What do you get if you mix 37 "mature" adults, 60 children, a plate of Polish sausage, a fire hydrant, 12 gallons of paint, and a lot of prayer? You get PHILADELPHIA!
The mission trip to Philadelphia during the first week in August means different things to everybody who went, but there were some things that are almost universal.
It was Dave Pritchard singing the "Lord's Army" song at the puppet show. It was Marcia Smith's kids zonked out after doing the slide. It was a cut-throat game of kickball...sorry Cathy D. It was a little hike that four people did coming back from a ball game...what did that policeman say, Kaye? It was the third grade cheer...one more time, Ron. It was the mental dexterity displayed by Jennie Rivers, John Swindler, and Kitten McGregor, while they tried to work with the fourth grade and remain sane. It was Henry, Cindy, and Abby playing choo-choo train with the pre-schoolers. It was George Smith learning how to use a camera and doing all the sites in an hour's time. It was the natural ability seen by Johnny Kinsey and Wayne Catoe in teaching the Bible. It was Myron Broadwell's travelogues...who did you say sculpted those light poles? It was Neal Knighton's sense of direction and his historical trivia questions. It was Jim Schmid's patience with those of us, who had never picked up a hammer before. It was Jan Butler, who was a real trooper, despite her eye...hope it gets better. It was all of the craft people, who made the things for the kids, and finding them later torn up on the street. It was the puppet people, who had to endure five shows a day, including a Day Camp, who came from another part of the park...but it was worth it. It was James Staggs eating 20 (count 'em) pieces of chicken at Amish country and lived to tell about it. It was Ben Wyman laughing at EVERYTHING. It was "Miss Myrl" telling the fifth grade to be quiet. It was Jennie looking like a Martian after paint day, but who cared with the open fire hydrant? It was Joanne's and Patty's level heads, when all around was chaos. It was everybody else not mentioned specifically, who added to the fun.
It was also the children, which is why we went. The first day, we had 60 children to contend with, which was many more than we dreamed would be there. They captured our hearts and our love. To see kids begging Johnny if they could be next in riding on his shoulders, and to see them waiting at the door of the church to go to the park...we saw why we were there. It was for Richard and Peter and Marva and Carol and Mike and Abraham and Veronica and Justin and Zoom and every other child who was touched and who touched us.
The high point for many people happened Wednesday night. During the church's prayer meeting, we had been asked to provide the music for the program. Listening outside of the church, unknown to us, there was a little girl. After the service was over, a knock came from the door. It was the girl. She wanted to know if the music was over. So, John Swindler sang a song especially for her. There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. The child had taught us something, and it continues with us today. The lesson we learned was to never take anything for granted, whether it be friends or what.
There is so much else that could be put into this recipe of fun and reflection, such as the owner of the deli next to the church. He was named Chester, and he helped us out a lot. There was Diane, who was the missionary for the trip. There were the two summer missionaries. But, most of all, there was prayer. Prayer from FBC and from each other. Thanks for that. God blessed us in Philadelphia, and will continue to in the future.
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