Beddy Blog: New Jersey

2013 Family Mission Trip Group @ Jakeabob's Bay in Union Beach, NJ

In lieu of taking a family vacation this year, we decided to organize and go on a family mission trip with some other families from our church. Earlier in the year our church had taken up a collection and sent money to a church in New Jersey to help with relief for Hurricane Sandy. Turns out that this particular church ended up heading up the relief effort in Union Bay and is still working hard to help the people there with recovery. We learned from a contact we had that the church thought they could actually use the help of our families, so New Jersey it was! Our family and 3 other families from our church flew up to Newark and took the short drive over to the Union Beach area to spend a week helping out the community. It was an interesting, sometimes challenging trip with 8 kids ranging from 18 months to 11 years, but we had a great time, did some good for the community, and made lots of wonderful memories serving God and playing together . One of the most amazing parts of the trip occurred on Sunday right after we arrived. We got to witness 2 baptisms of people who had started coming to church after receiving hurricane aid from Gateway Church of Christ. What made it even more special was that the people were baptized in the ocean right by where one woman's house previously stood. It was amazing to see God's love working through his servants to reach the lost. As for our group, we spent 2 1/2 days weeding a playground and firefighter's memorial. It was right off the beach and was dedicated to one of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut. It was a really nice playground/memorial, but it had never been weeded before, so it was in pretty bad shape. The project was perfect for us though because it was something that the kids could help with some, and then they also could play on the playground while the grown ups worked. By the time we were finished with it, we were all having dreams about pulling weeds, but the end product was worth it. The men also spent about a day and a half putting together some playground equipment for the family of the volunteer EMS chief who was working on rebuilding his home. Since there wasn't much the kids could do at that family's home, the guys went and worked on Thursday while we took all the kids to Seven Presidents' Beach. This beach was a state park and had been rebuilt after the hurricane, so it was very nice and had nice bathrooms and changing facilities, a concession stand, etc. A few other highlights of our trip included having dinner and swimming at the home of a couple who were members of the church planting team in Brunswick, having New Jersey style pizza and swimming at the home of the pulpit minister of Gateway Church of Christ, and having dinner twice at Jakeabob's Bay restaurant. This restaurant previously sat right on the bay on Union Beach, but was totally destroyed in the hurricane. The owners became friends with the minister at Gateway, relocated their restaurant just off the bay, and are now attending church some and are helping many others in the area. After our week of hard work, our family and one other headed off to spend a day In New York City. But that is a post all in itself, so stay tuned!

Enjoying some Happy Meals at the William's house after church on Sunday. Carl and Alicia Williams started Gateway Church of Christ.

playing games on the trampoline after lunch

We were so lucky to have such a great place to eat lunch, hang out, and let the kids burn off a little energy after sitting still through church.

The kids loved watching and feeding Carl and Alicia's chickens. We also got to see their eggs, which were in a surprising array of colors including green!

The playground we worked on was dedicated to Jack Pinto, who died in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut earlier this year. We learned that the Sandy Ground project is building a playground in honor of each of the children who were killed.

The playground itself. You can see some of the overgrown flowerbeds behind it. It was so overgrown in places that it was hard to tell what was a plant meant to be there and what was a weed.

Another part of the memorial to Jack Pinto.

At least we had a nice ocean view while we worked! Kendall (right) is wearing one of the t-shirts that all the volunteers are given.

Looking better! We packed sandwiches, etc in a big cooler everyday and ate lunch under the gazebo. That was also a popular spot for the kids to watch movies when they got tired of helping out and playing on the playground.

One night we had New Jersey style pizza at The Williams' house and swam in their pool. Carl told the story of their original church plant in New Jersey as well as starting Gateway Church of Christ. He and Alicia also told us the story of the hurricane hitting and how it affected them, the community, and the church.

The chicken enjoyed some leftover baked ziti. Who knew chickens liked Italian?

Scott and Steve with the finished playset they built

Scott, Steve F. and one happy new playset owner

Judson cruising around the playground. He loved being outside and playing on the playground all morning. After lunch every day, he and I and sometimes Kendall headed back to the hotel for a nap.

Avery and her mission trip buddies. They had fun listening to music together in the van whenever we were traveling around town.

Judson in his element.

Avery and Kendall

The owner of Jakeabob's made the kids a HUGE platter of chicken strips, fries, and mozzarella sticks when she hosted us for dinner at the restaurant. Kendall was upset that she didn't get to sit by Avery.

The owner of Jakabob's made us 3 delicious platters of appetizers as well as these three entrees. She was so generous and the food was amazing!

Scott and I at Jakeabob's. The tables at the restaurant were actually doors from buildings and homes that were destroyed by the hurricane. These doors were also all along the walls.