July 11, 2024

He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. Mark 6:8-9

About six weeks ago, I reflected on my international experience of traveling to India as I introduced the upcoming youth trip happening cooperatively between two UCC congregations (Christ Reformed UCC and Zion Reformed UCC) in Catoctin association, finishing with an open invitation for other youth to join us. We ended up with a church in the Shenandoah Association (St Paul’s UCC) deciding to accompany them. After 3 days in nature, we returned from our trip to Shepherd’s Spring Heifer International Village on July 3rd.

When I preached the Sunday after our trip, I meditated on the Gospel of Mark, specifically these verses above, as experienced through the lens of our camping trip. The excursion is orientated towards awareness- of our own lives and consumption of resources, as well as the daily struggles of people in third world countries. Through exercises, like performing tasks of daily living (like water hikes and cooking over open flames) to embracing the hallmarks of communal living, our group gained a new consciousness about the things we take for granted. It changed the way they talked about water consumption and the ease of walking 10-20 feet to a tap for fresh, potable water. They had to make hard choices about their resources, sacrifice necessities, and work together in ways not imaginable at the start of the three-day adventure. It was beautiful and hard.

The program worked as it was intended, but what I noticed was the power of community. Young people, many of whom did not know one another, forged bonds and showed up for one another in difficult circumstances. Some found new purpose, gained leadership skills, and a place for themselves in an unexpected way. As leaders, we came prepared the way most adults do when they plan, but you couldn’t foresee the changes and connections made over those three days.

Jesus instructs the disciples to carry only what they need, and to seek (and accept) the hospitality of strangers as they preached and healed. He was instructing them to trust in God; to trust in the power of community and God’s provision. We all grew over our days of learning at Shepherd’s Spring, and I think we lived this small bit of Jesus’s instruction in a surprising way. Now that they have laid the foundation of a first experience, there is a desire to move forward and build upon the lessons learned- through a mission trip or even an international encounter. I pray you might consider joining us on the next commission we embark upon, so that the momentum of what was forged among trees and streams might bind together all corners of this beautiful conference for the betterment of this divided world in which we live.