CHWC was the first mission trip I ever went on. I was 15 and I went with St. Benedict's to Blufton, SC. I was instantly hooked on mission trips! Therefore I thought it was very fitting that the first mission trip I went on with my own youth group was Catholic Heart (although it was hard to not be biased after working on Alive in You the past two summers.) I remember being a teen and looking up to the cool college music guy and buying his CD so he could get through school. Now that guy (Dante) is married with a kid and still doing music for Catholic Heart! He told me that his first camp playing music was the Blufton camp. He also told me he had just seen P. Smith in Memphis. (Insert repetitive Disney song here. )
It was crazy hot in OKC. High of 105 one day. CHWC splits you up to work with teens from all over the country (which has its pros and cons.) I worked with 4 teens from Wisconsin and one from Austin, TX. The ones from Wisconsin had a difficult time staying motivated in the heat. We scraped and painted a house for a man who had some disabilities because of the chemicals he was exposed to during his work in a printing factory. Other people from my church put siding up on a house, cleared a yard, organized a barn and did some other painting jobs.
When I got off the bus with my work group we were met by our Code Officer who showed us where our supplies were and what we would be doing. He looked at my group and said to our bus driver, "Does this group not have an adult leader?" After I told him that I was the leader he said, "oh, I guess I'm just used to older adults who can drive and bring their groups in cars."
I can drive. I'm an adult. I'm a 22 year old Youth Minister, dude!
But he ended up being super nice and came to the program on Thursday that CHWC hosts for all of the residents we help. He said a few words about our group and it was really sweet. Apparently he and his wife are on a waiting list to adopt a child from Catholic Charities! So say a few prayers for his family!
The Archbishop of Oklahoma City came and said Mass for us on Friday! That was really cool. I was so excited that I got out my camera and took a creepy stalker shot of him saying his homily. Enjoy:
This week I have been working on scheduling for the fall and getting a group together for the Dallas Catholic Youth Conference. It's like NCYC but put on by the Diocese of Dallas and it's the first time they are ever doing it! I had 6 teens respond that they would like to attend and I'm so excited to bring them.
Next week Justin and most of his family is going on Alive in You to Wisconsin with their church. I'll be holding up the home front with his grandmother and little brother! Carter is probably excited that he gets the Xbox all to himself.
My family took their annual trip to New England this past week. I was sad I couldn't be with them but I got to Skype with them a few times. God willing I will be able to go with them next year!
Reflection: Last post I said how being a youth minister takes the perfect balance of assertiveness and humility. That is still true, along with the fact that you can have 0% shame. There was a dance party one night on the mission trip and the only girl in my group wanted someone to go up and dance with her near the front of the stage. I rocked my face off, awkward white girl style.
Lesson Learned: Being stuck on a roof without a ladder painting siding in sweatpants in 100 degree weather is very uncomfortable. (The shingles were too hot for me not to wear two pairs of pants, I was the adult so I was the only one allowed on the roof, someone in my group came to borrow my ladder and "no one could hear me" when I was calling for them to bring it back. That was a difficult task.)
PS: Doesn't the Director of Youth Ministry at this church look super awesome and fun and amazing and incredible? Check out my Youth Ministries Page!
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