The first half of our meeting was for parents and students. We went over the key details for our trip and gave some vision for how our sm mission trips fit into the discipleship process here at the Chapel. Below are the slides we went over if you'd like to review them:
Parent Meeting Slides
In addition, we handed out folders that had a checklist to make sure you know upcoming deadlines and dates, Chapel parental consent form, support letter writing information, a packing list, and some literature on CSM (the organization we partner with). If you missed the meeting or lost any of the forms then just click on the links below. The literature on CSM will be available next meeting to handout because we don't have an electronic version of it.
Checklist
Packing List
Support Letter Information
Parental Consent Form
The second half of the meeting was just for your kids as we began our study of the character Paul in Acts 9. We study a character each year and look at the character's encounter with God as a model for our own encounters with God while on our trip to Nashville. We have found that this has been a great way to prepare our hearts and minds for what will take place on this trip. If you missed the meeting then you can read Acts 9:1-4 and review the questions below that we talked about in our small groups.
Small Group Questions
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Nicaragua Meeting #2 - 5/10/17
This was our first meeting together as a team where we had the opportunity to start building relationships among the team, getting to know the leaders, and studying our character Paul in Acts 9. Every year we study a particular character's encounter with God as a model for how we will encounter God on our trip to Nicaragua. We began by looking at the first four verse in Acts 9 where we just get a glimpse into Saul's encounter with God. Saul was a highly religious person who thought he was actually doing God's will until this moment where God exposed his blind spot to the truth about Jesus. After taking a look together at this passage our team broke up into two smaller groups where we started sharing with each other some of the things we are looking forward to on this trip and what gets in the way of us recognizing God's guiding hand in our own lives.
If your child missed the meeting then here are the questions we went over in our small groups if you would like to have them review them on their own and read Acts 9:1-4.
Also, below are the forms we handed out at the meeting. The packing list is actually an updated version from the one we handed out last night because the links to the airline guidelines were incorrect. They were the ones from last year and we are flying on a different airline this year.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Nicaragua Parents Meeting.4.11.17
Thank you to everyone for a great meeting! I hope everyone got all of the information they needed and questions answered, but please don't hesitate to contact Luke Kincaid by phone at 757-570-0292 or by email at lkincaid@wcchapel.org if you have any additional questions. Below are all the forms and PowerPoint slides we went over at the meeting in case you lost one or needed to look something up.
Nicaragua Parent Meeting Slides
Support Letter Instructions
OrphaNetwork Forms
Nicaragua Meeting #1 Checklist
Nicaragua Parent Meeting Slides
Support Letter Instructions
OrphaNetwork Forms
Nicaragua Meeting #1 Checklist
Friday, July 22, 2016
Norfolk Day #2 - 7.22.16
We had a great day here in the Norfolk/Va Beach area, which started this morning with breakfast together and an excitement for what God had in store for us! Our first stop after leaving Spring Branch was to Union Mission Ministries. They are a multifaceted organization that provide housing on their campus for both men and women, a thrift store, donation warehouse and career advisers for homeless men and women who they are working with to get into more permanent housing. We had the opportunity to meet with one of the directors of Union Mission, Miss Linda and she spoke with our team about homelessness and what Union Mission is striving to do about it. We presented her with all of our donations and she showed us where they would be taken, the process for who would receive them and some of the rest of their campus.
After leaving Union, we headed to a nearby park to have lunch. After lunch we went to Consulate Healthcare Center where we were able to spend some time with some of their patients there. They are mostly elderly and/or disabled men and women who can't always do things on their own, or have people to do things with. The team paired up with residents in order to double their chances at winning bingo. Our students were able to witness the intensity that is elderly bingo! After playing, we joined the residents for some refreshments and the chance to get to know them a little better. Our team thrived in what could have been an uncomfortable situation, forming instant bonds with the residents.
We were sad to leave them, but after our goodbyes we went to the beach where we did some team bonding, followed by dinner. Once everyone had eaten, we went back to Spring Branch for our second Porch Time of the trip. We reminisced on the day during Porch Time's staple segments called "Remember That Time" and "I Saw Jesus" where we remember the funny things that happened during the day, but also where we saw God at work on the trip. After worship, Nick spoke on why our faith looks and feels different when we are on trips like this than it does at home. We looked at a passage in John 11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, but before he does Lazarus's sisters Mary and Martha each react differently to Jesus' arrival. Mary acts quickly, rising up and going out. Martha initially goes out, but questions Jesus, allows some doubt to control her. We spoke about how as we look to tomorrow where we will be heading home, we will be faced with a decision: to allow what we experienced on the trip to change us and let our faith control us or let in any fears that we may have. We continued these talks in small groups and then are heading to bed soon, excited to finish out our trip well tomorrow!
After leaving Union, we headed to a nearby park to have lunch. After lunch we went to Consulate Healthcare Center where we were able to spend some time with some of their patients there. They are mostly elderly and/or disabled men and women who can't always do things on their own, or have people to do things with. The team paired up with residents in order to double their chances at winning bingo. Our students were able to witness the intensity that is elderly bingo! After playing, we joined the residents for some refreshments and the chance to get to know them a little better. Our team thrived in what could have been an uncomfortable situation, forming instant bonds with the residents.
We were sad to leave them, but after our goodbyes we went to the beach where we did some team bonding, followed by dinner. Once everyone had eaten, we went back to Spring Branch for our second Porch Time of the trip. We reminisced on the day during Porch Time's staple segments called "Remember That Time" and "I Saw Jesus" where we remember the funny things that happened during the day, but also where we saw God at work on the trip. After worship, Nick spoke on why our faith looks and feels different when we are on trips like this than it does at home. We looked at a passage in John 11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, but before he does Lazarus's sisters Mary and Martha each react differently to Jesus' arrival. Mary acts quickly, rising up and going out. Martha initially goes out, but questions Jesus, allows some doubt to control her. We spoke about how as we look to tomorrow where we will be heading home, we will be faced with a decision: to allow what we experienced on the trip to change us and let our faith control us or let in any fears that we may have. We continued these talks in small groups and then are heading to bed soon, excited to finish out our trip well tomorrow!
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Norfolk Night #1 - 7.21.16
The Norfolk team started our trip this afternoon by having a great drive down to VA Beach! It was great to watch as the team immediately
began to bond on our car ride down I-64. There was no complaining about
the traffic, but instead the extra time in the cars was used to have great conversations and sing! As a result, spirits were high
as we made it to our housing site, Spring Branch Community Church, and
settled into our home for the next two nights. Spring Branch is led by
Travis Simone's father Pastor Michael Simone, and we have had a
wonderful partnership with them for many years. One of our favorite
things about the church is their youth room where they have game consoles, a pool
table, a Foosball table and a great space for our team to hang out. The whole
team was super excited to see all the fun things Spring Branch has to
offer!
After dinner and some free time playing games we began what was for most of the team their first ever "Porch Time." Porch Time comes from the old days on Nicaragua trip where the teams would spend the evening on an actual porch and talk about where they had seen God at work during the day and we use the same title for all of the nightly meetings on every Student Ministry mission trip. Tonight, Nick spoke on the idea of "being sent." We looked at Jacob, the biblical character we studied in our meetings before the trip and how before all of the things that we learned about with him and Esau, he too had been sent somewhere by God. We also looked in Luke 10 where Jesus sends out the 72 and how they took nothing with them so they could avoid being distracted and take all of the opportunities to serve and learn about God that were set before them. After the talk, we split up and had our first small group time where we continued discussing the idea of being sent and where we could look for opportunities in our time down here. After small groups, the Norfolk Team headed to bed excited to see how God was going to show up tomorrow!
*If you aren't already on it, you can sign up for the text list by texting "norfolkparent" to 41411. This is how we will communicate our eta for the way home and give short updates throughout the trip.
After dinner and some free time playing games we began what was for most of the team their first ever "Porch Time." Porch Time comes from the old days on Nicaragua trip where the teams would spend the evening on an actual porch and talk about where they had seen God at work during the day and we use the same title for all of the nightly meetings on every Student Ministry mission trip. Tonight, Nick spoke on the idea of "being sent." We looked at Jacob, the biblical character we studied in our meetings before the trip and how before all of the things that we learned about with him and Esau, he too had been sent somewhere by God. We also looked in Luke 10 where Jesus sends out the 72 and how they took nothing with them so they could avoid being distracted and take all of the opportunities to serve and learn about God that were set before them. After the talk, we split up and had our first small group time where we continued discussing the idea of being sent and where we could look for opportunities in our time down here. After small groups, the Norfolk Team headed to bed excited to see how God was going to show up tomorrow!
*If you aren't already on it, you can sign up for the text list by texting "norfolkparent" to 41411. This is how we will communicate our eta for the way home and give short updates throughout the trip.
Norfolk Mission Trip Packing List and Departure Time
Just a reminder to please meet at the Chapel at 4pm in the SM Worship Room.
Here is a link to the packing list if you still need it:
Packing List
Here is a link to the packing list if you still need it:
Packing List
Friday, July 15, 2016
Nashville, Day 6 - July 15, 2016
Sorry to have missed you yesterday! We had our Porch Time off-site at the amphitheater in Bicentennial Park; a very cool atmosphere for our final time to really reflect and hopefully seal in what God may have had in store of us this week. Luke spoke on Jacob and really wanted to address how Jacob was fearful of his brother arriving with a fleet after he had stolen Esau's blessing. Before the trip, students were asked to write down some of their fears in life (popularity, performance in school or sports, growing up expectations, pressures, etc.) and there was an opportunity to symbolically surrender those fears as they burned up those pieces of paper while the song "No Longer Slaves" was sung in the background. That song announces that we no longer slaves to fear, but rather, we are children of God. With small groups afterwards, we got back to the church site just a little later than usual and went straight to bed after a long day of serving. View a quick "hello" and "thank you" from Luke and the team here: https://vimeo.com/174737209/b2b2d60b34
Today, briefly (as we're about to set sail for dinner and line dancing!):
Morning - Groups 1, 3: Each team went to the the Boys and Girls Club that they had visited throughout the entire week. Playing, instructing, and modeling good behavior for the kids has been a great experience as we sought to serve the staff at these camps. I know one group performed a skit on how to be "caring," and afterwards was able to share that our performance does not define our days, or who we are, but rather that how we care for one another determines the type of days we experience and the lives we lead. It has been so much fun to serve at these sites.
Morning - Group 2: This group went to Operation Stand Down this morning. They went to sort clothes and organize home furniture that will eventually be for sale in a thrift store that supports veterans. While less relational work, that physical labor can be incredibly gratifying as you know that sometimes God really just needs able hands and feet to work. While we may not know who exactly will benefit from the donated items or the proceeds, we know we were able to offer what we could to an organization that has been here before our arrival, and will be here after! That's been a great lesson this week as we continue to learn that this trip is not just about us, although we do have time and talents to give, but that there is an element to empowering those who are here on a daily basis to really impact those in need on a daily basis.
Afternoon - Groups 1, 2, 3: All three groups met up at Loaves and Fishes. This is put on by Catholic Charities, and people from all over the community come and receive a variety of donated groceries. We were able to assist by having some of us form an assembly line that would hand out whatever item they had. And others were able to assist by carrying the box that contained each item has the recipient walked down the line. The people that received these donations were so happy and grateful for us, it put everyone in great moods! There was no complaining about what sorts of food were available or how much we were able to give them; it was just thankfulness.
Group 4 - This team went to Round Table this morning! They helped do laundry, washing towels and bed sheets for this homeless organization. They then had their Urban Exposure. This is an activity that CSM challenges us to engage in. We go down town with an extra packed lunch and find someone who looks like they could benefit from it. Sitting down with him/her, we eat lunch. It's not all that complicated a task, but engaging with homeless people can be intimidating or overwhelming. We ask where they're from, how long they've been in the city, what they like most/least about living here, etc. It's always interesting to hear someone else's story and to be able to offer them something as simple as a bagged lunch. The activity continues with various challenges, kind of like a scavenger hunt list, for us to imagine being homeless, ourselves. Where will we find water? A bathroom? A park? (Is there a city map?) Transportation? All of these are things we don't often need to think through, knowing the exact location of everything we could possibly need to survive, and knowing we have access to it whenever we want. So this is a unique challenge, accurately titled "Urban Exposure."
Group 5 - This team continued its service at the YMCA camp. With emotions comparable to those of Groups 1 and 3, it was their last day with kids they had spent the week with. It's difficult to capture the subtleties of a week spent with kids in a blog, but it's the persistent subtleties that inspire and transform. We hope we've been able to visit this city and persistently serve with joy, care, sincerity and gratitude. The way we are loved by Jesus is similar; it's persistent, steadfast, and yet easily overlooked, not always in plain sight. We're grateful for the staff who serve at these camps full time, able to be persistent in their commitment and care for the youth of Nashville. In the afternoon, this serving group went to Project C.U.R.E., a site visited by some of our other teams earlier in the week. This organization ships donated medical supplies to those who need it all over the world. It's a great organization that really impacts and enhances the lives of people who simply do not have the access to medical supplies and equipment that we do.
All teams are now at dinner, and will be line dancing later tonight! Will certainly be a fun a celebrate way to close the week. Current plan is to depart for Williamsburg around 8am tomorrow morning. If memory serves correctly, it was roughly 12 hours on the road a week ago, so a rough estimate would be to arrive at the Chapel around 9pm tomorrow (we'll drive through a time zone, so we'll lose an hour on the road). Of course, we'll text and update everyone as those plans gain clarity!
Today, briefly (as we're about to set sail for dinner and line dancing!):
Morning - Groups 1, 3: Each team went to the the Boys and Girls Club that they had visited throughout the entire week. Playing, instructing, and modeling good behavior for the kids has been a great experience as we sought to serve the staff at these camps. I know one group performed a skit on how to be "caring," and afterwards was able to share that our performance does not define our days, or who we are, but rather that how we care for one another determines the type of days we experience and the lives we lead. It has been so much fun to serve at these sites.
Morning - Group 2: This group went to Operation Stand Down this morning. They went to sort clothes and organize home furniture that will eventually be for sale in a thrift store that supports veterans. While less relational work, that physical labor can be incredibly gratifying as you know that sometimes God really just needs able hands and feet to work. While we may not know who exactly will benefit from the donated items or the proceeds, we know we were able to offer what we could to an organization that has been here before our arrival, and will be here after! That's been a great lesson this week as we continue to learn that this trip is not just about us, although we do have time and talents to give, but that there is an element to empowering those who are here on a daily basis to really impact those in need on a daily basis.
Afternoon - Groups 1, 2, 3: All three groups met up at Loaves and Fishes. This is put on by Catholic Charities, and people from all over the community come and receive a variety of donated groceries. We were able to assist by having some of us form an assembly line that would hand out whatever item they had. And others were able to assist by carrying the box that contained each item has the recipient walked down the line. The people that received these donations were so happy and grateful for us, it put everyone in great moods! There was no complaining about what sorts of food were available or how much we were able to give them; it was just thankfulness.
Group 4 - This team went to Round Table this morning! They helped do laundry, washing towels and bed sheets for this homeless organization. They then had their Urban Exposure. This is an activity that CSM challenges us to engage in. We go down town with an extra packed lunch and find someone who looks like they could benefit from it. Sitting down with him/her, we eat lunch. It's not all that complicated a task, but engaging with homeless people can be intimidating or overwhelming. We ask where they're from, how long they've been in the city, what they like most/least about living here, etc. It's always interesting to hear someone else's story and to be able to offer them something as simple as a bagged lunch. The activity continues with various challenges, kind of like a scavenger hunt list, for us to imagine being homeless, ourselves. Where will we find water? A bathroom? A park? (Is there a city map?) Transportation? All of these are things we don't often need to think through, knowing the exact location of everything we could possibly need to survive, and knowing we have access to it whenever we want. So this is a unique challenge, accurately titled "Urban Exposure."
Group 5 - This team continued its service at the YMCA camp. With emotions comparable to those of Groups 1 and 3, it was their last day with kids they had spent the week with. It's difficult to capture the subtleties of a week spent with kids in a blog, but it's the persistent subtleties that inspire and transform. We hope we've been able to visit this city and persistently serve with joy, care, sincerity and gratitude. The way we are loved by Jesus is similar; it's persistent, steadfast, and yet easily overlooked, not always in plain sight. We're grateful for the staff who serve at these camps full time, able to be persistent in their commitment and care for the youth of Nashville. In the afternoon, this serving group went to Project C.U.R.E., a site visited by some of our other teams earlier in the week. This organization ships donated medical supplies to those who need it all over the world. It's a great organization that really impacts and enhances the lives of people who simply do not have the access to medical supplies and equipment that we do.
All teams are now at dinner, and will be line dancing later tonight! Will certainly be a fun a celebrate way to close the week. Current plan is to depart for Williamsburg around 8am tomorrow morning. If memory serves correctly, it was roughly 12 hours on the road a week ago, so a rough estimate would be to arrive at the Chapel around 9pm tomorrow (we'll drive through a time zone, so we'll lose an hour on the road). Of course, we'll text and update everyone as those plans gain clarity!
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