A reflection on our Chicago Mission Trip written by trip co-planner Chris George:
On March 31st we all met and had a great sense of community as we made tacos and played Hoopla [A boardgame], and had a great opening devotion on the roof of Holy Trinity. What we didn’t know was what the heck we were going to experience while on this trip, and for some it was an adventure from the start for this was their first trip to the Windy City. We trekked our way through the fog you couldn’t see through, wand what seemed to be countless hours driving through Ohio, but when we saw that CHicago Skyline it was all worth it. We had made it to the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago (after switching to the GPS) and were moved into our new home, ready to do some service.
“...just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” - Matthew 25:40
This whole journey we were on while in Chicago will impact the rest of our lives -- it is written on the mind and hearts of all that went. Those minds and hearts were impacted in some amazing ways. They were impacted by the places we walked through, from the affluence of downtown and certain neighborhoods, to the poverty and despair of neighborhoods literally a few blocks down the street. They were impacted by the people we encountered: from the men and women we served and helped out at the rest shelters, to the people we met and helped with taxes and on the scavenger hunt. This trip also impacted us in ways that made us think about how this happens. How does a person with a master’s degree, or a veteran end up homeless? How can we help the injustice in the world, and help people to be treated the ay people should be treated? This trip helped us to open our eyes to something completely different then some of the things that we don’t always see every day, and for me, I am even more grateful for what I have been given and all of this keeps me motivated to help out whenever I can.
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