Rejoicing in Our Present: Mission Trips

In May of 1997, the Brewster Baptist Youth Fellowship hosted a youth group from Norfolk, MA, that shared with them about a mission trip they had just been on to Philadelphia. This sparked an interest for them to go on their own mission trip and Nancy Sveden began researching opportunities.

Nancy found herself talking to Gayle, of Homes, Inc. in Neon, KY. Homes, Inc., is a Christian organization dedicated to providing shelter for people in need in a former coal mining area in the rural Appalachian plateau in eastern Kentucky.

Nancy and Gayle talked in November of 1997 and plans were underway for a trip over April vacation of 1998. On April 18, eight students and six adults began their journey to Neon, KY. During this trip, they stripped a metal roof and put on asphalt shingles, put sills on a foundation, and did house repairs and painting for a sweet elderly woman. 

1998 mission trip group

Nancy shared in the June 1998 Beacon,

“The trip was characterized by generosity, unceasing good humor and laughter, hard work, caring for each other, continuous learning about our beautiful country, and the wondrous joy that results from feeling that one is truly helping human beings.”

Arien Porter (age 18) shared in the Cape Cod Times,

“Most people remember vacations to Cancun. We are going to remember this because we worked and helped each other and helped the lady. That was the ultimate reward, to see her happy with what we had done.”                                 

Then, in the fall of 1998, Hurricane Georges hit Puerto Rico. In November, Pastor Doug approached Bill Harwood and asked him if he would organize and lead a mission work trip to Puerto Rico in January to help them rebuild.

1998 Puerto Rico mission trip group

Bill shared in a testimony at the end of 2023,

“I knew nothing about running a mission trip, but I had organizational skills and said yes. Besides getting married and having two wonderful children, it was probably one of the best and most impactful decisions I have made.”

Bill led this group of 18 people (aged 24-72) on a trip that would change all of their lives, and, from then on mission trips became part of the culture of Brewster Baptist Church.

2 people on Puerto Rico mission trip

Brewster Baptist has been on 27 mission trips since 1998. 

List of mission trips

We have been to places as close as Groton, MA, doing maintenance, grounds clean-up and building a low ropes course at Camp Grotonwood, to as far away as Assam in North East India, helping Eastern Theological College to raise money to assist with significant building projects over the years.

Kids working at Grotonwood

The Eastern Theological College projects included leading the “Partners in Progress” initiative in the early 2000s that helped create the “Fred and Mary Downs Programme Center”, which provided much needed classroom space; helping to build the “Brewster House”, which is used as an income generating visitor housing; and then, in later years, renovating the library and building women’s dormitories.

Student missionary helping with repairs

We have done a wide range of projects –  from repairing storm damage on homes and churches, to serving the impoverished people in the bateyes in the Dominican Republic, to helping ABCUSA camps get ready for their summer season in Massachusetts, Maine, and Kodiak, Alaska.    

Mission trips are a great way to meet new people, learn about different areas, and obtain new skills.

There have been people over the years who have questioned whether or not they have the skills to go on a mission trip.

Please don’t let that stop you from trying it. There are always varying levels of things that need to be done.

Many of the trips we’ve had required demolition and clean up; some have needed sheet rocking and painting. 

While on the Oklahoma trip, Michelle Scott learned from Bob Linnell how to repair the cracks in the concrete, and she made them as good as new. Kathy Estes came with us to Anniston, AL, and Susie Sellito to Biloxi, MS and helped do the grocery shopping and made all of our meals for us. 

2 people helping make interior repairs
 4 people relaxing on a mission trip

There have also been some important opportunities to learn about different cultures and historical events. Those who have participated in past mission trips have learned about helping refugees in Bulgaria, the impact the history of missionaries sharing God’s love in India, and learning about the harvesting and processing of sugar cane at the bateyes in the Dominican Republic.

Missionaries at Stob Orphanage in Bulgaria

During the mission trip to Seattle, WA, students went through a simulation of what it’s like to live in a refugee camp and work to get approval to come to the US. We also visited the Civil Rights Museum on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and learned about the lives of Native Americans in Oklahoma.

Former members, Rob and Barbara Quinn, shared following the trip to Muskogee, OK where we served at Bacone College and the Murrow Indian Children’s Home,

“We had so many special moments during our week with both the Bacone students and the children at the Murrow home. We accomplished so much work…more that we had hoped. We made friends with the wonderful people whose mission it is to serve both the students and the young American Indian children. Their passion and dedication to their work and those less fortunate was beautiful to witness. Rob and I took off with 14 BBC members who were acquaintances when we left, but friends in Christ on our return. Together we experienced something wonderful. We both feel blessed to have had this opportunity to serve in this way…our first ever mission trip.”

Missionaries in Muskogee, OK

Many of our trips have been multigenerational, from young children and teenagers to members in their 70s and 80s. We’ve also taken a few that have been specifically for our Student Ministry.

Helping a student missionary

When in Seattle, WA, our students packaged food for the state’s food banks, worked at local nursing home doing repairs and landscaping, and worked with World Vision to prepare for incoming refugees and teach English classes to people who had just come into the country. 

Pastor Nate Ryan shared,

“Our Seattle mission trip (2011) was one of the two or three most formative experiences of my life. Coming alongside my peers to accomplish a common goal of packaging over 2 tons of food for people in need, helped put into perspective for me just what the Body of Christ is capable of when we all work together.” 

In addition to traveling on these trips, BBC has also participated in many local mission opportunities. BBC has fully sponsored two Brewster Habitat for Humanity houses, and been a part of several “faith builds”, partnering with other local churches to sponsor houses. 

Local mission group helps build house

We have been able to work as part of the volunteer building crews, lead the prayer times and provide the snacks. We have also been a part of renovation projects for Lower Cape Outreach Council and Homeless Prevention Council.

We hope you will be inspired by these testimonies and prayerfully consider joining us on one of our future mission trips.

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