Spring Break Impact
March 13, 2008
By Karl Meisterheim, GCM campus staff
One of my favorite aspects of college ministry is going on spring break trips. For the past two years I’ve had the opportunity to lead a group of students from the University of Michigan on a trip focused on community service. Partnering with Mountain T.O.P. ministry in Altamont, Tennessee, we serve the local residents by assisting in various home improvement and construction projects.
This year I had a chance to return to Tennessee with thirteen students from New Life Church. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s almost impossible to predict what the group dynamic will be like before you actually leave. Fortunately, everyone got along great and we had an amazing time.
The trip began at 7 am on Sunday in Ann Arbor. After getting everyone’s tools and luggage (plus a guitar and French horn) loaded into five cars, we split into two caravans and set out for Tennessee. I jokingly threatened to play a techo dance song called the Gummy Bear song on repeat in my car until someone broke down. That person would then buy lunch for the rest of the car. I pretended we were going to do this, and to my horror, no one objected! I became nervous because I knew there was no way I was going to make it. We finally came to a compromise and decided just to listen to it while we were in the state of Michigan, a total of about 45 minutes.
After 10 hours and getting lost just once, we arrived at the camp in time for dinner. Monday through Wednesday were spent working on projects out in the country. This year we had three different teams. My team helped repair and drywall a kitchen ceiling. The other two teams installed laminate flooring in a house and worked on a new addition to an existing house. Both of these projects were to accommodate the needs of recent stroke victims. Each team returned to camp by around 5 pm and cleaned up for dinner.
Speaking of dinner, this camp has really, really good food. I packed myself a few snacks just in case, and I didn’t touch them all week. Monday night we had a bonfire after dinner. It was nice to share and hear what people were learning. We spent time worshipping by the fire (hence the guitar). The other evenings were split between free time and times of sharing and worship. I was proud of our group because while there was a TV in the lounge, we never watched it. Instead, people played board games, talked and just had fun hanging out with each other.
On Thursday we spent the day working on projects to improve the camp at Mountain T.O.P. That night the camp staff conducted a “fishhook service.” This is a special commissioning to a life committed to helping meet the needs of people. At the end of the service, each student was given a fishhook pin as a symbol of Mountain T.O.P. and as a reminder of our calling to be fishers of men.
Friday was our last full day in Tennessee, and it was our day off. Most people chose to go caving since it was raining outside. I elected to go for a hike instead, as I had gone caving the year before. While it was wet and my feet hurt, the views were well worth it. As amazing as Savage Gulf is in February, I bet it’s absolutely stunning in the summer.
Saturday morning we got up for an early breakfast and after cleaning, we loaded the cars and headed back to Michigan. Usually I work hard to make the fastest time possible on a road trip. This trip was different though, and I took every opportunity to extend our time by taking long and relaxing lunch and dinner breaks. It was so much fun being together that I wanted it to last as long as possible. Finally, everyone made it back to Ann Arbor by around 9 pm. And in case you’re wondering, my car listened to the same techno song on the way back through Michigan.
Personally, the highlight of this year’s trip was the relationships. While people grew spiritually and experienced the Lord through their devotions and time spent serving, I think the biggest lesson we walked away with was the joy of being part of a loving community. It is something quite special to be part of a group that is committed to loving one another, resolving conflict and focusing on their relationship with the Lord. It’s easy to take it for granted sometimes and to forget how blessed we are.