Louisville, Kentucky, isn’t your typical missionary destination.
But seven members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Aurora headed to the home of the Kentucky Derby on Sunday for a week-long mission trip. Volunteers were Gena Gerdin and Rob Creaney, chaperones; and high school students Clodagh Creaney, Andrew Friend, Daniel Miller, Ben Miller, and Annelise Veeder.
Reverend Krista Zimmerman, St. Mark’s pastor, commissioned the delegation during Sunday morning worship services June 15.
Mike Bauman, trip coordinator, said the project, from Sunday through Friday, is an annual youth group effort. The trip’s theme is “May We Follow Jesus so Closely that We are Covered in His Dust.”
Volunteers worked in conjunction with Youthworks, a national coordinator of service trips. Service projects included cleaning, painting, planting and supporting vacation bible school and elder care centers.
Ministry sites include Catholic Charities, Louisville Metro Government, SOS Health, St. Matthews Area Ministries, Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Waterstop and Yew Botanical Gardens.
A local Baptist church housed the Aurora missionaries. All crews helped with preparation and cleanup of meals. After morning devotions, crews headed to ministry sites. Evening events allowed students to interact with community members through cultural, educational and fun activities.
Youth and adults held varied fundraisers to finance the trip. They included a chili/Bingo night with a cookoff contest, sales of coffee and travel mugs and a raffle for a bowling party.
Transportation was via a 12-passenger van driven by a chaperone. The van was also used to transport the crew from St. Mark’s and youth attending from other churches to daily service projects.
Selected students will recap their experiences during St. Mark’s worship services at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 and 10 a.m. Sunday, June 22.
—Al Benson