Friday night we began traveling to D.C. in two vehicles to begin our urban experience. We were given a rock from the St. John’s parking lot to carry with us for the weekend and prayed especially for each member of our group. On Saturday, we began with prayer and received our instructions for the Scavenger Hunt around Washington, D.C. We were instructed to find and answer questions about the following places: the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Postal Museum, the Library of Congress, and the Capitol.
That evening we completed a service project with YSOP (Youth Service Opportunity Project). We prepared, hosted, and served a meal for 80 people which included over 40 homeless guests. We discussed, learned, and reflected on homelessness with our two YSOP leaders. When we returned to the hotel, we reflected on the Scavenger Hunt in a lively discussion and ended the evening with prayer.
Sunday morning, in the rain, we went to the Washington National Cathedral for a Holy Eucharist Rite II service in the Nave, and heard powerful hymns and a sermon during the Lenten Season. There were many youth visiting the Cathedral the day of our visit and all of our groups were announced during the service! We ended with lunch at Arby’s on our drive home.
The Leaders are Paul Brookes, Sue Eley, Linda McMahon and Harper Lewis. Our J2Aers and Leaders were asked the following questions about their Urban Adventure.
Leadership taught me…
How to guide my group. How to be a better leader. How to step up and rally people. How to be a good follower. That I need to step back and not always be in charge.
My top 3 highlights of the Urban Adventure were…
Metro, visiting FDR Memorial, naming Korean War soldiers. Double decker bus, park patrol horses, Memorials’ monuments. YSOP – serving the homeless, talking in our British accent, learning my way around D.C. How we got back to the hotel with ease, how one of us learned to be a follower, and how we served the homeless at YSOP. Library of Congress – because of my love of books/history/reading, being silly with silly accents, a homeless man at YSOP – how joyful he was!
The biggest challenge was…
Being tired at the end of Saturday. Trying to find our way to the White House. Walking the 14 blocks with the option of riding the Metro (the blocks were long and we didn’t get rest). Being a follower, not a leader.
We strived when…
Going to the church (YSOP). Learning the Metro system. When we work together, not as individuals. When we directed the group using the Metro back to the hotel. After lunch the group came together and we really started to work as a team.
I saw God in…
All the homeless peoples’ eyes. Sunday morning when getting ready to leave. When my lost phone was found. The peoples’ faces at the YSOP dinner for the homeless. When I met a man at the YSOP dinner for the homeless.
Hear what the Rite-13 Leaders shared about the Urban Adventure
My top 3 highlights of the Urban Adventure were: FDR Memorial, YSOP fellowship, National Cathedral. The adventure around the Mall, time with one of our youth at the Capitol, the service at the National Cathedral. Seeing each youth taking leadership roles, the group coming together at YSOP (ages 12-30 yrs.) working to prepare/serve/clean-up the meal for the homeless, when I was able to let go and let God lead.
I saw God in: The faces of our youth when serving at the YSOP. When helping one of our youth on Saturday reminded me of Footsteps. Our youth as they took on leadership responsibilities and problem solved the challenges throughout Saturday.
The youth strived when they: Did their best at the YSOP dinner and opened up. Came together and worked for the first time as a group on Saturday. Came together as equals and led us to our next destination.
The Urban Adventure described in one word would be: crazy, magnificent, adventure, leadership, entertaining, great, grateful, spiritual.
Originally published in St. John’s Epistle, May 2009.