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MISSION BEYOND 2010 This year’s mission camp theme of “Undeserved” felt particularly relevant given the living conditions of many residents in whom we served. During the week, we focused on daily spiritual messages through discussions and devotions. Prayers revolved around how we or the residents of the area are not necessarily “deserving” of the lot in life we’re given. The “Undeserved” theme delved deeper each day using the story of the prodigal son and how we are all prodigal in our relationship with God. Every year, we serve a different community, but this year’s experience in Rochester, NY was unlike any we’ve done in the past. Much of the community we served was very impoverished. Many residents see substance abuse and theft regularly in their neighborhood. Several of the residents served by our youth asked specifically for help in simply securing the doors and windows in their homes from theft. Many homes were in major disrepair, to the extent of needing gaps in windows and doors filled in to keep out severe cold weather and not put them in unsafe living conditions. Many of our youth were very moved by the many community stories and experiences we shared during our youth group devotions. One story in particular was very touching: one of our first time missioners was working on a woman’s home. This sixth grade participant shared with us that when he first met her, she was very depressed. However, as the week went on, she seemed to come alive. What he didn’t know, that we later learned, was that she had lost her son to a car wreck recently and our sixth grade participant looked and acted exactly like her son. She felt as if God had given her son back to be around for just that one week! Overall, our Mission Beyond 2010 participants returned home from this experience with a much different perspective on life. Having been on several mission trips before, it was a real blessing to see our youth truly pour their hearts out to each other in evening devotions and in their service toward others. Sometimes it is hard to fathom how one week can have such an impact on one’s life, but that is a miracle in itself! Every year our youth are afforded the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the others which, in turn, changes theirs. God’s love was very real on this year’s trip and that was what this blessed parish has done for our youth, adult leaders, and some people of Rochester, NY. The Christ Church Youth and all participants want to thank you all for your invaluable support this year as we continue to change lives! Helping the Neediest: Mission Beyond 2010 Every year, the Christ Church youth make their trek to a new destination to assist some hungry people—those in need of home repair and, often, spiritual nourishment as well. Mission Beyond 2010 will take our youth and adult participants to Rochester, NY. Why this particular location, you may ask?. Group Workcamps, who host this year’s mission trip, does a splendid job of locating areas across our country and the world that are most in need. For starters, more than 29% of Rochester residents live below the poverty level and 13% of Rochester residents have an income of less than 50% of the poverty level. In both cases, the poverty rate is more than double the average elsewhere in the state of New York. Even worse, 45% of Rochester children live in poverty. That is why each one of our mission participants will be responsible for bringing at least 5 canned goods with them to donate to the local Rochester food bank to help those at the poverty level who are most in need. Rochester is a prime example of many communities in the manufacturing belt of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and upstate New York that have been hard hit by the continued flight of manufacturing facilities to overseas outsourcing. Just to name a few, Rochester has lost Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Valeo, and Delphi manufacturing facilities to China. Obviously, this represents a significant job loss for the community and even those who can find employment again will earn, on average, $10,000 less annually. Our mission participants are excited to have the opportunity to reach out to the Rochester community and make a difference in their lives both physically through home repair and spiritually with our fellowship, devotions, and prayer. We have three aspirations we hope to instill in each participant for the mission trip every year. We hope first and foremost to serve the local community in which we are called to work, both physically and spiritually. There is a very unique byproduct that results from serving others. I have found that my personal relationship with God has been greatly enhanced through serving others. I have found a greater insight into Jesus’ ministry of humble servitude to others and how it afforded him a closer walk with the Father. Second, we hope to break our participants out of their regular routine and allow them to open their minds and hearts to the work they are doing and what God is doing with them internally through their service. Usually, we find that about midway through the mission trip, we have broken loose of our routine and allowed our mind to settle on the spiritual and mental opening that can happen through the week long trip. Finally, we hope to help our participants in their faith journey by providing daily devotions, youth group discussions, and morning and evening worship that include music, activities, and a message. All of this is intended to give every Mission Beyond participant a path to seek a deeper presence of God in their lives. Our Mission Beyond participants are very appreciative for the spiritual and financial support of our wonderful parish. We will be traveling by charter bus to Rochester to give our participants the opportunity to bond as we make our way to the work site. We thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for each participant as we embark on this physical, mental and spiritual journey. We trust that God will touch our lives in a profound way. Daniel Ciufi, Youth Ministry Director
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