Youth Community Mission Trip

Saturday's Flight Information

2011-06-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

American #1339 left Boston a few minutes late.

Current estimated arrival (according to American Airlines site) is 7:20 PM.

Friday, June 24th

2011-06-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

We caught the big yellow bus and headed for the Plimoth Plantation, the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. The Plantation features a replica of a 17th Century Wampanoag Village, a reproduction of the Plimouth Colony of 1627 (7 years after the Mayflower landed), a crafts center, and a visitor center where we all ate lunch.

The Mayflower II itself reenforced the notion that it took some significant sacrifice and some dogged determination for the early Separatists (whom we started calling Pilgrims) to brave the late fall/early winter Atlantic for that journey nearly 400 years ago.

Then tonight our "rookies" presented their annual skit, and we spent time honoring our 6 seniors on the trip, Justin Alexander, Jeremy Curtiss, Kevin Erb, Reid Gardner, McKinley Geiger, and Jeff Thomas. This is always an emotional time, because our seniors take huge leadership responsibilities for our Youth Community, and so many of their peers, and all of the adults are always grateful.

Clean up and worship tomorrow morning, one more trip on the big yellow bus to Logan airport mid afternoon, back at O'Hare about 7:30 PM, if we're lucky and the weather cooperates.

Thursday, June 23

2011-06-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

A half day of work today at many of the same sites as earlier in the week, and then a Ferry Ride along the coast up to Salem. The weather was gray and drizzly, and the boat ride was something just this side of the Perfect Storm. But we got to Salem, visited the Salem Witch Museum, ate a little dinner, then trained back to Quincy.

Our schedule changes for tomorrow, as we catch a charter bus to visit the Plimoth Plantation (yes, I know this looks misspelled, but this is their spell not ours!) and the Mayflower II, before heading back to Quincy for rookie skits and senior night.

All the adults on the trip are marveling at the ability of this group to weather the storms (pun unintended) they encounter and become a stronger community from it.

Wednesday, June 22nd

2011-06-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

We lost our gorgeous weather today, which automatically makes the public transportation aspect of our project more challenging. In addition to some of the kinds of things we had already been done, one of our groups worked with a food distribution site, while another went out on Long Island (who knew Boston had a Long Island?!), a couple miles out into the harbor near where we are staying where they worked in the fog and drizzle in a field hoeing and weeding, and even helping move a chicken coop.

We "debriefed" a bit this afternoon with Carl MacDonald, our contact with the City Mission Society of Boston, who did a great job helping us articulate some of the things many of us have been thinking while doing the things we're doing. Part of the conversation was about, in essence, how people with a vision and a passion, and how perseverance in the midst of extreme hardship inspire us, sometimes into wanting to do even more to helpful, and sometimes into just taking a step back and trying to figure out where we fit in the great scheme of things.

Our young people continue to be engaged, helpful, appropriately curious, and most of all, compassionate. And they do, for the most part work really hard. New friends here continue to marvel at their work and their energy, and at how quickly they seem to "get it."

Tuesday in Beantown

2011-06-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

There are so many people on the planet who have great ideas about how to be compassionate sisters and brothers in all sorts of environments. There is no real shortage of ideas about how to eliminate food insecurity, confront and reconcile gang violence, alleviate homelessness, bring justice and equity to underserved populations, and so many other "issues." There are literally tens of thousands of bright, creative, compassionate people who are bubbling over with ideas and strategies aimed at making a real difference.

But there is a shortage of cash to help bring these things to life, which is why there are so many places who welcome our Youth Community when they come to clear brush, clean floors, paint old buildings, and do any number of odd jobs. With the odd jobs out of the way, these folks can cut loose and focus their attention on their work.

Our gang is hard at it, as you can see. And as is usually the case, the folks for whom we work are amazed at our kids' hard work and attention to task. It is literally the case that the things they are doing are threatening to change the world. Scary thought, huh?

We Be in Boston!

2011-06-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

We got to Boston in one piece, early, and arrived at our "home" for the week, Wollaston Congregational Church in Quincy (Quin-Zee) in time to double the number of people in worship. After quite a bit of hurrying up and waiting, we went through an orientation, then headed for the Freedom Trail, starting at the Boston Common.

Work began in earnest today. A meal for 150 homless people, work at a shelter and pantry site, and Mission SAFE, a summer program for children and youth. Dinner tonight with some formerly homeless folks, and back to work tomorrow.

Mission Trip 2011 to Boston!!

2011-06-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

40 youth and adult leaders from First Church's Youth Community left O'Hare about 6:40 Sunday morning. Despite the early hour (and lack of sleep for some!), everyone was eager to get "in the air" and begin their week of work with Boston Urban Outreach and visits to Salem and Plimoth Plantation.

Stay tuned for updates of their work and activities!

Latest ETA Update

2010-06-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just heard from Rob. They were in Effingham at 3:15, so probably 7-ish? Will post additional updates when I get them...Debbie

Updated at 5:00 - Will arrive in Lombard around 7:30.

Updated ETA for Saturday

2010-06-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's itinerary has changed a bit...anticipated return to church is tomorow at 5 or 5:30 PM. Rob will call me tomorrow when they are a couple of hours out, and I will update here, as well as on my voicemail in the office. Everyone is exhausted but had a great week--I'm sure they will appreciate the a/c at home! ...Debbie

Even More

2010-06-24T07:18:00.001-07:00

More Tuesday and Wednesday pics

2010-06-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

Global Village

2010-06-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 23

2010-06-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

After the Global Village... stall mucking, sheep and goat herding, all sorts of farm/ranch duties, and the ever present task of building a community of faith.

Tomorrow, pictures from the high adventure courses and camel and goat kissing and all sorts of other things you might or might not expect.

We adult types feel lucky that you let your young people hang with us... they are amazing!

Global Village

2010-06-23T19:41:00.001-07:00

Here's how it works... about 100 people, most of them students, camping out with minimal provisions for most of a day and overnight. Some live in "Thailand" in elevated huts with people sleeping upstairs and livestock beneath. Some live in "Guatemala," some in "Appalachia," some in urban slums, still others in "Zambia" and Tibet, and there are homeless refugees, with a tarp covered space near a goat pen to lay their heads. The adults are there pretty much to make sure the kids don't go completely "Lord of the Flies" on the experience (though, honestly, there is a little of that). And at the end there are all sorts of life lessons about food distribution and social and cultural diversity, and the power of using power and resources wisely.

more monday pictures

2010-06-21T19:08:00.001-07:00

Monday pictures

2010-06-21T19:05:00.001-07:00

Monday, June 21st

2010-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Work started in earnest today. Our groups were introduced once again to the whole concept of Heifer Project (go to http://www.heifer.org/ to learn more), and then were off to classes and work. Some mucked barns, others worked on repairing fences, working a S.A.L.T. (Sloping Agriculture Landscape Technology) garden, still others worked with animals, on fence-rails, and clearing some unwanted growth in the forest.

It is beastly hot today... high will be between 103 and 105. Everyone's been good about drinking their water, using their sunscreen, and paying attention to their tolerance for heat. A couple of headaches, and a couple of really tired kids, but they are managing well.

The way the ranch is laid out and programmed produces a unique challenge for our community; about 1/4 of us are living in a separate building from the other 3/4 of us, and that presents an interesting opportunity for our group to deal with a little adversity as they work hard at building and rebuilding community (isn't that always the process? You don't only build a community, but you are also also constantly rebuilding it!) It's interesting and very hope-producing to watch them work on this. They are, when they want to be, very, very good at this.

We are still having problems getting pictures up on the blog...it has to do with the protections Heifer has on their network. We're still determined to get some up here in the next little bit.

We may not get to the blog tomorrow afternoon/evening, since that is the beginning of our Global Village experience. If we don't get something out here tomorrow, we'll get it posted at breakfast Wednesday morning.

Sunday, June 20th

2010-06-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

LONG bus ride. Several times an alarm went off, making us wonder if we were going to make it, but we got here on time and in one piece! Our bus driver, Fred is a great guy, and we're glad he's our driver for the trip to Memphis, and then home.

Heifer is great, though the Internet is down, so this first post is sans pictures because I am literally phoning this in. I'll do better tomorrow.

The kids are great; they are past masters at this stuff, and are prepared to get to work bright and early (breakfast at 7 AM!) They were troopers today,each one of them. Pictures tomorrow!

2010-06-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

We leave Sunday, June 20th.

Meet at First Church at 3:45 AM, hop on the bus, and hit the road by 4:15

Friday, June 26th

2009-06-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Play Day!

After a leisurely breakfast, we loaded up the vans for our play day. On the way, we pulled off Claiborne Avenue into one of Habitat for Humanity's first post-Katrina New Orleans project, the Musicians' Village. Brightly colored houses, funky art work, and new life for an old, nearly destroyed neighborhood.

Then on to the swamp, where we were loaded onto 4 different fan boats, and whisked out into the swamps near Lafitte, about an hour south of the city. The pilots of our fan boats got us into see alligators (one of our groups saw a 12 footer!). Alligator trivia: you can estimate the length of a young alligator by looking at its head. However many inches it is from the tip of the gator's snout to right between the gator's eyes is about the number of feet the alligator is long. So if it measures, say, 8 inches from snout to between the eyes, it is most likely about 8 feet long.

Great lunch at a spot near our launch site, then the drive back to the university, and a supper of a variety of po'boys and barbecue. "Rookie Skits" were outstanding, and then we finished the evening with some community reflection on the week and our time together.

Tomorrow morning, an early breakfast, packing up and cleaning up, our closing worship time, lunch, then the flight home. So far, the plane is on time. Flight information reminder:

American Airlines Flight 1944 Departs New Orleans 5:15 PM

Arrives O'Hare 7:39 PM

Thursday, June 24

2009-06-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hot, Hot, Hot! The newspapers here said Wednesday was the hottest day on record ever in New Orleans, and today was not really substantially better. The heat has started taking its toll a bit; we are more tired more quickly, with a couple of headaches and a couple of upset stomachs. But we finished working today, and will do some playing tomorrow.

We met the president of the St. Bernard Parish -- the rough equivalent to the Chair of our County Board -- after work this afternoon. He told us some remarkable stories of the recovery, and thanked us for being part of the ongoing effort.

Tonight after dinner we gathered for "Senior Night," and told our 9 seniors present (Jamie and Matt Bender, Emily Gardner, Christina Johnsen, Mark Kunberger, Katie McGovern, Emma and Sam Noble, and Lena Walsh) how much they mean to the community and how much they will be missed. This is always a powerfully emotional time for the group, and, as I write this, they are finally all getting to sleep and ready to go tomorrow.

Swamp tour tomorrow!

Wednesday, June 24th

2009-06-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Two thirds of the group started our day with a side trip to Shell Beach, east and a little north of where most of our house worksites are. All of our groups that have traveled to NOLA have made a stop here, which is home to a large memorial cross and monument to those in the parish who died in Katrina. A few of the last names of those lost in the story were the same as the names of the homeowners we're working with, so that gave some of our group another opportunity to feel the deeply personal connection so many here still have to that storm.

A couple of our groups went and visited one of the houses our groups worked on in the spring, and were pleased to find the homeowners waiting for only their final electrical hook-up so that they could move home. Our crews got to see again first hand how their work will eventually impact another family.

Tonight we spent some time with Colleen Morgan, the young woman who is living out her vision with Bayou Rebirth. She spoke with us for nearly an hour, sharing with us not only some of the behind the scenes details of the work we're doing with her, but also some of the complexity of the issues and problems that go along with bayou reclamation. The kids were attentive, asked great questions, and, I think, learned a lot.

Before we called it a night, we split up into our workgroups and reviewed important things we have learned. Ask them when the get home what they talked about... they are far more articulate than some of us give them any credit for.

Tomorrow, our last full work day, a meeting with the president of the St. Bernard Parish, and an opportunity to thank the seniors for their excellent leadership with the Youth Community,

Tuesday, June 23

2009-06-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

How hot was it? Well, the sign at the Kentucky Fried Chicken place on Judge Perez Highway said 108 degrees, and members of our group were out on the bayou with absolutely no shade, or in houses with no electricity, or in attics doing abatement work, or out collecting trash and garbage from worksites, or any number of other places, so it was probably hotter than that. It's a challenge staying hydrated, though, for the most part, everybody hung in pretty well.

The bayou was something. More mud than one can imagine, great work... HOT work. Another group heading that way tomorrow.

After everyone returned to the University, showered up and ate dinner, our friend Amanda, the volunteer coordinator at St. Bernard project, and one of the residents of the parish, 15 year old Leslie, spent a little more than an hour with us. They led an activity that helped spur conversation about the nature of the work we're doing and our impressions of things so far. Then young Leslie told us her story, and you could have heard a pin drop in that room. We'll try to post a video of part of Leslie's talk (not sure I know how to do that, but we'll try).

Back at it in the morning. The group is coming together nicely.

Monday, June 22nd

2009-06-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

An incredibly full day began with a great breakfast at the University Center, and then off to St. Bernard Project for our orientation. Even after a few other post-Katrina trips, it still is remarkable to witness the commitment of the AmericaCorps young people who act as site supervisors, the determination and compassion of the people in St. Bernard, who New York Times reporter and St. Bernard native calls "The Good Pirates of the Forgotten Bayou." Not a mile or two from the converted warehouse that serves as the SBP's headquarters is the battlefield where then General Andrew Jackson teamed up with the pirate Jean Lafitte at the Battle of New Orleans at the close (actually after the official close -- thanks for that heads up!) of the War of 1812. That is still at the core of how many people here see themselves, and has, I think, more than a little to do with their determination and hard work to rebuild and renew.

After orientation, it was off to worksites, and, after lunch, a quick trip to the Lower 9th ward to see where the levee and seawall protection broke down, and to witness the uneven rebuilding there. We took some time to see and hear what happened during and immediately after Katrina, and spent a moment praying for those who were lost, and for those who were determined to rebuild.

And then (how cool is this?!) we went to a "Welcome Home" ceremony for the little family who own the 221st house completely renewed by the St. Bernard Project. We saw our old friends Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney, founders of SBP, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, who was volunteering with his wife and two kids today. CNN was there covering the event, and we got to meet the family and some other great old friends for whom this work has obviously become a calling.

Then, back to the University to clean up, dinner, and a quick Monday evening stroll through the French Quarter. Back to work by 8 tomorrow. The group is on it's way, coming together pretty well, and working very, very hard. They are a great joy.

Sunday, June 21st

2009-06-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day!

Our crew arrived at O'Hare early this morning, and in record time went through security. No incidents, nobody got lost -- outstanding all around!

We went directly from the New Orleans Airport to Downtown NOLA, near the aquarium and RiverWalk. There we grabbed a quick lunch and boarded the Creole Queen, a paddlewheel riverboat, for a cruise up and down the mighty Mississippi.

Part of the Riverboat cruise was a visit to Mardi Gras World, where a lot of the floats for the parades are designed and stored. Very cool and very weird.

After all that we found our way to the University of New Orleans, moved into our digs at Ponchatrain Hall, ate dinner, and started getting acclimated to our home for the week.

Tomorrow morning, orientation at St. Bernard Project, a possible opportunity to meet the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, the start of our work projects, and a visit from a special guest tomorrow evening. We're off to a great start.

Saturday's Travel

2008-06-20T14:24:00.001-07:00

Debbie spoke with the travel agent this afternoon. As of noon on Friday, all flight information is accurate, none of our flights have been changed. Scheduled arrival at Midway is Saturday approx 7:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Airlines directly at www.nwa.com or 800-441-1818.

Thursday

2008-06-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

Work at H.O.M.E. and environs wrapped up today. Crews dug post holes and setpoles for new fences, sided a barn, worked on firewood for the winter,sorted clothes for the thrift shop, cleaned out the remnants of an old food pantry so that the space can be used for other social services, and did a variety of tasks around the area. As they have all week, our work teams battled a little rain and wind early, but still worked hard and accomplished a lot. As our hosts usually do, the H.O.M.E. folks have marveled at how well they work and how much they get done.

Tonight after dinner we gathered for "Senior Night" at the Methodist Church that has been our place for gathering up for our night sessions. It took us about 4 hours to tell our 10 seniors (Elena Beltrame, Ashley Bieze, MattCation, Steve Cation, Elizabeth Erb, David Perkins, Byron McGuire, SeanVogt, Zeke Walsh, and April Hope Wareham) how much they mean to the community and how much they will be missed. This is always a powerfully emotional time for the group, and, as I write this, they are finally all getting to sleep and ready to go tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, we pack everything and everybody up and say farewell to H.O.M.E. We catch a trolley tour in Bar Harbor (only 38 miles away or so,but a good hour's drinve), and, weather permitting, our whale watching excursion. Then it's back in the vans and back to Brunswick, ME, where theFirst Parish UCC will host us for our end of trip worship, and where we will spend the night before heading back to Manchester Airport on Saturday morning.

Wednesday

2008-06-19T06:39:00.001-07:00

Sister Lucy Paulin, with a small group of people, started H.O.M.E. in 1970. Today the small Learning Center building (where the women on our trip are sleeping while we are here) has grown to a dozen homes, several transitional housing centers, a group home for members of her Franciscan order and others in need who wander her way, a small food bank, soup kitchen, a saw mill, an auto repair shop, and dozens of services for those Sister Lucy calls our culture's "discards."

She spent an hour with us this evening sharing her story and the story of HOME and the world Emmaus movement, and answering questions for more than half that time. She is an astounding woman who radiates compassion and care and patience. When asked why she and the people at HOME are so patient with those who continue to come to them for assistance and comfort, she simply says, "because God told us that we should share with them what we would want shared with us."

The group is working hard, both on our projects and on our ever-evolving experiment in Christian Community. Tomorrow will be our last day of work, and the weather is still a challenge (though we did get about 4 hours of sunshine this afternoon!). Senior night is also tomorrow -- always an emotional time on these adventures -- and then on to, weather permitting to Bar Harbor, Acadia Naitonal Park, the Atlantic Ocean, and then back to Brunswick for worship and rest before the trips home on Saturday.

Tuesday

2008-06-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it rained last night, pretty hard, really. But when morning came, it rained some more. Of course that meant that work plans had to change and that people had to adjust, and the kids were magnificent. Today's work included unloading two semi truckoads of furniture donated by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield Connecticut, demolishing the interior of a house while saving the pine floors and walls, cleaning out a feeding bin at HOME's saw mill, working in the day care center, and sorting and reorganizing the food pantry.

After a great pasta dinner, we met in the United Methodist of Orland, where we talked about freedom being about being free not so much to do any silly thing we want, but more about being free to love one another. (For those who think this sounds familiar, it should -- read Galatians 5: 3-15). The conversation around all this was remarkable.

We got one piece of bad news tonight; one of our young people, Valerie, was scheduled to meet up with us in Portland, ME this evening; she was enjoying a long-planned family reunion vacation, and was flying in directly from there. But a delayed flight meant a missed connection, and she won't be able able to join us, and we will miss her.

Tomorrow means some new work assignments, and an opportunity to meet later in the day with Sister Lucy Paulin, the founder of HOME. We're looking forward to hearing her story and her responses to our crew.

Monday

2008-06-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

The group was great this morning; up at 6:30 (5:30 Lombard time!) for a quick continental breakfast then out the door for Orland, ME. We arrived at 10, and by 10:45 were deployed in work groups, some doing some demolition work, some moving and storing wood cut in HOME's sawmill, some organizing and cleaning in the food pantry, and some others cleaning out a barn and unloading two semis full of donations.

We're learning quite a bit about Sister Lucy, the woman who started HOME in 1970, and the very special community of people she has gathered around her to do this important work. Our gang is remarkably sensitive to the work being done and to the notion that a persitent love and a strong vision can make a difference that matters in the lives of so many.

Up at 6:30 tomorrow morning, off to the work sites by 8, and another rainy day forecast for Maine.

Sunday - Traveling to Maine

2008-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

We've made it finally to Brunswick, Maine, 20 or so miles north of Portland. We flew out today in two waves -- well, one wave of 55 and one ripple of 4. The "wave" arrived at Midway at 5:30 AM, and got out of Midway on time just before the storms hit Chicago. The "ripple" left about noon, and arrived in Manchester on time. The "wave" however, ran into some equipment issues in Detroit and were a little more than 2 hours late to Manchester. They had to switch out planes in Detroit, and we only lost one sleeping bag and one suitcase, both of which have been located, and are supposed to be delivered to us here in Brunswick before we hit the road for the last two hour leg of the journey.

This group was great. They deal with the adversity well, were helpful and polite and courteous to each other, to the people at the airport, and very respectful of other guests here at our stop in Brunswick, where, of course, we arrived very late.

We'll have pictures tomorrow after we get to H.O.M.E. in Orland, Maine, another couple of hours up the road.