BRINGING IT BACK HOME Emma Lancaster opens up about the insights she gained about herself on a recent youth mission trip

As a high school student, life can be pretty distracting. Social media, jobs, friends, and money consume our lives. My summer days had been spent sleeping until noon, hanging with my friends, and staring at my phone. As this mission trip neared, I was sad to leave my routine schedule of doing nothing all day, and a little nervous to go on my first high school mission trip. It’s always hard to break habits and change your lifestyle (even if it is just for a week). I remember standing outside the church the morning we left thinking, “I’m living a pretty good life right now, I don’t know why I need this trip.’” Looking back now, I immediately see those red flags. I’m guilty of letting my laziness sway me from a life focused on God. First United Methodist Church has never failed to bring me back to my roots and remind me how sweet the path is that God has paved for us.

When we arrived in Broken Bow, OK, everyone set up their temporary homes and headed to dinner. Looking around at all the faces, I realized I was out of my comfort zone. Although I recognized these people, I didn’t actually know them. Little did I know, these faces would become my second family. With no experience in construction, I was eager to see what my job would be. As Kale read out the tasks for the week I was thrilled to be placed in the group building an awning for a bathhouse our church had constructed 5 years before.

The first day of work came with many challenges. I didn’t know the people in my group well and I had no idea what I was doing. Throughout the week, that all changed. Each day I learned more about my team members and the language of construction. Instead of leaving me confused and helpless, my group made sure I was always aware of what we were doing and how to do it. The patience of my group leader, Mr. Brett, was without a doubt God working through him. Mr. Brett knew exactly how to build that awning, but knew he couldn’t do it alone.

We started digging postholes for our awning and I remember thinking, “This is never going to be finished. We have no idea what to do.” After going through all [LOVE OTHERS] BRINGING IT BACK HOME

the calculations, mistakes, and manpower it took to mount those posts, my whole view changed. Once in place, the posts didn’t seem to catch anyone else’s eye, which confused me at first. I realized the truth of the saying: “you appreciate something more when you work for it.”

Although we were proud of our project coming together, our satisfaction was rooted in something much greater. By the end of the week, you couldn’t tell who belonged to each project group. We went from six separate groups, to one team. God was watching over us even when we didn’t notice. He was working to bring us together. BRINGING IT BACK HOME

BY EMMA LANCASTER

By the end of the week, you couldn’t tell who belonged to each project group. We went from six separate groups, to one team. God was watching over us even when we didn’t notice. He was working to bring us together.

Kullichito United Methodist welcomed us with open arms. This was FUMC’s second time visiting Broken Bow, and everyone’s faces filled with smiles at the sight of old friends. They shared their Choctaw culture with us and invited us to join in their