Summer Exploration: First Lutheran youth enriched by urban experience

Earlier this month, New Rockford's First Lutheran Church partnered with Urban Immersion Service Retreats (UISR) to lead a group of 10 youth and four adults to Minneapolis on a youth-based urban immersion mission trip.

UISR helped to create a retreat that focused on the complexities of poverty through a lens of faith and service in the community. The participants who traveled to Minneapolis assisted with projects such as distributing food and clothing, stocking shelves, doing yard work and providing childcare at emergency service organizations. They also inspected and rolled blankets while volunteering at Bridging MN.

Bridging MN, or just simply Bridging, is a non-profit organization that was founded on one simple, yet powerful idea, that "together we can create a bridge between those in need and those with excess." It is through the effective reuse of donated items that Bridging MN seeks to improve lives by providing quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.

Youth and adults alike participated in educational exercises and programs in the evening. During one such simulation, they broke into small groups and discussed how, if they were a family of five, they could afford to live on an income just above the poverty line. They had to made decisions about food, housing, healthcare, childcare, etc.

When participants were asked about their most memorable experience from the trip, they had plenty to share.

Pastor Doug Nemitz: "My most memorable moments were seeing the excitement, enthusiasm, and energy of our youth as they considered how we might educate others about poverty and homelessness and how we might continue in serving. It was wonderful to see the joy in our youth as they interacted with the staff at Urban Immersion Service Retreats."

Kadon Hilbert: "My friend Josh said there was an opening for an extra person to go on a mission trip to Minneapolis, so he asked me to go along! The trip was a lot of fun! While we were there I washed an oven, mowed a lawn, handed out food to the less fortunate, sorted gummy bears and stocked shelves. Working with kids and the food pantry while the parents got food was a great experience. Thank you for letting me come along. I had a lot of fun!"

Tara Seward: "I think the most memorable part of the trip for me was being able to help the people in need and see how appreciative they were. I also felt the poverty simulation we participated in was very eye opening for both the adults and the kids."

Joshua Homiston: "Seeing the different ways of life and being opened up to poverty."

Amy Cudworth: "Poverty and simulation."

Cherry Heinz: "Proud of the kids when the workers told us we were one of the best groups they have ever had volunteer."

Amzi Meier: "Listening to workers at Bridging MN tell about how happy families were to get furniture."

Chole Heinz: "Bridging MN and seeing how much stuff was donated to help others."

Mya Cudworth: "Talking and playing with the kids."

Cassie Longnecker: "Meeting all the new people and knowing that I have made a difference no matter how big or small."

Hallie Brown: "Taking this trip to Minneapolis was a very eye opening experience. I never really realized how much some people were in need until I became face-to-face with them, and had many conversations. I definitely would recommend this experience and I definitely want to go again whenever I get the chance."

Macey Wobbema: "On the second day a speaker came in and talked about her life with a boyfriend who was kind of abusive to her and also sold drugs. Her story was empowering because she overcame being poor to living a good life with her kids when she got away. The last day we talked about all the ways that we could help with poverty in our community."

More information about Urban Immersion Service Retreats can be found on their website at http://www.uisr-mn.org.

This week's Summer Exploration feature is sponsored by Styles by Glenda, Bird Dawg Cafe, Central Pharmacy, Do it Best Hardware/NAPA and Mick's 281 Service Champ's Chicken.