Bike Out Hunger Update

Editorial note: Blogger was down for some time last week, so please excuse the delay in this posting.

By: Meredith Steffen

At the beginning of the week we spilt into three groups based on miles per hour; group A, B, and C.

The first day I decided to try group B and it went pretty well so the second day I went with the same group. On Wednesday, the third day of the ride, there was some slight reorganizing of the groups. Group B wanted to increase their speed by a few miles per hour and when I heard this I was hesitant to continue on with that group.

I really wasn’t sure where to go so I just started on my own and eventually found a small group that was just my speed. Along the way we pushed one another to continue on and we never allowed too much distance to come between each other. Wednesday felt great and by the end of the ride the majority of my nerves had settled.

Thursday morning I woke up feeling confident and with news of a somewhat shorter ride I had no doubt that I would have another great day. I was wrong. The first ten miles were tough. I started in a larger group and immediately fell behind.

There was one man in that large group who was in the same group with me the day before and when he saw me slowing down he stuck with me and told me to keep at my own pace.

Each morning we have a devotional before the ride and this morning’s devotional was about how people need community to finish well. At the time I had no idea how true this would prove to be. Cycling is applicable to life; we all need community.

Tuesday - Bike Out Hunger

Yesterday we got off coarse. It added an additional 14 miles to a 65 mile day. Such is life.

Sometimes we work hard for a great cause but we still find ourselves lost.

Today we rode 69 miles to Nacogdoches, TX. The beautiful east Texas pines screamed at me to keep peddling. I rode with a new friend who was in severe pain. I kept telling him to stop and let the sag wagon (help vehicle) pick him up. He refused. Such is life.

Sometimes well intentioned people will tell you to stop.

Endurance to keep going in the midst of difficult situations is hard to find. But ever so often, someone will come up beside you and say, “you got this!” or “Great job!” This helps me to keep pushing. Such is life.

Just when you are ready to give up someone opens a door so you can keep going.

Bike Out Hunger is one way that Texas Baptist’s are opening the door of life through feeding programs, training and support. We proclaim this at every rest stop, hotel and church we see along the way. Such is life.

See pictures and video at http://bikeouthunger.texasbaptists.org

Scott

Final Days of Serve H*Town

In many ways this experience has been more tiring than leaving our zip code for a mission trip. Everyday we came home to family, work, and friendship responsibilities. Students would leave Serve H*Town and head to the rodeo, go to work, or baseball games. It was an exhausting week BUT completely worth all the effort.

Everything we did (and DO) is about people. The VBS showed love to children in a nearby apartment complex. The "fun" experiences where about us drawing closer as a youth group. The Houston Food Bank was about us making sure children on free/reduced food programs had enough to eat on the weekends. The Helping Hands Garden (urban garden) was about making sure people have access to healthy food. It is ALL about people.

We got a t-shirt's that will be worn on Sunday morning but my deep hope is that we gained a greater awareness of God and His work. I hope that we (the Church) can be aware of God whatever city we find ourselves in. Missions is not about changing zip codes. It's who we are as the people of God. So let's serve ______________ (fill in name of city you are currently located).

Peace to you on the journey...

Pictures

Serve H*Town - Tuesday & Wednesday Thoughts

Most of the time I (Scott) am the point person for trips but this mission week has been different. Heather Mooney has been in charge (and doing a GREAT job). It has been great to watch her and our students step up and lead. This freedom in the midst of controlled chaos :) has given me time to think. Here are a few thoughts...

Thought #1:
Over the last few days, we have seen receptive people in northwest Houston. They are grateful we are at their apartment complex. Many come and watch as we have fun and interact with their children. Several are opening up to God's truth. In a word they are: receptive.

Thought #2:
Many times we make missions or God's mission about us. We ask questions like, "What do I want to do?" or "Where do I want to go?" We end up with self-serving ministries that drive our self-serving goals. The way of Jesus calls us to deeper interactions that demand sacrifice. Fulfilling God's call will not be convenient BUT it will be worth it.

Thought #3:
The rawness of students draws me into a way of living that is more genuine than I know how to express. The approach is honest - "why are we doing this?" The attitude is real - "I am tired." The excitement is contagious - "I LOVE the kids in my VBS group!"

Thought #4:
It feels good to serve kids but our goal is singular: love because God first loved us. Faith driven by moralism is traded for a Kingdom mindset that sets Christ at the center. Self-serving mission work is traded for a sacrificial life that puts Christ at the center. Our desire to be heard is traded for the trust that God's work will be accomplished as Christ is placed at the center.


Side note: The blog is not letting me post pictures right now. I will try and publish a blog of pictures too!

Serve H*Town Monday Edition - The Future is Now

Before any mission trip you must brace yourself for the unpredictable and embrace flexibility. This is what students do best...they LOVE the adventure. Today we started our VBS with many excited children, students, and adults. The rain found us but it did not stop us. We were able to have rec time, Bible study, snack, crafts, and free time! You should be SO proud of our students!

After lunch in the bus we headed over to Northwest Mall (the old JC Penny's) to work with the Houston Food Bank. Today from 1:00-4:30pm about 40 JVBCers filled 2,001 bags of food for school aged students to take home on Friday's so they have food for the weekend. Did you hear me? 2,001 kids will have bags of food because we volunteered! The workers seemed surprised by our ability to work and stay on task. I was not surprised at all.

Many people tell me that students are the future of the Church. I always agree politely but I must admit that I also have great concern with this statement. When I see what students did today I want to shout, "They are the Church NOW!" While it is true that they are growing and maturing in their faith and will lead the Church into many new adventures, we must be willing to learn from them. Here is what I learned today...

1. Sacrifice. Students are giving up the freedom of Spring Break to serve people. When was the last time I gave up a day or week to serve someone? Don't put it off that they, "just students"...they have things they could be doing. Several of them have taken off work, sacrificed family vacations, and/or skipped invitations from friends.

2. Be excited about what you do. I LOVE how students are willing to have fun in ANY situation. I watched as two JVBC students made a soccer ball from a water bottle during a break time at the Food Bank! How cool is that! I believe there are spiritual lessons in this.

3. People want to be engaged. It is too easy to sit back passively in life and/or church without ever engaging people. Giving our students opportunity to interact with children at an apartment complex and people at a Food Bank shapes who they are becoming. You can't do the work of the Kingdom without engaging people.

4. Be flexible. Sometimes our plans fail. Learn to adjust. Again, many spiritual lessons in this.

What a GREAT week ahead!

Serve H*Town Sunday Edition

Tonight students, adults, and college students started a week long journey as we learn to serve Houston...our hometown. There is a temptation to leave so we can be on mission for God. Somehow the feelings of leaving our zip code make it easier to be on a "mission trip." This week we are trying to learn what it means to be on a mission trip within our hometown.

Please pray for us as we begin the VBS tomorrow morning and serve at the Houston Food Bank.

The pictures focus on students preparation tonight in the Warehouse.