Day Five and Six

Today is Friday and it is our free day!!

Everyone got to sleep in a little bit! We were off to the beach at around 9:30am.

There was food, sand sculptures, frisbee, friends, and possibly some jumping….

It was great to have one last day together before we had to go back to our everyday lives. God revealed Himself in the splendor of His creation and in the continued love our group showed the one another and the other people who were at the beach. 

After our fun day, we returned to Anchor church and watching the final video in the series for the week! It wrapped up everything we had learned that week about lies and deception and how the world can look attractive, but ultimately, those things will let you down. However, there is someone who will never let us down. Someone who loves us perfectly, even if we can’t understand how. Someone who has broken our chains and set us free. A kind of humbled himself before us and who is the ultimate example of how to love and how to serve. 

Prayers that the students and leaders on this trip would continue to know and believe these words even as we leave West Virginia and return to our every day lives. That we might be changed by these words and these revelations about who we are and who God is. Also, prayers that you might know that this is true of you as well. 

What is one of the best ways to end a mission trip?? AN EPIC DANCE PARTY! We all got to stay up until midnight and dance and experience the joy of being set free!!

That epic dance party set us up for one early morning. We were on the bus and driving away at 6:00am! It was a bittersweet feeling driving away, a lot of students and leaders expressed that they could have stayed another week and how much that week, the Next Step interns, and God impacted them! 

Overall, it was a fantastic, life-changing week full of laughs, tears, sweat, love, service, community, and Jesus. 

In Christ,

The West Virginia Team

Day Four

This is our last day on the work sites! Everyone was pumped to try and get as much work done as possible today! 

Students worked so hard and some of them didn’t want to stop! Reflecting on the week’s work with one another, it is so humbling and cool to think of what God did this week both in the work sites and also in our hearts. 

For dinner tonight, we had a grill out at a local park in which all of the community members were invited to! It was a great way to say goodbye to Rosedale and all of our friends we had made there!

Tonight was also the climax for the video series that was being shown all night. The theme of the week was “Shattered” and tonight we got to find out why. The illusionist that we had been watching all week did his final act: walking on thousands of pieces of shattered glass, twice; with no protection. 

He shared will the audience his intense fear of glass and how it left him paralyzed at times. He also shared that the only way to be set free from your fears was to conquer them. After conquering his fear, we were challenged to write our own fears, something that we were holding on to, something that held us in bondage down on a small mirror and to shatter it and give it up to God. 

The sound of shattering glass and even more, the shattering of lies, deception, counterfeits, and bondage was a wonderful sound and a fantastic picture of what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross. 

“There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.”

In Christ,

Time for some pictures!!!

We interrupt this daily blogging session to bring some random photos that will hopefully show you how much fun we all had being the hands and feet of Jesus in West Virginia!!

 

 

On Thursday Night, we had a cookout at a park right by the community center and community members could come eat and hang out with us! It was a blast to play around and continue to build relationships with each other and the residents of Rosedale. 

On Friday, we had a free day in which we went to the beach and got to relax and enjoy each other before heading home! This is crew 3, look how much they love each other!!!!!!

 

Students hanging out at the community center in Rosedale patiently awaiting dinner! Noah suspiciously holding a squirt gun…

On Friday night, we all played this game titled “Poison” Everyone stood in a circle and held hands. There were two water jugs in the middle and the goal of the game is to have other people in the circle touch the water jugs, but not touch them yourself. If someone touches the water cooler in the middle or lets go of someone’s hand, they are out. It got pretty crazy and intense, but super fun! 

A big continuous game that the students, leaders, and next step interns played this week was: “What are the odds?” The game goes a little something like this: Alex (Next Step intern below) asked Rachel (also below) “what are the odds that I can crack an egg on your head?” Rachel said “one in ten”. Then they both had to say a number in between one and ten at the same time. If they said different numbers, then Rachel didn’t have to have an egg cracked on her head, but if they said the same number, then Alex could crack the egg. Well, you can guess what happened. Alex got to crack an egg on Rachel’s head! Don’t worry though, they played again and Rachel got to throw an egg at Alex for some sweet revenge! 

Crew One got to work down at the Community Center building future housing for Next Step interns. This work site started as six holes in the ground and by the end of week looked like this! This crew saw some sweet fruit from their labor! It is amazing what God and His people can accomplish in one week! 

 

 

 

Day Three

We had a little bit more excitement today at one of the work sites! One student had to go to the doctor and get some stitches because she cut her hand on a knife! Good thing we had Marilyn, one of our leaders, who is a nurse calmly drive her there and comfort her throughout the process. Another student went along for moral support, and while watching them put the stitches in, almost passed out! She ended up needing to lay down and use the bed instead of the other female student! Good thing they were in a hospital room huh? I think she learned that day not to watch anyone get stitches or too graphic of TV shows!

At the end of the day, everyday still had all ten fingers and ten toes, so after dinner we all headed back to Anchor Church (where we sleep) in Glenville for more showers and ice cream! (obviously). 

Tonight was one of the best nights of the trip! Our group split in to the teams we are working in all week long and got to wash each other’s feet just as Jesus did to His disciples. 

“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 

For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. 

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

John 13:5-17

Being able to serve one another in that way just as Jesus did was an amazing, humbling experience. While washing each other’s feet, we also prayed for one another. This night set a deeper tone and brought to life the concept of service and humility that we were practicing each day. 

In Christ,

 

 

Day Two

It was a little harder to get up on day two! Similar to day two, students and leaders woke up at 6:45am, got ready, and headed to the bus and vans to drive to Rosedale where the community center and our worksites were! 

Everyone was so impressed by how Randy, our bus driver, navigated the windy roads of West Virginia. 

Some God moments of the day were everyone continuing to be safe on the work sites, having members of the community participate in devotional times with our teams. Two members especially, Daryl and Luke, sat and had lunch with the groups at their site every day and added to the discussion! It was so sweet to see God at work in their lives as well as in our lives! 

Tonight was taco Tuesday! All of the meals were delicious and graciously prepared by the Next Step Interns. Showers and ice cream came next before worship! 

The video series continued tonight unpacking the idea of “counterfeit” and how some love that we receive or give isn’t real or is counterfeit, but the true love of Christ is never counterfeit and is something we can always count on. 

a·ga·pe–

1. the love of God or Christ for humankind.

2. the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.

3. unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love.

 

This is the word that is used in the original translation of the bible to describe an amazing, unconditional kind of love. A kind of love that we don’t often experience, even though we think we do. A kind of love that is out there, waiting for us to experience and to share with others. 

 

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in agape; but perfect agape casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in agape.

In Christ,

 

 

Day One

Today is our first day of work in West Virginia! All of the students and leaders were split ip in to four differenet groups and worksites. We are split up between the community center where we eat all of our meals this week, Tom and Lisa’s house, Mr. Guch’s, and other house.

 

The weather in West Birginia lately has been a little cooler which is nice for those groups working outside. Below is a picture of the community center where one group is building a future place in which next step staff can stay in the summer.

 

 

After working at our sites, we all convene back at the community center to eat dinner. After that, is the must anticipated SHOWERS! Girls are allotted seven minutes and guys five. It’s always an adventure trying to get 50 students showered in an hour.

 

Next Step has a video series that they show every night and this year’s theme is SHATTERED. The series goes through how the things on this world can be deceptive and ties it in to struggles that high school students are going through on a daily basis. The first video talked about the word “deception” and how things or people can at first seem fufulling and worthwhile, but are ultimately deceiving.

 

This first day was full of laughs, sweat, community building, and service. If this is what the rest of the week is going to look like, then it is going to be the BEST WEEK EVER.

 

In Christ,

PUMPED YET?!

West Virginia Team, Friends, and Family:

Here are the rest of the amazing leaders going on the West Virginia trip!! 🙂

 

Emily Bostrom- Emily just graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Psychology & Religious Studies. She will be using that to psychoanalyze your students’ faith as an intern with HSM this year (Just joking, mostly…but she really will be an intern)! Emily has gone on short term mission trips to Appalachia in Tennessee since she was a freshman in high school, and she is excited to see the Appalachian culture manifested in West Virginia. Before trusting Emily with your children, you should know that she is from Minnesota, is a Vikings fan, and occasionally says things like, “Dontcha know”. You’ve been warned. 

 

John Triscari- John is one of the leaders in the Middleton Home Group.  He also volunteers with One to One Care ministries and at the food pantry garden when time permits. John works at Epic as a Technical Services Analyst, and before he started there, he spent 4 years as a math teacher in the Minneapolis area.  Although he has been on mission trips to four different states, this will be his first with Blackhawk HSM.  John is excited to learn, grow, and serve in West Virginia this summer!

 

Bob Hay- Bob is a long time Blackhawker and a retired herpetologist that loves working with people, especially high school students.  He is grateful to be going on this year’s West Virginia missions trip where he can work side-by-side with students, help teach them some building skills and serve the local community together.  Bob looks forward to getting to know this team of students better and prays that this trip is life-changing for all of us.

 

Luke Deprey-Luke is a senior at UW-Madison studying personal finance. He loves going up to his cabin in the summer where they have family and go fishing a lot. Luke’s hobbies include board games, card games, Frisbee, Spikeball, and reading. 

 

Marilyn Beach- Marilyn is a nurse who is looking for new adventures as she approaches retirement age. She was a middle school youth group volunteer for 5 years at Blackhawk prior to the John Rosensteel days.  She is looking forward to meeting everyone and seeing a new part of the U.S!

 

TEN DAYS PEOPLE!!

In Christ,

GET PUMPED!!

West Virginia Team along with Family and Friends:

With just about two weeks until we embark on our Journey to West Virginia, it may be a good idea to introduce our leaders on the trip!! This first blog has some leader bios and their pictures and the next one will include the rest! We are all so excited to go on this trip and to see what God will do through Blackhawk!

Here are some of your awesome leaders!!!!!

Jake Hollman- Jake is one of the leaders helping out on the trip this year, he works with Next Step MInistries.  He has four kids ranging from 19 – 2 years old. He loves being able to witness high school students giving up a week to be the hands and feet of Jesus. One of his favorite things to do is to hang out with his kids.  He also loves to take his business “face” off and let the kid within come out.  You may see some gray hair but don’t let that fool you.

Franny Rosing- Franny is the associate director of High School Ministries. In the past, she has worked as an intern and key volunteer with Middle School Ministries at Blackhawk, but earlier this year came back on staff to work with High School students. This summer, she and her husband, Ray, are captains of an ultimate frisbee team. She is also currently hiking through the Rocky Mountains on the backpacking trip with Blackhawk.

Alyssa Colbert- Alyssa is an intern this Summer with High School Ministries. She is going to be a Senior at UW-Madison in the fall majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. Alyssa grew up in Verona, WI and has one younger brother. This summer she is also going on the Romania trip through Blackhawk and playing on an ultimate frisbee team in Madison. Alyssa will also be in charge of the blog for West Virginia!

Nate McClain- Nate is also an intern with High School Ministries for this summer and this coming school year. He just graduated from UW-Plateville with a degree in business management. Nate grew up in Middleton, WI and this summer is moving in to a new apartment along with being involved at a church back in Platteville.

Stay tuned for learn about more awesome leaders, last minute details, and tons of excitement over our trip!!!

In Christ

 

 

 

Coming soon – 2014 West Virginia Trip!

The 2014 High School West Virginia GO Team will leave in July! Follow this blog to stay up-to-date with their preparations & trip.