the mountain roads :-).

As we begin our week, we will be summing up our days in "three words"....for Saturday:

"Scary (roller coasters), exhilarated and lost (at times)"

Continuing to look for God everywhere-

Abby, Ezekial, Allan, Kylee & Lizbeth

We're On The Road

So, it's official, the 2014 Mission Trip has begun.  We left Faith's parking lot about 15 minutes behind schedule, not bad for trying to get 19 people loaded up and ready to go!?!    After stopping for dinner in Bloomington-Normal, IL we made it to our first stop in Indianapolis, IN at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church.  This congregation welcomed us with opened arms, even late at night, and had a whole spread of snacks and beverages waiting for us - the hospitality has been AMAZING.  After a brief team meeting and debrief, lights out at 11:30 p.m. for all.  (Which meant 12 midnight for most!)  

This morning we were greeted with fresh bagels from Panera Bread, again, courtesy of this amazing congregation, and more snacks.  Incidentaly, their youth group is leaving tomorrow to spend a week with another YouthWorks crew in Niagara Falls. So very cool to learn of a connection like that within another ELCA congregation.

We will be heading off to Cincinnati, OH and spending the day (dodging rain drops it may seem) at Kings Island Amusement Park.

We continue to pray for our families and friends back home and the entire Faith Congregation.

The youth will begin blogging this evening.  Oh, and for the record....we left a bit late; but made it to Indy on time.  ;-)

In His Name-

Jason Poole

Youth Minister

Welcome

Welcome to the official blog for the 2014 Faith Lutheran Youth Mission Trip!

In just two short weeks, 15 youth and 5 adults will embark on a journey that will take us from Janesville, WI through Illinois, Ohio and into
West Virginia for a week of fellowship and service.

We have chosen to partner with YouthWorks, a respected leader in faith based mission trips, and a company I have used for four previous mission trips with great success.
They will lead our group through our week in Logan, WV.

View of Logan, WV from YouthWorks Site

During our time in Logan, we will have the opportunity to spend significant time building relationships in Logan by working at the same service site all week. Our Kids Club in Logan meets a real need in the community, as there are not many options of things for kids and teens to do during the summer months. There is also greater cultural diversity at Logan's Kids Club than one might typically expect to find in a small Appalachian town. Work projects will include minor home repair, painting, and yard work; depending on the skills of adult leaders in our group, there may also be opportunities to build wheelchair ramps 

or do other home rehab projects.

In the evenings, we will visit Chief Logan State Park, experience an evening of line dancing and bluegrass music at the Delbarton Opry House, attend a vibrant youth service at a local church, and enjoy a night fellowship at a community cookout to end the week. 

Throughout the week, we will be posting updates as we travel and work together doing
GOD'S WORK with OUR HANDS!

-Jason Poole

Youth Minister