by Missy Lein

“…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

– Romans 12:5

Service, dance party , bump, devotions, reflection, sleeping in the same room with 49 other people, pinkberry, homelessness, prayer, gratitude, hiking, joy, community…what do these things all have in common? BPYG mission trip!

The youth worked with 5 different ministries in Pasadena and LA. We painted, cleaned out donation centers and garages, worked at the salvation army, moved furniture, and put on VBS for kids at the Harambee Center. They were quick to offer their hands in help and slow to complain. They moved me with their compassion, good humor, and ability to give of themselves to both the communities we were serving and to each other.

One of my favorite moments was taking time to look around and observe the youth during devotions on a warm, sunny day at the park after working. Spread out on the lawn, some reading, some praying, and some maybe napping, here’s what I wrote, “I love looking around and watching these students working together, playing together, and thinking and talking about life and faith and community together…’

That’s a lot of what occurred during the week- working, playing, reflecting, talking, and praying together. What’s left in my heart is the sense that we learned about being community together. Dan always reminds us during baptisms that we belong to God. I love that reminder! What I was left with after 7 days in Pasadena with 50 youth and youth leaders is joy and gratitude knowing, in Christ, by community, we also belong to each other.