We are home!

Oh how sweet the Oregon air is.  It just feels like, well it feels like home.

Mount Hood looked beautiful on our flight home.

Oregon is one green state, at least the west side, and a river or two runs through it :-)

After some challenges at JFK airport, we made it through security with tickets in hand. Whewww, traveling with a party of 21.  By the way, did you know that you can't carry 3 full water bottles in your carry-on luggage through security?  Apparently, they frown on that.  Oh well at least it added some excitement to our trip.

Rolling Hills Community Church High School Mission to New York 2013

Good Bye New York.  All of us saying good bye to our Forward Edge hosts at JFK airport.

The plane ride was a little like musical chairs at 39,000 ft.  The students knew the trip was ending and wanted to spend as much time as they could with everyone on the team.  I sat by 5 different students and I never changed seats.

Mt. Hood close-up.

Rob said that he will be glad to not be counting every time we prepare to leave a spot.  It usually went a little like this.  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...Has anyone seen #6, where is #6?  Oh, there they are under that end table.  Okay let's start over, has anyone seen Dennis?  Dennis! :-)

We have arrived in Portland!

Now let the reunions begin.  I love this part of the trip.  Joyful reunions.  This is what I think heaven will look like.  Well, without the luggage and security guards.  Hmmm, maybe the angels will look like security guards to us.  The day will come when you and I will meet our maker and when we do, if we have accepted Jesus as our savior, we will meet with our fellow believers, the prophets, the saints, and our Lord.  The pictures below capture a sweet homecoming, just a taste of what we have to look forward to.

Welcome home Liam!

A lot of smiles.

It's good to see you John!

Collin and Mom, with Tatum, Liam, Halston, Chuck,

Jonathan and Liam, FRESHMAN POWER!

On returning I was asked, "Has your participation in this mission deepened your relationship with God?".  Yes it has.  Because I was God's hands and feet to the people in New York.  Obviously to the families that I directly helped, but also to the people in the airports and the people in New York that I met in passing or spoke to briefly.  They also saw God working through me as I shared that we gave up a week of our lives to help strangers 3,000 miles away from home.  Why?  Because Jesus gave so much to us, by living his life and dying on the cross for our sins.  We are overflowing with gratefulness,  and want to share the love He gave to us.  

So the mission trip has made me more aware that I am always a representative of Christ;  at work, on a mission, eating a restaurant, wherever I am, and that stirs a desire in me to know Him better.