The title to this post is a bit misleading. Perhaps it would be said better if I just said, “WE ARE HOME!!!” That is a victory in itself, but that doesn’t mean that a huge part of me is not still in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi with my friends, both Choctaw and the mission team for the week.
I thought this might be a good post to give everyone an overview of the entire week. Some of the things we did included:
- A four-day VBS program orchestrated by our new friend, Rachel.
- A five-day adult Bible study mostly led by our friend Jeanne, from Wellington, New Zealand (yes, our team is international!)
- A evening at the Choctaw Fair, where we watched the first half of the stickball game where Bok Cito (Bogue Chitto) won against Pearl River. Go Bok Cito!
- A local Choctaw taught many on our team how to weave stickballs. Totally cool!
- Lots of impromptu stickball games in the front of the church where we stayed between locals and some kids on the mission team.
- A gigantic slip and slide – what fun!
- Several visits to a local retirement home from which lots of great stories were told.
- We helped a local pastor and his wife move.
- Eyeball Pictures. 😀
- Prayer walks, where we pray for communities, services, leadership, etc. This was a great experience.
- Covering prayer, where we covered the rest of our group in prayer as they went about their tasks.
- An obstacle course.
- We spend most of a day cleaning a local church.
- Fantastic Indian Tacos
- Old friends and new friendships
- And much, much more.
When we left this morning, and even last night before bed, hugs were exchanged, laughter happened, tears fell, and hearts were bonded. I love the folks in Bogue Chitto, and honestly, I miss them already. I would name names, but there are so many that touched me, so many relationships that were built, so many that I feel bonded to, I worry I would miss one. Each and every one is important to me.
Have you ever been on a mission trip? Have you ever devoted a significant amount of time making the difference in the life of another? If not, you really shouldn’t put it off any more. Consider partnering with a mission group, perhaps even a Native American mission group, and use what you have been blessed with to make the difference in the lives of others.