Today was our final day of work.  It was good to see projects completed but sad to say goodbye to our new friends.  In ther afternoon we also said goodbye to the group from New York who had been staying at the church with us.  As I am typing this, we are all watching home videos at the Franklin Family home.  (Cathy Franklin was formerly known as Cathy Befus… ) 

We had two big highlights to mention specifically.  First, we were able to drive through Hazard County, home of a certian famous 80′s tv show…  I was hoping there would be a bridge to drive over or a car to slide upon, but no luck…  Second, many of us were introdcued to a Kentucky delicacy, friend apple pie.  Don’t worry, Mrs. Mason got the recipe.

How do you like those twitter updates?

Because of the lack of internet on this trip, I will be updating mostly through our twitter account (which I can access through my phone which gets decent reception around here).  So, please follow us on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rccsmissions.  Or, if you don’t want to go there, you can follow our twitter updates on the right-hand side on this website.  On twitter, you’ll get quick, but frequent, updates and pictures!

By the way, as I type this, Adam S is singing along with Happy the Dog – where’s my video camera…

For those who check this blog often looking for updates, I greatly apologize.  The church we are staying at does not have wifi or any internet connections whatsoever.  So, I have been unable to update this blog untill not.  The only reason why I am able to do so now is because of the kindness of Brian and Vicki whose home we are painting right noe (or at least those of us not online are painting…).

So, a quick recap of the trip thus far.  We arrived in Kentucky at about 5:30pm Saturday evening.  We were joined by another missions group from all the way over in upper state New York.   Dave Fackler and his missions partner Rich gave us a quick run-down of the week and helped us set up there in the church.   After we setup, we were wisked awayabout 20 minutes down some very windy and hilly roads to place known only as “The Barn.”  There we heard some blue-grass music and even had a chance to dance along! 

On Sunday, we were blessed to participate in both morning and evening services with both our mimes.  That evening we had a genuine down South meal of Chicken, dumplings and corn bread.  Durig the afternoon we toured some of the work-projects we would be helping out with throughout the week.  After the evening service we were treated to ice cream at Dairy Queen – one of the few fast food resteruants in town.

Monday was our first day at work.  Some of our group helped with the new building the church here is building.  Some went out to clean and wash some trailors here in the area.  Steph, Mrs. Mason, and Rebecca had the chance to completely rip down a porch, using powertools and everything!  Of course, they thought they were there just to paint.  After lunch, with help from Mr. Johns, they rebuilt a whole new deck.  In the evening we assisted in picking up trash along the roadside, the very roadside that led back to Dairy Queen…

Today, Tuesday, we are back to work and expect to head over to Natural Bridge State Park in the evening.

More when I can!

- Mr. Thompson

Come and support the Rock County Christian School Mission Team at Applebee’s in Beloit from 8am-10am and enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast for $5.

Then join us at the Beloit campus at 11am for an overview of the trip, inspirational performances from the team and prayer time.

One of the objections to short-term missions trip is that such trips really don’t help very much.  For example, is it not a better use of funds to send all money raised to a particular church to hire a professional crew than raising so much money to send teenagers to a foreign nation to do an amateur job?  Well, Pastor David Platt in his book, Radical, takes a different view. 

I remember when I was first preparing to go to Sudan, a nation impoverished by years of civil war.  The trip was going to cost me around three thousand dollars.  It wasn’t easy to travel into Sudan since they were still at war, and we would have to charter a plane and spend a few extra days to make that happen.  I remember one dear lady in the church coming up to me and asking, “Why don’t you just send three thousand dollars to the people in Sudan?  Wouldn’t that be a better use of money than your spending a week and a half with them?  Think of how far that money could go.”

I wrestled with that question.  Was I wasting these funds in order to go when I could simply give the money instead?  Should I even be going?  I continued wrestling with that question until I got to Sudan.  There I had a conversation with Andrew that shed some light on the question.

Andrew was sharing with me about his life in Sudan over the last twenty years.  He had known war since he was born, and he described facets of the suffering and persecution his people had been through.  He told me about the various groups, most of them secular or government organizations, who had brought supplies to them during that time, and he expressed thanks for the generosity of so many people.

But then he looked at me and asked, “Even in light of all these things that people have given us, do you want to know how you can tell who a true brother is?”

I leaned forward and asked, “How?”

He responded, “A true brother comes to be with you in your time of need.”  Then he looked me in the eye and said, “David, you are a true brother.  Thank you for coming to be with us.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as the reality of the gospel hit home with me in an entirely new way.  I was immediately reminded that when God chose to bring salvation to you and me, he did not send gold or silver, cash or check.  He sent himself  – the Son.  I was convicted for even considering that I should give money instead of actually coming to Sudan.  How will I ever show the gospel to the world if all I send is my money?  Was I really so shallow as to think that my money is the answer to the needs in the world?

Back on March 19, we held a spaghetti diner to help raise funds for our trip.  Here are a few pictures.

This April 16-21 we will be ministering in a poverty-stricken community in Hazel Green, Kentucky. While in Kentucky, we will be assisting the Bear Pen Community Church and the Impact Missions organization in various ministries of mercy and evangelism.  Our activities will include nursing home visits, community outreach, participating in church and evangelistic services, as well as assisting area families in much needed home-repair work. 

So, please keep checking back here for the latest updates!