Boston mission a meaningful trip for youth at St. Paul's Waldo, members

from the Marion Star

I'm a sucker for these mission stories. This profiles the youth of a Ohio church that goes to the inner city of Boston. - Kale

Little did they know the mission trip would lead to spiritual growth and study of scripture; an understanding of the United Nation's eight millennial goals for global progress and development; reaching out to a neighborhood in Boston with hands-on ministry to children, youth and adults who have profound needs in their schools, churches and community.

Thanks to many generous contributions from the people of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waldo, matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the wonderful people at Fahey Bank, who allowed the church to have a bake sale in the south branch. We were able to raise nearly $8,000 for the trip. With the wonderful navigating of Bob Bernow and "Bob's Bus," the mission team was off to Boston.

Every day of the mission trip youth and adults worked in the inner city of Lynn, Mass. The city is home to gangs, poverty and drugs. Its children have underfunded schools and know all too well the pangs of hunger.

Young people from Ohio to Maine to Louisiana, 257 to be exact, gathered to celebrate God's love and grace every morning. The mission team painted, did landscape work, cleaned elementary schools so they were ready for the fall and worked with children at the Boys and Girls Club. Team members shared their lunches with children and it was clear they had very little to eat themselves.

The United Nations millennial development goals are to end poverty and hunger; universal primary education; gender equality; child health; maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other preventable diseases; environmental sustainability; and global development partnerships.

Looking at these goals, they are mandated by Jesus' call to serve the least among us. Matthew 25:40 says, "As have done for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you have done it for me."

Each day of the mission trip the team reflected deeply into the meaning of one goal. They asked themselves, "How can I end poverty and hunger?" "How can I promote child health?" "How can I ...?"

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