Today is Wednesday, July 27th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2118
As you know, I was gone for a few days last week and had a brief interruption in sending out Karen's Korners.
For the fourth time in as many years, a delegation of eighteen people associated with the Clarion Church of Christ became 'short-term missionaries' for parts of 3-days, 2 nights from July 21 - 23. The purpose of the trips, which have now gone each direction from Clarion, is to work, to learn, to serve, and to have fun together as the group represents Jesus Christ to our world. Part of the time was spent on and near the Mississippi River.
First stop on Thursday morning was the church's camp near Bristow where the group planted a flowering tree in memory of former church member and C-G classmate 17-year-old Tori Westfall, killed several months ago in an auto accident. We also worked on camp clean up, getting ready for another group of weekly campers. In the afternoon, our traveling band represented Clarion in the town of Guttenberg: a portion working with the activity director of the local care center; another group scraping and painting bleachers and picnic tables in a sports park; and the final group scraping and sealing the deck at the welcome center.
Friday morning, we worked in Dubuque. Our time was spent at a downtown rescue mission. Some worked with those readying the noon meal. Others worked at two levels of the used clothing and furniture store. The afternoon was spent with volunteers doing a number of tasks at Camp Albrecht of the Midwest, a special need camp located just outside of Dubuque, along with learning more about the camp
Saturday morning, our group began retracing our steps back toward Clarion, stopping at River's Edge Christian Church. The largest portion of our group spent time mulching with wood chips around trees on the church grounds. Our smaller group worked packing boxes of food for senior citizens at the Northeast Iowa Food Pantry which had been requested by Hardin County
And there was eating, having fun, and bonding as a group thrown in!
Did we change the world? Probably not.
Did we impact the worlds where we traveled, visited, and worked for 2 - 3 hours at each stop? Without a doubt.
I like the saying by Mother Teresa, "If you can't feed 100 people, feed one!"
That is how we together, change the world.
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for being our Director and Guide. Thank You for allowing us to seize these golden opportunities. Bless the people with whom we came in contact and served. And bless each member of our 'short-term' mission team; plus others reading this Karen's Korner, as they each one serves You in so many different ways. May we continue to listen to You and to do Your Will. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
~
"The more lowly your service to others,
the greater you are.
To be the greatest,
be a servant."
- Jesus speaking in Matthew 23:11
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