Highview Youth GroupMission Trip to Chicago 2011

Leader: Pastor ChrisChaperones: Alisa, Vickie, Simon

Youth: Miles, Angela, Tommy, Isaac, Hannah, Grace, Rowan, Caleb

Service Learning

Towards an understanding of poverty, homelessness and hunger in the urban setting.

Education

Shoesmith Elementary is a K – 6 Chicago Public School located in President Obama’s neighborhood.

Despite the affluent surroundings, the school’s population is 96% poverty.

We cleaned rooms, desks and hallways and talked to Principal Sabrina Gates.

Homeless Shelters• We visited the Lincoln Park

center• We purchased food and

made 30 lunches to be distributed to residents

• We learned about the Lutheran Volunteer Corps

• The shelter’s director outlined programs goals and gave us a tour of the dormitory space

Worship

• At the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, we attended a Contemplative Service

• The service was led by Pastor Craig Mueller

• Pastor Mueller was Pastor Chris’ mentor eighteen years ago

Night Ministry• At Holy Trinity, we learned

about the Night Ministry• Volunteers provide meals

and other services to homeless youth after dark

• We helped package 140 meals

• Many of the youth are GLBT and isolated from family and community

Streetwise Magazine

• Empowering the People of Chicago

• We visited the headquarter of Streetwise Magazine

• Streetwise seeks to enable homeless, and those seeking to avoid homelessness to become self-sufficient business people

• Vendors sell the magazine for $2 and keep $1.25 of the revenue

• Jim, executive director of the program, outlined the program and gave us an insight into it’s history and mission

• Greg, a graduate of the program and formerly homeless himself let us sit in on a vendor orientation session

ELCA• We were treated to a tour of the

ELCA headquarters located near to O’Hare airport

• Program leaders gave us a summary of community initiatives and efforts to tackle world hunger and health problems

• We also learned about Young Adults Global Mission (YAGM)

• By way of an unexpected treat, we were given an audience with Bishop Hanson

Getting Around…

By Mega-Bus

On Foot…

By train…

Or waiting for trains and busses…

Fun Stuff – Food!

Valois – best breakfast

More food stuff…

Chicken and Waffles In line at Valois

!Sponch!

Fun Stuff – Baseball!

Cubs v. Reds at Wrigley Field

More Wrigley…

The field Bucket drummers

The Art Institute

By the lake…

Promontory Point Gold Coast

More beach stuff…

Tommy buried on the beach The sandy beach shoe dance

Thank you Pastor Chris for leading the Highview youth on an amazing Mission Trip