Another full day of ministry done with many opportunities for the youth and leaders to see God show up. The theme for this mission trip is “When God Shows Up” and in the evening debrief time, the group has been processing through when and where they saw God show up, and in who they saw God show up.
This morning in ministry we divided into three teams to serve around Hilton Head. We had one team continue working on the church campus here at Providence, we had one group go to a Habitat build site, and the last group went to Sandalwood Food Pantry.
In the afternoon, our team divided up again and one group went back to Boys & Girls Club to finish helping with some clean up projects, one group went to the Children’s Center to assist in the classes with kids from 0 to 2nd grade, and the last group had a two part ministry. First, the group went to Jarvis Park to play and build relationships with some individuals who are mentally and physically challenged. After that, they did their own mini ATL (Ask the Lord) adventure and went to Kroger to push carts back to the store and then they proceeded to buy groceries to take back to Sandalwood Food Pantry.
Throughout this week our team has been learning that often we think of ministry and imagine something big and elaborate, but this week we have seen God show up in the little things.
As one leader shared, during their time at Jarvis Park there was a young man who was mostly deaf and mainly heard sound through vibrations felt so he had a beach ball and would run his hand across it and that is all he wanted to do. She joined in with her own beach ball, but due to the heat and humidity every time she did the same thing, hers would make a loud squeaking sound. That young man thought that was the funniest thing ever and just had such joyous laughter for that one special moment.
At Sandalwood Food Pantry, the team was able to help clean and organize the entire food pantry inside while their regular volunteers were outside helping to serve the community the food. The director of Sandalwood Food Pantry shared her heart behind the pantry with the team when we arrived and after about an hour of work we were invited outside to be introduced to some of the people we were helping through organizing at the food pantry. Before the community was able to come shopping for the food we were all gathered to pray. One of the youth said the power and passion in the director’s prayers almost brought her to tears.
So throughout this week, we expect to continue to see God show up in the little things and to see seeds continue to be planted in not only those we encounter in the community but also in each and every youth that is on this trip this week.
Prayer Requests:
Energy for the team as they do ministry throughout the day
For the team to see and hear God throughout the week
Unity among youth and leaders
Deeper relationships to be developed with Christ
