The Mission Trip was fantastic for me. It really opened my eyes and I realized the way I was living my life wasn’t bad, but it was not good enough. The Mission Trip made me realize how much of an impact an individual can make on a person and/or a community. Not only did I make a lot of friends on this trip, I learned a lot about myself, who I am and who God wants me to be.

“One day, when you walk the streets of heaven, a young Indian man will approach you and thank you for bringing Jesus to him.” Rev. John Two Bulls
It is incredible to be told that you can bring Jesus to people to save them. Revered Two-Bulls prayed for help building his church, and God sent us. For the past week, a small mixed group of the parishes came together to work with hands and open hearts on a church where troubled youth will find Jesus. I am so grateful that I was able to partake in this mission trip. I met the most amazing people; the Lakota for whom we worked; the Next Step crew; the other parishes; and the teens and leaders from our own parish. It is hard to explain how God touches these people, but it is so easy to see. God makes his children beautiful, just as he makes the sunrise over the grassy hills absolutely breathtaking. From this trip, I’m taking home a refreshed faith and beautiful memories of God’s creation and his children at their best. I’d like to thank everyone who made this trip happen for me and for everyone in the parish. It is my hope that you can see that your support really made a difference. Thank you!

This week’s mission trip in South Dakota provided each of us with life-changing experiences and memories that will never be forgotten. I’ve left with the satisfaction knowing that our hard work has made an incredible impact on the lives of those from Pine Ridge. Throughout the entire week, a greater appreciation for everything I am blessed with grew, and I was introduced to a realization of just how lucky we really are. I noticed how easy it was to be myself and make many new friends. Not only were these new bonds formed, but those within our group were strengthened as well. Even though we all have many differences, I found a powerful similarity between all of us there that week – we want to follow and love God. I was very fortunate to be a part of this mission trip, and everything I’ve taken out of it will be with me for the rest of my life.

This week has been truly amazing and life changing. The experience I had in South Dakota is indescribable. I made many new friends and strengthened bonds with old ones. I was very humbled by serving people less fortunate than me; it made me realize how lucky I am. Most importantly, I constantly saw God this week. I saw Him through His beautiful creation, other people, and in myself. I felt so happy and full of life and God this week. These feelings are like nothing I have ever felt before and cannot be expressed through words. I will never forget this week and all the ways I saw God.

On our mission trip, some of the jobs we had to do were build a porch or sheds. In my group, it wasn’t like that. We had to dig two holes for two septic tanks. One hole was 6-ft. x 6-ft. x 6-ft., the other one was 6-ft. x 6-ft. x 7-ft. I think God gave us this job to see if we really love Him and what we were there to do. We loved it! Everyday we wanted to work. No one complained about the rain, the heat or the hard work. I saw God’s work through each of my group members. We were given a gift that God gave us and we used that gift to help Xavier (the man we dug holes for). God also showed His presence through the two kids who were staying with us at our home base: Tell, a really cool 9-year old boy, and his little 4-year old sister, Essence. Those two kids had God’s love written all over them. Every day they would wait until all the groups got back from working and would just play with us. Even if we had no energy left, we still threw the Frisbee with them, gave them piggy back rides and talked with them. We were all sad to leave because we were so attached to them. God’s presence really impacted all of us even if we just wanted to sit down and give up; He somehow told us that if we keep going He will show us His love. In fact, that was true on all occasions. One day, at Xavier’s, we were digging and didn’t see one of the dogs named “Baby” or the other dogs. At lunch we climbed a hill nearby and began to eat. One of us asked where Baby was because she wasn’t there. Usually, she would be there waiting until we arrived at our worksite. Three seconds after one of us said that, she just appears out of nowhere with all this happiness. We were all really happy to see her. After we saw her we had time to thank God. One of the things we said to Him was our happiness to see Baby. After the week was over, I saw that God had changed everybody. It was the best week of my faith life. I can’t wait for the next trip.

For me, this week was a lot about closure. While the service aspect of this trip was overwhelmingly important, my faith journey was also greatly changed. I have wrestled and struggled with certain painful and difficult events in my life for a very, very long time. But this week, I decided to walk away from them. Not in defeat, but in finality. Though these events will always be with me, I’ve decided to stop struggling with them. They’ve been left behind, to an extent. So for giving me that opportunity to let go of things that had been slowing me down, I’d just like to give a HUGE thank you to you, Fr. Mike, Fr. David, Fr. Chad, and all of the parishioners. Thank you so much!

All I expected to get out of this trip was some dirt under my fingernails and a few memories. Not only did I get that, but I received a few unexpected things as well. The group discussions at the end of every day really helped me to open up with my new and old friends to share what I got out of that night’s worship time. I got to know myself a bit better as well. I am so glad that I went on this mission trip this year. Overall, I’m going home with new friends, memories, a better knowledge with carpentry, and a better knowledge of my relationship with God.

This trip to Pine Ridge has been a truly unforgettable experience. During the week and through serving others, I realized many things about myself, my faith and my relationship with God. Seeing how little that some people have made me realize how truly blessed I am to have the life I have. Too often I take my house, food, family, friends and possessions for granted. This week, I realized that God has given me so much. I also realized that I have a lot of work to do. Through the praise, worship and time I spent reflecting on my relationship with God, it hit me that he gives us so much. So much love, kindness, and compassion. Yet, we don’t give back to him nearly enough. He knows me, cares for me and loves me. But this week I realized I don’t give back to God as much as He gives to me. Having the opportunity to help change the lives of so many people on the reservation helped me give back to God just a small part of what he has given me. I also realized that even the smallest things can change lives. For so long I just sat and watched and hoped things would change. But this week, it hit me that I can be the change. I can make a change. And I couldn’t be happier with the change I made this week. I am truly thankful for this life-changing experience that completely changed my outlook of my life.

Overall, it’s really hard to explain how a mission trip affects you. There aren’t any words for it. On a physical level, I know that as an SMG group we left an impression on people’s lives because of the sheds, decks, fences, additions and septic system holes we left behind that will make life easier for the inhabitants of Pine Ridge. We also made many new friends with people and children on the reservation and with the other church groups that were there and with the Next Step staff as well. We also bonded closer together as a group and as a church. The worship part of the trip was beyond anything I had ever experienced. The songs were songs that you could relate to. Also, the worship band made the songs just that much better. We watched a video series throughout the time we were there that had many of us in tears. The videos told the stories of three people and their stories were stories that many of us have watched or seen in real life including: doubt and death, drugs and alcohol, cutting and health disorders. Many of the activities that we took part in included washing of feet and throwing away (symbolically) parts of us that are doubtful or unfaithful to God. These things touch and affect you to your core. I know this trip has caused me to become even more solid in my faith and made me bring back to Madison the courage, will and set of mind to try to harder to find God in my everyday life and through other people in my life. Overall, a day in the life on the mission trip goes like this: wake up, eat, serve, eat, serve, eat, worship, sleep… with prayer included in everything.

This was my second mission trip and so going in I already kind of knew what to expect. The previous year, I really enjoyed the trip and it was truly life changing. I was apprehensive about “jumping in” this year because last year I didn’t get the chance to connect with students from other churches as much as I would have liked, and I had a harder time opening up to God. Despite the mixed feelings, I went in with my best foot forward and I’m happy I did. The trip was truly, and once again, life changing, and I was surprised by my faith in different ways. I met amazing people from the groups from Ohio and local children on the “Rez” (trip speak for the Pine Ridge Reservation). More importantly, I met and felt God. On one of the first nights I was able to share the story of the recent death of a friend. Through the love of others on the trip, I was able to come to terms with the tragedy. So through the blood of mosquito bites, the sweat of hard days work and the tears of sharing a moment with God, I am deeply thankful for the hard work of the Next Step ministry staff, the leaders from SMG and also for the prayers of the SMG parish community. Thank you!

This past week, I have been sleeping on the ground, eating my meals outside, sharing three showers and three bathroom stalls with 40 or more girls (half of them I hardly knew), working for hours in crazy weather conditions, and it was the best week of my life. I went on the mission trip to Mississippi last year, but Mississippi doesn’t compare to the beauty of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. When I was at Pine Ridge, I felt surrounded by God’s loving work. The rolling green hills and blue sky was such a picture perfect place. And when the sun set, the rolling green hills turned orange from the setting sun. While I was in Pine Ridge I learned a lot about the Lakota people who lived on the reservation. They have such a beautiful culture and have such pride in their way of life and where they live. On our last night of our road trip, Joe asked what we left at Pine ridge and what we brought back. What I brought back from the trip was friends. I made so many new friends from the other church groups that came from Ohio. Though the Ohio people made fun of our accents and are Buckeye fans… I’ve never connected with people as fast as I did with them. What I left behind was our group’s presence. The Lakota people are going to remember this summer. They may not remember our individual names and faces, but they will remember Saint Maria Goretti and Next Step. They will remember us for the impact we have made in trying to change and rebuild the poor conditions they live in.

This trip was an amazing experience for me. I really enjoyed being able to help people and really help change lives. I saw God in many places on this trip, but especially in the man my crew was working for: Pastor John Two-Bulls. We were building a church for him that he hoped would bring peace between gangs. He had quit his job on the reservation where the unemployment rate was 85%. He had gotten land and materials for the church almost entirely through donations. Not only was he building a church, he also helped anyone in need on the reservation. He was called by the police, gang members and anyone else. Because he was called for help so much by so many people, he had three cell phones and got about 14 hours of sleep a week. The night before he came to see my crew on the work site, he was chasing around the hills for four hours trying to find a suicidal kid. John Two-Bulls is such an amazing man. The story he told inspired me and you could see in his eyes that even though he got minimal sleep, didn’t have a job, and was constantly needed by others, he was happy and content doing the Lord’s work.

I started off the week nervous and scared: questions running through my mind, wandering through my mind, wondering what I was going to get out of this trip. Maybe I wouldn’t get anything. As I hopped into the van to start the journey to Pine Ridge with only complete strangers sitting next to me, I tried to tell myself that it was going to be good and I was going to have an awesome time, not knowing if that statement was true or not.
The first couple of days in Pine Ridge was kind of just a blur. I was just trying to take everything in at once and getting used to being around so many people who were so committed to trying to find God and wanting to find Him, just making their relationship with Him so much I was starting to think that I didn’t really belong here because I really never truly believed or saw God before. So I started to worry that in the end I would be the weird one out and wouldn’t find anything on this trip.
Wednesday, we were in worship. I was singing along just enjoying the song. I started to look around at the people around me and noticed that they all were really feeling the lyrics. I said to myself that I was going to get to feel a song like that someday, but what I felt at the end of the song after I let down my walls was nothing I expected at all or have ever felt before. I saw Him. God. It was the most terrifying time in my life, but it was amazing. I was struck with this feeling of hope, sadness, being overwhelmed and joy.
That night, when Beth was talking, I actually really listened. I soaked in all the words she said and replayed them again and again in my head until I was sure that I got what she wanted us to understand. From that time on, I really just wanted to know more and know everyone’s story … how they found God or if they think they found Him. I am so ready to continue this journey and I know it’s going to be hard. Harder than anything I have ever done before, but I am ready and I want to continue this path. I know I’ll lose the road sometimes, and I’m going to fail sometimes, but I have to accept that. I used to not do some things because I was afraid … still am, but I need to believe in myself, and my abilities to do things. I’m starting to again, but it is going to take some time. But if I do fail, I need to keep reminding myself that I am stronger than I think and that deep down inside in my core, I know I can do it.

On this trip, I was surprised by the people of Pine Ridge. Every day was a struggle for them, and yet, they didn’t show it. They always were happy, and wore a warm smile. The trip was really an eye-opening experience. It really showed me how blessed I was to have all I have. God could be found everywhere you turned; from a community of people coming together to help our friends in need, to the spirit of the people with absolutely nothing. It really was a moving and humbling experience. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to go on this trip.

My trip meant a ton to me. I had so much fun meeting new friends, but also being more connected to God. The scenery we saw everywhere shined God. It was just so beautiful, the hills were endless. The hills made you truly realize that the Master Craftsman is truly God.
I was on crew one. We were building a church for Pastor John Two Bulls. The church was for gangs to come to and get help or to become more connected with their faith. The land that the church was on was neutral territory so gangs could come and not worry about the other gangs. On the last day working, Pastor John Two Bulls came and he talked about his story and how God took control of his life and how it brought him so much. At the end of his speech, he said that we weren’t just building a church; we were saving people’s lives. He also said that when we go to heaven, a Native American will come up to you and thank you. I found this so cool. I wish everyone could have heard his story.
The trip wasn’t just cool on the work site, it was really cool at home base. It was never just three separate groups. We all mingled and got along so well. So I didn’t just get close to our group, I got close to others from Ohio. I went into this trip knowing Ben and Molly a little. I got close to everyone in our group. I could talk with them and have fun. I didn’t just make friends for this week; I made friends I can have for life and can count on to help me with whatever I need.
I also loved that the group leaders (Joe, Joe, Angie, Mary and Meg) were so caring and fun. I really got to know them and connect with them. They weren’t just our leaders they were our friends. I know if I ever needed anything I could go to them in a heartbeat. It wasn’t just our group leaders who were cool, the Next Step leaders were all so kind and fun! I loved worship time. It gave us a time to really connect to god and see Him in different ways. After worship, we would have parish time where everyone could be true with each other and just talk about everything.
So on this trip I didn’t just feel God during worship or devotion time, I could feel Him all day and everyday watching over us. I could see God through everyone there, especially our group leaders and the Next Step leaders.

This week’s mission trip was an eye-opening experience. When we got to the Reservation, the need for our service was visible. It was disheartening to see the conditions that the people were forced to live in. The first day of work gave me the opportunity to hear our resident’s story. My crew was given the opportunity to build a shed for a man named Harold. While one of the crew leaders and I were moving piles of scrap lumber, Harold came outside and helped us move the scrap. My leader started a conversation with Harold and I listened as we continued to work. Harold told us about growing up in a family of 18 kids and some of the struggles his family had to face. He pointed to a well farther out in the field and shared how his family would drink water from that well, later to learn that the water was contaminated. He shared how he lost so many family members to cancer and how he had medical problems of his own. It was sad and frustrating to hear all of the terrible things he has had to fight in his life, but I couldn’t help but notice something about Harold: the whole time he talked about what he’s faced, he was strong. He said that he could have just sat around all day, wallowing and not doing anything. He said that he wanted to do something with his life though, and make the most of everything. He shared how he can feel the spirit in him in the morning, telling him to go outside and do something. I couldn’t help but smile as Harold continued to talk. I admired how he just kept pushing on and wouldn’t let the obstacles in his life stop or define him. I also thought it was beautiful how he opened up to people he had met only a few minutes ago. I felt God’s presence while we spoke with Harold, and I am so glad and thankful that I got to listen to his story. It gave me a better understanding of him and the other people on the Reservation. It also gave me a better understanding of faith and God’s love and presence. At the end of our trip, we talked about what we left behind on the Reservation and what we were bringing back with us. I believe that we all left behind an impact on the people we served and a sense of hope for them. As I come home, I’m bringing home a new understanding of God’s love and what it means to hand our burdens and struggles over to God. I’m so thankful that I was given the opportunity to go on the mission trip to Pine ridge. I thank Fr. Mike, Fr. David, Fr. Chad, Joe Rausch and the parish for making our trip possible. The mission trip that I was able to go on was certainly life changing.

For an entire week being surrounded by people who shower once a day, work in any weather from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., worship for the rest of the day until 11 p.m. and then wake up at 6:30 a.m. to do it all again, it is easy to see God.
Relationships are built with people that will vanish after the trip that will leave an everlasting impression on the heart. The people seen everyday becomes an even stronger presence and love prospers.
A mission trip cannot be described because words cannot describe God and that is a mission trip: the indescribable but undeniable presence of the Lord. When open to His love, you have the God moment that everyone is searching for. You find that the struggles you had come with are lifted and you forget who society has made you and your arms open in praise – eyes closed – and tears stream down your cheeks because you feel the warm embrace of God.
So in all this trip and all like it is hope. Nothing can match the dirtiest, heart wrenching week in the place where God is most present. This is where we are all called to in the end and I believe we must all heed this call because it is always life changing.