This past week I spent my days at the Kennedy Baptist Children's Home in Kinston, NC on a mission trip with Hayes Barton Baptist Church. When I heard about this mission trip a few months ago, I felt called to go. Thank God I did! The trip was incredibly rewarding.
Kennedy Home is a large campus with cottages for the children (ages 10-18), a gymnasium, food locker, craft building, administration building, school building (which is no longer in use), tennis court, volleyball court, and swimming pool (opened this year for the first time in 3 years thanks to gracious HBBC funds and hard working men and women). There are currently four cottages, two for girls and two for boys. Each cottage has "house parents" that take care of them and they work in 2 week shifts. I really enjoyed getting to know the house parents that were working while we were there. They are all so dedicated to these kids, devoting their lives to helping, listening, comforting, teaching, and healing the pains of the residents.
Our first day was spent moving into our cottage and getting to know the kids. We had a few ice breakers, ate pizza, tie-dyed t-shirts, and watched Rudy. Everyone had a blast! The remainder of the days were generally the same with differences in the evenings. Each morning we had breakfast in the food locker, which was very quickly dubbed the "foot locker". The girls from the Blackwell cottage cooked us grand breakfasts including eggs, grits, biscuits, and sausage one day, and Belgium waffles and bacon another day. After breakfast everyone met in the gym for a relay/warm up game. Those became quite competitive at times and I think the kids enjoyed them. Next was Bible study and English or math/science tutoring. After a small snack, it was time for crafts and hand chimes. The crafts for the week included birdhouses for each cottage, lap desks, and photo boards. Hand chimes started out in a cacophony of clanking, scraping, and ringing. Needless to say, the chimes took a small beating, but they survived heartily. Lunch was hosted by a different cottage each day. This was a great opportunity to get to know the residents better and it was so nice to eat with them in their homes.
After lunch, we HBBC folks worked on painting a cottage that is preparing to open. I really enjoyed this, not because painting is terribly exciting, but because I got to paint with Reece Edwards. He used to be the broadcaster for NCSU football and basketball, along with some UNC and now Duke athletics. He is absolutely hilarious, sarcastic, dry, and whitty. I enjoyed his company so much that I hardly even noticed I was painting. Once 3:00 came around, it was time for the girls to swim, followed by the boys at 4:15. They loved swimming, diving, doing flips, and relaxing at the pool. Our group did as well.
Each evening held a new excitement for the residents. Tuesday was "mystery night". Each cottage worked as a team with HBBC members scattered around. I worked with Jones cottage (all boys). We had clues that told the story of a princess who was receiving roses from a secret suitor. We had to solve each clue to find the next that took us on a wild goose chase around the campus, ending up at a nearby BBQ buffet restaurant. Our team won! They were adamant about me reading each clue, hurrying me along as I speed-read each part. With a lot of teamwork and a rather fast driver, we sped to the finish and arrived victoriously at the restaurant to receive our prize. The buffet was delicious and I got to know a few of the guys a little better since I was sitting with them.
Wednesday was our Hawaiian luau party at the pool. There were decorations galore and the food included grilled chicken, rice, green beans, fruit and cake. We served fruit punch, tea, and lemonade in bright cups with umbrella straws. Everyone wore leis and with the blistering weather, it felt quite tropical! The residents had so much fun, especially since they could all swim together.
Thursday was our cookout under the picnic shelter. A few HBBC men drove down to grill hot dogs and cook chili. They then made smore's which were heavenly, if I do say so myself. Thursday we also had battle of the bands, boys vs. girls, on the hand chimes. I was thoroughly impressed! Both groups played their songs and they sounded like songs! You could tell what songs they were and there was hardly any dissonance at all. I could not believe it. Later that evening, Kristen and I went with Jones (boys) cottage and a few girls to the Kinston Drag Strip. This was my first drag racing experience and it was awesome! Because of an enthusiastic crowd of kids and houseparents, we perched ourselves on the railing right where all of the vehicles burn out before they start the race. This resulted in a lot of white, smelly smoke that the guys just couldn't get enough of. I had an adorable 11-year-old racing expert next to me telling me which was going to win for every race. He was right most of the time. I also got three corn rows from one of the girls, which I wore all night and most of the day Friday.
My job description for the week was to be the photographer. I bounced around from Bible study to tutoring to crafts to music with pool time and meals in between. I took around 700 pictures throughout the week and printed the best 5 of each resident at Wal-Mart for them to put on their new photo boards. They were so excited to have them and ended up trading them around so they could have pictures of each other on their boards. The more I take pictures, the more I love it! Maybe some day I will take one of the resident girl's advice and become a professional photographer.
As you can see, it was a busy week, but I am so thankful I went. I made such wonderful relationships with these kids in just five short days and they touched my life. Each one of them was special in their own way and it was great to figure out who they all were. I loved hearing their stories, learning their likes and dislikes, and just becoming friends with them. I saw and experienced relationships being formed in the most unbiased, non-judgemental environment. I have never so easily or so quickly made friends with so many different kinds of people and I believe that Christ made that happen. He filled me up with love and allowed me to see these kids through His eyes. Getting to know the house parents was also a blessing. They are all incredible people doing God's work by showing love, support, kindness, and care to these kids.
I was also equally as blessed to have the opportunity to get to know those from HBBC that came on this trip. I have learned so much about people I have known of my entire life and am incredibly thankful I had the chance to learn more about them as they learned more about me. Our group was fantastic, full of laughter, and giving 100% every day for this mission. I could go on for much longer, but I am just going to wrap it up by saying God led me to this trip for a reason and I am so thankful I went. This was a trip I will always remember and I thank God for allowing me to be a vessel through which He coulc bless these children this week.
Just a few little highlights of the week on a personal note:
* I now am the proud owner of 3 silly bands (truck, corvette, and cloud)
* I am in love with my telephoto lens
* Kinston is a great place to run because it is FLAT as a flitter
* We brought the equivalent of the contents of an entire Handy Hugo's for snacking during the week. This caused quite a problem because my sugar monster got very bright-eyed and forced my hand to grab a cookie, some peanut M&Ms, or a piece of candy almost every single time I walked past it. This was on top of Kennedy home feeding us like champions. Current status: feel like a fatty :)
Thanks for sharing the blessing. Look forward to the 700. Danny
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