APPA 2007 Update
We are having a great time in Hooker, Oklahoma! The seniors arrived on Saturday evening, June 9, to prepare for the week, and everyone else came the following Sunday, June 10. The week's theme, decided on by the seniors, is "Better than Bond, 007." Each day we're discovering more and more just how awesome our God is! We hope you'll visit our "Quote Board" (below) each day to see what the youth have to say about their mission trip. It is our joy and honor to spend this week with them.
QUOTE BOARD: About APPA
DAY ONE (Monday):
9th grade (AKA"The Rookies"):
"It's very dirty." ~ Katie Mangum"
"Our supplies came super late." ~ Jordie Costen
"I had a blast." ~ Jerrod Hannon
"We got to eat pizza!" ~ Tyler Fincannon
10th grade:
"I conquered my fear of heights!" ~ Lauren Hernandez
"I mowed a lawn! I'd never mowed a lawn in my life!" ~ Ashley Sullivan
"I already need a massage on the first day." ~ Jackie Evans
"I am a beast removing shingles." ~ Blake Burnstad
12th grade:
"Sledgehammers, crowbars, and posthole diggers are fun." ~ Scott Markham
"Staples should never, ever be used on a roof." ~ Andrew Heard
"Wear sunscreen if you're going to wear sunglasses." ~ Emily Uthlaut
"The best part of my day was teaching a little girl how to throw a football." ~ Josh Hart
And the #1 "Quote of the Day" was from a 11th grade youth, new to APPA. Amanda Kendig had this to say about her experience:
"It is really fun... it's really rewarding and enjoyable to see the look on the homeowner's face and know that you're doing God's work. I'm not a big builder, but here, no one gets left out. Everyone has a part."
DAY TWO (Tuesday):
Counselors:
"It's been great to get to know all of the different youth and how appreciated the work is that we're doing. Our homeowner is just amazed." ~ Steve Homoky, Rookie Counselor
"APPA's been wonderful. It's cool to see a different perspective and see how the youth grow and change throughout the week... and it's only Tuesday!" ~ Lauren Rex, Rookie Counselor, but veteran APPA youth (She's Larry Rex's daughter)
9th grade:
"We saw a dead horse, got chased by cows, and saw a real goat... it was alive! Oh yeah, and I heart my group." ~ Sam Cave
"I got a really good group, and we got so much done - 1/2 a porch! Everyone has been so welcoming and so nice... they are making my first APPA really great." ~ Julia Nelson
"I have the best group ever." ~ Jerrod Hannon
10th grade:
"As a church community, we should be truly proud of our youth who have opened their minds and hearts to push themselves to make a difference in the lives of others." ~ Caytie Lanford, counselor
"A - mazing." ~ Alex Meyers
11th grade:
"A + APPA!!" ~ Melissa Webb
12th grade:
"I really enjoy participating in APPA." ~ Andy Goldston
"The food is great, and I love APPA." ~ Rachel Melton
"My group (#4) is the best ever." ~ Hillary Rupert
Quote of the Day:
"APPA is the best experience ever. Each year is unique and special in its own way." ~ Melanie Johnson
DAY THREE (Wednesday)
10th grade:
"Do they make hammers for left-handed people?" ~ Blake Burnstad
11th grade:
"I don't have to lick my finger to communicate with God." ~ "The Prophet Russell," Russell Wilhite (after demonstrating his connectedness to God by predicting whether or not it was going to rain)
Quote of the Day:
"I think APPA is a good opportunity for our youth ministry to cross class boundaries. It also feeds leaders in a way that is evident as the week progresses... it allows the seniors to leave a legacy yet encourages the younger youth to step up." ~ Rebecca McKenzie, Youth staff/Support Team member
DAY FOUR (Thursday):
From our APPA adult team when interviewed for the local paper:
"Our mission is more than bricks, mortar, and roof shingles. Our mission is one of loving our neighbor, developing a relationship with our homeowner, and learning about the community we serve. Thanks for the opportunity." ~ Nick Nickolas, 7th APPA
"My personal goal for this trip was to get to make a personal connection with more of our youth, and I reached it! Since I work with 9th graders, this is a yearly opportunity to build relationships in a mixed group work team." ~ Cindy Twining, 3rd APPA
"My personal goal for the trip was to spend quality time with our youth while doing awesome work for the community in Hooker." ~ Susan Borgsmiller, 2nd APPA
"The biggest surprise of this trip was the cool weather!" ~ Neal Smith, 14th APPA
"The biggest surprise of this trip is that I learned I could accomplish many tasks with little sleep. We rarely got to bed before 11 or 12 at night and were up at 6:30am after having slept on a gym floor. It was a wonderful experience." ~ Barbara Wheat, 2nd APPA
"I wanted to go to Hooker because the APPA youth mission trip reminds me of the joy of service to others and the power that a small group of people have to affect in others." ~ Bob Burnstad, 2nd APPA
"One thing I want [everyone] to know because of our visit is that Hooker United Methodist and Reverend Jerry Raab are full of the Holy Spirit, can be home for people with all kinds of needs, and hold the love of God in their hearts." ~ Mike Dexter, 4th APPA
END OF TRIP:
"In the words of one of our senior leaders, APPA this year was 'Rock AWESOME!'" In our words, APPA is one of the highlights of the CUMC Youth Ministry calendar. Lives were changed this week, and God was glorified!" ~ Abe, Erin, and Rebecca
