Calvary UMC from Ames, IA

"I can't remember ever making the effort to write something like this, but I want to be sure you appreciate what a fine group of people are here at Kingswood. Lately, it seems I only meet the self-centered, undisciplined, deceitful kids, and learn about the miserable homes they come from. I'll admit that when I arrived Sunday evening, it looked like we would be trying to get some work done while riding herd on a bunch of "teenie boppers." But what a delightful surprise it was when we started working together. And when the kids "made" Bob's birthday. How great was that!" Pastor Dass adds "Thank you all for refreshing my spirit especially the young people's passion and devotion to helping others, refreshed my faith." Charlotte and Gib Bentley Esther Vilmont Pastor Dass Keith Boldman Bob Bergeson Chris Marty

Thursday

Today we woke up bright and early after a very warm night sleeping. There isn't air-conditioning in the cabins. The first couple days were nice and got cool in the evening, but Wednesday had heat advisories. so, we were all dragging a bit this morning. We have group time in the morning before breakfast. We sing worship songs, read scripture and have a morning start. After that we eat breakfast, pack our lunches and then head out to job sites. I am on a job site with Jill and Ken (who chaperone with me), Tyler, Josh, Chandler, Charlotte, Josie and Katie. We had Reverend Doss, from Ames, IA with us up until today. He was only able to make it for part of the week. We have been painting at the parsonage in Mound, MN. It's a two story, four bedroom house. Very different from our own parsonage! We are painting it Newbury blue with white trim. It used to be a cream color. The church has been very nice and has been allowing us to use their air-conditioned fellowship hall for lunch and have been providing us with cold drinks. Today they gave us rice crispy treats! One of the trustees has worked with us today. She is a very nice lady and worked side by side in the heat with us, had lunch with us and chatted with us throughout the day. The paint has really transformed the parsonage and it will be so nice for the new minister and his family. The church has a very large parcel of land and they have a monsterous community garden and have installed raised beds for those who are disabled to be able to share in. We've had a chance to speak with many of the church members who come out to tend the garden. It's really been an amazing job. We are so hopeful that we can finish our paint job before our time here is done.

Wednesday

Today was the designated fun day. Some of us went to the baseball game, some went to the Mall of America and a couple of us decided to go with the other church group to a job site. We worked at Olives house drywalling the basement. olive is a lovely lady who has spent most of her life taking care of others what money she earns has been given to benefit others. Because of this, she doesn't have the funds to pay someone to do the work on her own house. We had a couple of the men who are contractors. A couple of the ladies have worked on these types of workgroups several times before, so they jumped right in and knew what they were doing. Those of us from St Paul were new to drywalling. Happily, they had power drills for us to put drywall screw in. Someone before us had started the drywall job and they worked very hard to use every piece of drywall - small and large. I was impressed by the creative piecing together - kind of like a patchwork quilt. It became clear to me later as we were taping and mudding all those patched together seams - that maybe all those sweet little pieces were not so cool after all. The guys had obviously worked together before, because they put their heads together and worked out solutions for the job. They were all very patient explaining and instructing those of us who are less experienced. It was really a productive day. The St Paul workgroup came back to camp, cleaned up and met up with the baseball and mall groups at the food court for dinner. We all talked about the day and the baseball group showed off their sunburns. Later, we came back to the camp for worship time. We met outside in the worship area, with lots of bugspray. We sing songs by torchlight, listen to devotions and pray together. It's a special time together. Thursday is back to workgroups for everyone! Some will paint at the parsonage, some will go to Bob's, some will finish drywalling at Olives and some will work at a thriftstore.

Ken's Tuesday Camp Thoughts

As a adult leader for this year's mission trip, I not only get to watch over the youth as they are here at Camp Kingswood but I am also eating meals with, enjoying outdoor activities with, and working alongside them as we head out for each day's job assignment. In just a short period since arriving on Sunday afternoon, we have done a lot of good work in honor of the Lord! Yesterday, the group that I am a part of packaged over 80 boxes of food destined for starving regions of the African country of Nambia and we repurposed and packaged 1,000 pounds of rice destined for Minnesota area food pantries and soup kitchens. Early today, we helped out at a fellow United Methodist church by repainting the exterior of their parsonage house. Bethel UMC has welcomed a new pastor to their church and will be moving into the parsonage at the beginning of August. Our great youth group from St. Paul is not afraid of hard work! They having been giving their all each day and I, along with the other adult leaders, are very proud of their efforts so far. We begin and end each day with a time of devotions and prayer. Not only are we working hard but we also building team skills and striving to develop a better understanding the world around us. Many of us are learning how we can serve others through even the smallest good deeds. We have free time each day to enjoy outdoor activites from basketball and baseball to hiking and swimming. The weather really has been beautiful this week! We are also joined this week at Camp Kingswood by our brothers and sisters from Calvary UMC out of Ames, IA and have enjoyed spending time and interacting with them. Wednesday is a free day for our group (non-work day). Many of us will head over to downtown Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins baseball team play an afternoon game. The rest of the group will head over to the Mall of America in Bloomington.

Josie's thoughts

Today was pretty fun! I got in a paint fight with children. He started it though. I got really tired really fast.

Tuesday

Well sWe've had a pretty busy time so far. It's been a little challenging to get posts out to you because the only Internet service is in the boys lodge. We have done loads already. And I seriously mean loads! On Monday two of our groups started out at Feed My Starving Children. We worked in smaller groups and were able to package a total of 81 boxes of manna rice meals. They consist of chicken, vegetable, soy and rice. Each meals feeds a family of 6 for a day. Each box has 36 meals in it. After lunch we went to Second Harvest. There we packed a ton of rice into 1 pound bags. It was dust and we all looked lovely in hair nets, but what a sense of accomplishment! We weren't too tired to miss out on swimming and canoeing in the evening though! We met and shared our stories together, had fellowship time and worship at night. They grow the Mosquitos pretty big and plentiful up here, but bugs spray helps a lot.

We made it!

We made it safe and sound have had a busy evening already and are going to bed soon!

Getting ready . . . .

Wow - it's almost time to leave on the Mission Trip!  I need to pack!  Check the first aid kits, bake cookies for the trip, get forms together, Oh My!

In times like these, I remind myself of the Martha and Mary verse:

Luke 10:38-42

New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In all the flurry of preparations for the trip - I need to pull myself back and remember what we're doing and why we're taking this trip.  We're going on a Mission Trip.  We're going to do good things for God, to glorify him; we're going to spend time together working and having fun - coming together and bonding as a Youth Group; and we're going to do devotions (both personal and in groups) to learn and reflect on his word.

Lots of preparation goes in to these Trips, not just in the couple weeks before and not just by me.  There are so many people who have attended our fundraisers and are supporting us financially on this trip; Ministers and church employees that go the extra mile to help us organize the trip; Pearl and Patti (our adopted Grandmothers); parents who help organize and cook, etc. etc.  They have all given of themselves and in a sense are going with us on this trip.  Without them - none of this would be possible.

We recently had a sermon that discussed being spiritual vs being religious.  To me, being spiritual means you believe in God - but chose not to commit to any one congregation.  Being religious, and by making that committment to a congregation, gives us each an additional faith opportunity.  Without a congregation supporting us, this Mission Trip wouldn't happen.  It's wonderful to have a close, personal relationship with God - but with a congregation you have scheduled time to specifically discuss, explore, consider and reflect on his word.  You have people to challenge you, present new ideas and push you to grow in your faith.  You also have a support system.

We plan to do good things for God and to learn and grow in our faith.  Thank you all for your support for this Mission Trip.

Youtheology Pilgrimage

**Maddy Malone is one of the St Paul Youth who has been attending Youtheology at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, KS.  She is currently on the Youtheology Pilgrimage.  The following is a note from the Youtheology Director.

We are eagerly anticipating our upcoming Pan-Methodist Pilgrimage with travel from Friday, June 8^th (after overnighting Saint Paul tomorrow, Thursday, June 7^th) to Saturday, June 16^th. It is an exciting time.

We would like you to know that we appreciate the confidence you have placed in us in allowing your youth to go on this pilgrimage. We take this responsibility seriously. With your prayers and the diligent attention of our leaders, all will be well.

As director of the program, I will be leading the pilgrimage. Sharing leadership with me will be Mrs Lee Svet, youTheology Media and Publicatons Coordinator; Mr Tyler Fletcher, Program Assistant; Ms Stephanie Stephens and Ms Ramona Winfied, Saint Paul School of Theology Students and Small Group Leaders; Rev Santiago Heredia, UMC Elder and Small Group Leader from youTheology Southwest in El Paso, TX; and Ms Janessa Smith, youTheology Intern. This is a very caring team that is committed to the well-being of the students and the accomplishment of our programmatic goals.

Eighteen youth will be on the pilgrimage. There will be 15 from youTheology Midwest in Kansas City, MO, 1 from the yT-Pod in Illinois, and 2 from youTheology Southwest in El Paso, TX. During the pilgrimage, a member of the AMEZ church in New York will participate with us.

The seminar at the UMC’s General Board of Church and Society will focus on economic justice, how it relates to who we are, and how it affects us every day. This came out of a discussion with the young people in Kansas City and El Paso during orientation in August 2012. The seminar is conducted by seasoned staff at the General Board of Church and Society in a building opposite the Capitol.

Each day, beginning Friday, June 8^th, we will post daily updates written by the youTheologians themselves that chronicle the Pilgrimage. We will also include photos and video clips. Please check www.youtheology.org/panmethodistpilgrimage2012 to see how we’re doing and what we’re learning.

Thank you very much for your support and prayers. You are appreciated. May God bless you with peace!

Claire A Smith

Director of youTheology and

Youth Ministry Specialist-in-Residence

Youth Out and About!

This week we have two of our Youth at Youth Annual Conference in Lincoln.  Matt and Chandler Bowden have been representatives for the Youth at St. Paul for a few years now.  They left Tuesday and I hope to be getting some messages from them to share with you.

Maddy Malone leaves tomorrow to go on the YouTheology annual pilgrimage.  They will be going to the east coast to walk in the footsteps of John Wesley.  She will be sending posts about her experiences - so stay tuned for them!

Please join me in taking a moment to say a prayer for our Youth as they travel, wishing them safe journeys, meaningful experiences and blessings as they learn more themselves and their relationship with God.  What fantastic opportunities they have.  They are so lucky to have such a supportive congregation behind them!

Check back soon for more updates!