What a week I must say.  It is amazing what only 4 people who have minimal to no experience in constuction (namely siding) can do in a matter of 5 days.  After the week was out we were able to finish up most of what we had set out to do.  With the exception of a small section of the house, we were able to finish the siding... and right before it started raining too!  Speaking of which, praise be to God for holding the rain off until the last day... no no, the last 2 hours!

But in all seriousness, if I am capable of that , it was a really blessed trip.  Since there were only 4 of us on the trip, it made it a lot easier to hang out with old friends of mine as well as go out to dinner with people and actually be able to talk to everyone at the table.  God has really given me a heart for that area though.  Now every time I head down to Mississippi I feel like I am at home and was sad to have to leave, but I know God still has work for me here in Blacksburg.

I apologize that I wasn't able to post as much as I had hoped while I was in MS.  It seemed by the time we finished a long days work and had dinner with friends, we were all to exhausted to even function by the time we got home.  But each day was an adventure and I was blessed to work alongside Jess, John, and Mike all week.  We had some frustrating times when siding just didn't seem to fit or we broke a piece that had been cut with a hundred different notches to fight neatly around the window and outlets, but we definitely enjoyed our time.

But the question is, what was accomplished?  What did we learn?  What was the point?  Well of course, the obvious answer would be that we helped work on a house that will soon be the home of a deserving family.  We also learned a lesson in what it means to serve and be selfless by giving up a week with no inherent gain.  And yes, those are great things, but what else?  What made this trip different from any other missions trip?

I would have to say one thing is that we grew closer together as friends.  Being such a small group of only 4 people, it made it very easy to get to know each other... especially after living together for a week.  But we also had times to hang out and enjoy each others company... and at times get on each others nerves.  But what is family for.   And even more so, we got to make some new friends along the way.  I cannot thank the families enough who had us over for dinner throughout the week and the friends that hung out with us at the oyster roast.  The week really taught me how important friends are and how much I missed my friends in the Pass. 

But even more importantly I would say is the personal lesson I learned.  And I have said this before, but I have learned from my trips to Honduras, Nicaragua, Mississippi, and others like it that two of my passions are service and teaching.  Now don't get me wrong.  Ask anyone who is a volunteer coordinator or missionary in a foriegn area.... it gets tough at times.  It is not always puppy dogs and rainbows as my roomate would say.  But even in the hardest days working in Mississippi or Honduras, I would prefer it over working a 8-5 job with a big construction company.  But as before, don't misconstue that as me saying that I think an 8-5 job is not important.  I cannot thank my friends and family enough who do just that and have continued to support me both with prayer and finances.  But as for me, I pray God places me in a place of service.  But... if that means work somewhere 8-5 and raise a family, may I do it with all my heart for the glory of God!

But thanks again to everyone's support and prayers over this trip and previous trips I have taken.  This was truely a unique trip and a huge blessing to see friends and family over the past week.  But as for now, I call Blacksburg home as I work towards graduation in May 2011.  My desire is that I continue to honor God where he has me and press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Until next time, honor God in all things giving Him the glory!

For the Glory,
Erich Roscher