Youthworks- Cincinnati, OH

So I returned home from the National youth Gathering on a Monday and left that Saturday morning for a youthworks trip! Just enough time to do some laundry and catch upon sleep so I can do it all again in a new state, new kids, new adventures.

We loaded the two 15 passenger vans in the parking lot of Zumbro, checked the forms, and waved goodbye. 4 chaperons, 19 7th, 8th, and 9th graders headed to Ohio. I drove the whole way there. I enjoy driving. It keeps me occupied and the time flies! We stopped for the night in De Kalb and slept at a church there. We arose in the morning, were fed a great breakfast by a group of couples from the congregation. We attended their church service and we were off on the road again. Because of some extreme road work and stop and go traffic in Indiana we were late arriving to Cincinnati... but did make it safe and sound... greeted by the Youthworks staff and 2 other churches we lived and worked with all week.

Instead of building this year, our site focused on the people of Cincinnati. Some crews went to nursing homes and interacted and helped where they could there. But most sites went to churches that held feeding programs, to children. Children would come to these sites for the day, and were provided with a hearty breakfast and lunch and then a structured day of learning and playtime. Some were more structured than others. The kids ages were from 4-15.

We had a great time getting to know the kids, and them getting to know us! The girls loved playing with our hair and the boys loved running around and being boys. It was so interesting to see and hear about how some had never interacted with a caucasian person before and vice versa. Its amazing the new cultures that were experienced while we were there! We had a great time playing and simply being a positve presence in these kids lives!

Some of the evening activities the youthworks team had set up for us were: walking across the purple people bridge... crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky. Just a bridge walk away! We also went to the freedom slavery museum. We learned a lot about the history of slavery and how in some cases it is still prevelent today in parts of the world. There was so much to see and learn about... you couls spend the whole day there and still not experience everything! I highly recommend it!
We also went to a "bible study" at Tabernacle baptist church. It is a whole new way of seeing how people worship or hear the good news and the ways in which they respond to it. Lots of stomping, clapping, yelling out phrases of "preach it", "wow", "amen", and "Teach!" The Holy Spirit was truly present in the hearts of those around us...and it was so cool the way they showed it!

Our plan was to head home Friday morning, but since there was an accident with one of the van windows breaking we had to alter our plans a bit. Instead of arriving in Chicago for a fun day at Navy Pier.. Rachel dropped us off at Kings Island amusement park while she went back and waited for the auto glass guy to come and fix it. We were picked up at 3( after a day of so much fun)... and made our way to Chicago. Our main interstate was closed so after many a times recalculating our route... 3 hours later we left Cincinnati. We were in teh car about 10 and a half hours before making it to CHicago. We slept at a church for a few hours... but up at 7AM to make the last stretch home!

It was an awesome trip.. and although drained of energy I feel so fulfilled with so much! It was a great end of my internship year!