From Alyson Payran

For the past near decade I have been an adult leader for our high school youth here at FPC Northville. Each year they prepare for their mission trip and each year I'd encourage and support from the home front. As the planning began for 2014's trip, I felt a calling. It was gnawing at me gently, like the Holy Spirit was whispering in my ear, "Go with them." Finally the time came to decide and I committed to going on the trip this year. I have a small grasp on what to expect, but really have no idea what I am in store for. I am eager to see what God has in Asheville NC for me, for all of us. I believe this trip will bring our group closer together, create lasting bonds, and touch lives. I believe we will leave love in our wake and the message of Jesus Christ. I pray for our trip, for our group of kids, and I ask you keep us all in your prayers too.

-Alyson Payran

From Matthew Fuller

                Chicago was my first mission trip.  It was also the first mission trip for my mom and I really enjoyed spending time with her.  There were many great memories from the week.  The greatest impact  the trip had on me came from the lessons the volunteers taught from DOOR Ministry.  They told us that sometimes the best help you can give someone is just the gift of your presence.  Everybody needs someone who can listen and someone to talk to as a friend.  This was true especially for some of the people we encountered who are less fortunate than we are.  This message has stuck with me ever since then and I always try to be there for whomever needs me.

                A funny memory I have from the trip comes from an Italian restaurant at Navy Pier.  I was trying to order a meal that seemed inexpensive and the buttered noodles seemed like they would suit me on this particular day.  Little did I know that this item was under a heading with the word “Bambino”.  As the waitresses came out with the large supply of food, one waitress in particular kept repeating an order: “Kid pasta! Kid pasta!”  Nobody responded.  With a sudden realization I asked, “I ordered buttered noodles.  Is that it?”  It was.  To make matters worse, I finished the miniature bowl before many of my friends had been served.  At least I thought it was miniature until they brought out my gelato.  The container was only big enough to put a squirt of ketchup into and the spoon was half the size of my finger.  It was a very funny experience.  As a result, my nickname for the trip became Kid Pasta.

                I am very much looking forward to this summer’s trip to Asheville.  Very much.  If you don’t know me, one of the first things you should know is that Matthew Fuller and North Carolina may as well be synonymous.  Having been born there, it is very exciting for me to imagine going to North Carolina again for the first time since I can remember.  You can only imagine the excitement that will ensue once we cross the magical sign that reads “Welcome to North Carolina”.  I also look forward to spending time with great friends, making new ones, seeing Pastor Rob in his natural state, and growing in my faith.

                I’d like to thank the congregation for their continued support

-Matthew Fuller

From Trenton Ward

Going to Chicago last year was my first mission trip. I didn’t really know what to expect. Doing God’s Work and helping people is important to me, but I just wasn’t sure how the whole experience was going to come together in such a big city.

The Chicago Mission Trip was more than I had hoped for. One of my favorite memories from the mission trip was at the Assisted Living Home. It was one of the elderly resident’s birthdays and we got to help with her party. After everyone ate it was time for the dancing. I thought it was going to be just us dancing, but some of the residents really got into it! They had moves!

On the next mission trip, I probably won’t be dancing with the elderly at an assisted living home, but I’m sure Ashville, North Carolina has plenty of opportunities for me to have fun doing God’s Work. Ashville Here I come!

-Trenton Ward

From Dave Spindler

This will be my 3^rd Mission Trip and I am so excited!  Each trip is unique in its own way but the Ashville trip will be a little different in that we’ll get a chance to work together for the entire week.  The two previous trips had us separated, hanging out with the same small “work team” for the entire week.  There is certainly nothing wrong with that except you don’t get much of a chance to get to know the kids and adults in FPN.  This year, we will all be working on the same projects together.  So, I look forward to getting to know our youth better and using our time & talents to help others in the area.

-Dave Spindler

(Dave with Grant Newton and Nick Desai Mission Trip 2012)

From Reagan Spindler

My name is Reagan Spindler and I am a senior that will be going on the Mission Trip to Asheville, North Carolina this summer! This will be my fourth and final mission trip. I’m sad that my mission trip experiences are coming to a close, but I couldn’t be any more excited for this coming summer! The week of the mission trip is always one of my favorites and I’ve been so blessed to be able to go on all four. My favorite memory from working on the different sites is always being with the kids. My sophomore year we went to Kokomo, Indiana. My group got to spend half the day bottling soap and making cleaning supplies since food stamps do not allow families to buy those. We spent the second half of the day with the kids whose families would be receiving what we just made. The kids were so happy to play with us and hear the word of God. I quickly got attached and at the end of the week it was very hard to say good-bye. I know that we make an impact in the communities we visit, but my favorite part of the mission trip is that no matter where we go, the people we meet and the work we do will always have an impact on me.

-Reagan Spindler