First Presbyterian is committed to mission and outreach in the community of Kernersville. Here are some ways that we have been able to help others.

Holiday Market: The Holiday Market is held every November to raise money to help needy and disadvantaged families in our community. By selling homemade craft items and baked goods, we have been able to help six to seven needy families each year during Christmas. Working with the school system, we provide Christmas presents and gift certificates to families who may not have been able to celebrate Christmas otherwise. We also help families in need during the rest of the year. Last September, we were able to contribute a significant amount of money to provide children with school clothes and supplies.

Place Your EGG ORDERS HERE!

Eggs: We are known as the Easter Egg Church. For seventeen years we have made Chocolate covered Peanut Butter and Coconut Easter Eggs. Last year we were able to donate $7,500 to local organizations and charities that benefit the greater Kernersville community.

These contributions enabled kids to attend police camp for youth, provided children's car seats for families unable to afford them, helped offset the cost of professional counseling for those needing counseling, assisted individuals with rent, utility and prescription expenses and assured the safety of battered women and their children.

Every week for seven weeks prior to Holy Week, 30 to 40 church members and community volunteers make this ministry possible. Every year, the Kernersville community decides not to give up chocolate for Lent and buys our eggs! We are most thankful!

Mexico Mission Trips: In past years, we have sent three of our members to Mexico with a team from Salem Presbytery to provide medical care to some of the most remote regions of Mexico. We hope that in the coming years, we will be able to send more missionaries.

In addition we also offer financial aid, food and assistance through Crisis Control Center located at 431 Bodenhamer St., Kernersville.

We also act as an Emergency Shelter in the event of a disaster or emergency in collaboration with the American Red Cross and the City of Kernersville.

- - MISSION BLOG! - -

Day 5 - July 30, 2009

We have made it home.  It was an amazing trip.  We have returned, changed from the inside out.  The work was hard and rewarding.  Our youth want to go back and we hope with the daily updates you too might want to go with us next year.  Since this is our final blog we wanted to let our youth share the meaning of this trip in their own words.  Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of Ruth and Kerry, has agreed to share her devotion today instead of on Sunday.  Enjoy her words and experience her journey.

“I have had a wonderful time at the camp.  I miss my mom and dad terribly, but I have called my mom for comfort.  We are finally done with the digging, putting the septic tubes in and the refilling the septic tank lines with the dirt.  I am so glad because I am super tired and I am so sunburned on my neck that I can't twist my neck or it will hurt.  We dug 130 ft. ditch and making the ditch 18 inches deep.  It was hard work but at the beginning I thought we could never get done before we go home on Thursday.”

Elizabeth Kerr
Age 12

Day 4 – July 29, 2009

This morning we woke to a slight drizzle to get us started.  We just hope the rain has made it home as well.  After breakfast this morning, it was First Presbyterian's turn for clean up duty.  We had a small window of time to get this done since worship is handled in the same facility.  After another encouraging worship, we set out for our last day of work.  Unfortunately, Oscar (the van) had other plans.  He decided he did not want to go to work today and instead spent it in the shop getting a new Starter.  But Knollwood Baptist was kind enough to allow our kids to ride with them to the worksite, with Rich and Pastor Clark close behind.

After getting Oscar to the shop, Melissa Clodfelter and I returned to our team at the same worksite that we have been at for the previous two days.  Our job today was to break the big clumps of dirt so the yard could be seeded.  With 3 hours to complete this task, the FPC Mission Family went to work.  By lunch the back yard was almost level and was in great shape.

This project has taken ReCreation Experiences a couple of weeks to complete because this is the largest septic system they have taken on - over 800 feet of pipe and with God's guidance, it is complete.  We invite the FPC congregation to pray for the family who received this septic system, and to bless them as they strive to get back on their feet.  They have been a wonderful host family and have treated us wonderfully.

After lunch was over, we went to Ashville and spent the afternoon at the movies and going out to a nice dinner.  To sit around the dinner table was like sitting with my family.  It was so warm and inviting hearing the stories the kids shared about how much this experience has meant to each of them.  We all have been blessed by God and can't wait to share our stories with you.

I thank the congregation for allowing me this time to spend doing God's work.  I have made great connections with God, with our youth and have made some great friendships that I will hold dear in my heart.  I thank each of you for keeping up with our daily blog and praying for us.  We look forward to coming home and getting ready for next year's mission trip. 

Shalom from ReCreation Experiences,

Amy Evans and the 09 FPC Mission Team

P.S.  We will share our final blog on Friday with thoughts from Elizabeth Kerr.  You are each invited to welcome our caravan home on Thursday.  We should be pulling in around 12:45-1:00p.

Day 3 – July 28, 2009

This day began with a thunderous start.  At 3:00a, we were awakened by a huge thunderstorm.  It rained heavily for a straight hour.  At breakfast, we were told that we would return to our septic line work.  The morning went by very quickly and much progress was made.  By the end of lunch, the end was in sight and as you can see the trench we started on Monday morning was now turning into an active sewer line.  We finished our day by laying the pipe and refilling in the holes.  Our MISSION was complete.

We spent this evening with the participants discussing how we shared God today with those we spent the day with.  The youth shared their thoughts and impressions about this experience.  The comments were quite moving and we will share them with you this Sunday during worship.

This group has bonded together so well.  We are, for lack of a better term, family.  We are not certain what tomorrow will bring and what task we will be assigned, but I have faith that this family will make it happen with God's help.

Continue to pray for us as we do for you.

Peace,
FPC 2009 Mission Trip

Day 2 - July 27, 2009

Today was the first day of our mission work.  Our assignment is to dig a 100 foot trench for a family who has 11 children and live in the 80% poverty level and do their best to make ends meet.  Even though our job is just to dig, it has to be very precise.  Our trench has to be 3 feet wide and 18 inches deep.

We enjoyed a cool mountain breeze this morning and by afternoon we worked through a summer thunderstorm, but through it all, we worked.  By the end of our day a hot shower was calling each of us.

During our drive home from the worksite our participants shared how much they missed the comforts of home.  A snuggle and a kiss from mom or dad, hot water, clean clothes, a choice for lunch, air conditioning, etc.  Our crew worked extremely hard serving God and did so with a joyous heart.

Day 1 - July 26, 2009

Greetings from ReCreation Experiences.  We arrived safely and the 3 hour trip went very quickly.  We wanted to share with you some of our thoughts from the day.

Enjoy the pictures. We love you all and we are praying for you.  Talk with you tomorrow

PEACE
FPC 2009 Mission Trip