We leave on our Gloversville mission trip this week! Half of our team will be heading out at 6:45 p.m. this Thursday night, April 2nd headed to pick up our last remaining mission team member (Carlos) in the Bronx, NY. After a few hours of driving (5), they will find a hotel in Winchester, VA. The second group of our team will be meeting at Church at 4:45 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2015 to make the journey northward through the mountains of NC, VA, WV, MD, PA and NY. Both teams will converge on Gloversville Friday evening in time for a fun Easter Celebration during the weekend. I'm Mike Godsey and I'm excited about the new opportunities that are available for our 11 person team on this trip to Gloversville. The trip last year was our first Vacation Bible School with a MUMC team in Gloversville and it was awesome to focus on the younger kids in the Gloversville area (we already have the next VBS planned for July 2015). This Easter trip is focused on providing TLC to the newly acquired building (formerly the YWCA building) about 2 blocks from C1's existing location. With help from Donn & Cyndie Truax of Change of 1, MUMC (financially, in prayer and in leadership) we are well positioned to have a successful trip.
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Where is Gloversville and Why does a North Carolina team go there?
Gloversville is a small city of 15,315 people and is located about 200 miles north of New York City. This quaint little city, along with nearby Johnstown, NY, were once home to over 200 glove making manufacturers. Over time those factory jobs were moved overseas and the economy suffered. The ripple effect of these down economic times lead to more poverty, not just financial poverty, but also emotional and spiritual poverty as the town residents were hit with growing unemployment & addictions to alcohol/drugs. How can history reverse itself and head in a more positive direction? via Donn & Cyndie Truax's ministry, aptly named Change of 1.
Front (L) Brekyn Asher & Elle Back: Donn, Cyndie & Ayden
The Truax's combined efforts with the Whittaker & Chamberlain families, along with other strong Christian supporters to create a light in their community. Still, the question remains, why is a NC team going to NY? Life is about relationships, and years ago, Donn, Cyndie and their kids lived in Matthews. Donn worked with the youth at MUMC and focused on the age group from 7-9th graders (an incredibly important time in an adolescent's Christian walk). He had a personal impact on some of the youth and his energy, enthusiasm and passion for Christ helped plant a seed in the spiritual fuel of some of the youth on this year's trip. After a few years in Matthews, Donn and Cyndie felt a strong pull to return to their hometown in Gloversville. Change of 1 is a deep level missionary partner with our Church's Global Impact missions. The connection between MUMC and Change of 1 is strong and the network of relationships grow each year during our Global Impact Celebration. They happen to live in NY, but they are still very much a part of our family.
Theme verse for the Week: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" - Galatians 6:9
Theme song: We will begin each day listening to our theme song to help center us for the day so we can our ways can serve others. "With Every Act of Love" by Jason Gray
Highlights of the Upcoming Week:
We get to start the week by helping the community with an Easter activity on Saturday. Sunday will be spent celebrating Easter at Free Methodist Church. The afternoon will be spent with an afternoon Easter dinner. Monday through Wednesday our team will be helping clean the newly acquired YWCA where the Truax family will be moving later this spring. Afternoon/evening activities will include a Prayer Walk in downtown Gloversville Monday night, Tuesday we will have two visiting Bible Studies and our final day in NY will include a recovery Dinner with our friends at Micah Home, Washington St. Catholic Charities and Victorian Manor Wednesday night. The thing I am most looking forward to doing on this trip is experiencing the community at a different time/season of the year.
2015-Easter Team:
Top - Left to Right: Lottie Godsey, Julia Christian, Lauren Meyer, Claudia Wilson and Briana McClendon Bottom: Beth Marshall, Mike Godsey, Dan Meyer and Mitch Willson
Not Pictured, but going- Carlos Hernandez, Elisa Hicks and Kayce Ransone
The Gift of Blogging:
Our main blogger for this trip will be Elisa Hicks. Elisa is making her first trip to Gloversville so it will be fun to hear her perspective.
Please feel free to subscribe to this blog (so you don't miss any of the action-or photos) and/or share the link via emails, prayer lists and your favorite social media outlets. We covet your prayers for a safe and spiritually impactful week.
Edit 4/2/2015 the trip itinerary has changed slightly, the acquisition of the YWCA building is not supposed to be completed until later next week, our accommodations will be in the lovely Truax household and our team has shrunk to 11 members. Our first team of 6 headed out earlier tonight and the remaining group leaves at 5 a.m.
Excited to be a serving this week in His name,
Mike Godsey
