Many of you have asked about the Mission Trip, and although you will have the opportunity to hear about it from the youth, I thought that I would give you an edited version of the daily emails I wrote to parents back home. We had a fabulous time, and are so grateful for the support of this congregation.

Monday

Hi everyone,

Wow! What a day we had today. You would be so proud of our youth and how they are truly mission ambassadors of Eliot.

This morning we were divided into two teams, after orientation. A group of us went to an organization called Food to Friends, which provides nutritious meals to people living with AIDS, cancer, and other debilitating, chronic or even terminal illness. With dietitians and professional chefs working together, the food prepared was beautiful, abundant, fresh, and packed with love and care by troops of volunteers.

The second group went to a organization called A Wider Circle, which provides free furniture and household items to people transitioning out of homelessness into housing. The warehouse looked like a retail furniture store, with living room arrangements, kitchen section, etc. This team moved a lot of donated gently used furniture, and helped clients shop for what they need. After we finished, we had a speaker who was formally homeless. His story dispelled a lot of myths about people who are homeless. The kids were riveted and moved.

When we reflected together tonight, the youth shared what they learned--like how fortunate they can have showers when they want, or how important a set of keys to your home are. They learned that 1 in 3 people in America will experience homelessness at some point in their lives. They learned that small kindnesses make a difference (like a cup of coffee given to someone on the street), and that people can be friendly and kind in spite of being a stranger.

...and so, in short, the experiences we had today had a lot of impact. We look forward to more.

The kids are incredibly energetic, inquisitive, thoughtful and respectful. It is such a joy to be with them and among them. They are indeed loving lights of God's presence. 

Tuesday

So, dear ones, let's just start tonight's update by me saying "our chaperones are rock stars!!!"

As I type on my tiny iPhone screen, Diane Pullen is washing all of our YSOP t-shirts in the kitchenette sink, by hand, wringing them out, and hanging them to dry. These t-shirts are to be worn all week at our sites, and by day 2 they are beyond ripe. Earl was dishwasher extraordinaire and now is playing cards with some boys like a shark. Andy has been like the energizer bunny--he never stops. He goes running in the morning with a group, he is so positive and always stopping us for impromptu learning moments!

Today was a long day but the kids are still quite lively, playing guitar, and games. This after packing a lot of food bags for Food for Friends, and the other group spent the day with an elderly blind man--cleaning his apartment, listening to his multiple stories, and doing his laundry. In mean not just throwing clothes in, but actually folding underwear, t-shirts, socks and putting them away. (Yes, laundry!) let them fool you!

After our site visits, we then gathered for reflection, and then all three church groups combined to cook dinner for 40 guests who were homeless, lonely, or at risk. The kids sat with our guests, visited with them all evening, and personally served each guest. It was incredibly moving to see our youth chatting it up with people from all walks of life, so comfortable, poised, and respectful.

It's late, but I just wanted to say we had an amazing, learning-filled, compassionate day.

Wednesday

Hi everyone--

It's been another packed and busy day for our trippers. At 7:15 our first team boarded the bus to prepare breakfast for an organization called Thrive DC. In addition to serving daily breakfasts and dinners to those who are homeless or at risk, they offer many outreach programs, such as artistic expression. I am told they cracked 72 dozen eggs and cooked a vat of fried apples with cinnamon and sugar to serve over 180 people.

Our second group journeyed to the DC Foodbank and of course, volunteered for the messiest and hardest jobs. Two of our team volunteered for the strong person team, carrying and moving heavy packed boxes of food to a loading dock. While I was hanging back waiting for the director to ask for volunteers to sort canned vegetables(not messy, not gross, easy) while the rest of the team volunteered us for the goo-iest, dirtiest, grossest job, which was sorting and determining which baking goods were indeed still usable. Imagine bags of rancid flour, leaky sugars, punctured cooking oil, and checking for vermin poop. That's the Eliot Spirit for you!

This afternoon we met Josephine and had a brief visit with Rep. Barney Frank. I think the kids were a bit awestruck to be in his office, and they asked him good questions. Although the time was brief, it was impressionable.

We appreciate all of your prayers and support. We all are experiencing the abundance of God's love with us and among us.

Thursday

Hey all--

Just a brief update tonight--we all got to go to the same site today, DC Central Kitchen. It is a wonderful mission that was founded 15 years ago by a volunteer who wanted to run an efficient kitchen that would use local food producers as much as possible to create economic healthy food to provide to local smaller soup kitchens, after school programs, and shelters. They also train people "at risk" to be chefs. It's pretty amazing!

I have no idea how much cabbage we chopped, tomatoes sliced, onion cut, carrots shredded, sweet potatoes peeled, but I know the fruit of labor created many pounds of coleslaw, garden salad and ingredients for African Stew, but I think it could rival the story of five loaves of bread and fish!!

We are so excited for our visit to the White House tomorrow!

Friday

Hello everyone!

Today we spent the day sight-seeing and hanging out. The White House was fantastastic!

Your children have been wonderful. They trust each other implicitly ( I have seen this with my own eyes--they follow each other anywhere, even when they don't know where they are going and hence, usually are headed in the wrong direction...but then they sense they are missing something and turn around to find us waiting for them.) They get along, they respect and care for one another...sure, they are normal--they have been cranky at times, silly and hilarious always, high energy--complete teenagers--but with something special that is binding. I like to think that binding is the very mystery of God. Indeed, I have no doubt that it is the mystery of God.

See you tomorrow,

Karla