Fun on the Plaza

In addition to experiencing amazing service work throughout Kansas City, MO, each night the Jr High group gets to experience fun and fellowship. On Monday we had an awesome time completing a photo scavenger hunt on the Plaza. The Plaza is a beautiful part of the city featuring incredible Spanish architecture and gorgeous fountains. It was such a great time to just laugh and play together.



























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Love One Another

The power of a Mission Trip experience is not just in the way we experience God or the way we serve others, it's also in the way the group bonds together and loves one another. One of the most moving experiences of the whole week is Thursday night, when we take time to wash the feet of each member of the group and lift prayers for them. The youth have the opportunity to say what they are thankful for in each person in the group and as a community we surround each person in prayer. Listening to those prayers, I felt so blessed to be a part of such a beautiful community of young people. After spending all day every day together, you might expect the group to lose patience with one another, or be annoyed. But instead, the words I heard were patient and kind. Our group saw the best and each other and beautifully expressed the way they see God's presence in each person in the group.

Finally, on Friday after a week of hard work we had time to celebrate and enjoy each others' company with a morning of fun exploring Kansas City, and enjoying some local BBQ. It was great to just laugh, eat, talk and play together after such an exhausting and amazing week of service.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”-John 13:34-35










































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Unearthing Glory

This week at least half off the work we do is work projects. This means we don't just play with kids or work at community organizations. We get down our knees and get dirty weeding. We sweat in the hot sun painting and repairing. We labor and hope to be a part of a real, material transformation through our work.

Interestingly, these have been some of the most rewarding projects of the week. Through one day of working, we turned what appearing to be an overgrown empty lot, into a small community park. As we pulled a jungle of weeds, threw away debris, and mowed the grass, we unearthed a beautiful stone path that we didn't even know was there. The smooth shiny slabs of rock were nothing short of glorious. I couldn't help thinking that as we participate in the restoration of this community, even if it's only in a small way, we are also restoring something in ourselves. With each day of service we are unearthing a little more of the Glory of God that dwells in each of us.

"If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden like a spring of water,whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;you shall be called the repairer of the breach,the restorer of streets to live in. "
-from Isaiah 58



















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The Joy of a Child

Over the past several days, we've been able to spend a lot of time with kids. It is amazing to experience wonder through their eyes. They are so ready and willing to love and be loved. As our group has played with them, and helped them read, make art projects and play games, we are able to catch a glimpse of their child-like joy.

I have been inspired by the way our youth are willing to give so tirelessly to the kids even when they are worn out. At the community BBQ last night I watched them play soccer, push swings, give piggy-back rides, and make silly faces for hours, and watching such playful, overflowing love I saw a piece of the Kingdom of God.












































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The Dance of Grace

On Tuesday night, we worshipped at the incredible church where we are staying. I cannot say how inspirational it is to see how this church in a struggling urban community, had flung open it's doors and embraced the community. As soon as the church unlocks it's doors neighbor kids are here. The families who worship here have such a love for this place that they linger long and always ask how they can help.

At the service we experienced their bi-lingual worship. It was beautiful to hear the words translated and to sing songs of praise in another language, even if our poor Spanish skills caused us to stumble.

The worship band had an uncontainable joy that was contagious. After worship ended, the band kept playing, and the front of the church turned into an impromptu dance party. Fr. Steve and I were blessed to be pulled into the dance by a Columbian woman who smiled and laughed as she held our hands and spun us around. As Steve put it, she was God for us in that moment. She didn't ask us to dance, she just pulled us in. And for those minutes of dancing with pure joy with a stranger who had no reason to show us such love, we experienced an amazing picture of God's dance of divine grace.

Here are a few pictures of the dance party, though it was hard to get a good shot since everyone was so exuberantly moving.




























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Kids Club

Today was our first day of service at the site. Already, we are bonding with the other people on our teams and seeing how amazing it is to serve in the community. On my team, Rosie, Charlotte, Julia, Michael and Jeremy along with 5 people from a church in Illinois worked at Kids Club. It was an awesome morning playing with some really sweet kids. We sang songs, played games, made crafts, and helped the kids with other activities. It's so beautiful to see how much we mean to the kids even after just one morning. As Rosie was saying goodbye, the kids were already asking when she would be back and telling her that they would miss her.

After kids club, we spent part of the afternoon sorting canned food at Center of Hope, a really incredible local food pantry that feeds 600 families each year.

Finally, we spent time walking and praying for the community.

We have arrived!

We've made it to Kansas City safely, and we are super excited for the awesome week ahead... Even if we are a little exhausted after a 4am meet time this morning. After landing, we had time to enjoy some great local Mexican food for lunch before heading to the church. At the church we are spending the evening playing games, getting to know other groups, worshipping and going through orientation. Later this evening we'll get our service assignments and learn about where we'll be working the rest of the week! Everyone is excited and energized even without much sleep :) we can tell already that there are great things to come this week.













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Why Youth Mission Trips Matter...

This summer our youth groups are traveling to Kansas City for two amazing Mission Trip experiences. As our youth and families prepare for these trips with the support of the congregation, it is a great opportunity for us to reflect together on why mission trips are important, and what we hope to accomplish through these summer experiences.

One of the many reasons mission trips are so powerful is because of the work that we get to do. Through painting a building, leading children's programming or working at a community organization, students transform the lives of others. They impact a community in a tangible way for the better and experience firsthand what it is like to be the hands and feet of Christ.

One of questions that these trips might raise is, "If our mission trip is all about repairing homes, or community service or teaching kids, why can't we just do this here?"After all, almost any of the work we'll do in Kansas City could be done where we live. There are certainly a number of communities in the bay area that need these kinds of services. But youth mission trips aren’t just about what we’re doing. They’re about the whole process of inviting teens to step outside their comfort zone to create space for them to experience God.

By travelling out of state, we are able to get away from the routines of our familiar environment. This distance forces us to step outside of the boundaries of our comfort zones, and allows us to leave behind distractions and busy schedules. Let’s face it, when you try to do a project locally this is often the response: "Sure I can be there…except Tuesday when my Mom needs me to take my brother to swim lessons. Oh, and Wednesday coach wants us in the weight room by one so I’ll just be there in the morning. Or "My boss won’t let me off Thursday and Friday my friends are taking off early to go to Tommy’s parents lake house. But I can be there the rest of the week." Or "I’ll be there but I’m coming late every day ‘cause I promised my Dad I’d clean out the garage." While the commitments of work, school, sports, friends, family and other activities are important, sometimes stepping away from those commitments can be even more significant. When you go away from home you cut the connection, so you can be challenged in new ways. Being a thousand miles away eliminates all the excuses and allows for space to connect with people and with God in deep and unexpected ways.

In Kansas City, we will be serving again with the YouthWorks mission company. YouthWorks partners with local community organizations to create opportunities for various kinds of service that are designed to challenge teenagers. These opportunities vary from week to week and site to site, depending on the particular needs of the community. Projects include various painting and rehabilitation projects, facilitating a Kids Club program or partnering with other organizations working to meet community needs. Whatever we are doing in Kansas City, students will have the opportunity to experience a place and culture different from their own, and experience first hand what it means to change the world. At YouthWorks, everyone who participates in ministry projects is divided into small teams. These teams mean that, not only are they connecting with God and with the needs of the community, these students are connecting with each other.

The power of a mission trip isn’t found in any one element. It’s not just the work or the travel or the time or the distance. A mission trip becomes much more than the sum of its parts when all the parts are put together. I have led several youth mission trips in the past, and each and every time I have seen the lives of the young people transformed. We all come back feeling closer to God, more passionate about service, and deeply bonded to one another. I want to thank everyone at St. John's for all your amazing support of our young people and all that you are doing to help these mission trips happen! With your presence, prayers, encouragement and donations, you are making these life-changing trips possible.

When we are on the trips in June, we will be updating this blog with pictures and stories, so you can experience everything right along with us. You can stay even more connected by posting your encouragement, prayers and reactions in the comments. I can't wait for all of us to take this amazing adventure together.

hi guys!

I am so excited to be joining the staff at St. John's as Youth and Family Minister. Already, I have experienced your hospitality and excitement, and I am getting a taste of what a joy it is to be a part of this community. Until I graduate and finish my current Field Education work, my time here will be primarily limited to just Tuesday mornings and Fridays. I am, of course, very much looking forward to joining staff full-time in May, but until then, I hope to meet as many of you as possible even during this part-time transition. I hope you will e-mail me to set up at time to chat or stop by so we can get to know each other!

My husband, Kyle, and I relocated to the bay area almost two years ago. We both have Midwestern roots and we met in Seminary in Kansas City. Then, in 2009, we moved to Berkeley where I have been finishing my Masters of Divinity and Kyle began his PhD work in Systematic Theology. We love California, and are excited to move over to this side of the Bay in May, and be a part of the beautiful Marin community.

I am on the track for ordination in the United Methodist Church, and graduating seminary this May. I love serving in the church, and seeing the way that God moves in people's lives and transforms the world through us. I'm especially passionate about working with families and young people -- their energy and passion always inspire me. I can't tell you enough how excited I am to begin my journey as a full-time minister here in Ross after graduation.

During the coming weeks, please let me know if you have ideas about youth ministry, or if you want to brainstorm, pray together, or just hang out and talk. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of you!

During this part-time transition Jeremy and I will both be checking the youth@stjohnsross.org e-mail address. You can help us keep track of our e-mails by putting "To Katie" in the subject of anything that is for me. Thanks!

With warm blessings,
Katie