This is the year I decided to try new and brave things, and one of those things was going on this mission trip.

Initially, I saw this trip as an opportunity to meet new people from church and hopefully make some new friends. Well, that certainly happened! I’ve met some wonderful people and feel like I’ve made some very good new friends. But God is teaching me so much more than I ever expected. One thing I’ve definitely learned is that I need more patience, and I’ve been praying for that quite a bit! I’m also grateful for the opportunity to meet the people we’re here to help. I thank God for bringing me on this journey and allowing me to experience things that are already making a lasting impression on my heart.

A Day with Miss Jules

Today, my team (me, along with Dave, Joy and Kane and Todd) worked on installing insulation in the attic of Miss Jules, who is 95 years young! She still mows her own lawn and cans her own green beans. What an amazing woman!

Miss Jules has recently lost three of her five sons, and her other two sons are quite ill. She shared with us that she doesn’t get to church very often anymore because people keep bringing up her sons, which makes her cry. My heart ached for her.

She was so grateful for the help we provided and thanked us over and over again. Then she did something that made our visit even more special: she sang us a couple of songs; one she had written herself and another written by her son.

We prayed with her, cried with her, and laughed with her quite a bit. Miss Jules was such a blessing to us, and this is an experience I will treasure forever. Our team also repaired some thresholds while we were there.

Helping Linda Build a New Beginning

After our lunch break, we traveled to another worksite to visit Linda and her daughter, who are trying to build a new home. Their original home was washed away in the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene two years ago.

After the flood, they had to stay in temporary housing until Linda found a property where she could begin building again. Unfortunately, getting the new house finished has been a struggle. People have promised to help but haven’t shown up, leaving her waiting for the home she so desperately needs.

We prayed with Linda, asking God to help bring this project to completion and send the right people to do the work well.

Afterward, we stopped to enjoy some beautiful scenery by a lake and took a couple of group photos.

Many Hands, One Purpose

Our other teams were busy making progress, too! Chris, Miranda, and Ryan worked on mudding and sanding drywall and assembling gutters. Mark, Candace, Jeanie, and Jen helped clean up and prime the areas where the drywall had been mudded.

I came on this trip hoping to meet new people and make some friends. I’m happy to say that I’m getting that and so much more. God is stretching me, teaching me patience, opening my heart, and reminding me that sometimes the greatest blessings come when we step outside our comfort zones and simply say yes.

I’m looking forward to seeing what else this journey has in store for us!