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We're home. Thursday was a full day at the soup kitchen and holding kids club. Friday was a wonderful last day together, complete with a nice last lunch and some time at the beach.
We'll tell some stories at church on Sunday, and then a complete report in September.
Thanks for all your support and prayers!
Friday, July 3, 2015
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Our Day at Work and Free Time Photos
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Today was probably the best day of the trip so far. I started off going to the soup kitchen with my group of Austin, Isaac, Jenna, and Lindsay. After working the breakfast shift we headed back to the Root Cellar to watch a movie with the kids, and eat lunch. The best part of the day was when we went to this sick lobster pace that Dale got for us right on the beach. It was just good to have some group time to ourselves and eat some juicy lobsters. We also wen't exploring on these rocks next to the ocean and me and my bro even wen't for a dip.
Seamus Blair
Today was probably the best day of the trip so far. I started off going to the soup kitchen with my group of Austin, Isaac, Jenna, and Lindsay. After working the breakfast shift we headed back to the Root Cellar to watch a movie with the kids, and eat lunch. The best part of the day was when we went to this sick lobster pace that Dale got for us right on the beach. It was just good to have some group time to ourselves and eat some juicy lobsters. We also wen't exploring on these rocks next to the ocean and me and my bro even wen't for a dip.
Seamus Blair
Day Three in Portland
Day Three in Portland
Shoutout to all the ballers and the hype beast :)
Another early wakeup call this morning at 6:15, my group traveled to Prebble Street, the local soup kitchen. My group consisting of Seamus, Isaac, Jenna, Austin, and myself went to work. We had already been there on Monday and we were slowly starting to get the hang of things. Instead of the harsh working conditions of being a dishwasher, which I was on Monday, instead I helped with food prep. With Jenna by my side cracking over three hundred eggs, I stacked yogurts and set up the tables for service. Seamus and Isaac set up the pastries and Austin helped cook tamales and home fries for service. Once service started, Jenna, Austin, and myself went to work serving. Jenna served the oatmeal and variety of soups that were a big hit. I was able to serve pasta dish which was initially mac and cheese with chicken and bacon. Austin by far had one of the hardest jobs. He was in charge of serving eggs. For the past two weeks, none of the people who came to eat had any eggs. The Avian Flu has prevented the kitchen from getting any eggs and at one time, they had cost as low as $30 and as high as $90 for a case. Austin had to tell people that there was only one serving of eggs that he was able to give out. Although, as service started to die down and when people asked nicely, he was more than willing to shell out another spoonful or so. They were so grateful for the wonderful eggs that they were able to eat. Some were even surprised that they were all fresh eggs! Seamus and Isaac both worked on dishes and did a fantastic job keeping up with the influx of people throughout the service. Sarah helped with dishes as well as the cleaning of plates and helping the boys with the rest of the washing. Pastor Dale on the other hand, was anywhere and everywhere! He helped switched out trays that needed more food and even started cracking his own eggs and frying some of his own on the griddle!
Other than cleaning tables and picking up the salt and pepper shakers from the tables, one of the best experiences I have had on this trip was where I least expected it - in the kitchen alongside one of the head chefs. Mary helped me clean the buckets filled with soapy and grimy water from the tables in the eating area. Formerly a caterer, Mary has been working in the soup kitchen for four years. Even though she is one of the sweetest women I have ever met, she had so much turmoil in her life. She lost four of the most important figures in her life within six months and struggled from a deep depression. After years of grieving, she decided to go back to school to study psychology and became a counselor for people struggling with addiction. She dug herself out from a deep hole and was able to make something good out of her personal struggle. Combining two of her personal struggles, she took to cooking where she could also help people with her newfound knowledge. Mary was one of the amazing people I had the privilege of meeting this trip. We also helped organize a closet at the Root Cellar and watch Rio 2 with the kids who came to eat lunch. After we finish the movie that we are currently watching, we have the rest of the day off where we are going to have dinner and visit a few places because we have the rest of the day off. (It was supposed to be a beach day, but it is raining a lot)
Lindsay
It's day 3 of our mission trip and virtually everything has run smoothly. Here and there we'll encounter minor conflicts whether it be within or outside of our actual PCMK group, but all are always solved with an optimistic attitude. I'm pleased to say that everyone has been nothing but gracious towards each other and there's nothing more gratifying than being acknowledged for your strengths. Last night, Theo took the initiative to recognize my compassion and patience with children. It truly made my day and it was nice to know that we are all so aware of each other and our interactions. It really makes for a better bond. Yesterday, my group of 5 stayed at The Root Cellar for kids club. The children are wonderful; rowdy and eager, but wonderful. Each is a pleasure to work with and they could not have been more happy to be in our hands for the afternoon. We ate lunch with them, sang songs, did arts and crafts, and performed a skit for them. They totally ate it up and could not have been more enthusiastic. Following that, we began to set up in the finished basement of The Root Cellar for a dance party that would take place from 6:00-7:30. We set up streamers to hang from the ceiling and decorated the walls with rainbow lights and the kids could not wait for the DJ to arrive. The dance party was adorable. What's better than 5-10 year old kids dancing around like nobody's watching to mainstream pop songs? That's right...nothing is better. I can't tell you how many pounds I carried and spun around that night. At one point I had a 9 year old on my back, a 5 year old in my right arm on my hip, and a 7 year old hanging onto my leg for dear life. I got more of a workout in that hour and a half than I ever would have at the gym. Prior to yesterday, my team painted a housing complex that was pretty close to "home". We really demonstrated teamwork and patience. It was a tedious task to say the least, but we got it done with smiling faces and a good disposition. I can't wait to see what the next few days have to offer!
Note to all upcoming high schoolers: These trips are unlike anything you have ever experienced. Exposure to the real world is something that we don't get enough of at our age and it is so important to educate yourself and immerse yourself in the things that will impact you for life, such as these trips. I can't express my encouragement enough and I hope all of you who are of age at PCMK will partake in these trips in the future. You can bring your friends too! It's a stunning and life changing journey and very much worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears. Just something to keep in mind!! :)
Bailey
Shoutout to all the ballers and the hype beast :)
Another early wakeup call this morning at 6:15, my group traveled to Prebble Street, the local soup kitchen. My group consisting of Seamus, Isaac, Jenna, Austin, and myself went to work. We had already been there on Monday and we were slowly starting to get the hang of things. Instead of the harsh working conditions of being a dishwasher, which I was on Monday, instead I helped with food prep. With Jenna by my side cracking over three hundred eggs, I stacked yogurts and set up the tables for service. Seamus and Isaac set up the pastries and Austin helped cook tamales and home fries for service. Once service started, Jenna, Austin, and myself went to work serving. Jenna served the oatmeal and variety of soups that were a big hit. I was able to serve pasta dish which was initially mac and cheese with chicken and bacon. Austin by far had one of the hardest jobs. He was in charge of serving eggs. For the past two weeks, none of the people who came to eat had any eggs. The Avian Flu has prevented the kitchen from getting any eggs and at one time, they had cost as low as $30 and as high as $90 for a case. Austin had to tell people that there was only one serving of eggs that he was able to give out. Although, as service started to die down and when people asked nicely, he was more than willing to shell out another spoonful or so. They were so grateful for the wonderful eggs that they were able to eat. Some were even surprised that they were all fresh eggs! Seamus and Isaac both worked on dishes and did a fantastic job keeping up with the influx of people throughout the service. Sarah helped with dishes as well as the cleaning of plates and helping the boys with the rest of the washing. Pastor Dale on the other hand, was anywhere and everywhere! He helped switched out trays that needed more food and even started cracking his own eggs and frying some of his own on the griddle!
Other than cleaning tables and picking up the salt and pepper shakers from the tables, one of the best experiences I have had on this trip was where I least expected it - in the kitchen alongside one of the head chefs. Mary helped me clean the buckets filled with soapy and grimy water from the tables in the eating area. Formerly a caterer, Mary has been working in the soup kitchen for four years. Even though she is one of the sweetest women I have ever met, she had so much turmoil in her life. She lost four of the most important figures in her life within six months and struggled from a deep depression. After years of grieving, she decided to go back to school to study psychology and became a counselor for people struggling with addiction. She dug herself out from a deep hole and was able to make something good out of her personal struggle. Combining two of her personal struggles, she took to cooking where she could also help people with her newfound knowledge. Mary was one of the amazing people I had the privilege of meeting this trip. We also helped organize a closet at the Root Cellar and watch Rio 2 with the kids who came to eat lunch. After we finish the movie that we are currently watching, we have the rest of the day off where we are going to have dinner and visit a few places because we have the rest of the day off. (It was supposed to be a beach day, but it is raining a lot)
Lindsay
It's day 3 of our mission trip and virtually everything has run smoothly. Here and there we'll encounter minor conflicts whether it be within or outside of our actual PCMK group, but all are always solved with an optimistic attitude. I'm pleased to say that everyone has been nothing but gracious towards each other and there's nothing more gratifying than being acknowledged for your strengths. Last night, Theo took the initiative to recognize my compassion and patience with children. It truly made my day and it was nice to know that we are all so aware of each other and our interactions. It really makes for a better bond. Yesterday, my group of 5 stayed at The Root Cellar for kids club. The children are wonderful; rowdy and eager, but wonderful. Each is a pleasure to work with and they could not have been more happy to be in our hands for the afternoon. We ate lunch with them, sang songs, did arts and crafts, and performed a skit for them. They totally ate it up and could not have been more enthusiastic. Following that, we began to set up in the finished basement of The Root Cellar for a dance party that would take place from 6:00-7:30. We set up streamers to hang from the ceiling and decorated the walls with rainbow lights and the kids could not wait for the DJ to arrive. The dance party was adorable. What's better than 5-10 year old kids dancing around like nobody's watching to mainstream pop songs? That's right...nothing is better. I can't tell you how many pounds I carried and spun around that night. At one point I had a 9 year old on my back, a 5 year old in my right arm on my hip, and a 7 year old hanging onto my leg for dear life. I got more of a workout in that hour and a half than I ever would have at the gym. Prior to yesterday, my team painted a housing complex that was pretty close to "home". We really demonstrated teamwork and patience. It was a tedious task to say the least, but we got it done with smiling faces and a good disposition. I can't wait to see what the next few days have to offer!
Note to all upcoming high schoolers: These trips are unlike anything you have ever experienced. Exposure to the real world is something that we don't get enough of at our age and it is so important to educate yourself and immerse yourself in the things that will impact you for life, such as these trips. I can't express my encouragement enough and I hope all of you who are of age at PCMK will partake in these trips in the future. You can bring your friends too! It's a stunning and life changing journey and very much worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears. Just something to keep in mind!! :)
Bailey
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Day Two in Portland
We awoke to a beautiful day in northern New England. Our group is divided into two, based on preparation for two days of Kids Club. YEsterday one group worked in the soup kitchen all day, while the other group painted a public housing unit. Today we had new assignments. One group prepared for our first day of kids club while the other group took their turn at painting and yard work for the Portland Housing Authority.
Once again we were proud of our youth. The preparation our group engaged in really showed. In our meetings we had rehearsed the skit each group had for kids club. We also practiced a classic campfire song, "Boom Chicka Boom," and our youth pulled it off verse after verse, to the delight of the children. Elisabeth is a pro at the kids club stuff and had all the crafts ready to go. So Kids club was a success with a large group of children (mostly from African refugee families).
The group that worked hard outdoors came back tired, but once they had a few moments to sit we all got back to work. Our next assignment late in the afternoon was to decorate the hall for a dance party for the neighborhood kids. They really make the most of this facility in service to the community (and they make the most of having our youth here ready to help)!
Pastor Dale
Today was a really crazy day so far. My group was assigned to work with the Kids' Club here. Kids from the area came to the Root Cellar. We served them a free lunch, played games with them, performed a skit for them to teach them about patience (the theme of the week), taught and sang them songs, and helped them decorate wooden chests to take home. Altogether we were with them for around three hours! They were all very sweet, even if they were super crazy, and hanging out with them was so much fun. Today is one that I definitely won't forget, not just because of the unique experience, but because of the unique kids that we got to know and the unique friendships that we formed with them. Luckily we will probably be seeing them more throughout the week. Right now it's about 4:30 we're all pretty exhausted, but we can't rest yet. Tonight the Root Cellar is having a dance party for the kids so we have to prepare for that now, eat dinner, then go to the dance. It's going to be a long day, but a rewarding one.
Gianina
Monday, June 29, 2015
Day One: Painting and Cooking
Editor's Note: We are having trouble posting pictures this year. We will get it figured out. We have hundreds to post! But in the meantime, enjoy reading about this amazing experience!
This morning I woke up at 6:30. I walked over to the bathroom to brush my teeth. On the way back to my room, I passed a kitchen where Honey Nut Cheerios were opened and on the table. Of course, I checked the fridge for milk, and when I found it, I helped myself to three bowls. Later on, I was told that the food in this kitchen was only for a different mission group and that it was all the food that they had. I still had a bagel when I went to breakfast with our group, but it wasn't as good as the cereal.
Graham
(Editor's note: Graham will be going to Walmart to resupply the Cheerios)
After a long day of traveling, stopping, hurry up and wait, and orientation, we finally arrived at the church we would be staying at for the week. The rooms were surprisingly very bright and spacious with lots of floor space for air mattresses and sleeping bags. Beforehand, we had sat through an evening service hosted in one of the main rooms of "The Root Cellar"(the heart of Portland) which was lead by a spunky bald dude who knew how to keep our attention. Two singers, a male and female, serenaded us three times both before and after the service. It was actually fairly entertaining and allowed for us to look at this week through lenses of compassion, appreciation, and empathy. We truly are lucky for all we've been blessed with and there's nothing more eye opening and humbling than witnessing and living through those who are not as fortunate. We are constantly reminded that sometimes our so called "problems" aren't as significant as we may deem them to be when they're put into perspective. Each day is a blessing. Our lives are absolute blessings. Words can't describe how anxious and excited I am to build these, what I believe are, essential relationships with the people of this community. The stories of the children and adults touch our hearts and minds and feed our souls. It allows for us to see things in a different light, which isn't something we always get much of in Westchester. I could not be more grateful to be apart of this trip (for a third year in a row) and the first day has yet to begin!..It's 8:40am as I type. Wish us luck and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we take on this awesome journey! (I love and miss you mom, dad, and Phoebe!!)
Bailey
Our first day volunteering was a success! We started with an early wakeup of 6:00 am, splitting off into two groups. While the first group painted a housing complex, our group went to the local food shelter to prepare and serve both breakfast and lunch for the homeless. We donned our aprons, and delivered a wonderful breakfast and lunch for three hundred hungry patrons. It was exhausting work and lasted for hours. After serving breakfast, we had a quick rest while eating our sandwiches we prepared beforehand. For lunch that day, a local pizza restaurant donated about one hundred whole pizzas! Seamus and I spent the whole time slicing, seasoning, and heating a total of 400 individual slices. It was an experience, and I had never seen so much pizza in one place. After both breakfast and lunch was served, we finished off by enjoying some iced coffee at a local coffee shop, talking about the day with each other. Finally, we all regrouped and met at a park, spending time with a ton of local kids. We tossed frisbees and footballs, climbed on the monkey bars, and enjoyed the sun for a few hours. It was a blast. With the rest of the groups from around the country, we enjoyed a dinner of spaghetti, getting to know one another. The entire day was exhausting, and i'm certainly ready for what's ahead.
Isaac
This morning I woke up at 6:30. I walked over to the bathroom to brush my teeth. On the way back to my room, I passed a kitchen where Honey Nut Cheerios were opened and on the table. Of course, I checked the fridge for milk, and when I found it, I helped myself to three bowls. Later on, I was told that the food in this kitchen was only for a different mission group and that it was all the food that they had. I still had a bagel when I went to breakfast with our group, but it wasn't as good as the cereal.
Graham
(Editor's note: Graham will be going to Walmart to resupply the Cheerios)
After a long day of traveling, stopping, hurry up and wait, and orientation, we finally arrived at the church we would be staying at for the week. The rooms were surprisingly very bright and spacious with lots of floor space for air mattresses and sleeping bags. Beforehand, we had sat through an evening service hosted in one of the main rooms of "The Root Cellar"(the heart of Portland) which was lead by a spunky bald dude who knew how to keep our attention. Two singers, a male and female, serenaded us three times both before and after the service. It was actually fairly entertaining and allowed for us to look at this week through lenses of compassion, appreciation, and empathy. We truly are lucky for all we've been blessed with and there's nothing more eye opening and humbling than witnessing and living through those who are not as fortunate. We are constantly reminded that sometimes our so called "problems" aren't as significant as we may deem them to be when they're put into perspective. Each day is a blessing. Our lives are absolute blessings. Words can't describe how anxious and excited I am to build these, what I believe are, essential relationships with the people of this community. The stories of the children and adults touch our hearts and minds and feed our souls. It allows for us to see things in a different light, which isn't something we always get much of in Westchester. I could not be more grateful to be apart of this trip (for a third year in a row) and the first day has yet to begin!..It's 8:40am as I type. Wish us luck and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we take on this awesome journey! (I love and miss you mom, dad, and Phoebe!!)
Bailey
Our first day volunteering was a success! We started with an early wakeup of 6:00 am, splitting off into two groups. While the first group painted a housing complex, our group went to the local food shelter to prepare and serve both breakfast and lunch for the homeless. We donned our aprons, and delivered a wonderful breakfast and lunch for three hundred hungry patrons. It was exhausting work and lasted for hours. After serving breakfast, we had a quick rest while eating our sandwiches we prepared beforehand. For lunch that day, a local pizza restaurant donated about one hundred whole pizzas! Seamus and I spent the whole time slicing, seasoning, and heating a total of 400 individual slices. It was an experience, and I had never seen so much pizza in one place. After both breakfast and lunch was served, we finished off by enjoying some iced coffee at a local coffee shop, talking about the day with each other. Finally, we all regrouped and met at a park, spending time with a ton of local kids. We tossed frisbees and footballs, climbed on the monkey bars, and enjoyed the sun for a few hours. It was a blast. With the rest of the groups from around the country, we enjoyed a dinner of spaghetti, getting to know one another. The entire day was exhausting, and i'm certainly ready for what's ahead.
Isaac
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Arriving in Portland on a Dreary Wet Day
Tomorrow we are up early to begin our work with the people here. Some will go on construction detail, while others will work at the homeless shelter/soup kitchen. Should be quite a day.
Here are some thoughts from two of the boys:
After a long and enjoyable bus ride with our companions, we arrived in rainy, windy portland. we met up at the church and got settled around 4 o'clock. at 5 o'clock we all made our way to the Root Cellar and got to know some of the other groups on the trip by eating together and working together to clean up after ourselves. we then got back into the vans and drove around town aimlessly packed into the vehicle like sardines, singing songs and sharing a good laugh, haha. after having a brief meal at the infamous McDonalds, we made our way back to the church and had a half hour of quality time between all of the groups, we now have trouble finding the light switch to eventually end the night.
Austin
T-oday was really fun. We spent a lot of time as a group and preparing for the trip ahead of us. We all cannot wait to help out these people and change their lives.
Seamus
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