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By First Lutheran Church of Greensboro

Fourteen youth and five adults from First Lutheran Church recently experienced a life changing week of "vacation."

They traveled to Sevierville, TN with the organization called TEAMeffort to do mission work for those in need. TEAMeffort organizes and leads various youth mission experiences across the United States.

Young TEAMeffort adult leaders share worship, devotions, testimonials, and guidance throughout the week. TEAMeffort's theme throughout the week was the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus at the well. This mission-focused non-denominational organization never charges the people in need for services or supplies. Their hope is for both the serving youth and the people they serve to experience God's love.

Each group of young people at TEAMeffort worked with a different family or organization in the community. The First Lutheran youth group was assigned to work with Mr. Carl. He was an older gentlemen living by himself with numerous health problems. He had had a massive stroke and numerous heart attacks. These events led to loss of the use of his left arm and leg.

Told he would never walk again, he not only learned to walk again but he also learned how to live day to day using one arm. Living for over 55 years as a left-handed mechanic who still loves working with his hands, he can now do almost everything except peel potatoes.

The night before the group visited the work site, they met their leader Joe. Joe is a graduate of UNC-C. He has worked several summers with TEAMeffort. Joe explained to the group that they needed to re-building a deck and a starting a shed/workshop. The whole group was thinking, "Wow, how could we possibly accomplish this task?"

A little scared, but at the same time pumped, the youth honestly didn't know what to expect. Joe also shared his concern for Mr. Carl and reminded the team that it was just as important to spend time with Carl as it was to build a workshop or a deck.

The first day at the work site the youth group was separated into two different groups. One group was assigned to the shed and the other to the deck. The deck crew had to tear down a new poorly built deck and build a new solid one. The shed/workshop crew had to start from scratch. Each project had an equal amount of work and the tasks were far from easy. The only guidance they had was Joe. He showed the team everything they needed to know.

Every day before they started working the mission group opened in prayer. They prayed for God to be with them along the way; to get them safely through the heat and keep them strong. Through three days of hard work God provided strength and safety. Best of all, God was revealed through each and everyone of the team.

The First Lutheran youth and adults bonded with Carl, Joe, and their peers. They completed the tasks by the third day. Seeing what the group had built with their young hands and little experience made them all appreciate the gifts God gave them. The youth group spent only a short time in Tennessee but their experience will stay with them forever.