It’s been three days since the team of students and adults from FaithWestwood United Methodist got home from our mission trip to Chicago. I’m still tired and only beginning to process this experience that so stretched us physically, spiritually and relationally.

We made beds and served meals at a homeless shelter, played with kids, talked, listened and prayed with people God directed us to, picked up trash, made jewelry, painted nails and faces, played basketball, gave away snow cones and did a lot of sweating. We prayed and asked God to show us where to go and what to do. The days were long and busy and the AIM team asked a lot of us. Everything did not go smoothly.

And that was good.

We were without so many of the conveniences we have at home, and the work we did required us to set aside our comfort and preferences for the good of the group we served with or the people we were serving. 

This trip helped me get a grasp on what Jesus meant when he said, “If you keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life” (Matthew 16:25, NLT).

Thank you so much to the AIM team and to the students and adults from Minnesota, Ohio and Nebraska for this great, deep experience. God used you.