Bethel United Church of Christ Youth Go on Mission Work Trip

In June, 22 youth and four adults from Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst traveled to Rockford, Illinois on the youth group’s annual week-long mission work trip. This year’s destination was Rockford Work Camps (RWC), which is committed to supporting the efforts of those helping to improve the quality of life for people living in the Rockford community. RWC, whose motto is “Putting feet on your faith,” partners with local groups to accomplish this goal. One of these groups is Roots and Wings, a developer of urban gardens. The work campers from Bethel helped at the RWC Blackhawk Court Farm & Garden, enjoying a day of weeding and hearing the stories of the young man who manages the garden, which provides fresh produce to those living in food deserts with limited access to healthy foods.

Rockford Park District is working hard to revitalize the city and draw others to Rockford to live. The Bethel group helped to restore a replica native village on park district property, assisting a woman whose late husband originally undertook building an authentic site to educate others. The group also worked at Patriots Gateway Community Center, which provides camps and childcare, at greatly reduced rates or free of charge, as well as free lunches for children.

Another organization the mission trippers worked with is Project 1013, which is helping residents in some of Rockford’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods take back their streets, one block at a time. One project this group has undertaken is to raise the canopy—trimming trees and clearing brush, thus taking away areas for gang members and criminals to hide--to help make neighborhoods places where people are beginning to feel safe outside of their homes. The Bethel group assisted this effort by picking up trash from the streets and clearing empty lots of trash, weeds and undergrowth. (Learning to use chain saws was a new experience!)

College-bound Dani Kolosieke, on her fifth Bethel mission trip, was once again inspired by the experience, especially by her interactions with refugee children in their neighborhoods and at the Community Center. While sharing sack lunches and delightful conversation with two young boys during a day of painting the Center’s recreation room, Kolosieke was touched by their ability to find joy in lives that are often difficult. “I hope, she said, “that we are all able to follow the example of these kids. To show laughter and true joy with those around us. To appreciate the smallest gifts and the smallest of lights.”

The Bethel youth were blessed to have enthusiastic chaperones—Jenny Pozen, Todd Keenan, Kevin Rogers, and John Kolosieke--who were willing to take a week from their busy lives to travel and work beside them, sharing their faith by modeling a selfless and generous spirit.

Bethel is grateful for the warm-hearted hospitality of the United Methodist Church in Rockford, which housed the group during its stay.

Bethel’s Christian Education Director, Jenny Pozen, noted that “every mission work trip and its experiences are different but they all impact us. Life is full of tough challenges, and we saw glimpses of some of these through the stories of the people we met--people in areas and walks of life we may have never known. We learned from their stories and hope that we all grow in our compassion and understanding of the struggles others face in this world—things we find hard to imagine. Life is very difficult for so many people.”

Youth members of the group were Erin Butler, Joel Cruz, Blair Faber, Kevin Gnadt, Bridget Huels, Janie Huels, Kevin Huels, Jonathan Keenan, Katie Keenan, Dani Kolosieke, John Kolosieke, Aidan Landreth, Sophie Labuda, Ben Pavlik, Sam Pozen, Ben Rogers, Charlie Rogers, Teah Rogers, Bruce Smith, Audrey Sylvester, Eric Sylvester, and Andrew Trenta.

All of the organizations the Bethel group worked with are looking for volunteers and would welcome them with open arms! They can be contacted through the RWC, which coordinates volunteer activities, at http://www.rockfordworkcamps.org.