Thoughts from The Road - Part II

My favorite part of this mission trip was the stations of homelessness walk that groups took. I think it was very informative and was a very good way to wrap up the trip. I learned about reasons for homelessness and how it's not as simple as buying or renting a house. I learned that there are different levels of homelessness and that it is hard for some people to go to a food pantry or meal service to get help. I would like to thank everyone for inviting me, including me, and being very welcoming on my first mission trip. - Katie

Even though it wasn't service oriented, I'd have to say that The Garden of the Gods was my favorite part of the mission trip..... Not only was there the breathtaking beauty of nature but there was actually quite a bit of group building involved... The rock formations were truly spectacular... Nothing like you can see in Kansas.... Our heads were all on swivels to catch the remarkable beauty surrounding us.... The red stone spires were simply sensational.... At one point a group of us tracked up to a stone promontory that gave us a wonderful view of the surrounding area and fairly precarious seating.... You had to be very careful about where you placed your feet since one slip could be unpleasant..... It was a little scary but exciting at the same time and breathtakingly beautiful all the time.... A first-hand demonstration of God's gift of the beauty of nature....We felt the additional bonding with the experience.... Sharing the experience of The Garden of the Gods was a peak experience from the mission trip... - Gene

This was my first mission trip, and I went into it with no expectations. Looking back, it became one of the most profound experiences I’ve had, and for two very different reasons.

The first was gaining a completely different understanding of homelessness. Before this trip, I had never truly appreciated how many different paths can lead someone to becoming unhoused or how many different stages of homelessness people experience. We heard stories of childhood trauma without support systems, people simply trying to survive day to day, and the realities of carrying everything you own on your back. We also learned that what can appear to be mental illness or substance abuse may sometimes be the effects of severe sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and the constant stress of surviving on the streets.

The struggle is real, and it is rarely as simple as “just getting a job.” That perspective ignores the realities of transportation, housing, identification, healthcare, support systems, and the countless barriers people face every day. I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the organizations and people who provide supplemental services that help lighten those burdens - whether that’s a meal, a bus pass, access to showers, case management, or simply treating someone with dignity.

The second profound experience was our mission team itself. We built a special bond through our willingness to support one another, encourage each other, and step in whenever someone needed help.

Unlike previous mission trips I’ve heard about, this wasn’t centered around all-day work projects like painting a house, building a wheelchair ramp, working on a farm, or serving at an animal shelter. Instead, our days were made up of shorter service opportunities separated by intentional downtime to account for Denver’s elevation - and the physical and emotional strain that would come later. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was that the ambiguity was part of the experience.

There were moments of uncertainty, confusion, miscommunication, awkwardness, exposure, vulnerability, extreme heat, exhaustion, mental fatigue, minimal sleep, anxiety, hunger, fear, and never quite knowing what was next or even when the next meal would be. In those moments, the uncertainty felt very real.

But unlike so many of the people we met, our uncertainty always had an end. Every evening we returned to a cool and comfortable place to sleep. We had showers, clean clothes, reliable transportation, and plenty of food. Most importantly, we had each other. For many people experiencing homelessness, that uncertainty doesn’t last a day or a week - it lasts for months or years without the support systems that many of us take for granted.

On a personal level, this experience changed me. I can’t thank our LUMC mission family enough for welcoming me into this journey. I’m grateful for the friendships that grew stronger, the conversations we shared, the organizations doing incredible work throughout Denver, and especially the people we served who trusted us enough to share stories that were often difficult, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.

Finally, I want to thank Tyler. He intentionally designed this trip with a healthy amount of ambiguity and uncertainty while also building in time to slow down, reflect, and process what we were experiencing. Looking back, I understand why. It wasn’t just about serving others - it was about learning, growing, and developing empathy in ways that couldn’t have happened through a perfectly planned schedule.

I’ll leave Denver with a much greater appreciation for the resilience of those experiencing homelessness, the people who dedicate their lives to serving them, and the incredible group of people I was fortunate enough to share this journey with. - Brian

These are our final thoughts for the week.  Please ask questions - the team will be happy to share and answer questions.   Thank you to all the team for making this a memorable week.  I will cherish my memories for many years to come.  The hilarity of watching the team try to move Pikachu from one side of the blanket to another will always bring a smile to my face and a chuckle. - Barbara