Monday, October 12, 2009
2010 Mission Trip to Berlin
Coming soon - details on the June 2010, Prince of Peace Mission Trip to Berlin, Germany!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
More Mission Opportunities
September 20th (Sun) Regional Food Bank 1-230pm (aiming for 5 people- more are welcome)October 10th 1030-1pm Albany City Mission serve lunch meal (5-10 needed)November 14th 230-4pm Schenectady City Mission serve meal (5-10 needed) As always we will have sign up sheets up in the welcoming area. I'll have those ready by August. You can also email me if you are available. Katie Welter, RN welterkrn@hotmail.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Mission Dispatch 6
Staten Island 7-16-09 pm
Heather – Today we did a lot of work. A semi truck full of food was delivered to the food bank. We unloaded about 18 pallets and took them to the second floor where the food pantry is located. Once this was done we made sure all the shelves were stocked full. It was a very rewarding and fulfilling day. Throughout this whole trip I have realized that poverty is a lot bigger problem than I thought and its getting worse day by day. The funding for these pantries and soup kitchens are being cut by the government and it is making it harder and harder for them to feed the ever growing homeless and low income families. The first day that I worked at the food pantry we served about 400 men, women and children. The thing that stands out the most is that the people that we served were so grateful for anything that they received. This is a real problem in the city and nationwide and it is only going to get worse if the economy doesn't recover. We all need to do our part to help everyone in need. It doesn't matter how small we might seem to think it is. Every little bit helps.
Staten Island 7-17-09 am
From All: Thank you for your prayers and support. We made perhaps a small difference here but like the mustard seed these beginnings may sprout and grow in the lives of all those who have been a part of this mission. Let the branches reach up and out for the glory of God!
Meghan Berman
Darian Blanchard
Georgeanna Frasier
Kayla Frasier
Amanda Gibson
Ashley Latham
Heather Leavitt
John Leavitt
Chrisanne Pierson
Courtney Schadewald
Jeff Silvernail
Danika Simonson
Liana Thibault
Katie Welter
Clifton Park 7-17-09 pm
Jeff (10:30 pm) Though the drive was tough through heavy traffic and rain we are all home safely! See you in church Sunday!
Heather – Today we did a lot of work. A semi truck full of food was delivered to the food bank. We unloaded about 18 pallets and took them to the second floor where the food pantry is located. Once this was done we made sure all the shelves were stocked full. It was a very rewarding and fulfilling day. Throughout this whole trip I have realized that poverty is a lot bigger problem than I thought and its getting worse day by day. The funding for these pantries and soup kitchens are being cut by the government and it is making it harder and harder for them to feed the ever growing homeless and low income families. The first day that I worked at the food pantry we served about 400 men, women and children. The thing that stands out the most is that the people that we served were so grateful for anything that they received. This is a real problem in the city and nationwide and it is only going to get worse if the economy doesn't recover. We all need to do our part to help everyone in need. It doesn't matter how small we might seem to think it is. Every little bit helps.
Staten Island 7-17-09 am
From All: Thank you for your prayers and support. We made perhaps a small difference here but like the mustard seed these beginnings may sprout and grow in the lives of all those who have been a part of this mission. Let the branches reach up and out for the glory of God!
Meghan Berman
Darian Blanchard
Georgeanna Frasier
Kayla Frasier
Amanda Gibson
Ashley Latham
Heather Leavitt
John Leavitt
Chrisanne Pierson
Courtney Schadewald
Jeff Silvernail
Danika Simonson
Liana Thibault
Katie Welter
Clifton Park 7-17-09 pm
Jeff (10:30 pm) Though the drive was tough through heavy traffic and rain we are all home safely! See you in church Sunday!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Mission Dispatch 5
Staten Island 7-16-09 am
Last day of work – may it be a fulfilling one. Grits for breakfast – yum!
Danika (8:05 am) Yesterday's drop in center was really neat! I understand why you have to be 16 to go to in-- there was a small quarrel between one of the drop-ins and the lady in the kitchen because he took a lunch out of a create. It was kind of surprising because there was some yelling and the man ended up getting kicked out of the drop-in center. The people were so gracious we were there to give them food. One lady I saw at the drop in center I saw again at the BBQ and she came up and said “nice to see you again”. It was pretty neat to be recognized!
7-16-09 pm
Danika (4:30 pm) I have found a new love in moping floors.
Chrisanne (4:30pm) Today I worked at the Food Pantry with the whole group. When we work there, we know we won be standing around just waiting for things to do. We unloaded a HUGE truck and we set in the 85+ degree humid weather! Some people helped out inside stacking, shopping and bagging. We hung out with the friends we met on Tuesday. We also again served in the soup kitchen and it as pretty rockin'. I enjoy helping people, I never thought I would but I do. I have never been so excited to work and willing to do whatever I am asked to do!
Jeff (4:35 pm) I have loaded and unloaded a lot of semi trailers in my time but that was with a fork truck. It is amazing how much is on 15 pallets of food and all of it had to be handled by hand multiple times. Lunch in the soup kitchen was also very busy. It took a long time before we could get far enough ahead so we could start eating. Not complaining – it was a good day and it seems that everyone feels that they accomplished much. At the end we took pictures with all our friends from the pantry – and then off to an hour on South Beach. Tomorrow we hit Lower Manhattan and then on home.
Katie(4:40pm) Today at the Food Pantry I helped with unloading the donation truck in the am. Then after lunch, Kayla, Amanda, Megan, and I made up 100 bags of canned goods and cereal to be given out on the mobile outreach. These were items such as vegetables, juice, milk, and individual cereals. We got a group picture with some of the regular volunteers who make the Food Pantry run as smoothly as it does every day after we were done with our work.
Last day of work – may it be a fulfilling one. Grits for breakfast – yum!
Danika (8:05 am) Yesterday's drop in center was really neat! I understand why you have to be 16 to go to in-- there was a small quarrel between one of the drop-ins and the lady in the kitchen because he took a lunch out of a create. It was kind of surprising because there was some yelling and the man ended up getting kicked out of the drop-in center. The people were so gracious we were there to give them food. One lady I saw at the drop in center I saw again at the BBQ and she came up and said “nice to see you again”. It was pretty neat to be recognized!
7-16-09 pm
Danika (4:30 pm) I have found a new love in moping floors.
Chrisanne (4:30pm) Today I worked at the Food Pantry with the whole group. When we work there, we know we won be standing around just waiting for things to do. We unloaded a HUGE truck and we set in the 85+ degree humid weather! Some people helped out inside stacking, shopping and bagging. We hung out with the friends we met on Tuesday. We also again served in the soup kitchen and it as pretty rockin'. I enjoy helping people, I never thought I would but I do. I have never been so excited to work and willing to do whatever I am asked to do!
Jeff (4:35 pm) I have loaded and unloaded a lot of semi trailers in my time but that was with a fork truck. It is amazing how much is on 15 pallets of food and all of it had to be handled by hand multiple times. Lunch in the soup kitchen was also very busy. It took a long time before we could get far enough ahead so we could start eating. Not complaining – it was a good day and it seems that everyone feels that they accomplished much. At the end we took pictures with all our friends from the pantry – and then off to an hour on South Beach. Tomorrow we hit Lower Manhattan and then on home.
Katie(4:40pm) Today at the Food Pantry I helped with unloading the donation truck in the am. Then after lunch, Kayla, Amanda, Megan, and I made up 100 bags of canned goods and cereal to be given out on the mobile outreach. These were items such as vegetables, juice, milk, and individual cereals. We got a group picture with some of the regular volunteers who make the Food Pantry run as smoothly as it does every day after we were done with our work.
Mission Dispatch 4
Staten Island 7-15-09 pm
Georgie (8:30 pm) Blessings:
What a blessing God has given me, my family, my job, food, help when needed, and all the other things that we all take for granted. Being here has shown me that we are all so blessed by God's love and grace. We all can share that with others at any level. Just giving someone a smile can change someones day. So go out and help someone today.
Jeff (9:10pm) Actually kind of an easy day for me. 5 of us worked at the Hospitality House (family housing apartments). Other than giving a top-notch cleaning to some pretty goady high-chairs there really wasn't much work for us. Then on to the food pantry – not much work there today either. The afternoon was capped off with a speaker on HIV/AIDS and off to the HIV/AIDS group bar-b-que. Lots of good food and I learned how to play spades by watching.
7-16-09
Jeff (7:00am) Not sure when we are coming back tonight so I'll send this out as a brief dispatch.
Georgie (8:30 pm) Blessings:
What a blessing God has given me, my family, my job, food, help when needed, and all the other things that we all take for granted. Being here has shown me that we are all so blessed by God's love and grace. We all can share that with others at any level. Just giving someone a smile can change someones day. So go out and help someone today.
Jeff (9:10pm) Actually kind of an easy day for me. 5 of us worked at the Hospitality House (family housing apartments). Other than giving a top-notch cleaning to some pretty goady high-chairs there really wasn't much work for us. Then on to the food pantry – not much work there today either. The afternoon was capped off with a speaker on HIV/AIDS and off to the HIV/AIDS group bar-b-que. Lots of good food and I learned how to play spades by watching.
7-16-09
Jeff (7:00am) Not sure when we are coming back tonight so I'll send this out as a brief dispatch.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Mission Dispatch 3
Staten Island 7-14-09 pm
Ashley and Chrisanne (6:38 pm) Today was a lot of fun! A group of us went to the food pantry and soup kitchen. We met a lot of new and exciting people. Mine and Chrisanne's job was to bag the food the clients “purchased” at the food pantry. The clients were so thankful for our work, in total we got like 100000 thank yous. Ashley also worked in the kitchen area with Courtney where we got to wear hair nets, aprons, and gloves preparing the food and dining area for the soup kitchen. The volunteers that work there were awesome; they made us laugh the whole day! Today we also served the clients in the soup kitchen which was very humbling. It was amazing to see how many people came to receive food...i believe that we served like 120-125 people which is awesome. The people were so grateful and kept telling us “God bless you” which was very sweet and really showed us how grateful they were that we were there to help them. Also, today we had a homelessness seminar which was very inspirational. It was really courageous for the people that told their life stories about their homelessness and drug use. Their life stories really opened our eyes to what homelessness was really like . I saw God's grace and strength through all of them and it was just amazing.
John (7:33 pm) Today I had a great!! crew with me; Darian, Megan, and Amanda. We went to the Hospitality House and out worked what they had planned for us. And the young ladies kept asking for more. They let us go early so we could get over to the food pantry earlier and help out there. It is amazing when you see how the same story of homelessness and substance abuse moves one person to tears while others barely seemed touched. The sagas today were so powerful. It makes one realize how blessed we are in our lives. It also makes me wonder what do I not see when I am in Albany, Troy, or even Clifton Park. Open my eyes.
True Freedom
Katie (9:00pm) Today I was at the food pantry with 9 other people. We helped many people get food to hold them over until the next month Items such as pasta, cereal,milk, frozen chicken, canned vegetables- basic staples that are needed for nutrition to keep you going. Many were very thankful to have the help, as they were new to the food pantry, others had been using the food pantry for some time and were familiar with it. In the afternoon we had a very moving talk by three individuals who have experienced homelessness. All three had common themes, even though they came from slightly different backgrounds and where they are in their journey is different.
All three had different life circumstances that influenced them to use drugs with their friends when teen peers suggested it. Some started with pot, others harder things like coke and heroin. All became addicted eventually, and the drugs were stronger than they were. Jail was their chronic home, and when they weren't in jail they were homeless. None graduated from high school- all had to get a GED at some point. Pride stood in the way of them getting the help they needed to get clean and get off the streets. Usually, someone broke through, and and they humbled themselves enough to realize they needed help to get sober. They humbled themselves before God and asked for help, and continue to rely on Him daily to stay clean. The physical jails they had finally been able to stay out of were one thing, now they were conquering another kind of jail- a mental and spiritual jail. All had achieved a freedom from that jail by letting go of their pride and relying on God. God's mercy at work in their lives was moving.
Devotions
Katie
Tonight we talked about 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” We discussed ways we had been examples to the people we had interacted with during the day.
7-15-09 am
Jeff (8:15 am) We are splitting up the teams differently this morning to make sure that everyone has the chance to work at other sites and with different people. The first groups have gone out to sort potatoes and then to work at their assigned sites. My group will leave a bit later to to maintenance at the Family Transitional Housing Center. Tonight we have a barbeque with a ministry group at another church so there will be no evening posting on the blog.
Ashley and Chrisanne (6:38 pm) Today was a lot of fun! A group of us went to the food pantry and soup kitchen. We met a lot of new and exciting people. Mine and Chrisanne's job was to bag the food the clients “purchased” at the food pantry. The clients were so thankful for our work, in total we got like 100000 thank yous. Ashley also worked in the kitchen area with Courtney where we got to wear hair nets, aprons, and gloves preparing the food and dining area for the soup kitchen. The volunteers that work there were awesome; they made us laugh the whole day! Today we also served the clients in the soup kitchen which was very humbling. It was amazing to see how many people came to receive food...i believe that we served like 120-125 people which is awesome. The people were so grateful and kept telling us “God bless you” which was very sweet and really showed us how grateful they were that we were there to help them. Also, today we had a homelessness seminar which was very inspirational. It was really courageous for the people that told their life stories about their homelessness and drug use. Their life stories really opened our eyes to what homelessness was really like . I saw God's grace and strength through all of them and it was just amazing.
John (7:33 pm) Today I had a great!! crew with me; Darian, Megan, and Amanda. We went to the Hospitality House and out worked what they had planned for us. And the young ladies kept asking for more. They let us go early so we could get over to the food pantry earlier and help out there. It is amazing when you see how the same story of homelessness and substance abuse moves one person to tears while others barely seemed touched. The sagas today were so powerful. It makes one realize how blessed we are in our lives. It also makes me wonder what do I not see when I am in Albany, Troy, or even Clifton Park. Open my eyes.
True Freedom
Katie (9:00pm) Today I was at the food pantry with 9 other people. We helped many people get food to hold them over until the next month Items such as pasta, cereal,milk, frozen chicken, canned vegetables- basic staples that are needed for nutrition to keep you going. Many were very thankful to have the help, as they were new to the food pantry, others had been using the food pantry for some time and were familiar with it. In the afternoon we had a very moving talk by three individuals who have experienced homelessness. All three had common themes, even though they came from slightly different backgrounds and where they are in their journey is different.
All three had different life circumstances that influenced them to use drugs with their friends when teen peers suggested it. Some started with pot, others harder things like coke and heroin. All became addicted eventually, and the drugs were stronger than they were. Jail was their chronic home, and when they weren't in jail they were homeless. None graduated from high school- all had to get a GED at some point. Pride stood in the way of them getting the help they needed to get clean and get off the streets. Usually, someone broke through, and and they humbled themselves enough to realize they needed help to get sober. They humbled themselves before God and asked for help, and continue to rely on Him daily to stay clean. The physical jails they had finally been able to stay out of were one thing, now they were conquering another kind of jail- a mental and spiritual jail. All had achieved a freedom from that jail by letting go of their pride and relying on God. God's mercy at work in their lives was moving.
Devotions
Katie
Tonight we talked about 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” We discussed ways we had been examples to the people we had interacted with during the day.
7-15-09 am
Jeff (8:15 am) We are splitting up the teams differently this morning to make sure that everyone has the chance to work at other sites and with different people. The first groups have gone out to sort potatoes and then to work at their assigned sites. My group will leave a bit later to to maintenance at the Family Transitional Housing Center. Tonight we have a barbeque with a ministry group at another church so there will be no evening posting on the blog.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Mission Dispatch 2
Staten Island, July 13, 2009 pm
Jeff (8:50 pm): We just finished devotions including praying by name for those whom we met today and for their concerns. Our eyes are open to see Jesus in all his many forms and disguises. We have been singing “The 21st Time” as a kind of theme song. Today was a good day – work, ministry, interaction – hands and feet of Jesus in action.
July 14, 2009 am
Jeff (7:30 am) 10 of us to the food pantry/soup kitchen today for distribution and serving lunch, 4 to the Family Transitional Housing building for maintenance and clean up. Later in the afternoon we have a seminar on homelessness and substance abuse.
Danika (7:35 am) The girls thought we would be very tired last night and fall asleep quickly... but oddly enough we were wired and stayed up quite late :)
Ashley (8:09 am) Yesterday was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed playing with the kids at the playground. It was so cute when the kid Tyreese(not sure how to spell it) took my camera and started to take pictures of all of us with it. He was a very good photographer. It was also very cute how him and his sister Precious were teaching some of the girls how to runway walk. They were making everyone laugh. The kids were very cute and full of energy and laughter. They definitely made my day.
Jeff (5:30 pm) Just back from a long hard day at the food pantry. Lots of families received lots of food though they say they had less available than other weeks. Finished out unloading a truck of smelly potatoes and listening to 3 very powerful stories of redemption from those who lived substance abuse, prison and homelessness.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mission Dispatch 1
July 13, 2009 Staten Island, NY
Jeff: (6:00 am) All is well for the POP mission team. We have settled into the Faith Methodist Church social hall and adjoining rooms. The ride down was smooth, found the grocery store, ate very good pizza, prayed about our goals, and sang praises to the Lord. We look forward to serving our neighbor today. So far we haven't found out how to access the wireless so we will post on the blog when we can. Now it's time for some coffee.
Katie: As we were getting ready to leave the shower area at 745am, an older woman approached us with her grandson (who looked to be about 4 or so). She handed us two children's books, one of which was titled “My Grandma has AIDS Annisha's Story”, the other one was “Cooper's tale” about a mouse who becomes homeless. She shared that the one about the grandmother with AIDS made her cry. I wondered if it might be her story, too. Well, we're about ready to start our first day, more stories to share later.
Jeff: (2:30 pm) Worked at the food pantry getting ready for food distribution tomorrow. Lots of fun working with the folks there. I heard a story of recovery and changed life as God's grace, working through caring people claimed one who was lost.
Danika: (2:40 pm) Today Darian, Georgie, Katie, Chrisanne and I went to the Family Center and pulled TONS of weeds on the street and parking lot. Our hands are callused and raw. It was a very different experience pulling weeds for people in need rather than for our mothers and fathers... my father especially! They were very gracious and giving; it was a neat experience. Gardening gloves would have been nice though! But the plastic gloves rocked! Oh and the juice they gave us was super awesome!
Meghan and Amanda: (2:44 pm) Today Amanda, Ashley, Kayla, Pastor Jeff, and I went to the Food Pantry on Bay St. and met Tony who helped us find our way around. We started off packing pasta and that lasted until lunchtime where we were graciously served “fillet mignon” and a macaroni salad. Afterwards we carried bread and joked around with the workers because we finished our work so efficiently. Apparently they use the broken pieces of pasta for the midgets and the flip tops of soda cans for soup. Afterwards the paper towel holder fell on my head! Tony wasn't too happy, but then we fixed it. :) They donated some food to us so that actually tastes good. Thank you!
Liana and Courtney: (2:58pm) Today we worked at the Drop-In, which is a place to go for people that are dealing with addictions, with John and Heather. We made sandwiches and packed lunches, then distributed them to the people staying there. It was really hot in the kitchen and Liana started to feel sick for a while. But the macaroni salad was really good. The people were really comical and we enjoyed serving them and watching them come back for more helpings.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Welcome to our Mission Trip Blog
Welcome to the news feed for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's mission teams. We start this endeavor with our Project Hospitality Mission Team serving the poor and those living with HIV/AIDS in Staten Island, NY. Our team of 12+ begins our mission on July12 and will return to Clifton Park on July 18. Check here daily during that time for updates and news on the mission and its participants.
Meanwhile here's how you can help:
1. We still have openings for those who want to participate. Please contact Pastor Jeff Silvernail at pastorjeff@poplutheranchurch.org for more details.
2. You can buy a share in the mission trip for $10 (3 for $25). Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a great mission, but you will also be invited to a special ice cream social with the mission trip team members to hear their stories first hand. Shares are on sale Sunday mornings at Prince of Peace or call 518-371-2226.
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