One Stop Before I Go

Observations on a mission trip with St. Mary Magdalene and St. Luke teen ministries.

I just returned home from spending 24 hours with our parish's teen youth ministry as they washed feet, provided new shoes, and did yard work for their fellow citizens in Raleigh this week. My day began with a 6am stop at Bruegger's Bagels where I picked up a freshly baked donation of food for our teens and delivered it 3 miles deep into Umstead Park at the group camp in which they were staying. The cabins are scattered throughout the woods, rustic and simple, but offering the protection of a floor, roof, screens, and wooden bed. I was greeted with wild tales of bugs, flies, and the stray mouse, but the kids were quickly becoming acclimated to their new outdoor home. On their second night and after a tiring day working in the parks and neighborhoods of downtown Raleigh, the teens were able to set aside their fears of the dark wooded site and welcome the refreshment that a good night's sleep offered.

After breakfast and prayer, we loaded the vans that were now filled with new shoes, socks, wash basins, towels, bleach, gloves, ointment, powder, and eager teens and chaperones who wondered what the day would bring.

When we arrived in Moore Square, there was already a line of about 100 people waiting for the opportunity to get a new pair of shoes. Having done this the day before, the teens quickly set up their washing stations, shoe distribution system, and line for giving coupons to those who couldn't be properly fitted that day. Youth Minister Russ Hoyt from St. Luke's parish got on his megaphone and advised the crowd about how the morning would proceed. Then the teens assumed their places and people began to fill the chairs. The kids smiled at their "customers", asked them if they would like to have their feet washed, and then asked about their shoe sizes and preferences as other teens ran off to fill the orders. Small talk and smiles, handshakes and hugs were exchanged as the teens served each person before them. Sometimes there was disappointment when a size or hoped-for brand preference couldn't be met and this at times was hard to accept for the kids who had to deliver the news. They were offered coupons to "Share Our Shoes" for the customers and reassurance to the teens in those uncomfortable situations. At lunch in a nearby park, Russ and Liz (the youth minister at St. Mary Magdalene) debriefed the teens couseled them that while they may not be able to fill everyone's cup, they were being called to empty their own in a spirit of generosity.

The afternoon was spent pulling vines and debris out of some of the yards located not too far from the park. I went to the home of a woman named Doris who along with her daughter and grandson, were moved to tears when they saw the transformation of her yard to one filled with flowers as long-buried garden beds were uncovered after years of neglect. It was a satisfying project for our teens too, who could see the fruits of their hard labor after two days.

In the evening we returned to camp, showered and relaxed as we played games, ate another donated meal, and spent a half hour before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration and prayer. After another rousing game and a strategy meeting for the remainder of the week, we went off to bed and slept well in the cool night air.

In the morning, more chaperones arrived with warm smiles and a freshly baked breakfast; a welcomed infusion into the mission team. Back at home, a text to my phone read, "Moore Square was packed today. Please God multiply our shoes."

Amen.

Location:Raleigh, NC