2021 Trip Updates

Follow us on our trip!
  Pictures and updates will be tentatively posted each night (depending on activities, internet access and other factors).  Please, be patient with us as we try to meet our goal of nightly posts.  Even if we are delayed, know we are thinking of you all and working on it!  Thank-you.

Saturday, July 10

Travel day! We started our day driving from Hutchinson to La Crosse, WI. Made a few pit stops that included putting window chalk on our cars. We got a lot of honks with all our cars saying "Honk for Jesus!" Our stop at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was very peaceful. We visited the Votive Candle Chapel, Memorial to the Unborn, Stations of the Cross, Rosary walk, and the Church! 

We then made our way to Slinger, WI and are staying at St. Peter's Catholic Church. Eileen is the Youth Director here and she made us a great dinner when we arrived and is taking great care of us! We went to 8pm Mass and had a good Church Group Time in the chapel before bed. Benton Harbor, here we come!

Please check out the prayer tab on this site to let us know how you are praying for us and even submit how we can be praying for you!
We know that some pictures might appear blurry, we are working to fix this moving forward. Thank you for your patience! 

Sunday, July 11

Another travel day! Eileen at St. Peter in Slinger, WI treated us so incredibly well!  Not only did she provide dinner for us upon our arrival and ice cream after Mass last night; this morning she made muffins and coffee for EVERYONE!  What a truly wonderful blessing God gave our group through Eileen and everyone at St. Peter.  We had an early morning and set off to have 7:30am Sunday Mass at Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine. Here is their website if you would like to learn more: https://www.holyhill.com/. We did stations of the cross in the Grotto there before we grabbed a quick brunch.
 
We got on the Lake Express car ferry and rode across Lake Michigan! The ride was a little wavy, but nobody got sick, and we enjoyed the windy observation deck.
 
We arrived at our YouthWorks Site on time for dinner. We are excited to be in Benton Harbor to begin our work in the community tomorrow! Please keep us in your prayers as we serve the community and dive deep into our faith lives. 

Thank you for all of your prayers for us and for submitting prayer intentions on the "Prayer" tab. We appreciate your prayers, and will keep you in ours.
Stay tuned for more!

Monday, July 12

Hello, wonderful friends and family! I just wanted to share with you all what our work group – the Sharks – have been up to so far this week! Yesterday we started our first service day off by going to a local park and raking up leaves to help keep the park clean. We met a really cool community member named Jerry (AKA the Flash) who runs an organization aimed at helping the youth in his community called BEYOU. After our lunch break, we went to a warehouse and helped pack boxes full of food for senior citizens. We also got to know some other community volunteers there! That evening, we went on a tour of the town and learned about the history of the community and what future plans exist to help improve certain areas. Then, we came back and had our church group time. We created deep connections through practicing vulnerability and praying for one another. I always get a lot out of our church group times, and I’m so thankful for our adult leaders and this great group of students that help create a safe space to open up. Thank you all for your prayers and special intentions; we love to hear from you! Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
- Sarah Skrove
 
P.S. HI MOM! <3

​We will update on other works groups later this week!

Tuesday, July 13

Hi friends! Hope you are doing well! Today was our second workday and it started very early. Last night we stayed up till around 2:30am and had to wake up early to make breakfast for everyone at 6:30am! We were all exhausted from getting few hours of sleep so on our way to work we stopped at a local coffee shop and got some great coffee. (Thanks Jake)! Us Sailors have been working in an art and culture center (which is an old church). This church has not been taken care of in a very long time and it is slowly falling apart. On the inside, the walls and ceiling are slowly peeling and collapsing. So far, we have spent both days VERY deep cleaning. Today we spent the time in the sanctuary vacuuming peeled plaster and wiping down dusty furniture. We have made 3 new connections, the first one being Reverend Edward Pinkney. He is very energetic and funny guy. The other two are siblings named Gershan and Shamara who helped us clean and were fun to hang out and eat lunch with. After work we quickly went and showered and came back to eat some delicious tacos for taco Tuesday. After dinner we took a trip to the beach in St. Joseph! We swam and played some beach volleyball before packing up and going back to the church we are staying in to finish the night in group time. We even get to sleep in an extra hour tomorrow morning!! :)
 
Courtney Huiras & Anna German
 
P.S. Hi mom, Nora, CJ, and Rambo! I miss you guys (especially Rams)! -Courtney
 
P.S. HI Mom! Say hi to Tyson, Nora, Becca, and Dad :) Wishing Becca were here even though she’d be super tired :(   -Anna

Wednesday, July 14

​Hello everyone!
The pirates (BAAAAH*), under the amazing leadership of both Elli and Emily, have been having a great week so far, and our third day of service wasn’t any different. After having two previous days filled with love, teamwork, learning, communication, and affirmations, we were completely and utterly exhausted yet ready to tackle the day :). We were able to work with a lovely lady named Susan today while weeding, watering, and admiring a garden. We found a Monarch egg with Emily’s prompts, and also learned about milkweed beetles. There honestly weren’t as many bugs as yesterday which Chloe was very grateful for. I know she had a terrifying encounter with something in her hair yesterday while we were cleaning up an overgrown backyard. After we ate our lunch, we were able to go to a warehouse to move 6 crates of hamburger meat (over 10,000 pounds) in less than 30 minutes and spend the rest of our time organizing food donations, much to Grace’s delight (Swaja). She really enjoyed having control over something since the luggage situation has been…… interesting. After a long day, we all had a much-needed shower.
            Today we were able to spend more time with the other churches, which many found to be a great time. Tonight, was also one of the best church group nights, however, they all have been very meaningful and have helped everyone grow in their faith. We went to get ice cream at a local ice cream parlor in St. Joseph, called Kilwins. Many of us bought souvenirs, including Anna B and her sloth. A lovely couple were taking wedding photos near the beach, and we all felt it was necessary to take a picture and yell congratulations. We then finished out the night (before 12 I might add) on the beach, praying, worshiping, reading all your lovely messages, playing signs, and our favorite, singing our hearts out. We’re sure Wisconsin could hear :)!
            We both have seen that everyone has grown in their faith, opened up and became vulnerable with each other, gotten the courage to step outside their comfort zones, loved all of our neighbors unconditionally, and served our hearts out.
            We all miss you very much and can’t wait to see you Saturday (while also wishing this would never end)!
 
Grace Swaja and Megan Lipke
 
P.S.      - Hi everyone I left at home! I love and miss you all! I’ve been having an amazing time with the best group we could ever have. -Megan
            - Hello guys! I miss everyone I left at home, but don’t want to come back quite yet. I truly feel like my eyes have been opened to a new lifestyle that I hope to continue when I come back. -Love Grace
 
*Only the Pirate group can explain, just wait till we get home ;)

Thursday, July 15

Hello everyone! This is Rachel and Alia! Today our Sharks group started off building theatre sets at GhostLight Theatre. Some of us also got to read the script and take inventory on the props. We met a fun, passionate set builder named Dan who shared his many stories with us, and the play director, Kisia, whose enthusiasm and kindness made serving so much better. After lunch, we went to River of Hope Academy to help principal Don paint shelves (we may or may not have painted more on each other).
 
Once done and showered off, we got to create and sing a song to all the groups about what was for dinner (it was pretty wacky;). After dinner, we went to Jean Klock Beach for our evening activity, gathering service, and church group time. We enjoyed playing on the beach during our evening activity! Volleyball, skipping rocks, and chasing seagulls were also involved. We then moved to our gathering service with the other churches, starting it off with a bomb round of the Church Clap. Some of us got to “pie” the Youthworks staff for raising over $500 this week in the Youthworks store (we’ll be coming home in all our new merch)!
 
We moved on to worship under a pretty pavilion with a deep red sunset, it was so moving to see all the churches come together to praise the Lord in song. To close out the gathering service, the Youthworks staff demonstrated our theme of “Loving your Neighbor” by washing all of the church leaders’ feet. We then got to gather in our own church group to do the same in pretty Lake Michigan.
 
The significance of tonight was astounding. Not only were we moved by the power of loving each other the way Jesus loves us, but we felt a deeper connection with our whole church group.
 
(P.S. Hi mom and dad <3 – Rachel)
(P.P.S. Also hi fam :) – Alia)

Also, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sarah Skrove! 

Friday, July 16

Hello Everyone!
​ 
I apologize that this update is late!  The sleep schedule is all over the place after our return from the trip (I’m sure I’m not alone here)! :)
 
On Friday, after departing from Benton Harbor and returning to Wisconsin by the Lake Express, our group spent approximately three hours at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help – Marian Apparition Site.  Our group shopped around in the gift shop, reflected quietly in prayer, prayed the Rosary together and walked the Stations of the Cross while at this beautiful place. 
 
That night, we stayed at a barn, seemingly in the middle of nowhere—in Luxemburg, WI!  A huge thank-you to Fr. Andrew Kurz and Paul for allowing us to stay there and showing us around!  When I was told we were going to be staying in a barn, I was a little worried as to what we were getting ourselves into; however, this building (which is being renovated into a retreat center and used for occasions such as this) is truly unique!  We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to be there for our last night.  Many of the participants were able to sleep in bunkbeds—a nice change from the air mattress! 
 
The night ended with everyone writing a letter to themselves—which will be kept and sent out to them approximately six months from now.  This letter is such a wonderful way to reflect on the week and all that happened in our hearts each and every night. 
 
Saturday, we had safe travels home.  Thank the Lord for keeping us safe in all of our travels and adventures all week.  Thank-you to the residents of Benton Harbor that we met.  Thank-you to YouthWorks and their staff for providing us with the chance to be a part of Benton Harbor this week.  Thank-you to Jason, Emily and Elli for all of your hard work, long hours and for the way you live your lives.  Your example and friendship with everyone did not go unnoticed.  A HUGE thank-you to everyone who helped make the carpool happen for our final stretch back.  Thank-you to all the parents for trusting us with your children all week.  Thank-you to everyone for their financial contributions that made everything we did possible.  Above all, thank-you to everyone for their prayers as well as trusting us with your own, personal, prayer intentions.  We held you and continue to hold you in prayers now. 
 
Looking back on the trip, I find it extremely difficult to put into words just how truly beautiful everything turned out to be.  God provided for us—abundantly, in countless ways.  From watching everyone grow closer together with one another, through many tears and very little sleep at times, our group has become a family—a family founded on God’s love for each and every one of us.  As we have arrived back home and life keeps moving forward, I pray and know that our mission trip family will always have one another to reach out to and connect with. 
 
To the mission trip family:  Thank-you for responding to God’s call on your hearts to come on this trip.  Thank-you for taking the time out of your schedule to take a chance on this faith-filled week.  Thank-you for having the courage to be vulnerable and openly share in your weaknesses.  Thank-you for including and loving everyone.  Thank-you for the countless laughs and long stories.  Above all, thank-you for being yourselves.  Once again, I know I’m not alone in saying how proud I am of each and every one of you. 
 
I will forever and always consider my time with you this week as one of the greatest blessings in my life.  I don’t know how I ever became this fortunate.  The only explanation I can think of is God’s endless and limitless goodness and love.  Driving down the road while you all sang at the top of your lungs and watching you sway and sing together in the parking lot are moments that truly pulled on my heart.  In every one of those moments, I felt like I couldn’t relate more to Tauren Wells when he sings, “On the mountain, I will bow my life to the One who set me there.”  I pray I never forget any of this. 
 
I felt Heaven on earth on Thursday night during foot washing, while we were at the beach on Lake Michigan.  To see the example Jesus gave us in washing His disciples’ feet lived out, one can’t help but to feel humbled.  In those moments on the beach, when love came through all of us and the sunshine appeared from the clouds, I truly believe that’s just a little glimpse into the happiness, peace and love we will all experience together for eternity in heaven.  I don’t have the words to describe it.  This night was life-changing.  Thank-you God for such an amazing experience and way of life. 
 
I ask for continued prayers for the participants as we are all back home and adjusting.  Our hearts are changed.  Please, pray for us to have the strength to unpack the lessons and experiences we’ve shared, to have love for each and every one of our neighbors, to always know and be reminded that our worth and identity are only found in who God says we are and to have the courage to bring Him to a world that desperately needs Him. 
 
Thank-you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart.  Stay tuned for more pictures!
 
-Jake Burmis