It was a great week in Portland, Maine working with a team of 17 from Sayre Christian Church, Sayre, PA, and our Experience Mission leaders Cori and Jeff.

Cori and Jeff did a great job leading our group spirtually, as well as coordinating all the activities and providing delicious home cooked meals.  It is encouraging to see our young adults carry on the work as some of us seniors pass on the torch. 

One blessing for me was serving breakfast to those less fortunate at the Preble Street Resource Center.  One disheveled, tired looking man who hadn't eaten in a few days, asked for prayer as I dished a serving  of potatoes on his plate.  When I asked his first name, he replied “thank you”. Thank You will be in my prayers on a regular basis. Please pray for him.

It was a real blessing to be part of the forty or more children's lives, who attend  the summer program at The Root Cellar in Portland.  Some of the children really touched my heart.  I will keep them with me always, in thought and prayer.  I hope to return again to Portland as the Lord leads, so perhaps I will see them again.

I think the Lord taught our mission team more about ourselves than about those we came to serve and minister to.  It was a difficult lesson for some of us, with our varied personalities.  Showering at night at the YMCA and sleeping in the Methodist Free Church basement is something I don't think anyone will miss. The comforts of home will not be taken for granted in the future! Yes, as one team member stated, the Lord took us out of our comfort zone.  I'm thankful I was a Girl Scout!

Overall, I think everyone on our team returned home with thoughts about how we can serve those less fortunate in our own community.  Talk is in the air about holding a meeting of our team members to discuss the possibility of serving a monthly breakfast on Saturday morning at Sayre Christian Church.  Please keep us in prayer as we seek to do the Lord's will.

I felt bad that on the day of our departure, I wasn't able to say so long to Cori, one of our team leaders, to wish her well and let her know I'm praying for her as she and Jeff travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana for another spiritual adventure.  I hope they both feel my prayers.  I think I can speak for our team; Cori and Jeff touched all of our lives as did every person the Lord put in our path.

Love and God Bless, 

Your sister in Christ,

Lorraine

lchernosky@stny.rr.com