By Pastor Heerak Kim
Forty youth and adults from Glen Mar and also from Olivet UMC (pastored by Glen Mar's own Alex Thomas) traveled to Plymouth, NC, for a week of home repair with Carolina Rebuilding Ministry. It was our first time working with this organization, and the group had a great experience. We plan to return next year - the last week of June.
This was my second Glen Mar mission trip, and once again, I was shocked by the condition of the house on which my team was assigned to work. “How can a person or a family live in this condition?” I murmured to myself. Rev. Jason DuVall, the Carolina Rebuilding Ministry (CRM) Director, had informed us that the host might not be receptive to our help because she is a hoarder and becomes anxious when her belongings are moved. However, Mike, our wonderful crew leader, and Matilda, one of our brave youth, approached the host gently, which helped her open her heart to us, and we began our work on the site. Throughout the week, I was amazed by the dedication and willingness of our youth to take on challenging tasks and interact with the host.
On the other hand, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the odor in the house, and I questioned whether fixing someone’s problems and imposing our standards on them align with the idea of loving our neighbors. However, as the week progressed, I started to get used to the house and discovered the goodness of our host. I realized that imposing our way and values on others is not the way of love. Allowing myself to change and be more understanding made me more gracious to myself.
George Dohner served as our chef, and I felt like I was on a cruise, although I’ve never been on one. His amazing cuisine – Greek foods, pulled-pork, tacos, and more – left us spoiled and satisfied. No wonder he is listed at the top for next year’s mission trip recruitment!
The success of the mission trip can be attributed primarily to our mature and responsible youth. They were truly awesome, forming strong bonds with one another and extending their circle to include the adults. They fearlessly stepped outside of their comfort zones and touched the hearts of the homeowners. Their energy and dedication gave meaning to the trip, and I have no doubt they will continue to make a positive impact on the world in their future endeavors.
I want to express my gratitude to all the participants for their unwavering commitment, especially the crew leaders who took care of their team members and worked hard to ensure that our tasks were completed successfully.
