How can we serve you today?

Another team, another logical point at which to split their week into two blogs; here goes part I. No matter though: these nine wonderful humans asked me the title question at least once a day, everyday, because I was sick for a majority of their time here, and because southern hospitality. I'm talking about Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA! I have to hand it to the Rev. Tim Davis (below, 3rd from left) for getting an international mission trip off the ground a mere year and a half after accepting his call there (he previously served in the DR in March 2022 with his former congregation mere weeks after relocating cross-country).  

Trinity represents a team we'd been recruiting for a number of years, to help us put on the first ever national youth retreat for the confessional Lutheran youth of the five DRLM congregations. The retreat took place at a Catholic retreat center in the mountains, but first, we spent two full days in Santiago planning, shopping, and prepping for the aspects of the event I'd earmarked as things we could take off the local team's plate. Why don't you tag along?

Driver Rudy and his copilot, Pastor Tim. 

Score! Cardboard from PriceSmart (like Sam's or Costco) for the guys' special project. 

Unloading the goods from store #1. 

How many Lutherans does it take to decide on the best bean bag filler material?

I say often that all teams are mission education teams, and I mean it. After befriending sem couple Carlos & Berkis his last time here, I knew Pastor Tim & co. would enjoy seeing them in action at Wednesday escuela bíblica in Cienfuegos.

Sore throat and all, I interpreted Pastor Tim's devotion on loving God and loving others...because God first loved us. 

It was my first time accompanying this particular activity, and I have a whole new respect for how much work it is. Carlos & Berkis typically bring the crafts 70% assembled. 

10/10 recommend hosting a team that makes YOU dinner! The backstory is that all but one of their trip fundraisers involved food; one was selling 250 take-and-bake pizzas!

The answer to the above question re: beanbags was rice...although we realized that, in contrast to beans, it was small enough to spill all over the place if the bags' top seams weren't stitched tightly enough. 

Thursday morning, the GA team got a behind-the-scenes look at how our team functions at the weekly regional meeting. At its conclusion, these two meat-loving men had a moment when Pastor Tim presented Pastor Fritzler, another friend from March 2022, with a grilling-themed gift box. 

You guys, they MADE cornhole. Two sets!

They also took Pastor Lucas's (the DRLM pastor most responsible for pulling off the retreat) request for some photo booth style props and knocked it out of the park. 

Finally, on Friday, it was time to pile everything into the bus and head to the retreat center - the day before the youth were set to arrive. I was feeling pretty terrible by then and seriously considered staying back but decided to soldier on. Our en route cultural excursion was extremely chill - a boat ride and leisurely lunch - and then for the rest of the weekend, my nine chicks were in charge of everything!

This is what I mean by chill :)

Stay tuned for part II - in which I attempt to sleep off whatever nasty bug was going around, all the while soaking in what will go down in history as a first for the DRLM. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!