What a whirlwind! Due to students taking the SAT on Saturday, the trip was shorter than usual, but we filled it full to the brim with opportunities for outreach in the greater Harrisonburg, VA, area. Our window for ministry was small, but we made the most of it. The whole group, thirteen students and
three adults, left early in the morning on Wednesday and jumped straight into work as soon as we arrived. Gift and Thrift is a non-profit organization that last year gave over $350,000 to Mennonite Central Committee. We worked in the donation side of Gift and Thrift. Students sorted clothes,
priced donated items, worked in the used book department and tested games and puzzles. We left there and drove straight to Waynesboro Mennonite Church to help with their Kids Club. Seth (‘05) and Theresa Crissman are missionaries who come alongside churches in the greater Harrisonburg area
to help them establish and foster community outreach through kids’ clubs. Our students played
games, made crafts and sang songs with the children. There was much joy and laughter. Afterwards,
we served a meal for the workers of the church as they were holding their summer meeting. We finally
got back to the church that was hosting us, Brown Memorial Community Church, at 10:30 pm.
Most mission trips have scheduled free time for games and relaxing, but our window was small, and
after devotions, everyone headed to bed because the next day was a full one. Sharon Crissman prepared
fabulous food the whole trip, and breakfast was no exception. After breakfast and devotions,
one group went with Mrs. Walker, and headed back to Gift and Thrift, and spent the entire day there
continuing to serve. The other group went with a local contractor and ripped up a section of floor in a
woman’s trailer, replaced the flooring and then carpeted that whole section as well. They also fixed a
portion of her roof and bathroom. When they finally arrived back at the church for dinner, everyone
was physically spent but emotionally excited about how God had used us in that community. After
dinner we spent an hour at a local gym and then went shopping for supplies for our final day. Friday
morning we helped clean the church, organized various things and did a lot of outdoor planting and
weeding. Despite the window being small, God really enabled us to make the most of it and truly suck
out all the marrow each day held. Praise God for the opportunities to serve and for the young men
and women who decided to join in the adventure. May we all continue to make the most of the time
God gives!
