We’re currently on a Spring Break Trip in Surfside Beach, TX with the Epworth League.
The Epworth League, the revived ministry of the early Methodist Church, is all about reaching young adults and sending them into ministry.
Ken Rheingans, from Sullivan, WI, is the organizer and his vision has grown. There are two weeks scheduled here this March and there will be about 200 or so in attendance between both weeks.
Harvest also has the privilege of serving with Ken and his team each summer during the Christian Disciple Farm, hosted at Ken and Sue’s home in Sullivan. It’s also an incredible week.
But now, a bit about this current week here in March of 2022. The team for this week is Caroline Stewart, Elizabeth West, Noah Durbin, Tim, Suzane, Ruby, and Macy Price. We have jumped in to help with the work for the week, but are also assembling, organizing, and supporting the worship ministry each evening. We’ve connected with several college students who have gifts in music and worship and a different team configuration is leading each evening.
Here’s a look at the schedule:
Saturday – drove all day
Sunday – worship in Galveston, afternoon sightseeing, worship and speaking in the evening
Monday – Friday
6:15 – kitchen team get up to prepare for each house
7:15 – breakfast and testimoies
8:30 – pack lunch at the community center
9:00 – leave for work sites all over region
3:00 – home from sites, free time, beach, etc.
4:30 – band rehearsal / sound check
6:00 – dinner
7:00 – games
7:30 – worship
8:30 – small groups
9:30 – evening activity
11:30 – bed
We’ve had long fun-filled days, but it’s been rewarding and fruitful and it’s a great group of students and leaders!
Everyone is staying in one of the really large beach houses. Breakfast is served in each home, lunch is packed each day for the site, and dinner is served in the community center with the volunteer team preparing it. The teams in charge of scheduling, small groups, buying and preparing food, sending work teams, and setting up evening activities are doing an incredible job – the logistics part of the week is astounding.
As an example of the work: Noah has been moving rock for a habitat project, Elizabeth and Caroline has been working on a home about 40 minutes from Surfside, working on the outdoor exterior of a habitat home, Tim has been shuttling team members to various city projects around the Intercoastal Waterway and the community, and Suzanne, Ruby, and Macy spent the first day painting and the second day shopping and food prep.
We praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve here for the week and thank TUMC for sending those team members who joined in on this mission trip!
