Back when I was a freshman in college, wow I feel old, I took a mission trip to Fort Thompson, South Dakota. A Small town, a poorer town. I went to Fort Thompson with a group from Ozark Christian College, which also happens to be my alumni, and we were to minister to Native American youth in the area with Diamond Willow Ministries. It was an amazing trip with lives being changed and testimonies being shared, but there was a moment where we all got a little too close. The guys at least!
Even though it was Spring Break, It was still cold in South Dakota. Our first night there, we stayed in a cabin that was not insulated and it got down to 16 degrees. There was a small plug in heater on the floor but that was not doing us any good. We were complaining about how cold it was when one of us said, “hey, why don’t we just put all the beds on the floor and share body heat. So we did, and we slept awkwardly through the night. Seven men back to back on the floor. We were all still cold through the night and I used all the hot water when I woke up before everyone else the next morning. Boy did the group hate me for that, but we all laugh at the story now.
The thing about ministry is not only are you ministering to others, but the people you are with help keep you going. Even though a little awkward, stories like this one happen all the time in ministry. You get a good laugh and do crazy things and make memories. The other cool thing is I would call the guys on that trip my closest friends, and I still keep in contact with them to this day. Ministry is a funny story waiting to happen and love ready to be shared.
I’m still in need of funds to leave so please if you can give, please do. Bless you all!
