Serving Moore, SB2014

And we’re back!

Another successful CSF mission trip is in the books! The previous blog gave some basic information about our trip. I am here to fill you in on the nitty-gritty details.

As was stated beforehand, we stayed with CCF in Rolla, MO Saturday, Match 8th. It was really cool getting to know some of the people staying at their campus house and both the guys and girls had some awesome, meaningful conversations with people. We went to Greentree Christian Church Sunday morning with some of the members of CCF, then packed up and finished our journey, stopping at Church of the Harvest, our lodgings for the week.

Throughout the week, we worked with Serve Moore, whose focus is to help rebuild and renew the community. We were one of many groups tasked with fulfilling whatever work orders came in from the community. We specifically were working on a shed for most of the week, building from bottom to top. You can check out a blog post from Serve Moore about the work we, and others, did here. (keep an eye out for CSFers in the pictures!) Since we only were at the one site for the entire week, it was a great opportunity to meet with the homeowner, Robin, and just get to know her family and their story. By the end of the week, we were all joking around and adding each other on Facebook!

That’s what these trips are about, at least, for me. We had the opportunity to really get connected with a family and show them genuine love. To me, mission trips are less about the actual work being done and more about making connections, not only with the people we work for but between each other. I saw what were originally "hey, I know you" relationships develop into deep friendships. I saw a family who was turned away from Christ be encouraged by eight CSFers. I saw a sense of completion and comfort enter Robin as she saw the finished shed, knowing that her house was finally finished after the devastation. I saw this, and so much more, on this trip and I am truly grateful for being given the opportunity to go on it. Thank you for everyone who made this trip possible, whether it was from monetary donations, prayers or a well-wish. Because of you guys encouraging us, we were able to encourage others.

Thank you all for what you have done and continue to do.

Ryan

Spring Break Mission 2014

Howdy folks. Right now, we are on our way to our annual Spring Break mission trip! This year, CSF ventures west to the great state of Oklahoma, to help the city of Moore in the wake of the massive F5 tornado. Road trip!!!
 
We left Saturday, March 8th and stopped for some rest in Missouri. The CCF in Rolla, MO was kind enough to house us for the night. We’ll finish our trip today, pulling into a Church where we will be staying the week. They are providing lodging, breakfast, and dinner for only $25 per person, per day. Like the Joplin, Missouri trip two years ago, this trip was entirely planned and executed by members of CSF. We will be partnering with Serve Moore who will coordinate the relief efforts. Follow along with us on Twitter (@csfwvu) for updates throughout the week. After a full week of worship, service, and discipleship, we will head back to good ol’ WV in time for CSF service on Sunday, March 16th, with a pit stop around Indianapolis on Saturday night.
 
The cost estimate is around $3000 for the trip. This includes lodging, food, gas, and a U-Haul trailer we are renting to transport tools and luggage. We were lucky enough to achieve most of the funding before the trip. If you would like to support us during this time with a last minute donation, it would be greatly appreciated. More importantly though, we would love to have your prayers and encouragement, and of course, pray for those still affected by the tornado !

Your support of CSF mission trips ensures vibrant young leaders all get to spend a week together in worship, prayer, scripture, and serving to meet needs of damaged communities!  That, my friends is worth lending a hand to!

Thanks and keep up the great work Team CSF!

MT in MT: Mission Trip in Morgantown!

A group of CSF folks are fixing, repairing, and investing in our home town of Morgantown! We partnered with The Shack and their Community Repair Partners for a spring break 2013 mission trip in Morgantown. They look for and identify folks with disabilities and other need driven circumstances. This is a great opportunity to love our community and have a sustainable partnership with The Shack.  We get to meet folks in the community, hear their stories, meet their children, and paint a powerful picture of Jesus and WVU! The Shack has been vetting needs for 30 years and have been looking for partnerships to help meet these needs. We look forward to this being the start of a long term partnership to bring hope, restoration, and encouragement to Morgantown.  Thanks to all the folks that have given up part of break and are today digging out snow to work to invest in what will be a great long term partnership between The Shack and CSF!

Picture 1:  Tiffany, Dustin, and Michael construct a handrail for safe access to the home for a disabled father of two school aged kids.

Picture 2:  Matt and Michael insulate, seal off a hot water tank that's mounted externally to the elements.

Isaiah 58:

6 Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.