Up On The Roof…

Mission trips and wholistic health??? Yes, there is a connection. Having just returned from Slidell, LA on my 4^th mission trip to help build houses for those who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina I finally put it all together.

BODY – climbing ladders, carrying tools, building materials, hammering nails, tacking Tyvek, installing insulation underneath houses and inside, putting up siding and roofing, these are all physical tasks (many of which I’ve NEVER done before) that help my body be physically active and hopefully a bit more fit.

MIND – leaning HOW to climb a ladder to the roof safely, how to climb up the rafters to the roof safely, learning a “factory right” from a “factory left” on siding, learning how to walk/move about safely on a roof, learning the best way to sit in order to get “the most for my money” with each swing of the hammer to nail the roofing in, learning what an “H” clip is and how to position it to assure the roof will be secure in a hurricane or high winds, these are all things that stretched my mind and taught me things I’d never have thought I’d need to know.

SPIRIT – the fellowship of being with 41 other Christians of various faith expressions, learning about their lives, having prayer and sharing time, seeing that regardless of where or how we practice our Christian faith we all are Christ’s hands and feet when we come together to help “the least of these” (who are really the best of these).

Yes, a mission trip whether to Louisiana, Haiti or in your own community can truly be a means to wholistic health – having that balance between body, mind and Spirit. If you have ever thought about going on a mission trip I would strongly encourage you to do so, it is a great way to share your gifts and talents to follow Christ’s directive to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and give shelter to the homeless. The big surprise is that we get more than we can ever give and are blessed in ways we could never imagine.

Faithfully,

Maureen Redmer,

Aurora Parish Nurse