Ole Miss revisited

This past week was something else... I believe in the power of mission trips and have hoped that one day my younger brothers would have the opportunity to take one. That happened this past week when my two youngest brothers and I met up with the rest of Latreia in southeast Iowa last Monday. Together again after the break and now seven strong braving the warnings of ice on the roads we set course for Mississippi to arrive with no problems.

Our immediate task for the week was to help build relationships on behalf of a church in a manufactured home park (trailer park). There was a new pastor at the church who wanted to reach out to the folks in the area via a survey that he would have us hand out. We would break into teams of 2 and 3 moving door to door visiting with the residents about the church and inviting them to attend. I must admit that the idea, though an awesome experience, made me feel a little ackward - I have some sort of wierd feeling about knocking on doors...

Back to my brothers... Tyler and Jake went with Laura to form a group of three. I don't know if I am over protective or a nervous-nelly, but I was a little apprehensive about them saying the wrong thing or somehow getting themselves into trouble (they can be pretty darn good at the trouble thing). They went beyond what I thought they could. As I expressed to my knocking partner (Stephanie) that I felt more comfortable doing this as a pair, Laura let the boys approach homes as individuals. 26 years old and 26 week-long mission trips, I was nervous. 17 and 19 years old and one day of mission trip experience and the boys did great. It was all that I could have expected from any youth in their position. Youth are amazing... have faith in them and they can do great things.

So thanks to Mississippi for a great service experience... thanks to the rest of Latreia for treating my brothers as their own... thanks to all of us (especially Laura) for having faith in youth. When it all boils down I believe in mission trips because mission trips are where as a youth I realized the power of God. I was pulled from my comfort zone for different reasons this past week having my brothers along... as Josh said... it was beyond my expectations.

Jesse