By Eric Sands
This year, Carlisle UMC resumed its mission work which had been on pause since February 2020. The following month, COVID-19 closed down businesses, schools and churches throughout the United States and the world. Little did we know it would be three years before we would again head back out to serve as Jesus commanded. Natural disasters continued to occur, but with the virus presenting variant after variant, few churches felt that the circumstances allowed for safe participation.
In February and June of 2023, our church ventured back into the mission field heading into Western Tennessee and Kentucky to assist with the local Volunteers in Mission/UMCOR to work on homes damaged by the December 2021 “Mayfield” tornadoes. After three years of waiting to get back into the field, we believe we were blessed as much as, or more than, the families we served.
On the way, we worshiped with Brentwood UMC in Brentwood, Tennessee. Worshiping with a different group of Christians was a powerful experience. We found that we heard and felt more of the worship experience. Often, when we worship in our home church, we sit in the same seats, talk to the same people, sing familiar songs, and listen to a familiar pastor’s voice. Worshiping differently with our mission team gave us comfort in being amongst friends and allowed us to both experience God in different ways and better appreciate our own church.
As we prepared for work each morning, team members used the time as an opportunity to connect on a deeper level with smaller groups of people. These interactions differed from our normal church activities because it continuously built day after day. Though this continued throughout the day, once we arrived at the work site(s), the focus shifted to the family(s) we served.
Over the week, our team served three families repairing varying amounts and types of damage. We worked on putting the finishing touches on a house that had been completely destroyed, repaired damage to wiring, ceilings, and cleaned, sealed and painted two rooms and repaired water damage, holes in walls, and painted some more.
The team was blessed to spend time with each of the owners in different ways. We found common interests, listened to stories of young and old, played with children and cheered them on as they showed off their roller blading/bike tricks, and we received notes of thanks and encouragement each day from one owner. As is often the case when we go out and help our neighbors, we are often the ones that learn and grow the most. We felt God working in their lives and ours.
Photos courtesy of Eric Sands
