Southwood Lutheran Church

Where did you see God today?

Rick and I were first time travelers to Tanzania in March 2011. The group planned to stay for three weeks, which at first seemed like a long time to be gone from home. However, the time went fast and it was a very interesting, awesome, humbling, learning experience.

During our evening devotions, we pondered the question: "Where did you see God today?" It was soon very evident that God was everywhere.

• We saw Him in the clouds viewed from the airplane and the wonderful welcome that awaited us when we landed in Kilimanjaro airport.
• We saw God in the faces of the students at the schools we visited. 118 of these were Southwood-sponsored students. They were thankful for their education, for having a safe place to live and for someone who cared about them.
• We saw God in the faces of the caretakers at the three orphanages, who lived with the children they cared for.
• We saw God in the faces of the people who attended the three churches we visited as we shared their worship and communion. God was evident in the rhythm of the songs they sang and in the joyous moves to the music that they made.
• We saw God in the people who transported us, who fed us, who advised us, who guided and hosted us as we learned about their country and shared in their customs and daily lives.
• We felt God in the companionship of our fellow travelers as we shared meals, discussions, laughs, bumps and rough roads.
• And finally? We saw God as we arrived safe at home and saw the faces of our loved ones who waited for us.

SO, YOU SEE, GOD IS EVERYWHERE!! And for this we are thankful!

Kathy McLaughlin

Senior High Ski Trip Promo Video

The High School youth group are going skiing over spring break. Check out the promotional video made by our creative youth!  

Youth to Nashville!

On Sunday, 30 youth and 10 adults from Southwood will depart for Nashville. This trip has been in the planning process for more than six months.

However, plans have changed. For one thing, Chip is no longer with us to lead the trip. However, there are 10 other adult leaders going, most of them who have gone on youth trips in the past. They give the youth continuity and help to show them that Southwood's youth aren't about following a person—they are here to do be Jesus in the world.

Another thing that has changed is where we will be staying and the work we will be doing. You may remember that Nashville had severe flooding a month ago. We were planning on staying in a Lutheran church camp. However, much of the camp was destroyed in the flooding. Fortunately, we found a motel to stay in. And—for at least 2 days of the trip (Monday and Wednesday)—our youth will be helping to get the camp back in order! We don't know exactly what we will be doing, but the people of Lutheran Disaster Relief tell us they won't have a problem finding work for us to do.

On Tuesday, our youth will be working in the warehouse of the Bridge Ministry. The Bridge Ministry is an organization that works to clothe and feed the homeless in Nashville. We will be working in the warehouse during the day, and in the evening, we will go "under the (Jefferson Street) bridge", where they have a worship service for the homeless. After the service, we will help to distribute food and clothing.

Thursday, we will either do servant evangelism projects around the city, or continue to help do clean up at the camp. On Friday, the kids will have a day to have fun - either sightseeing or a waterpark.

I have never been on a mission trip with our youth—pray for me! Seriously, I am looking forward to it. All these youth and adults have a great heart for service and I'm honored to be a part of their trip. Please pray for all of us, that we will be the hands of Jesus in the world on this trip.