The missionaries from Appalachia, Dominican Republic, Mississippi, and Ruskin joined hands in prayer on Wednesday, March 29, to close out the 2012 mission trip season. This morning prayers service was opened with a wonderful prayer written by Senior and La Victoria missionary Anna Castellano. This reflection allowed the girls to thank God for the “honor and privilege” to participate in their work and for a fantastic and productive week.

The girls filled out questionnaires based off their different experiences on their different trips. Together the missionaries and their moderators listened to a selection from the Gosepl of Mark that read, “After the Lord Jesus has spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

Rachel Eilers, a senior and La Victoria missionary, lead the group in reflection questions. The girls wrote down their own personal responses to each questions, and several girls from each trip shared their responses after. Junior Tori Litschgi, a Mississippi missionary, spoke in front of her fellow missionaries of her experience and reaction of where she saw God.

Tori reflected, “I saw God in the people of the town. A year ago, we fixed up Miss Bell’s house, and she still cried when she saw us. She called us part of her family and reminded us that we were always welcome. It was comforting that the people always had smiles on their faces.”

After the closing prayer reading, “A missionary works hard all week and still receives more than they give. We have made special connections with the people we have served and we will never for get them,” the girls headed back to homeroom with their service work still on their minds.