Our Vision:
Nurturing streams from
Christ the Rock
to transform pastoral and urban landscapes
through God's new people
purposefully,
joyfully,
fruitfully.
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| 2007 Mission Travel Grant Recipient |
First PC of Warren
Immokalee, FL
7/14/07 - 7/21/07
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| What makes a mission trip possible? Never having experienced such a trip before, I was prepared to stand back and learn from those more experienced. I realized very quickly that standing back was not how our goal would be accomplished
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 Our mission team participants also came prepared to "dive right in." That set the tone for our entire journey. There were eleven team members consisting of Christie Leininger, Ann Birt, Molly Bonavita, Chuck Davidson, Josh Davidson, Kay Dolan, Ann Ferguson, Michael Greenlund, Tracey Kranak, Jim Eggleston, and Vickie Eggleston. Some were experienced mission trip participants and others were novices. Right away it was obvious that experience was nice but willingness to learn and help along with team work were even more important. |
| Rick Heers, Executive Director of IHOPE, was our contact was responsible for providing our group with our wonderful accommodations; providing us with our mission effort working with IHOPE (Immokalee Helping Our People in Emergencies). |
| Christie's expertise at arranging made all the details fall into place. OUr group was thankful to have this opportunity to work for God's people. Without the Mission Committee, grant money and prayers of many people who couldn't be with us on the trip, our mission would never have been accomplished. |
 Upon arriving in Immokalee, we settled in and met with Rick Heers who explained about IHOPE and what our work for the week would be: skirting trailers purchased from FEMA by IHOPE to provide people with still needing permanent housing after Hurricane Wilma's devastation in 2005. He invited us to our guest church, Friendship Baptist where we experience a contemporary worship service & attended Sunday school meeting many residents. |
 On our first workday, we met with the project foreman and introduced us to the construction crew working there. We were given some "how to" instructions and went to work. As the week progressed, our rapport and friendship with the crew grew as well. Some of us were surprised by the connection we were feeling for this group of convicted felons who were part of a 're-entry' effort by IHOPE. I was obvious how dedicated they were to turning their lives around and themselves to God's work. We learned that team work was what made each day an accomplishment. It began a 7 am and ended by 4 pm with breaks from the 125 degree heat and for food. |
 It was so rewarding to watch the trailers move toward completion. After our work, the trailers had railings installed, steps in place, channeling for skirting, and skirting installed. They were now ready for the finishing contract work and then the 'anxious' occupants.
Following God's plan for that week, gave us all a feeling of fulfillment. Not just in accomplishing our work but meeting a group of guys who were willing to help us help them and having friendship develop for that work effort. With God's guidance, supporting prayers, willing mission team members and great devotion to helping others, our trip to Immokalee became Mission Possible.
Submitted by Vickie Eggleston |
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