Mission Trip: Charlotte 2017

Tyler had been asking to go on a mission trip for awhile...but Jason and I weren't quite ready to let him go off into the wild wild world. The middle school at church was planning a trip to inner-city Charlotte...so it was the perfect solution!

We stayed in a gym/church near uptown Charlotte. We didn't find out until we arrived that there was NO air conditioning!!! Ah!!! 

It served as a very HOT reminder that we were indeed on a missions trip!

Each day we would get up and head to a local ministry that serves refugees.

 

Project 658 offers different resources to the surrounding neighborhoods. They hold English language classes, Bible studies, and varying different classes on job skills. They provide free meals and have a store that the visitors can pick out clothes and necessities.

We hosted a VBS for the children that attended the classes with their parents.

We had SUCH a fun time with all the kiddos that week

...singing, crafting, playing, dancing, and memorizing God's Word.

Tyler was put on the praise and worship team. 

This was not what he had been hoping for...

dancing...singing.

But he ended up having a great time getting all of the kids excited about worship!

All of the kids that attended were so sweet.

 But one especially stole Tyler's heart...he would hold his hand...sit in his lap...and talk in his cute little voice. 

He had Tyler wrapped!

In the afternoons, we would head to an apartment complex that houses most of the refugee families.

There we would do whatever we could to have fun with the kiddos and try and engage the parents. We hosted a free barbecue, painted faces, played soccer...

more soccer...and even more soccer!!

The evenings were spent back at the church/gym spending time going over the day.

I have been on many different missions trips...as the student...as the leader...but this was the first as a parent.

I loved watching Tyler interact with the kids...those his age and those younger than him.

To watch ministry become tangible for him.

To watch each opportunity he had to share the love of Jesus.

I am so thankful that I was able to go and share in this special week with him.