Chicago Trip--Sharing with Congregation & Community

Greetings, trip participants!

Wow, we have been back for two weeks now from Chicago and lots has happened in our lives. In another two weeks, school will be underway. I wanted to touch base with you all about a few things related to our commitment to share about the trip with our community and congregation. First of all, I have heard great things from those who have viewed our blog and seen pictures on facebook. Thanks to everyone who helped push that along and shared links with family and friends.

On the way home, two of the vans were able to share feedback on the trip. It would be great if Amy, Heather, Hannah J, Ben J, and Max could chime in with their answers to the following...

The craziest thing about the trip:

The most meaningful thing about the trip:

The most fun thing about the trip:

The most intense/difficult thing about the trip:

The most adventurous thing about the trip:

You can add a comment after this blog post or send your answers to me via email and I'll compile and post them like the others. Either way is fine!

In addition to this blog, there are two other things in the plans. Emily wrote an article for the Dunn County News and for the church newsletter which will go out soon.

The other plan in the works is that on Sunday, October 2, we have "Neighbors in Need" Sunday where we have a special offering for our church's outreach to people in need. We thought that would be a good day to have a powerpoint presentation to share during coffee/juice fellowship time.

Please check your schedules to see if you can be there that day. In order to share the responsibility for this presentation, perhaps the food teams can put heads together to share something in person about the trip or volunteer to do a powerpoint with pics. The powerpoint could be done any time. Kristen has digital photos that could be shared and I know many of you have pics too.

Please post a comment to share how you can be involved in the Oct 2 event &, if you are one who has not shared your "craziest, most meaningful, fun, intense/difficult, adventurous" things about the trip, please do!...or email: nitaucc@yahoo.com

Trip Reflections by Kristen, Deb, Rachel, Brooke, Jena and Emily

The craziest thing about the trip:
The dancing at Ed Debevic's (Rachel)
Sleeping in an old haunted church (Brook)
Playing Curses (Kristen)
Washing my hair in the sink (Jena)
Eating a deep-fried Snickers bar somewhereh other than the Minnesota State Fair (Emily)
Sean, Ben and Todd eating jalapeños (Deb)

The most meaningful thing about the trip:
Connecting with people at the shelter (Brook)
Playing games with people at the shelter (Rachel)
Getting to know the guests at the shelter (Jena)
Eating dinner with the people at the shelter (Emily)
Getting to know the guests and seeing the youth interacting with each other and gelling as a group (Kristen)
The appreciation we received from the people at the shelter (Deb)

The most fun thing about the trip:
Ed Debevic's (Jena and Deb)
The Art Institute (Rachel)
Second City (Brook, Emily, and Kristen)

The most intense/difficult thing about the trip:
Getting the timing right for serving the meals (Kristen)
Figuring out the right amounts of food to serve (Deb)
Walking all around Chicago in 100 degree weather (Jena)
The crowds at the taste of Lincoln Park (Rachel)
Leaving (Brook and Emily)

The most adventurous thing about the trip:
Using the public transportation (Rachel)
Navigating the streets and transit system (Deb)
Exploring new areas of Chicago (Kristen)
Exploring the church (Emily)
Exploring and living in a church (Jena)
Walking in dark streets in a big city (Rachel)

Trip Reflections from Todd, Nita, Ben C, Sean W

The craziest thing about the trip:

Using the mass transit (Sean)

Ed Debevic's (Todd)

Showers at the church (Nita)

Going to the Paul McCartney concert (Ben)

The most meaningful thing about the trip:

Making the food for the homeless people (Sean)

Getting to know the guests at the shelter (Todd)

Talking to the guests during suppers (Ben)

Seeing all of our group engaged with serving and participating at the shelter (Nita)

The most fun thing about the trip:

Paul McCartney concert from the alley behind the Wrigley Field (Sean)

Taking the kids to the beach (Lincoln Park) (Todd)

Second City (Ben)

Taking Sean & Ben to listen to Paul McCartney (Nita)

The most intense/difficult thing about the trip:

Walking everywhere (Sean)

Walking....(Ben)

Helping people figure out moving from point A to point B and that kind of thing (Nita)

Figuring out public transit (Todd)

The most adventurous thing about the trip:

Making friends at the homeless shelter (Todd, Sean)

Just going around Chicago, seeing the city lit up at night (Ben)

Embarking on this great trip with these wonderful people! (Nita)

Last day in Chicago--Monday plans...

We served our last meal at Lincoln Park Community Shelter this morning (Kristen, Todd, Jena & Ben J) and the sack lunch team has one more lunch to prepare today (Heather, Amy, Sean, Max, Ben C).

Today we plan to be out and about--a museum for each of us (Shedd,Art, Field), maybe time back at the beach (Lincoln Park), then out to Ed Debevic's for supper and Second City. It's our last night together in Chicago.

Last night Sean heard from one of the shelter guests that Paul McCartney was playing at Wrigley Field. He was sooooo excited. Amy R-S, Nita, Sean, & Ben C. took the Red Line up to Addison stop to see if we could hear him. We could!! Sean was especially happy!! Ben, Amy, and Nita also enjoyed the excursion.

The church just had a yoga class in our usual meeting space so we've been waiting to get back in there. We are about to begin our day away...

More later.