We leave on our Gloversville mission trip this week! Our team will be heading out at 5:00 a.m. this Saturday morning, July 23rd, to make the journey northward through the mountains of NC, VA, WV, MD, PA and NY. I'm Mike Godsey and I'm excited about the new opportunities that are available for our 16 person team on this trip to Gloversville. This will be the 3rd summer in a row a MUMC team hosts a Vacation Bible School in Gloversville and it was awesome to focus on the younger kids in the Gloversville community. This will be the second summer in a row our team gets to stay at the Truax House (former YMCA) now called the Center of Hope. Our ability to reside in the same place we are serving truly immerses us and allows our team to bond 24/7. With help from Donn & Cyndie Truax of Change of 1, MUMC (financially, in prayer and in leadership) and supportive family & friends back home, 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 15,665 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) Ayden, Cyndie, Elle, Brekyn, Donn, & Asher
The Truax's combined efforts, an active Board of Directors and strong Christian supporters in the Gloversville/Northville/Johnstown area have created 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: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast..— Ephesians 2:8-9
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. "Broken Vessels-Amazing Grace" by Hillsong Worship
We get to start the week by worshiping at First Free Methodist Church on Sunday immediately followed with setup and preparation for our 3rd annual Vacation Bible School. Monday starts our VBS "Cave Quest" and ends with our annual "prayer walk" at the end of the day through downtown Gloversville. Tuesday & Wednesday we spend the morning with the VBS kids along side the 1Gen youth of Gloversville. Afternoon/evening activities will include a recovery Dinner with our friends at Victorian Manor on Tuesday, and Wednesday night we will have our 5th annual inter-squad softball game with the residents of Victorian Manor. Did I mention the high temperatures will only be in the mid 80's! Fantastic!
2016 Team
Top Row from left: Thomas Verrill, Jeff Boyd, Ben Icard, Carlos Hernandez, Sean Cooley and Katie Verrill. Bottom Row: Tricia McClendon, Kaylyn McClendon, Mike Godsey, Skye Cooley and Kinsley Sigmund. Not Pictured but going: Dallas Lay, Kenny Lurry, Kevin Lurry and Elisa Hicks.
The Gift of Blogging:
Our main blogger for this trip will be Kaylyn McClendon! She'll also be helping out with Imagination Station (Crafts) and capturing a lot of memories with her camera.
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.
Excited to be a serving this week in His name,
Mike Godsey
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