NoLa, #4

Small group mission trips have a unique way of creating lasting relationships among team members. Groups that know each other before the trip grow ever closer as the trip progresses. Groups, like this one (an amalgam of people from different places who know each other in varying degrees) also form close ties, yet the process is a bit slower. It has been a joy to observe the growing unity of our group of ten students. Of course there are those who naturally pair up each day to work on individual projects. Sometimes this occurs because of the type of work chosen, but it is usually the result of personalities. Some folks simply work best with specific people. Every team has a floater or two who wants to make sure that equal time is spent with each team member. Floaters want to know everyone on the team as well as possible. Most teams also have strong introverts who work well with one or two others, but then must disappear at times to recharge. Often the introverts go to bed early or rise before anyone else in order to have solitude to process, write, read, pray, and prepare for time spent with the rest of the team. 

Toward the middle of trips like this there are lots of late night conversations occurring. Pairs or trios will find a quiet corner or table in another room to talk about life, about faith, about the trip so far. These are the moments where life change happens. Such are the times when disorienting experiences from the trip begin to coalesce. Disorientation is the result of being out of the proverbial "comfort zone" of home and school and seeing and experiencing things that challenge norms. Team members can help each other wrestle with the new experiences and find new meanings within. 

The team continued cleaning, organizing, and painting in the church yesterday. We made great headway and finished most projects. We reclaimed several spaces that had been sealed off as storage rooms and are now great work or meeting areas. Moat of the closets in the church are now free of clutter and organized! Tools are all back in their places in the basement. Two trips have been made to donate unused items to thrift shops. Floors have been mopped and empty boxes tossed. Broken toys, furniture, crayons, and other items have been thrown away. The church is ready for a summer of community ministry! It was a good, profitable day!

Two days left! Pray for the team members who:

   Have begun dealing with things they have experienced here, or 

   Who are working through issues of calling, or 

   Who are tired and need to find some rest.

Two more days of work before we head home on Saturday!