Sunday, Sunday!

 

Mission Trip — Day 2 Reflections

Our second day began with breakfast and worship at St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The church, contemporary music, and mountain views made for a peaceful and inspiring start to the day.

Learning About the St. Andrew Food Pantry and Market

Later, we visited the St. Andrew Food Pantry and Market, a ministry connected to the church. Jamie, the outreach coordinator, and Cindy, one of the pantry volunteers, shared the story of the program and the heart behind its mission.

The ministry began by helping children with school supplies. After the school closed, St. Andrew was able to use the building in a new way, growing from serving about 22 families to approximately 80 to 100 families today.

The market provides canned goods, produce, cereal, treats, hygiene products, toilet paper, and other supplemental items. One creative offering is a birthday box with cake mix, candles, frosting, and other supplies so families can celebrate a special moment together.

The space is set up like a small grocery store, allowing families to come once a week and choose what they need. The goal is not to provide every meal, but to offer support that helps families stretch their resources for other needs, such as transportation or household expenses.

What stood out most was the ministry’s focus on dignity. Families are not simply handed supplies; they are welcomed, given choices, and treated with respect. It was a good reminder that service is not only about meeting needs, but also about honoring people and their stories.

Serving at the Pantry

After learning about the ministry, our group helped sort tortillas, organize food, bag pinto beans, package hygiene products, clean shelves and refrigerators, scrub floors, and prepare items for families visiting the market. These simple tasks reminded us that small acts of service can support a much larger mission.

Evening Fellowship and Reflection

After serving at the pantry, we returned to the church for dinner, devotions, and time to reflect. Team A prepared pulled pork and beans, and Team C led devotions and the evening hike.

We ended the day with a short hike at Bluffs Regional Park to watch the sunset over the mountains. The cooler evening weather and beautiful view gave us a peaceful close to a full day.

We also watched “Teddy and Fluffy,” which introduced care cards to our LUMC Mission Trip first-timers, Katie, Joel, and Brian. We will use the cards throughout the week to encourage one another, recognize support from our teammates, and share positive notes of appreciation, encouragement, and kindness.

Zach, Caleb, Pam, and Brian