Zeba 2018 Day 3: Monday

Vacation Bible School, rock hopping, and waterfalls.

 

The first day of Vacation Bible School began with the entire team welcoming new and returning campers. Some returning campers immediately ran to youth they had enjoyed Vacation Bible School with last summer. Teams of two youth were paired with one or more "buddies" who they will remain with for the four days of camp.

 

Once all gathered, Jessica, Margaret, Colin H., Connor, Graham, and Alex led a series of songs. The campers then enjoyed "Saul on the Road to Damascus" performed by Grace, Lucy, Nathan, Nicolas, Jack, and two volunteers from the audience. Divided into two groups, the youth and their buddies created crafts such as bookmarks and bracelets led by Leah, Naomi, Liam, Finn, Colin N., and Ben, or participated in games such as "sharks and minnows" or "capture the flag" led by Mikey, Eva, Marcelo, Derek, and Adam.  Mikey commented that the game "everyone is it" was a highlight for the older group.

 

After exploring downtown L'Anse after lunch, with some youth heading to the Frosty Freeze for ice cream cones, the team hiked down the middle of the Falls River until reaching a series of waterfalls. Connor said the "hike was worth it even though we all got soaking wet!" All did get wet during the hike, and anyone who managed to stay at all dry, ended up submerged in water at the falls where many stood behind the falling water.

 

After dinner, the music group, craft group, and game group shared a portion of their plan for tomorrow, and the drama group presented the Day 2 play, "Bartimaeus Sees." During the small group meetings that followed, a common "wow" or "holy cow" youth shared was a moment at Vacation Bible School or an aspect of the beautiful Falls River Falls hike. All then headed to their rooms with their prayer partner letters in hand, looking forward to tomorrow, Vacation Bible School, a trip to Copper Harbor, and the promise of more "wows" and "holy cows" to share.

 

When asked at the end of the evening for a quote about the mission trip, Lucy replied: "it's a blast!" and then asked to add for her mom and others, "and I am not being sarcastic!"

 

 

 

PHILADEPHIA 2018: DAY 2 Part 1.5

(...the rest of my last entry didn't post...)

We are split into 5 groups that go to different places each day. Our groups are mixed with the group from Connecticut and it has been fun getting to know them. Today, my group (consisting of Alex, Annie, Abigail, Maddy, Kaitlyn, Logan, myself, and Melanie from FUMC) stayed at Broad Street Ministry and helped with their daily "breaking bread" lunch program, which serves to feed anyone who may need a meal. We set up dining tables and acted as wait staff to serve food and bus tables. We all agreed it was very enjoyable to chat with and learn from the guests and help out. The idea of "Radical Hospitality" is perfectly on display with this program.

Afterward, my group hiked a few blocks with our shower stuff to a small hotel that offered to provide a few rooms for us to shower. Our whole group is showering at several different locations in the city each day. It is interesting to see the way that so many people live each day, not knowing if or where they will shower because public showers are so limited even in a big city like this.

Stay tuned for more updates on what other groups were up to today!

-Jack Teener

PHILADELPHIA 2018: DAY 2 part 1

Hello again!

After personally sleeping hardly at all on the bus ride here, last night's full 8 hours of sleep was INCREDIBLE. Here's a look at our daily schedule.

Zeba 2018 Day 2: Sunday

Attending service, visiting L'Anse, planning for Vacation Bible School, and hiking at a local park.

 

After a wonderful breakfast of french toast and bacon, we each spent quiet time considering the devotion. We then gathered to receive the name of our prayer pals before decorating and hanging our paper bag mailboxes outside our bedroom doors. Prayer pals will exchange messages throughout the week, revealing identities the evening before we leave the Center.

 

We then headed to L'Anse for service at L'Anse United Methodist Church. The congregation enjoyed hearing the youth sing "Open the Eyes of My Heart." The Church hosted a wonderful lunch in the social hall. We left the Church with bags of donated snacks for Vacation Bible School.

 

After lunch, Van C headed to the grocery store, while Van A and Van B headed to the park in downtown L'Anse. All later gathered together to enjoy food, the view, and the playground. This afternoon we broke into four groups—music, drama, crafts, and games—to prepare for Vacation Bible School. Before returning to the Center we hiked on the Canyon Trail down the road from the Center.

Zeba 2018 Day 1: Saturday

Settled in at the MTU/Ford Center in Alberta.

 

Vans A, B, and C, carrying our group of twenty-two youth and six counselors, arrived at the MTU/Ford Center in Alberta. We stopped for a brown-bag lunch at a park in Mackinac City before crossing the Mackinac Bridge, and later enjoyed dinner at the Border Grill in Negaunee.

 

All look forward to the morning when we will attend service with Reverend Rhoades at the L'anse United Methodist Church. After the service we will spend time at a park in downtown L'anse, and then return to the MTU/Ford Center to prepare for Vacation Bible School.

 

PHILADELPHIA 2018: Day 1!

Hello all!

We have arrived in Philadelphia to Broad Street Ministry after a mostly uneventful bus ride! We immediately got a great view of the city.

We made a hurried exit from the bus parked on Broad Street and were welcomed by cheerful volunteers into our sleeping areas. We are essentially staying in a large room (what used to be the Sunday School Room) split in half by a curtain with cots and bunk-cots scattered throughout. We are sharing the space with an equal sized group, making it a "cozy" fit. 

We enjoyed a lively service lead by Broad Street Ministry in their beautiful sanctuary, enjoyed some dinner, got acquainted with our home for the week, and played some games. We are excited to head to our work sites starting tomorrow!

Stay tuned for more!

-Jack Teener

PHILADELPHIA 2018: Test

Test blog post!

Excited for Philadelphia 2018!