Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

This July, a number of young people from the Chapel of the Cross traveled to inner-city Chicago to participate in a mission trip. The participants were: Ellen Abrams, Marian-Kathryn Cranford, Harrison Fahrer, Will Farley, Goldie Hanna, TJ Lovejoy-Henkel, John Hoffman, Sam Hunt, Katie Nicholson, Lauren Peterson, Sarah Pickering, Michael Rutledge, Julia Taylor, Karl von Allmen, Kate Williams, and Rachel Wilson.

The trip leaders were Dana Campbell, David Frazelle, and Mark Graves. The following is a selection of their reflections on the trip.

What was the most exciting thing that happened this week?

"Living" in an urban city for a week and
meeting new people who share my passion for helping others.
The most exciting thing that happened this week was getting closer to the people in our group.
The most exciting thing that happened was meeting new people and seeing a whole new way of life. Chicago is so different than the one that I have known all my life. I see the city with new perspective. I now know about the people that make it what it is. I don't just see it as a place to go.
A walking-through-the-neighborhood scavenger hunt in an unfamiliar area!
Leading my first mission trip, watching people grow in the knowledge and love of God, and returning people to their parents safe, in one piece, and at least as healthy as when they left.

What was the most challenging emotional experience this week?

Not knowing anyone to begin with, I didn't know who to talk to, but I was myself and most everyone got along and became friends.
Letting myself be open spiritually with the people around me.
Hearing about a gang member that died of a drug overdose and seeing little kids that could end up with the same fate.
Realizing the situation of the women in the community was difficult for me emotionally because it was very hard to face the fact that there was very little I could do to make the changes that I wished I could in only one week. The only solution was to pray for the women and support the few little girls I saw during my few days.
It's hard for me to move on from something so great and people so incredible. Each person from the group gave me so much and I will miss them all like family.

What image, or scene, or face do you want to take with you from this trip?

All the faces of my group and all the Chapel of the Cross group. We really had a great group this year!
Our whole group mingling and laughing with all the new people we met because we all seemed so happy.
The last day, when our group was playing in an opened fire hydrant. It was the way in which the children would cool off and have fun since there was no air conditioning and the summer heat was often oppressive. The children had opened it up to use, and everyone was having a good time. It was something simple we could share despite our very different backgrounds.
The image of our group laughing and enjoying each others' company.

What did you learn about urban American culture that surprised you?

That these children are real and more than just statistics.
I was reminded of the ethnic diversity and enormous income chasm present in American cities.
The different attitude toward some things such as a pat on the back.
There is more poverty and gang violence than I would ever have expected. From living in Chapel Hill my whole life I have never seen such bad and ruined households and violent people. But among the violent people are good people.

How does poverty change perspective either in our lives or in the lives of others?

It helps us realize how lucky we are.
It makes just about all of our problems seem so mild. It also allows us to see the true faces of people. Without material wealth, a person's soul is more visible.
Poverty makes those who experience it aware of what is really important.
It makes you see just how privileged we really are - there were apartments with pieces missing out of the top and cages that made it look like a prison and it makes me glad to have my house.
I think poverty changes everybody's life. When that black male walked up to us during church group time, we all got up and walked away. I think that if it had been a clean-shaven, well-dressed male, we would have reacted completely differently. So yes, poverty changed perspective in the way that others react to each other.
It changed me by making me realize how ungrateful I am for things that some people do not have.

Where, when, or how have you encountered God this week?

Through my friends, seeing how much they love me and I love them. And through learning about the message of kindness and selflessness.
Through the kids - how happy they were that we were there.
I have encountered God in shared story and in the washing of the feet: both figurative and literal.
I encounter God almost every day of my life but this week I saw Him in every child I worked with and in every person I helped.
I realized that one of my biggest struggles in my own faith was the inability to accept that some things were beyond my control. I learned that the best thing that I could do would be to trust in God and pray.
I'm not sure I can answer this question with words. All I can say is that I felt closer to God this week than I ever have in my life.

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