Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2013 Issue | Page 6

Mission on the Road
Ashley Cameron

Typically, when someone says they went on a mission trip,
we conjure up images of them in some remote country
doing construction or medical work. The majority
of mission trip teams from Virginia, however,
never leave the country. People hop in
cars to serve those in their own
backyards.
The youth of St. Mark’s, Alexandria,
take an annual mission trip which varies
in location each year. Last year, they
were in Pittsburgh, Pa., and this year
they’ll be traveling to Vermont. “Our
goal is to take them to places that they
would not go,” explained the Rev.
Meredith Heffner, associate rector, who
organizes the annual trip.

“We tend to use mission
organizations that organize the work,
lodging and food,” said Heffner. “That
way, [the adults] are experiencing
it with the kids and not running the
trip.” For the Pittsburgh trip, St. Mark’s
used a program called GroupWorks,
which planned site visits to a local soup
kitchen, a boys and girls club, and a
local elementary school.

At the end of each trip, Heffner
allows for some fun, relaxing time as
well as time for reflection. Reflection
exercises include listing what was left
behind – maybe differences, negativity
or hope for others – and listing
what is being brought home: new
relationships, awareness they can make
a difference, and greater faith.

“Each year we ask the high school
seniors to reflect on where God was
present in their lives, and 90 percent
of the stories come from a mission
trip,” said Heffner. “You don’t know
what impact [a mission trip] is going to
4

have on
youth.”
Trinity,
Fredericksburg,
keeps its annual
mission trip even closer
to home. Renting two
minivans, a team of 14 people
will head for Wise, Va., in mid-July
for their third stay at Grace House.
Grace House provides a great space
for participating in service, creating
community and reflecting spiritually on
issues concerning Appalachia.

“It’s always rewarding to see
youth empowered to help others and
try new things outside their comfort
zone, learning in physical and practical
ways what it means to love their
neighbors,” said the Rev. Brian Turner,
mission trip leader and assistant
rector and youth minister of Trinity,
Fredericksburg. The main activity of
the week last year was tearing down
and rebuilding a back porch and stairs
on a local home. The service project
should be similar this summer.

“The trip was rewarding in
many ways. We were able to help
improve the [resident’s] life and living
conditions,” said Turner.

Virginia Episcopalian / Summer 2013