We made it!

I thought I would create this blog so that friends and family back home can follow what's happening here in Waco during our mission trip. Feel free to pass the web address along to anyone who may not yet have it.

After saying goodbye to all our families, praying for a safe trip, and loading up we all headed to Austin Avenue UMC in Waco, TX. Upon arriving at the church we all unloaded and went into the fellowship hall where we joined Chris Mesa (a former pastor of mine from Kingswood UMC in Burleson and current pastor at Austin Avenue) and some church goers for an evening communion service. We were led in music by a great band and Rev. Mesa gave a brief commentary on Isaiah 58:6-12 (NRSV, The Message). He read from The Message and highlighted it's message of making communities livable again. And in some ways that is what we will be doing, helping to make things more livable, or in some cases, more bearable.

This all was followed by some great brisket, sausage, potato salad, and green beans prepared by the great Stephens Duo, Roger and Sarah. One advantage of being on mission trip is that I actually eat better than I do at home.

We had a quick tour of our sleeping quarters. The boys were upset because they have a plain room with just a floor while the girls get the youth room with couches and pool tables, ping pong, and foosball.

Each night in our worship we are splitting into small groups and working through a lesson in our mission trip booklets. Tonight we read the different accounts of how Jesus called the first disciples John 1:35-42, Matthew 4:18-22, and Luke 5:1-11. We talked about their differences and how we can learn something that will improve our trip from each. In John we learn to ask ourselves what we are looking for, in Matthew we learn to be flexible like the disciples who left their possessions behind to follow Jesus with no plan, and from Luke we learned to follow the will of God even if it seems stupid or crazy.

We capped the night off with some ice cream and a little free time before lights out at 10. That was an hour ago, and I need some sleep myself. I hope to write more tomorrow night, so check in to see how our day went.

Blessings,
Nick Scott