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2022 Summer Mission Trip

We are excited to share details of 2022 Youth Mission Trip. Westminster Youth are going to work with Hopkins County Emergency Agency & Long-term Recovery Group to rebuild from December 2021 tornado.
Trip: Sunday, July 10 - Saturday, July 16
​Mission Team Leading Sunday worship, Sunday, July 17 10:00 a.m.
Intent to Participate documents
(Participants who are Ages 18 and older during the mission trip must use adult intent to participate form)
adult_intent_to_participate.docx
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

2022_wpc_adult_paper_work.docx
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

youth_intent_to_participate.docx
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

2022_wpc_youth_paper_work.docx
File Size: 30 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

hopkins_county_waiver.pdf
File Size: 103 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

 (Please have the documents submitted to the church office or Rev. Choi [email protected])

 Daily Update - (we will keep adding more pictures to the previous days)

Sunday, July 10

After being commissioned during worship, we left Westminster heading toward First Presbyterian Church of Madisonville.
After quick stop for lunch, we have arrived safely to FPC Madisonville.

We met with Westminster Dayton, OH and we are blessed to meet Marcia and Robbie - their mobile hospitality crew who served us a phenomenal dinner!

Of course, the day would not be complete without some activity: 9-squares. 

Monday, July 11

We started our day with a wonderful breakfast prior to work. 
With any disaster stricken area, many things/plans go off in a different direction.

We visited six different homes, cleaned out debris in 5 of the homes we visited.
Cleaning them out so that the work of rebuilding can be done.
Our pictures are from the last and the biggest site we had to clean up.

Few things we have noticed:
- There are a lot of homes that are being rebuilt but also many home lots that just have a hole in the ground where their basement once existed.
- So many homes and businesses were destroyed. One of the pictures show what we think is a remnant of a VFW, and only thing that did not get blown away with a tornado was a tank - too heavy to be swayed by EF 4 tornado.
- There are a lot of Presbyterian Church USA members helping throughout KY for rebuild.
- All the tall trees have been broken off and some even have objects in them that does not belong.
- Counting our blessings tonight.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. 
Keep us in your prayers as we deal with heat!​

Tuesday, July 12

Not everything started the way we want in terms of logistics this morning, but it is how you end them that it counts.
God continues to open doors for us in ways we didn't expect.

Starting today, we will be building a deck for a family who lost everything to the tornado.
The area we are in is secluded small community, where majority of the homes are damaged and people are living either in tents next to their homes under construction or some other places, looking forward to come back when the house is completed.

The houses do not have electricity and many of them are being worked on by many different volunteers.

Seeing so many people living in tents and FEMA trailers throughout Dawson Springs, KY.
Keep us and the folks who are still dealing with the aftermath in your prayers.

Fact of the day: It takes 3 to 5 years for a tornado community to recover from its impact.

Wednesday, July 13

What? It is already halfway over?
Today's first blessing is knowing that we will be returning to the same worksite, continue to serve Natasha and her family by finishing up her porch and building a deck. Hopefully as we complete our work, it will expedite her family to come back to their home.

Although it took longer than expected, we are super proud of what we have accomplished in a short amount of time!
We have set the main porch deck posts and cemented it to be cured for a day. 
We will wrap up and dash toward the finish to put in the joists and the deck boards on Friday.

So many blessings today, as First Presbyterian Church of Madisonville graciously offered us dinner!
We are experiencing hospitality and God's spirit as we are being served as we serve others.

​We look forward to our day off tomorrow after exhausting three days of work, and taking a break to experience the best of Louisville.

Thursday, July 14

We took a day in Louisville, visiting the PCUSA national office (Thank you Kerry Rice for the tour!), had a wonderful lunch in downtown, and visit two museums: Louisville Slugger museum & Kentucky Derby Museum. Afterwards, we had a wonderful BBQ dinner stop on the way back.



Friday, July 15

Final push to get our work done!

We are Westminster and we do not give up.
Not only we have reached our goal of completing the deck flooring, but side deck, a shed, kennel, and replaced a mailbox!
Oh yeah, we also added an access point to the attic on homeowner's mom's house (next door).

Even after a long day, we finished with a memorable bombardments.
We Look forward to heading back home.

July 16, Saturday

Thank you Rick and First Presbyterian Church of Madisonville!
As we loaded up our bus, we realized how blessed we were to be there.

On the way back, Bojangles for lunch and came back to Westminster at 2:30 p.m.
I think it is one of the earliest time we been back!

Thank you all for your generosity to make this trip happen, and keeping us in your prayers throughout the week.

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Things to pack for a successful mission trip:

Essentials:
  •   H2O bottles & hydrating gear
  •   Hat
  •   Sunscreen
  •   Twin sheets & blankets OR       
      sleeping bag
  •   Pillows
  •   Towels (2 or 3)
  •   Money (~$100)
  •   Clothes for activities at the YMCA 
    • Gym shoes
    • swimsuits
Other helpful things:
  • Pack light as possible (bring essentials only)
  • Bring work shoes/boots & comfortable shoes
  • Gloves
  • Snacks to share
  • Things to do during the long journey
    • Books / journals / crafts
  • Wristwatch
  • Wireless Power Tools if you have them
Things to Consider BEFORE the trip:
  • Praying about the trip
    • People we will help
    • How to support the people doing the work of rebuilding
    • People whom we will meet
  • Buying a personalized baseball bat at Louisville Slugger
  • Buying Kentucky Derby items
  • Appropriate DVD for the bus

Community that we are serving:
Dawson Springs, KY (Photos taken from google)


Our Home Base for the week:
​First Presbyterian Church of Madisonville, KY
260 W. McLaughlin Ave, Madisonville, KY

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Possible Side Trips: 
Louisville, KY

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Presbyterian Church USA National Office
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Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
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Kentucky Derby Museum, Churchill Downs
Worship Times 
Sunday Service at 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary and Streamed Online
Child Care Available during Service

Sunday School at 10:15 a.m.
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Join us:
Westminster Presbyterian Church
533 S. Walnut Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
 217-522-4415